Background and aimsGraves’ disease is an autoimmune disease characterized by goitre with hyperthyroidism, Graves ophthalmopathy and pretibial myxedema The patients with Graves’ disease frequent develop a psychiatric manifestations such as mood and anxiety disorders and, cognitive dysfunction. The aims of the study is to estimate the prevalence of anxiety in patients with Graves’ disease.Materials and methods66 patients with Graves’ disease (46 women and 20 men) were recruited to this study. The subjects were between 32 and 61 years. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) is a used interview scale that measures the severity of a patient’s anxiety, based on 14 items, including anxious mood, tension, fears, insomnia, somatic complaints and behaviour at the interview. The HAM-A was completed prior and after the treatment. Results were compared with measurements of HAM-A in 24 subjects without Graves’ disease.ResultsMild anxiety was present in 24 patients with Graves’ disease (36.66%-16 women and 8 men) moderate anxiety in 13 patients (19.69% - 7 women and 6 men) and severe anxiety in 3 patients (4.54%- 2 women and 1 men) prior to treatment of hyperthyroidism. After treatment of hyperthyroidism 12 patients presented mild anxiety, 6 moderate anxiety and 3 severe anxiety. The prevalence of mild anxiety was present in 2 subjects(8.33%-2 women) without Graves’ disease.ConclusionA significant proportion of patients with Graves’ disease shows an altered mental state after treatment of hyperthyroidism. When psychiatric disorders persists after restoration of euthyroidism specific treatment for the psychiatric symptoms may be needed.

IntroductionStudies regarding chronic pain have demonstrated that there is a high prevalence of this condition in 65 years of age and older population.Our study objectives was to assess the prevalence of chronic pain in a sample of older subjects without known or diagnosticated pathology, and without analgesic routine use. It was a preliminary step in assessing the effects of aerobic exercise on this condition (as part of a research project supported by The National Council of the Higher Education’s Scientific Research - CNCSIS).MethodsA complete anamnesis and routine laboratory was performed for each subject. Subjective tools (Faces Scale and the Visual Analog Scale) was used for assessment of pain, and two self-report measures of anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Visual Analogue Scale) was used for assessment of anxiety.ResultsOf 136 subjects enrolled (Av. Age 64 ± 4) 39 subjects (28.67%) presented chronic pain. In bivariate analyses pain was associated with anxiety, negative life events, loneliness, sedentary life.DiscussionDespite the apparent health of the subjects involved in this study the prevalence of unexplained chronic pain complaints was high. It seems necessary to explore more this condition in general practice in older to highlight any specific cases, in order to reach diagnoses and to select the treatment or, considering the subjective nature of this entity and the associated features of aging in absence of any identifiable pathology, to select an appropriate intervention to improve the quality of life for this people.

Background and aimsCushing's patients demonstrate major depression more than any other medical condition. Major depression is a common, complication of Cushing’s syndrome, with no significant differences between pituitary -dependent and -independent forms. The aims of the study is to estimate the prevalence of depression in patients with Cushing’s syndrome.Materials and methods23 patients with Cushing’s syndrome (14 with pituitary-dependent and 9 with pititary-independent forms) were recruited for this study. The subjects were between 52 and 67 years. Patients were screened initially with a questionnaire detailing their age, medical history, concomitant medications. The Zung self-rating depression scale was used to assess depressive symptomatology. It contains 20 items: index scores below 50 reflect no depression, 50–59 reflect mild depression, 60–69 reflect marked to moderate depression and scores of ≥ 70 reflect severe to extreme depression. Results were compared with measurements in 21 subjects without Cushing’s syndrome.ResultsThe prevalence of depression in patients with Cushing’s syndrome was 52.17% (12 patients). 2 patients (2 women) present mild depression and 10 patients (9 women and 1 men) present moderate or severe depression. Moderate or severe depression was significantly associated with older age, female sex, relatively more severe clinical condition. The prevalence of depression in 21 subjects without Cushing’s syndrome was 4.76% (1 women with mild depression).ConclusionThis study showed that patients with Cushing’s syndrome have a greater a risk of depression than people without Cushing’s syndrome. Patients with Cushing’s syndrome should be routinely screened and adequately treated for depression.