Olfactory Dysfunction and Asthma as Risk Factors for Poor Quality of Life in Upper Airway Diseases.
Olfactory dysfunction and asthma as risk factors for poor quality of life in upper airway diseases.
Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2013 Jul; 27(4): 293-8
Katotomichelakis M, Simopoulos E, Zhang N, Tripsianis G, Danielides G, Livaditis M, Bachert C, Danielides V
The study of olfaction/quality of life (QoL) interaction has not been adequately discussed and remains to be further explored. Determination of clinical predictors for poor QoL may support consultation of respective patients. This study explores QoL of patients with olfactory dysfunction and evaluates associated clinical risk factors for QoL prediction.One hundred eight patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and allergic rhinitis (AR) and 30 healthy subjects were studied. Olfactory function was evaluated using objective olfactory test. All patients completed six validated questionnaires either specific for olfaction (Questionnaire of Olfactory Deficits [QOD]) and for assessing psychological state (Zung Anxiety Scale [ZAS], State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Zung Depression Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]) or a generic one (Short Form 36).Significantly poorer QoL and more severe anxiety and depression symptoms were observed in anosmic (all p < 0.001) and hyposmic patients compared with controls. Anosmic patients presented significantly worse results compared with hyposmic and normosmic patients. However, higher scores were observed in hyposmic compared with normosmic patients only in the QOD, ZAS, and BDI scale. Patients with CRS presented significantly poorer QoL than patients with AR only. The presence of nasal polyps or concomitant AR in patients with CRS did not show any differentiation in the results. Asthma was associated with significantly worse scores in all the psychometric questionnaires.Olfactory dysfunction was found to decrease QoL among patients. Anosmia, CRS disease, and asthma as clinical predictors were proved to be independently correlated with QoL, anxiety, and depression levels. HubMed – depression
What we can learn from second animal neuroscience.
Behav Brain Sci. 2013 Aug; 36(4): 433-4
Nephew BC
There are several facets of second-person neuroscience which can benefit from comparisons with animal behavioral neuroscience studies. This commentary addresses the challenges involved in obtaining quantitative data from second-person techniques, the role of stress in inducing robust responses, the use of interactive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and the value of applying interactive methods to studies of aggression and depression. HubMed – depression
Premature mortality in epilepsy and the role of psychiatric comorbidity: a total population study.
Lancet. 2013 Jul 19;
Fazel S, Wolf A, Långström N, Newton CR, Lichtenstein P
Epilepsy is associated with high rates of premature mortality, but the contribution of psychiatric comorbidity is uncertain. We assessed the prevalence and risks of premature mortality from external causes such as suicide, accidents, and assaults in people with epilepsy with and without psychiatric comorbidity.We studied all individuals born in Sweden between 1954 and 2009 with inpatient and outpatient diagnoses of epilepsy (n=69?995) for risks and causes of premature mortality. Patients were compared with age-matched and sex-matched general population controls (n=660?869) and unaffected siblings (n=81?396). Sensitivity analyses were done to investigate whether these odds differed by sex, age, seizure types, comorbid psychiatric diagnosis, and different time periods after epilepsy diagnosis.6155 (8.8%) people with epilepsy died during follow-up, at a median age of 34·5 (IQR 21·0-44·0) years with substantially elevated odds of premature mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] of 11·1 [95% CI 10·6-11·6] compared with general population controls, and 11·4 [10·4-12·5] compared with unaffected siblings). Of those deaths, 15·8% (n=972) were from external causes, with high odds for non-vehicle accidents (aOR 5·5, 95 % CI 4·7-6·5) and suicide (3·7, 3·3-4·2). Of those who died from external causes, 75·2% had comorbid psychiatric disorders, with strong associations in individuals with co-occurring depression (13·0, 10·3-16·6) and substance misuse (22·4, 18·3-27·3), compared with patients with no epilepsy and no psychiatric comorbidity.Reducing premature mortality from external causes of death should be a priority in epilepsy management. Psychiatric comorbidity plays an important part in the premature mortality seen in epilepsy. The ability of health services and public health measures to prevent such deaths requires review.Wellcome Trust, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, and the Swedish Research Council. HubMed – depression
Research Letter Enhanced parosmia and phantosmia in patients with severe depression.
Psychol Med. 2013 Jul 24; 1-5
Croy I, Yarina S, Hummel T