Funcionamiento psicosocial en pacientes agudos y crónicos no psiquiátricos en régimen hospitalario: depresión, alexitimia y falta de asertividad / Psychosocial functioning in non-psychiatric acute and chronic inpatients: depression, alexithymia and lack of assertiveness

Background: Depression, alexithymia, and lack of assertiveness interfere with individual psychosocial functioning and may result in longer hospitalization stay and poorer therapeutic results. Aim: To analyze the psychosocial functioning in acute and chronic patients and its association with psychological, clinical and sociodemographic variables. Material and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study that included 80 inpatients of both sexes with organic pathology, aged between 18 to 70 years old, without any current psychiatric disorder. Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected from a semi-structured interview and hospital records. Beck Depression Inventory-IA, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and Rathus Assertiveness Scale were administered. Results: Fifty five percent of patients had some degree of depression, 33% alexithymia and 34% lack of assertiveness. The levels of depression, alexithymia and lack of assertiveness in chronic patients were significantly higher than those observed in acute patients. Women and participants older than 60 years exhibited the highest degrees of depression. Alexithymia and lack of assertiveness were associated with a lower educational level. A negative significant correlation between alexithymia and assertiveness scores was observed among acute patients. Conclusions: Participants with chronic diseases had a lower psychosocial functioning. Less educated patients showed more alexithymic and less assertive features. We emphasized the need of a better management of these aspects by the health team, since social functioning might interfere with the outcome of physical illnesses.

Frecuencia de depresión en los pacientes que consultan en las policlínicas de medicina interna del Hospital de Clínicas Dr. Manuel Quintela / Frequency of depression in patients visiting the clinics of internal medicine at Hospital de Clínicas

La depresión es una de las enfermedades con mayor prevalencia en Uruguay y causa de una importante mortalidad por su estrecha vinculación con el suicidio. A su vez, existe una marcada vinculación entre la depresión y las enfermedades médicas. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer la frecuencia de depresión en los pacientes que consultan en las policlínicas de medicina del hospital universitario durante el período de un mes. Seestudió además la relación entre la presencia de depresión y distintas variables: autopercepción de la gravedad de la patología médica, tiempo de evolución de la patología médica y ocupación. Se utilizó la traducción española del inventario para la depresión de Beck (bdi) y un cuestionario que incluyó datos patronímicos y las variables mencionadas. El porcentaje de pacientes condepresión resultó mayor a los valores de referenciapara la población general, tanto en muestras locales como extranjeras

Psychosocial aspects of chronic illness in adolescence.

Success in the survival of children with significant medical conditions has resulted in a dramatic increase in the prevalence of adolescents with chronic illness. Unfortunately, the traditional biomedical approach does not prepare practitioners for the complexities of managing chronic illness, because numerous psychosocial factors are involved. This article will address the need for integrating psychosocial issues into the assessment and treatment of the chronically ill adolescent. Assessment of the teen should incorporate an understanding of the developmental stages of adolescence, a review of how these developmental tasks are being accomplished, a discernment of individual characteristics, and knowledge of the family and community to which they belong. Management should take into account the phases of illness (acute, chronic or terminal) and encourage empowerment of the adolescent and family in decision making. A team approach that is community-based, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate is ideal.

Desviaciones del desarrollo infantil en las enfermedades agudas y crónicas / Desviations of child development in acute and chronic diseases

Las enfermedades agudas y crónicas modifican el desarrollo infantil, el desarrollo de la confianza básica, autonomía, independencia y evaluación personal pueden verse afectados en grados diversos por la enfermedad. El medio familiar también se modifica por la enfermedad del niño, así como las actitudes de los padres y hermanos. Pediatras, Enfermeras y Trabajadoras Sociales deben de conocer las repercusiones psicológicas y sociales de la enfermedad para la detección de alteraciones, brindar orientación y ayuda especializada que promueven la salud física, mental y social