Smoking and endocrine disorders.

Patients suffering from endocrine disorders, which affect the function of central nervous system, need a special care and approach in the process of smoking cessation. The process of informing about negative effects of smoking addiction, including potential aggravation of the disease, has to be specially tailored to the need of the patient and the type of the disease. The informing physician should also serve as a model by not smoking and try to confirm the patient about positive benefits of quitting smoking.

Subclinical hyperthyroid patients' knowledge about radioiodine therapy--the key role of medical information.

OBJECTIVES: Many patients with a chronic disease are dissatisfied with the information they are given. A brief questionnaire completed by patients would assist health professionals to identify areas of information needed to be provided, tailored to the patient's mental condition. AIM: The aim of our study was to assess how often thyroid patients report being adequately informed about iodine treatment in connection with their real need thereof, emotional state and acceptance of the disease. METHODS: One hundred outpatients who had presented subclinical hyperthyroidism "[19 men (19%), 81 women (81%); mean (SD±) age 53±14,range 18-77 yr ] treated with radioiodine (RAI) responded to an Experimental Questionnaire, 54 of them answered to AIS, HADS-M and Beck Inventory measuring their acceptance of the illness and depressive symptoms, 37 of them answered the Patient Request Form (PRF). RESULTS: The obtained results indicated that about 50% of patients treated with 131I therapy did not receive suitable information about their treatment. Neither written information prepared by the specialist, nor verbal information given by physicians were adequate for specific problems of study group. The examined patients presented with a comparable intensity of three distinct types of requests: for explanation and reassurance, for emotional support, and for investigation and treatment. The acceptance of their disease was mediocre for most of the study group. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the reported lack of satisfaction with medical information in study group was associated with depressive symptoms influencing cognitive efficiency, patients' great need of emotional and cognitive support, influencing the acceptance of their disease, and social prejudice to radioiodine (as a method of treatment), worrying them additionally. All thyroid patients even these with subclinical symptoms of hyperthyroidism should be treated with specific attention by physicians, especially during information process.

[Psychological view of thyroid cancer and in hyperthyroid Graves' patients - comparative exploration]. / Porównawcze badania psychologiczne chorych z rakiem tarczycy oraz z nadczynnoscia tarczycy w przebiegu choroby Gravesa-Basedowa.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of study was the evaluation of association between psychometric factors in patients with thyroid cancer and in Graves' hyperthyroid patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 50 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, 42 females (84.75%), 8 males aged from 32 to 64 yr. (x +/- SD: 43 +/- 8.17 yr.) and 50 hyperthyroid patients, 45 (90%) females and 5 (10%) males corresponding aged. We used the following methods: the EAS Temperament Survey (EASD) in addition for adults, EPQ Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Polish Abbreviated Form of the MMPI (DKO-74) and Beck's Depression Scale. We compared the scores of thyroid cancer patients and hyperthyroid patients. RESULTS: We have interpreted obtained results in both groups as similarly in: mild sense depression, high emotional control, high social dependence, ambiverssion, mild level of emotional mental balance. CONCLUSION: Results of our explorations appears great psychological similarity between differentiated thyroid patients and hyperthyroid patients.

[Quality of life in Graves' ophthalmopathy (continuation of research)]. / Jakosc zycia pacjentów z orbitopatia w przebiegu choroby Graves-Basedowa (kontynuacja badán).

The previous research concerning "quality of life" in Graves patients with ophthalmopathy appeared to be a very important direction in health promotion. This drives us to continue enhancement of the quality of life in this group. The biggest deficiency we found to be in the life sphere activity and professional activity, interpersonal relations and positive self-estimation. We analyzed 48 women with Graves' Ophthalmopathy from 32 to 64 yr., average 43 SD 8,17. We used the following experimental methods: Quality of Life Experimental Inventory, Temperament Inventory (Eas-D). In Addition for Adults, STAI Questionnaire (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and Beck's Depression Scale. We interpreted obtained results as: 1. anxiety tendency, 2. subjective decreased mood, 3. decreased social contact tendency.