Subjective Well-Being in Heart Failure Patients: Influence of Coping and Depressive Symptoms.

Subjective Well-being in Heart Failure Patients: Influence of Coping and Depressive Symptoms.

Int J Behav Med. 2013 Apr 19;
Pérez-García AM, Oliván S, Bover R

BACKGROUND: Psychological factors play a crucial role in the well-being of chronically ill patients. PURPOSE: This research examined coping, depressive symptoms and subjective well-being (SWB) in patients with heart failure (HF). The study also analysed whether depressive symptoms mediated the association between coping strategies and SWB. METHOD: Participants (N?=?60, 68.3 % men, aged between 40 and 89 years old) diagnosed with HF were recruited from the cardiology service of a general hospital. Coping strategies were assessed with 16 items of the Brief COPE Scale. The items were organised, according to theoretical and empirical data, into four types of coping: task-focused, seeking social support, maladaptive emotion-focused and acceptance coping. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the corresponding subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. SWB was assessed considering the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. RESULTS: The multiple regression analyses carried out indicated that SWB was positively associated with task-focused coping and inversely related to maladaptive strategies and depressive symptoms. Gender was also a significant predictor of SWB, with male patients reporting higher well-being than female patients. The mediational analysis showed that depressive symptoms partially mediated the relationships between task-focused coping and SWB. CONCLUSION: Results were discussed in the light of the importance of gender, depression and coping in patients with HF since these factors may affect subjective well-being and contribute to severe physical impairment. HubMed – depression

The effectiveness of transmeatal low-power laser stimulation in treating tinnitus.

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2013 Apr 19;
Ngao CF, Tan TS, Narayanan P, Raman R

The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of transmeatal low-power laser stimulation (TLLS) in treating tinnitus. This is a prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Patients with persistent subjective tinnitus as their main symptom were recruited into the study from the outpatient clinics. The recruited patients were randomized into the experimental group or TLLS+ group (patients in this group were prescribed to use TLLS at 5 mW at 650 nM wavelength for 20 min daily and oral betahistine 24 mg twice per day for a total of 10 weeks) and the control group or TLLS- group (patients in this group were prescribed with a placebo device to use and oral betahistine 24 mg twice per day for 10 weeks). All patients were required to answer two sets of questionnaires: the Tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and visual analogue scales (VAS) symptoms rating scales, before starting the treatment and at the end of the 10-week treatment period. The total score of the THI questionnaire was further graded into five grades, grade 1 being mild and grade 5 being catastrophic. Wilcoxon-signed ranks test and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare and analyze the THI and VAS scores before and after treatment for each group. Changes with p value of <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Chi square test was used to analyze the change of parameters in categorical forms (to compare between TLLS+ and TLLS-). Changes with p value of <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Forty-three patients successfully and diligently completed their treatment. It was noted that using any condition of the device, TLLS+ or TLLS-, patient's tinnitus symptoms improved in terms of THI scores (TLLS+, p value = 0.038; TLLS-, p value = 0.001) or VAS scores with a change of at least one grade (TLLS+, p value = 0.007; TLLS-, p value = 0.002) at p value <0.05 significant level. In contrast when TLLS+ group was compared with TLLS- group, no statistically significant result was obtained. In term of VAS scores, there seems to be no statistically significant improvement in patients' annoyance, sleep disruption, depression, concentration and tinnitus loudness and pitch heard between the two groups. Transmeatal low-power laser stimulation did not demonstrate significant efficacy as a therapeutic measure in treating tinnitus. HubMed – depression

Is a cancer diagnosis a teachable moment for the patient’s relative who smokes?

Cancer Causes Control. 2013 Apr 19;
Schnoll RA, Wileyto EP, Leone FT, Langer C, Lackman R, Evans T

PURPOSE: This study examined a cancer diagnosis, versus orthopedic surgery, as a teachable moment for recruiting smokers and treating nicotine dependence among patients’ relatives. METHODS: Cancer patients and, for comparison, orthopedic patients at the University of Pennsylvania Health System were approached for referrals of relatives for a smoking cessation program, which involved behavioral counseling and nicotine patches. Primary outcomes were rate of program enrollment and rate of smoking abstinence. Potential mediators of smoking cessation were explored (e.g., treatment adherence, depression, anxiety). Two hundred and thirty-four relatives (113 cancer, 121 orthopedic) were considered eligible for the cessation program and comprised the study sample. RESULTS: Relatives of oncology patients were significantly more likely to enroll in the smoking cessation program, vs. orthopedic relatives (75 % vs. 60 %; OR = 1.96, 95 % CI 1.07-3.61, p = .03), but they were not significantly more likely to remain in the program (61 % vs. 52 %) or quit smoking (19 % vs. 26 %; p’s > .05). Compared to orthopedic relatives, oncology relatives showed significantly lower nicotine patch adherence and significantly greater levels of negative affect and depression and anxiety symptoms during treatment (p’s < .05). Further, orthopedic relatives, compared to oncology relatives, showed a greater reduction in the perceived benefits of smoking (p = .06), which was significantly associated with abstinence (p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: While a family member's cancer diagnosis may serve as a teachable moment for a smoker to enroll in a smoking cessation treatment program, high levels of psychological distress and perceptions of the benefits of smoking and low levels of treatment adherence may undermine successful abstinence among this population. HubMed – depression