General Well-Being Questionnaire Research Articles

The Effectiveness of Structured Reminiscing on General Well-Being of Elderly Women in Yazd

Abstract
 Introduction: Aging is a natural phenomenon in the path of human evolution. The elderly face many challenges at this stage. Anxiety, depression, and grief over the loss of loved ones can affect the general well-being of an elderly person. Structured reminiscence therapy is one of the therapeutic methods used to improve mental health and general well-being of the elderly. Therefore, the current research was conducted with the aim of the effectiveness of structured reminiscing on the dimensions of general well-being of elderly women in Yazd.
 Method: The quasi-experimental research method was a pretest-posttest type with a control group, and the statistical population included all the elderly women in Yazd city in 1402. Among them, 46 people were selected by purposeful sampling and assigned to two experimental and control groups. The tool used in this research was general well-being questionnaire of Harold G. and Dapoy. Structured reminiscing was conducted on the experimental group during 8 sessions of 60 minutes, and the control group did not receive any intervention. The results were analyzed using statistical software Spss25 and Manova test.
 Results: The results showed that structured reminiscing had an effect on the dimensions of general well-being, including anxiety, depression, positive well-being, feeling of self-control, and general health. Regarding the feeling of vitality dimension, the training could not be effective and there was no improvement in this dimension.
 Conclusion: Therefore, structured reminiscence is used as an intervention to improve the dimensions of general well-being of the elderly women, and mental health of the elderly.

Factores asociados a riesgo de depresión en estudiantes de media vocacional

IntroductionDepressive symptoms are common in adolescent students. However, the variables related to the risk of meeting criteria for depression in Colombian adolescents have been little explored. ObjectiveTo know the association between family functioning, post-traumatic stress, health perception, academic achievement, and risk of meeting the criteria for depression among high-school vocational students in Santa Marta, Colombia. MethodA cross-sectional study was designed so that a probabilistic sample of tenth and eleventh-grade students from public and private schools was taken. The risk of meeting the criteria for depression was quantified with the World Health Organization 5 General Well-Being Questionnaire (WHO-5-WBI) cut-off point <9. The crude and adjusted (a) odd ratios (OR) the risk of meeting the criteria for depression were established. ResultsOne thousand four hundred and sixty-two students between 13 and 15 years old participated (M=15.98, SD=0.83); 882 (60.33%) were female. It was observed that 103 (7.0%) students were at risk of meeting criteria for depression. The risk of meeting the criteria for depression was associated with family dysfunction (aOR: 8.72, 95% CI: 2.73-27.87), risk of post-traumatic stress (aOR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.85-4.42), perception of fair/poor health (aOR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.19-2.83) and fair/poor academic achievement (aOR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.02-2.37). ConclusionsAmong high-school students from Santa Marta, Colombia, the risk of meeting the criteria for depression is multifactorial; it is associated with individual factors (high risk of post-traumatic stress, perception of fair/poor health, and poor/fair academic achievement) and family factors (family dysfunction). New research should explore other variables possibly associated with the risk of meeting the criteria for depression in vocational adolescents.

Presence of gastrointestinal symptoms in IgA nephropathy: a cross-sectional study

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in end-stage kidney disease. Mounting evidence indicates that the intestine plays an important role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). However, no studies have addressed the obvious question; do IgAN patients suffer from GI symptoms? Presence of GI symptoms and health-related quality of life were evaluated using the validated Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) questionnaires in 104 patients with kidney biopsy-verified IgAN and in 147 healthy controls. A person was regarded to experience 'increased GI symptoms' if the GSRS score exceeded plus 1 standard deviation of the mean of the corresponding score in the healthy controls. According to the GSRS total score, the IgAN patients had more GI symptoms than the healthy controls (2.0 vs. 1.7, p < 0.001). Female IgAN patients had higher GSRS total score than male patients (2.2 vs. 1.7, p = 0.001). More IgAN patients with preserved kidney function (eGFR > 60ml/min/1.73m2) suffered from increased symptoms of diarrhoea (76 vs. 25%, p = 0.028), constipation (81 vs. 19%, p = 0.046) and reflux (85 vs. 15%, p = 0.004) than did IgAN patients with reduced kidney function (eGFR < 60ml/min/1.73m2). IgAN patients and especially female IgAN patients experienced more GI symptoms than healthy controls. More prevalent GI symptoms were already observed before kidney function was clearly reduced. Systematic enquiry of GI symptoms might increase the standard of care among IgAN patients. Moreover, GI symptoms may provide clues for future studies that examine the pathophysiology of IgAN.

