Screening of distress among hospitalized patients in a department of internal medicine.

A psychosomatic approach to the basic screening of distress for patient care in hospitals and other health services is presented. The aims of this study were to verify association between: (1) medical illnesses and distress; (2) patients' needs and distress; (3) type of illness and patients' needs; (4) patients' needs and sense of coherence. One hundred and eighty-nine patients (78 F and 111 M, average age 65 years±8.43) were assessed by self-report questionnaires. We found that higher anxiety and/or depression levels were associated with urogenital (p=0.026), rheumatologic (p=0.006), oncological (p=0.011), neurological (p=0.026) and respiratory (p=0.013) illnesses. Higher distress scoring was associated with rheumatologic illnesses (p=0.024) and illnesses of the liver and digestive system (p=0.037) while a higher severity of distress was associated with oncological illnesses (p=0.011). Depression/anxiety were associated with the need to speak to a psychologist (p=0.050), to a spiritual advisor (p=0.009), to be more reassured by relatives (p=0.017), to feel less abandoned (p=0.036). Only low sense of coherence was associated with the need for greater dialogue with physicians (p=0.012), the need to participate less in treatment decisions (p=0.041), the need to feel less left to one's own devices (p=0.023). Several needs are associated with medical illnesses. In conclusion, these results indicate that early psychological screening could be important to avoid worse or chronic distress.

[Yoga and meditation: helpful techniques to improve the life of cancer patients]. / Yoga e meditazione: tecniche di aiuto per migliorare la vita del paziente oncologico.

Cancer is certainly one of the most upsetting things that can happen in a life time, it manages to totally destroy the balance of those affected. The person can suffer from anxiety and fear to such a point that they see their future with terror. These difficulties have a devastating effect on the quality of life of the patient and their families, the latter often being given little consideration by carers. Sometime tailored psychotherapy or medical care can partially contribute only to help the patient and their families-caregiver. Techniques such as Yoga and some structured meditation, e.g. Mindfulness which work on the "feeling" of mind and body can be of help. These techniques lead to a reduction in distress and so add to a better quality of life, fundamental in each stage of the illness.