scholarly journals The Physical, Psychological, and Social Day-to-Day Experience of Women Living With Endometriosis Compared to Healthy Age-Matched Controls—A Mixed-Methods Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Olliges ◽  
Alina Bobinger ◽  
Annemarie Weber ◽  
Verena Hoffmann ◽  
Timo Schmitz ◽  
...  

Background: Endometriosis is characterized by lesions of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Chronic pain is considered as main symptom, but challenges can relate to various physical, mental, and social aspects of the women's lives. The aim of our study was to gain a holistic understanding of the everyday reality of women with endometriosis compared to healthy controls.Methods: The total sample comprised 12 hormone-free endometriosis patients (EP) and 11 age-matched healthy women (HC). A mixed-methods design was used comprising semi-structured interviews, standardized questionnaires and a comprehensive diary to assess pain ratings and various mental and physical symptoms over the course of a menstrual cycle. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and evaluated according to phenomenological analysis using the MAXQDA software.Results: Interviews showed that living with endometriosis was associated with an impairment in everyday life. Physical strains, especially pain, high levels of psychological distress, and social limitations have been reported. Living with endometriosis affected the patients' personality and they “no longer felt like themselves.” Physical and psychological symptoms were reported to interfere with social interaction and participation. Evaluation of the standardized questionnaires revealed significant impairments in EP compared to HC in regard to anxiety and depression scores (both p < 0.001; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), mental and physical quality of life (both p < 0.001; Short-Form Health Survey-12), stress ratings (p < 0.001; Patient Health Questionnaire-15) and functional well-being (p < 0.001; Functional Well-being-7). The highest levels of mean pelvic pain and dyschezia were observed in EP during menstruation, but mean pain ratings and dyschezia were increased in EPs compared to HP during the whole cycle. EP reported mental symptoms (e.g., depressed mood or anxiety) mainly during menstruation, while HC did not show any mental symptoms during the cycle. In addition, physical symptoms were elevated during the entire cycle in EPs (all p < 0.01).Discussion: The mixed-methods approach enabled to interpret the interviews, the standardized questionnaires, and the symptom diary in a broader context of everyday life. The symptoms do not appear to act independently, but rather influence each other. This leads to a complex interplay of physical, mental, and social impairments, with pain often being the starting point.

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e037755
Author(s):  
Ulrica Nilsson ◽  
Maria Jaensson ◽  
Karin Hugelius ◽  
Erebouni Arakelian ◽  
Karuna Dahlberg

ObjectiveThis study aims to further develop the concept analysis by Allvin et al in 2007 and Lundmark et al in 2016 from the perspective of day-surgery patients. Also, to describe how patients experience postoperative recovery in relation to the identified dimensions and subdimensions and to interpret the findings in order to get a deeper understanding of the concept postoperative recovery.DesignDescriptive qualitative design with a theoretical thematic analysis.SettingSix day-surgery departments in Sweden.ParticipantsThirty-eight adult participants who had undergone day surgery in Sweden. Participants were purposively selected.ResultsFour dimensions—physical, psychological, social and habitual—were confirmed. A total of eight subdimensions were also confirmed, two from Allvin et al’s study and six from Lundmark et al’s study. Recovery included physical symptoms and challenges coping with and regaining control over symptoms and bodily functions. Both positive and negative emotions were present, and strategies on how to handle emotions and achieve well-being were established. Patients became dependent on others. They coped with and adapted to the recovery process and gradually stabilised, reaching a new stable state.ConclusionPostoperative recovery was described as a process with a clear starting point, and as a dynamic and individual process leading to an experience of a new stable state. The recovery process included physical symptoms, emotions and social and habitual consequences that challenges them. To follow-up and measure all four dimensions of postoperative recovery in order to support and understand the process of postoperative recovery is, therefore, recommended.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 844-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Qureshi ◽  
Erin Zelinski ◽  
Linda E. Carlson

Background. Cancer survivors use complementary therapies (CTs) for a variety of reasons; however, with interest and use reportedly on the rise and a widening range of products and practices available, there is a need to establish trends in and drivers of interest. We aimed to determine (1) frequencies of use, level of interest, and barriers for 30 specific CTs and (2) whether physical symptoms, perceived stress (PS), or spiritual well-being were related to interest levels. Method. A total of 212 cancer outpatients were surveyed at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Canada. Results. Overall, up to 75% of survivors already used some form of CTs since their diagnosis. The most highly used were the following: vitamins B12 and D, multivitamins, calcium, and breathing and relaxation exercises. Those who had not used CTs indicated highest interest in massage, vitamin B12, breathing and relaxation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and antioxidants. The most frequently reported barriers for all CTs were not knowing enough about what a therapy was and not having enough evidence on whether it worked. High PS predicted higher interest for all CTs, but spirituality was not significantly related to any. Physical symptoms, anxiety, and depression were significant predictors of interest for some CTs. Conclusion. These findings provide a blueprint for future clinical efficacy trials and highlight the need for clinical practice guidelines.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Tommasi ◽  
Francesca Toro ◽  
Simone Arnò ◽  
Angelo Carrieri ◽  
Marco Maria Conte ◽  
...  

