Validation of an original questionnaire for patients with psoriatic arthritis: the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact Profile (PAIP)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There is a wide evidence that Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) as well as Psoriasis (Ps) lead to significant health problems and interfere with the patient quality of life (QoL). Even though a validated questionnaire for Ps is available, no questionnaire for PsA is currently present in literature. The aim of our work has been to confirm the efficacy of our original questionnaire as well as to validate it, through the comparison with other existing recognised and accepted questionnaires, such as MOF-SF36, HAQ, McGill Pain Questionnaire, and Zeung Self-Rating Depression and Anxiety Scales.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We have realized a questionnaire for PsA (Psoriatic Arthritis Impact Questionnaire, PAIP), in terms of psychological and rheumatological evaluation, QoL, social and economic assets.

RESULTS

The statistical comparisons between PAIP and the accepted questionnaires (see above) confirm that PAIP is widely validated and represents a useful tool suitable for clinical evaluation and management of patients with PsA.

CONCLUSIONS

The indexes of the correlation among the different parts of PAIP and the other questionnaires have shown positive correlations. Moreover, PAIP presents a dedicated unit for the economical and therapeutic parameters, The short time for compilation (15 minutes), the easy of comprehension of the questions, and - above all - the validation of PAIP, make our questionnaire a useful tool, suitable for the clinical management of the patients with PsA.

Bilateral laparoscopic gonadectomy in a patient with complete androgen insensitivity. A case report

BACKGROUND

Complete androgen insensitivity (CAI) is the most common cause of male pseudohermaphroditism. Affected individuals are advised to have bilateral gonadectomies to prevent the development of germ cell tumors.

CASE

A 19-year-old phenotypic female presented for the evaluation of primary amenorrhea and was diagnosed with CAI. Operative videolaparoscopy was performed, and the intraabdominal gonads were resected; the patient was discharged in < 24 hours.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic gonadectomy can be performed in individuals with CAI. This approach eliminates the need for laparotomy and results in rapid recovery with minimal blood loss. This approach should be considered for all patients with CAI and intraabdominal gonads.

Exploring Widows' Experiences After the Suicide of Their Spouse

1. The widow of a spouse who committed suicide must cope with issues related to depression, anger, blame, guilt, and the stigma associated with suicide that makes recovery from this type of loss different for the survivors. 2. The predominant need of widows and widowers of suicide victims was to talk in an environment of acceptance and understanding, which could only be provided by other people who have had the same kind of experience. 3. There is no precise formula that exists to guide caregivers when assisting survivors of suicide victims, however suggestions include communicating with compassion; demonstrating care and concern; accepting the individual's grief; and offering and providing information.