María Guadalupe Moreno Treviño

Role of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa in anxiety, depression and self-esteem: A controlled cross-sectional study.

The psychological aspect in patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is poorly documented. We sought to determine the role of DEB in anxiety, depression and self‐esteem. We conducted a cross‐sectional study, collecting data from 27 DEB patients and 26 healthy individuals. DEB patients and healthy controls completed three different psychometric scales for anxiety and depression and one scale for self‐esteem. DEB patients and healthy controls were homogeneous for age and sex (P > 0.05), but not for employment, marital status and economic level (P < 0.05). Median values of all psychometric battery scales were not statistically significant between DEB patients and healthy controls, except for Goldberg scale for anxiety (P = 0.003) and depression (P = 0.037) and slightly significant for Zung Scale for anxiety (P = 0.048) with no difference between DEB patients with dominant versus recessive form in all scales (P > 0.05). Among DEB patients, only employment showed a significant difference in all scales (P < 0.05) but Hamilton for depression, whereas self‐esteem seemed to be affected by marriage (P = 0.04) and education (P = 0.016). DEB patients apparently are not more anxious and/or depressed and do not have less self‐esteem than healthy individuals.

Pain in Patients with Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa: Association with Anxiety and Depression

Objective We investigate the presence and the quality of pain in patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), and its correlation with the level of anxiety and depression. Methods We collected data from 27 DEB patients and 26 healthy individuals. DEB patients and controls completed 1 scale for the quality of pain, and 1 scale for anxiety and depression. Pain was assessed with the short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, whereas anxiety and depression were assessed with the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety and depression. Results DEB patients and healthy control individuals were homogeneous for age and gender (p>0.05). A statistically significant difference in the two groups was seen for sensory pain rating scale (p<0.001), affective pain rating scale (p=0.029), total pain rating scale (p<0.001), visual analogue scale (p=0.012) and present pain intensity (p=0.001), but not for anxiety (p=0.169) and depression (p=0.530). The characteristics of pain that showed a significant difference between DEB patients and healthy controls were shooting, splitting, tender and throbbing (p<0.05). In DEB patients pain was not correlated with anxiety or depression (p>0.05), whereas a slight correlation between pain and anxiety was found in healthy controls (p<0.05). No difference was found between quality of pain and anxiety-depression in DEB patients (p>0.05), but was between the DEB dominant and the recessive form of DEB (p=0.025). Conclusion The perception of pain in DEB patients appears greater than in healthy individuals, with splitting and tender characteristics being the most significant ones, but was not associated with anxious and/or depressive symptoms.

Retinosis pigmentaria en un adolescente

BACKGROUND Retinitis pigmentosa is the most common chronic and inherited condition of retinal dystrophy. The progressive involvement of retinal photoreceptors and other layers characterize this condition. This situation results in optic disc pallor and retinal pigment deposition vascular attenuation. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 15-year-old male with a history of 6 months evolution characterized by night blindness and bilateral impairment of superior temporal vision. CONCLUSIONS This type of dystrophy is a genetic and progressive eye condition that begins during adolescence and produces visual impairment.