Biomedical subjects

M A Shawaryn

Publications and source records attributed to M A Shawaryn.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Determinants of health-related quality of life in multiple sderosis: the role of illness intrusiveness.

The relationship between the cognitive and physical aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS) and health-related quality of life (HRQL) was examined with particular focus on illness intrusiveness as a mediator of this relationship. Disease severity, cognitive functioning HRQL, depression, and illness intrusiveness were assessed in 90 patients with MS. Disease severity (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS]) predicted physical aspects of HRQL (SF-36 Physical Component Summary [PCS], fatigue, and bladder control). Information-processing speed (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test [PASAT]) predicted mental and emotional aspects of HRQL (SF-36 Mental Component Summary [MCS]). However, both the EDSS and the PASAT predicted depression. Illness intrusiveness was significantly correlated with all indicators of HRQL Illness intrusiveness also mediated the manner in which disease severity predicted: physical health, fatigue, and depression. Results underscore the need to assess MS and its impact more broadly rather than relying on traditional mobility-centered assessments. While in most cases physical indices of disease predict physical quality of life and cognitive assessments predict mental and emotional quality of life, the individuals perception of MS is also a major factor contributing to quality of life. MS dearly affects multiple aspects of life and activity, as illustrated by the broad and powerful network of relationships between illness intrusiveness and all aspects of HRQL Perceptions of illness intrusiveness appear to be a central and essential measure of the impact of MS on HRQL.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1998

Examining the impact of illness representations on psychological adjustment to chronic illnesses.

Illness representations were assessed in 63 adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 66 with multiple sclerosis (MS). The relationship of illness representations to concurrent and later mood was explored. MS patients' beliefs in symptom variability were associated with higher depressed mood 4 months later, over and above initial levels of depression. RA patients who saw RA as curable or who saw themselves as responsible for the illness reported significant increases in depression over time. Belief in the serious consequences of RA interacted with later illness severity to predict change in depression. When belief in the serious consequences of RA was high, less severe illness status was associated with less depression and more severe illness status was associated with more depression. When RA was initially viewed as only moderately serious, less severe illness was associated with somewhat higher levels of depression.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1993

Parameters affecting gap detection in the rat.

The present research used a startle amplitude reduction paradigm to investigate the ability of the rat's auditory system to track rapidly changing acoustic transients. Specifically examined was the ability of brief gaps in otherwise continuous noise to reduce the amplitude of a subsequently elicited acoustic startle reflex. The duration of the gap, time between gap offset and startle elicitation (the interstimulus interval or ISI), and rise-fall characteristics of the gap were systematically varied. Consistent with previous research, gaps reliably reduced startle amplitude. Gaps 2 msec long were reliably detected, and a 50-msec ISI resulted in the greatest amplitude reduction. Gaps presented at short ISIs produced amplitude reduction that followed a different time course than did gaps presented at longer ISIs. These results may reflect differences in the length of time available for the processing of the stimulus and may involve two different processes.

Acoustic Stimulation↗