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INTRODUCTION: Sudden sensorineural hearing-loss (SSNHL) patients constitute approximately 2-3% of referrals to ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinics. Several predisposing factors have been proposed for this condition; one of which is vascular disorders and perfusion compromise. In this research the atherosclerotic changes and their known risk factors are studied in SSNHL patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty SSNHL patients and 30 controls were evaluated with regard to cardiovascular risks including history, heart examination, blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, electrocardiogram, blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HSCRP); also, carotid artery color Doppler study was undertaken to measure intima media thickness(IMT). RESULTS: IMT and HSCRP showed an increased risk in the case group compared with the controls (P= 0.005 & P=0.001). However, waist circumference, history of smoking, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and electrocardiogram revealed no significant difference between the two groups. Interestingly, blood pressure and body mass index were higher in the controls in this study. CONCLUSION: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis.
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BACKGROUND: Depression disorder is the most prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder associated with epilepsy, and a correlation has been detected between depression and suicide. There is a relationship between suicidal behavior and coping mechanisms; therefore, it is important to undertake psychoanalytic psychotherapy to reduce depressive symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the Coping Mechanisms, Depression and Suicidal Risk among Patients Suffering from Idiopathic Epilepsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a cross-sectional pilot study in which 93 Iranian patients with idiopathic epilepsy were selected from Qaem hospital and neurological clinics. They answered three questionnaires: BDI, SSI, and a questionnaire of coping mechanisms. Patients were then interviewed and divided into two groups: patients with depression and suicidal ideation, and patients without depression and suicidal ideation. The two groups were compared in terms of coping mechanisms. RESULTS: Among the patients who filled the questionnaires, only 74 were selected for the interview. 58.9% of the patients did not have depression or suicidal ideation and 23.3% of them had either depression or suicidal ideation. Findings of the study showed that the two groups had a significant difference in terms of repressive coping method efficiency (P = 0.022). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of problem-focused coping method (P = 0.25) and the emotion-focused coping method efficacy (P = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: Iranian patients with idiopathic epilepsy and with either depression or suicidal ideation, make significant improvement using repressive coping method in comparison to patients with idiopathic epilepsy who did not suffer from depression or suicidal ideation. The effect of other coping mechanisms was not significantly different between the two groups.