Psychological Symptoms In Patients Research Articles

Dog-assisted physiotherapy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is an intervention in which the animal acts as a co-therapist. It has been mainly used in the context of patients with dementia, showing positive effects on psychological symptoms, but its potential as a physiotherapy treatment for patients with neuromuscular disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in particular, has not yet been investigated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of AAT, specifically of dog-assisted therapy, on motor functions and psychological status in patients with ALS. This study was a randomized controlled pilot study. The study was carried out at the Rehabilitation Unit NEuroMuscular Omnicenter (NEMO) of Arenzano, Genoa. Sixty hospitalized ALS patients were enrolled. All patients ran a regular two-weeks neurorehabilitation program twice a day. For three days a week, in place of the morning traditional treatment, the AAT group performed a rehabilitation session with a simultaneous interaction with the therapy-dog, while the control group performed a traditional rehabilitation session. The outcome measures were the Timed Up and Go Test, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the Six Minutes Walk Test, the Ten Meters walking Test and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Both groups showed an amelioration in motor scales. However, SPPB subscales as well as HADS scores showed a statistically significant improvement only in the AAT group (P values from <0.0001 to 0.0004). Additionally, across almost all motor and psychological measures, post-treatments values were significantly better for the AAT group (P values from <0.0001 to 0.01). The obtained results not only suggest that AAT is comparable to traditional physiotherapy treatments, but also evidence that this type of treatment has greater beneficial effects on motor and psychological symptoms in patients with ALS. This study provides first evidence that AAT is a powerful rehabilitation strategy in patients with ALS, improving both motor and psychological symptoms, and therefore possibly ameliorating quality of life.

Network analysis used to investigate the interplay among somatic and psychological symptoms in patients with cancer and cancer survivors: a scoping review.

Patients with cancer often experience multiple somatic and psychological symptoms. Somatic and psychological symptoms are thought to be connected and may reinforce each other. Network analysis allows examination of the interconnectedness of individual symptoms. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the current state of knowledge about the associations between somatic and psychological symptoms in patients with cancer and cancer survivors, based on network analysis. This scoping review followed the five-stage framework of Arksey and O'Malley. The literature search was conducted in May, 2023 in PubMed, APA PsycINFO, Embase Cochrane central, and CINAHL databases. Thirty-two studies were included, with eleven using longitudinal data. Seventeen studies reported on the strength of the associations: somatic and psychological symptoms were associated, although associations among somatic as well as among psychological symptoms were stronger. Other findings were the association between somatic and psychological symptoms was stronger in patients experiencing more severe symptoms; associations between symptoms over time remained rather stable; and different symptoms were central in the networks, with fatigue being among the most central in half of the studies. Although the associations among somatic symptoms and among psychological symptoms were stronger, somatic and psychological symptoms were associated, especially in patients experiencing more severe symptoms. Fatigue was among the most central symptoms, bridging the somatic and psychological domain. These findings as well as future research based on network analysis may help to untangle the complex interplay of somatic and psychological symptoms in patients with cancer.

Prediction of Disruptive Behavior over Time from Changes in Patients' Global Functioning in Acute Psychiatric Care.

Disruptive behavior of patients in acute psychiatric care is a problem for both patients and staff. Preventing a patient's impending disruption requires recognizing and understanding early signals. There are indications that a change in a patient's global functioning may be such a signal. The global functioning of patients is a multidimensional view on their functioning. It captures a patient's psychological symptoms, social skills, symptoms of violence, and activities in daily living. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the predictive value of global functioning on the risk of disruptive behavior of patients in acute psychiatric care. Also assessed was the time elapsed between the change in global functioning and a patient's disruptive behavior, which is necessary to know for purposes of early intervention. In a longitudinal retrospective study, we used daily measurements with the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC) and the Kennedy Axis V (K-As) of each patient admitted to two acute psychiatric units over a period of six years. Data from 931 patients for the first 28 days after their admission were used for survival analysis and cox regression analysis. Disruptive behavior was mostly observed during the first days of hospitalization. Global functioning predicted disruptive behavior from the very first day of hospitalization. A cut-off score of 48 or lower on the K-As on the first admission day predicted a higher risk of disruptive behavior. If functioning remained poor or deteriorated substantially over three days, this was an additional signal of increased risk of disruptive behavior. Improvement in global functioning was associated with a decreased risk of disruptive behavior. More attention is needed for early interventions on global functioning to prevent disruptive behavior.

