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1.
J Occup Med Toxicol ; 13: 23, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30123312

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cumulative epidemiological evidence suggests that shift work exerts harmful effects on human health. However, the physiological mechanisms are not well understood. This study aimed to examine the impact of shift work on the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, i.e. diurnal cortisol rhythm. METHODS: Seventy physicians with a mean age 30 years participated in this one-year longitudinal study. Working schedules, either shift work or regular schedules with day shift, were assessed at baseline. Salivary cortisol samples were collected on two consecutive regular working days, four times a day (including waking, + 4 h, + 8 h, and + 16 h), at both baseline and the one-year follow-up. The diurnal cortisol decline (slope) and total cortisol concentration (area under the curve, AUC) were calculated. RESULTS: After adjusting for cortisol secretion at baseline and numerous covariates, shift work at baseline significantly predicted a steeper slope (p < 0.01) and a larger AUC (p < 0.05) of diurnal cortisol rhythm at follow-up in this sample of physicians. In particular, waking cortisol at follow-up was significantly higher among those engaged in shift work than day shift (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the notion that shift work changes the diurnal cortisol pattern, and is predictive of increased cortisol secretion consequently in junior physicians.

2.
Neuroimmunomodulation ; 25(1): 7-17, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29895009

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Cellular immune status in major depression (MD) patients differs from that in somatoform disorder (SFD) patients and healthy controls (HC). It is still questionable whether the patterns of immune parameters remain stable over time. Therefore, we studied lymphocyte and monocyte cell counts and neopterin levels in peripheral blood of MD and SFD patients and HC over 12 weeks and tested for correlations between biochemical and psychometric parameters. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with MD, 27 with SFD, and 51 HC were recruited. Peripheral blood was drawn at four visits, at 4-week intervals. We assessed the total cell count of B lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, T lymphocyte subpopu-lations, and monocytes by flow cytometry, and neopterin serum levels by ELISA. Psychometric parameters were measured with questionnaires. RESULTS: Counts of lymphocytes, monocytes, and neopterin were stable in the SFD and HC groups. In the MD group, total CD3+, CD3+CD8+, NK cells, and CD3+CD25+ T cells showed inhomogeneous variances in Friedman tests, particularly in females. Neopterin correlated with depressed mood in MD patients, and with body mass index in HC. CONCLUSIONS: Cellular immune parameters are stable in HC and SFD. Our results may indicate influences of MD and gender on some cellular immune parameters. This may need to be considered in future immunological studies.


Subject(s)
B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Depressive Disorder, Major/immunology , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Monocytes/immunology , Somatoform Disorders/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Adult , Aged , B-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Depressive Disorder, Major/blood , Depressive Disorder, Major/diagnosis , Female , Flow Cytometry/methods , Healthy Volunteers , Humans , Immunity, Cellular/immunology , Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Monocytes/metabolism , Somatoform Disorders/blood , Somatoform Disorders/diagnosis , T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Time Factors
3.
Depress Anxiety ; 26(1): E26-33, 2009.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19016461

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to investigate facial emotion recognition in patients with somatoform disorders (SFD). Also of interest was the extent to which concurrent alexithymia contributed to any changes in emotion recognition accuracy. METHODS: Twenty patients with SFD and twenty healthy, age, sex and education matched, controls were assessed with the Facially Expressed Emotion Labelling Test of facial emotion recognition and the 26-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26). RESULTS: Patients with SFD exhibited elevated alexithymia symptoms relative to healthy controls. Patients with SFD also recognized significantly fewer emotional expressions than did the healthy controls. However, the group difference in emotion recognition accuracy became nonsignificant once the influence of alexithymia was controlled for statistically. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that the deficit in facial emotion recognition observed in the patients with SFD was most likely a consequence of concurrent alexithymia. Impaired facial emotion recognition observed in the patients with SFD could plausibly have a negative influence on these individuals' social functioning.


