ABSTRACT
The number of people with long-term consequences of COVID-19 is increasing worldwide. The long-term prognosis for patients remains poorly understood. Objective. To study cardiometabolic and psychocognitive features in comorbid elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), de-pending on the presence of post-COVID syndrome (PCS). Material and methods. The observational analytical cohort study included 223 patients with AF and comorbidity (coronary artery disease, hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus) aged 60-74, who were divided into two groups: group 1 included 123 patients without COVID-19 and group 2 included 110 patients with a history of COVID-19 and the presence of PCS. The study evaluated laboratory and instrumental tests, and a general clinical study assessing psychocognitive disorders using the SPMSQ and HADS questionnaires was conducted. Results and discussion. In COVID-19 survivors, compared with patients of group 1, there were more pronounced atherogenic changes in total cholesterol (TC) (p=0.003), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.001), and triglycerides (p=0.011). Lower dia-stolic blood pressure was found in COVID-19 survivors (p<0.001). In addition, patients in group 2 had higher median pulse pressure (p<0.001) and heart rate (p<0.001). In group 2 patients, a larger ascending aorta diameter was observed (p<0.001). The anx-iety-depressive syndrome was more common in COVID-19 survivors with comorbidities, and a statistically significant difference was found in clinical anxiety (24%, p=0.041) and subclinical depression (21%, p=0.015). When assessing cognitive function, mod-erate cognitive impairment was detected in 22% (p=0.005) of patients with PCS and severe cognitive impairment in 2% (p=0.007). Conclusion. In comorbid elderly patients with the post-COVID syndrome, a high prevalence of psychocognitive disorders and adverse cardiometabolic changes were observed, supporting the need for long-term monitoring of the general clinical condition and psychocognitive status of COVID-19 survivors.Copyright © 2023, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The number of people with long-term consequences of COVID-19 is increasing worldwide. The long-term prognosis for patients remains poorly understood. Objective. To study cardiometabolic and psychocognitive features in comorbid elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), de-pending on the presence of post-COVID syndrome (PCS). Material and methods. The observational analytical cohort study included 223 patients with AF and comorbidity (coronary artery disease, hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus) aged 60-74, who were divided into two groups: group 1 included 123 patients without COVID-19 and group 2 included 110 patients with a history of COVID-19 and the presence of PCS. The study evaluated laboratory and instrumental tests, and a general clinical study assessing psychocognitive disorders using the SPMSQ and HADS questionnaires was conducted. Results and discussion. In COVID-19 survivors, compared with patients of group 1, there were more pronounced atherogenic changes in total cholesterol (TC) (p=0.003), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.001), and triglycerides (p=0.011). Lower dia-stolic blood pressure was found in COVID-19 survivors (p<0.001). In addition, patients in group 2 had higher median pulse pressure (p<0.001) and heart rate (p<0.001). In group 2 patients, a larger ascending aorta diameter was observed (p<0.001). The anx-iety-depressive syndrome was more common in COVID-19 survivors with comorbidities, and a statistically significant difference was found in clinical anxiety (24%, p=0.041) and subclinical depression (21%, p=0.015). When assessing cognitive function, mod-erate cognitive impairment was detected in 22% (p=0.005) of patients with PCS and severe cognitive impairment in 2% (p=0.007). Conclusion. In comorbid elderly patients with the post-COVID syndrome, a high prevalence of psychocognitive disorders and adverse cardiometabolic changes were observed, supporting the need for long-term monitoring of the general clinical condition and psychocognitive status of COVID-19 survivors.Copyright © 2023, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Loneliness in Adolescents Against the Background of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Risk Factor Abstract. On the one hand, loneliness is the subjective experience of inadequate social integration and support. It is a normal phenomenon that can be dealt with in an emotional and action-oriented way within the framework of individual development. On the other hand, chronic loneliness goes hand in hand with considerable suffering, reduced quality of life, and an increased risk of psychological and somatic diseases. In the context of current social developments associated with the fragmentation of social networks and programmatic individualism, we discuss an increase in the problem of loneliness, especially among young people. Interventions to reduce the experience of loneliness are effective if, in addition to making social offers, they focus on the dynamics common in chronic loneliness (low self-esteem, evaluation of neutral communication as devaluing, etc.). There is no evidence that the use of virtual social networks persistently reduces feelings of loneliness in young people. In addition, the question arises on what basis of shared values and goals social integration of young people who experience loneliness will be possible in the future. According to the results of the first systematic surveys on the psychosocial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must assume that the loneliness problem of young people will continue to gain relevance because of the associated massive restrictions on real social life.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: One of the groups most exposed to potentially harmful effects of the current pandemic on physical and mental health is medical personnel, in particular those working directly with patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). OBJECTIVES: The response of the body to a persisting threat, constant contact with dying people and frequent deaths of patients is chronic stress syndrome. Its symptoms may take the form of psychosomatic or somatic reactions. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of stress on the severity of temporomandibular syndrome (TMD) in medical personnel. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included a group of 160 people - 120 women and 40 men aged 35-60 years, working at the hospital wards as doctors, nurses and support staff, directly with patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and suffering from COVID-19. The research was conducted in the form of a cross-sectional survey with the use of anonymous questionnaire. The final questionnaire was developed based on the tools commonly used for TMD, bruxism, anxiety, and depression assessment - 8Q/TMD and the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8). RESULTS: After checking the significance of differences in responses to individual questions among men and women and applying the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, Fisher's test and p-values for individual responses, an increase in pathological reactions was shown. The results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant adverse effects on the psychoemotional status and causes or aggravates TMD symptoms. CONCLUSION: The aggravation of the psychoemotional status caused by the COVID-19 pandemic can result in intensification of TMD symptoms and other symptoms in the stomatognathic system in medical staff working with patients infected with COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Anxiety/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Medical Staff , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Stomatognathic SystemABSTRACT
This article is based on the script of my farewell-speech at the University Hospital for Children and Adolescents in 2012. I served for 28 years as Head of the Psychosomatic and Psychotherapeutic unit as part of the Division for General Pediatrics, which was imbedded in the Department for Pediatrics. In these years I learned to focus on the triangle between doctor, parents, and child: To observe and recognize the verbal and non-verbal expressions of the children, the parents, and also his own is one of the doctor's key tasks. Within this process of acting and treating, practising medicine should become part of a commonly lived experience. This requires sensitivity as well as self-criticism and respect for the families, who entrust themselves to us. We have been able to implement this with children who suffer from eating disorders or tube dependency. As a continuation of the long-standing activity at the Medical University of Graz the spin-off firm Notube.com is presented, which offers treatment for children from 0 to 8 years of age suffering from eating disorders of all kinds. The experience of psychosomatic understanding and treatment acquired at the clinic can thus-even after retirement-continue to benefit hundreds of families. By establishing an outpatient clinic and by offering telemedical support to families this is a medicine that points the way to the future, especially in times of the Covid 19 pandemic.
