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Using the Kleinman explanatory model, 30 elderly women with depression were interviewed about their depression and its treatment. Content analysis was used to classify data into cause, effect, severity, expectations, fears, and treatment. Identified causes were loss of health, family, and role. Depression caused somatizations and a decrease in functional level. Women considered depression to be severe and chose medication as the preferred treatment. Their model of depression differed from that of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) because fatigue and weakness were emphasized more than any other symptoms. Feelings of guilt and worthlessness, weight loss, and suicidal ideation were minimal.
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PMID:Elderly women's explanation of depression. 1203 22

Klinefelter's syndrome (KS) concerns men and is usually characterized by tallness, underdeveloped testes and sterility. It is generally due to the 47,XXY genotype, ie one extra X chromosome in each cell. Its estimated frequency among newborn boys is 1/500 to 1/700. It seems that 64% KS would be undiagnosed. Abnormally low levels of testosterone blood values are very common in this syndrome. In this case, replacement androgen therapy should be initiated (ideally at the age of 11-15) which prevents osteoporosis and enhances secondary sexual features. Case report - Since early childhood, Mr X has been shy, passive with few friends. When he was 13 years old, the school physician noted a delay of puberty and referred him to an endocrinologist who diagnosed KS. Androgen therapy was introduced but rapidly stopped, because the boy and his parents thought it was useless. Mr X consulted a psychiatrist at the age of 21. He presented a schizo-affective disorder with influence syndrome, auditory and visual hallucinations, labile mood with disinhibited and depressive periods. He was admitted in a psychiatry ward of a general hospital. An endocrinologist confirmed the diagnosis of KS and found very low blood testosterone levels. Besides lithium and risperidone which had already been introduced before the hospitalization, androgens (testosterone undecanoate) were very progressively given to Mr X with a daily psychiatric evaluation. One month after discharge, a major depressive episode led to the adjunction of citalopram. After one year of follow-up, Mr X shows increased social adjustment and enhanced interest; the influence syndrome has partially regressed and his mood is more stable. Discussion - In the years '60 and '70, systematic screenings in psychiatric hospitals have detected 1.3% KS among hospitalized boys, ie 10 times more than in the general population, and 0.6 to 1% KS among hospitalized men. A large variety of psychiatric disorders have been described. Boys presenting KS are usually described as shy, with little energy and initiative, and few friends. They cry more often than compares. Neuropsychological studies demonstrate significantly lower verbal IQ than controls, while performance IQ is generally normal and global IQ is in the normal range with large individual variations. Language acquisition is always delayed. However, agressiveness is not increased. In his follow-up study of 20 years, Nielsen at al found more psychiatric disorders among KS patients, compared to a group of hypogonadal patients at first examination (mean age=27 years). After 20 years follow-up, however, no significant difference remained between the two cohorts concerning the frequency of psychiatric hospitalizations or mental diseases. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain psychological aspects of KS such as low levels of androgens during foetal and child development, personality disorder related to hypogonadism, delay of mitosis of cells with an extra X chromosome, but none of them is able to explain the specificity of psychological problems associated with KS. Concerning therapeutic aspects, specialists prone substitutive androgen therapy in case of too low testosterone blood levels, from the time of increase in FSH (around the age of 11-15). It prevents osteoporosis, backache and excessive tiredness often found in males with KS; testosterone also improves social drive, mood, concentration and ability at work. If KS diagnosis is made at adult age, androgen therapy has also shown some efficacy, though less than if started earlier. Due to the oral and written language problems of KS boys between 5 and 12 years of age, Graham et al. recommend anticipatory guidance for these boys. In addition, they insist on the importance of the information of the parents, language therapy, the reduction of the length of the instructions given by schoolmasters and specially stimulating and stable childhood conditions. Though it is generally thought that androgens increase agressiveness, we found no consistent data in litterature proving that the restoration of physiological androgen blood levels increases crimes nor aggressiveness. In the contrary, Miller and Sulkes described four cases of KS men presenting chronic fire-setting behaviors. Testosterone was introduced. For three of them, follow-up was available: their behavior seemed improved and none of them recurred. However, the initiation of androgen therapy for patients with severe psychiatric illness should be done very carefully. Conclusion - The Klinefelter's syndrome is frequent and, if not diagnosed (which seems to be the most common case), these men have higher risks to develop psychiatric disorders. Therefore, child psychiatrists and psychiatrists should evoke that diagnosis when they examine boys or men who present typical physical traits of KS (tallness, underdevelopped testes) associated to school problems and/or psychiatric disorders. Indeed, if the diagnosis is confirmed by an endocrinologist and a genetic testing, psychological follow-up and testosterone undecanoate treatment (in case of abnormal testosterone blood levels) should be initiated. This therapy generally improves physical well-being and improves mood, concentration, capacity at work. There is no consistent data in the litterature proving that restoring physiological testosterone blood levels would be dangerous for KS men presenting severe psychiatric troubles. However, this should be discussed in each situation with caution, and androgens should be introduced very progressively.
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PMID:[What is the interest of Klinefelter's syndrome for (child) psychiatrists?]. 1209 88

