Biomedical subjects

Apostolos Iacovides

Publications and source records attributed to Apostolos Iacovides.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

The Greek translation of the symptoms rating scale for depression and anxiety: preliminary results of the validation study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to assess the reliability, validity and the psychometric properties of the Greek translation of the Symptoms Rating Scale For Depression and Anxiety. The scale consists of 42 items and permits the calculation of the scores of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-21, the BDI 13, the Melancholia Subscale, the Asthenia Subscale, the Anxiety Subscale and the Mania Subscale METHODS: 29 depressed patients 30.48 +/- 9.83 years old, and 120 normal controls 27.45 +/- 10.85 years old entered the study. In 20 of them (8 patients and 12 controls) the instrument was re-applied 1-2 days later. Translation and Back Translation was made. Clinical Diagnosis was reached by consensus of two examiners with the use of the SCAN v.2.0 and the IPDE. CES-D and ZDRS were used for cross-validation purposes. The Statistical Analysis included ANOVA, the Spearman Correlation Coefficient, Principal Components Analysis and the calculation of Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The optimal cut-off points were: BDI-21: 14/15, BDI-13: 7/8, Melancholia: 8/9, Asthenia: 9/10, Anxiety: 10/11. Chronbach's alpha ranged between 0.86 and 0.92 for individual scales. Only the Mania subscale had very low alpha (0.12). The test-retest reliability was excellent for all scales with Spearman's Rho between 0.79 and 0.91. CONCLUSIONS: The Greek translation of the SRSDA and the scales that consist it are both reliable and valid and are suitable for clinical and research use with satisfactory properties. Their properties are close to those reported in the international literature. However one should always have in mind the limitations inherent in the use of self-report scales.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Pattern-reversed visual evoked potentials in subtypes of major depression.

There are no articles in the international psychiatric literature reporting subclinical visual system disorders in depressed patients, although a disturbance of circadian rhythms is one of the prominent theories of the etiopathogenesis of depression. Fifty patients aged 21-60 years suffering from major depression according to DSM-IV criteria, and 20 controls took part in the study. Diagnosis was obtained with the aid of the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry version 2.0. Psychometric assessment included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the 1965 and 1971 Newcastle Scales, and the Diagnostic Melancholia Scale. All subjects had normal electroretinographic and flash-visual evoked potential (VEP) recordings. Pattern-reversed VEPs (PR-VEPs) were recorded from each eye separately. Three-way analysis of covariance, Student's t-test and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were used for the analysis. All recordings were within the normal range. N80 and P100 latency were significantly shorter in atypical and significantly longer in melancholic patients. There was a positive correlation between N80 and P100 latency and age of onset and melancholic indices, and a negative correlation with the presence and the number of life events precipitating onset. The results of the current study suggest that PR-VEPs are consistent with other biological data supporting the atypical-melancholic distinction. The most important finding was the strong negative relationship between PR-VEP latency and stressful life events. The current study also provided data inconsistent with the hyperarousal theory and in support of an arousal dysregulation hypothesis for major depression.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Relationship of age and psychosocial factors with biological ratings in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dialysis is a time-consuming procedure and may cause psychological distress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between age, emotional state, life satisfaction, sexual functioning and the method of dialysis in patients suffering from end-stage renal failure. METHODS: Eighty-two patients of 97 with end-stage chronic renal failure entered the study; 56 were under hemodialysis (HD), and 26 were under continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Zung Depression Rating Scale (ZDRS), the Life Satisfaction Inventory (LSI), the Lasry Sexual Functioning Scale (LSFS), and a protocol aiming to register sociodemographic variables and variables considering the physical disorders were used. RESULTS: No significant differences between groups were found in the ZDRS (HD patients: 40.7 +/- 8.2, CAPD patients: 41.88 +/- 10.44; p = 0.57), LSI scores (HD patients: 87.9 +/- 14.7, CAPD patients: 87.03 +/- 5.25; p = 0.7) and LSFS scores. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that LSI scores depended only on gender (females were less satisfied) and individual items on level of albumins and the presence of other physical disorders; ZDRS individual items depended on leukomatine level, gender, diabetes mellitus, albumins, age, creatinine and duration of disease; sexual functioning on age, and urea and sleep on albumin level (all with p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: No statistically significant differences were detected in depressive symptomatology, sexual function and life satisfaction between patients undergoing HD or CAPD. Some aspects of depressive symptomatology, sexual functioning and life satisfaction may be influenced by age, the kind of treatment and its effectiveness. Age was positively related with satisfaction from general quality of life, frequency of sexual activity, tiredness and feelings of usefulness.

Adult↗