Hospital Anxiety (hospital + anxiety)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


The incidence of anxiety and depression among employees,the role of psychosocial work characteristics

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 11 2009
Helene Andrea Ph.D.
Abstract Background: Anxiety and depression are prevalent among employees and are associated with functional disability and work impairment. To date, little is known about the incidence and possible risk factors for developing anxiety and depression in the working population. Study aims were to (a) determine the incidence of subclinical anxiety and depression in a general working population and (b) identify the psychosocial work characteristics associated with the onset of subclinical anxiety and depression. Methods: This prospective study is based on 3,707 employees participating in the Maastricht Cohort Study on Fatigue at Work. Psychosocial work characteristics were measured in May 2000; anxiety and depression were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in April 2002. Results: The cumulative 23-month incidence for subclinical anxiety and depression was 4.6 and 3.3%, respectively. High psychological job demands increased the risk for both subsequent anxiety and depression. Moreover, low social support was predictive for the onset of anxiety, whereas job insecurity increased the risk for the onset of depression. These prospective associations were independent of potential confounding variables and the other psychosocial work characteristics. Conclusions: Adverse psychosocial work characteristics are significant predictors for the onset of subclinical anxiety and depression in the general working population. These findings encourage intervention studies testing whether modifying the psychosocial work environment reduces both anxiety and depressive symptoms among employees. Depression and Anxiety 26:1040,1048, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Validation of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale by comparison with the Short Form 36 scale among psychiatric outpatients with major depressive disorder

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 6 2009
Ching-I Hung M.D.
Abstract Background: The Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS) is a self-administered scale developed for monitoring both depression and somatic symptoms. The aims of this study were to establish the criterion-related validity of the DSSS by testing the correlation between the DSSS and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) scale and to compare the ability of the DSSS and two other scales in predicting the outcome of the SF-36. Methods: The study enrolled 135 outpatients with a major depressive episode, 95 of whom received treatment for 1 month. Four scales were administered and evaluated: the DSSS, the SF-36, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Pearson correlation was used to test correlations among scales. Multiple linear regressions were used to find the scales most effective in predicting the SF-36. Results: The three scales were significantly correlated with most of the SF-36 subscales. The depression and somatic subscales of the DSSS significantly correlated with the mental and physical subscales of the SF-36, respectively. The DSSS and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were better able to predict physical and mental subscales of the SF-36, respectively. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale had a good ability to predict functional impairment. Conclusions: Psychometric scales with appropriate somatic symptoms might be more compatible with both physical and mental dimensions of the SF-36. DSSS proved to be a valid scale for monitoring both depression and somatic symptoms in patients with depression. Future studies should test whether the DSSS is better at predicting the treatment and prognosis of depression than conventional scales for depression. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Screening for depression and anxiety disorders in primary care patients

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 7 2007
Adomas Bunevicius B.S.
Abstract Mood and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in primary health care. In this study we assessed performance of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for screening of depression and anxiety disorders in a population of primary care patients. A total of 503 primary care patients consecutively admitted to the primary care medical center in Kaunas, Lithuania, completed the study. We found that the HADS subscale of depression (HADS-D) at a cutoff score of 6 or more showed the best performance screening for a major depressive episode diagnosed by means of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), with a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 69%, positive predictive value of 80%, negative predictive value of 92%, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.75. Performance of the HADS-D against MINI diagnosis of dysthymia was weak. The HADS subscale of anxiety (HADS-A) at a cutoff score of 9 or more showed the best performance screening for MINI diagnosis of overall anxiety disorders, with a sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 75%, positive predictive value of 53%, negative predictive value of 90%, and area under the ROC curve of 0.76. These results suggest that in primary care patients HADS is an adequate screening instrument for the MINI diagnoses of major depressive episode, but not for dysthymia at a cutoff score of 6, and for anxiety disorders at a cutoff score of 9. Depression and Anxiety 24:455,460, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Depressive symptoms in the first year from diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes: results from the DESMOND trial

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 8 2010
T. C. Skinner
Diabet. Med. 27, 965,967 (2010) Abstract Aims, To describe the course of depressive symptoms during the first year after diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Methods,Post hoc analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of self-management education for 824 individuals newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Participants completed the Depression scale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale after diagnosis and at 4, 8 and 12 months follow-up. Participants also completed the Problem Areas in Diabetes scale at 8 and 12 months follow-up. We present descriptive statistics on prevalence and persistence of depressive symptoms. Logistic regression is used to predict possible depression cases, and multiple regression to predict depressive symptomatology. Results, The prevalence of depressive symptoms in individuals recently diagnosed with diabetes (18,22% over the year) was not significantly different from normative data for the general population (12%) in the UK. Over 20% of participants indicated some degrees of depressive symptoms over the first year of living with Type 2 diabetes; these were mostly transient episodes, with 5% (1% severe) reporting having depressive symptoms throughout the year. At 12 months post diagnosis, after controlling for baseline depressive symptoms, diabetes-specific emotional distress was predictive of depressive symptomatology. Conclusions, The increased prevalence of depressive symptoms in diabetes is not manifest until at least 1 year post diagnosis in this cohort. However, there are a significant number of people with persistent depressive symptoms in the early stages of diabetes, and diabetes-specific distress may be contributing to subsequent development of depressive symptoms in people with Type 2 diabetes. [source]


