The Abbreviated Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) and the Abbreviated Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS): Psychometric Properties and Evaluation of the Czech Versions.

Short and effective tools for measuring depression, anxiety and their resulting impairments are lacking in the Czech language. The abbreviated versions of the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) and the Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS) show very good psychometric properties in English and other languages, and can be used in different settings for research or clinical purposes. The aim of this study was the psychometric evaluation and validation of the Czech versions of the abbreviated forms of both tools in the general population. A nationally representative sample of 2912 participants (age = 48.88, SD = 15.56; 55% female) was used. The non-parametric testing of the differences between sociodemographic groups revealed a higher level of anxiety and depression in students, females and religious respondents. Confirmatory Factor Analysis suggested a good fit for the unidimensional model of the OASIS: x2(4) = 38.28; p < 0.001; TLI = 0.999; CFI = 0.997; RMSEA = 0.078; SRMR = 0.027 and the ODSIS: x2(4) = 36.54; p < 0.001; TLI = 0.999; CFI = 0.999; RMSEA = 0.076; SRMR = 0.021 with the data. Both scales had an excellent internal consistency (OASIS: Cronbach's alpha = 0.95, McDonald's omega = 0.95 and ODSIS: Cronbach's alpha = 0.95, McDonald's omega = 0.95). A clinical cut-off of 15 was identified for the OASIS and a cut-off of 12 for the ODSIS. The study showed good validity for both scales. The Czech versions of the abbreviated OASIS and ODSIS were short and valid instruments for measuring anxiety and depression.

Social support and resilience in persons with severe haemophilia: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Haemophilia is a hereditary haemorrhagic disorder characterized by deficiency or dysfunction of coagulation factors. Recurrent joint and muscle bleeds lead to progressive musculoskeletal damage. Haemophilia affects patients physically but also socially and psychologically. Traumatic experiences, chronic stress and illnesses can lead to mental disorders, but many persons with haemophilia maintain a highly positive outlook. AIM: To explore qualitatively which coping mechanisms persons with haemophilia use and in what way they help them to live with their diagnosis. METHODS: We recruited five adults with haemophilia and conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). RESULTS: Two core themes emerged from the analysis: social support as an external factor and resilience as an internal factor of coping with the disease. Persons with haemophilia usually need help with health-related complications, and this affects the social support they require. Their wider support network tends to involve family and friends but also healthcare professionals and other specialists. This network provides practical help but also functions as an important psychological protective factor. An unexpected finding was that persons with haemophilia want not only to receive support but are also keen to offer support to others. CONCLUSION: These findings can help identify persons who provide most support to people suffering from haemophilia. Haemophilic centres should include in their teams psychologists and social workers and offer individual and group therapy to their clients, group meetings for friends and families of persons with haemophilia, provide learning resources to teachers aiming to incorporate children with haemophilia in their peer group, and organize Balint groups for physicians, psychologists and other healthcare professionals.