Background: We assessed the association between medical illness burden and anxiety symptoms, hypothesizing that greater illness burden would be associated with symptoms of anxiety, and that optimism would buffer, while pessimism would exacerbate, this relationship. Methods: We recruited 109 older adults, aged 65 years and older, from primary care and geriatric clinics to participate in this cross-sectional, interview-based study. Participants completed the Snaith Clinical Anxiety Scale and the Life Orientation Test – Revised, a measure of optimism/pessimism. A physician-rated measure of illness burden, the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, was also administered. Results: Supporting our hypotheses, greater levels of overall optimism weakened, and pessimism strengthened, the association between illness burden and anxiety symptoms, after accounting for the effects of demographic, cognitive, functional, and psychological covariates. Conclusions: Bolstering positive and reducing negative future expectancies may aid in the prevention of psychological distress in medically ill older adults. Therapeutic strategies to enhance optimism and reduce pessimism, which may be well-suited to primary care and other medical settings, and to which older adults may be particularly amenable, may contribute to reduced health-related anxiety.

Objective: The nature of interpersonal relationships, whether supportive or critical, may affect the association between health status and mental health outcomes. We examined the potential moderating effects of social support, as a buffer, and family criticism, as an exacerbating factor, on the association between illness burden, functional impairment and depressive symptoms. Methods: Our sample of 735 older adults, 65 years and older, was recruited from internal and family medicine primary care offices. Trained interviewers administered the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Duke Social Support Inventory, and Family Emotional Involvement and Criticism Scale. Physician-rated assessments of health, including the Karnofsky Performance Status Scale and Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, were also completed. Results: Linear multivariable hierarchical regression results indicate that social interaction was a significant buffer, weakening the association between illness burden and depressive symptoms, whereas perceived social support buffered the relationship between functional impairment and depressive symptoms. Family criticism and instrumental social support were not significant moderators. Conclusions: Type of medical dysfunction, whether illness or impairment, may require different therapeutic and supportive approaches. Enhancement of perceived social support, for those who are impaired, and encouragement of social interactions, for those who are ill, may be important intervention targets for treatment of depressive symptoms in older adult primary care patients.

Social support and family criticism variables were examined as potential moderators of the association between illness burden and depression and between functional impairment and depression in a secondary data analysis. Participants (n=735) were older adults aged 65 and older from internal medicine and family medicine primary care offices. It was hypothesized that both illness burden and functional impairment would be associated with increased depressive symptoms and a diagnosis of depression. In addition, it was hypothesized that higher levels of social support and lower levels of family criticism would moderate this relationship. Both linear and logistic multivariate hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine these variables as potential moderators. Hypotheses concerning perceived social support and social interaction as moderators were supported. Hypotheses involving family criticism and instrumental social support were not supported. Enhancement of perceived social support and encouragement of social interactions may be important intervention targets for treatment of depressive symptoms in older adults with illness or impairment who are seen in primary care settings.

No description available.