The exceptional pandemic due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has obliged all Italians to stay at home. In the literature, there are evidences that traumatic global events, such as natural catastrophes and pandemic, have negative effects on the physical and psychological health of the population. We carried out a survey to analyze the physical and psychological conditions of Italians during the pandemic. Due to the severe limitations in moving during the phase one lockdown, the survey was administered by internet. Results show that Italians followed the provisions established by the Italian government to avoid contamination, but 43% of them declared to have suffered from physical symptoms, in particular migraine, sleep disorders, persistent exhaustion, and difficulty of concentration. They have great fear to be contaminated or that relatives or friends can be contaminated, and they actively take actions to avoid contamination. Participants declared that they had suffered a lot of inconveniences due to restrictions in their movements, and that their life habits were strongly changed. They spent their time at home in different activities, but their psychological well-being was strongly impaired by the lockdown. The level of anxiety tripled, in relation to the prepandemic period, and 30% of males and 41% of females declared to have severe levels of depression. Participants with high levels of optimism and hopefulness show a stronger resilience against anxiety and depression. In addition, there is a negative correlation between anxiety and depression and the five factors of personality. These results show that psychological diseases must not be neglected, and that people in lockdown do need support for their psychological health, also with the help of internet and communication technologies.


Author(s):  
Camelia SOPONARU ◽  
Ancuta BOJIAN ◽  
Magdalena IORGA

The aim of the study is to investigate the influence of physiological and psychosocial stress on the quality of life (QoL) in a group of hemodialysis (HD) patients from our center. Materials and methods: A number of 70 patients were included in the study. We used the Hemodialysis Stressors Scale, in order to estimate the stress level, and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey Questionnaire, to evaluate the QoL. Results: The M for age = 54.5 ± 11.7 years and 38.6% were men. Patients with a low level of stress had significantly higher physical health (M = 53,52; p = 0.04) and mental health (M = 51,61; p <0.01) scores. The disease-related factors that induced the highest level of stress were the physical symptoms (1.67 ± 0.68), the food and water intake restrictions (1.64 ± 0.76), the vascular access problems (1.44 ± 0.83), the daily activity limitations (1.22 ± 0.72), the dependence on the medical staff (1.14 ± 0.74). Socio-economical and demographical factors had no effect on stress and QoL. Conclusions:  The study prove the importance of stress for the QoL in HD patients. Efforts should be undertaken to minimize stress factors. Keywords: Dialysis; stress; physical well-being; psychological well-being; quality of life;


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 808-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Lo Presti ◽  
Paolo Pappone ◽  
Alfonso Landolfi

Workplace bullying is a critical issue for its negative consequences on victims’ health and well-being. This study aimed at examining the intermediate roles of anxiety and depression, in the relations between workplace bullying as a predictor, and physical and psychological negative symptoms as outcomes. In particular, it was hypothesized that workplace bullying would be associated with higher anxiety and depression and, through them, with higher physical and psychological negative symptoms. We sampled 151 Italian employees, who called on a workplace bullying public clinical center as victims and filled a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. Results of bootstrapped regressions showed that only anxiety mediated the association of workplace bullying with negative physical symptoms while both anxiety and depression mediated its association with negative psychological symptoms. The results have implications for the development of appropriate intervention strategies for both prevention and clinical treatment. In particular, timely diagnosing and treating anxiety and depression could prevent subsequent problems related to psychological and physical symptoms such as colitis, headache, tiredness, nervousness, etc. Organizational interventions in terms of primary prevention are also discussed. From an empirical standpoint, the study contributed to disentangling the differential roles of anxiety and depression with respect to physical and psychological symptoms; moreover, overcoming a common limit of workplace bullying research, the current study was carried out on actual victims.


GeroPsych ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Chui ◽  
Manfred Diehl

Abstract. This study examined the link between physical symptoms, affect, and self-esteem in everyday life across adulthood. The sample consisted of young, middle-aged, and older adults. Results indicated a significant Self-Esteem × Physical Symptoms interaction on positive affect (PA). The effect of self-esteem on PA was lower with increasing physical symptoms. For negative affect (NA), the Self-Esteem × Physical Symptoms × Age interaction was significant. In older adults, the effect of self-esteem on NA was lower with increasing physical symptoms. Thus, the effect of self-esteem ran opposite to the expected buffering effect. In addition, the age difference in the effect of self-esteem on NA presents potential challenges to the adaptive capacity of older adults in emotional well-being.


