OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate psychological correlates in a population with primary aldosteronism (PA) using methods found to be sensitive and reliable in psychosomatic research. METHODS: Twenty-three PA patients (12 male, 11 female; mean age 50 ± 9 yr) were compared with 23 patients with essential hypertension (EH) (15 male, eight female; mean age 47 ± 8 yr) and 23 matched normotensive subjects. A modified version of the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, a shortened version of the structured interview for the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research, and two self-rating questionnaires, the Psychosocial Index and the Symptom Questionnaire, were administered. RESULTS: Twelve of 23 patients with PA (52.2%) suffered from an anxiety disorder compared with four of 23 with EH (17.4%) and one control (4.3%) (P < 0.001). Generalized anxiety disorder was more frequent in PA than in EH patients and controls (P < 0.05). As assessed by Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research, irritable mood was more frequent in PA and EH compared with controls (P < 0.05) but did not differentiate PA from EH. According to Psychosocial Index results, patients with PA had higher levels of stress (P < 0.01) and psychological distress (P < 0.01) and lower level of well-being (P < 0.05) than controls. Compared with EH patients, PA patients had higher scores in stress subscale (P < 0.05). The Symptom Questionnaire showed higher levels of anxiety (P < 0.01), depression (P < 0.01) and somatization (P < 0.01) and lower physical well-being (P < 0.05) in PA than controls. CONCLUSION: A role of mineralocorticoid regulatory mechanisms in clinical situations concerned with anxiety and stress is suggested.
Psychological assessment of primary aldosteronism: a controlled study / Sonino N.; Tomba E.; Genesia M.L.; Bertello C.; Mulatero P.; Veglio F.; Fava G.A.; Fallo F.. - In: THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM. - ISSN 0021-972X. - ELETTRONICO. - 96:(2011), pp. E878-E883. [10.1210/jc.2010-2723]
Psychological assessment of primary aldosteronism: a controlled study.
TOMBA, ELENA;FAVA, GIOVANNI ANDREA;
2011
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate psychological correlates in a population with primary aldosteronism (PA) using methods found to be sensitive and reliable in psychosomatic research. METHODS: Twenty-three PA patients (12 male, 11 female; mean age 50 ± 9 yr) were compared with 23 patients with essential hypertension (EH) (15 male, eight female; mean age 47 ± 8 yr) and 23 matched normotensive subjects. A modified version of the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, a shortened version of the structured interview for the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research, and two self-rating questionnaires, the Psychosocial Index and the Symptom Questionnaire, were administered. RESULTS: Twelve of 23 patients with PA (52.2%) suffered from an anxiety disorder compared with four of 23 with EH (17.4%) and one control (4.3%) (P < 0.001). Generalized anxiety disorder was more frequent in PA than in EH patients and controls (P < 0.05). As assessed by Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research, irritable mood was more frequent in PA and EH compared with controls (P < 0.05) but did not differentiate PA from EH. According to Psychosocial Index results, patients with PA had higher levels of stress (P < 0.01) and psychological distress (P < 0.01) and lower level of well-being (P < 0.05) than controls. Compared with EH patients, PA patients had higher scores in stress subscale (P < 0.05). The Symptom Questionnaire showed higher levels of anxiety (P < 0.01), depression (P < 0.01) and somatization (P < 0.01) and lower physical well-being (P < 0.05) in PA than controls. CONCLUSION: A role of mineralocorticoid regulatory mechanisms in clinical situations concerned with anxiety and stress is suggested.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.