Introdução/Objetivos: O impacto da artrite psoriásica (APso) percebido pelo paciente que vive fora do continente europeu ainda é pouco conhecido, uma vez que quase todos os estudos qualitativos sobre o tema recrutaram populações europeias. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o impacto físico, emocional, profissional e social da APso em pacientes brasileiros. Também se compara o impacto da APso percebido por pacientes franceses e brasileiros. Métodos: Um estudo qualitativo foi realizado em dois hospitais universitários no Brasil e na França; pacientes ambulatoriais que preenchiam critérios de classificação para APso participaram de entrevistas individuais na linguagem local. O tamanho da amostra foi definido através do princípio de saturação; as entrevistas foram gravadas, os dados foram transcritos e uma análise de conteúdo foi realizada. Resultados: Quinze pacientes foram entrevistados no Brasil e 13 na França. A média de duração da doença foi de 16,.5 ± 12,5 anos (variando de 8 meses até 47 anos) e 14,4 ± 8,4 anos (variando de 12 meses a 29 anos), para brasileiros e franceses, respectivamente. Medicamentos biológicos foram prescritos para 33% dos brasileiros (N=5) e 23% dos participantes franceses (N=3). Um amplo impacto foi reportado: 67 categorias emergiram durante as entrevistas e foram agrupadas em 24 domínios de saúde. O impacto da doença percebido pelos brasileiros e franceses foi globalmente similar: 67% dos domínios foram comuns a ambas as nacionalidades. Apesar do impacto percebido pelas duas amostras ser semelhante, alguns domínios importantes para os brasileiros e ainda pouco estudados nesta população como desordens do sono, disfunção sexual e fadiga foram identificados. Este trabalho também expõe o impacto emocional, social e profissional do preconceito causado pela psoríase em pacientes brasileiros. Conclusão: Brasileiros e franceses com APso percebem um amplo e similar impacto da doença, que transcende os aspectos físicos. Domínios importantes para pacientes que vivem fora da Europa e que permanecem pouco estudados podem ser reconhecidos através da metodologia qualitativa. / Background: The patient-perceived impact of Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) outside the European background is still few studied since almost all qualitative studies on the subject have been performed in European populations. This work aimed to evaluate the physical, emotional, professional and social impact of PsA in Brazilian patients. It also compares patient-perceived impact of PsA between Brazilian and French subjects. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in two university hospitals in Brazil and France; outpatients fulfilling classification criteria for PsA participated in individual interviews in the local language. The sample size was defined by saturation; interviews were recorded, data were transcribed and content analysis was performed. Results: Fifteen patients were interviewed in Brazil and 13 in France. Mean disease duration was 16.5 ± 12.5 years (range: 8 months to 47 years) and 14.4 ± 8.4 years (range 12 months to 29 years), for Brazilian and French subjects, respectively. Biologic drugs were prescribed to 33% of Brazilians (N=5) and 23% of French participants (N=3). A broad impact was perceived: 67 categories of impact emerged from the interviews and were grouped in 24 health domains. The impact of disease perceived by Brazilian and French participants was globally similar: 67% of domains were common to both nationalities. Despite the similar impact among the samples, some domains important for Brazilian patients and still few studied in this population as sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction and fatigue were identified. This work also exposed the emotional, social and professional impact of prejudice due to psoriasis in Brazilian patients. Conclusions: Brazilian and French subjects living with PsA perceive a broad and similar impact of disease which goes far beyond physical aspects. Domains important to patients living outside Europe and which remain few studied can be recognized through qualitative methodology.

Introdução/Objetivos: O impacto da artrite psoriásica (APso) percebido pelo paciente que vive fora do continente europeu ainda é pouco conhecido, uma vez que quase todos os estudos qualitativos sobre o tema recrutaram populações europeias. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o impacto físico, emocional, profissional e social da APso em pacientes brasileiros. Também se compara o impacto da APso percebido por pacientes franceses e brasileiros. Métodos: Um estudo qualitativo foi realizado em dois hospitais universitários no Brasil e na França; pacientes ambulatoriais que preenchiam critérios de classificação para APso participaram de entrevistas individuais na linguagem local. O tamanho da amostra foi definido através do princípio de saturação; as entrevistas foram gravadas, os dados foram transcritos e uma análise de conteúdo foi realizada. Resultados: Quinze pacientes foram entrevistados no Brasil e 13 na França. A média de duração da doença foi de 16,.5 ± 12,5 anos (variando de 8 meses até 47 anos) e 14,4 ± 8,4 anos (variando de 12 meses a 29 anos), para brasileiros e franceses, respectivamente. Medicamentos biológicos foram prescritos para 33% dos brasileiros (N=5) e 23% dos participantes franceses (N=3). Um amplo impacto foi reportado: 67 categorias emergiram durante as entrevistas e foram agrupadas em 24 domínios de saúde. O impacto da doença percebido pelos brasileiros e franceses foi globalmente similar: 67% dos domínios foram comuns a ambas as nacionalidades. Apesar do impacto percebido pelas duas amostras ser semelhante, alguns domínios importantes para os brasileiros e ainda pouco estudados nesta população como desordens do sono, disfunção sexual e fadiga foram identificados. Este trabalho também expõe o impacto emocional, social e profissional do preconceito causado pela psoríase em pacientes brasileiros. Conclusão: Brasileiros e franceses com APso percebem um amplo e similar impacto da doença, que transcende os aspectos físicos. Domínios importantes para pacientes que vivem fora da Europa e que permanecem pouco estudados podem ser reconhecidos através da metodologia qualitativa. / Background: The patient-perceived impact of Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) outside the European background is still few studied since almost all qualitative studies on the subject have been performed in European populations. This work aimed to evaluate the physical, emotional, professional and social impact of PsA in Brazilian patients. It also compares patient-perceived impact of PsA between Brazilian and French subjects. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in two university hospitals in Brazil and France; outpatients fulfilling classification criteria for PsA participated in individual interviews in the local language. The sample size was defined by saturation; interviews were recorded, data were transcribed and content analysis was performed. Results: Fifteen patients were interviewed in Brazil and 13 in France. Mean disease duration was 16.5 ± 12.5 years (range: 8 months to 47 years) and 14.4 ± 8.4 years (range 12 months to 29 years), for Brazilian and French subjects, respectively. Biologic drugs were prescribed to 33% of Brazilians (N=5) and 23% of French participants (N=3). A broad impact was perceived: 67 categories of impact emerged from the interviews and were grouped in 24 health domains. The impact of disease perceived by Brazilian and French participants was globally similar: 67% of domains were common to both nationalities. Despite the similar impact among the samples, some domains important for Brazilian patients and still few studied in this population as sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction and fatigue were identified. This work also exposed the emotional, social and professional impact of prejudice due to psoriasis in Brazilian patients. Conclusions: Brazilian and French subjects living with PsA perceive a broad and similar impact of disease which goes far beyond physical aspects. Domains important to patients living outside Europe and which remain few studied can be recognized through qualitative methodology.

