[Chemotherapy-associated clinical dynamics of nosogenic reactions in breast and ovarian cancer model]

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical features, dynamics and factors of nosogenic reactions (NR) development in patients with breast and ovarian cancers at the stage of chemotherapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study involved 35 patients who underwent chemotherapy. Clinical-psychopathological and psychometric methods were used to assess the mental state.

RESULTS

We distinguished 3 clinical types of nosogenic reactions: anxiety-phobic (n=14, 40%), anxiety-depression (n=13, 37%) and dissociative reaction (n=8, 23%). It was discovered that nosogenic reactions reflect the dynamics of psychopathological disorders associated with chemotherapy and they are connected with premorbid personality structure of the patients. When compared on the Mini-mult scales, differences were found between patients of the anxiety-phobic and dissociative groups: the score on the Anxiety and Depressive Tendencies scale was significantly higher in the group of patients with anxious-phobic NR (p<0.01), as was the score on the scale «Anxiety fixation and restrictive behavior», which was correlated with such personality traits as sensitivity, self-doubt, low self-esteem, obsessive fears (p<0.05). According to the results of the Spielberger-Khanin anxiety scale, in general, the sample was characterized by an increased level of anxiety compared to the norm: the average scores were 49.7 for trait anxiety and 47.7 for state anxiety.

CONCLUSION

Nosogenic reactions can undergo dynamic changes at various stages of treatment. The proposed typology of nosogenies in a more detailed study can have not only scientific, but also practical significance for determining the personalized tactics of psychiatric care for cancer patients at different stages of the disease.

[Asthenic disorders in schizophrenia (schizoasthenia) on the model of hypochondriac schizophrenia]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the structure and mechanisms of interaction of asthenic disorders with negative and positive psychopathological symptoms in hypochondriac schizophrenia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included male and female patients, aged 17-69 years, with a diagnosis of hypochondriac schizophrenia (F20.80 according to ICD-10) and asthenia symptoms. The main research method was clinical, which was supplemented by pathopsychological examination and the use of psychometric scales (PANSS, SANS, MFI-20,VAS asthenia).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Asthenia in case of hypochondriac schizophrenia (schizoasthenia) integrates two unrelated phenomena: «weakness» and «exhaustion» (intolerance to stress), and also acts within the framework of three psychopathological syndromes: neurotic, senestopathic/hypochondriac and overvalued hypochondria. Asthenia with hypochondriac schizophrenia is a predictor of an unfavorable social and clinical prognosis. Integrating into the structure of the clinical manifestations of hypochondriac schizophrenia, asthenia forms close relationships with positive and negative disorders of the type of «general syndromes», but remains outside the categories of both positive and negative symptoms of the disease, thus forming a separate «dimension» in the psychopathological space of schizophrenia.