Anxiety of myoma patients: results of standardized interviews with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Kessler 10 questionnaire

Long-term evaluation of uterine fibroid embolisation using MRI perfusion parameters and patient questionnaires: preliminary results

BACKGROUND

Uterine fibroid embolisation (UFE) is an established treatment method for symptomatic uterine myomas. This study evaluates the efficacy of UFE using objective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data for size and perfusion analysis as well as patient questionnaires assessing fibroid-related symptoms.

METHOD

Patients underwent MR-Angiography before UFE and 4 days, 6 and 12 months after the procedure. The images were evaluated using dedicated software. Patient questionnaires were completed before UFE and at 12 months follow-up, focussing on the embolization procedure and symptoms associated with uterine fibroids. Statistical analysis of the questionnaires was performed using paired sample t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test, while Kruskal-Wallis test and Friedman test were applied for MRI-analysis.

RESULTS

Eleven women were included. There was a significant reduction in fibroid-related symptoms. The volume reduction after 12 months was significant in both, uterus and myomas, after an initial increase in uterine volume at the first post-interventional MRI. The perfusion analysis showed that blood flow to the fibroids could be significantly reduced up to 12 months after UFE while uterine tissue was not affected.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that uterine fibroid embolisation induces a significant long-term decrease in myoma size and perfusion while healthy uterine tissue remains unaffected. Fibroid-related symptoms are reduced for the sake of improved quality of life.

A measure for perioperative anxiety symptoms in patients with FUAS - treated uterine fibroids: development and validation

OBJECTIVE

To develop a scale that measured the perioperative anxiety symptoms of uterine fibroids (PASM-UF) treated with focused ultrasound ablation surgery (FUAS).

METHODS

A panel of gynecologists, nurses, and patient-reported outcome (PRO) experts created a draft of the PASM-UF scale. Women who underwent FUAS for uterine fibroids were recruited for its psychometric validation. Assessments were conducted during admission, before surgery, and at discharge. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) was administered to assess criterion validity. We assessed the relationship between the developed PASM-UF and the SCL-90 via a correlation analysis. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency for reliability.

RESULTS

We included five items, pain, lack of appetite, fatigue (tiredness), disturbed sleep, and anxiety, in the final version of the PASM-UF. Data were collected from 228 patients. Cronbach's alpha was 0.745, whereas the correlation coefficient between SCL-90 and PASM-UF was 0.345 (p < 0.001). The total PASM-UF scores were significantly higher in patients whose SCL-90 scores were ≥160 compared to those with <160 (9.85 ± 9.07 vs. 4.01 ± 5.15, p = .002). Those who did not complete the SCL-90 reported lower PASM-UF scores than those who did (2.33 ± 3.27 vs. 4.67 ± 5.99, p = .006). Patients reported significantly lower PASM-UF scores postoperatively than preoperatively (2.95 ± 4.18 vs. 3.92 ± 4.90, p = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

The PASM-UF is a valid, reliable, and sensitive scale for assessing perioperative anxiety levels among women with uterine fibroids. Statistical analysis suggests that it is also an effective instrument for scientific research.Key MessageWe developed a brief scale to assess anxiety in perioperative patients with uterine fibroids. In addition, the scale monitored the anxiety levels at multiple frequencies and did not increase burden on the patients. The scale has been proven to be effective, reliable, and highly sensitive.

The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in reducing anxiety among female university students with primary dysmenorrhea

Background

Unpleasant experiences of dysmenorrhea can lead to increased anxiety. The anxiety associated with dysmenorrhea is a pain-related anxiety which might reduce the efficacy of medication as well as enhance the perception of pain. The present study evaluated the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in reducing anxiety among female university students with primary dysmenorrhea.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, 88 female university students were recruited from April 2019 to February 2020. Eligible participants were selected by convenience sampling and were allocated into study groups (44 individuals in the intervention group and comparison group) using balanced block randomization. The final sample comprised 78 participants who completed the study (39 individuals in each group). Data were collected using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Subjective Units of Distress Scale, and Validity of Cognition Scale before the intervention and at the time of the first menstrual period after completion of the intervention. The intervention group received EMDR in two individual interventional sessions which lasted approximately one hour. Data analysis was performed using analysis of variance with control of covariance method at a significance level of 0.05.

Results

The results of the study showed that EMDR did not have a statistically significant effect on State-Trait Anxiety of patients with dysmenorrhea (p > 0.05). Based on the Cohen’s d effect size of 0.06 for state-anxiety, -0.01 for trait-anxiety, and partial eta square less than 0.059 for both uncorrected and corrected models, the intervention was within a trivial effect.

Conclusion

EMDR intervention did not have a statistically and clinically significant effect on State-Trait Anxiety of patients with dysmenorrhea. Therefore, the efficacy of EMDR in treating dysmenorrhea-related anxiety remains inconclusive.

Trial registration IRCT20180823040851N2 on 2019-02-09.

Association Between Parental Parenting Style Disparities and Mental Health: An Evidence From Chinese Medical College Students

Background

The associations between parental parenting styles and adolescents' development and health problems were also identified in a series of studies. However, the interactive impact of mother's and father's parenting style was less reported, which was implied in previous studies. In this study, we aim to analyze the associations between parental parenting style disparities and mental health among medical college students.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical college students in Shandong province, China, and 2,598 medical college students with parents were analyzed in this study. Items in a short form of Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran (EMBU) were used to calculate the parental parenting style disparities. Mental health was evaluated by the Kessler 10 scale.

Results

The results of linear regressions showed that parental nurture reject disparities (RDs, β = 0.50, p < 0.001), parental emotional warmth disparities (WDs, β = 0.33, p < 0.001), parental overprotective disparities (ODs, β = 0.25, p < 0.001), and total disparities in parenting styles (TDs, β = 0.15, p < 0.001) were associated with mental health among medical college students, respectively. The other associated factors were age, ethnicity, chronic disease, above average family economic status, and good parental relationship.

Conclusion

Our findings supported the positive association between parental parenting style disparities and mental health problems. Further studies can test the mechanism and intervention of the findings about the importance of parental parenting style consistence on mental health.