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PubMed1992

Comparison of patient-reported outcomes after elective coronary artery bypass grafting in patients aged greater than or equal to and less than 65 years.

Older patients represent a growing proportion of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Although functional benefits after CABG have been demonstrated, most assessments of outcomes have involved patients aged less than 65 years. Therefore, little is known concerning the impact of CABG on older patients compared with that on younger ones. A number of postsurgical (6 months) health-related quality-of-life outcomes (e.g., symptoms, cardiac functional class, instrumental activities of daily living, and emotional and social functioning) reported by patients aged less than 65 (n = 169) and greater than or equal to 65 (n = 99) years who underwent elective CABG at 4 major teaching hospitals in Massachusetts and California were compared. The proportion of patients reporting cardiac-related symptoms after surgery did not vary by age, and quality-of-life outcome scores of younger and older patients did not differ even after adjustment for clinical and demographic characteristics. The exception to this was mental health status, an outcome for which older patients reported better functioning than did younger ones. On average, patients in the 2 age groups reported equivalent improvement over preadmission status in instrumental activities of daily living, and emotional and social functioning. The independent relation of clinical and sociodemographic factors to quality-of-life outcomes was also investigated. Patients who functioned better before admission, those with less severe co-morbid disease, and married patients reported better functioning after discharge. In general, older patients who underwent elective CABG reported functional benefits similar to those reported by younger ones, and the factors associated with better functioning did not vary by age group.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Assessing the validity of the SF-36 General Health Survey.

Our objective was to assess the validity of the SF-36 General Health Survey against the Social Maladjustment Schedule (SMS) and two questionnaire measures, the Social Problem Questionnaire and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) in a random subsample of 206 men and women from the Whitehall II study, a longitudinal survey of health and disease amongst 10,308 London-based civil servants. We found that social functioning on the SF-36 correlated significantly with social contacts, total satisfaction and total management scores on the SMS, and social isolation and emotional reactions on the NHP. General mental health on the SF-36 was associated with marriage, social contacts, leisure scores, total satisfaction and total management scores on the SMS, and emotional reactions, energy level and social isolation on the NHP. Conversely, physical functioning and physical role limitations were generally not associated with the SMS but were associated with physical abilities and pain on the NHP. In conclusion, this study offers evidence of the discriminant validity of the general mental health and physical functioning scales of the SF-36. We also found moderate construct and criterion validity for the social functioning scale of the SF-36 and considerable overlap between the general mental health and social functioning scales.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Does autonomic function link social position to coronary risk? The Whitehall II study.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory and clinical studies suggest that the autonomic nervous system responds to chronic behavioral and psychosocial stressors with adverse metabolic consequences and that this may explain the relation between low social position and high coronary risk. We sought to test this hypothesis in a healthy occupational cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study comprised 2197 male civil servants 45 to 68 years of age in the Whitehall II study who were undergoing standardized assessments of social position (employment grade) and the psychosocial, behavioral, and metabolic risk factors for coronary disease previously found to be associated with low social position. Five-minute recordings of heart rate variability (HRV) were used to assess cardiac parasympathetic function (SD of N-N intervals and high-frequency power [0.15 to 0.40 Hz]) and the influence of sympathetic and parasympathetic function (low-frequency power [0.04 to 0.15 Hz]). Low employment grade was associated with low HRV (age-adjusted trend for each modality, P< or =0.02). Adverse behavioral factors (smoking, exercise, alcohol, and diet) and psychosocial factors (job control) showed age-adjusted associations with low HRV (P<0.03). The age-adjusted mean low-frequency power was 319 ms2 among those participants in the bottom tertile of job control compared with 379 ms2 in the other participants (P=0.004). HRV showed strong (P<0.001) linear associations with components of the metabolic syndrome (waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting and 2-hour postload glucose). The social gradient in prevalence of metabolic syndrome was explained statistically by adjustment for low-frequency power, behavioral factors, and job control. CONCLUSIONS: Chronically impaired autonomic function may link social position to different components of coronary risk in the general population.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Outcome of short-term hospitalization in a psychosomatic ward.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the short-term outcome of patients with common mental disorders (CMDs) admitted to a psychosomatic ward. Multidimensional outcome measurements were used, including psychological symptoms, global functioning, and service satisfaction. METHODS: A total of 56 consecutive patients with CMDs admitted to a 33-bed psychosomatic ward for crisis intervention or due to refractory conditions unresponsive to treatment at outpatient clinics were enrolled. Structured measurements including psychological symptoms, personality traits, family functioning and global functioning, at admission and discharge, were used to assess outcome. Baseline social functioning was measured at admission. Perspective on life satisfaction and satisfaction with therapy were assessed at discharge. Univariate analysis and multiple regression models that employed the stepwise method were used to determine the predictors of outcome. RESULTS: Psychological symptoms, global functioning and family function demonstrated significant improvement after hospitalization (p<0.05). Personality traits remained stable during hospitalization. Baseline social functioning, educational level, marital status, comorbid mental disorder, length of hospital stay, and neuroticism were significantly associated with psychological stress at discharge (adjusted R2=0.51). Higher educational level and male gender were significantly correlated with better global functioning at discharge (adjusted R2=0.18). Perspective on life satisfaction and improvement of family functioning predicted satisfaction with therapy during the index hospitalization (adjusted R2=0.19). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a significant improvement after short-term hospitalization in a psychosomatic ward. Demographic and clinical variables were able to predict the outcome measurement of symptoms, functioning and service satisfaction. This study also suggested that individual psychotherapy is a useful approach to the treatment of hospitalized patients with CMDs.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Functional impairment and utilization of services associated with posttraumatic stress in the community.

