[The analysis of the effect of psycho-intervention combined with diazepam on patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and anxiety]

Dissection of the relationship between anxiety and stereotyped self-grooming using the Shank3B mutant autistic model, acute stress model and chronic pain model

Self-grooming is an innate, cephalo-caudal progression of body cleaning behaviors that are found in normal rodents but exhibit repetitive and stereotyped patterns in several mouse models, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It is also recognized as a marker of stress and anxiety. Mice with Shank3B gene knockout (KO) exhibit typical ASD-like behavioral abnormalities, including stereotyped self-grooming and increased levels of anxiety. However, the exact relationship between anxiety and stereotyped self-grooming in certain types of animal models is not clear. We selected three animal models with high anxiety to compare their self-grooming parameters. First, we confirmed that Shank3B KO mice (ASD model), acute restraint stress mouse model (stress model), and chronic inflammatory pain mouse model (pain model) all showed increased anxiety levels in the open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM). We found that only the ASD model and the stress model produced increased total grooming duration. The pain model only exhibited an increasing trend of mean self-grooming duration. We used the grooming analysis algorithm to examine the self-grooming microstructure and assess the cephalo-caudal progression of grooming behavior. The results showed distinct self-grooming microstructures in these three models. The anxiolytic drug diazepam relieved the anxiety level and the total time of grooming in the ASD and stress models. The grooming microstructure was not restored in Shank3B KO mice but was partially relieved in the stress model, which suggested that anxiety aggravated stereotyped self-grooming duration but not the grooming microstructure in the ASD mouse model. Our results indicated that stereotyped behavior and anxiety may be shared by separate, but interacting, neural circuits in distinct disease models, which may be useful to understand the mechanisms and develop potential treatments for stereotyped behaviors and anxiety.

A Case of Idiopathic Sequential Profound Bilateral Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Occurring 37 Days After Unilateral Presentation

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a common disorder; however, sequential, bilateral presentation of the disease is rarer than unilateral presentation. Clinical otologists usually focus on treating the side with impaired hearing when patients first present with unilateral SSNHL, and therefore, may not warn patients of the possibility of subsequent hearing impairment in the contralateral ear. Furthermore, it is professionally discouraging when a patient presents with profound, sequential SSNHL after initial treatment. This may adversely impact the doctor-patient relationship, even if the patient is offered the best possible care from their first visit. Herein, we report the case of a patient with profound, idiopathic, bilateral SSNHL with a time interval of 37 days between involvement of both ears. Even though high-dose steroids were administered intraorally and intratympanically, the patient’s hearing was not restored, and the patient eventually required bilateral cochlear implant surgery. Our report demonstrates that sequential, profound, bilateral SSNHL may manifest without any specific signs.

Psychological state of patients with sudden deafness and the effect of psychological intervention on recovery

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of personalized psychological interventions on the recovery of patients with sudden deafness.

METHODS

Participants were 438 patients with sudden deafness who were randomly allocated to observation and control groups. Patients in the control group received routine nursing care and drug treatment. Patients in the observation group received personalized psychological interventions, routine nursing care and drug treatment. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to measure anxiety and depression. The Simple Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) were used to evaluate coping styles, attitude toward life and quality of life.

RESULTS

Patients in both groups had similar SAS and SDS scores at the time of admission. After treatment, there was a significant difference in SAS and SDS scores between the observation and control groups, indicating that the observation group had less anxiety and depression. Both groups had increased SCSQ and SWLS scores following treatment, indicating improvements in positive coping and satisfaction with life.

CONCLUSION

Effective psychological interventions may change negative thoughts, increase response rate and improve quality of life.