Exploring the connection between ego-resiliency and health behaviors: a cross-sectional study of Polish health sciences students.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between ego-resiliency and the intensity of health behaviors among Polish health sciences students. METHODS: The study involved 483 students from health-related faculties in southern Poland, consisting of 314 women (63.7%) and 179 men (36.3%). The average age of the participants was 21.7 ± 2.5 years. To assess resiliency (ER), the Ego-Resiliency Scale (ER89-R12) by Block and Kremen was used in its Polish adaptation. The intensity of health behaviors was examined using the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) developed by Z. Juczynski. RESULTS: The results revealed a positive correlation between the intensity of health behaviors and ER (r = 0.43, p < 0.001), both for the general factor and its categories (positive mental attitude, proper eating habits, preventive actions, and prohealth activities). Students with a high level of health behaviors exhibited significantly higher ER (M = 38.95, SD = 5.15) compared to those with average (M = 35.93, SD = 5.03) and low (M = 32.97, SD = 5.12) HBI levels. Among the HBI categories, Positive Mental Attitude showed the strongest correlation with both general ER and its factors: optimal regulation (OR) and openness to life experiences (OL). Furthermore, the correlation was found to be stronger with the OR and weaker with OL. CONCLUSION: Higher ER in students is correlated with a greater frequency of health behaviors. Nurturing the development of ER may contribute to the maintenance of prohealth practices despite life difficulties and temporary loss of motivation. This, in turn, promotes the regularity of health behaviors, which is crucial for their positive impact on overall health.

How do teenagers sleep? Analysis of factors related to sleep disorders in a group of Polish high school students.

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the adolescent population. Resulting from a complex interplay of genetic, biological, social, and environmental factors, it affects disturbances in everyday functioning in many aspects of life. The aim of the study was to analyze the factors related to the occurrence of insomnia among high school students. MATERIAL: The study was conducted among 2364 high school students aged between 14 and 19 years old (the average age 17.92 ± 1.10), of which there were 2068 girls and 295 boys. METHOD: Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and authorial demographic data questionnaire involved questions about physical activity during the day, smoking, frequency of upper respiratory tract infections, problems with concentration and memory, school achievements, and the use of mobile devices at bedtime were used to assess examined parameters. The scale and questionnaires were shared on-line via social media. RESULTS: Analyzing the results obtained in the study group, the average score of 8.42 ± 4.16 was obtained in the AIS, which allows the assessment of sleep disorders bordering on normal. After division into groups of girls and boys, 8.38 ± 4.56 points were obtained, respectively for girls and 8.43 ± 4.27pts. for boys - the difference was not statistically significant. Similarly, statistically significant differences were not found when dividing the groups into the one in which adolescents used the phone just before bedtime and the one that did not use it. The act of sleeping alone or with another person in the room also did not differentiate the groups statistically, as well as the place of residence. Statistically significant worse results in the AIS scale were obtained by people who declared worse physical activity during the day and smoking cigarettes, as well as those who reported more frequent problems with concentration and memory, had worse school performance and suffered from upper respiratory infections more often. CONCLUSIONS: 1). Sleep disorders may be related to factors such as smoking cigarettes or lack of physical activity, as well as difficulties in concentrating attention, memory disorders or worse academic performance and a tendency to contract upper respiratory tract infections. 2). Elimination of factors that may adversely affect the quality of sleep is particularly important in the group of adolescents, in whom the developing structures of the central nervous system may be particularly sensitive to deficiencies in this area. 3). Exploration of the interplay of study duration, screen time, and semester-specific stressors on sleep quality could yield further insights.

Emotional distress and quality of life in allergic diseases.

Emotional disorders accompany many somatic diseases, especially ones with severe or chronic course, and such are allergic diseases. Long-term course of the disease, the need for chronic treatment and repeated exacerbations as well as symptoms of depression or anxiety have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients, constituting a serious burden both from the point of view of the individual and the society. The data evaluating emotional disturbances and their impact on the quality of life in three atopic diseases: bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis and seasonal rhinitis were analysed. Mood disorders as well as mental and behavioral disorders due to alcohol abuse are the most common psychiatric disorders observed in patients with bronchial asthma. There are data indicating a relationship between the occurrence of allergic rhinitis and mood disorders, anxiety disorders and suicidal tendencies. Atopic dermatitis is associated with an increased risk of depressive and anxiety disorders and sleep disorders, and in children with more prevalence of behavioral disorders. Most studies highlighted the relationship between emotional disorders and quality of life in the above-mentioned patient groups. In addition to physical ailments, patients suffering from allergic diseases also report emotional problems that can adversely affect the course of the disease, the treatment process, and reduce quality of life. Therefore, these patients require a holistic approach with a more accurate assessment of emotional disorders.

PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IN THE COURSE OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system of a chronic nature, most often with periods of exacerbation and remission, mainly affecting people between 20-40 years of age, with a slight prevalence of women. The aim of the study was to collect and analyze materials published in the literature regarding the prevalence and co-occurrence of mental disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis. Current reports show that as many as 75% of patients with this chronic disease experience various mental disorders, and the incidence of mental diseases - including mood disorders and anxiety disorders - is statistically higher than in the general population. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Depending on the literature, depressive symptoms appear in 6.94% -70.1% of patients with MS. Diagnosis of anxiety disorders affects 11.1% of patients, while bipolar disorder affects up to 16.2%. Co-occurrence of MS with schizophrenia is estimated at 1.28%. The incidence of other psychoses is 2-4% in patients with MS. Only in the case of schizophrenia, men with MS are more likely to develop it, while other psychiatric disorders are more common among women. Co-occurrence of mental disorders in the course of multiple sclerosis adversely affects the treatment process and the functioning of patients and their families.

Sexual problems in the patients with psychiatric disorders

Sexual disorders are very common problems in the psychiatric patients. Many factors induce sexual dysfunction, e.g. the effects of antidepressants and antipsychotics. The article reviews literature on sexual disorders in psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depressive, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders and eating disorders. Bipolar disorder significantly affects the quality of life and increases the risk of sexual dysfunction. In the manic phase there is an increase in libido, which is associated with the risky sexual behavior. Depressive disorders are associated with reduced libido and dissatisfaction with sexual activity. Panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder are correlated with less frequent sexual contact. Decreased sexual desire and sexual aversion are strongly associated with anxiety disorders. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia is high among both those treated and untreated. Women suffering from schizophrenia have anorgasmia, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, vaginism, and dyspareunia. Men suffering from schizophrenia as the main complaints give lowering the drive of difficulty in maintaining an erection, delaying orgasm. In patients with eating disorders, libido decreases as well as sexual activity and the level of sexual satisfaction decreases. Satisfaction with sexual life is an important factor affecting the quality of life. Patients rarely deal with problems in sexual life, so questions about this area of life should not be overlooked during a medical interview.

Sense of coherence in selected allergic diseases.

According to "holistic" model of physician's approach to the patient, physical, psychological and social aspects should be taken into account when we assess disease and effects of diagnostics and treatment. Those attributes form health related quality of life. Patient's disposition to disease depends on many psychological factors, among them sense of coherence (SOC). Sense of coherence is a health-promoting life orientation, perceiving the world as comprehensible, manageable and meaningful. The prevalence of allergic diseases is dramatically increasing. This epidemy strongly influences comfort of patient's life. In our paper we try to present the current knowledge on sense of coherence as a factor potentially influencing the course of allergic diseases.

[Hypochondria yesterday and today].

The publication aims to discuss hypochondriacal disorders. This paper presents the history of the concept of hypochondria from antiquity to modern times, also includes brief information regarding etiopathogenesis, etiology, classification and treatment of hypochondria with particular emphasis on psychotherapy. Our goal was to make the subject hypochondriacal disorders, as a disease entity often encountered in everyday medical practice.

[Gender identity disorders or andromimetic behaviour in a victim of incest--a case study]. / Zaburzenia identyfikacji plciowej czy zachowania andromimetyczne u ofiary kazirodztwa--studium przypadku.

Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly difficult to clearly classify the issues associated with the phenomenon of gender dysphoria due to the fact that one identifies oneself in the context of increasingly fluid categories of gender identity-- an intrinsic sense of being a woman or a man. The authors present a woman whose internal problems connected with her sexuality and incomplete identification with the role attributed to her gender originate from her family history. Long-lasting, traumatic experiences of incestuous abuse and violence on the part of close relatives disturbed her development in many areas of personality and functioning. The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis of the existence of gender identity disorder accompanied by depressive disorders. In addition to the medical history, the study of patient's problems included the following diagnostic tools: the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Rorschach Inkblot Test in a CSR Exner system (TPA). The study revealed that as for sexual identification, the patient unambiguously identifies herself as a woman. Her behaviour to become like a man does not deny her sex, or even involve a temporary need of belonging to the opposite sex. It should be interpreted in the broader context of her traumatic experiences, not just sexual, but also concerning different aspects of a female gender role.

[The sense of coherence in women undergoing coronary arteriography]. / Poczucie koherencji w grupie kobiet poddanych koronarografii.

AIM: The examination referred to two groups of female patients: with and without significant coronary stenoses in coronarography. There were two stages of the examination: before and 6-9 months after coronarography. The factor dividing patients into two groups: without significant atheromatosis and with coronary atheromatosis, was the result of invasive diagnostics of coronary heart disease. METHODS: The sense of coherence scale (SOC-29) and sociodemographic questionnaires were used to evaluate the condition of the two groups. RESULTS: In group of patients with irrelevant coronary stenoses statistically lower values of sense of comprehension were noticed in the first and the second examination and also sta- tistically lower values of sense of manage were observed, comparing to the group of patients with significant stenoses. The initial value of general coherence was comparable in both groups and did not significantly change in 6-9 months after coronarography. The characteristic parameters: lack of social support, intensity of depressiveness and anxiety before getting information about necessity of coronarography and worse education were connected with lower sense of coherence. CONCLUSIONS: The baseline strength of the total sense of coherence was not different between groups. Patients with no significant stenosis of coronary arteries demonstrate a lower sense of comprehensibility before and after the coronary arteriography and lower sense of manageability after the procedure compared to the group of patients with significant atherosclerotic lesions. No social support, tendency for depression and anxiety and lower level of education were associated with lower sense of coherence in both groups.

Paroxysmal rush of intrusive eidetic images - diagnostic doubts. Case report. / Napadowe natloki natretnych ejdetycznych wyobrazen ­ watpliwosci diagnostyczne. Opis przypadku.

Eidetic images are a relatively rare phenomenon in the practice of a psychiatrist. They are described in the category of perception disorders as images or memories which, thanks to their plasticity, vividness and detail, are very similar to the currently experienced sensory perceptions. However, it should be remembered that their occurrence is not associated with any mental disorders, and they are also observed in some healthy people. This paper presents a case report of a patient with complaints about "voiced," plastic images - the course of his psychiatric hospitalization and the psychological diagnostics carried out at that time. The authors point out the difficulties in differentiating, first of all, with auditory pseudo-hallucinations and make an attempt at psychopathological classification of the patient's symptoms. The discussion on possible disease mechanisms of this phenomenon is based on reports as well as research on the phenomenon of imagination and eidetic perceptions, and the aim of this study is to draw the attention of diagnosticians to the category of psychological phenomena with an eidetic character, which may allow them to avoid incorrect recognition of them as an element of psychotic disorders of perception.

[Dual diagnosis in psychoactive substance abusing or dependent persons]. / Podwójna diagnoza u osób uzaleznionych lub szkodliwie uzywajacych substancji psychoaktywnych.

BACKGROUND: There has been noticed a systematic growth of using psychoactive substance (SP) in last years. The co-occurrence of mental and physical disorders related to substance abuse of treated patients is more often a serious problem to medical services. Dual diagnosis (DD) is a clinical term referring to co-morbidity or the co-occurrence in the same individual of a psychoactive substance use disorder and another psychiatric disorder. The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of dual diagnosis in patients with diagnosis of substance use disorder hospitalized in years 1994-2005, to assess the kind of co-morbid mental disorders and the course of treatment in three groups: patients with DD, with diagnosis of mental disorder without substance use and with diagnosis related to substance use. METHODS: The retrospective study of 4 349 case records of patients hospitalized in the department of psychiatry in years 1994-2005. Out of this number two groups of patients were separated: persons abusing or dependent on SP (n = 825) and patients with dual diagnosis (n = 362). The control group (n = 200) was created among patients with mental disorders and without SP abuse. Socio-demographic factors, number and the length of hospitalizations, aggressive behaviours, suicide attempts, discharges from hospital on demand were analyzed. In the DD group there was an attempt to evaluate the relation between substance use disorders and co-occuring mental disorders performed. RESULTS: The frequency of DD among all patients hospitalized in the studied period of time was 8.3%, whereas among patients abusing SP was 30.5%. This study demonstrates that patients with the DD are statistically longer hospitalized, discharged from hospitals at their own request and more often need treatment in hospitals, statistically more often try to commit suicide and perform aggressive behavior. Mental disorders were substantially often secondary to substance related disorders in the DD group. There was proved that patients mainly abused alcohol and the most frequent mental disorder were mood (affective) disorders.