2007 ◽  
Vol 157 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kars ◽  
A A van der Klaauw ◽  
C S Onstein ◽  
A M Pereira ◽  
J A Romijn

Objective: Most studies on treatment of microprolactinoma have focused on clinical and biochemical outcome rather than on functional and mental well-being. We evaluated this topic in female patients with microprolactinoma, because other pituitary adenomas are associated with decreased quality of life. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Patients and methods: To assess the impact of treatment for microprolactinoma on subjective well-being, quality of life was investigated in 55 female patients (mean age 45 ± 10 years), treated for microprolactinoma in our center, using four validated, health-related questionnaires: Short-Form-36 (SF-36), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Patient outcomes were compared with those of 183 female controls with equal age distributions. Results: Anxiety and depression scores were increased when compared with controls for all subscales as measured by HADS, and fatigue for all but one subscale as measured by MFI-20. Patients treated for microprolactinoma had worse scores on social functioning, role limitations due to physical problems (SF-36), energy, emotional reaction, and social isolation (NHP) when compared with control subjects. Important independent predictors of quality of life were reproductive status and anxiety and depression scores according to the HADS. Conclusion: Quality of life is impaired in female patients treated for microprolactinoma, especially due to increased anxiety and depression. These increased anxious and depressive feelings might be due to possible effects of hyperprolactinemia on the central nervous system. Failure to recognize this association may adversely affect patient–doctor relationships.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-99
Author(s):  
Mohsen Saffari ◽  
Mehdi Raei ◽  
Mohamad Amin Pourhoseingholi ◽  
Masoum Khosh Fetrat

Introduction: The disease related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now been a pandemic throughout the world. Although the epidemiological studies and clinical trials are utilized to find standard measures and medicines to prevent and control COVID-19, addressing the mental health and psychology of the people who may be at risk of the disease may also be effective to find comprehensive methods to better overcome this pandemic. This study aimed at investigating the mental status of both the general population and healthcare personnel during this pandemic in Iran. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a sample of 296 medical staff and 532 people living in Tehran city of Iran were included in the study. The assessment was performed by Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale short-form (DASS-21). Two groups were matched in terms of some demographical factors such as age, gender, and marital status. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was utilized to perform comparisons between the two groups. Results: Both samples of the general population and medical staff had high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The mean score of anxiety and depression among medical staff was higher than that of the general population (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of stress level. Conclusion: It seems both the Iranian general population and healthcare personnel are under mental pressure caused by COVID-19, indicating an urgent need for intervention and using preventive measures to control the negative impacts of the diseases on the psychological well-being of these people. Further studies in other regions affected by the disease may provide more evidence in this regard.


Author(s):  
Andrzej Kapusta

In the text, I address the subject of neurocognitive science, art and literature in various perspectives, whose connecting point is the perspective of the experiencing subject and her embodiment. The embodied and involved subject reveals through her ailments and suffering dimensions of experience not always visible in the state of health and well-being. The starting point of my deliberations are issues in the field of neurocognitive science and neuroesthetics as the areas that attempt to explain the neurobiological mechanisms of perception of art and literature. Next, I refer to research in the field of neuroanthropology, through which the positive and creative dimensions of the illness experience are noticed. I also refer to psychopathology as an area that shows the dimensions of human experience in a much more fundamental way than it is able to show the experience of everyday life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Walaa Alhassani

Abstract Objectives The on-going Syrian War has affected Syrians’ mental health, causing anxiety, depression, stress, and mood disturbances. Barley β- glucan is a soluble fiber and its benefits for mental health have been reported in the literature. This study was designed to assess the possible therapeutic effects of β-glucan supplementation as a natural remedy for emotional disturbance control/prevention using a traditional Islamic homestyle meal, “Talbina”, a semi-solid meal made from ground whole grain, hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare). Methods A single-blind randomized crossover design was conducted in free-living, stressed Syrian refugees using barley flour (active, AC) for 28 days and rice flour (placebo, PL) for 14 days as part of a breakfast. Subjects (14 females and 9 males, mean age: 41 ± 10 yrs) with normal-to-mild depression and anxiety scores were recruited from the Islamic Center of Detroit. More than 60% of the subjects self-rated their general health as good or very good. Only 4.3% reported poor mental health, and nearly 60% of the subjects reported having at least one non-communicable disease. Arabic validated self-administered questionnaires: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and The Profile of Mood States-short form (POMS-SF) were used to measure anxiety and depression states, stress, and mood, respectively. Body weight and height data were also collected. Results Subjects without depression showed a reduction in body mass index (BMI) at the end of the AC phase compared to the PL phase while depressed subjects showed an increase in BMI. The difference between these groups was significant (−.5 ± .5 kg/m2 vs .2 ± .8, P = 0.04). The results showed no differences in anxiety, depression, stress and mood scores between the AC and PL phases. Conclusions The findings of this study showed no significant improvement in emotional well-being, depression, or stress levels by eating Talbina. But the subjects with anxiety were benefited significantly by taking part in this study regardless of the key ingredients of their meals. These findings suggest that refugee communities need further social support. Future studies should be conducted with a higher dosage of β-glucan for a longer duration and with a larger sample size to examine the beneficial effects of β-glucan. Funding Sources The Department of Nutrition and Food Science at Wayne State University and the Department of Clinical Nutrition at Umm Al-Qura University.


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