The relationship between depression and diabetes mellitus: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009
R. I. G. Holt
Abstract Aims, To assess the relationship between depression scores and diabetes, glucose and insulin in a cross-sectional population-based study. Methods, One thousand, five hundred and seventy-nine men and 1418 women from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study were assessed for diabetes. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were measured at 0, 30 and 120 min during a standard 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results, Overall, 431 (14.6%) were diagnosed with diabetes [232 men (14.9%) and 199 women (14.3%)]. One hundred and eight (47%) men and 74 (37%) women had known diabetes. The remainder were previously undiagnosed. Fifty-nine (3.7%) men and 65 (4.6%) women had possible depression (HAD-D scores 8,10) and 17 (1.1%) men and 20 (1.4%) women had probable depression (HAD-D scores , 11). Probable depression was associated with an adjusted odds ratio for diabetes of 3.89 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28,11.88] in men and 1.51 (95% CI 0.47,4.84) in women. In men without previously diagnosed diabetes, fasting insulin (P = 0.035), 2-h glucose concentrations (P = 0.028) and insulin resistance (P = 0.032) were significantly associated with HAD-D scores. With the exception of 2-h glucose concentrations (P = 0.034), the associations were not significant in women. Conclusions, These data support the hypothesis that depression may increase the risk for diabetes. The relationship between depression score and metabolic variables extends across the whole population and is not confined to those with either diagnosed depression or diabetes. This relationship should lead clinicians to consider screening for diabetes in those with depression and vice versa. [source]


Not all roads lead to Rome,a review of quality of life measurement in adults with diabetes

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 4 2009
J. Speight
Abstract Aims Quality of life (QoL) is recognized widely as an important health outcome in diabetes, where the burden of self-management places great demands on the individual. However, the concept of QoL remains ambiguous and poorly defined. The aim of our review is to clarify the measurement of QoL in terms of conceptualization, terminology and psychometric properties, to review the instruments that have been used most frequently to assess QoL in diabetes research and make recommendations for how to select measures appropriately. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted to identify the ten measures most frequently used to assess QoL in diabetes research (including clinical trials) from 1995 to March 2008. Results Six thousand and eight-five abstracts were identified and screened for instrument names. Of the ten instruments most frequently used to assess ,QoL', only three actually do so [i.e. the generic World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) and the diabetes-specific Diabetes Quality of Life (DQOL) and Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL)]. Seven instruments more accurately measure health status [Short-Form 36 (SF-36), EuroQoL 5-Dimension (EQ-5D)], treatment satisfaction [Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ)] and psychological well-being [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Well-Being Questionnaire (W-BQ), Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID)]. Conclusions No single measure can suit every purpose or application but, when measures are selected inappropriately and data misinterpreted, any conclusions drawn are fundamentally flawed. If we value QoL as a therapeutic goal, we must ensure that the instruments we use are both valid and reliable. QoL assessment has the proven potential to identify ways in which treatments can be tailored to reduce the burden of diabetes. With careful consideration, appropriate measures can be selected and truly robust assessments undertaken successfully. [source]


Psychiatric morbidity among patients with cancer of the esophagus or the gastro-esophageal junction: a prospective, longitudinal evaluation

DISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 6 2007
H. Bergquist
SUMMARY., Cancer of the esophagus is often diagnosed at a late stage and is related to severe morbidity and a low 5-year survival rate. Previous studies have reported low health-related quality of life and high suicide rates for these patients. The occurrence of psychiatric morbidity and thus the potential need for psychological support may vary over time after diagnosis. This has not been adequately studied in patients with newly diagnosed cancer of the esophagus or gastro-esophageal junction. The present study therefore aimed to prospectively evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in 94 consecutive patients (median age 66, range 45,88 years) with all stages of disease. Psychiatric morbidity was evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire at inclusion and 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months later. At inclusion, 42% of the patients had HADS scores indicating possible or probable anxiety disorder and/or depression. At all follow-ups except at 3 months, proportions of patients with possible/probable anxiety disorder were significantly lower than at inclusion. Among patients with a duration of tumor-specific symptoms exceeding 6 months pre-diagnosis, larger proportions of patients with a possible/probable anxiety disorder were found at the 1- and 6-month follow ups. The prevalence of possible/probable depression was greater among patients treated with a palliative intent than among those with a curative intent at inclusion. Patients who died during the study period scored worse for depression compared to the survivors. Apart from this, the proportion of patients with possible/probable psychiatric morbidity (anxiety and/or depression) was relatively stable over time and was unrelated to patient characteristics or clinical background, including the treatment regime. In conclusion, psychiatric morbidity is common among esophageal cancer patients, both at inclusion and over time, regardless of the cancer therapy given. The findings stress the importance of monitoring the patients' mental health and of offering adequate psychological care when needed. [source]


Anxiety and depression among abstainers and low-level alcohol consumers.