This study describes social functioning and service utilization patterns associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms relative to nonpsychiatric controls and depressive disorder controls in a cross-sectional epidemiological survey. Data from 49 cases and 147 controls who participated in the North Carolina component of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study were examined. Results indicate that symptoms of posttraumatic stress were associated with impairment along several domains of functioning: social, financial, physical, and psychological. Individuals with posttraumatic stress were found to have more socioeconomic disadvantages and impaired functioning. Despite this, individuals with posttraumatic stress are receiving relatively few mental health services. Further research assessing service use, treatment, and functional outcomes are indicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Social impairment in girls with ADHD: patterns, gender comparisons, and correlates.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate social impairment in girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), compare the social functioning of boys and girls with ADHD, and explore the association between social dysfunction and conditions comorbid with ADHD. METHOD: Four groups of index children were studied: 267 children (127 girls) with ADHD and 234 non-ADHD comparison children (114 girls). Groups were compared on social functioning, psychopathology, and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Girls with ADHD manifested significant deficits in interpersonal functioning compared with girls without ADHD and evidenced a similar degree of social impairment compared with boys with ADHD. ADHD and associated comorbid disorders were significant correlates of specific domains of social dysfunction in boys and girls with ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: Interpersonal deficits are a major correlate of ADHD, irrespective of gender, and appear to stem from the behaviors associated with ADHD as well as behaviors characteristic of conditions comorbid with ADHD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Do recent-onset schizophrenia patients experience a "social network crisis"?

It has been proposed that the onset of schizophrenia creates a social network crisis, resulting in a dramatic deterioration of social resources during the period immediately following a first hospitalization from essentially normal pre-hospitalization levels. To evaluate this proposal, recent onset patients (n = 89) completed comprehensive assessments that examined their social networks in the 12 months prior to first hospitalization and, in a subset of patients (n = 34), at a 15-month follow-up. Cross-sectional relationships to social functioning and symptoms were examined at both time points. Compared to existing research, at the initial assessment patients were characterized by several network disturbances, including small network size, a high proportion of family members, and highly dense interconnections among network members; these disturbances generally remained moderately to highly stable at follow-up. Smaller social networks were related to poor current and premorbid social functioning and aspects of clinical functioning, particularly at the 15-month follow-up assessment. Thus, this first repeated assessment of social network characteristics in the early course of schizophrenia does not support the social network crisis concept. Instead, results suggest that functionally relevant social network disturbances often exist by the time of first hospitalization in schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Depressed outpatients. Results one year after treatment with drugs and/or interpersonal psychotherapy.

