Comprehensive psychiatry
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Comprehensive psychiatry · Jul 2006
Comparative StudyValidation of the Quality of Life Inventory for patients with anxiety and depression.
In 1992, Frisch et al (Psychol Assess. 1992;4:92-101) developed the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI) to measure the concept of quality of life (QOL) because it has long been thought to be related to both physical and emotional well-being. However, the psychometric properties of the QOLI in clinical populations are still in debate. The present study examined the factor structure of QOLI and reported its validity and reliability in a clinical sample. ⋯ Consistent evidence was also found to support the concurrent, discriminant, predictive, and criterion-related validity of the QOLI.
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Comprehensive psychiatry · May 2006
Comparative StudyClinical significance of lifetime mood and panic-agoraphobic spectrum symptoms on quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Previous studies suggested that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with depressive and anxiety symptomatology. The well-being and functioning of patients with RA may be significantly influenced by subthreshold psychiatric comorbidity. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with RA, compared with the Italian norms and patients with diabetes, was assessed by the influence of lifetime mood and panic-agoraphobic spectrum symptoms and demographic and clinical variables. ⋯ The present report shows that lifetime depressive spectrum symptoms negatively affects HRQoL of patients with RA and subthreshold mania improves the perception of general health. Diagnosis and appropriate clinical management of depression, including subthreshold symptoms, might enhance HRQoL in these patients.
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Comprehensive psychiatry · May 2006
A multiwave multi-informant study of the specificity of the association between parental and offspring psychiatric disorders.
The present study was conducted to investigate the specificity of the association between parental and offspring psychiatric disorders using epidemiological data from a series of parent and offspring interviews. A community-based sample of 593 mothers and their offspring from upstate New York were interviewed during the adolescence and early adulthood of the offspring. The children of parents with generalized anxiety disorder were at specifically elevated risk for anxiety disorders when co-occurring psychiatric disorders were controlled. ⋯ Children of parents with internalizing disorders were somewhat, but not significantly, more likely to develop internalizing disorders. These findings support the inference that children of parents with generalized anxiety disorder may be more likely to develop anxiety disorders than they are to develop other psychiatric disorders. However, when co-occurring psychiatric disorders are accounted for, the children of parents with depressive, disruptive, and substance use disorders may be as likely to develop other disorders as they are to develop the same type of disorder that their parents have had.
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Comprehensive psychiatry · Mar 2006
Neuropsychological profile of cognitively impaired patients with schizophrenia.
Our purpose in undertaking the present study was to explore the existence of specific areas of cognitive deficits within the context of generalized poor performance in a group of Greek patients with schizophrenia. We also sought to identify any patients who might be cognitively normal. ⋯ We found a generalized deficit in cognitive functioning in a group of patients with schizophrenia. We failed to find any individual patients who were healthy across all cognitive areas. The current neuropsychological profile, indicating widespread impairment, is comparable to that reported in the international literature and thus appears to be characteristic of schizophrenia. Our findings of increased difficulties with executive functions, verbal and visual memory, and visuospatial ability support previous suggestions of generalized brain dysfunction in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
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Comprehensive psychiatry · Sep 2005
One-year follow-up study of posttraumatic stress disorder among earthquake survivors in Turkey.
Earthquakes and their consequences present a major global public health problem. In 1998, a major earthquake struck Southern Turkey. The aims of this study were to describe longitudinally the severity and the course of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among earthquake survivors in Turkey and to explore risk factors associated with psychiatric disorders. ⋯ In the follow-up assessment, although the mean total Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale severity score improved significantly, the mean Beck Depression Inventory score did not change significantly. The decrease in posttraumatic stress symptoms 13 months after the earthquake may be related to relatively good living conditions and adequate social and health services. Early mental health intervention may serve to prevent the chronicity of posttraumatic stress reactions among earthquake victims.