ADDICTION, Issue 9 2009
The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study
ABSTRACT Aims The aim of this study was to examine the levels of anxiety and depression among individuals consuming low levels of alcohol. Design Prospective and cross-sectional population-based study. Setting and participants This study employed data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Survey (HUNT-2, n = 38 930). Measurements Alcohol consumption was measured by self-report of usual alcohol consumption during a 2-week period. Low-level alcohol consumption was defined as self-reported abstainers and non-abstainers currently consuming no alcohol. Anxiety and depression were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale. Potential explanatory variables included somatic illness and symptoms, health-related behaviour, socio-economic status and social activity. In a subsample (n = 20 337), we also looked at the impact of previous heavy drinking among abstainers ('sick-quitting'). Findings A U-shaped association between alcohol consumption and the risk of anxiety and depression was found. Abstention was related to increased odds for both case-level anxiety [1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19,1.52] and depression (1.52, 95% CI 1.30,1.77). This association was accounted for partly by adjustments for socio-economic status, social network, somatic illness, age (depression only), gender (anxiety only) and ,sick-quitting'. We also identified significant differences between participants who label themselves as abstainers compared to those who report no usual alcohol consumption, but who do not label themselves as abstainers. Conclusions The risk of case-level anxiety and depression is elevated in individuals with low alcohol consumption compared to those with moderate consumption. Individuals who label themselves as abstainers are at particularly increased risk. This increased risk cannot fully be explained by somatic illness, social activity or ,sick-quitting'. [source]


Patterns of change in withdrawal symptoms, desire to smoke, reward motivation and response inhibition across 3 months of smoking abstinence

ADDICTION, Issue 5 2009
Lynne Dawkins
ABSTRACT Aims We have demonstrated previously that acute smoking abstinence is associated with lowered reward motivation and impaired response inhibition. This prospective study explores whether these impairments, along with withdrawal-related symptoms, recover over 3 months of sustained abstinence. Design Participants completed a 12-hour abstinent baseline assessment and were then allocated randomly to quit unaided or continue smoking. All were re-tested after 7 days, 1 month and 3 months. Successful quitters' scores were compared with those of continuing smokers, who were tested after ad libitum smoking. Setting Goldsmiths, University of London. Participants A total of 33 smokers who maintained abstinence to 3 months, and 31 continuing smokers. Measurements Indices demonstrated previously in this cohort of smokers to be sensitive to the effect of nicotine versus acute abstinence: reward motivation [Snaith,Hamilton pleasure scale (SHAPS), Card Arranging Reward Responsivity Objective Test (CARROT), Stroop], tasks of response inhibition [anti-saccade task; Continuous Performance Task (CPT)], clinical indices of mood [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)], withdrawal symptoms [Mood and Physical Symptoms Scale (MPSS)] and desire to smoke. Findings SHAPS anhedonia and reward responsivity (CARROT) showed significant improvement and plateaued after a month of abstinence, not differing from the scores of continuing smokers tested in a satiated state. Mood, other withdrawal symptoms and desire to smoke all declined from acute abstinence to 1 month of cessation and were equivalent to, or lower than, the levels reported by continuing, satiated smokers. Neither group showed a change in CPT errors over time while continuing smokers, but not abstainers, showed improved accuracy on the anti-saccade task at 3 months. Conclusion Appetitive processes and related affective states appear to improve in smokers who remain nicotine-free for 3 months, whereas response inhibition does not. Although in need of replication, the results suggest tentatively that poor inhibitory control may constitute a long-term risk factor for relapse and could be a target for intervention. [source]


Prevalence and impact of pain in diabetic neuropathy

EUROPEAN DIABETES NURSING, Issue 2 2009
M Geerts M
Abstract Background: Diabetic neuropathy (DNP) is a serious and common complication of diabetes mellitus, with a prevalence of around 30-50%. Aims: To describe the prevalence, severity and medical treatment of painful DNP (PDNP) experienced by patients treated in secondary care; to determine quality of life (QoL) impact and the relationship between severity of pain and severity of DNP. Methods: Cross-sectional, two-phase survey. First, a pain interview was conducted by telephone (219 DNP patients), which covered types of pain, location and duration. Secondly, 50 patients were visited at home. Patients completed the Brief Pain Inventory, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Prevalence of PDNP was 57.5%. Average and worst pain scores were 5.3 ± 2.1 and 6.4 ± 2.2, respectively (0-10 scale, 10 = worst pain imaginable). In 70% of patients, average pain was severe (score ,5). Substantial interference by pain (score ,4) was found in walking ability, sleep and normal activities. PDNP patients had a decreased QoL for all SF-36 domains (p,0.01) except for health change. Moreover, symptoms of anxiety (36%) and depression (34%) were reported frequently. Medical treatment was prescribed in 46% of patients, in whom treatment was ineffective in 39%. Physical functioning scores were lower in patients with severe versus moderate DNP (p,0.01). Conclusions: The prevalence of severe PDNP was high. Severity of DNP was not related to pain severity. PDNP was associated with loss of QoL and with symptoms of anxiety and depression. A considerable proportion of patients did not have medical treatment and, if treatment was given, its impact was disappointing. Medical treatment of PDNP was unsatisfactory and clearly needs to be improved. Copyright © 2009 FEND [source]