Subject(s)
Affective Symptoms/psychology , Emotions , Facial Expression , Pattern Recognition, Visual , Recognition, Psychology , Somatoform Disorders/psychology , Adult , Affective Symptoms/diagnosis , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Inventory , Reference Values
4.
Nord J Psychiatry ; 62(5): 366-73, 2008.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18752108

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate cortisol levels as a function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) in relation to alexithymia in patients with somatoform disorders (SFD). Diurnal salivary cortisol was sampled in 32 patients with SFD who also underwent a psychiatric examination and filled in questionnaires (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS scale; Screening for Somatoform Symptoms, SOMS scale; Hamilton Depression Scale, HAMD). The mean TAS total score in the sample was 55.6+/-9.6, 32% of patients being classified as alexithymic on the basis of their TAS scores. Depression scores were moderate (HAMD=13.2, Beck Depression Inventory, BDI=16.5). The patients' alexithymia scores (TAS scale "Difficulty identifying feelings") correlated significantly positively with their somatization scale scores (Symptom Checklist-90 Revised, SCL-90-R); r=0.3438 (P<0.05) and their scores on the Global Severity Index (GSI) on the SCL-90-R; r=0.781 (P<0.01). Regression analysis was performed with cortisol variables as the dependent variables. Cortisol levels [measured by the area under the curve-ground (AUC-G), area under the curve-increase (AUC-I) and morning cortisol (MCS)] were best predicted in a multiple linear regression model by lower depressive scores (HAMD) and more psychopathological symptoms (SCL-90-R). No significant correlations were found between the patients' alexithymia scores (TAS) and cortisol levels. The healthy control group (n=25) demonstrated significantly higher cortisol levels than did the patients with SFD; in both tests P<0.001 for AUC-G and AUC-I. However, the two groups did not differ in terms of their mean morning cortisol levels (P>0.05). The results suggest that pre-existing hypocortisolism might possibly be associated with SFD.


Subject(s)
Affective Symptoms/metabolism , Hydrocortisone/metabolism , Saliva/metabolism , Somatoform Disorders/metabolism , Adult , Affective Symptoms/complications , Affective Symptoms/psychology , Area Under Curve , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/metabolism , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Female , Humans , Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Pituitary-Adrenal System/metabolism , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/statistics & numerical data , Severity of Illness Index , Somatoform Disorders/complications , Somatoform Disorders/diagnosis , Somatoform Disorders/psychology , Stress, Psychological/complications , Stress, Psychological/diagnosis , Stress, Psychological/metabolism , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires
5.
Int J Hyg Environ Health ; 211(5-6): 658-81, 2008 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18502687

ABSTRACT

In this multicentre study on multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) 291 consecutive environmental medicine (EM) outpatients were examined in several environmental medicine outpatient centres/units throughout Germany in 2000/2003. Of the EM outpatients, 89 were male (30.6%) and 202 were female (69.4%), aged 22-80 (mean 48 years, S.D.=12 years). The sample was representative for university-based environmental outpatient departments and represented a cross-sectional study design with an integrated clinical-based case-control comparison (MCS vs. non-MCS). Three classifications of MCS were used: self-reported MCS (sMCS), clinically diagnosed MCS (cMCS), and formalised computer-assisted MCS with two variants (f1MCS, f2MCS). Data were collected by means of an environmental medicine questionnaire, psychosocial questionnaires, the German version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), and a medical baseline documentation, as well as special examinations in partial projects on olfaction and genetic susceptibility markers. The hypothesis guided evaluation of the project showed that the patients' heterogenic health complaints did not indicate a characteristic set of symptoms for MCS. No systematic connection could be observed between complaints and the triggers implicated, nor was there any evidence for a genetic predisposition, or obvious disturbances of the olfactory system. The standardised psychiatric diagnostics applying CIDI demonstrated that the EM patients in general and the subgroup with MCS in particular suffered more often from mental disorders compared to an age and gender matched sample of the general population and that in most patients these disorders commenced many years before environment-related health complaints. Our results do not support the assumption of a toxicogenic-somatic basis of the MCS phenomenon. In contrast, numerous indicators for the relevance of behavioural accentuations, psychic alterations or psychosomatic impairments were found in the group of EM-outpatients with subjective "environmental illness".