Persistent symptoms are diverse and associated with health concerns and impaired quality of life in patients with paediatric coeliac disease diagnosis after transition to adulthood

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and associated factors of persistent symptoms despite a strict gluten-free diet in adult patients with coeliac disease diagnosed in childhood.DesignMedical data on 239 currently adult patients...

The Predictors of Awareness of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence in the Media and the Influence on Actions of the Individuals.

Introduction: The number of reportings on sexual abuse (SA), sexual violence (SV) cases covered in the media has risen a significant amount with most cases involving women and children. The aim of the study is to explore the questions: Are people aware of sexual abuse and sexual violence in the media? What are the predictors of awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence? Does the awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence in the media affect the actions of the individuals?Methods: A representative survey of the German-speaking resident population (2020) on physical and mental well-being was used. The participants (N = 2,503: females = 50.9%) were between the ages of 14 and 97 (M = 49.81). The German version of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, The General Habitual Well-Being Questionnaire and questions about own experiences of sexual harassment on the internet, experiences of domestic sexual abuse and different socio-economic variables were used. The outcome variables regarding the awareness of SA and SV in the media, different types of scandals (church, pedophile, USA), #MeToo-debate and the change in actions were used. Frequency analyses and binary regressions were conducted.Results: One thousand five hundred and fifty-five (62.6%) respondents answered yes to being aware of SA and SV in the media. The results show that females, aging, number of children in household, Protestant and Catholic religion, school graduation, own experience(s) of sexual harassment on the internet, own experience(s) of SA in childhood, and Adverse Childhood Experiences have a significant higher association to the awareness of SA and SV in the media. German nationality and Muslim religion have a significant lower association. The variables that most commonly affected the awareness of SA and SV, scandals, debate and the individual actions were age, own experiences of sexual harassment on the internet and the Protestant religion.Conclusion: Advertising more support centers, hotlines and linking this information to sexual abuse cases covered in the media should be considered. Media bystander interventions could be helpful to train people to react appropriately. Further investigation that considers the different types of media and its influence on the awareness of SA and SV is needed.

Patterns of Psychological Distress and Well-Being among Adults in Relation to Gender during COVID-19 Pandemic

AbstractCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to the worsening of mental health of people in terms of increased psychological distress and decreased psychological well-being. The study was designed to understand the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on psychological distress and well-being. Present study also explored the variances in psychological distress and well-being in relation to development stages (young adulthood and adulthood), gender (males and females), people who had been infected by coronavirus and those not infected, and respondents whose immediate family members/relatives/friends/classmates had been infected by coronavirus and those not infected. An online survey was conducted in the midst of the pandemic. Responses of 250 respondents were gathered and analysed using the General Well-being Questionnaire developed by Veit and Ware in 1983. The results indicated that COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in determining psychological distress and well-being. Gender differences in psychological distress and well-being are present with males being high on psychological distress and females being high on psychological well-being. Adults were found to be high on psychological distress than young adults. It was also revealed that as a person (respondent himself/immediate family/friends/relatives) becomes infected and recovers, their psychological distress declines, and well-being increases, probably because of reduced fear of being infected again. Along with other demographic variables, developmental stages and gender differences also played a crucial role in psychological distress and well-being of adults.