A clinical profile of participants in an online support group

EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, Issue 3 2007
Alison M. Darcy
Abstract Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of users of an online support group for people with eating disorders (EDs). Method One hundred and thirty-eight support group participants were recruited online and completed measures that were specifically adapted for internet administration. These included two subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2); the 26-item version of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26); the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). Results Participants scored significantly higher than published normative data on all measures. In addition, while the group scored in line with traditional clinical samples, some self-reported diagnostic groups scored significantly higher on all of the factors. Discussion Participants demonstrated a clinical profile, in terms of reported distress, comparable to, and on some measures in excess of, samples diagnosed with an ED. Online support groups may be ideally placed to offer support and information to some people with EDs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [source]


Therapy of circadian rhythm disorders in chronic fatigue syndrome: no symptomatic improvement with melatonin or phototherapy

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 11 2002
G. Williams
Abstract Background Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) show evidence of circadian rhythm disturbances. We aimed to determine whether CFS symptoms were alleviated by melatonin and bright-light phototherapy, which have been shown to improve circadian rhythm disorders and fatigue in jet-lag and shift workers. Design Thirty patients with unexplained fatigue for > 6 months were initially assessed using placebo and then received melatonin (5 mg in the evening) and phototherapy (2500 Lux for 1 h in the morning), each for 12 weeks in random order separated by a washout period. Principal symptoms of CFS were measured by visual analogue scales, the Shortform (SF-36) Health Survey, Mental Fatigue Inventory and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We also determined the circadian rhythm of body temperature, timing of the onset of melatonin secretion, and the relationship between these. Results Neither intervention showed any significant effect on any of the principal symptoms or on general measures of physical or mental health. Compared with placebo, neither body temperature rhythm nor onset of melatonin secretion was significantly altered by either treatment, except for a slight advance of temperature phase (0·8 h; P = 0·04) with phototherapy. Conclusion Melatonin and bright-light phototherapy appear ineffective in CFS. Both treatments are being prescribed for CFS sufferers by medical and alternative practitioners. Their unregulated use should be prohibited unless, or until, clear benefits are convincingly demonstrated. [source]


Determinants and status of quality of life after long-term botulinum toxin therapy for cervical dystonia

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 10 2007
I. M. Skogseid
The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL), using the Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36), in 70 cervical dystonia (CD) patients after long-term botulinum toxin (BTX) treatment (median 5.5 years), and to identify factors determining reduced HRQoL. We used combined patient-and physician-based measures to assess both CD severity [Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale, (TWSTRS)] and effect of long-term BTX treatment, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and General Health Questionnaire-30 to assess psychological distress. Mean SF-36 domain scores of the CD patients were reduced by <1 SD compared with age- and gender-matched population samples. High TWSTRS total scores and high HAD-depression (HAD-D) scores were the main factors associated with reduced scores in the physical and mental SF-36 domains, respectively. Patients evaluated to have a ,good effect' of long-term BTX treatment (n = 47), had significantly lower median TWSTRS total score, and a 3× lower frequency of high HAD-D scores, than those evaluated to an ,unsatisfactory effect' (n = 23). In conclusion, most CD patients enjoy a good HRQoL after long-term BTX therapy. Reduced HRQoL was associated with more severe disease and/or depressive symptoms. [source]


The impact of stomatological disease on oral health-related quality of life

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2003
Carrie Diane Llewellyn
The clinical diagnosis of stomatological disease may indicate its cause and prognosis; however, it says little about the resulting level of impairment from the patient's perspective. The primary objective of this study was to test whether patients attending an outpatient oral medicine clinic would have worse oral health related quality of life (OHR-QoL) compared with the general population. In addition, we aimed to assess whether anxiety or depression could be predicted by OHR-QoL and to explore the relationship between clinical diagnoses, OHR-QoL and anxiety/depression. Data were collected from patients (n = 97) through face-to-face interviews using the Oral Health Impact Profile Short form (OHIP-14) to measure OHR-QoL, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for psychiatric morbidity, and a visual analogue scale for self-rated general health. Age- and sex-matched controls (n = 388) were provided from a normative data set collected in a UK national survey in 1998. Participants had significantly lower OHR-QoL scores than the general population on all domains and overall OHR-QoL scores. Of the variance in anxiety, 55% was predicted by general health ratings and OHR-QoL domains of ,psychological discomfort' and ,psychological disability'. Of the variance in depression, 54% was predicted by general health ratings and OHR-QoL domains of ,functional limitation' and ,social disability'. Patient centred, routine assessment of OHR-QoL provides an additional dimension that may help to improve awareness of the impact of disease on the individual's life and enhance the clinical decision-making process. [source]


Evaluation of the impact of information about treatment-related risks in patients receiving blood-derived or recombinant medications