Subject(s)
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity/diagnosis , Multiple Chemical Sensitivity/psychology , Somatoform Disorders/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Evidence-Based Medicine , Female , Germany/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multiple Chemical Sensitivity/epidemiology , Prevalence , Sex Distribution , Young Adult
6.
Psychosomatics ; 49(2): 115-22, 2008.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18354064

ABSTRACT

In a cross-sectional study, the authors investigated 40 female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) for the degree of alexithymia and parental bonding style. Alexithymia was assessed by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-26; parental style by the FDEB (a German version of the Measure of Parental Style). In 15% of patients with FS, clinically significant alexithymia was found. Also, there was a positive association between the alexithymia scores (TAS total score) and "maternal abuse" and higher values in "paternal indifference," which predicted higher scores on "Difficulties identifying feelings" (TAS). The results of this study suggest that parental styles are associated with higher alexithymia scores.


Subject(s)
Affective Symptoms/psychology , Fibromyalgia/psychology , Object Attachment , Parent-Child Relations , Psychophysiologic Disorders/psychology , Adult , Affective Symptoms/diagnosis , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Fibromyalgia/diagnosis , Humans , Personality Inventory , Psychophysiologic Disorders/diagnosis , Risk Factors
8.
Int J Psychiatry Med ; 38(4): 437-51, 2008.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19480357

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study examines the relationship between parental bonding, adult attachment, and alexithymia in patients with Somatoform Disorders (SFD). There are few empirical studies to support the clinical hypothesis that alexithymia may be due to disturbances in the early parent-child relationship. SAMPLING AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, data from 76 patients with SFD were obtained, consisting of questionnaire measures of alexithymia (TAS scale), attachment style (BFKE), and also the German version of the MOPS (Measure of Parental Style), the FDEB scale for measuring perceived parental attitude. RESULTS: A higher than average prevalence of insecure attachment (n = 67, 88.2%) was found in our sample with SFD and a T-value of 54.3 (9.5) in the TAS total score, 22% reaching clinically significant alexithymia. Regression analyses demonstrated the relationship between the "ambivalent clinging" and "ambivalent withdrawing" attachment style and more marked alexithymia features. Furthermore, alexithymia was positively predicted by "indifference" in the relationship to the father, BDI, and Global severity index (SCL-90-R). CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the hypothesis that alexithymia is associated with perceived parental bonding and attachment style.


Subject(s)
Affective Symptoms/psychology , Object Attachment , Parent-Child Relations , Somatoform Disorders/psychology , Adult , Affective Symptoms/epidemiology , Austria/epidemiology , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Somatoform Disorders/epidemiology
9.
Depress Anxiety ; 25(11): E133-41, 2008.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18033726

ABSTRACT

The primary aim of this study was to investigate facial emotion recognition (FER) in patients with somatoform disorders (SFD). Also of interest was the extent to which concurrent alexithymia contributed to any changes in emotion recognition accuracy. Twenty patients with SFD and 20 healthy, age, sex and education matched, controls were assessed with the Facially Expressed Emotion Labelling Test of FER and the 26-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Patients with SFD exhibited elevated alexithymia symptoms relative to healthy controls. Patients with SFD also recognized significantly fewer emotional expressions than did the healthy controls. However, the group difference in emotion recognition accuracy became nonsignificant once the influence of alexithymia was controlled for statistics. This suggests that the deficit in FER observed in the patients with SFD was most likely a consequence of concurrent alexithymia. It should be noted that neither depression nor anxiety was significantly related to emotion recognition accuracy, suggesting that these variables did not contribute the emotion recognition deficit. Impaired FER observed in the patients with SFD could plausibly have a negative influence on these individuals' social functioning.


Subject(s)
Affect , Facial Expression , Recognition, Psychology , Somatoform Disorders/epidemiology , Somatoform Disorders/psychology , Adult , Affective Symptoms/diagnosis , Affective Symptoms/epidemiology , Affective Symptoms/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Somatoform Disorders/diagnosis , Surveys and Questionnaires
10.
Neuroimmunomodulation ; 14(5): 235-42, 2007.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18073498