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The authors present a clinical case of a female patient with depression who developed lichen planus during the COVID-19 pandemic and describe the anamnesis, skin and mental status of the patient. The phenomenon of amplified itching in the clinical picture in the post-covid period in the framework of depressive cataesthetic hyperesthesia is considered. A comprehensive psychosomatic assessment of the condition and the inclusion of approaches of psychocorrection in basic dermatotropic therapy contributed to the normalization of mood, rapid and complete reduction of itching, improvement of the skin status and patient's quality of life.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Depression , Lichen Planus , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Depression/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Lichen Planus/diagnosis , Lichen Planus/psychology , Pandemics , Quality of LifeABSTRACT
The article presents a detailed study of clinical manifestations of adjustment disorders. The aim of our research to study the peculiarities of adjustment disorders of English speaking international students and to develop a system of its psychotherapeutic correction in a medical institution of higher education. The research methods: theoretical analysis and generalization of literature on the research topic, psychodiagnostic and mathematical-statistical methods. The study was conducted in the context in English speaking foreign students of reforming educational services in Ukrainian higher education institutions against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic and distance learning. The study based on 103 English speaking foreign students of III-Vth years of education in Kharkiv National Medical University, both sex (52 male and 51 female). The average age of the surveyed foreign students was 22.0 +/- 1.8 years. Foreign students were divided into three groups. The first group included 40 fourth-year students, the second group 40 third-year students, the third group consisted of 23 fifth-year students. The survey consisted of several stages and was conducted on-line. The first stage was carried out at the beginning of the quarantine, the second after 3 months. Psycho-corrective measures had a positive effect on the dynamics of mental state in 82.5 % of international students. In 68.7 % there was a reduction in maladaptation.
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This number increased to 14% with a total of 64 new patients with VCD diagnosis among 457 new patients seen in 2020. Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is an upper airway disorder characterized by exaggerated and transient glottic constriction causing respiratory and laryngeal symptoms. B Results: b In our practice, we had a total of 55 new patients with symptoms or signs consistent with diagnosis of VCD among 786 new patients seen in 2019 with an incidence of 7%. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Critical Care Medicine is the property of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
This study sought to investigate the risk factors of poor psychosomatic health among students during the quarantine of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted on-line, on a sample of 1978 respondents in Poland. The study was carried out towards the end of the summer 2020 semester. The questionnaire used in the study was designed so that it allows for the observation of the main risk factors which have an impact on the students' mental health. Variance analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were used to determine the predictors of mental health problems. The results indicate that average and high levels of psychosomatic disorders were observed among 61% of respondents. The hierarchical regression analysis showed that an increase in the level of educational burnout, a decreased life satisfaction, and use of negative strategies of coping with stress, were accompanied by a deteriorated mental condition of students. Moreover, it was observed that female respondents scored higher on the scale of disorders in comparison to males.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mental Health , Adaptation, Psychological , Burnout, Psychological , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Pandemics , Poland/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Students , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
The current outbreak of COVID-19 infection among humans is strongly impacting global physical and mental health. This outbreak can induce or exacerbate some chronic disorders such as functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) due to stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, denial, anger, and fear. The current focus on the physical aspects of COVID-19 infection may distract public attention from the psychosocial consequences of this outbreak. The mental disorders related to this outbreak may develop and extend FGIDs in the long term. FGIDs have a significant impact on daily activities and quality of life and also cause high economic burdens through direct medical costs and loss of productivity. The purpose of this mini-review was to emphasize the critical state of old and new cases of FGIDs during the COVID-19 outbreak. Published English papers about mental health disorders related to the COVID19 outbreak or before the infectious outbreak, stress, and FGIDs were considered and reviewed. We selected articles which were current and had the most relevance to FGIDs, psycho-somatization, and infectious outbreak.