Health-Promoting Factors and Their Relationships with the Severity of Symptoms in Patients with Anxiety Disorders during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental disorders in the modern world. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the onset of many mental disorders in people who did not have them before. It can be suspected that in people who already had anxiety disorders before the pandemic, their quality of life has significantly deteriorated. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the relationships between life satisfaction, acceptance of illness, the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms and health behaviors in a group of patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in the period from March 2020 to March 2022. There were 70 people among the respondents, including 44 women aged 44.06 ± 14.89 years and 26 men aged 40.84 ± 16.72 years. All persons were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. Patients with other co-occurring disorders were excluded, i.e., depression and signs of organic damage to the central nervous system, as were those with cognitive disorders that prevented the completion of the questionnaires. The following scales were used in the study: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: In the Satisfaction in Life questionnaire, the respondents obtained an average score of 17.59 ± 5.74 points. In the AIS scale, the mean score obtained by the patients was 27.10 ± 9.65 points. In the overall Health Behavior Inventory (HBI), the average score was 79.52 ± 15.24 points. In the HADS questionnaire, probants obtained an average of 8.17 ± 4.37 points in the depression subscale and 11.55 ± 4.46 points in the anxiety subscale. In addition, there were significant negative correlations between life satisfaction (SWLS) and the severity of anxiety and depression (HADS). The lower the perceived quality of life, the significantly higher the anxiety and depressive disorders. The result obtained in the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) as well as in the subscale of Prohealth Activities (PHA) was negatively associated with the severity of anxiety symptoms. Prohealth activities should therefore be developed to prevent anxiety disorders, as well as to promote positive mental attitudes. In the study, the average result obtained in the subscale of positive mental attitudes correlated negatively with both anxiety and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Life during the pandemic was assessed by patients as unsatisfactory. Health-promoting behaviors, and especially positive mental attitudes, may play a protective role in relation to anxiety and depressive symptoms in a situation of increased stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic in a group of patients with anxiety disorders.

Mega Cisterna Magna (MCM) in a man with frotteurism symptoms - a case report. / Mega Cisterna Magna (MCM) u mezczyzny z objawami ocieractwa ­ opis przypadku.

Mega cistera magna (MCM) is a brain development abnormality that occurs in 1% of radiographic images. It occurs when the transverse dimension of the cerebellospinal reservoir is greater than 10 mm. It is the most important reservoir in the cranial cavity. From the front it is limited by the extended medulla, from the rear by the dura mater, and from the top by the cerebellum. Isolated anomalies in the structure of this brain region often do not cause any clinical symptoms. However, more and more attention is paid in research on the participation of the cerebellum in the regulation of cognitive and affective processes. These processes, in turn, may also be related to the regulation of sexual life. The aim of the study is to present the psychosexual functioning of a man diagnosed with MCM, who is suspected of having committed five sexual offenses. The existence of such a structure of the CNS in conjunction with the analysis of the interview, data from the case files and the results of sexological, psychological and psychiatric examinations, made it possible to evaluate the limitation of the respondent's ability to direct his conduct during the alleged acts, while maintaining the ability to recognize their significance.

Efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in the treatment of delirium. / Skutecznosc i bezpieczenstwo arypiprazolu w leczeniu majaczenia.

