ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: Experts used to believe that spasmodic dysphonia (SD) was a psychogenic disorder. Although SD is now established as a neurological disorder, the rates of co-morbid anxiety and depression range from 7.1% to 62%. Our objective was to study the prevalence and risk factors associated with these mood disorders in SD patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: SD patients who presented for botulinum toxin injections were recruited. Demographic data, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), General Self-Efficacy scale (GSES), Disease Specific Self-Efficacy in Spasmodic Dysphonia scale (DSSE), and Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) were collected. RESULTS: One hundred and forty two patients (age (59.2 ± 13.6) years, 25.4% male) had VHI-10 of 26.3 ± 6.9 (mean ± standard deviation), GSES 33.2 ± 5.8, CAPE-V 43.9 ± 20.9, HADS anxiety 6.7 ± 3.7, and HADS depression 3.6 ± 2.8. About 19 (13.4%) and 4 (2.8%) had symptoms of anxiety and depression respectively. Final linear regression model for HADS anxiety (R2 = 32.90%) showed that patients who were less likely to have anxiety symptoms were older age (p < 0.001), male (p = 0.002), have higher GSES (p < 0.001) and lower VHI-10 (p = 0.004). Final linear regression model for HADS depression score (R2 = 34.42%) showed that patients who were less likely to have depressive symptoms had high DSSES (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of anxiety (13.4%) and depression (2.8%) in SD were lower than previously reported in the literature. Risk factors for anxiety were: younger age, female gender, lower general self-efficacy, and higher perceived vocal handicap. The main risk factor for depression was lower disease specific self-efficacy.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Clinical Practice Guidelines on Hoarseness distinguishes between hoarseness, which is a symptom perceived by the patient, and dysphonia, which is a diagnosis made by the clinician. Our objective was to determine factors that are associated with patient-perceived hoarseness in spasmodic dysphonia (SD) patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Adductor SD patients who presented for botulinum toxin injections from September 2011 to June 2012 were recruited. The main outcome variable, Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), was used to quantify patient-perceived hoarseness. Clinical data, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and VHI-10 were collected. Clinician-perceived dysphonia was measured by a speech-language pathologist with Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V). Statistical analysis included univariate analyses and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-nine SD patients had VHI-10 score of 26.0 ± 7.2 (mean ± standard deviation), disease duration of 10.5 + 7.0 years, CAPE-V overall score of 43.2 ± 21.8, HADS anxiety score of 6.7 ± 3.8, and HADS depression score of 3.6 ± 2.8. In univariate analyses, there were positive correlations (P < 0.05) between VHI-10 and female gender, CAPE-V overall, older age, HADS anxiety, and depression. There was no correlation with professional voice use and disease duration. In multiple linear regression (R2 = 0.178, P < 0.001), age, HADS anxiety, female gender, and CAPE-V were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Older age, higher anxiety levels, female gender, and clinician-perceived dysphonia are associated with higher levels of patient-perceived hoarseness in SD patients. Hoarseness is a very personal symptom. Multiple factors determine its self-perception.