Differences Between Familial and Sporadic Celiac Disease

BackgroundIt is not known if genetic background, characteristics at diagnosis, physical and psychological well-being, and adherence to a gluten-free diet are comparable between patients with familial or sporadic celiac disease. These issues were investigated in a follow-up study.MethodsAltogether 1064 patients were analyzed for celiac disease-associated serology, predisposing HLA-DQ, and non-HLA genotypes. Medical data were collected from patient records and supplementary interviews. Current symptoms and quality of life were further evaluated with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), the Psychological General Well-Being questionnaire (PGWB), and Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires.ResultsFamilial and sporadic groups differed (P < 0.001) in the reason for diagnosis and clinical presentation at diagnosis, familial patients being more often screen-detected (26% vs. 2%, P < 0.001) and having less often gastrointestinal (49% vs. 69%) and severe symptoms (47% vs. 65%). The groups were comparable in terms of histological damage, frequency of malabsorption, comorbidities, childhood diagnoses, and short-term treatment response. At the time of the study, familial cases reported fewer symptoms (21% vs. 30%, P = 0.004) and lower prevalence of all (78% vs. 86%, P = 0.007), neurological (10% vs. 15%, P = 0.013), and dermatological (9% vs. 17%, P = 0.001) comorbidities. Dietary adherence and GSRS scores were comparable, but familial cases had better quality of life according to PGWB and SF-36. High-risk genotype HLA-DQ2.5/DQ2.5 was more frequent among familial cases, and four non-HLA SNPs were associated with familial celiac disease.ConclusionsDespite the greater proportion of high-risk genotypes, familial cases had milder symptoms at presentation than did sporadic cases. Worse experience of symptoms and poorer quality of life in sporadic disease indicate a need for intensified support.

Severity of Villous Atrophy at Diagnosis in Childhood Does Not Predict Long-term Outcomes in Celiac Disease.

Current pediatric guidelines allow noninvasive diagnosis of celiac disease in selected children. We investigated in a large cohort study whether the severity of villous atrophy at diagnosis is associated with clinical characteristics or long-term health outcomes, thus having a prognostic significance. Comprehensive medical data on 906 children with celiac disease were analyzed. Long-term health outcomes of 503 adult patients diagnosed in childhood were moreover assessed with a specific study questionnaire and validated Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) questionnaires. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the severity of villous atrophy at diagnosis, and all variables were compared. Altogether 34% of the patients had partial, 40% subtotal, and 26% total villous atrophy. Children with milder lesions were diagnosed more recently (median year 2007 vs 2006 vs 2001, respectively, P < 0.001), more often by screening (30% vs 25% vs 17%, P < 0.001) and they suffered less often from anemia (16% vs 21% vs 32%, P < 0.001) and growth disturbances (22% vs 36% vs 54%, P < 0.001) and had lower transglutaminase-2 antibody levels (median 64 U/L vs 120 U/L vs 120 U/L, P < 0.001). There was no difference in other disease features.Altogether 212 adults diagnosed in childhood completed the questionnaires. Severity of villous atrophy at childhood diagnosis did not predict presence of complications or comorbidities, persistent symptoms, and self-perceived health, quality of life or adherence to a gluten-free diet in adulthood. Presence of advanced villous atrophy at diagnosis is associated with more severe clinical characteristics but not with poorer long-term health and treatment outcomes.

A pragmatic evaluation of a high-fidelity dialectical behaviour therapy programme for youth with borderline personality disorder

ABSTRACT Objective: This paper describes and evaluates a high-fidelity Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) programme for youth (15–25 years). The project was undertaken as a partnership between public mental health services and a non-government organisation in regional Australia. DBT is an evidence-based treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) but is rarely accessible within public mental health services. Method: Participants completed an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire, repeated measures of the Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23), supplementary behaviour questionnaire (BSL-Supp) and general well-being questionnaires. Hospital and emergency service use was examined for the year prior to referral to the programme and for the year following completion. The characteristics of those people who did not complete the programme were also described. Results: Borderline personality symptoms were correlated with the number of reported adverse childhood experiences. Participants who remained in the programme for at least twelve weeks had significant reductions in BSL-23 scores with several reporting no symptoms after completing the programme. Participants had high rates of hospital and emergency department use in the year before participation and significantly less use in the year following completion. Discussion: It is feasible to deliver a high fidelity DBT programme to youth in a regional centre in Australia and achieve reductions in symptoms and use of hospital and emergency services in a regional public mental health service.