Outcomes of whole-body photobiomodulation on pain, quality of life, leisure physical activity, pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and self-efficacy: a prospective randomized triple-blinded clinical trial with 6 months of follow-up.

The management of fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms on a global scale remains a complex endeavor. This study endeavors to assess the impact of whole-body photobiomodulation (PBM) compared to placebo PBM on pain, functionality, and psychological symptoms in individuals afflicted with fibromyalgia. The primary objectives of this research were to conduct a comparative analysis of the effects of whole-body photobiomodulation (PBM) and placebo PBM on pain, functionality, and psychological symptoms in patients suffering from fibromyalgia (FM). A total of 42 subjects were recruited from a private care practice for participation in this triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Participants underwent 12 treatment sessions, and assessments were conducted at various intervals, including baseline (T0), midway through the 12-session treatment (T1), at the completion of the 12 sessions (T2), and follow-ups at 2 weeks (T3), 3 months (T4), and 6 months (T5). Statistical analysis revealed significant reductions in pain at T2, T3, and T5. Additionally, quality of life exhibited marked improvements after sessions at T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5. Leisure activity also demonstrated statistically significant improvements at T2, T3, T4, and T5. Furthermore, kinesiophobia showed significant differences between groups immediately after treatment at T2, T3, T4, and T5. Self-efficacy, when compared between groups, demonstrated significant differences at T3, T4, and T5 (two weeks after treatment). Lastly, pain catastrophizing exhibited significant differences only at T5. The findings of this study indicate that whole-body PBM treatment for 4 weeks resulted in significant pain reduction and improved quality of life in individuals suffering from FM. Furthermore, kinesiophobia and self-efficacy demonstrated improvements in both short-term and long-term assessments, while pain catastrophizing showed improvement at the 6-month follow-up. Consequently, whole-body PBM emerges as a promising multifactorial treatment option for FM patients, though further studies are required to validate and strengthen these results.Clinical Trial Registration:Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT0424897.

Rasch analysis of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale in patients with chronic pain

ObjectiveQuestionnaires are commonly used to assess and screen pain-related, psychological symptoms in patients with chronic pain. In Germany, the “German pain questionnaire” provided by the German Pain Society used for this purpose includes the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). This study aims to analyze the DASS by fitting its data to the Rasch model to test the psychometric quality. Study design and settingIn this cross-sectional study, 932 patients with chronic pain answered the DASS. The 21-item short version was tested via Rasch analysis using the parameters threshold order, fit to the model, Differential Item Functioning, unidimensionality and reliability. ResultsThe Rasch analysis results showed a low reliability, misfitting items, Differential Item Functioning or multidimensionality. It was necessary to remove items from the subscales to improve fit to the Rasch model. A revised depression subscale of the DASS-21 was the only scale that achieved all the required psychometric parameters. The summation of all items to a total scale was not supported. ConclusionMore research is required on somatic free measurement of psychological symptoms in patients with chronic pain. The results demonstrate that the development of a new instrument or a revision of existing instruments for screening of psychological symptoms in chronic pain are needed.

Advances in Studies on Psychological Symptoms in Patients Surviving Covid-19: A Bibliometric Analysis

Backgrounds: Currently, more than 700 million people who have acquired the COVID-19 may develop the Post COVID Condition, especially women and people with a history of mental illness, who after the acute phase of the disease will experience physical and psychological symptoms which significantly affect their quality of life. The main objective of this study was to analyze and describe the trends of published research on psychological symptoms in survivors of COVID-19 from 2019 to 2023. Method: A bibliographic search was carried out using the Scopus database, where 370 original articles published up to February 9, 2023, were identified, analyzing characteristics such as the country with the highest production, the institution with the highest number of publications, scientific journals and works with the highest number of citations and impact. Results: The leading country in the number of publications was the United States with 83 articles (22.43%). The institution with the highest production was Rey Juan Carlos University. The journal with the highest number of articles published was the International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health from Switzerland, the total number of citations for all publications was 7,525, of which 10 papers had more than 100 citations. Conclusions: An analysis of the scientific production on psychological symptoms in patients surviving COVID-19 was carried out, finding a total of 370 published articles evidencing trends and gaps in scientific production in this field. Limitations: The continuous increase in publications and the change in statistics represent a limitation for the present study because the number of publications continues to increase daily.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 7 September 2023 / Accepted: 24 December 2023 / Published: 5 January 2024