A one-year follow-up was conducted on ambulatory nonbipolar, nonpsychotic, acutely depressed patients who received amitriptyline hydrochloride and/or interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), each alone and in combination, as part of a four-month clinical trial. There were no differential long-term effects of the initially randomized treatment on clinical symptoms one year later since most of the patients were asymptomatic. While most patients were functioning reasonably well, there were some main effects of IPT on social functioning at the one-year follow-up. Patients who received IPT with or without pharmacotherapy were doing significantly better on some measures of social functioning.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Health outcome assessment before and after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for radiculopathy: a prospective analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective assessment, performed using the Health Status Questionnaire, of the outcomes for 28 patients with cervical radiculopathy treated with one- or two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. OBJECTIVE: To assess patient outcome using the Health Status Questionnaire after one- or two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although outcomes for many types of surgical procedures already have been evaluated, few have focused on the results of cervical surgery. METHODS: Before and after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for cervical radiculopathy, 28 patients filled out the Health Status Questionnaire. The average follow-up interval was 21.8 months. There were 10 men and 18 women, with an average age of 44 years. All outcome instruments were graded for individual scores of general health, physical function, role limitation because of physical health problems, role limitation because of emotional problems, social function, mental health, bodily pain, and energy. Data were analyzed using the age (< 55 vs. > 55), worker's compensation status, and education status of the patient. Preoperative and postoperative scores were compared for each subscale. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were found in postoperative scores for bodily pain (P < 0.001), vitality (P = 0.003), physical function (P = 0.01), role function/physical (P = 0.0003), and social function (P = 0.0004). No significant differences were found before and after surgery for three health scales: general health, mental health, and role function associated with emotional limitations. Age, educational status, and history of compensation litigation did not appear to affect outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Although this is a preliminary report involving 28 patients, it would appear, based on the results of the Health Status Questionnaire, that anterior cervical discectomy and fusion performed on appropriately selected patients is a highly reliable surgical procedure for the management of cervical radiculopathy. Additional disease-specific questions may provide more sensitivity in evaluating radiculopathy after surgical and nonsurgical intervention.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Social dysfunction and anxiety.

A sample of 44 male and female adults, newly admitted to outpatient clinics at a large community mental health center, was given the Denver Community Mental HEALTH Questionnaire on social functioning, the abbreviated version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, and the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale. The results indicate that impairment of social functioning, as well as personality disturbance and excessive change, is strongly associated with anxiety. The outcome implies that effective treatment must include social and vocational training in addition to psychotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Quality of life in adult hematopoietic cell transplant patients at least 5 yr after treatment: a comparison with healthy controls.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: As long-term survivors of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) become more numerous, studies addressing the issue of long-term follow-up are necessary. In this study, we report on the quality of life (QOL) of HCT-patients, who were alive at least at 5 yr after transplantation in comparison to an age- and sex-matched sample of healthy controls assessed in the same time-period and the same geographical region. DESIGN AND METHODS: The European Group of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-QOL Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ C30) was sent by post to 39 HCT-survivors. Thirty-four patients answered the questionnaire. Patients were compared with 68 healthy controls from the same geographical region. Patients and controls completed the EORTC in the same time period. RESULTS: Mann-Whitney U-tests identified significantly lower QOL on the dimensions of physical and social functioning and on the financial impact symptom scale. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who had survived their HCT for more than 5 yr did generally well in terms of global QOL. This is consistent with Kiss et al. (J Clin Oncol 2002;20:2334-2343), who found that chronic myeloid leukemia patients who were alive at least 10 yr after HCT report lower physical functioning in comparison to healthy controls. Problems in the areas of social functioning and financial difficulty can possibly be addressed by intensive rehabilitation processes integrating patients, family members and significant others. Interdisciplinary (medical, psychological and social) treatment of patients should not come to an end after the acute phase of the illness but should continue during check-ups following transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The ICIDH-2 as a framework for the assessment of functioning and disability in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate by a cross sectional study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the relationship between measures of impairment, activity limitation, and participation of the model of functioning and disability (ICIDH-2). METHODS: Inclusion data of patients with RA (n=803) from the Swiss Clinical Quality Management Group were used. Impairments were measured by the Short Form-36 (SF-36) bodily pain scale, rheumatoid arthritis disease activity index (RADAI), disease activity score (DAS28), and radiographic scoring (x ray). Activity limitation was measured with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the SF-36 physical functioning scale. Participation was measured with the SF-36 role and social functioning scales. Spearman (partial) correlations were used for analysis. RESULTS: Impairment and activity limitation dimensions of the ICIDH-2 model are related; correlations with the HAQ were: SF-36 bodily pain (r(s)=-0.61), RADAI (r(s)=0.58), DAS28 (r(s)=0.49), and x ray (r(s)=0.35). Similar correlations were found for SF-36 physical functioning. Activity limitation and participation restriction dimensions are also related: the HAQ correlates well with SF-36 role-physical (r(s)=-0.53) and SF-36 social functioning (r(s)=-0.43); SF-36 physical functioning correlates similarly. For impairment and participation restriction dimensions only SF-36 bodily pain is substantially correlated (r(s)=0.47 and 0.48) with SF-36 role-physical, after correcting for the influence of the activity limitation dimension (HAQ and SF-36 physical functioning). CONCLUSIONS: In this cross sectional study of patients with RA, impairments are associated with activity limitations, and activity limitations are associated with participation restrictions. Pain is the only impairment directly associated with participation restrictions. Based on the results of this study, it is strongly recommended that the ICIDH-2 framework is used in clinical trials and observational studies including the assessment of disease consequences in RA.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