Seasonal Indicators of Blood Pressure, Data of Asthma Control Questionnaires and Quality of Life in Hypertensive Patients with Bronchial Asthma

Aim. To study the seasonal indicators of quality of life and control of bronchial asthma in hypertensive patients with bronchial asthma, observed by a cardiologist of the state outpatient institution.Material and methods. Data from a prospective cohort study of hypertensive patients, some of which had bronchial asthma without exacerbation, were analyzed. Patients who were observed by a cardiologist at a state outpatient clinic took part in the study. There were other concomitant diseases that occurred in the participants, in addition to hypertension and bronchial asthma. Two groups of patients were formed: the control group (n=85) included patients with hypertension only, the main group (n=40) included hypertension and bronchial asthma. Patients had 3 visits: initial one, and after 6 and 12 months and then data on outcomes (30.1Ѓ}7.6 months of follow-up) were collected. The first and third visits included clinical measurements of blood pressure (BP), 24-hour BP monitoring, spirometry, clinical and biochemical blood tests, a standard survey, survey with questionnaires evaluating the control of bronchial asthma (Asthma Control Questionnaire; ACQ) and the patients quality of life (General Well-Being Questionnaire; GWBQ). The second visit included clinical BP and ACQ and GWBQ questionnaires. A comparison of the average indicators from the total number of observations carried out in winter, spring, summer and autumn periods has been performed.Results. Hypertensive patients with/without bronchial asthma (n=125; 28 men, 97 women, average age 62.6Ѓ}8.8 years, duration of hypertension – 11.6Ѓ}8.6, duration of bronchial asthma – 9.3Ѓ}11.9 years) took part in the study. Outpatient BP levels throughout the study period were maintained at target values in both groups. It was shown that seasonal BP levels do not differ in the compared groups, except for winter indicators: winter daytime systolic BP levels were higher in the main group (p=0.03). Seasonal fluctuations in BP were not detected in the control group, however, they were present in the patients of the main group: winter daytime levels of diastolic BP and average daily levels of diastolic BP and systolic BP were higher than summer ones, and winter daytime systolic BP values (p&lt;0.05) and clinical diastolic BP (p=0.004) – higher than autumn levels. Seasonal quality of life indicators in the main group were worse than in the control group in all seasons. Significant seasonal dynamics of quality of life indicators in patients in two groups was not detected. The ACQ questionnaire showed that asthma control changed in different seasons in accordance with the ACQ total score: in winter and spring – uncontrolled bronchial asthma (total score &gt;1.5), in summer and autumn – partially controlled (total score ≤1.5). During the analysis of various factors associated with the combined primary endpoint (death, transient ischemic attack, angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmias, arterial revascularization), relationships with quality of life indicators were revealed: negative connections – with indicators characterizing positive psychological health, mood at visit, positive correlations – with psychological abilities.Conclusion: Seasonal fluctuations in ambulatory BP levels were not found in the control group and were found in the main group. The quality of life indicators for patients of the main group were significantly worse than in the control group for all components in all seasons. The control of asthma changed in different seasons in accordance with the ACQ total score: uncontrolled bronchial asthma occurred in winter and spring, partially controlled – in summer and autumn. Correlations of the combined primary endpoint with quality of life indicators were found after analyzing various factors.

Treatment of sleep disorders in patients with hypertension and obesity

T The aim of the study is to improve the efficacy of the treatment of sleep disorders in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and obesity. Materials and methods. In total, 62 patients were examined (mean age 58.3 ± 2.3 years) with AH and obesity. All of the surveyed persons underwent general clinical examination, daily BP monitoring, life quality assessment (General Well-Being Questionnaire). The ICSD-2 (2005) criteria were used to identify sleep disorders (dyssomnia) and subjective sleep characteristics questionnaires – for circadian “sleep –wake” rhythm disturbances assessment. Sleep disorders were found in all the examined patients at baseline. After the baseline data registration, the patients were prescribed basic therapy, 32 (group 1) of whom additionally received melatonin at a dose of 3 mg for 4 weeks; 30 patients were included in group 2. Results. After treatment, in group 1, the levels of office SBP and DBP were 6.9 % and 6.7 % (P < 0.05), and the average daily SBP and DBP (according to DMBP data) were 7.9 % and 6.7 % (P < 0.05) lower, respectively, than in group2. In patients of group 1, positive changes in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, a significant improvement in subjective sleep characteristics and circadian “sleep – wake” rhythm were registered along with an improvement in the quality of life. Conclusions. Thus, melatonin add-on treatment in patients with AH and obesity with sleep disorders increases the efficacy of antihypertensive therapy, has a beneficial effect on glucometabolic parameters, subjective assessment of sleep quality and the quality of life.

The Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy on the Well-Being and Glycemic Control of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundDiabetes is one of most widespread diseases that disturb the mental and physical health of patients.ObjectivesThe aim of study was searching a therapeutic method to enhance the diabetic’s health by supposing the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy on the well-being and glycemic of patients with type 2 diabetes in Iran.MethodsIn a randomized, single-blinded clinical-trial study, from January 2016 to February 2017, a total of 30 type 2 diabetic patients of Yazd Diabetes Research Center, with purposeful sampling method, were selected randomly and put in two groups (Experimental and Control groups). While participants of both groups continued their drug therapy, the experimental group received 10 sessions of 90 minutes (a session per week) group positive psychotherapy while the control group remained on the waiting list. Data were gathered before the intervention and two weeks after intervention. At the end of the treatment sessions three of the experimental group (n = 12) and two of the control group (n = 13) were excluded from the study for their absence in post-test. Data were gathered by demographic form, general well-being questionnaire (GWB), and Glycemic test (HbA1c). SPSS software, version 16 with P = 0.05 level, Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S), chi-square, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used for analyzing data.ResultsThe results showed that positive psychotherapy significantly increases mental well-being, and its subscales in comparison with the control group (P < 0.01). Also, other results showed that glycemic in the experimental group in comparison with the control group significantly decreased (P < 0.05).ConclusionsIt can be deduced that positive therapy intervention can be effective in mental well-being and to some extent, blood glucose of diabetics. So, this therapy can be used when diabetic patient’s psychological factors should be carefully considered.

Daily Life Restrictions are Common and Associated with Health Concerns and Dietary Challenges in Adult Celiac Disease Patients Diagnosed in Childhood.

The prevalence and associated factors of daily life restrictions due to a gluten-free diet in adult celiac disease patients diagnosed in childhood are poorly known. We investigated these issues by collecting the medical data of 955 pediatric patients and sending questionnaires evaluating various health outcomes to the 559 patients who had reached adulthood. Of the 231 respondents, 46% reported everyday life restrictions caused by dietary treatment. Compared with those without restrictions, they more often had anemia at diagnosis (37% vs. 22%, p = 0.014), but the groups were comparable in other diagnostic features. In adulthood, patients with restrictions reported more overall symptoms (32% vs. 17%, p = 0.006), although the symptoms measured with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire were comparable. Despite strict dietary adherence in both groups, the experience of restrictions was associated with dietary challenges (34% vs. 9%, p < 0.001), health concerns (22% vs. 13%, p = 0.050), and lower vitality scores in the Psychological General Well-Being questionnaire. The groups did not differ in their current age, socioeconomic status, family history of celiac disease, general health or health-related lifestyle, the presence of co-morbidities, or regular follow up. Our results encourage healthcare professionals to discuss the possible health concerns and dietary challenges with patients to avoid unnecessary daily life restrictions, especially when young patients start to take responsibility for their treatment.

Delayed celiac disease diagnosis predisposes to reduced quality of life and incremental use of health care services and medicines: A prospective nationwide study.

Celiac disease is challenging to recognize, predisposing to long diagnostic delay. Currently, associated factors and significance of the delay remain obscure. The objective of this article is to investigate associated sociodemographic risk factors and health consequences of diagnostic delay in celiac disease. Altogether 611 patients were surveyed at diagnosis and after one year on a gluten-free diet regarding sociodemographic variables, well-being and use of medicines and health care services. Quality of life was measured by a validated Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) questionnaire. The results were compared between patients with and without delayed (≥3 years) diagnosis. A total of 332 (54%) individuals reported a delay of ≥3 years. Associated with the delay were being a student or homemaker, but not gender, marital or occupational status, site of diagnosis or place of residence. Patients with the delay also had decreased self-perceived health and poorer PGWB scores compared to those without delay; in anxiety and general health this was seen even on a gluten-free diet. Days of sickness and doctor visits as well as use of drugs for dyspepsia and antidepressants were increased in the delay group both before and after diagnosis. A delay in celiac disease diagnosis predisposes to reduced well-being and incremental use of medicines and health care services, both before diagnosis and one year after diagnosis.