Application of the mild behavioral impairment checklist in Chinese patients with the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia

AbstractBackgroundThe mild behavioral impairment checklist (MBI‐C) designed to capture neuropsychiatric symptoms in the whole spectrum of elder with or without dementia, have been verified in mild behavioral impairment, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease, but never used in the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD).MethodFifty‐two patients with bvFTD (mild, n = 30; moderate‐severe, n = 22) and 82 community‐dwelling elderly individuals (HCs) were enrolled. All subjects were assessed with a full neuropsychological scale including the MBI‐C, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI‐Q), and Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI). Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn to analyze the sensitivity and specificity of the MBI‐C, NPI‐Q, and FBI, and cutoff points were determined using the Youden index.ResultThe MBI‐C and domain scores in all patients with bvFTD were significantly higher than those in HCs. The most common symptoms of bvFTD were apathy (82.7%) and impulse dyscontrol (80.8%). The MBI‐C score was positively correlated with the NPI‐Q, FBI, and Activities of Daily Living. For differentiating patients with both bvFTD and mild bvFTD from HCs, the optimal MBI‐C cutoff point was 5/6 with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 82%, and its sensitivity was higher than that of the NPI‐Q and FBI.ConclusionThe MBI‐C is a sensitive tool for screening behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with bvFTD, even in the early stages of the disease.

Analysis of the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for patients with chronic mental illness: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND People suffering from chronic mental illness are sensitive to stressful stimuli, lack coping skills, and have low self-esteem due to problems such as social situations. They also experience depression, isolation, fear, and frustration. Due to cognitive dysfunction, people suffering from chronic mental illness have inadequate cognitive processes that lead to distorted thinking. AIM To confirm the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy in improving cognitive function and alleviating behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with chronic mental illness, and to identify the cognitive function that had the main effect. METHODS The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews criteria, and data published from 2011 to December 2022 were searched using PubMed, Cochrane, RISS, KISS, and DBpia. The keywords used in the search were “mental illness,” “cognitive rehabilitation,” “cognition,” and “mental.” A meta-analysis was conducted on the 12 selected papers. RESULTS The level of evidence for the 12 documents was that of a randomized experimental study. Intervention types in cognitive rehabilitation can be divided into cognitive behavior, cognitive training, cognitive rehabilitation, and computerized cognitive programs. Most of the studies were on schizophrenia, and the measurement areas were cognitive functions (e.g ., concentration, memory, and executive function) as well as depression, sociability, and quality of life. As a result of the meta-analysis of each variable, the effect size for cognitive rehabilitation treatment was in the following order: Sociability, memory, concentration, executive function, quality of life, and depression. Particularly, sociability and memory exhibited significant effects. CONCLUSION Cognitive rehabilitation aids cognitive function and sociability in patients with chronic mental illness and can be used as evidence for cognitive rehabilitation in mental health and occupational therapy.

Association between subclinical epileptiform discharge and the behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's dementia.

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are highly prevalent in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), causing burdens on caregivers. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and subclinical epileptiform discharge (SED) increased with the disease course of AD. However, the interaction between them was still unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the associations between SED and BPSD. Patients with AD from Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-tung Hospital were included in this study. International 10-20 system scalp electroencephalography (EEG) for 13min was performed to detect SED. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia was assessed by neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) questionnaires. The occurrence of BPSD subsyndromes was compared between patients with and without SED. Two hundred sixty-three adult patients qualified for the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in this study. The mean age of patients was 80.2years, and approximately 62% were women. 17.1% of patients showed SED on EEG. Apathy was the most commonly reported BPSD subsyndrome in this cohort. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of BPSD between patients with and without SED. (75.6% vs. 67.4%, p=0.2806). However, the NPI score of irritability subsyndrome was significantly higher in the SED (+) group (2.6±3.7 vs. 1.2±2.7, p=0.0028). In addition, subclinical epileptiform discharge in the frontal lobe was associated with a considerably higher occurrence of hyperactivity subsyndrome, including irritability. SED may not be a direct cause of BPSD, but the presence of SED may affect the manifestation of BPSD.