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate if somatoform disorders (SFD) are associated with changes in the normal serum levels of important interleukins, and further, to establish if these changes are related to the presence and severity of alexithymia in patients with SFD. METHODS: Twenty-four unmedicated patients who met the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria for SFD completed the psychological questionnaire to assess alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale), symptom reporting (SCL-90-R) and diagnostic criteria for SFD (Screening for Somatoform Symptoms scale). Serum concentrations of soluble interleukin 2 receptor alpha (sIL-2 Ralpha), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 were determined in patients with SFD and in 9 healthy subjects. RESULTS: In patients with SFD, serum levels of IL-6 (p < 0.001), IL-10 (p = 0.047) and immunoglobulin E (p = 0.045) were significantly increased in comparison with healthy controls. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between the level of alexithymia ('total' Toronto Alexithymia Scale score) and the serum levels of sIL-2 Ralpha (r = -0.538) in SFD. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results suggest that SFD, with clinically significant alexithymia, are associated with a reduction in Th1-mediated immune function and an increase in the activation of the Th2 immune function, indicated by the augmented serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 and elevated immunoglobulin E.


Subject(s)
Affective Symptoms/blood , Affective Symptoms/immunology , Immune System Diseases/blood , Interleukins/blood , Somatoform Disorders/blood , Somatoform Disorders/immunology , Affective Symptoms/physiopathology , Biomarkers/blood , Immune System Diseases/etiology , Immune System Diseases/physiopathology , Immunoglobulin E/blood , Interleukin-10/blood , Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit/blood , Interleukin-6/blood , Mass Screening , Neuropsychological Tests , Somatoform Disorders/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Th1 Cells/immunology , Th2 Cells/immunology , Up-Regulation/immunology
11.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) ; 191(4): 1023-6, 2007 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17318503

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: Only one controlled trial is known that employed aripiprazole for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This 8-week trial found significant changes on most scales of the symptom checklist (SCL-90-R), Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS), Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HARS), and on all scales of the state-trait anger expression inventory (STAXI). OBJECTIVES, MATERIALS, AND METHODS: To assess the long-term effectiveness of aripiprazole with multifaceted borderline symptomatology, this 18-month follow-up observation with biannual testing was carried out with the same patients from the previous trial (treated with 15-mg aripiprazole daily, n = 26, 21 female and 5 male patients; previous placebo group, n = 26, 22 female and 4 male patients). RESULTS: According to the intent-to-treat principle, significant changes on all scales of the SCL-90-R, HDRS, HARS, and STAXI were observed in the aripiprazole-treated subjects after 18 months. CONCLUSION: Aripiprazole appears to be an effective and relatively safe agent in the long-term treatment of patients with BPD.


Subject(s)
Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Borderline Personality Disorder/drug therapy , Piperazines/therapeutic use , Quinolones/therapeutic use , Aripiprazole , Borderline Personality Disorder/psychology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Research Design , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome
12.
Acta Neuropsychiatr ; 19(6): 368-75, 2007 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26953003

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have suggested that somatoform disorders (SFD) might be associated with changes in the function of the central and autonomic nervous systems. The aim of this study was to examine the possible immunological differences between SFD and healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with SFD and 13 healthy individuals completed the psychological questionnaires to assess symptom reporting [Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90-R)] and to diagnose for SFD [Screening for Somatoform Symptoms scale (SOMS-scale)]. Participants also provided a blood sample taken in the morning, which was analysed with an automated cell counter to determine the number of leucocytes per µl and with flow cytometry to determine lymphocyte subsets. RESULTS: With the exception of a higher T4/T8 ratio in the patient group, which was mainly because of lower CD8 counts, there were no significant differences in the absolute number of lymphocytes (subsets) between patients with SFD and healthy subjects. A positive correlation between B-lymphocyte subsets (CD19+CD22+, CD19+CD5+, CD19+CD3-) to all scales of the SCL-90-R, except somatisation, were found in SFD. Additionally, a positive correlation was found in SFD between CD14+CD16+ monocytes and somatisation (0.573) on the SCL-90-R scale. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that patients with SFD have an enhanced humoral immunity as shown by increased B-cell numbers and furthermore an elevated T4/T8 ratio because of lower CD8 suppressor cells. Further studies will be required to determine whether these alterations in lymphocyte subsets are directly involved in the pathophysiology of SFD.

