TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychopathological features and suicidal ideation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients
AU - Palmieri, Arianna
AU - Sorarù, Gianni
AU - Albertini, Elisa
AU - Semenza, Carlo
AU - Vottero-Ris, Francesca
AU - D'Ascenzo, Carla
AU - Querin, Giorgia
AU - Zennaro, Alessandro
AU - Pegoraro, Elena
AU - Angelini, Corrado
PY - 2010/12
Y1 - 2010/12
N2 - Psychopathological diagnosis has become increasingly important in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), since the recent emphasis on the comprehensive management and end-of-life decisions. Rorschach test is the third most commonly used psychological instrument worldwide and can offer a different approach from self-reporting questionnaires, mainly providing information on issues of which individuals may be unaware or unwilling to admit to. Forty-two ALS patients underwent a psychopathological assessment with the Rorschach test. Psychopathological data were also correlated with skeletal muscle strength as measured by MRC scale and functional evaluation as ALSFRSr and FVC values. Psychopathological features, including suicidial ideation, were more frequent in the recently diagnosed ALS patients. These features were observed to be different according to the kind of functional impairment. Rorschach test may be an useful tool to assess psychopathological features in ALS. Results of our study highlight the need of an early psychopathological diagnosis and specific psychotherapeutic treatment in patients with ALS.
AB - Psychopathological diagnosis has become increasingly important in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), since the recent emphasis on the comprehensive management and end-of-life decisions. Rorschach test is the third most commonly used psychological instrument worldwide and can offer a different approach from self-reporting questionnaires, mainly providing information on issues of which individuals may be unaware or unwilling to admit to. Forty-two ALS patients underwent a psychopathological assessment with the Rorschach test. Psychopathological data were also correlated with skeletal muscle strength as measured by MRC scale and functional evaluation as ALSFRSr and FVC values. Psychopathological features, including suicidial ideation, were more frequent in the recently diagnosed ALS patients. These features were observed to be different according to the kind of functional impairment. Rorschach test may be an useful tool to assess psychopathological features in ALS. Results of our study highlight the need of an early psychopathological diagnosis and specific psychotherapeutic treatment in patients with ALS.
KW - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
KW - Psychology
KW - Psychopathology
KW - Rorschach
KW - Suicidal ideation
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U2 - 10.1007/s10072-010-0332-3
DO - 10.1007/s10072-010-0332-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 20521074
AN - SCOPUS:78650513724
VL - 31
SP - 735
EP - 740
JO - Neurological Sciences
JF - Neurological Sciences
SN - 1590-1874
IS - 6
ER -