Delirium is a psychosis with disorder of consciousness and it's caused by acute brain disfunction in the course of e.g. severe somatic condition, intoxication or withdrawal syndrome. Delirium management is based on the treatment of the state that caused disturbance in central nervous system. Severe delirium syndromes such as agitation, disorganized behavior or hallucinations require additional pharmacological treatment with antypsychotics. Aripiprazole is one of second generation antypsychotics (SGA), that is used in treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and Tourette syndrome, but also off-label in delirium. A systematic review of databases was carried out and results were limited to case reports, clinical trials and randomized controlled trials. The results of literature review suggest that aripiprazole can be useful in treatment of delirium symptomes. There is evidence, aripirazole has efficacy comparable to haloperidol and other SGA. Aripirazole can be a better option in particular groups of patients due to it's safer cardiological and metabolic profile and better tolerance of treatment. However, data from clinical findings are still insufficient to recommend a routine use of aripirazole in the treatment of delirium. Therefore, further investigations are necessary to work out new strategy of managing delirium syndrome.

Assessment of knowledge and beliefs concerning mental disorders among medical students - preliminary report. / Ocena postaw wobec osób z zaburzeniami psychicznymi wsród studentów medycyny - doniesienie wstepne.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess attitudes towards people with mental disorders. METHODS: The survey was carried out in a group of 93 students of the fifth year of medical studies (medical faculty) including 59 women and 34 men, aged 24.34 ± 1.28 years. RESULTS: In the conducted research, personal contact with a psychiatrist due to problems with their own mental health was declared by 23% of respondents. The choice of psychiatry as a field of specialization was declared by 19% of students. In the analysis of the questionnaire on beliefs, as many as 83% of respondents considered that mental illness is a cause for shame. Analyzing the attitude of the respondents to treatment, it was shown that as many as 80% of people believed that compulsory hospitalization is a right procedure. It should be emphasized that only 31% of the surveyed students believed that people with mental disorders should decide to have offspring, and 36% of people thought that mentally disturbed people would not be good as parents. As many as 30% of respondents believed that people with mental disorders more often commit crimes than healthy people, and 42% of students showed a lack of determination in this aspect. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the research suggest the necessity of expanding knowledge and shaping appropriate attitudes towards people with mental disorders among future doctors.

[The association of quality of life with mental status and sociodemographic data in schizophrenic patients]. / Ocena wplywu wybranych czynników psychicznych i socjodemograficznych na jakosc zycia pacjentów ze schizofrenia.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the mental status and sociodemographic data as well as their influence on the quality of life in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: SF-36, Soc-29, CDS, PANSS, AIS and sociodemographic questionnaire were given to a cohort of 64 subjects who participated in this study (28 female, 36 male), with age range of 21-58 (Mean 33.4 +/- 10.8). Questionnaires were administered to all patients in partly-remission or remission time. RESULTS: Patients showed significant positive correlation of summary scales of PCS and MCS with SOC and AIS and negative correlation with depression symptoms estimated by CDS. There were no significant differences in MCS and sociodemographic factors. The values of the PCS were negatively associated with the number of hospitalisations, disease duration time and negative syndromes estimated by PANSS-N. CONCLUSIONS: Sense of coherence, acceptance of illness and depressive syndromes influence quality of life.

[Description of a patient with schizophrenia and coexisting megadose lorazepam dependence with slightly expressed withdrawl symptoms during drug reduction. A case report]. / Opis przypadku pacjenta ze schizofrenia oraz wspólistniejacym wysokodawkowym uzaleznieniem od lorazepamu z miernie nasilonymi objawami abstynencyjnymi podczas odstawiania leku.

The aim of this article is to present a patient with a megadose lorazepam dependence and slightly marked withdrawal symptoms during detoxication. The authors describe the case of 42 year old man who has been addicted to lorazepam (125 mg/d) for 2 years. On the ground of medical examination, anamnesis and hospital observation paranoid schizophrenia and lorazepam dependence syndrome was recognized. Despite relatively rapid reduction of lorazepam the withdrawal symptoms were slightly expressed. At the beginning of detoxication sleep disorders, feeling of "less looseness" and anxiety was observed. Review of medical database revealed other cases of megadose lorazepam dependence (95-300 mg/d). However in those cases withdrawal symptoms were distinct and the medical intervention was needed.

Schizophrenia treatment with a combination of two LAI antipsychotics: A case report.