We describe a case of multiple pathologic fractures in a woman with Cushing's syndrome during pregnancy. Pathologic fractures were seen in the pubic and ischial bones and in T12 and L1 of the vertebral body. These findings, accompanied by easy fatigue, amenorrhea without nursing, psychological disorder, and premature birth, were retrospectively compatible with those of Cushing's syndrome, not pregnancy-associated osteoporosis. After adrenalectomy, the pain in her groin and back ceased. Plain radiographs showed healing of the fractures and increased mineralization. This case demonstrates the need to be alert to the possible presence of metabolic bone disease, including Cushing's syndrome, when we encounter multiple pathologic fractures with osteoporosis in young patients, even if the patient is pregnant.
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PMID:Case report of a Cushing's syndrome patient with multiple pathologic fractures during pregnancy. 1218 67

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a common illness of unknown etiology and pathogenesis characterized by severe disabling fatigue and a variety of musculoskeletal, neurocognitive, mood symptoms and sleep disorders lasting at least six months. A significant proportion of patients fulfilling operative criteria for a diagnosis of CFS will also meet criteria for a psychiatric disorder such as depression, somatization or anxiety disorders. Premorbid lifestyle may play a predisposing, and/or perpetuating role in CFS. Some patients improve with time but most remain functionally impaired for several years. A variety of interventions have been used in the treatment and management of CFS. Interventions which have shown promising results include cognitive behavioural therapy and graded exercise therapy. Antidepressants can be useful particularly in the case of comorbid affective disorders. Development of good therapeutic doctor-patient alliance with empathic care is central to the effective management of CFS. In this article we overview the nature and definition of CFS. The prevalence, the prognosis and the psychopathological issues are presented. The management of this controversial syndrome is discussed.
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PMID:[Chronic fatigue syndrome: psychiatric perspectives]. 1242 51

The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of insomnia symptoms and diagnoses in the general population of Finland. A total of 982 participants, aged 18 years or older and representative of the general population of Finland, were interviewed by telephone using the Sleep-EVAL system. The participation rate was 78%. The questionnaire included the assessment of sleep habits, insomnia symptomatology according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) and International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD), associated and sleep/mental disorders and daytime consequences. The overall prevalence of insomnia symptoms occurring at least three nights per week was 37.6%. Difficulty initiating sleep were mentioned by 11.9% of the sample, difficulty maintaining sleep by 31.6%, early morning awakenings by 11.0% and non-restorative sleep by 7.9% of the sample. Global dissatisfaction with sleep was found in 11.9% of the sample. Daytime consequences (fatigue, mood changes, cognitive difficulties or daytime sleepiness) were reported by 39.9% of participants with insomnia symptoms and 87.6% of those with sleep dissatisfaction. A deterioration of sleep in summer or winter was associated with more complaints of sleep dissatisfaction. Prevalence of any DSM-IV insomnia diagnosis was 11.7%. More specifically, DSM-IV diagnosis of primary insomnia had a prevalence of 1.6% and DSM-IV diagnosis of insomnia related to another mental disorder was at 2.1%. Insomnia was a symptom of another sleep disorder in about 16% of cases and of a mental disorder in about 17% of cases. As reported in other Nordic studies, sleep quality was worse in summer. Insomnia symptomatology was common and was reported by more than a third of Finnish participants. Compared with other European countries studied with the same methodology (France, the UK, Germany, and Italy), the prevalence of DSM-IV insomnia diagnosis was 1.5 to two times higher in Finland.
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PMID:Insomnia and global sleep dissatisfaction in Finland. 1246 2

Administration of the cytokines interferon-alpha and interleukin-2 is used for the treatment of various disorders, such as hepatitis C and various forms of cancer. The most serious side-effects are symptoms associated with depression, including fatigue, increased sleepiness, irritability, loss of appetite as well as cognitive changes. However, great differences exist in the prevalence of the development of depressive symptoms across studies. Differences in doses and duration of therapy may be sources of variation as well as individual differences of patients, such as a history of psychiatric illness. In addition, sensitization effects may contribute to differential responses of patients to the administration of cytokines. In animals administration of pro-inflammatory cytokines induces a pattern of behavioural alterations called 'sickness behaviour' which resembles the vegetative symptoms of depression in humans. Changes in serotonin (5-HT) receptors and in levels of 5-HT and its precursor tryptophan in depressed people support a role for 5-HT in the development of depression. In addition, evidence exists for a dysregulation of the noradrenergic system and a hyperactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in depression. Some mechanisms exist which make it possible for cytokines to cross the blood-brain barrier. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha affect the 5-HT metabolism directly and/or indirectly by stimulating the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase which leads to a peripheral depletion of tryptophan. IL-1, IL-2 and TNF-alpha influence noradrenergic activity and IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha are found to be potent stimulators of the HPA axis. Altogether, administration of cytokines may induce alterations in the brain resembling those found in depressed patients, which leads to the hypothesis that cytokines induce depression by their influence on the 5-HT, noradrenergic and HPA system.
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PMID:The psychoneuroimmuno-pathophysiology of cytokine-induced depression in humans. 1246 36

