Validation of a Dutch Version of the Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS) for Patients With Multiple Sclerosis in the Netherlands.

Validation of a Dutch version of the Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS) for patients with multiple sclerosis in the Netherlands.

Qual Life Res. 2013 Feb 26;
Derksen A, Mokkink LB, Rietberg MB, Knol DL, Ostelo RW, Uitdehaag BM

PURPOSE: Fatigue is a complex, multidimensional construct. Most questionnaires measuring fatigue do not meet the standards for good measurement properties. Therefore, the Neurological Fatigue Index for multiple sclerosis (NFI-MS) is recently developed using thorough methods. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Dutch version of the NFI-MS. METHODS: The original English version of the NFI-MS was translated into Dutch using a forward-backward procedure. Reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM)) were assessed for the summary score and the four subscale scores separately. Construct validity was assessed by testing hypotheses about expected correlations between the NFI-MS and other constructs (e.g. impact on functioning and depression) and expected differences on NFI scores between groups defined on the basis of disease type and work status. RESULTS: The reliability analyses (n = 118) showed that the ICC was 0.78 (NFI-MS summary) and ranged from 0.75 to 0.83 for the four subscales and the SEM was 2.5 (NFI-MS summary) and ranged from 1.1 to 2.2 for the four subscales. For construct validity (n = 136), 50 out of the 57 expected hypotheses were confirmed (88 %). CONCLUSION: The present study shows that the Dutch version of the NFI-MS is a reliable and valid self-report questionnaire for measuring fatigue in Dutch patients with MS. HubMed – depression

 

The neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological features of chronic fatigue syndrome: revisiting the enigma.

Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013 Apr; 15(4): 353
Christley Y, Duffy T, Everall IP, Martin CR

The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive and updated review of the key neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological complaints associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological difficulties are common in CFS and are linked primarily to disorders of mood, affect and behaviour. The neuropsychiatric complaint most frequently encountered amongst CFS patients is depression and in particular major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite decades of research, the precise aetiological relationship between CFS and MDD remains poorly understood. This has resulted in the development of a number of interesting and polarised hypotheses regarding the aetiological nature of CFS. Recent scientific advances have however begun to unravel a number of interesting inflammatory and immunological explanations that suggest CFS and MDD are distinct yet interrelated conditions. The possibility that the overlap between CFS and MDD might be explained in terms of shared oxidative and nitrosative (IO&NS) pathways is an area of intense research interest and is reviewed in detail in this article. The overlap between CFS and MDD is further differentiated by variations in HPA axis activity between the two disorders. Important immunological differences between MDD and CFS are also reviewed with particular emphasis on antiviral RNase L pathways in CFS. In addition to the presence of neuropsychiatric complaints, CFS is also associated with neuropsychological symptoms such as impaired attention, memory and reaction time. The key neuropsychological problems reported by CFS patients are also included in the review in an effort to understand the significance of cognitive impairment in CFS. HubMed – depression

 

EROL scale: A new behavioural olfactory measure and its relationship with anxiety and depression symptoms.

Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2013 Jan; 41(1): 2-9
Burón E, Bulbena A, Barrada JR, Pailhez G

Introduction: The main objective of this study was to develop and validate a new olfactory measure that assesses the influence of olfaction on several emotional, behavioural, and cognitive issues: The Relational Scale of Olfaction (EROL). A secondary objective was to explore the relationship between the olfactory function and the anxiety and depression symptoms by means of EROL and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A positive relationship between anxiety symptoms and the olfactory function was hypothesized. Regarding depressive symptoms, a significant relationship with the olfactory scores was not expected. Method: Psychometric properties of EROL scale and correlations between HADS and EROL were tested in a sample from the general population. Results: EROL showed an adequate level of test-retest reliability (ICC=.748) and good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=.761). Convergent validity with other olfactory measures was satisfactory. A one-factor solution was found for the scale. HADS showed a significant relationship with EROL (r=.280, p<.01), but the analysis through dimensions revealed that only the anxiety subscale correlated significantly and moderately with the olfactory measure (r=.325, p<.001), whereas the correlation with the depression subscale was non-significant (r=.146, p>.05). Conclusions: Given that EROL displayed good psychometrical properties, it appears as a suitable tool to assess the olfactory function in general population. The relationship between this olfactory scale and anxiety symptoms found in this study is an interesting issue that requires further research. HubMed – depression

 

Nutritional Factors Associated with Antenatal Depressive Symptoms in the Early Stage of Pregnancy Among Urban South Indian Women.

Matern Child Health J. 2013 Feb 26;
Lukose A, Ramthal A, Thomas T, Bosch R, Kurpad AV, Duggan C, Srinivasan K

Many women of reproductive age from developing countries have poor nutritional status, and the prevalence of depression during pregnancy is high. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of antenatal depressive symptoms in early pregnancy, and to identify the demographic and nutritional factors associated with these symptoms in a sample of urban South Indian pregnant women. This cross-sectional study was the baseline assessment of a prospective randomized controlled trial of vitamin B(12) supplementation in urban pregnant south Indian women between the ages of 18 and 40 years ( www.clinicaltrials.gov : NCT00641862). 365 women in their first trimester of pregnancy were screened for depressive symptoms at an urban clinic in Karnataka, South India, using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10). Nutritional, clinical and biochemical factors were also assessed. Mean (SD) age of the cohort was 22.6 (3.7) years and mean (SD) BMI was 20.4 (3.3) kg/m(2). 121 (33 %) of the women in the 1st trimester had symptoms consistent with depression (K-10 score >6). In multivariate log binomial regression analysis, presence of antenatal depressive symptoms in the first trimester were positively associated with vomiting, prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.54 (95 % CI 1.10, 2.16) and negatively with anemia, PR = 0.67 (95 % CI 0.47, 0.96). Nutrient intakes, serum vitamin B(12), methylmalonic acid, homocysteine and red cell folate levels were not associated with measures of depression. Antenatal depressive symptoms in early pregnancy are highly prevalent in urban Indian women and are more common in women with vomiting and without anemia. In this cross-sectional data, blood concentrations of vitamin B(12) and folate were not associated with depressive symptoms. The relationship between nutritional status and depressive symptoms may require larger and longitudinal studies. HubMed – depression