Psychiatric disorders and their medical-social consequences in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and members of their families

Abstract

118 ALS patients and 97 members of their families were examined. All patients and relatives were observed by psychiatrists. The assessment was carried out on the Hamilton Depression Scale (for patients and members of their families) and the scale of frontotemporal dementia (for patients). Psychiatric disorders were revealed in 101 ALS patients (85%) and in 51 members of their families (52.5%) (Significantly more frequently in ALS patients, p<0.05). The spectrum of situational disorders in ALS patients was represented relatively evenly with insignificant predominance of situational depression. Rare cases of combination of ALS with endogenous psychiatric disorders were described. In 33 patients (28%), frontotemporal cognitive impairments reaching the level of dementia were observed in 4.2% of cases. Among members of families of ALS patients, only situational psychiatric disorders with obvious predominance of anxiety (28%, p<0.05) were revealed. 49 ALS patients (41.5%) and 80 members of their families (82.4%) suffered from habitual intoxications (significantly more frequently in family members, p<0.05). High share of anxiety disorders leads to the refusal from cooperation with professional physicians (73-76%), rejection of aggressive treatment methods (74.5%), addressing to cheaters and burden connected with unjustified material expenses (29.6% of cases). Constant nursing of families of ALS patients by neurological and psychotherapeutical services with involvement of psychiatrists and narcologists in individual cases is recommended, which could provide increase of the number of life-saving procedures at ALS and improvement of the quality of life of patients and members of their families.Citation: Levitsky GN, Psychiatric disorders and their medical-social consequences in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and members of their families.Citation: Levitsky GN, Psychiatric disorders and their medical-social consequences in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and members of their families.