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Somatic Diseases (somatic + disease)
Selected AbstractsParkinson's disease and suicide: a profile of suicide victims with Parkinson's disease in a population-based study during the years 1988,2002 in Northern FinlandINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 9 2009Arja Mainio Abstract Objective We studied the prevalence of hospital-treated Parkinson's disease (PD) among suicide victims and the profile of these persons, taking into account suicide attempts, timing of depression and comorbid somatic diseases. Methods The database of this study consisted of suicide victims aged 50 years of age or older (n,=,555) during a fourteen-year period in the province of Oulu in Northern Finland. Results Hospital-treated Parkinson's disease occurred in 1.6% of the subjects, indicating a rather low prevalence of suicide in this group of patients. The persons with PD had attempted suicide earlier in 44% of the cases, while the corresponding percentage for other victims in older age was 9.9% (p,=,0.009 Fischer exact test). Conclusions Based on the case characteristics of our study the profile of PD person who completed suicide was as follows: male subject with recently diagnosed disease, living in rural area, having multiple physical illnesses, and having attempted suicide earlier. Psychiatric consultation is thus highly recommended for the PD patients with this disease profile. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Nursing home suicides,a psychological autopsy studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 12 2003Kirsi Suominen Abstract Objective Older adults comprise a fifth of all suicides. Elders are the fastest growing part of the population, thus the number of persons needing nursing home care will increase dramatically in the near future. Little information has been available about suicides in nursing homes. The present study described all suicides among older adults in nursing homes in Finland during a 12-month period emphasizing the factors that have been found to be associated with suicide in the general elderly population. Methods Drawing on data from a psychological autopsy study of all suicides (n=1397) in Finland during one year, all suicides committed by patients in nursing homes were identified. Retrospective DSM-IV consensus diagnoses were assigned. Results Twelve elderly (aged 60 years or more) nursing home residents who died by suicide, 0.9% of all suicides, were identified. The primary finding of the present study was that nursing home residents who died by suicide had suffered from highly comorbid somatopsychiatric disorders. One or more diagnoses on Axis I were made for all who died by suicide in nursing home. Depressive syndrome was diagnosed in three-quarters of subjects. Only a third of these were identified to have suffered from depressive symptoms before their death. Conclusions Early recognition and adequate treatment of both somatic diseases and mental disorders, particularly depression, as well as early recognition of suicide risk among nursing home residents, are needed in order to prevent suicide. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A 5-year follow-up study of disease incidence in men with an abnormal hormone patternJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2003R. Rosmond Abstract Rosmond R, Wallerius S, Wanger P, Martin L, Holm G, Björntorp P (The Cardiovascular Institute, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg; and Huddinge University Hospital, Huddinge; Sweden). A 5-year follow-up study of disease incidence in men with an abnormal hormone pattern. J Intern Med 2003; 254: 386,390. Objectives. Previous studies have suggested that abnormal levels of cortisol and testosterone might increase the risk of serious somatic diseases. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a 5-year follow-up study in middle-aged men. Methods. A population-based cohort study conducted in 1995 amongst 141 Swedish men born in 1944, in whom a clinical examination supplemented by medical history aimed to disclose the presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke), type 2 diabetes and hypertension were performed at baseline and at follow-up in the year 2000. In addition, salivary cortisol levels were measured repeatedly over the day. Serum testosterone concentrations were also determined. Using the baseline data, an algorithm was constructed, which classified the secretion pattern of cortisol and testosterone from each individual as being normal or abnormal. Results. By the end of follow-up, men with an abnormal hormone secretion pattern (n = 73) had elevated mean arterial pressure (P = 0.003), fasting insulin (P = 0.009) and insulin : glucose ratio (P = 0.005) compared with men with a normal secretion pattern (n = 68). Body mass index, waist circumference, and waist : hip ratio were significantly elevated in both groups. However, the 5-year incidence of CVD, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in men with an abnormal neuroendocrine secretory pattern compared to men with a normal