Psychosomatic medicine
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Psychosomatic medicine · Nov 2004
Comparative StudyDepressive symptoms and mortality risk in a national sample: confounding effects of health status.
We examined the association between depressive symptoms and all-cause mortality in a population sample. Published findings on the relation between depressive symptoms and mortality risk point to an inconsistent association and one that is likely influenced by health status. Few studies have assessed this relation in randomly selected population samples. ⋯ These findings from a randomly selected, nationally representative sample do not support the hypothesis that depressive symptoms are independently related to mortality in the general population, after adequate adjustment for the confounding effects of physical health status.
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Psychosomatic medicine · Nov 2004
Review Case ReportsChest pain in patients with cardiac and noncardiac disease.
To describe factors influencing chest pain expression in patients with cardiac or noncardiac disease. ⋯ Physicians and other therapists must be aware of psychologic influences on chest pain expression to provide optimal treatment to their patients.
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Psychosomatic medicine · Nov 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialSleep deprivation affects thermal pain thresholds but not somatosensory thresholds in healthy volunteers.
Sleep disturbances have been thought to augment pain. Sleep deprivation has been proven to produce hyperalgesic effects. It is still unclear whether these changes are truly specific to pain and not related to general changes in somatosensory functions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of total sleep deprivation on thermal pain thresholds (heat, cold) and pain complaints. Thermal detection thresholds (warmth, cold) were included as covariates to determine the contribution of somatosensory functions to changes in pain processing. ⋯ The present findings suggest that sleep deprivation produces hyperalgesic changes that cannot be explained by nonspecific alterations in somatosensory functions.
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To assess whether the fatigue commonly reported by patients following surgery is partly a result of somatization and/or cognitive-behavioral factors. ⋯ The results indicate that psychological processes may well be relevant in the etiology of postoperative fatigue. In particular, the results relating to mood and expectations suggest that somatization may be particularly important in the first few weeks following surgery, whereas cognitive-behavioral factors and cardiovascular deconditioning may be more important in determining later-stage recovery.
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Psychosomatic medicine · Nov 2004
Comparative StudyComorbid depression and anxiety in fibromyalgia syndrome: relationship to somatic and psychosocial variables.
The prevalence as well as predictors of psychiatric disorders (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition [DSM-IV] axis I and II) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) was evaluated. ⋯ These results suggest that FMS is not a homogeneous diagnosis, but shows varying proportions of comorbid anxiety and depression dependent on psychosocial characteristics of the patients. The results demonstrate the importance of not treating patients with FMS as a homogeneous group. Assessment should not only examine the presence of widespread pain and the number of tender points, but also the presence of affective distress. Treatment should focus both on physical and emotional dysfunction.