Socioeconomic and therapy factor influence on self-reported fatigue, anxiety and depression in rheumatoid arthritis patients / Influência de fatores socioeconômicos e de tratamento sobre a fadiga, ansiedade e depressão autorrelatadas em pacientes com artrite reumatoide

Abstract Introduction: Fatigue, anxiety and depression are very frequent symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Goals: In this study we evaluated the influence of socioeconomic characteristics, therapy and comorbidities on the self-reported high fatigue, anxiety and depression in patients with RA. Method: Multicenter cross-sectional study was performed in 22 health institutions in Serbia during the period from April-August 2014 in population of older RA patients. Self-reported patients health status was measured by: Fatigue Assessment Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. Treatment modalities were defined as: (1) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and/or analgesics and/or corticosteroids; (2) synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) alone or in combination with corticosteroids and/or NSAIDs and (3) any RA treatment which includes biologic DMARDs. Results: There were significant predictors of high depression: synthetic DMARDs therapy in combination with corticosteroids and/or NSAIDs, physiotherapist self-payment, frequent taxi use, alternative treatment and employment status. The need for another person's assistance, supplemental calcium therapy and professional qualifications were the predictors of a high fatigue, whereas the age above 65 years had the protective effect on it. Anxiety was an independent high fatigue predictor. The predictors of a high anxiety were: gastroprotection with proton-pump inhibitors and patient occupation. Conclusion Socioeconomic predictors of self-reported high depression, anxiety or fatigue are different for each of the mentioned outcomes, while accompanied with the basic RA treatment they exclusively explain a high depression. The anxiety, jointed with the socioeconomic variables and supplemental therapy, is a significant fatigue predictor in RA patients.

Resumo Introdução: A fadiga, a ansiedade e a depressão são sintomas muito frequentes em pacientes com artrite reumatoide (AR). Objetivos: Neste estudo, avaliou-se a influência de características socioeconômicas, características de tratamento e comorbidades na elevação na fadiga, ansiedade e depressão autorrelatadas em pacientes com AR. Método: Este estudo transversal multicêntrico foi feito em 22 instituições de saúde na Sérvia de abril a agosto de 2014 na população de pacientes idosos com AR. O status de saúde autorrelatado dos pacientes foi medido pelos instrumentos Fatigue Assessment Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 e Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. As modalidades de tratamento foram definidas como: 1) anti-inflamatórios não esteroides (AINE) e/ou analgésicos e/ou corticosteroides; 2) fármacos antirreumáticos modificadores da doença sintéticos (DMARD) isoladamente ou em combinação com corticosteroides e/ou AINE e 3) qualquer tratamento para a AR que incluísse DMARD biológicos. Resultados: Houve preditores significativos de depressão elevada: tratamento com DMARD sintéticos em combinação com corticosteroides e/ou AINE, pagamento particular de fisioterapia, uso frequente de serviços de táxi, terapias alternativas e status ocupacional. A necessidade de assistência de outra pessoa, o tratamento suplementar com cálcio e as qualificações profissionais foram os preditores de fadiga elevada. A idade acima de 65 anos teve um efeito protetor sobre a fadiga elevada. A ansiedade foi um preditor independente de fadiga elevada. Os preditores ansiedade elevada foram: gastroproteção com inibidores da bomba de prótons e ocupação do paciente. Conclusão: Os preditores socioeconômicos de níveis elevados de depressão, ansiedade ou fadiga autorrelatadas são diferentes para cada um dos desfechos mencionados; quando acompanhados do tratamento básico para a AR, esses preditores socioeconômicos explicam exclusivamente uma depressão elevada. A ansiedade, associada às variáveis socioeconômicas e ao tratamento complementar, é um importante preditor da fadiga em pacientes com AR.

The role of the psychiatrist in obtaining informed consent from patients with somatic and mental comorbidity: Report of one case / Obtención de consentimiento informado por un psiquiatra en un paciente con una enfermedad somática: Informe de un caso

The nature of mental disorders, the attitudes and prejudices of the social community towards psychiatric patients, the behavior and treatment of mental patients, all bring about numerous dilemmas and prejudices. When a patient is diagnosed with a mental disorder, he may suffer restrictions in the field of general human rights. However, the biggest problems in clinical practice occur in the treatment of patients who, besides their mental disorder also have a somatic disease. We report a 56-years-old female with a severe renal failure who refused to undergo dialysis. Following the patient's refusal to sign an informed consent, a psychiatrist was called in for consultation and diagnosed an acute psychotic reaction. To manage the delusions and acute psychotic reactions, risperidone in the dose of 2 mg was started. After 22 days, the patient still had marked psychotic symptoms. A psychiatrist, a nephrologist and an anesthesiologist, in the presence of the spouse on the grounds of her life-threatening condition, decided to apply the necessary medical procedures even without the patient's consent. A day after the start of dialysis the patient still had delusional ideas, but without the presence of anxiety, and the patient no longer offered resistance to dialysis. Four days after the first dialysis, the patient was calm, had vague memories about the entire previous period, and signed the informed consent concerning her further treatment.

Se generan muchos dilemas y prejuicios debido a la naturaleza de las enfermedades mentales. Cuando a un paciente se le diagnostica un cuadro mental, sus derechos humanos pueden verse perjudicados. Sin embargo, los mayores problemas se suscitan en pacientes que además de tener un trastorno mental, tienen una enfermedad somática. Presentamos una mujer de 56 años con una falla renal que rechazó ser dializada. Después que la paciente no firmó el consentimiento informado, se pidió una interconsulta a psiquiatría y se diagnosticó una reacción psicótica aguda. Se indicó risperidona para tratar las alucinaciones. Después de 22 días de tratamiento la paciente aún tenía síntomas psicóticos. Una junta médica efectuada en la presencia del cónyuge de la paciente, decidió efectuar la diálisis a pesar del rechazo de la paciente. Un día después de dializarse, la paciente aún tenía alucinaciones pero menos ansiedad y dejó de rechazar la diálisis. Cuatro días más tarde la paciente no recordaba lo ocurrido y firmó el consentimiento para dializarse.