pattern. Conclusions. These data suggest that an abnormal neuroendocrine secretory pattern is prospectively associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular-related events and type 2 diabetes. [source] Low Bone Mineral Density and Impaired Bone Metabolism in Young Alcoholic Patients Without Liver Cirrhosis: A Cross-Sectional StudyALCOHOLISM, Issue 2 2009Peter Malik Background:, Osteoporosis is regularly mentioned as a consequence of alcoholism. Ethanol,s direct effect on bone-modeling cells as well as alcoholism-related "life-style factors" such as malnutrition, lack of exercise, hormonal changes, and liver cirrhosis are discussed as potential causative factors. Methods:, In a cross-sectional study, we have examined 57 noncirrhotic alcoholic patients (37 male, 20 female) aged 27 to 50 years. Patients suffering from comorbid somatic diseases and with co-medication known to have an influence on bone mineral density (e.g., glucocorticoids, heparin, anticonvulsant agents, oral contraceptives) were excluded. We determined bone mineral density (BMD) by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the lumbar spine (L1,L4) and the proximal right femur (femoral neck, total hip) as well as parameters of bone metabolism. Results:, In males but not females, BMD was significantly reduced in the lumbar region, as well as in the proximal femur (femoral neck, total hip). Nine male patients (24.3% of men) and 1 female patient (5% of women) had low BMD (defined as Z -score , ,2.0). As expected, there was a positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and BMD. Alcohol-related factors (e.g., duration of abuse, consumed amount of alcohol per day) as well as smoking were not associated with a significant effect on BMD. All of the 20 women examined showed elevated estradiol levels, which may have served as a protective factor. In this study, 75.7% of the men and 90% of the women had vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (plasma levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D < 30 ng/ml). Conclusions:, Our study indicates that younger alcoholic patients without other diseases may suffer from an increased risk to develop low BMD and a disturbance of vitamin D metabolism. Nutritional factors or less exposure to sunlight may play an important role in bone loss in young alcoholic patients. BMD measurement and assessment of bone metabolism should be considered in all patients with chronic alcoholism. [source] Clinical significance of RLSMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue S18 2007Wayne A. Hening MD Abstract While the restless legs syndrome (RLS) may have been known in antiquity, it has only recently come to medical attention. Individuals with RLS fall along a spectrum from mild, infrequent symptoms to those with severe daily life-impairing discomforts and sleep disruption. These problems can cause impaired mood, daytime fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and inability to participate in a variety of quiet activities. This leads to a general reduction in quality of life similar to other significant psychiatric and medical disorders. Recent studies suggest that RLS may be a risk factor for developing both psychiatric disorders (such as major depression and anxiety) and somatic diseases (such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease). In dialysis patients, RLS has been found to be a risk factor for mortality. Therefore, those with RLS who have clinically significant symptoms suffer increased morbidity and are at risk for impaired long-term medical outcomes. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society [source] Familial and sporadic schizophrenia: a comparison of somatic diseases and abuse in patients and their relativesACTA NEUROPSYCHIATRICA, Issue 1 2009Kristina Melkersson Objective:, Comparing schizophrenia patients on the basis of familial and non-familial forms of the illness provides a promising approach to the identification of genes involved in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to search for somatic factors that discriminate between patients with and without a family history of schizophrenia and between their relatives. Methods:, Ninety-five schizophrenia patients were structurally interviewed about mental and physical health and alcohol and substance use in themselves and their families. Besides this, complementary information was obtained from the patients' case records. Patients with (41%) and without (59%) a family history were then compared. Results:, The main differences were found in the patients' relatives. Fewer patients with a family history, compared with patients without a family history, had relatives with cancer (p = 0.002). Conversely, there was a tendency towards that more patients with a family history, compared with patients without a family history, had relatives with cardiac infarction (p = 0.05). Conclusion:, The genetic risk associated with schizophrenia seems to cosegregate into a factor(s) that protects against cancer and possibly also increases the risk for cardiac infarction. [source] | ||||||||||