The impact of socioeconomic status on health functioning as assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire: the Whitehall II Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study measured the association between socioeconomic status and the eight scale scores of the Medical Outcomes Study short form 36 (SF-36) general health survey in the Whitehall II study of British civil servants. It also assessed, for the physical functioning scale, whether this association was independent of disease. METHODS: A questionnaire containing the SF-36 was administered at the third phase of the study to 5766 men and 2589 women aged 39 through 63 years. Socioeconomic status was measured by means of six levels of employment grades. RESULTS: There were significant improvements with age in general mental health, role-emotional, vitality, and social functioning scale scores. In men, all the scales except vitality showed significant age-adjusted gradients across the employment grades (lower grades, worse health). Among women, a similar relationship was found for the physical functioning, pain, and social functioning scales. For physical functioning, the effect of grade was found in those with and without disease. CONCLUSIONS: Low socioeconomic status was associated with poor health functioning, and the effect sizes were comparable to those for some clinical conditions. For physical functioning, this association may act both via and independently of disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Sociodemographic predictors of treatment outcome in chronic non-malignant pain patients. Do patients receiving or applying for disability pension benefit from multidisciplinary pain treatment?

The present study investigated the ability of sociodemographic variables to predict the short-term effect of multidisciplinary pain treatment in 286 chronic non-malignant pain patients consecutively referred to a Danish multidisciplinary pain centre. At inclusion and 3 and 6 months later the patients' pain and health related quality of life (HRQL) was assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Sociodemographic variables measured were: age, gender, educational level, civil status, employment status and disability pension (DP) status. Intensity of pain was measured using a VAS scale. HRQL was evaluated using the Medical Outcome Study-Short Form (SF-36) and the Psychological General Well-Being Scale (PGWB). Drop out was 30% after 6 months, leaving 170 patients for the study of treatment effects. Among the sociodemographic variables evaluated only retirement pension (RP) and DP-status seemed to be significant outcome predictors: six months after inclusion, patients on RP (patients >68 years, n = 40) reported larger pain reduction (30 mm on the VAS scale) than patients < or =68 years (8 mm on the VAS scale)(P = 0.001). Patients applying for DP-pension (n = 26) did not improve. Patients on DP (n = 54) and patients not receiving DP (n = 50) obtained moderate improvements, but the improvements were significantly larger than the improvements observed in the ApplyDP-group (P = 0.05). The same pattern was seen for changes in psychological well-being (PGWB) and social functioning (SF36-SFA). No improvements were obtained in SF36-Physical functioning scores. DP-status predicted improvement in pain and social functioning even when controlling for the effect of other demographic variables, pain intensity and HRQL at referral. The present study indicates that the multidimensional problems experienced by patients applying for DP are dominated by socioeconomic factors. Focus on solving these socioeconomic problems is important if chronic pain patients are to benefit from multidisciplinary pain treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The Sydney Holocaust study: posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychosocial morbidity in an aged community sample.

