Abstract
Abstract Introduction Psychogenic causes for some somatic symptoms have been widely recognised. In Ophthalmology however, there are few studies that address this issue, and current Ophthalmology Training Programs do not include formal teaching in Psychosomatics. Psychosomatic phenomena in ophthalmology are probably under-diagnosed, which may reduce therapeutic effectiveness, decrease patient and physician satisfaction, and increase health costs due to multiple consultations and prescriptions. The aims of this study were to describe patients with unexplained visual/ocular symptoms (UVOS), and to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress (PD) among them. Materials and methods Consecutive adults with UVOS were recruited over a 12 month period. Complete medical history and ocular examination were performed to rule out organic disease. Psychological Distress was defined by the presence of one or more of the following criteria: psychiatric diagnosis, use of psychotropic medication, psychosomatic disease in other organs, and biographical crisis in the last 6 months. Results were compared with a control group. Results A total of 39 cases of UVOS were recruited, corresponding approximately to 3% prevalence. The large majority (74%) were female. The mean age was 41.8 years. The most common complaints were ocular surface irritation symptoms (51%) and unspecific visual disturbances (17%). At least 1 of the PD criteria was found in 100%, including 46.2% with psychiatric comorbidity, 48.7% with psychotropic medications, 64% with psychosomatic disease in other organs, and 48.7% with recent life-stressful events. PD indicators were statistically higher compared with control group (P Conclusions There was a high frequency of Psychological Distress indicators in patients with UVOS. Although the causative role of PD remains unclear, the presence of UVOS should warn the ophthalmologist of an underlying psychic conflict and to make an appropriate psychological intervention.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología (English Edition)
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.