ObjectiveIn Germany, multimodal psychosomatic inpatient treatment can be initiated for patients with substantial mental disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, somatoform disorders) and comorbid physical disease. However, studies investigating changes in psychological and functional treatment outcomes, and predictors of long-term treatment effects in patients undergoing psychosomatic inpatient treatment are needed.MethodsThis cohort study analyzed 160 patients aged ≥18 who were treated on an integrated psychosomatic inpatient unit at the University of Göttingen Medical Center. Its aim was to analyze changes in psychological and functional outcomes, and to identify predictors of long-term improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with comorbid mental and physical illness who were undergoing integrated inpatient psychosomatic treatment. Assessments were completed at admission, discharge, and 12- or 24-month follow-up. Outcomes included physical complaints [Giessen Subjective Complaints List (GBB-24)], psychological symptoms [Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)], and HRQoL [European Quality of Life Questionnaire (EQ-5D)].ResultsOne-hundred sixty inpatients were included (mean age = 53.1 ± 12.6; 53.8% female). There were significant, medium- to large-sized improvements in psychological symptoms (BSI-Global Severity Index; d = −0.83, p < 0.001), physical symptom burden (d = −0.94, p < 0.001), and HRQoL (d = 0.65, p < 0.001) from admission to discharge, and significant, small- to medium-sized greater improvements in all psychological outcomes from admission to follow-up (BSI-GSI: d = −0.54, p < 0.001; GBB-24 total symptom burden: d = −0.39, p < 0.001; EQ-5D: d = 0.52, p < 0.001). Furthermore, better improvement in HRQoL during hospitalization (partial η2 = 0.386; p < 0.001) was associated with higher HRQoL at follow-up. Finally, intake of antidepressant at discharge was associated with impaired HRQoL at follow-up (η2 = 0.053; p = 0.03).ConclusionThere were significant short- and long-term improvements in psychological symptoms, physical complaints, and HRQoL after treatment on an integrated psychosomatic inpatient unit in patients with mental disorders and a comorbid physical disease.

Background Higher plasma levels of natriuretic peptides (NPs) have been associated with reduced anxiety in experimental research and a number of patient samples. As NP levels are elevated in heart failure patients, we investigate whether this elevation is related to anxiety in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods Post-hoc regression and mediation analyses were conducted, using data of 422 patients with HFpEF from the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, two-armed, multicentre aldosterone in diastolic heart failure trial, testing associations and their mediators between the N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and anxiety at baseline and over 12-month follow-up. Anxiety was measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), social support by the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory and physical functioning by the Short Form 36 Health Survey. Results The mean age of the study population was 66.8 ± 7.6 years, 47.6% were male and 86.0% had NYHA class II. NT-proBNP showed a weak negative correlation with HADS anxiety scores at baseline (r = − 0.087; p = 0.092), which was significant (r = − 0.165; p = 0.028) in men but not in women. NT-proBNP also tended to predict lower anxiety at 12-months in men. On the other hand, higher anxiety at baseline was associated with lower NT-proBNP scores 12 months later (r = − 0.116; p = 0.026). All associations lost significance in multivariate regression for age, perceived social support (ESSI), physical function (SF-36) and study arm. Mediation analyses revealed that social support acts as a full mediator for the link between NT-proBNP levels and anxiety. Conclusion The mechanisms linking NT-proBNP to anxiety may be more complex than originally assumed. While effects of NT-proBNP on anxiety may be mediated by perceived social support, there may be an additional negative effect of anxiety on NT-proBNP. Future research should consider this possible bi-directionality of the association and assess the potential influence of gender, social support, oxytocin and vagal tone on the interaction of anxiety and natriuretic peptide levels. Trial Registrationhttp://www.controlled-trials.com (ISRCTN94726526) on 07/11/2006. Eudra-CT-number: 2006–002,605-31.

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Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Bisher gibt es keine Studien, die das Pandemie bedingte Belastungserleben von stationär im Vergleich zu ambulant tätigen Psychiatern untersucht hat. Es soll deshalb das Ausmaß der Covid-19-Exposition, die Angst, das Belastungserleben und die Bewältigungsmöglichkeiten bei niedergelassenen Psychiatern im Vergleich zu Ärzten in psychiatrischen und psychosomatischen Kliniken untersucht werden. Methode Zur Erfassung von Angst- und Belastungserleben wurden E-Mail-gestützte Fragebögen mit 13 Items genutzt. Insgesamt wurden 105 niedergelassene Psychiater, und 73 Ärzte und Psychologen aus vier Klinikern (inkl. Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie) zwischen Anfang April bis Mitte Mai 2020 befragt. Ergebnis In ihrem Belastungserleben fühlten sich niedergelassene im Vergleich zu Krankenhauspsychiatern häufiger stark eingeschränkt (52,4 vs. 32,9% p=0,010), infektionsgefährdet (35,2 vs. 13,7%, p<0,001) und finanziell bedroht (24,7 vs. 6,9%, p=0,002). Der Anteil gut Informierter niedergelassener Psychiater war geringer (47,6 vs. 63,0%, p=0,043) und der Anteil mit fehlender Schutzausrüstung höher (27,6 vs. 4,1%, p<0,001). Bei gleichem COVID-19 Expositionsniveau (8,6 vs. 8,2%) berichteten niedergelassene Psychiater im Vergleich zu Krankenhaus-Psychiatern häufiger, wenn auch nicht signifikant, große Angst (18,1 vs. 9,6%, p=0,114). Risikofaktoren für ein Angsterleben waren in beiden Gruppen das Gefühl der Einschränkung (OR=5,52, p=0,025) und die erlebte Infektionsgefahr (OR=5,74, p=0,005). Keinen Einfluss hatten das Expositionsniveau, die Klinik- bzw. Praxiszugehörigkeit, das Alter, das Geschlecht und andere Dimensionen des Bedrohungserlebens und des Bewältigungsverhaltens. Diskussion Niedergelassene Psychiater fühlten sich im Vergleich zu den Kollegen im Krankenhaus durch die COVID-19 Pandemie mehr belastet und bedroht. Das Erleben von Angst war abhängig vom Gefühl der Einschränkung und der Expositionsgefahr, nicht jedoch von der Exposition, der Ausstattung mit Schutzmitteln. Für die Ausprägung der Angst scheinen weniger objektive Indikatoren als das subjektive Erleben eine wichtige Rolle zu spielen.

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