Depression is increasingly being recognized as a common comorbid disorder in patients with severe and chronic medical conditions. However, patients with depression and anxiety frequently present with somatic complaints such as aches and pains, headache, and chronic fatigue. This leads to underrecognition and undertreatment of the psychiatric disorder in an attempt to identify the medical cause of the somatic complaint. Reports are demonstrating the efficacy of antidepressants in treating disorders other than depression and anxiety. Tricyclic antidepressants have shown their usefulness in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and headache. Controlled studies of several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been shown to be efficacious in relieving the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and fibromyalgia. Pilot studies have also been conducted with the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, migraine, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and stroke. The results encourage further controlled studies.
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PMID:Coping with somatic comorbidities: striving for complete recovery. 1249 Aug 26

Late-life depression (LLD) initially occurs after age 65 and is a major public health concern because elderly people who are at high risk constitute an ever-expanding segment of the population. LLD is a mental illness in which mood, thought content, and behavioural patterns are impaired, causing individual distress, compromising social function and impairing self-maintenance skills (e.g. bathing, dressing, hygiene). It is characterised by marked sadness, or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities and may be accompanied by weight change, sleep disturbance, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and high suicide rate. Individuals under treatment for LLD and those whose illness has not been diagnosed or treated often present to the dentist with significant oral disease. LLD is frequently associated with a disinterest in performing oral hygiene, a cariogenic diet, diminished salivary flow, rampant dental decay, advanced periodontal disease, and oral dysesthesias. Many medications used to treat the disease magnify the xerostomia and increase the incidence of dental disease. Appropriate dental management necessitates a vigorous preventive dental education programme, the use of artificial salivary products, antiseptic mouthwash, daily fluoride mouthrinse and special precautions when administering local anaesthetics with vasoconstrictors and prescribing analgesics.
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PMID:Late-life depression: its oral health significance. 1265 39

This study compared 36 older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), 22 older adults with subsyndromal anxiety symptoms, and 32 normal controls on criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) for GAD. GAD patients reported more frequent and uncontrollable worry, somewhat different worry content, higher prevalence of most associated symptoms, and more distress or impairment than the subsyndromal group or normal controls. Individuals with subsyndromal anxiety reported more excessive, frequent, and uncontrollable worry than asymptomatic individuals, along with more sleep disturbance, fatigue, and distress or impairment. Results indicate that the key features of late-life GAD are distress and impairment, frequency and uncontrollability of worry, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance and that clinicians treating older adults with GAD should monitor and treat residual symptoms.
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PMID:DSM-IV criteria for generalized anxiety disorder in older adults: distinguishing the worried from the well. 1451 22

The built environment has direct and indirect effects on mental health. High-rise housing is inimical to the psychological well-being of women with young children. Poor-quality housing appears to increase psychological distress, but methodological issues make it difficult to draw clear conclusions. Mental health of psychiatric patients has been linked to design elements that affect their ability to regulate social interaction (e.g., furniture configuration, privacy). Alzheimer's patients adjust better to small-scale, homier facilities that also have lower levels of stimulation. They are also better adjusted in buildings that accommodate physical wandering. Residential crowding (number of people per room) and loud exterior noise sources (e.g., airports) elevate psychological distress but do not produce serious mental illness. Malodorous air pollutants heighten negative affect, and some toxins (e.g., lead, solvents) cause behavioral disturbances (e.g., self-regulatory ability, aggression). Insufficient daylight is reliably associated with increased depressive symptoms. Indirectly, the physical environment may influence mental health by altering psychosocial processes with known mental health sequelae. Personal control, socially supportive relationships, and restoration from stress and fatigue are all affected by properties of the built environment. More prospective, longitudinal studies and, where feasible, randomized experiments are needed to examine the potential role of the physical environment in mental health. Even more challenging is the task of developing underlying models of how the built environment can affect mental health. It is also likely that some individuals may be more vulnerable to mental health impacts of the built environment. Because exposure to poor environmental conditions is not randomly distributed and tends to concentrate among the poor and ethnic minorities, we also need to focus more attention on the health implications of multiple environmental risk exposure.
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PMID:The built environment and mental health. 1470 4


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