Pedro Muñoz

Use of rasch methodology to develop a short version of the Health Related Quality of life for Eating Disorders questionnaire: a prospective study

BackgroundTo confirm the internal structure of the Health Related Quality of Life for Eating Disorders version 2 questionnaire (HeRQoLEDv2) and create and validate a shortened version (HeRQoLED-S).Methods324 patients with eating disorders were assessed at baseline and one year later (75.6% of whom responded). We performed a confirmatory factor analysis of the HeRQoLEDv2 using baseline data, and then a Rasch analysis to shorten the questionnaire. Data obtained at year one was used to confirm the structure of the HeRQoLED short form and evaluate its validity and reliability.ResultsTwo latent second-order factors -- social maladjustment and mental health and functionality -- fit the data for the HeRQoLEDv2. Rasch analysis was computed separately for the two latent second-order factors and shortened the HeRQoLEDv2 to 20 items. Infit and outfit indices were acceptable, with the confirmatory factor analysis of the HeRQoLED short form giving a root mean square error of approximation of 0.07, a non-normed fit index and a comparative fit index exceeding 0.90. The validity was also supported by the correlation with the convergent measures: the social maladjustment factor correlated 0.82 with the dieting concern factor of the Eating Attitudes Test-26 and the mental health and functionality factor correlated -0.69 with the mental summary component of the Short Form-12. Cronbach alphas exceeded 0.89.ConclusionsTwo main factors, social maladjustment and mental health and functionality, explain the majority of HeRQoLEDv2 scores. The shortened version maintains good psychometric properties, though it must be validated in independent samples.

Caregivers consequences of care among patients with eating disorders, depression or schizophrenia.

BackgroundThe consequences of caring for a person with a mental illness can impose a substantial burden. Few studies have compared this burden among caregivers of patients with eating disorders and other mental illnesses. The objective of this study was to compare caregiver consequences in eating disorders (ED) with caregiver consequences in depression and schizophrenia, assessed with the same instrument, the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire (IEQ). Another aim was to identify factors that may predict these consequences.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study involving 251 caregivers of ED patients; 252 caregivers of patients with depression; and 151 caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Caregivers completed the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire EU Version (IEQ-EU). Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Chi-square were applied to examine the inter-variable relationships. Consequences- indexes were also computed.ResultsIn all samples, worrying was the most commonly reported consequence of caregiving. Predictive variables for a high level of caregiver burden included being a mother or partner of the person being cared for (p = <.01), and being a caregiver of a patient with ED.ConclusionsThe burden of caregiving is higher among caregivers of patients with eating disorders patients than among caregivers of patients with depression or schizophrenia. Our findings suggest that caregivers of patients with an ED could benefit from providing adequate assessment and support.

Predictors of quality of life and caregiver burden among maternal and paternal caregivers of patients with eating disorders

This prospective study investigated quality of life and caregiver burden of 244 parent caregivers of 113 Spanish patients with Eating Disorders (ED). One hundred eleven mothers and 70 fathers fulfilled the inclusion criteria. ED patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Eating Attitudes Test-26. Caregivers completed the HADS, the Short Form-12 (SF-12), the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire-EU version, and the Anorectic Behaviour Observation Scale. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Chi-square and Fishers exact test were applied. Among mothers, anxiety and depression and patient age contributed to poorer quality of life. Caregiver variables that affected the burden for mothers were marital status, the mental subscale of the SF-12, and the mothers perception of the severity of her childs illness. Caregiver variables that affected the burden for fathers were the caregivers anxiety and the physical domain of the SF-12. Among mothers but not fathers, being married was a protective factor of caregiver burden. Our findings suggest that mothers and fathers have different perceptions of their quality of life and caregiver burden, and that mothers of patients with ED may be in considerable need for extra psychosocial support.

Quality of life and motivation to change in eating disorders. Perception patient-psychiatrist.

PURPOSE To assess motivation to change (Mch) of patients with an eating disorder (ED) and its relationship with quality-of-life (QoL) by comparing patient and psychiatrist perceptions. METHOD Patients (n=358) with an ED completed the disease-specific Health-Related Quality of Life for Eating Disorders (HeRQoLED) questionnaire, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) at baseline; 273 completed them after 1 year of treatment. The relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the Mch stage was assessed using analysis of variance. Chi-square and Kappa statistical analysis assessed congruence in motivational change perception of the patients and psychiatrists. RESULTS Higher patient-reported Mch was associated with higher HRQoL at the study beginning and end but not using the patient Mch as perceived by the psychiatrist. Initially, the patient and psychiatrist perceptions of Mch differed (kappa coefficient, -0.01); after 1 year they tended to converge (k=0.34). CONCLUSIONS Higher Mch and higher QoL are positively associated. However, patient and psychiatrist perceptions of Mch and the relationship with QoL differ. After 1 year of treatment, these differences decreased.

Evaluation of the psychometric characteristics of the Spanish version of the Anorectic Behaviour Observation Scale

The Anorectic Behaviour Observation Scale (ABOS) was designed to obtain information from relatives about behaviours and attitudes of patients with eating disorders (ED). The aim of this study was to validate the ABOS into Spanish.

Undertreatment of human immunodeficiency virus in psychiatric inpatients: a cross-sectional study of seroprevalence and associated factors

Background The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of HIV and its associated demographic and clinical factors among psychiatric inpatients of a general hospital. Methods This was a single-center, observational, cross-sectional study that included patients consecutively admitted to our unit aged 16 years or older and with no relevant cognitive problems. The patients were evaluated using a semistructured interview and an appropriate test for HIV infection. Results Of the 637 patients who were screened, 546 (86%) who consented to participate were included in the analyses. Twenty-five (4.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0–6.8) patients were HIV-positive. The prevalence was higher among patients with substance misuse (17.4%, 95% CI 9.7–28.8). All except one of the 25 patients knew of their seropositive condition prior to participation in the study. Only 14 (56%) of the 25 seropositive patients had previously received pharmacological treatment for their infection. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, the likelihood of HIV infection was lower in patients with higher levels of education and higher among patients who were single, had history of intravenous drug use, and had an HIV-positive partner, particularly if they did not use condoms. Among the patients with HIV infection, 18 (72%) had a history of suicide attempts compared with 181 (34.7%) of the patients without HIV infection (relative risk 2.1, 95% CI 1.6–2.7; P<0.001). Conclusion HIV infection is highly prevalent in patients admitted to a psychiatric unit, especially those with a diagnosis of substance misuse. Seropositive patients show very poor treatment adherence. The risk of suicide seems to be very high in this population. Implementing interventions to reduce the suicide risk and improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy and psychotropic medications seems crucial.