Berit Scott

Prevalence, incidence and prospective risk factors for eating disorders

OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence, incidence and prospective risk factors for eating disorders (ED) among young adult females. METHOD Using a prospective design, a randomly selected sample of 1157 females (18-30 years) from the general population was examined with questionnaires for establishing ED diagnoses, self-esteem, body concern, coping and perceived social support. RESULTS The prevalence of ED was 3.2% and the 2-year first-time incidence was 0.0105 (n=8). Subjects in the extended incidence group (n=34) reported significantly lower self-esteem and perceived social support, and higher body concern and relative use of escape-avoidance coping, at the onset of the study in 1997, compared to controls (n=643). Furthermore, they reported a significant increase in body concern and relative use of escape-avoidance coping, and a significant decrease in self-esteem compared to controls from 1997 to 1999. CONCLUSION These factors may be considered as risk factors for later development of ED among young adult women.

Gender differences in Parkinson's disease symptom profile

Gender symptom differences were studied in 948 subjects with Parkinsons disease (PD) using a questionnaire covering the most common symptoms associated with PD at debut (SP‐1) and at present (SP‐2). The symptoms most frequently reported by both genders were: tremor, fumblingness, writing problems, rigidity and fatigue. At SP‐1 females reported neck‐pain and low back pain more frequently than males. At SP‐2 subjects reported an increased number of symptoms. The following symptoms were more frequent among males than females: writing difficulties, fumblingness, gait problems, speech problems, increased flow of saliva, lack of initiative. Sleep problems were common in both sexes with inability to turn in bed and calf muscle cramps in a high percentage. A majority of female subjects find their symptoms (e.g. depression) constantly distressing. Although depression is not one of primary reported symptoms (36%) attention is called for, due to the problem with compliance to treatment regimes. About 30% do not report having tremor and rigidity. This study indicates the usefulness of a symptom profile instrument capable of capturing the many symptoms involved in PD. Such an instrument could be used to detect apparent mistakes in medication and thereby increase the function and quality of life for the individual.

Predictors of tinnitus discomfort, adaptation and subjective loudness

In a nation-wide investigation, covering all the hearing centres in Sweden, a study was made of adaptation processes, subjective discomfort from tinnitus, subjective loudness of tinnitus and psychological complaints in 3372 subjects by means of a questionnaire. The most important predictors of discomfort from and adaptation to tinnitus were found to be the controllability and the degree of maskability by external sounds, i.e. the subjects coping abilities or internal-external locus of control. Increased control and masking effects from the environment imply a decrease in discomfort and better adaptation. The most important predictor of worsened subjective loudness of tinnitus was the duration of the tinnitus. That is, subjects who had had tinnitus for a longer time perceived the loudness as more intense. The psychosomatic factors which most strongly predicted increased discomfort from and decreased tolerance to tinnitus were depression and insomnia. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for the management and treatment of tinnitus.

The effect of Qigong on Fibromyalgia (FMS): A controlled randomized study

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of a 7-week Qigong intervention on subjects with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). Methods. The study was a controlled randomized study with repeated measures. Fifty-seven FMS female subjects were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 29) or a waiting-list control group (n = 28). After completion of the experimental part, the control group received the same intervention. Collection of data was made at pre- and post-treatment and at 4-month follow-up for both groups. Results. During the experimental part of the study, significant improvements were found for the intervention group, at post-treatment, regarding different aspects of pain and psychological health and distress. Almost identical results were found for the combined group. At 4-month follow-up, the majority of these results were either maintained or improved. Conclusion. The overall results show that Qigong has positive and reliable effects regarding FMS. A high degree of completion, 93%, and contentment with the intervention further support the potential of the treatment. The results of the study are encouraging and suggest that Qigong intervention could be a useful complement to medical treatment for subjects with FMS.

Evidence for astrocytosis in ALS demonstrated by [11C](L)-deprenyl-D2 PET.

OBJECTIVE To use deuterium-substituted [11C](L)-deprenyl PET to depict astrocytosis in vivo in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). BACKGROUND In human brain, the enzyme MAO-B is primarily located in astrocytes. L-deprenyl binds to MAO-B and autoradiography with 3H-L-deprenyl has been used to map astrocytosis in vitro. Motor neuron loss in ALS is accompanied by astrocytosis and astrocytes may play an active role in the neurodegenerative process. Deuterium-substituted [11C](L)-deprenyl PET provides an opportunity to localize astrocytosis in vivo in the brain of patients with ALS. METHODS Deuterium-substituted [11C](L)-deprenyl PET was performed in seven patients with ALS and seven healthy control subjects. RESULTS Increased uptake rate of [11C](L)-deprenyl was demonstrated in ALS in pons and white matter. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence that astrocytosis may be detected in vivo in ALS by the use of deuterium-substituted [11C](L)-deprenyl PET though further studies are needed to determine whether deuterium-substituted [11C](L)-deprenyl binding tracks disease progression and reflects astrocytosis.

