Association of Coping Styles with Quality of Life in Cancer Patients

Methods:The study was performed on 150 cancer patients (71 females and 79 males) admitted to the hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Endler and Parker Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, and World Health Organization''s Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to evaluate their coping style and QOL, respectively.Results:The Present study showed in cancer patients being male, single, having higher salary and education, and lower age are related to higher QOL. Furthermore, in general, QOL of cancer patients was positively correlated with avoidant coping style (P < 0.05, r : 0.170) and negatively associated with emotion-focused coping styles (P < 0.01, r : −0.378).Conclusion:The results suggested that focusing on a patient''s coping style, predominantly on an emotion-focused coping style, is essential to improve patient''s QOL, and that patients possibly to employ a more emotion-oriented coping style should receive enough notice, particularly before discharge.     

Psychiatric co-morbidity is highly prevalent in idiopathic cervical dystonia and significantly influences health-related quality of life: Results of a controlled study

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to systematically investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and factors influencing health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in cervical dystonia (CD) patients, in the context of objective dystonia motor severity.MethodsWe studied 50 CD patients and 50 matched healthy controls. Psychiatric assessment included the MINI–PLUS interview and quantitative questionnaires. Dystonia motor severity (based on video evaluation), pain and disability were determined with the TWSTRS rating scale. In addition, severity of tremor and jerks was evaluated with the 7-point CGI-S scale. HR-QoL was determined with the RAND-36 item Health Survey and predictors of HR-QoL were assessed using multiple regression analysis.ResultsIn CD patients, the MINI-PLUS revealed a significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders (64% vs. 28%, p = 0.001), with substantially more depression (32% vs. 14%) and anxiety disorders (42% vs. 8%). This was confirmed by the quantitative rating scales. Disease characteristics did not differ between patients with and without a psychiatric diagnosis. HR-QoL in dystonia patients was significantly lowered. The most important predictors of HR-QoL appeared severity of depressive symptoms, pain and disability, but not severity of motor symptoms.ConclusionPsychiatric co-morbidity is highly prevalent and is an important predictor of HR-QoL in CD patients, rather than dystonia motor severity. Our findings support the theory of a shared neurobiology for motor and non-motor features and highlight the need for systematic research into psychiatric disorders in dystonia. Adequate treatment of psychiatric symptoms could significantly contribute to better overall quality of life of CD patients.     

52例凶杀性精神分裂症患者相关因素对照分析

目的:通过对精神分裂症与无精神病凶杀行为的相关因素对照分析来探讨两组作案特征。方法:将司法精神医学鉴定中诊断为精神分裂症与无精神病案卷资料逐一登记并进行回顾性分析,对多项相关因素进行比较。结果:两组在年龄、性别等方面均无统计学差异,在作案时间、作案地点等许多与案情有关的因子上存在显著差异,在案发后自我保护及责任能力方面也存在差异,在MMPI量表中Pa、Sc、Ma有统计学差异。结论:掌握精神分裂症与无精神病者不同作案规律和特征,比较客观和科学的做出司法评定。     

精神分裂症患者暴力行为特征对照分析

目的:探讨精神分裂症患者暴力行为具体特征。方法:对我院2003年至2006年进行的673例鉴定案例中的实施暴力行为并且具有精神分裂症诊断的58例,设为研究组;实施暴力行为但不具有精神科诊断的66例,设为对照组。收集一般资料,进行BPRS、PANSS、HAMD、SDSS、MMPI、韦氏智力测查,然后进行数据分析。结果:研究组病理动机占53%;两组在BPRS、PANSS、HAMD、SDSS结果上均存在显著性差异;两组在一般资料、MMPI、韦氏智力测查结果之间无显著性差异。结论:应进一步加强对精神病人暴力犯罪研究。     

Intensive care in psychiatry

Psychiatric intensive care is supposed to offer treatment and to hold patients with psychiatric illness, if they pose a threat to themselves or to others. Besides treating the underlying psychiatric diagnoses, it is also necessary to take care of severe somatic comorbidity, which is often impeded by patients’ limited ability to cooperate. Treatment often requires the administration of sedative medication and occasionally the use of medical restraints. Involuntary commitment, involuntary treatment and the usage of physical restraints is regulated by national mental health laws. Medical professionals working in the field of psychiatric intensive care must have expert knowledge in the fields of psychopharmacology and intensive care medicine. Treatment concepts should be aimed to provide optimized care for psychiatric inpatients in a potentially life-threatening phase of their illness. This article outlines current clinical practice at the psychiatric intensive care unit of the Medical University of Vienna (Austria). Furthermore, we present diagnoses, diagnostic procedures and specific treatments of a sample of 100 consecutive inpatients treated in the years 2008 and 2009 at this ward.