Application of the mild behavioral impairment checklist in Chinese patients with the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia.

The mild behavioral impairment checklist (MBI-C) designed to capture neuropsychiatric symptoms in the whole spectrum of elder with or without dementia, have been verified in mild behavioral impairment, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's Disease, but never used in the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Fifty-two patients with bvFTD (mild, n = 30; moderate-severe, n = 22) and 82 community-dwelling elderly individuals (HCs) were enrolled. All subjects were assessed with a full neuropsychological scale including the MBI-C, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), and Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI). Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn to analyze the sensitivity and specificity of the MBI-C, NPI-Q, and FBI, and cutoff points were determined using the Youden index. The MBI-C and domain scores in all patients with bvFTD were significantly higher than those in HCs. The most common symptoms of bvFTD were apathy (82.7%) and impulse dyscontrol (80.8%). The MBI-C score was positively correlated with the NPI-Q, FBI, and Activities of Daily Living. For differentiating patients with both bvFTD and mild bvFTD from HCs, the optimal MBI-C cutoff point was 5.5 with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 82%, and its sensitivity was higher than that of the NPI-Q and FBI. The MBI-C is a sensitive tool for screening behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with bvFTD, even in the early stages of the disease.

41915 Improvements in health-related quality of life and psychological symptoms in patients with severe alopecia areata achieving scalp hair regrowth: results from two randomized controlled trials

41915 Improvements in health-related quality of life and psychological symptoms in patients with severe alopecia areata achieving scalp hair regrowth: results from two randomized controlled trials

Physical and psychological effects of post-COVID-19 syndrome on patients in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia: a descriptive prospective study

Although there have been many cases of reports on post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) worldwide, studies related to the long-term physical and psychological effects of COVID-19 have not been widely conducted in Indonesia. This study aimed to identify PCS's long-term physical and psychological symptoms in patients who had confirmed COVID-19. This descriptive prospective study was conducted from April to June 2022 with 79 respondents who had been confirmed positive for COVID-19 and whose medical records were reported at one of the public health centers in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, from January to December 2020 by purposive sampling. The COVID‐19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Screening Scale (C19‐YRS) was used to identify PCS symptoms. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the frequency distribution data and the percentage of PCS cases. The results showed that 20.3% of respondents had at least one PCS symptom. Nearly a third (32.9%) of the respondents had deteriorated general health conditions after being infected with COVID-19. The most common physical symptoms of PCS were shortness of breath when climbing stairs (6.3%), resting, dressing, changes in throat sensitivity, voice (each 5.1%), swallowing problems, and pain (each 2.5%). At the same time, the most psychological effects of PCS were illness-related nightmares (12.6%), PTSD (11.4%), anxiety (7.6%), still avoiding thoughts of their illness (2.5%), and depression (1.3%). With varying severity, the physical and psychological symptoms of PCS were still felt by respondents. Although the symptoms of PCS are relatively mild, the follow-up treatment of post-recovery patients after being diagnosed with COVID-19 is crucial.

Changes of neurofilament light chain in patients with alcohol dependence following withdrawal and the genetic effect from ALDH2 Polymorphism.

Neurofilament light chain (NFL), as a measure of neuroaxonal injury, has recently gained attention in alcohol dependence (AD). Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is the major enzyme which metabolizes the alcohol breakdown product acetaldehyde. An ALDH2 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs671) is associated with less ALDH2 enzyme activity and increased neurotoxicity. We examined the blood NFL levels in 147 patients with AD and 114 healthy controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and genotyped rs671. We also followed NFL level, alcohol craving and psychological symptoms in patients with AD after 1 and 2weeks of detoxification. We found the baseline NFL level was significantly higher in patients with AD than in controls (mean ± SD: 264.2 ± 261.8 vs. 72.1 ± 35.6pg/mL, p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that NFL concentration could discriminate patients with AD from controls (area under the curve: 0.85; p < 0.001). The NFL levels were significantly reduced following 1 and 2weeks of detoxification, with the extent of reduction correlated with the improvement of craving, depression, and anxiety (p < 0.001). Carriers with the rs671 GA genotype, which is associated with less ALDH2 activity, had higher NLF levels either at baseline or after detoxification compared with GG carriers. In conclusion, plasma NFL level was increased in patients with AD and reduced after early abstinence. Reduction in NFL level corroborated well with the improvement of clinical symptoms. The ALDH2 rs671 polymorphism may play a role in modulating the extent of neuroaxonal injury and its recovery.