13.
J Psychosom Res ; 61(4): 507-13, 2006 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17011359

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether bioenergetic exercises (BE) significantly influence the inpatient psychotherapeutic treatment results for Turkish immigrants with chronic somatoform disorders. METHOD: In a 6-week randomized, prospective, controlled trial, we treated a sample of 128 Turkish patients: 64 were randomly assigned to BE and 64 participated in gymnastic exercises in lieu of BE. The Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) were employed. RESULTS: According to the intent-to-treat principle, the bioenergetic analysis group achieved significantly better treatment results on most of the SCL-90-R and STAXI scales. CONCLUSIONS: BE appears to improve symptoms of somatization, social insecurity, depressiveness, anxiety, and hostility in the inpatient therapy of subjects with chronic somatoform disorders. Reduction of the anger level and reduction in directing anger inwards, with a simultaneous increase of spontaneous outward emotional expression, could be expected.


Subject(s)
Emigration and Immigration/statistics & numerical data , Energy Metabolism/physiology , Exercise , Mental Disorders/ethnology , Mental Disorders/rehabilitation , Somatoform Disorders/rehabilitation , Adult , Chronic Disease , Comorbidity , Drug Therapy/methods , Female , Germany , Hospitalization , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/therapy , Middle Aged , Somatoform Disorders/ethnology , Somatoform Disorders/therapy , Turkey/ethnology
14.
Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol ; 56(3-4): 162-71, 2006.
Article in German | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16802422

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A nationwide, environmental outpatient-based multi-center two-phase study on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) was conducted from 1999 until 2004. The aim of the study was to characterize more precisely the health-complaints relevant for the MCS-phenomenon. A standardized psychiatric interview (CIDI), used to identify frequency, character and duration of psychiatric disorders and their chronological relation to the environment-related health complaints of the patients, formed part of the extensive diagnostic procedure. METHOD: 251 (86.3%) of the 291 attendees of the environmental outpatient departments in Aachen, Berlin, Bredstedt, Freiburg, Giessen and Munich, were examined using the German version (M-CIDI/DIA-X) of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: 83.7% (lifetime prevalence rate) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of at least one psychiatric disorder, with the 12-month and 4-week prevalence rates being 76.5% and 64.5%, respectively. Environmental outpatients, in all prevalence periods, had significantly higher rates of psychiatric disorders than the comparable general population. Somatoform disorders were most frequently diagnosed, followed by depressive and phobic disorders. For 81.2% of the patients the psychiatric disorder started long before the environment-related health complaints (average 17 years). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the results of earlier studies, i.e. that patients with environment-related health complaints suffer from psychiatric disorders more frequently than the general population. The high environmental outpatients really suffer from psychosomatic complaints, but attribute the causes to the environment. Application of specific therapeutic regimen is recommended for those patients, whose psychiatric disorders are safeguarded diagnostically and for whom a relevant exposure is unlikely.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/psychology , Multiple Chemical Sensitivity/psychology , Adult , Aged , Female , Germany/epidemiology , Humans , Interview, Psychological , Male , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Multiple Chemical Sensitivity/epidemiology , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Somatoform Disorders/epidemiology
15.
Z Psychosom Med Psychother ; 52(2): 141-60, 2006.
Article in German | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16790164

ABSTRACT

In the German DRG system the funding of CL services is not ensured. The documentation of psychiatric comorbidity and CL care delivery is a pre-condition to the development of funding models for CL-services. A task force of several German psychosomatic associations (German College of Psychosomatic Medicine, German Society of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, General Medical Society for Psychotherapy) developed a new documentation form for CL-services (CL-BaDo). The pilot study explored the multicenter implementation of CL-BaDo and the use of the documentation form for quality management and cost calculation. Over a period of at least three months, participating CL-services documented all CL cases consecutively with the CL-BaDo. One site applied full electronic data processing. 2116 CL cases from eight psychosomatic CL-services were analysed. The CL-BaDo is a time-efficient, feasible and acceptable documentation form for CL-service delivery. The full electronic data processing enables networking with a hospital information system to produce higher data quality. The data of CL-BaDo can be used locally for quality management, development of management strategies and communication with consultants, as well as nationwide for health policy questions and research.