Psychological Treatment of Tinnitus An Experimental Group Study

Twenty-four patients with moderately severe (grade 2) to severe (grade 3) subjective tinnitus participated in an experimental group study. The patients were randomly assigned to a treatment group and a waiting-list control group. Treatment was given with a coping technique and comprised 10 one-hour sessions. Following a corresponding period without treatment, the control group was treated similarly. Daily self-recording of the subjective tinnitus loudness, the discomfort from the tinnitus, depression and irritation was performed before and after treatment. In addition, psychoacoustic measurement was undertaken on three occasions. The treatment group improved significantly more than the waiting-list control group. After treatment of the latter group, combined data of both groups showed statistically significant improvements in all variables. The results show that tinnitus annoyance can be treated by psychological methods.

Coping in dieting and eating disorders: a population-based study.

The use of different coping strategies, measured by the Ways of Coping Questionnaire was investigated among 1157 women (18 to 30 years), randomly selected from the general population of Sweden as part of a longitudinal study. Subjects were clustered into five groups: subjects with past or current eating disorders (ED), and subjects with no ED but with past, current, or no history of dieting. Subjects with past or current ED reported significantly higher levels of escape avoidance and lower levels of seeking social support and purposeful problem solving compared with subjects with neither ED nor dieting. These group comparisons were then reanalyzed with sum of depressive symptoms as a covariate in covariate analyses. The only significant difference between the groups concerned the use of escape avoidance. The significant differences in the use of escape-avoidance strategies may motivate more extensive training in coping in the context of prevention and treatment of ED and maladaptive dieting.

The Big Five and eating disorders: a prospective study in the general population

The present study assessed the Big‐Five personality dimensions according to the lexical hypothesis among participants with a lifetime history of eating disorders (ED) (n = 84), as well as participants with a first‐time incidence of ED (n = 33) compared to participants with no history of ED (non‐ED, n = 1014). Personality and ED were investigated with self‐report questionnaires among women (n = 1157) randomly selected from the general population. Participants with a lifetime ED reported significantly lower levels of Agreeableness. Conscientious, Emotional Stability, and a significantly higher level of Openness compared to the non‐ED. When Emotional Stability was controlled for, participants with ED scored higher on Openness compared to controls. Participants were followed up after two years. Thirty‐three participants with complete data on all the scales developed an eating disorder for the first time at follow‐up. This first‐time incidence group had a very similar pattern of personality prior to developing any symptoms of ED (i.e. low on Agreeableness and Emotional Stability, and high on Openness) to those with a lifetime history of ED, and significantly different from those who never reported any symptoms of ED (controls, n = 636). This pattern resembles the Type 3 personality according to Caspi and colleagues. It is suggested that the presence of some specific personality traits may be regarded as a risk factor for developing ED. Copyright

The psychological treatment of tinnitus: An experimental evaluation

Disabling tinnitus in 27 patients was treated in an experimental setting with two different type of therapy aiming at the development of coping behaviour. One was focused on behavioural control procedures, while the other aimed at more cognitive control methods such as distraction. The results of the two forms of therapy were compared with each other and with observations of the untreated control subjects. Assessments of subjective loudness, discomfort from tinnitus and controllability were made on analogue scales and at a questionnaire follow-up. Psychoacoustic measures such as personal loudness units (PLU) were used in connection with these self-recordings and for evaluation of treatment effects. The results confirmed favourable reports on behavioural methods in tinnitus. However, no differences were found between therapies. The results are discussed in the light of the coping and adaptation theory.

Tinnitus—Incidence and Handicap

A questionnaire investigation, comprising 1091 patients, was conducted at a hearing centre. A majority of patients, 59%, claimed that they were troubled by tinnitus. A strong correlation was found between the laterality of tinnitus and that of subjective hearing loss. Neither a greater degree of hearing loss nor a longer duration of tinnitus was shown to be associated with more severe tinnitus. Among patients with both subjective hearing loss and tinnitus, 23% stated that tinnitus was the greater problem and 38% that their tinnitus and hearing loss were equally troublesome. The corresponding figures for patients with hearing impairment of such a degree that a hearing aid had been fitted were 9% and 41% respectively. Stress symptoms such as headache, tension of facial muscles and sleep disturbances were correlated to tinnitus. Psychosomatic complaints should therefore be taken into account in the treatment of tinnitus. Of patients with tinnitus, 83% were interested in obtaining treatment for their tinnitus. It is postulated that the previously reported predominance of left-sided tinnitus is due to a higher frequency of left-sided hearing impairment. A majority of patients with tinnitus and hearing impairment regarded their tinnitus as the major problem. Efforts towards investigation and treatment of tinnitus might therefore considerably improve the prospects for hearing rehabilitation.