Self-Reported Fractures in Dermatitis Herpetiformis Compared to Coeliac Disease.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a cutaneous manifestation of coeliac disease. Increased bone fracture risk is known to associate with coeliac disease, but this has been only scantly studied in DH. In this study, self-reported fractures and fracture-associated factors in DH were investigated and compared to coeliac disease. Altogether, 222 DH patients and 129 coeliac disease-suffering controls were enrolled in this study. The Disease Related Questionnaire and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale and Psychological General Well-Being questionnaires were mailed to participants; 45 out of 222 (20%) DH patients and 35 out of 129 (27%) of the coeliac disease controls had experienced at least one fracture (p = 0.140). The cumulative lifetime fracture incidence did not differ between DH and coeliac disease patients, but the cumulative incidence of fractures after diagnosis was statistically significantly higher in females with coeliac disease compared to females with DH. The DH patients and the coeliac disease controls with fractures reported more severe reflux symptoms compared to those without, and they also more frequently used proton-pump inhibitor medication. To conclude, the self-reported lifetime bone fracture risk is equal for DH and coeliac disease. After diagnosis, females with coeliac disease have a higher fracture risk than females with DH.

Alzheimer Café: an approach focused on Alzheimer's patients but with remarkable values on the quality of life of their caregivers.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects the global quality of life of persons who suffer from it and their caregivers, because of the behavioral and psychological consequences associated with the pathology and its caring. The Alzheimer Café (AC) is one example of approach aimed to help persons and caregivers deal with their disease. This is a pilot study focusing on the efficacy of AC in relieving caregivers' and persons' burdens due to dementia. The quality of life of both caregivers and persons who attended the AC was compared with the quality of life of those who did not. Basic and instrumental daily activities and neuropsychiatric functioning were assessed. Caregivers also answered to general well-being and caregiving burden questionnaires. The evaluation took place at the beginning of the intervention and after 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12months. Caregivers who joined the AC with their persons with dementia showed to have significantly benefited in the daily care of persons with dementia, in terms of total well-being, vitality, and emotional burden. Although improvements were not observed in persons with dementia who attended the AC, significant benefits were reported by their caregivers, suggesting that the intervention may produce better management of social and economic problems and lead to better emotional support. The AC seems to help families of AD persons to better manage the disease, and also delay the institutionalization of these persons, which is certainly an ambitious goal for an incurable disorder such as Alzheimer's disease.

PP.26.14] CORRELATIONS BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL STATUS, QUALITY OF LIFE SCORES AND LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS INDEX, AND MEAN AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABLES IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION

Objective The aim of our study was to determine correlations between psychological status and quality of life with left ventricular mass index and mean ambulatory blood pressure variables in patients with arterial hypertension (AH). Design and method We analyzed 76 ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) data of AH patients without serious concomitant diseases. ABPM device (Spacelabs 90207) was applied after the washout period. After ABPM session patients completed the questionnaires. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (L. Teichholtz et al., 1976) was measured using echocardiography. We assessed the following QL scale scores (General Well-Being Questionnaire by J.Siegrist et al.): I - physical well-being, II - physical performance, III - positive psychological well-being, IV - negative psychological well-being, V - psychological performance, VI - social well-being, VII - social performance. We analyzed the following MMPI scale scores (Minnesota Multiphasis Personality Inventory): L – lie scale, F – aggravation scale, K – correction scale, 1 – hypochondria, 2 – depression, 3 – hysteria, 4 – psychopathy, 6 – rigidity of affect, 7 – psychasthenia, 8 – schrizothemia, 9 – hypomania. We used Spearman Partial Coefficient for correlation analysis adjusted for age, sex and duration of AH. Results The mean ambulatory systolic BP (SBP) was 136.1 ± 11.2; diastolic (DBP) −89.1 ± 9.0 mm Hg (M ± SD). LVMI – 122,1 ± 24,9 g/m2. We found the following correlations: 1) 9 MMPI scale scores (energy, optimism, good mood) were negatively correlated with LVMI (r = −0.33, p < 0.05); 2) 9 MMPI scale scores had the negative relationships with clinical and ambulatory SBP levels (r = −0.23, r = −0.24 respectively, p < 0.05) and with SBP load variables (r = −0.25, p < 0.05). There were no significant links between QL scales scores and LVMI, ambulatory BP indices.Thus, energy, optimism, good mood (9 MMPI scale scores) had a negative correlation not only with LVMI, but also to SBP indices. Conclusions It was identified inverse correlation between psychological status (energy, optimism, good mood) and LVMI indices, and also with clinical and ambulatory SBP variables of AH patients. There were no significant links between QL scales scores and LVMI, ambulatory BP indices.