Omega-3 as an adjuvant in the treatment eating and psychological symptoms in patients with anorexia nervosa: a systematic review and meta-analyses.

This study was carried out to assess the effects of omega-3 supplementation as an adjunct treatment for eating and psychological symptoms in patients with anorexia nervosa. We conducted a systematic review of the literature using the terms 'anorexia nervosa' AND 'Fatty Acids, Omega-3'. Five randomised controlled trials with a total of 144 participants, published between 2003 and 2022, were included. The effects of supplementation of omega-3 on anxiety were standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.08 to 1.66; p = 0.08; I² = 3%; two studies, 33 participants; moderate quality of evidence. For depression, the supplementation of omega-3 was SMD: 0.22, 95% CI: -0.50 to 0.93; p = 0.18; I² = 45%; two studies, 33 participants; moderate quality of evidence. For obsessive-compulsive disorder, the supplementation of omega-3 was SMD: -0.22, 95% CI: -0.70 to 2.25; p = 0.36; I² = 0%; three studies, 32 participants; low quality of evidence. This research showed that regardless of dose, time or, if associated with other components, the use of omega-3 supplementations as an adjuvant treatment showed no evidence of effect in eating and psychological symptoms in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Effect of Foot Reflexology on Laboratory Tests after Kidney Transplantation Surgery: A Secondary Analysis of a Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial Study

Foot reflexology has improved numerous physical and psychological symptoms in patients. The researchers in this study aimed to investigate the effect of foot reflexology on laboratory parameters, intake/output/weight and medication regimen after kidney transplant surgery. The research was a secondary analysis of a parallel randomized controlled trial. The research included patients who were admitted to the transplantation ward. The stratified randomization approach divided 53 eligible patients into two groups: foot reflexology and control. The intervention group was given 30 minutes of foot reflexology daily for three days while the control group received no reflexology. The intervention began on the second day following surgery. The demographic information questionnaire and information about laboratory tests and intake, output and weight were extracted from patients' records before, immediately and one week after the intervention. Before the kidney transplantation surgery and during the intervention, the laboratory tests of the two groups of foot reflexology and control laboratory tests were similar. During the intervention, no significant differences in intake, output, and weight values were found between the two groups of foot reflexology and control (P &gt; 0.05). The present study showed that foot reflexology had no particular effects on laboratory tests, intake/output, weight and diet of patients after kidney transplantation. Further studies are needed to achieve more accurate results in this area.

Validity and reliability of an Emotional Thermometer tool: an exploratory cross-sectional study

Introduction There are a few screening tools to detect psychological symptoms among people with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) in China. Aim The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of a translated version of the Emotional Thermometer (ET) tool. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study consisted of two phases: (1) translation and content validity testing; and (2) assessment of psychometric properties, including internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. For the first phase, the authors used a forward-backward translation approach for the Chinese version of the instrument and tested its content validity with a panel of six experts. For the second phase, the data, including the ET tool and demographic characteristics were collected in a convenience sample of 197 Chinese people with MCCs recruited from a university hospital. The first 50 participants participated in the two-week retest. Results The Chinese version of the ET tool had satisfactory psychometric properties; content validity index (0.83), internal consistency (0.92), and ICC (0.93 to 0.98 [p < 0.01]). Principal component analysis showed that there was only one component with an eigenvalue greater than 1 (value = 3.80), with 76.67% of the variance responding. All items loaded significantly onto this factor and demonstrated strong loadings of > 0.70. Conclusion The Chinese-version of the ET tool is psychometrically sound. It has the potential to be used as a screening tool for psychological symptoms in Chinese people with MCCs. Impact statement Findings from testing the Chinese translation of the Emotional Thermometer indicate this could be a convenient and useful screening tool to detect psychological symptoms in patients with multiple chronic conditions.

Associations between the Use of Metformin and Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Alzheimer´s Disease, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - A Register-based Study.

