Effects of motivational enhancement therapy plus cognitive behaviour therapy on depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in adults with type II diabetes mellitus: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This paper evaluates the effectiveness of motivational enhancement therapy plus cognitive behavioural therapy on depressive symptoms, glycosylated haemoglobin, fasting glucose, body mass index (BMI), and health-related quality of life in type II diabetes patients. METHODS: A controlled trial was conducted to compare patients who received the behavioural intervention with untreated controls on measures of health outcomes. A total of 31 intervention group participants and 30 controls were selected from patients that met the inclusion criteria from a hospital-based endocrinology outpatient department. The outcome measures including depressive symptoms, glycosylated haemoglobin, fasting glucose, BMI, and both physical and mental quality of life were collected before (T1), after (T2), and after 90 days (T3) following the intervention. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significant reduction in glycosylated haemoglobin, fasting glucose, and depressive symptoms and a significant increase in physical quality of life and mental quality of life at T2 and T3, while patients in the control group with usual care showed no changes over time. CONCLUSION: The behavioural intervention facilitated a significant improvement in psychological adjustment and glycemic control, thus strengthening diabetes control skills and leading to healthy outcomes. It is feasible that nurses and psychiatrists can deliver the behavioural intervention for diabetes patients to decrease their depressive symptoms. Sharing discussion and problem-solving experiences is particularly helpful method for self-control, and these will be beneficially influential on further research.

Recurrent pulmonary embolism in an elderly patient with Cushing's syndrome, adrenocortical adenoma, pheochromocytoma and prostate adenocarcinoma.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major health problem. Mortality in untreated PE is high, but with adequate (anticoagulant) treatment, can be reduced. Multiple primary and secondary risk factors are responsible for PE. But there is rare association of mixed adrenal tumor with PE. Here, we report a case of adrenocortical adenoma with Cushing's syndrome coexistent with pheochromocytoma with recurrent PE in an elderly patient with prostate adenocarcinoma. A 78-year-old Taiwanese retired veteran was admitted in July, 2002 with the presentation of syncope. Three years before, he was diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma and had received Androcur therapy since then. Five months later, he was admitted with Cushingoid appearance and hypertension. Abdominal imaging studies revealed a left adrenal tumor. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy revealed an adrenocortical adenoma. Two years later, a recurrent left adrenal tumor was found. Repeated laparoscopic adrenalectomy revealed pheochromocytoma. One month after the repeat laparoscopic surgery, the patient was admitted due to syncope. Chest X-ray revealed cardiomegaly with pulmonary venous congestion. Echocardiogram showed impaired right ventricle global systolic function. Perfusion lung scan showed a high probability of PE. Heparin and coumadin were given but stopped 5 weeks later due to the development of severe skin ecchymosis. In December 2002, the patient was admitted again with consciousness disturbance. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed bilateral PE, and he died 5 hours later due to cardiogenic shock. In conclusion, in elderly patients with Cushing's syndrome with pheochromocytoma and prostate carcinoma, there is probability of pulmonary embolism.