[Depression in men with testosterone deficiency]

OBJECTIVE

Clinical assessment of depression in men with testosterone deficiency to improve differential diagnosis of this type of depression.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-seven men (mean age 50.1±9.08 years) with depressive episode and testosterone level ≤12.1 nmol/l were included in the main group. Depressive episode was diagnosed based on ICD-10 criteria (F-32). Additional assessment of physical and psychometrics parameters was evaluated. Forty men (mean age 42.3±10.53 years) with depression based on ICD-10 criteria (F32, F33) and testosterone level >12.1 nmol/l were included in the comparison group.

RESULTS

Symptoms of depression in men with testosterone deficiency were less severe and led to less functional disturbance. There were some clinical differences in symptoms and syndromes. Single-episode course with manifestation at a later age was more typical for the main group while the comparison group was mostly characterized by recurrent episodes manifesting at an earlier age.

CONCLUSION

Depression in men with testosterone deficiency has a number of differences that must be taken into account when diagnosing and choosing treatment tactics.

[Does alcohol influence the cognitive functions of schizophrenic patients?]

AIM

To establish an effect of alcohol dependence on the cognitive functions of patients with schizophrenia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred patients with paranoid schizophrenia were examined. Half of them had a co-occurring diagnosis of alcohol dependence syndrome. Memory, attention, thinking were studied. Comparisons were made between groups, depending on the presence of the addictive disorder.

RESULTS

Attention and short-term memory are at the low border of normal values in both groups. No significant between-group differences were found. In Benton test, errors characteristic of schizophrenia were more frequent in the main group. 'Organic' errors were prevalent in the control group. Mild thinking disorders of organic type were significantly more frequent in the main group.

CONCLUSION

Co-occurring alcohol dependence does not significantly influence intelligence but significant organic stigmas contribute to the structure of the cognitive profile of patients. The prevalence of organic disturbances in the structure of thinking in patients with co-occurring alcohol abuse was revealed. The best indicators of attention were demonstrated by patients with attack-like schizophrenia without substance abuse. This suggests that the influence of the alcohol factor differs in continuous and attack-like progressive schizophrenia.

[The influence of urethral stricture disease and urethroplasty on anxiety and depression in men]

INTRODUCTION

The relationship of surgical treatment of urethral stricture and such mental deviations as anxiety and depression is still poorly understood. Particularly, there is no reliable data on how mental status is associated to surgical treatment of the urethral stricture and its efficacy.

AIM

to study the indicators of anxiety and depression in patients with urethral stricture before and after surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The prospective study involving 30 men aged 20-74 years with urethral stricture of various etiologies and localizations was conducted. The validated questionnaires, HADS-1 and HADS-2 were used to evaluate anxiety and depression, lower urinary tract symptoms (I-PSS-QoL), erectile dysfunction (IIEF-5) before and 3 and 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Almost all patients with urethral stricture before surgery had an increased level of anxiety and depression, which in 70% cases decreased to normal values by 6 months after successful surgery. Clinically, these changes correlated with the improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms. The restoration of erectile function in patients by 6 months was less pronounced, though it had no influence on the resolution of anxiety/depression.

CONCLUSION

The determination of psycho-emotional status in patients with urethral stricture before and after urethroplasty should be as important for the evaluation of the efficiency of surgical treatment, as the resolution of lower urinary tract symptoms and restoration of sexual function.