Psychological profile of Greek doctors: differences among five specialties.

The aim of the present study was to explore the differences in the psychological profiles between genders and different specialties among Greek doctors. Five-thirty nine doctors in five different specialties, namely 115 general practitioners, 168 internists, 81 surgeons, 108 microbiologists and 67 anesthesiologists, participated in the study. 253 participants were specialized doctors and 286 participants were medical residents. The sample consisted of 280 women and 259 men. The mean age of the sample was 38.75(±7.98) years. A cross sectional survey study was conducted. Symptom Check List 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) was used to collect the data. Multivariate Analysis of Variance indicated the significant effect of specialty (Wilks' Lambda = .20, p = .000), the effect of gender (Wilks' Lambda = .90, p = .000) as well as their interaction (Wilks' Lambda = .68, p = .000) on participants' scores in SCL-90-R subscales. Internists reported high scores in 8 out of 9 subscales of SCL-90-R. Surgeons scored significantly higher compared to all other specialties in hostility(HS) subscale. Women reported statistically higher scores in almost all subscales of the SCL-90-R test compared to men, apart from HS (p = .191). Gender and specialty choice play role in the psychological profile of Greek doctors. Women and internists seem to be more prone to psychopathology. These findings should be taken into account in future studies and interventions.

Shame and Anxiety Feelings of a Roma Population in Greece.

Shame is a crucial issue for Roma. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the severity of shame and anxiety feelings in a Roma population living in Greece and assess the differentiation of these feelings between Roma men and women. A quota sample of 194 Roma adult men and women living in Southern Greece was retrieved. The Experiences of Shame Scale (ESS), the Other As Shamer Scale (OAS) and the Spielberg's State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires were used. Women scored statistically significantly higher than men on ESS, whereas men scored higher on OAS scale (52.27 ± 16.91 vs 45.42 ± 9.98 and 35.93 ± 16.94 vs 30.87 ± 13.72 respectively). Women scored higher than men in both STAI subscales, however significant differences were observed only in State Anxiety scale (48.83 ± 9.26 vs 43.20 ± 9.81). OAS total score was inversely related to state anxiety, whereas ESS total score was positive related to trait anxiety, all correlations being significant at p < 0.05 level. Roma men and women exhibit high levels of shame and anxiety. Cultural, social and minority issues contribute to feelings of inferiority and anxiety experience.

Successful treatment of refractory anemia with a combination regimen containing recombinant human erythropoietin, low-dose methylprednisolone and nandrolone.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogenous group of hematological clonal malignancies. Patients belonging to the refractory anemia (RA) subtype are usually treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO). Not all patients respond to EPO administration and they are strictly dependent on supportive therapy with red cell blood (RBC) transfusions. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of an alternative combination regimen containing EPO, low-dose methylprednisolone and nandrolone decanoate, in patients with RA unresponsive to EPO administration alone. Ten patients, 4 women and 6 men, median age: 70 years (range: 55-78 years) with refractory anemia unresponsive to EPO administration and RBC transfusion-dependent were included in the study. Median hematological data at baseline were Hb: 8.7 g/dl, (range 6.2-9.8), WBC: 3.35x10(9)/l (range 2.1-4), PLT: 82.5x10(9)/l (range 59-110). EPO 150 U/Kg three times/week subcutaneously, low-dose methylprednisolone 8 mg/day orally and nandrolone decanoate (Decadurabolin) 50 mg two-times/week intramuscularly were administered. As complete response (CR) to treatment was considered the normalization of the peripheral blood and bone marrow smears and biopsy. As partial response (PR) was considered increase in Hb level > or = 2 g/dl, or up to 10 g/dl and discontinuation of RBC transfusions. The response to therapy was evaluated on the 4th week after the initiation of the combination treatment. Bone marrow smear evaluation was carried out at baseline and every six months afterwards. After a 4-week treatment all patients achieved PR and discontinued RBC transfusions. Median and range hematological values on the 4th week after treatment initiation were Hb: 11.2 g/dl, (range: 9.8-12.8), WBC: 4.4x10(9)/l (3.5-6.6), PLT: 130x10(9)/l (95-160). The increase observed in hematological values was significant (p = 0.0001, 0.0004 and < 0.0001, respectively, for Hb, WBC and PLT counts). Treatment was well tolerated. Furthermore, two women, on treatment with the combination regimen, achieved CR one after six months and the second after 12 months. They are alive after 5 years from initiation of the combination treatment. After a median period of 18 months (range 12 to 20 months) in PR three men developed acute leukemia; they received intensive antileukemic chemotherapy without any response and died during the phase of pancytopenia. Three other men achieved CR, one after 6 and two after 12 months of therapy and they are on regular follow-up. Two women after 10 and 14 months in PR developed acute leukemia and died. In conclusion, combination therapy with EPO, nandrolone decanoate and low-dose methylprednisolone may be effective as an alternative treatment for RBC transfusion-dependent patients with RA unresponsive to EPO administration alone.