Subject(s)
Data Collection/methods , Documentation/methods , Hospital Costs/statistics & numerical data , Psychosomatic Medicine/organization & administration , Psychotherapy/organization & administration , Referral and Consultation/organization & administration , Total Quality Management/organization & administration , Austria , Costs and Cost Analysis/statistics & numerical data , Data Collection/economics , Diagnosis-Related Groups/economics , Diagnosis-Related Groups/organization & administration , Electronic Data Processing/economics , Electronic Data Processing/organization & administration , Feasibility Studies , Germany , Hospital Information Systems/economics , Hospital Information Systems/organization & administration , Humans , National Health Programs/economics , National Health Programs/organization & administration , Pilot Projects , Psychosomatic Medicine/economics , Psychotherapy/economics , Referral and Consultation/economics , Total Quality Management/economics
16.
Psychother Psychosom ; 75(4): 237-43, 2006.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16785773

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a serious medical problem in pregnancy and is often associated with stress, anger and poor quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on change in blood pressure, lung parameters, heart rate, anger and health-related quality of life in pregnant women with bronchial asthma. METHODS: We treated a sample of 64 pregnant women with bronchial asthma from the local population in an 8-week randomized, prospective, controlled trial. Thirty-two were selected for PMR, and 32 received a placebo intervention. The systolic blood pressure, forced expiratory volume in the first second, peak expiratory flow and heart rate were tested, and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and Health Survey (SF-36) were employed. RESULTS: According to the intend-to-treat principle, a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and a significant increase in both forced expiratory volume in the first second and peak expiratory flow were observed after PMR. The heart rate showed a significant increase in the coefficient of variation, root mean square of successive differences and high frequency ranges, in addition to a significant reduction in low and middle frequency ranges. A significant reduction on three of five State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory scales, and a significant increase on seven of eight SF-36 scales were observed. CONCLUSIONS: PMR appears to be an effective method to improve blood pressure, lung parameters and heart rate, and to decrease anger levels, thus enhancing health-related quality of life in pregnant women with bronchial asthma.


Subject(s)
Asthma/psychology , Asthma/therapy , Blood Pressure/physiology , Muscle Relaxation/physiology , Adult , Female , Forced Expiratory Volume/physiology , Heart Rate/physiology , Humans , Peak Expiratory Flow Rate/physiology , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Quality of Life/psychology
17.
Am J Psychiatry ; 163(5): 833-8, 2006 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16648324

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Aripiprazole is a relatively new atypical antipsychotic agent that has been successfully employed in therapy for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. A few neuroleptics have been used in therapy for patients with borderline personality disorder, which is associated with severe psychopathological symptoms. Aripiprazole, however, has not yet been tested for this disorder, and the goal of this study was to determine whether aripiprazole is effective in the treatment of several domains of symptoms of borderline personality disorder. METHOD: Subjects meeting criteria for the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders for borderline personality disorder (43 women and 9 men) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to 15 mg/day of aripiprazole (N=26) or placebo (N=26) for 8 weeks. Primary outcome measures were changes in scores on the symptom checklist (SCL-90-R), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and were assessed weekly. Side effects and self-injury were assessed with a nonvalidated questionnaire. RESULTS: According to the intent-to-treat principle, significant changes in scores on most scales of the SCL-90-R, the HAM-D, the HAM-A, and all scales of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory were observed in the subjects treated with aripiprazole after 8 weeks. Self-injury occurred in the groups. The reported side effects were headache, insomnia, nausea, numbness, constipation, and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Aripiprazole appears to be a safe and effective agent in the treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder.


Subject(s)
Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Borderline Personality Disorder/drug therapy , Piperazines/therapeutic use , Quinolones/therapeutic use , Aggression/drug effects , Anger/drug effects , Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects , Aripiprazole , Borderline Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Borderline Personality Disorder/psychology , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Personality Inventory , Piperazines/adverse effects , Placebos , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Quinolones/adverse effects , Severity of Illness Index , Suicide/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment Outcome
18.
Int J Eat Disord ; 39(5): 410-7, 2006 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16609982

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to examine sociopsychopathological predictors of prospective observed suicide attempts in bulimic women purging type without comorbid major depression (BNG) at the time of study entry and in woman with major depression without comorbid eating disorder at the time of study entry (MDG). METHODS: Data from 28 BNG (age 23.5 +/- 3.6) and 126 MDG women (age 33.4 +/- 5.1) who had attempted suicide during 12 months' monitoring were compared. RESULTS: A univariate comparison of the two groups revealed various differences. Analysis of risk factors for suicide attempts using stepwise logistic regression was conducted separately for each group. The derived logistic models showed that patients from the BNG group had a history of higher incidence of sexual abuse in childhood, as well as abuse of laxatives and illicit drugs; they also lacked orientation in life, felt lonely despite family and friends, tended to direct their anger outward, and were unable to relax. CONCLUSIONS: Sociopsychopathological risk factors for suicide attempts in the BNG and MDG appear to vary.


