M. Impallomeni, F. Palusci, C. Petruzzi, E. Daneluzzo, D. Gianfelice, A. Rossi - Vol. 7, Dicembre 2001, num.4
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Riassunto Indice
Disturbo di panico, qualità
della vita e assetto temperamentale in persone in trattamento con sertralina
Panic disorder, quality of life among people
with sertraline treatment
Objective
Impairment of social functioning and quality of life is often associated to panic disorder and it seems not directly correlated to the frequency of panic attacks. The main objective of the present study is to assess the effect of sertraline treatment on quality of life of patients with panic disorder. Furthermore, the study analyses the effects of therapy on symptomatology and temperament dimensions and the possible correlations among the three domains.
Method
Through a retrospective chart review, we selected 62 out-patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia treated with sertraline. 52 were treated for six months at a dose ranging from 50 to 100 mg/day. Quality of life, symptomatology and temperament-personality dimensions have been assessed, prior to treatment and after six months, through Short Form 36 - Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36), Hopkins Symptom Check List 90 (SCL90) and Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ), respectively.
Results
After six months of sertraline treatment, symptomatology and quality of life scores improved, and temperamental traits changed in the direction of a more adaptive, i.e. less deviant, behavior (Novelty Seeking – NS – significantly increased, and Harm Avoidance – HA – decreased with a trend toward significance). Furthermore, baseline assessment showed correlations among symptoms severity, quality of life impairment and high HA scores while, after six months of sertraline treatment, a relative independence of improvement in the three studied dimensions has been observed.
Conclusions
Sertraline treatment differently and independently decreased symptomatology, improved quality of life and changed specific temperament traits in patients with panic disorder. However, due to the brief period of study, a further replication of results is necessary to evaluate their stability over time.