HAEMOPHILIA, Issue 5 2004
D. Magli-Barioz
Summary., The aims of the study were to evaluate the impact of a written information about treatment related risks in patient receiving blood derived or recombinant medications. Haemophiliac patients and patients with constitutional or acquired immune deficiencies are concerned by this treatment and these information. Our objectives are to evaluate the efficacy of the written information, the knowledge of the patients about these medications and the psychological, emotional impact if these information. The study is based on questionnaires which specified how the patient treat bleeding episodes, their knowledge about viral safety of blood products, the patient's perception of his or her health status and relationship with the physician. Psychological and emotional status are evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The results show the difficulty to inform patients: if the information generate only limited anxiety in patients with haemophilia or immune deficiencies, we observe that the delivery of a written information got a mediocre effect on overall knowledge. We think that this information must be appropriate for patients and be communicated orally within the patient,physician relationship. [source]


Psychosocial factors involved in delayed consultation by patients with head and neck cancer

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 4 2005
Olivier Rozniatowski DESS
Abstract Background. In the north of France, a delay in primary consultation has been noted among patients with head and neck cancer. This group is often correlated with lower socioeconomic status and a lack of medical information. Therefore, the choice to seek consultation is often influenced by symptoms such as pain and change in the size of tumors in the neck. We studied this delay in seeking consultation, focusing on psychosocial variables such as professional and social background, the involvement of a spouse/partner, and the presence of anxiety and depression. Methods. Two rating scales were administered to 50 patients with large tumors (T3/T4) and 50 patients with small tumors (T1/T2), and the results were compared. These rating scales were as follows: (1) a 17-item questionnaire assessing sociodemographic data, presenting symptoms, factors generating the consultation, and reasons for delay; and (2) the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results. Both groups were predominantly male and working-class. Significant differences were observed in time since symptom onset and in conscious delay in seeking medical attention. The group with large tumors was characterized by lower involvement of a spouse/partner, conscious delay before first consultation, greater social isolation, fewer medical visits, and lower HADS anxiety scores. The group with small tumors sought consultation sooner and was characterized by greater involvement of a spouse/partner, correlated with significant anxiety. Depression was not a factor influencing delay within either group. Conclusions. The interpersonal relationship with a spouse/partner seemed to be essential in the dynamics surrounding consultation. Anxiety, rather than socioeconomics status, was a discriminating factor in the delay in seeking consultation. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: XXX,XXX, 2005 [source]


High levels of anxiety and depression have a negative effect on quality of life of women with chronic pelvic pain

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 5 2009
A. P. M. S. Romão
Summary Background:, Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a common and complex disease whose cause is often clinically inexplicable, with consequent difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. Patients with CPP have high levels of anxiety and depression, with a consequent impairment of their quality of life. Aims:, The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their impact on the quality of life of women with CPP. Materials and methods:, A cross-sectional controlled study was conducted on 52 patients with CPP and 54 women without pain. Depression and anxiety were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and quality of life was evaluated by the World Health Organization Quality of life Whoqol-bref questionnaire. Data were analysed statistically by the Mann-Whitney U -test, the Fisher exact test, chi-square test and Spearman correlation test. Results:, The prevalence of anxiety was 73% and 37% in the CPP and control groups, respectively, and the prevalence of depression was 40% and 30% respectively. Significant differences between groups were observed in the physical, psychological and social domains. Patients with higher anxiety and depression scores present lower quality of life scores. Discussion:, The fact that DPC is a syndromic complex, many patients enter a chronic cycle of search for improvement of medical symptoms. The constant presence of pain may be responsible for affective changes in dynamics, family, social and sexual. Initially the person is facing the loss of a healthy body and active, to a state of dependence and limitations. In this study, patients with higher scores of anxiety and depression scores had lower quality of life and patients with lower scores of anxiety and depression had scores of quality of life. These results show that perhaps the depression and anxiety may be related to the negative impact on quality of life of these patients. Conclusion:, In view of this association, we emphasise the importance of a specific approach to the treatment of anxiety and depression together with clinical treatment to improve the quality of life of these patients. [source]


A preliminary investigation of the reliability and validity of the Brief Assessment Schedule Depression Cards and the Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen to screen for depression in older stroke survivors

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 5 2008
A. K. Healey
Abstract Objective To conduct an initial assessment of the reliability and validity of the Brief Assessment Schedule Depression Cards (BASDEC) and the Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS) to screen for depression in older stroke survivors. Methods Participants from four inpatient rehabilitation units completed the BASDEC and the BDI-FS together with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for comparison. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis 1 Disorders (SCID) was then completed with all participants to ascertain a criterion depression diagnosis. The BASDEC and BDI-FS were subsequently completed for a second time. Results Forty-nine stroke survivors (M,=,78.80, SD,=,6.79 years) were included. The BASDEC and BDI-FS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and test,retest reliability. The BASDEC (cut-off ,7) resulted in a sensitivity of 1.0 and specificity of 0.95 for detecting major depression whereas the BDI-FS (cut-off ,4) had a sensitivity of 0.71 and specificity of 0.74. When participants with minor depression were included in analyses, sensitivity lowered to 0.69 (specificity,=,0.97) for the BASDEC and 0.62 (specificity,=,0.78) for the BDI-FS. Conclusions The BASDEC and BDI-FS were found to have acceptable reliability. The BASDEC demonstrated some advantage in criterion validity over the BDI-FS at the examined cut-offs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


The role of depressive symptoms in recovery from injuries to the extremities in older persons.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 1 2003
A prospective study
Abstract Background Previous research suggested that depressive symptoms play a role in recovery after hip fracture. However none of these studies were prospective and included only patients with hip fractures. Objective To examine the effect of depressive symptoms on the recovery of (instrumental) activities of daily living after fall-related injuries to the extremities in older persons. Design Prospective cohort study. Methods Data were collected from 168 older persons at baseline, prior to their injuries (hip fractures, other fractures or contortions and dislocations), and 8 weeks, 5 months and 12 months after their accident. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to study the impact of depressive symptoms (as assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS) on disability (as assessed with the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale; GARS) after the injury while adjusting for several covariates. Results Depressive symptoms at baseline were not predictive for disability after the injury when covariates were taken into account. However, depressive symptoms 8 weeks after the fall were significantly related to disability at 8 weeks, 5 months and even 12 months after the injury. In addition, disability levels before the injury were highly predictive for recovery later on. Severity of injury was particularly predictive for disability at 8 weeks while age (which may generally represent the amount of physiological reserve) predicted disability at 5 and 12 months after the injury. Cognitive functioning 8 weeks post-injury was, in contrast to previous research, not predictive for recovery when covariates were taken into account. Conclusions Pre-injury levels of disability and post-injury depressive symptoms are associated with recovery and may warrant concern and special attention in clinical practice. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Factor structure of the hospital anxiety and depression scale in older patients with major depression

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2002
Alastair J. Flint
Abstract Objective Symptomatic anxiety has prognostic significance in major depression. In theory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) should be a useful instrument for measuring the severity of symptomatic anxiety in late-life depression. However, the dimensional structure of the HADS has not been evaluated in elderly depressed patients; it is not known whether the scale actually functions as a bidimensional measure of anxiety and depression in this population. The purpose of this exploratory study, therefore, was to examine the factor structure of the HADS in older patients with major depression. Method The HADS was completed by 213 patients, aged 60 years or older, with DSM-III-R unipolar major depression. Principal components analysis was performed on the full 14-item HADS and on each of its subscales. Results Two distinct factors, which corresponded to the instrument's depression and anxiety subscales, emerged. The two-factor structure proved reasonably stable when the study group was randomly divided into two halves. Analysis of the subscales resulted in a single factor for each. The subscales had high internal reliability. Conclusions These findings confirm that the HADS functions as a bidimensional measure of depression and anxiety in older patients with major depression. The results suggest that the HADS is a valid instrument for measuring severity of anxiety, independent of other depressive symptoms, in this population. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Evaluation of a computer-adaptive test for the assessment of depression (D-CAT) in clinical application

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009
Herbert Fliege
Abstract In the past, a German Computerized Adaptive Test, based on Item Response Theory (IRT), was developed for purposes of assessing the construct depression [Computer-adaptive test for depression (D-CAT)]. This study aims at testing the feasibility and validity of the real computer-adaptive application. The D-CAT, supplied by a bank of 64 items, was administered on personal digital assistants (PDAs) to 423 consecutive patients suffering from psychosomatic and other medical conditions (78 with depression). Items were adaptively administered until a predetermined reliability (r , 0.90) was attained. For validation purposes, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered. Another sample of 114 patients was evaluated using standardized diagnostic interviews [Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI)]. The D-CAT was quickly completed (mean 74 seconds), well accepted by the patients and reliable after an average administration of only six items. In 95% of the cases, 10 items or less were needed for a reliable score estimate. Correlations between the D-CAT and the HADS, CES-D, and BDI ranged between r = 0.68 and r = 0.77. The D-CAT distinguished between diagnostic groups as well as established questionnaires do. The D-CAT proved an efficient, well accepted and reliable tool. Discriminative power was comparable to other depression measures, whereby the CAT is shorter and more precise. Item usage raises questions of balancing the item selection for content in the future. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Examining item bias in the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008
Wai-Kwong Tang
Abstract The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a widely used screening instrument for depression and anxiety in medically compromised patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the differential item functioning (DIF) of the anxiety subscale of the HADA (HADS-A). A research assistant administered the HADS-A to 166 Chinese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who were consecutively admitted to a rehabilitation hospital. Although the HADS-A was overall uni-dimensional, there were one mute item and two items with borderline misfit. Only one item had a DIF for arterial oxygen saturation. No item had DIF for other indicators of the severity of COPD. In conclusion, this study found that for one item the HADS-A has significant item bias for the severity of disease in patients with COPD. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


The development and initial validation of the Terminally Ill Grief or Depression Scale (TIGDS)

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 4 2005
Vyjeyanthi S. Periyakoil
Abstract Patients often experience ,preparatory-grief' as they cope with the dying process. Some may be depressed. The Terminally Ill Grief or Depression Scale (TIGDS), comprising grief and depression sub-scales, is a new self-report measure designed to differentiate between preparatory-grief and depression in adult inpatients. The initial 100-item inventory was assembled based on literature review, interviews with clinicians and dying patients and then shortened to 42 items based on consensus expert opinion. Validity and reliability were tested in a sample of 55 terminally ill adults. The consensus clinical opinion was used as the gold standard to differentiate between preparatory grief and depression. The intra-class correlation coefficient was high (it was calculated to estimate the test-retest reliability for the 47 patients who had completed the TIGDS twice , retest was administered 2 to 7 days after the initial test), ranging from 0.86 (grief) to 0.97 (depression). The validity of TIGDS was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, comparing the first test with the clinical criterion. The first and only variable and cut-point was the depression score (chi-square = 18.4,p < 0.001, cut point = 3). The sensitivity of the TIGDS was 0.727 and specificity was 0.886 for the depression = 3 cutoff score. The construct validity of the TIGDS was tested by comparing with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The TIGDS depression subscale showed strong convergent validity and the TIGDS grief subscale showed strong discriminant validity with the HADS total score. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Screening for mental disorders in cancer patients , discriminant validity of HADS and GHQ-12 assessed by standardized clinical interview

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 2 2001
Katrin Reuter
Abstract The detection and classification of comorbid mental disorders has major implications in cancer care. Valid screening instruments for different diagnostic specifications are therefore needed. This study investigated the discriminant validity of the German versions of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). A total of 188 cancer patients participated in the examination, consisting first of the assessment of psychological distress and, second, of the diagnosis of mental disorders according to DSM-IV by clinical standardized interview (CIDI). Discriminant validity of the two instruments regarding the diagnosis of any mental disorder, anxiety, depression and multiple mental disorders was compared using ROC analysis. Overall, the total HADS scale shows a better screening performance than the GHQ-12, especially for the detection of depressive and anxiety disorders. Best results are achieved for depressive disorders with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80, a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 76% (cut-off point = 17). For the ability of the instruments to detect patients with mental disorders in general, the GHQ-12 (AUC: 0.68) shows a similar overall accuracy to the HADS (AUC: 0.70). The screening performance of both scales for comorbid mental disorders is comparable. The HADS is a valid screening instrument for depressive and anxiety disorders in cancer care. The GHQ-12 can be considered as an alternative to the HADS when diagnostic specifications are less detailed and the goal of screening procedures is to detect patients with single or multiple mental disorders in general. Limitations of conventional screening instruments are given through the differing methodological approaches of screening tests (dimensional approach) and diagnosis according to DSM-IV (categorical approach). Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]


Fatigue after myocardial infarction: Relationships with indices of emotional distress, and sociodemographic and clinical variables

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 4 2010
Pia Alsén RN PhD
Alsén P, Brink E, Brändström Y, Karlson BW, Persson L-O. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16: 326,334 Fatigue after myocardial infarction: Relationships with indices of emotional distress, and sociodemographic and clinical variables Fatigue and depressive symptoms are relatively common among patients recovering from myocardial infarction (MI). The symptoms of depression and fatigue overlap. The present study aimed at identifying patient fatigue and at examining the incidence of fatigue, particularly without coexisting depression, after MI. The sample comprised 204 consecutive patients who had completed the questionnaires Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory,20 after MI (1 week and 4 months). The results showed that fatigue had decreased after 4 months compared with the time of MI onset. Compared with the general population, patients reported significantly higher levels of fatigue. Furthermore, fatigue was associated with depression, but 33% of the sample reported fatigue without coexisting depression after 4 months. In order to prevent or treat patients' symptoms of fatigue after MI, the concepts of fatigue and depression should be assessed separately so as to exclude overlapping effects. [source]


Psychosocial Aspects of Patient-Activated Atrial Defibrillation

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2003
Andrew R.J. Mitchell M.R.C.P.
Introduction: The atrial defibrillator empowers patients to cardiovert themselves from atrial arrhythmias at a time that is socially and physically acceptable, thereby preventing hospitalization. The long-term psychosocial effects of repeated use of the patient-activated atrial defibrillator at home are unknown. Methods and Results: Eighteen patients underwent placement of the Jewel AF atrial defibrillator for persistent atrial fibrillation only. All patients performed manually activated cardioversions at home under self-administered sedation. Automatic shock therapies were disabled. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control questionnaires were obtained before implant. All patients completed questionnaires 1 year after device implant and at long-term follow-up. The spouse or partner of each patient was interviewed to identify positive and negative aspects of manual cardioversion at home. The baseline patient scores for both anxiety (5.7 ± 2.7) and depression (3.4 ± 2.3) fell within the predefined range of normality. At 1 year, there was no significant change in anxiety (4.9 ± 3.7, P = 0.39) or depression (2.4 ± 1.8, P = 0.06). At long-term follow-up (mean 28 months), a total of 377 patient-activated cardioversions were performed out of hospital (median 15 per patient). Scores for anxiety (6.0 ± 4.0, P = 0.70) and depression (3.2 ± 2.5, P = 0.68) remained unchanged. Conclusion: During long-term follow-up, patient-activated cardioversion using the atrial defibrillator was not associated with increased anxiety or depression. The procedure was well tolerated by patients and their partners, offering an acceptable treatment option for patients with recurrent persistent atrial fibrillation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. 812-816, August 2003) [source]