Introdução/Objetivos: O impacto da artrite psoriásica (APso) percebido pelo paciente que vive fora do continente europeu ainda é pouco conhecido, uma vez que quase todos os estudos qualitativos sobre o tema recrutaram populações europeias. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o impacto físico, emocional, profissional e social da APso em pacientes brasileiros. Também se compara o impacto da APso percebido por pacientes franceses e brasileiros. Métodos: Um estudo qualitativo foi realizado em dois hospitais universitários no Brasil e na França; pacientes ambulatoriais que preenchiam critérios de classificação para APso participaram de entrevistas individuais na linguagem local. O tamanho da amostra foi definido através do princípio de saturação; as entrevistas foram gravadas, os dados foram transcritos e uma análise de conteúdo foi realizada. Resultados: Quinze pacientes foram entrevistados no Brasil e 13 na França. A média de duração da doença foi de 16,.5 ± 12,5 anos (variando de 8 meses até 47 anos) e 14,4 ± 8,4 anos (variando de 12 meses a 29 anos), para brasileiros e franceses, respectivamente. Medicamentos biológicos foram prescritos para 33% dos brasileiros (N=5) e 23% dos participantes franceses (N=3). Um amplo impacto foi reportado: 67 categorias emergiram durante as entrevistas e foram agrupadas em 24 domínios de saúde. O impacto da doença percebido pelos brasileiros e franceses foi globalmente similar: 67% dos domínios foram comuns a ambas as nacionalidades. Apesar do impacto percebido pelas duas amostras ser semelhante, alguns domínios importantes para os brasileiros e ainda pouco estudados nesta população como desordens do sono, disfunção sexual e fadiga foram identificados. Este trabalho também expõe o impacto emocional, social e profissional do preconceito causado pela psoríase em pacientes brasileiros. Conclusão: Brasileiros e franceses com APso percebem um amplo e similar impacto da doença, que transcende os aspectos físicos. Domínios importantes para pacientes que vivem fora da Europa e que permanecem pouco estudados podem ser reconhecidos através da metodologia qualitativa. / Background: The patient-perceived impact of Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) outside the European background is still few studied since almost all qualitative studies on the subject have been performed in European populations. This work aimed to evaluate the physical, emotional, professional and social impact of PsA in Brazilian patients. It also compares patient-perceived impact of PsA between Brazilian and French subjects. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in two university hospitals in Brazil and France; outpatients fulfilling classification criteria for PsA participated in individual interviews in the local language. The sample size was defined by saturation; interviews were recorded, data were transcribed and content analysis was performed. Results: Fifteen patients were interviewed in Brazil and 13 in France. Mean disease duration was 16.5 ± 12.5 years (range: 8 months to 47 years) and 14.4 ± 8.4 years (range 12 months to 29 years), for Brazilian and French subjects, respectively. Biologic drugs were prescribed to 33% of Brazilians (N=5) and 23% of French participants (N=3). A broad impact was perceived: 67 categories of impact emerged from the interviews and were grouped in 24 health domains. The impact of disease perceived by Brazilian and French participants was globally similar: 67% of domains were common to both nationalities. Despite the similar impact among the samples, some domains important for Brazilian patients and still few studied in this population as sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction and fatigue were identified. This work also exposed the emotional, social and professional impact of prejudice due to psoriasis in Brazilian patients. Conclusions: Brazilian and French subjects living with PsA perceive a broad and similar impact of disease which goes far beyond physical aspects. Domains important to patients living outside Europe and which remain few studied can be recognized through qualitative methodology.