Preventing the relapse of a psychotic episode is a challenge for the treatment of schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia suffer from a few to a dozen relapses in their lifetime. The use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia is associated with less frequent recurrences of psychotic symptoms, better compliance, and better quality of life. The aim of the report is to present the findings of the successful management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia in a patient with persistent non-compliance using a combination of typical and atypical LAI antipsychotics. Since there was a history of non-adherence (irregular controls in outpatient clinics) by the patient, clozapine was not considered a therapeutic option. At the start of the treatment, olanzapine LAI was administered to the patient at a dosage of 300 mg fortnightly because of the good response and tolerance reported in the previous treatment. The treatment was continued for several weeks, and because of the persistence of constant delusions, labile affect, and aggressive behavioral tendencies, a second antipsychotic, zuclopenthyxole, was added, which was initially administered orally. After 4 weeks of combined treatment, the patient's mental state improved. There was no report of delusions, and his mood was much more stable. Zuclopenthyxole was switched to the LAI antipsychotic form due to the patient's history of persistent non-compliance, lack of insight into the disease, and the risk of aggressiveness toward others. Then, 200 mg of zuclopenthyxole decanoate was administered fortnightly. The patient was discharged from the hospital without any symptoms of delusions or hallucinations. The patient's clinical state presented negative symptoms, of which avolition and diminished social activity were dominant. The patient tolerated the treatment well, and sedation and extrapyramidal symptoms were not observed. The patient continued the injections alternately (one injection per week) to obtain regular visits to the outpatient clinic.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria activity, impact and control as well as their changes are strongly linked, and these links are not affected by angioedema or comorbid inducible urticaria - Results from the validation of the Polish Urticaria Control Test.

Background: Monitoring the effects of treatment on disease activity, impact, and control in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is essential. We do not have enough information on how these features of CSU and its response to treatment are linked. Also, there is no information on how recurrent angioedema or coexisting chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) affect their relation. The aim of this study was to analyse the link between disease activity, impact, and control in CSU patients and possible effects of recurrent angioedema and comorbid CIndU. Methods: To perform these analyses, we validated the Polish version of the Urticaria Control Test (UCT) in 106 chronic urticaria patients. The relationship between CSU activity, impact, and control was assessed in regard to recurrent angioedema and coexisting CIndU. Results: The Polish UCT showed high levels of validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change. Disease activity, impact, and control as well as their changes, assessed by the UAS, the CU-Q2oL, and the UCT, respectively, were strongly correlated. Recurrent angioedema or comorbid CIndU did not significantly affect the link of CSU activity, impact, and control or the relation of their changes. Conclusions: In CSU, there is a strong, albeit not perfect correlation of disease activity, impact, and control, which underlines the need to assess all 3 features of the disease in routine clinical practice. Recurrent angioedema and comorbid CIndU, which are both common and relevant in CSU, do not affect how disease activity, impact and control in patients with CSU are related to each other.

Evaluation of the relationship between some mental state parameters and the quality of life in patients with allergic diseases. / Ocena zwiazku wybranych parametrów stanu psychicznego z jakoscia zycia pacjentów z chorobami alergicznymi.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of thestudy was to assess the relationship between symptoms of depression, the level of sense of coherence (SOC) and the quality of life in patients with allergic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 50 bronchial asthma patients, 72 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, and 48 patients with atopic dermatitis. The control group consisted of 50 healthy volunteers. The mental status and quality of life were assessed by questionnaires: Short Form-36 Health Status Survey (SF-36), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Sense of Coherence-29 (SOC-29). RESULTS: Mean depression severity values were higher in allergic rhinitis patients and atopic dermatitis patients than in the control group. Patients in the latter group also showed higher rates of depression than those with bronchial asthma. In all study groups, statistically significantly lower values of sense of coherence were demonstrated compared to healthy subjects. There were no differences in the values of sense of coherence, in comparisons between the study groups. In all patient groups, lower values in physical functioning (PCS) of the quality of life scale were observed compared to the control group. The severity of symptoms of depression in all groups showed negative correlations with quality of life parameters and a sense of coherence. In addition, the SOC value correlated negatively with the parameters of mental functioning (MCS) of the quality of life scale. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Patients with atopic dermatitis showed the greatest severity of depressive symptoms. (2) Patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis showed abetter quality of life than patients with chronic bronchial asthma and patients with atopic dermatitis. (3) Low level of sense of coherence in patients suffering from allergic diseases and the occurrence of symptoms of depression can worsen the quality of life.