F. Morana, S. Iapichino, C. Pacchierotti, L. Bossini, P. Castrogiovanni - Vol. 7, Dicembre 2001, num.4
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Riassunto Indice
Sensibilità alla luce: confronto
fra disturbo bipolare e disturbo di panico
Sensitivity to light: a comparison between bipolar and panic disorder
Objectives
The peculiar reactivity to visual stimuli of some psychiatric patients has been described. The aim of this study is to verify different behaviours light-related in panic and bipolar patients.
Methods
We screened 46 bipolar patients and 46 panic patients (DSM-IV) for photophobia and photophilia using a brief self-report questionnaire (Questionario di valutazione della fotosensibilità-Q.V.F.). The questionnaire contains 23 questions for each of which there are two possible responses, yes or no. The items concern information about light preferences and related behaviour, e.g. light-avoidance or light-exposure. 13 items are related to experiences of photophobic behaviours, and 10 items are related to photophilia. It is possible to obtain two scores: photophobia and photophilia scores (Pho-Phi). These scores were obtained as a simple sum of positive responses in each of the respective items for photophobia and photophilia.
Results
We found that bipolar patients showed prevalent photophilic behaviours (means scores Pho: 5.35, s.d. +/- 1.8; means scores Phi: 4.28, s.d. +/- 1.82), while panic patients photophobic behaviours (means score Pho: 6.22, s.d. +/- 1.98; means score Phi: 3.76, s.d. +/- 1.73).
Conclusions
These findings suggest the presence of two dimensions (photophobia and photophilia) of sensitivity to light