Background: The aim of this prospective study was to gain a more comprehensive picture of the biopsychosocial effects of interferon-α (IFN-α) treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV). The predictors of depressive development and changes in health-related quality of life, life satisfaction and cognitive ability were measured with the inclusion of the social context. Furthermore, the effects of IFN-α treatment on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, the level of tryptophan supply in the brain, the development of neurotoxic kynurenine metabolites and the thyroid glands were investigated. Therefore, for the first time the conditions for the development of depressive episodes in HCV patients treated with IFN-α were examined over the entire period of treatment as well as 3 months later, applying a holistic biopsychosocial model. Method: Psychiatric and biological assessments were carried out at 6 different times: before, during (at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months) and after the end of IFN-α treatment. Results: During IFN-α treatment 22 (53.7%) of 41 patients fulfilled the criteria for a treatment-related depressive disorder at least once during treatment. Contributing factors are tryptophan depletion (tryptophan to competing amino acids quotient), increased neurotoxic challenge (kynurenine to kynurenic acid quotient), less social support, female gender, preexisting psychiatric vulnerability, means of transmission, low financial security, impaired sexual satisfaction, small circle of friends, impaired physical role, strong body pain, low general health and vitality, reduced social functioning, impaired mental health and impaired emotional role. Conclusions: The awareness of relevant risk factors of IFN-α treatment-induced depression is essential to develop preventative treatment strategies.
An imbalance of the immune system and mixed personality profiles in suicide attempters have been reported. As suicidal behavior is common in patients with psychiatric disorders within the spectrum of depressive features, in this study we measured soluble interleukin-2 receptor concentrations in plasma (sIL-2R) and investigated temperament and character profile and their potential correlation in formerly depressed patients with a history of suicide attempt. We studied sIL-2R levels in plasma and personality characteristics (using Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory [TCI]) of formerly depressed patients who had attempted suicide a mean of 3 years previously (n = 25), and age and gender matched normal controls (n = 25). There was no significant difference in sIL-2R levels between formerly depressed suicide attempters and age and gender matched normal controls (0.23 ng/ml +/- 0.25 vs. 0.19 ng/ml +/- 0.16). When compared to normal controls, suicide attempt patients had a significantly higher score on the temperament dimension "harm avoidance" and a lower score on the character dimension "self-directedness." No significant correlation was found between sIL-2R values and TCI dimensions. We propose that the liability to suicidal behavior among suicide attempters susceptible to depressive symptomatology may be related to high harm avoidance and low self-directedness.
The success of routine coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is now no longer judged solely by its effects on traditional end points such as mortality rates but by its influence on biopsychosocial dimensions. The aim of this study was to assess the course of health-related quality of life, cognitive and emotional change during the six months after elective CABG, and to investigate how cognitive impairments, depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms were related to quality of life. In a prospective study, we followed up for 6 months 138 of the original 147 patients who had undergone elective CABG surgery. Preoperatively, and at 6 months after surgery, a series of psychometric observer-rating and self-rating scales were administered to evaluate cognitive functioning (SKT), depressive symptoms (BDI), posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS-10), and health-related quality of life (SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire). The measurements of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) indicated significantly higher SF-36 values on all of the eight health-related domains from preoperative to 6-month follow-up assessments. However, at 6-month follow-up, patients with clinical depression had significantly lower SF-36 values on all of the eight health-related domains when compared with patients without depression. Also, at 6-month follow-up, patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had significantly lower SF-36 values on six of the eight SF-36 health categories when compared with patients without PTSD. Finally, at 6-month follow-up, patients with cognitive deficits had significantly lower SF-36 values on physical functioning when compared with patients without cognitive impairments. We underscore the need for early and comprehensive bio-psycho-social diagnosis and therapy of post-CABG patients in order to treat emotional distress and CABG-related cognitive impairments and enhance patients' quality of life at an early stage after cardiac surgery.
Stalking in the psychiatric context describes a pathological behaviour which is characterized by repeated persecution, harassment, or menacing of or assault on a person. Because of the association between stalking and mental disorders, psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists belong to particularly exposed professions. If they fall victim to stalking during their career, disruptive impacts up to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be the consequence. A total of 117 psychiatrists, psychologists or psychotherapists in Graz participated in an anonymous interview. To register possible experiences with stalking defined behaviour, a modified version of the questionnaire of Kamleiter was used. The prevalence and severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms were determined using the Impact of Event Scale of Horowitz. The study showed an incidence of stalking of 38.5%. The rate of female stalkers (60%) was extraordinary high. Most victims (68.9%) experienced non-violent threats. Most of the offenders (41.9%) were diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia, schizotype and delusional disorders (F2) followed by disorders of adult personality and behaviour (F6) (30.2%). Some 44.4% of the victims developed symptoms of PTSD, which were usually only slight. The analyses suggest that stalking, in the psychiatric field of activity, is a common and serious phenomenon, and that strategies for the prevention and protection of potentially affected professions have to be developed.
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