Subject(s)
Bulimia/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder, Major/diagnosis , Family/psychology , Social Environment , Suicide, Attempted/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aggression/psychology , Bulimia/psychology , Child , Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Child Abuse, Sexual/statistics & numerical data , Comorbidity , Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Life Change Events , Logistic Models , Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data , Prospective Studies , Psychometrics/statistics & numerical data , Risk Factors , Suicide/psychology , Suicide/statistics & numerical data , Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data
19.
J Clin Psychopharmacol ; 26(1): 61-6, 2006 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16415708

ABSTRACT

Borderline personality disorder is a common and severe psychiatric illness. The goal of this study was to determine whether topiramate can influence patients' borderline psychopathology, health-related quality of life, and interpersonal problems. Women meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Structured Clinical Interview II criteria for borderline personality disorder were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to topiramate titrated from 25 to 200 mg/d (n = 28) or placebo (n = 28) for 10 weeks. Primary outcome measures were changes on the Symptom-Checklist, on the SF-36 Health Survey, and on the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems. Body weight and additional side effects were assessed weekly. According to the intent-to-treat principle, significant changes (all P < 0.001) on the somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, and Global Severity Index scales of the Symptom Checklist were observed in the topiramate-treated subjects after 10 weeks (no significant changes on the obsessive-compulsive, depression, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism scales). In the SF-36 Health Survey, significant differences were observed on all 8 scales (all P < 0.01 or P < 0.001). In the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, significant differences (all P < 0.001) were found in the scales for overly autocratic, overly competitive, overly introverted, and overly expressive (no significant differences in the scales for overly cold, overly subassertive/subservient, overly exploitable/compliant, and overly nurturant/friendly). Weight loss was additionally observed (p < 0.001). Topiramate appears to be a safe and effective agent in the treatment in women with borderline personality disorder. Additional weight loss can be expected.


Subject(s)
Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use , Borderline Personality Disorder/drug therapy , Fructose/analogs & derivatives , Adolescent , Adult , Anger/drug effects , Anticonvulsants/pharmacology , Anxiety/drug therapy , Double-Blind Method , Female , Fructose/pharmacology , Fructose/therapeutic use , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Personality Inventory , Placebos , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Quality of Life , Topiramate , Weight Loss/drug effects
20.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr ; 42(3): 247-55, 2006.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16140405

ABSTRACT

Previous studies found that depressive symptoms and low functional self-efficacy are associated with the occurrence of disabling musculoskeletal pain, and diminished quality of life in elderly people. The target of this study was to consider the change in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disability and health related quality of life after integrative psychotherapeutic treatment program of depressive symptoms in senior female patients with musculoskeletal pain. In an 8-week outpatient-based, random, prospective, controlled trial, 36 female patients between 70 and 79 with a history of clinically evident musculoskeletal pain and afflicted with depressive symptoms, but who were able to bathe, walk, dress, and transferring inside the house were evaluated. The study was performed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), IADL, and the Health Survey (SF-36). In comparison with the untreated group, according to the intent-to-treat principle, significant changes on the CES-D (P < 0.01), IADL (P < 0.01), and all scales of SF-36 were observed after eight weeks in the treated subjects. The treatment of moderate depression with integrative psychotherapy may be efficacious in improving of IADL disability and health related quality of life in affected senior female patients with musculoskeletal pain.


Subject(s)
Activities of Daily Living , Depression/therapy , Disability Evaluation , Musculoskeletal Diseases/therapy , Pain/physiopathology , Aged , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Chronic Disease , Depression/physiopathology , Depression/psychology , Female , Health Status , Humans , Musculoskeletal Diseases/physiopathology , Musculoskeletal Diseases/psychology , Pain Measurement , Placebos , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Quality of Life , Self Efficacy
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