Metformin, the first-line anti-diabetic drug treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is suggested to be anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and improve cognitive function, making it a promising contribution to treating Alzheimer´s disease (AD). However, the effect of metformin on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in patients with AD has not been explored. To investigate the associations between metformin and BPSD in patients with AD and T2DM and explore possible interaction with other antidiabetic drugs. This cross-sectional study was based on data from the Swedish BPSD register. A total of 3745 patients with AD and antidiabetic drug treatment were included. Associations and interactions between antidiabetic drugs and BPSD were investigated by binary logistic regression. The use of metformin was associated with lower odds for symptoms of depression (OR 0.77, CI (95%) 0.61-0.96, p = 0.022) and anxiety (OR 0.74, CI (95%) 0.58-0.94, p = 0.015) after adjustment for age, gender, specific diagnosis, and drugs. We could not demonstrate this association with another antidiabetic drug. Interaction effects were limited to an increasing association in eating and appetite disorders using metformin and other antidiabetic drugs (i.e., drugs other than insulin, sulfonylurea, or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors). The result of this study suggests that metformin could be beneficial for patients diagnosed with AD, other than for blood glucose control. Although, more knowledge is needed before assigning metformin a role in treating BPSD.

Identifying Residual Psychological Symptoms after Nasal Reconstruction Surgery in Patients with Empty Nose Syndrome.

Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is a syndrome of paradoxical nasal obstruction that is thought to be mostly caused by inappropriate turbinate procedures. This study aimed to investigate depression- and anxiety-associated psychological symptoms in patients with ENS before and after surgical reconstruction, and to compare them with those of control subjects. Patients with ENS were prospectively enrolled. The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-25 (SNOT-25), Empty Nose Syndrome 6-item questionnaire (ENS6Q), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to evaluate the participants before and after reconstruction surgery with submucosal Medpor implantation (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI), as well as control subjects at enrollment. Forty patients with ENS and forty age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. Patients with ENS experienced significant improvement in SNOT-25, ENS6Q, BDI-II, and BAI scores after surgery, but all were significantly greater than those in the control group. Nine patients with ENS (22.5%) had postoperative residual psychological symptoms. Preoperative BDI-II and BAI scores were significant predictors of postoperative residual psychological symptoms. The optimal cut-off value was BDI-II > 28.5 (sensitivity, 77.8%; specificity, 77.4%) in receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The nasal and psychological evaluations in patients with ENS significantly improved after nasal reconstruction surgery, but both were significantly greater than those in the control group. Identifying individuals who may experience postoperative residual symptoms and providing a multimodal approach, including surgical reconstruction and psychiatric treatment, are suggested.

Scalp Hair Regrowth Is Associated With Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Severe Alopecia Areata: Results From Two Randomized Controlled Trials

Scalp Hair Regrowth Is Associated With Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Severe Alopecia Areata: Results From Two Randomized Controlled Trials

Physical and psychological symptom burden in patients and caregivers during follow-up care after curative surgery for cancers in the pancreas, bile ducts or duodenum

Background The primary aim was to assess Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), anxiety and depression in patients and caregivers during follow-up care after curative treatment for cancer in the pancreas, duodenum, or bile ducts. The secondary aim was to assess dyadic coping and the burden of being a caregiver. Materials and methods In this prospective observational cohort study, we included patients and caregivers at first follow-up visit to conduct the following: Demographic characteristics, The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life, the pancreas and bile duct module, EQ5D 3L, GAD-7 and PHQ-9 at baseline, and at six and nine-months follow-up visit. Demographic characteristics, Dyadic Coping Inventory and Zarit Caregiver Burden Questionnaire were conducted at baseline and at nine-months of follow-up visit. Results The response rate was 42% with 104 of the 248 invited patients completing the questionnaires at baseline: 78 (75% of 104) after six and 69 (66% of 104) after nine months. The median (Q25,75) time for inclusion was 33.6 (13.4, 38) and 29.1 (18.3, 36) weeks after surgery for patients with pancreatic or duodenal cancer, and bile duct cancer, respectively. The response rate of caregivers was 88% with 75 of 85 completing the questionnaires. Fifty percent of patients with pancreatic or duodenal cancer had diarrhea at baseline. After six and nine months, this increased to 75%. Fatigue was the most prominent symptom in patients with bile duct cancer after nine months with 25% of patients scoring this as a clinical symptom. Conclusions The study highlights the need to systematically screen physical and psychological symptoms in patients and caregivers during follow-up care after treatment for cancer in the pancreas, duodenum and bile ducts. Symptom management during follow-up care should be prioritized by clinicians.