Abstract

Background -Information about the Significant Others (S.O.) of 530 patients with mood and anxious spectrum disorders has been tabulated in this multicentre, retrospective, clinical observational study in order to learn the prevalence of the same mood and/or anxious spectrum diseases in the S.O. of the patients.Methods -The 530 outpatients (of age range from 18 to 70 years) with mood and anxious spectrum disorders have been treated by the authors, observed for a seven year period (from January 1995 until May 2003). The patients live in 16 different Italian provinces, but are predominantly from Lombardia and Veneto.Mood disease (includes substance abuse) was present in 72% of the patients and anxious disease was present in 28% (DSM-IV diagnoses based upon clinical interviews).The S.O. (various heterosexual long-term relationships) of each patient was interviewed for this study to establish a DSM-IV diagnosis of any psychiatric disease that might be present.In cases in which the patient had no S.O. or in which information about the S.O. was unavailable, that information was collected. As data was collected, 10 item report was completed for each patient and the respective S.O.Results -Patients had an S.O. with a similar mental disease to their own in 41% of cases; only 16% of the patients chose their S.O. with no mental disease; 18% of the patients did not have any S.O. and in 26% of the cases the health of the S.O. was unknown.Conclusion -In this multicentre, retrospective, clinical observational study, the corresponding Significant Others of 530 patients with mood and anxious spectrum disorders presented with a high percentage of similar disease to the patients. These findings suggest that it may be appropriate to counsel our patients with these diseases to encourage their respective S.O. to undergo a psychiatric evaluation for possible treatable disease: the first objective of an S.O. is preventive care, secondarily the well-being of the partner may improve the treatment outcomes for the patient.Furthermore, eventual studies could demonstrate whether the disease of S.O. precedes couple life (therefore a pre-existent cognitive functioning set out for the partner's choice) and whether it might stem from a difficult interpersonal relationship or chronic stress reaction to a life event.

Highlights

  • Information about the Significant Others (S.O.) of 530 patients with mood and anxious spectrum disorders has been tabulated in this multicentre, retrospective, clinical observational study in order to learn the prevalence of the same mood and/or anxious spectrum diseases in the S.O. of the patients.2- Patient diagnosis: anxious spectrum; 3- Certain diagnosis of S.O.: mood spectrum; 4- Certain diagnosis of S.O.: anxious spectrum; 5- Probable diagnosis of S.O.: mood spectrum; MethodsThe 530 outpatients with mood and anxious spectrum disorders have been treated by the authors, observed for a seven year period. [5]

  • Conclusion -: In this multicentre, retrospective, clinical observational study, the corresponding Significant Others of 530 patients with mood and anxious spectrum disorders presented with a high percentage of similar disease to the patients

  • These findings suggest that it may be appropriate to counsel our patients with these diseases to encourage their respective S.O. to undergo a psychiatric evaluation for possible treatable disease: the first objective of an S.O. is preventive care, secondarily the well-being of the partner may improve the treatment outcomes for the patient

Read more

Summary

Background

Information about the Significant Others (S.O.) of 530 patients with mood and anxious spectrum disorders has been tabulated in this multicentre, retrospective, clinical observational study in order to learn the prevalence of the same mood and/or anxious spectrum diseases in the S.O. of the patients. 6- Probable diagnosis of S.O.: anxious spectrum; 7- Total diagnoses of S.O. (certain + probable); 8- S.O. without any mental disease; 9- Unknown health of S.O.; Mood disease (including substance abuse) was present in 72% of the patients and anxious disease was present in 28% (DSM-IV diagnoses based upon clinical interviews). (various heterosexual long-term relationships) of each patient was interviewed for this study to establish a DSM-IV diagnosis of any psychiatric disease that might be present. Psychiatric diagnoses were considered to be either "certain" or "probable" for the S.O. The opinions of "certain diagnosis" of S.O., "probable diagnosis" and "any mental disease" were derived from direct knowledge of the S.O. or from the family and personal anamnestic data taken from the patients. As data was collected the following 10 item report was completed for each patient and the respective S.O.: 1- Patient diagnosis: mood spectrum; 10- No S.O

Results
Conclusion
American Psychiatric Association
Mitchell ARK

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.