Improving anxiety in subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy (SMON) after an automated telephone call service

Yasuyuki Ohta, Nozomi Hishikawa, Kota Sato, Mami Takemoto, Toru Yamashita, Shinji Doutare, Koji Abe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective We evaluated the clinical effects of a telephone call service for psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression or apathy in subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy (SMON) patients living alone or with a single caregiver. Methods Up to 16 SMON patients (4 men, 12 women) and 32 control subjects were evaluated by the geriatric depression scale (GDS), apathy scale (AS) and state and trait anxiety inventory (STAI) forms X-I, including the P and A values for depression, apathy and state anxiety including disturbed peace of mind and enhanced anxiety, respectively, before (pre) and three months after (post) the telephone call service. Results The SMON patients, especially women, had significantly worse baseline scores in GDS (depres-sion), AS (apathy) and STAI (state anxiety) than control subjects. The automated telephone call service significantly improved the high baseline STAI scores, including the P and A scores (disturbed peace of mind and enhanced anxiety), of SMON patients but not the GDS or AS scores. Conclusion SMON patients, especially women, living alone or with a single caregiver showed higher baseline depression, apathy and anxiety scores than the control subjects. The present automated telephone call service proved to be a useful care tool for improving the anxiety of SMON patients with high STAI P and A scores.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1081-1085
Number of pages5
JournalInternal Medicine
Volume58
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • SMON
  • STAI
  • Telephone call service

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine

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