ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between total serum cholesterol and various psychosocial variables in depressed in-patients. METHOD: One hundred and eighty-six patients had their total fasting serum cholesterol assessed following admission; psychiatric diagnoses were obtained with the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV (SCID) interview. Psychopathology was measured with a clinician rated scale [Montgomery and Asberg Depressive Rating Scale (MADRS)] and a self-rating scale [Symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90)]. RESULTS: Univariate analyses showed lower total serum cholesterol levels being correlated with higher scores in several psychopathological areas. Multivariate analyses indicated that male gender, lower age and higher MADRS scores were the most predictive variables for lower cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: The data suggest, in this depressed population, an association between serum cholesterol and depressive symptoms. What is the cause and what is its effect is not possible to say from this cross-sectional study.
Subject(s)
Cholesterol/blood , Depressive Disorder/blood , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Hospitalization , Mental Disorders/blood , Mental Disorders/psychology , Female , Humans , Linear Models , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
Social adjustment scores were compared using the Social Adjustment Scale for 24 inpatients with single-episode major depression, 72 with recurrent major depression, and 28 with bipolar disorder. There were no differences between the three groups either in overall score or on single scales.
Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology , Patient Admission , Social Adjustment , Adult , Aged , Female , Hospitals, Psychiatric , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Inventory , RecurrenceABSTRACT
The onset of severe episodes of sepsis in splenectomized patients has induced surgeons to perform conservative operations in order to save at least partial functioning of the spleen. Recently, great interest has been focused on the non-operative treatment of traumatic lesions of the spleen, which involves careful and continual observation of patients with splenic nauma to monitor their course towards recovery. This method of treatment was recently adopted by our department for two patients whose case histories are presented herein. Non-operative treatment is suitable only in strictly selected subjects, who must be carefully monitored in an intensive care unit where constant examination and sophisticated diagnostic procedures are readily available. Although the non-operative treatment of splenic trauma is not new, it is only recently that its management, programming and role have been updated.
