Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Relation to Duration of Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychopathological features such as depression and anxiety in schizophrenics with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) as well as the severity of OCS according to duration of schizophrenia. METHODS: We randomly selected sixty four inpatients with schizophrenia. We classified the patients into two groups (OCS group, non-OCS group) according to the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Clinical and demographic features were evaluated. To assess OCS, Y-BOCS were performed. The Korean version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(K-PANSS), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Korean version of the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (K-CDSS), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) were conducted. Independent t-test and chi-square test were conducted to compare the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between the duration of schizophrenia and the Y-BOCS score. RESULTS: The Y-BOCS, K-CDSS, and BAI scores were higher in the OCS group. There was a significant correlation between the duration of schizophrenia and the Y-BOCS score. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and depression symptoms were severe in the OCS group. In addition, the results of this study indicate that the longer duration of schizophrenia, the more severe the OCS. Therefore, the evaluation of OCS in schizophrenics should be accompanied by treatment intervention.

Self-management levels of diet and metabolic risk factors according to disease duration in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Metabolic risk factors should be managed effectively in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to prevent or delay diabetic complications. This study aimed to compare the self-management levels of diet and metabolic risk factors in patients with T2DM, according to the duration of illness, and to examine the trends in self-management levels during the recent decades. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data were collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES, 1998–2014). In our analysis, 4,148 patients with T2DM, aged ≥ 30 years, were categorized according to the duration of their illness (< 5 years, 5–9 years, and ≥ 10 years). Demographic and lifestyle information was assessed through self-administered questionnaires, and biomarker levels (e.g., fasting glucose level, blood pressure, or lipid level) were obtained from a health examination. Dietary intake was assessed by a 24-recall, and adherence level to dietary guidelines (meal patterns and intake levels of calories, carbohydrates, vegetable/seaweed, sodium, and alcohol) were assessed. Multivariable generalized linear regression and unconditional logistic regression models were used to compare the prevalence rates of hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension according to the duration of patients' illness, accounting for the complex survey design of the KNHANES. RESULTS: In the multivariable adjusted models, patients with a longer duration (≥ 10 years) of T2DM had a higher prevalence of hyperglycemia than those with a shorter duration of T2DM (< 5 years) (odds ratio 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.61–3.01, P for trend < 0.001). We did not observe any associations of disease duration with the prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia. In addition, the adherence levels to dietary recommendations did not significantly differ according to disease duration, except adherence to moderate alcohol consumption. There were significant decreasing trends in the prevalence of hyperglycemia in patients with a duration of illness ≥ 10 years (P for trend = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Although the proportion of patients with adequate control of glucose levels has improved in recent decades, poorer self-management has been found in those with a longer disease duration. These findings suggest the need for well-planned and individualized patient education programs to improve self-management levels and quality of life by preventing or delaying diabetic complications.

A Study on Assessment of Family Burden, Quality of Life and Mental Health in Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia

Background: Caregivers of patient with schizophrenia face a lot of burden which hampers their quality of life as well as mental health. This study was conducted to evaluate perceived burden of care, quality of life, and mental health in caregivers of schizophrenia patients and to explore the correlation between above parameters and total duration of illness of the patient with schizophrenia.  Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary care center. Participants were 99 caregivers of the patient with schizophrenia that were screened to ascertain whether they met the selection criteria. Perceived burden was scored by Family burden scale which is a semi structured interview schedule. Quality of life scale (WHO QoL-BREF Hindi version), was used to assess Quality of life. Modified Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to examine mental health of caregivers. Results: In the present study, total duration of schizophrenia showed statistically significant negative correlation with quality of life of caregiver. In the study, though the correlation between perceived family burden and total duration of schizophrenia was positive but it was not statistically significant. The burden also had statistically significant negative correlation with socioeconomic status and quality of life of the caregiver. The caregivers with high likelihood of mental illness scored significantly higher burden than other two groups. Conclusions: Caregivers of persons with schizophrenia do perceive burden, on account of which and along with lower socioeconomic status they experience poor quality of life and compromised mental health.

Effects of Tinnitus Duration and Concomitant Hearing Loss on the Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Outcomes / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several reports indicated that tinnitus treatment was influenced by several factors including age of patients, concomitant hearing loss, onset and duration of tinnitus, etc. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the duration of tinnitus and the degree of hearing loss on the treatment outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Seventy-two subjects with tinnitus were divided into several groups according to the duration of tinnitus and the degree of hearing loss. All subjects were treated by cognitive-behavioral treatment program in tinnitus clinic. Treatment effects were studied by Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), which were used to measure the loudness, awareness, and annoyance of tinnitus. RESULTS: THI and VAS scores were decreased significantly after the treatment. Tinnitus of 12 months or shorter duration showed greater improvement than those cases of longer than 12 months. The lower degree of hearing loss also showed greater improvement when compared with the greater degree of hearing loss. CONCLUSION: Tinnitus of shorter duration and milder hearing loss showed better prognosis: the results of this study may help in treatment counseling for tinnitus patients.

A1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of obsessive-compulsive disorder / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To approach potential abnormalities of neuro-chemical compounds in cerebrum of obsessive-compulsive disorder and to analyze the relationship among the abnormalities with duration of illness and symptom severity. Methods 19 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and 22 comparison subjects were scanned by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy to exam bilateral prefrontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, anterior cingutate and caudate nucleus, hippocampus as well as splenium and genu of corpus callosum,thalamus. The ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and choline (Cho) to creatine (Cr) were respectively recorded.The severities of obsessive-compulsive symptoms were assessed by Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. Results ( 1 ) The ratios of NAA/Cr in right caudate nucleus and left hippocampus were higher than those in normal controls (1.23 ±0.37 vs 1.0 ±0.33, t=2.14, P=0.039;1.34 ±0.25 vs 1. 10 ±0.45, t=2.41, P=0.021 ), but NAA/Cr ratios in genu of corpus callosum were lower(0. 97 ±0.30 vs 1.19 ± 0. 26, t = -2.47, P= 0.018 ).(2) The Cho/Cr ratios in right caudate nucleus and left temporal lobe were higher than those in control groups (1.09±0.51 vs0. 67±0.21,t=3.32, P=0.003;2.58±0.62vs0.84±0.17, t=2.21,P=0.03). (3) The duration of illness was negatively correlated with the Cho/Cr ratios of right prefrontal lobe ( r = - 0. 507, P =0. 027 ). (4) The NAA/Cr ratios of genu of corpus callosum as well as the Cho/Cr ratios of left temporal lobe were negatively correlated with YBOCS score ( r 1 = - 0.457, P = 0.049; r 2 = - 0. 585, P = 0.009 ). Conclusion Neuronal functions increase in right caudate nucleus and left hippocampus which are opposite in genu of corpus callosum. These abnormalities may play an important role in pathogenesis of OCD.

Theory of Mind in Schizophrenia and Its Impacting Factors / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective: To explore the feature of theory of mind(ToM) in schizophrenic patients and the influencing factors. Methods: Subjects were 108 patients with schizophrenia, 21 with affective disorders and 21 normal subjects. Picture-story tasks, PANSS and WAIS-R were used to assess the patients' ToM, symptoms and intelligence. Results:It was found that the scores on first-order theory of mind tasks of schizophrenic patients with IQ below 70 were lower than normal subjects'(D = -56.58,P