Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate relation between biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to compare diagnostic instruments in clinical practice.
Methods: :
Analysis of data from a prospective cohort study including 55 patients with recent onset AMD. Main outcome measures included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), reading visual acuity (Radner charts), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Symptom Check List (SCL-90), National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), WHO Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF).
Results: :
Depressive and anxiety symptoms were the most common psychiatric symptoms in this study population and were observed in 20% of patients. Significant decrease of quality of life and a high prevalence for depression, anxiety, and other emotional distress seems to be associated to AMD. Risk factors compromise degree of functional impairment, role difficulties, and accompanying somatic disorders. The minority of patients was using or had access to low-vision services or mental health services at time of study entry.
Conclusions: :
Psychological and social effects of AMD play an important role in the rehabilitation process of AMD patients. Multimodal therapeutic methods including psychopharmacological and behavioral strategies for patients demonstrating with mental symptoms are indicated. Development of feasible screening procedures and installation of multidisciplinary networks seem to be critical.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • quality of life • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment