[Psychosomatic Relationships in Postmenopausal Women].

[Psychosomatic relationships in postmenopausal women].

Ter Arkh. 2013; 85(3): 86-9

To study the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in postmenopausal disorders and their relationship with the manifestations of climacteric syndrome.The study enrolled 203 women, including 142 patients with surgical menopause and 61 with natural menopause. Psychometric testing using the Hamilton depression rating scale and the Spielberger test anxiety inventory, and 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring with assessment of the 24-hour BP profile were performed.Depressive disorders (DD) were found in 82.5% of the postmenopausal women; all the patients had higher levels of situational and personality anxiety. The women with natural menopause developed moderate and severe DD and those who had undergone ovariectomy had mild DD. The prevalence of DD was higher in patients with essential hypertension (EH) than in those with normal BP (88.6 and 78.3%, respectively; p < 0.01); DD was more marked in these patients. The severity of DD also depended on the type of diurnal BP variations; the highest level of depression was recorded in patients without nocturnal BP reduction. The same group was found to have the highest level of personality and situational anxiety.The magnitude of DD depends on the type of menopause, the presence of EH, and the specific features of diurnal BP variations. The findings necessitate a detail examination of postmenopausal women for identification of affective disorders and their further correction. HubMed – depression

[Impact of the intake of cardiac drugs on adaptation to high temperatures in patients with cardiovascular diseases under the conditions of the abnormally hot summer of 2010].

Ter Arkh. 2013; 85(3): 63-9

To evaluate the impact of intake of cardiac drugs on adaptation to abnormal heat in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).The study covered 188 patients with CVD, who had visited the Research Dispensary Department in January 2011. General clinical examination, biochemical blood analysis, and electrocardiography were made; the hospital anxiety and depression scale, the visual analog scale, and the questionnaire specially developed for this investigation were used. The authors considered acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke, hospital admission, a medical emergency team call, temporary disability (days), hypertensive crises, and unplanned visits to a doctor as estimated outcomes (endpoints) and the number of undesirable reactions a week during the abnormal heat and from September to December 2010 as a combined endpoint.There were a larger number of weekly adverse reactions than usual and a reduction in quality of life (QL) during the abnormal heat. Both an increase and a reduction in the dose of cardiac drugs during the abnormal heat were associated with its worse tolerability. The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium channel blockers (CCB) was an independent factor associated with the smaller number of complications during the abnormal heat. That of diuretics was an independent factor that was associated with a more decrease in QL in elderly patients during the heat. The intake of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) or nitrates was an independent factor associated with the larger number of complications during the abnormal heat.The use of ACE inhibitors and CCB is associated with fewer complications during the abnormal heat of 2010. The intake of diuretics in patients over 65 years of age and that of ARB or nitrates was associated with worse heat tolerance. HubMed – depression

[Type D personality in chronic lung diseases: prevalence, psychological features].

Ter Arkh. 2013; 85(3): 51-7

To estimate the prevalence and impact of Type D personality on the psychological status and quality of life (QL) of patients with chronic lung diseases.117 patients (105 men and 12 women; mean age 59.6 +/- 0.9 years) with chronic lung diseases were examined. The DS14 questionnaire was used to identify Type D personality. According to the test results, the patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) 39 Type D patients; 2) 78 non-Type D patients. The levels of depression and anxiety and QL were additionally determined using the SF-36 questionnaire. Clinical and laboratory parameters, spirometric data, and 6-minute walk test (6’WT) distance were estimated.The Type D versus non-Type D patients had higher levels of situational (46.6 +/- 1.7 and 41.2 +/- 1.2 scores; p = 0.01) and personality (47.6 +/- 1.5 and 43.7 +/- 0.9 scores; p = 0.02) anxiety and depression (42.9 +/- 1.6 and 35.9 +/- 0.8 scores; p = 0.00004), as well as lower QL levels in the vitality (42.2 +/- 2.2 and 52.2 +/- 1.9 scores; p = 0.002), emotional function (20.5 +/- 4.0 and 36.8 +/- 4.4 scores; p = 0.02), and mental health (56.2 +/- 1.9 and 63.4 +/- 1.9 scores; p = 0.006) scales. The 6’WT distance was less in the Type D patients (463.3 +/- 17.2 m)than in non-Type D patients (504.1 +/- 8.7 m); p = 0.02.Type D personality is encountered in 33% of patients with chronic lung diseases associated with the higher level of psychological distress in the patients, with the worsening of a mental component of QL, and with the reduction in exercise tolerance. HubMed – depression

Clock Drawing Test: Is It Useful for Dementia Screening in Patients Having Parkinson Disease With and Without Depression?

J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2013 May 29;
Riedel O, Klotsche J, Förstl H, Wittchen HU,

Despite the wide use of clock drawing tests (CDTs) for screening cognitive impairment, their use in patients having Parkinson disease (PD) with dementia has not been systematically investigated until date. In this cross-sectional study, neurological and neuropsychiatric statuses of 1449 outpatients having PD with and without dementia were comprehensively assessed. The CDT revealed cognitive impairment in 42.7% of the 1383 patients whose drawings were available. Overall, CDT sensitivity and specificity were 70.7% and 68.9%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 48.0% and 85.3%, respectively. In patients with depression, CDT specificity dropped significantly to 55.8% (71.3% in nondepressed patients, P < .001). Classification performance was not impacted by motor symptoms. The estimated classification performances and predictive values correspond to those reported previously for non-PD populations. Our results indicate that CDT is a suitable screening instrument in patients with PD, but test results from patients with depression warrant careful consideration. HubMed – depression