ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The study of psycho-emotional reactions associated with chronic neuropathies, is an important factor of the integrated solution to the problem of treatment and prevention of disorders of the peripheral nervous system. The aim of the research is to study clinical psychopathological phenomenology and personality characteristics of patients suffering from chronic neuropathies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 115 patients with chronic neuropathies in comparison with 60 healthy persons using a clinical conversation method, shortened multivariable personality questionnaire, The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Spilberger's scale of trait and state anxiety and Symptom Check List-90-Revised questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients with chronic neuropathies are characterized by multiple complaints from the psycho-emotional sphere, the most common of which are depressed mood (72.2%), fatigue (76.5%) and sleep disorders (77.4%). Elevated levels of somatization (2,35 ± 0,66 points), interpersonal sensitivity (1,83 ± 0,80 points), depression (2,82 ± 1,05 points), anxiety (2,08 ± 1, 28 points) were revealed in patients. The level of depression on the The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale in patients corresponded to mild depression of situational or neurotic genesis (54,45 ± 9,93 points), and trait and state anxiety to an increased level (respectively 45,17 ± 11,19 points and 45,14 ± 9,89 points). Specific personality traits in the form of persistent depressive tendencies combined with hypochondriacal symptoms, an increase in trait and state anxiety, decreased general reactivity and manifestations of chronic fatigue and exhaustion correspond to somatic predisposition and provide ground to consider them as signs of persistent neuroticism with hypochondriacal personality development and accentuation on hypothymic (dysthymic) type. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed a wide range of psychopathological phenomena of a polymorphic character. The main psychopathological construct of unfavourable changes in the psycho-emotional sphere of patients with neuropathies are depressive and anxiodepressive symptoms and auxiliary ones are somatization, emotional lability, increased interpersonal sensitivity and the phenomenon of asthenia.
