Factores asociados al impacto emocional de la pandemia por Covid-19 en profesionales sanitarios / [Factors associated with the emotional impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on health professionals]

El objetivo de este trabajo fue explorar el impacto emocional de la Covid-19 en profesionales sanitarios del Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, e identificar las variables asociadas. Participaron 228 profesionales que cumplimentaron en mayo de 2020 una encuesta online elaborada ad hoc. Los profesionales sanitarios experimentaron síntomas de estrés (32%), depresión (26%), ansiedad (14%) y recuerdos intrusos (7,5%). Se observó mayor frecuencia de tristeza y ansiedad en mujeres y en profesionales que habían presentado síntomas de Covid-19. La categoría profesional con síntomas emocionales más frecuentes fue el de auxiliar de enfermería, y para estrés también enfermeros y residentes. Las unidades con mayor afectación fueron las de primera línea. Las variables psicológicas que se asociaron negativamente con la frecuencia de todas las manifestaciones sintomáticas fueron: autocuidado, autoestima, resiliencia y uso de estrategias de afrontamiento activas, junto a autoeficacia y apoyo social para estrés y depresión. Pese a las limitaciones del estudio, los resultados pueden contribuir a orientar programas preventivos para profesionales sanitarios en futuras crisis sanitarias.

The aim of this study was to explore the emotional impact of Covid-19 on healthcare professionals at the Clinical and University Hospital of Valencia (Spain), and to identify the associated variables. A total of 228 professionals completed an ad hoc online survey in May 2020. The healthcare professionals experienced symptoms of stress (32%), depression (26%), anxiety (14%) and intrusive memories (7.5%). A higher frequency of sadness and anxiety was observed in women and in professionals who had presented Covid-19 symptoms. The professional category with the most frequent emotional symptoms was that of auxiliary nurses, and for stress also nurses and residents. The most affected were the first line units. The psychological variables that were negatively associated with the frequency of all symptomatic manifestations were: self-care, self-esteem, resilience and use of active coping strategies, together with self-efficacy and social support for stress and depression. Despite the limitations of the study, the results may contribute to guide preventive programs for health professionals in future health crises.

Effect of a short-term psychological intervention on the anxiety and depression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a psychological intervention in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, consisting of four semi-structured sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy combined with counselling techniques. An intervention group and a control group were established. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess levels of anxiety and depression. In total, fifty-four patients took part. Prior to the intervention, the intervention group displayed rates of 63.3 and 36.7 per cent for anxiety and depression, respectively, falling to 16.7 and 10.0 per cent afterwards. The psychological intervention demonstrated potential for the reduction of levels of anxiety and depression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

[Olfactory reference syndrome: a systematic review]. / Sindrome olfatorio autorreferencial: revision sistematica.

INTRODUCTION: The olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) is a condition characterized by the false belief that one emits a foul or offensive body odor. There is no consensus on the validity of this syndrome as an independent clinical entity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A systematic review of the literature is done (1966-2011) searching for articles about the ORS that included a case report using PsycINFO, PubMed, Medline and ISI Web of Knowledge. Data obtained from 55 cases were analyzed to evaluate clinical consistency and heuristic value of this syndrome. RESULTS: The clinical picture is: social avoidance 60%, depressed mood 42%, 46% anxiety and ideas of reference 44%. In 36% of the 55 cases described an event that is identified as a trigger. The most common treatment is first antidepressants, second antipsychotics and thirdly psychotherapy, with an overall efficiency of 39%. CONCLUSIONS: The ORS is a clinically well defined syndrome, which would support the idea of being included in the appendix of DSM-5, as an independent entity. The avoidance behaviour and the traumatic event are the more consistent data. An integrative model is propose. It also presents the clinical description and results of functional magnetic resonance imaging of a clinical case.

Síndrome olfatorio autorreferencial: revisión sistemática / Olfactory reference syndrome: a systematic review

Introducción. El síndrome olfatorio autorreferencial (SOA) es un cuadro caracterizado por la creencia errónea de emitir un olor desagradable que los demás pueden percibir y les resulta ofensivo. No hay un consenso sobre la validez de este síndrome como entidad clínica independiente. Pacientes y métodos. Se ha realizado una revisión sistemática de la bibliografía (1966-2011) de artículos acerca del SOA que incluyesen algún caso clínico utilizando PsycINFO, PubMed, Medline e ISI Web of Knowledge. Se han analizado los datos obtenidos de 55 casos con la finalidad de evaluar la consistencia clínica y el valor heurístico de este síndrome. Resultados. En las características clínicas la evitación social aparece en el 60% de los casos, humor depresivo en el 42%, ansiedad en un 46% e ideas de referencia en un 44%. En el 36% de los 55 casos se describe un acontecimiento que se identifica como desencadenante. El tratamiento más empleado son los antidepresivos, seguido de los antipsicóticos y la psicoterapia, con una eficacia global del 39%. Conclusiones. El SOA es una entidad clínicamente bien definida, lo que apoyaría la idea de incluirla en el apéndice del DSM-5 como entidad independiente. Clínicamente, destaca la conducta de evitación y el acontecimiento traumático como datos más consistentes. Se propone un modelo etiopatogénico integrador. Se presentan datos de resonancia magnética funcional de un caso que cumple los criterios diagnósticos del SOA. Los resultados de la resonancia magnética funcional apuntan a una leve hiperactivación del sistema límbico (AU)

Introduction. The olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) is a condition characterized by the false belief that one emits a foul or offensive body odor. There is no consensus on the validity of this syndrome as an independent clinical entity. Patients and methods. A systematic review of the literature is done (1966-2011) searching for articles about the ORS that included a case report using PsycINFO, PubMed, Medline and ISI Web of Knowledge. Data obtained from 55 cases were analyzed to evaluate clinical consistency and heuristic value of this syndrome. Results. The clinical picture is: social avoidance 60%, depressed mood 42%, 46% anxiety and ideas of reference 44%. In 36% of the 55 cases described an event that is identified as a trigger. The most common treatment is first antidepressants, second antipsychotics and thirdly psychotherapy, with an overall efficiency of 39%. Conclusions. The ORS is a clinically well defined syndrome, which would support the idea of being included in the appendix of DSM-5, as an independent entity. The avoidance behaviour and the traumatic event are the more consistent data. An integrative model is propose. It also presents the clinical description and results of functional magnetic resonance imaging of a clinical case (AU)