An exploratory study of anxiety in carers of stroke survivors

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 13-14 2010
Nan Greenwood
Aims and objectives., To investigate anxiety in informal carers of stroke survivors in the first three months after discharge. Background., Informal carers, also called caregivers, play a vital role in supporting stroke survivors. However, caring for stroke survivors can have adverse consequences amongst carers such as burden, stress and reduced quality of life. Emotional distress is also commonly reported but anxiety has received less attention than depression. Design., Prospective, longitudinal, descriptive study. Method., Forty-five carers completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale on two occasions , within one month and at three months after discharge from stroke and rehabilitation units. Results., Carers were more likely to have scores indicating anxiety than depression. In the first month, half the carers (51·1%) scored in the cut-off for anxiety and a third were in the cut-off for depression (31·1%). At three months, the picture was very similar with nearly identical proportions in the anxious and depressed categories (48·9% and 28·9%, respectively). Changes in numbers of cases of anxiety and depression and in mean anxiety scores were non-significant but there was a significant decrease in depression scores (p = 0·048). Fourteen carers (31·1%) at one month and eleven (24·4%) at three months fell into both anxious and depressed categories. Conclusions., Anxiety is a relatively neglected emotional outcome in stroke carers. Our study suggests anxiety is an important issue very early in caring whilst other research suggests it remains prevalent for many months. Given the significant role carers play in rehabilitation of stroke survivors, greater recognition of their emotional state is required. Further, longitudinal research with larger sample sizes from a range of geographical areas and improved understanding of factors associated with anxiety is needed. Relevance to clinical practice., Nurses working in the community are ideally placed to identify and support carers suffering from anxiety. [source]


Health-related quality of life in persons with long-term pain after a stroke

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 4 2004
Marita Widar MSc
Background., No study has, to our knowledge, previously been published on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a group suffering from long-term pain after a stroke. Aim., The aim of the present study was to describe HRQoL in persons with long-term pain after a stroke, and to compare this with different types of pain conditions, age, gender and household status. Design., This study has a design combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Methods., Forty three participants suffering from long-term pain after a stroke were included. A qualitative interview was performed and then analysed by means of latent content analysis. In addition, two self-report questionnaires, SF-36 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD Scale), were used. Results., The qualitative data revealed that physical and cognitive functioning, economic security and good relationships, support and having the ability to be together with family and friends were important factors with regard to experienced HRQoL. No significant differences were found in SF-36 and the HAD Scale with regard to the different types of pain. The older age group had decreased physical functioning in SF-36. The men had more decreased vitality than the women. Conclusion., The results show, that the participants in this study have a lower HRQoL due to their long-term pain than those in previous studies on stroke survivors. It is evident that further research is needed with longitudinal studies and larger populations to gain more knowledge and thereby provide better supportive care. Relevance to clinical practice., Awareness and understanding of the patients' perceptions and transitions with regard to their life situation and suffering from long-term pain after a stroke is important in order to support a maintained or increased HRQoL. This is also important after the acute stage and rehabilitation, including quality of life of the relatives, especially to older and dependent persons. [source]


The relationship of perceived control to outcomes in older women undergoing surgery for fractured neck of femur

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 1 2003
CPsychol, Chris Shaw BSc
Summary ,,This paper examines the relationship between internal locus of control and recovery from surgery for fractured neck of femur in women over the age of 65 years, in order to inform strategies for nursing care. ,,Structured interviews were carried out at 5 and 30 days postsurgery with 112 women (mean age 78.6 years) in five general hospitals in the North of England. ,,Locus of control was assessed as a factor associated with the outcomes of physical disability (measured as dependence in activities of daily living) and psychological distress (measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). ,,Internal locus of control was significantly related to less physical disability, but no association was found between locus of control and depression and anxiety at 30 days postsurgery when age, 5-day measures and other 30-day outcome measures were controlled. ,,The findings suggest that nursing interventions that enhance perceived internal control by patients during rehabilitation may result in better physical outcomes. Further work is required to explore the relationship of control to psychological outcomes. [source]


The Danish version of the questionnaire on pain communication: preliminary validation in cancer patients

ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2009
R. JACOBSEN
Background: The modified version of the patients' Perceived Involvement in Care Scale (M-PICS) is a tool designed to assess cancer patients' perceptions of patient,health care provider pain communication process. The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the shortened Danish version of the M-PICS (SDM-PICS). Methods: The validated English version of the M-PICS was translated into Danish following the repeated back-translation procedure. Cancer patients were recruited for the study from specialized pain management facilities. Results: Thirty-three patients responded to the SDM-PICS, Danish Barriers Questionnaire II, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Brief Pain Inventory Pain Severity Scale. A factor analysis of the SDM-PICS resulted in two factors: Factor one, patient information, consisted of four items assessing the extent to which the patient shared information with his/her health care provider, and Factor two, health care provider information, consisted of four items measuring the degree to which a health care provider was perceived as the one who shares information. Two separate items addressed the perceived level of information exchange between the patient and the health care provider. The SDM-PICS total had an internal consistency of 0.88. The SDM-PICS scores were positively related to pain relief and inversely related to the measures of cognitive pain management barriers, anxiety, and reported pain levels. Conclusion: The SDM-PICS seems to be a reliable and valid measure of perceived patient,health care provider communication in the context of cancer pain. [source]