We investigated the psychological status and social functioning of Holocaust survivors. From 814 responses to a community survey of Jewish elders (aged 60 years or older), survivors (n = 100), refugees who had not experienced the Holocaust (n = 50), and Australian/English-born persons (n = 50), were randomly selected for semistructured interview, which included Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) assessment, ratings on the General Health Questionnaire, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Impact of Event Scale, Mini-Mental Status Examination, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Social Functioning. On all psychological measures, survivors were functioning worse than refugees and Australian/English-born persons. The 3 groups were similar in social and instrumental functioning. The more severe the trauma the greater the level of psychological morbidity. Despite normal social and daily functioning, psychological morbidity following massive trauma endures.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Health service use by adults with depression: community survey in five European countries. Evidence from the ODIN study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about patterns of healthcare use by people with depression in Europe. AIMS: To examine the use and cost of services by adults with depressive or adjustment disorders in five European countries, and predictive factors. METHOD: People aged 18-65 years with depressive or adjustment disorders (n=427) in Ireland, Finland, Norway, Spain and the UK provided information on predisposition (demographics, social support), enablement (country, urban/rural, social function) and need (symptom severity, perceived health status) for services. Outcome measures were self-reported use Client Services Receipt Interview and costs of general practice, generic, psychiatric or social services in the past 6 months. RESULTS: Less frequent use was made of generic services in Norway and psychiatric services in the UK. Severity of depression, perceived health status, social functioning and level of social support were significant predictors of use; the number of people able to provide support was positively associated with greater health service use. CONCLUSIONS: Individual participant factors provided greater explanatory power than national differences in healthcare delivery. The association between social support and service use suggests that interventions may be needed for those who lack social support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Psychosocial predictors of mental health in a population of elderly women. Test of an explanatory model.

The understanding of adjustment to aging calls for models that illustrate the interaction of psychosocial and health factors. The authors surveyed a group of retired Catholic sisters, examining the contributions of psychosocial factors and religiousness to life satisfaction, psychological distress, and depression. Life satisfaction was best explained by a four-factor model that included mastery, social support, physical functioning, and religious commitment. General level of distress was best predicted by physical functioning, social support, and mastery, but not religiousness. Depression, on the other hand, was predicted by mastery, social support, and religious commitment. These data are consistent with a proposed model in which internal, external, and coping resources mediate the psychological impact of impaired functional status.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

Quality of life and sexual function after hysterectomy in women with preoperative pain and depression.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine differences in quality of life and sexual function after hysterectomy among women with preoperative pain and depression. METHODS: We analyzed data from a cohort study of 1,249 women who had hysterectomies for benign conditions. Participants were interviewed, before surgery and at 5 intervals after, regarding pelvic pain, depression, quality of life, and sexual function. We compared quality of life and sexual function at 6 and 24 months among women with preoperative pelvic pain alone, depression alone, both pelvic pain and depression, or neither. RESULTS: At 24 months, women with pain and depression had reduced prevalence of pelvic pain (96.7% decreased to 19.4%), limited physical function (66.1% to 34.3%), impaired mental health (93.3% to 38.1%), and limited social function (41.1% to 15.1%). Women with pain only improved in pelvic pain (95.1% to 9.3%) and limited activity level (74.3% to 24.2%). The group with depression only had improvement in impaired mental health (85.1% to 33.1%). Dyspareunia decreased in all groups. Compared with women who had neither pain nor depression, women with depression and pain had 3 to 5 times the odds of continued impaired quality of life: odds ratio (OR) 2.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.78-4.19 for limited physical function; OR 3.41, 95% CI 2.13-5.46 for impaired mental health; OR 5.76, 95% CI 2.79-11.87 for limited social function; OR 4.91, 95% CI 2.63-9.16 for continued pelvic pain; and OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.26-4.62 for dyspareunia. CONCLUSION: Women with pelvic pain and depression fare less well 24 months after hysterectomy than women who have either disorder alone or neither. Nevertheless, these women improve substantially over their preoperative baseline in all the quality of life and sexual function areas assessed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

Adult↗