Clinical Characteristics and the Dietary Response in Celiac Disease Patients Presenting With or Without Anemia.

It remains unclear as to what are the clinical characteristics associated with the presence of anemia at celiac disease diagnosis, and how these are affected by a gluten-free diet. We investigated these issues in a prospective study. Clinical and demographic data, small-bowel mucosal histology, serology, and laboratory parameters, body mass index (BMI), and bone mineral density (BMD) both at diagnosis and after 1 year on a gluten-free diet were investigated in 163 adults with celiac disease. Gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological well-being were evaluated by validated Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale and Psychological General Well-Being questionnaires. All study variables were compared between participants with and without anemia at celiac disease diagnosis. Altogether, 23% of the patients had anemia at diagnosis. Anemic patients were more often women (P=0.001) and had more gastrointestinal symptoms (P=0.004) and were less often screen detected (P=0.009). Further, they had higher celiac antibody values (P=0.007) and a lower total iron (P<0.001), BMI (P=0.003), and density of mucosal γδ+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (P=0.033). After 1 year on a gluten-free diet, the anemia group had a lower mucosal villous height-crypt depth ratio (P=0.008) and BMI (P=0.050), and higher antibody values (P=0.012) and densities of CD3 (P=0.008) and αβ+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (P=0.022). There was no significant difference between the groups in their bone mineral density, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale and Psychological General Well-Being. Celiac patients with anemia had more severe disease than nonanemic patients in terms of the serology and a lower BMI. Further, they evinced a slower histologic response to the dietary treatment. An early diagnosis and careful follow-up are important in these patients.

Predicting General Well-Being Based on Resiliency Protective Factors and Demographics in Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Emotional Stability

Background: Well-being is an important indicator of overall health during adolescents and later life. Objectives: The present study aimed at investigating the relationship between resiliency protective factors and demographics due to the mediating role of emotional stability on general well-being of adolescents. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 331 students were selected by stratified random sampling from high schools of Firozabad from February 2015 to December 2015. Data were collected using the Adolescent General Well-Being Questionnaire, Resilience Protective Factor Inventory, and Emotional Stability Scale, and analyzed applying structural equation modeling using the LISREL 8.80 software. Results: The indices of model fitness showed good fitness (X 2: 11.04, df: 4, P = 0.90; RMSEA: 0.06; GFI: 0.91; AGFI: 0.91; NFI: 0.90; CFI: 0.93; and IFI: 1). Resiliency protective factors and demographics had direct effects on general well-being (0.65, P < 0.01; -0.17, P < 0.01). In addition, resiliency protective factors (0.68, P < 0.001) and demographics (-0.20, P < 0.01) had a direct effect on emotional stability. In this model, resiliency protective factors and demographics indirectly effect general well-being via the mediation of emotional stability (0.76, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The assumed theoretical model was fitted to the data and resiliency protective factors. Demographics and emotional stability were significant determinants in predicting general well-being of adolescents, which must be considered when developing programs to improve the well-being of adolescents.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms Increase the Burden of Illness in Dermatitis Herpetiformis: A Prospective Study.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an extraintestinal manifestation of coeliac disease. The burden of illness in untreated coeliac disease is known to be considerable, but corresponding evidence for DH is lacking. In this study the burden of DH was evaluated prospectively in 52 patients newly diagnosed with DH using a study questionnaire and a validated Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) questionnaire. The PGWB scores were compared with those of 110 healthy controls. Quality of life was significantly (p < 0.001) lower among patients with DH at the time of diagnosis, but after 1 year on a gluten-free diet their quality of life was at same level as that of the controls. The presence of gastrointestinal symptoms was shown to significantly increase the burden of untreated DH. We conclude that there is a significant burden related to untreated, but not to treated, DH, and the burden is even greater among DH patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.