ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to explore and compare the caffeine intake, intoxication, withdrawal and dependence prevalence in Italian psychiatric patients and healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-nine out- and inpatients, suffering from different psychiatric disorders, and 104 healthy subjects were included in the study. They were assessed by the SCID and by a structured interview for caffeine intoxication and withdrawal and for substance dependence applied to caffeine use. RESULTS: Patients and healthy subjects did not differ in terms of current caffeine intake (mg/day, mean+/-SD: 281+/-325 vs. 288+/-148, respectively), while the maximum lifetime intake of caffeine was significantly higher in the first group (mg/day, mean SD: 630+/-549 vs. 504+/-344, respectively; F=4.897, p=.03) where it was significantly related to the CGI severity item scores (rho=.107; p=.04). In both patients and healthy subjects, a lower age was related to a higher current caffeine intake, while both current and maximum lifetime caffeine intake in the healthy subjects were significantly higher in men than in women. The patients suffering from eating disorders reported higher current caffeine intake than those with anxiety or mood disorders. The prevalence of dependence and intoxication was significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy subjects, without inter-group differences. Healthy subjects showed a trend towards a higher prevalence of withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the need that a more accurate attention should be paid to the caffeine use which seems to be strongly, although generically, related to different psychiatric disorders.
Subject(s)
Caffeine/administration & dosage , Central Nervous System Stimulants/administration & dosage , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Mental Disorders/psychology , Adult , Age Factors , Caffeine/adverse effects , Central Nervous System Stimulants/adverse effects , Comorbidity , Feeding and Eating Disorders/epidemiology , Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology , Female , Humans , Inpatients/psychology , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Mood Disorders/epidemiology , Mood Disorders/psychology , Outpatients/psychology , Prevalence , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Sex Factors , Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/epidemiology , Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/psychology , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Substance-Related Disorders/psychology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Existing trials investigated the impact of medical treatment of thyroid disorders on health-related quality of life (QOL) and psychiatric symptoms. The aim of this prospective study is to analyze the impact of thyroid surgery on QOL and severity of psychiatric symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients undergoing thyroid surgery (TS) were assessed before thyroidectomy (T0) and 37 also after surgery, >or=6 months after euthyroidism was achieved (T1). QOL and psychiatric symptoms were evaluated at T0 and T1 using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90-R). Scores at T0 were compared with those of patients undergoing surgery for non-thyroidal disease and the SF-36 scores were also compared with the normative Italian sample. Changes in QOL and psychiatric symptoms between T0 and T1 were also examined. RESULTS: Health-related QOL in TS patients before surgery was poorer than in the comparison group on the SF-36 mental component summary measure and social functioning. Mental health improved significantly after surgery but social functioning remained markedly impaired. A significant reduction in the severity of psychiatric symptoms was observed. DISCUSSION: Our results indicate that even long after euthyroidism is achieved after surgery, patients show a significant improvement of mental health and a reduction of psychiatric symptoms. Nevertheless, patients continue to have a poorer QOL compared to the Italian normative sample.
