[Insomnia in asthmatic patients]. / El insomnio en pacientes asmatícos.

In this paper, in order to assess the prevalence and features of insomnia as a subjective complaint in a sample of asthmatic outpatients. (n = 43; mean age = 36.39 +/- 12.85), items 44, 64 and 66 (that deal with insomnia complaints) of Derogatis' SCL-90-R (Symptom Check List 90 REvised), that was applied to the patients of the sample, are studied. A high prevalence of insomnia complaints is observed in our patients; over 70% of the sample manifests complaints of some type of insomnia. Insomnia complaints were higher (p < 0.0001) than in general population. No significant differences were evidenced according to sex and no correlation with age was observed in any of the items taken into account for insomnia complaints. A high positive intercorrelation was evidenced among the three items that we considered. Various factors associated with insomnia in asthma are discussed.

[Quantification of the stress reactivity in psychiatric patients admitted to an acute care unit]. / Cuantificación de la reactividad al estrés en pacientes psiquiátricos ingresados en una unidad de agudos.

We studied stress reactivity in a sample of 48 psychiatric acute inpatients of a psychiatric ward in a general hospital. Stress Reactivity Questionnaire (IRE-32 items) was used, this instrument supplies an index of the subject's individual response to stressful situations. The mean Stress Reactivity Index of the sample was 13.02 (s.d. 6.31), which is significantly higher than that found by us in general population--9.67 (s.d. 5.47)--and similar to the score obtained by psychiatric outpatients in our Department--13.30 (s.d. 6.07). According to gender, women reached the highest score (13.76). The various scores obtained in the Stress Reactivity Index by the different diagnosis are outlined.