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QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH M. ADDISON DISEASE | |
| Contact: Dr. Matthias Rose, PhD MD Phone: +49 30 450 553 773 Email: rose@charite.de Embargoed until: March 3, 2004 |
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M. Addison Disease is characterized by a number of diffuse subjective complaints such as decreased performance, tiredness, pain in the stomach, muscles and joints, as well as low blood pressure. These are non-specific symptoms which, depending on the particular illness progression, often only lead patients to seek out a doctor at a relatively late stage. Indicative symptoms or findings are often overlooked, making it possible to take years before this rare endocrinological hormone deficiency is correctly diagnosed and treated. Although the main goal of treatment is regaining the subjective experience of being able to function/perform, whether or not modern therapy is actually successful in this has rarely been examined. The work group lead by Dr. Rose and Dr. Ventz from the university hospital in Berlin has carried out a systematic examination of the success of therapy with respect to the quality of life of Addison patients, using the largest patient group sample studied to date. Results of the study will be presented for the first time at the American Psychosomatic Society's Annual Meeting, held March 3-6 in Orlando, FL. The research team conducted extensive psychological tests on 55 patients at the centre for endocrinology in Berlin. All patients had low levels of the stress hormone, corticosteroid, which was being substituted in various combinations in therapy. In spite of successful hormone substitution in individual patients, a considerable restriction in physical functioning remained. The quality of life of Addison patients was, on the whole, somewhat better than patients with diabetes or acromegaly, who were used as comparison groups, but they continued to suffer from complaints, mostly from a depressed mood. Furthermore a considerable restriction in the patients' experience of sexual attractiveness could be documented. Dr. Rose and his colleagues conclude from these results that the possibilities available for the somatic treatment of the disease are insufficient, and that other psycho-social factors, such as the emotional coping strategies of patients, should be taking into greater account in therapy. | |
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Psychosomatic Medicine is the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Psychosomatic Society, published bimonthly. For information about the journal, contact Vicki White, Managing Editor for Manuscript Production,
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