General illness and psychological factors in patients with chronic nasal symptoms

Kara, N., Yao, A. C., Newton, John, Deary, Vincent, O'Hara, John and Wilson, John A. (2018) General illness and psychological factors in patients with chronic nasal symptoms. Clinical Otolaryngology, 43 (2). pp. 609-616. ISSN 1749-4478

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Abstract

Objectives
Only a minority of patients referred to specialists with sinonasal symptoms have clear evidence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). This study aims to estimate the prevalence of and associations between (i) general illness factors (fatigue, autonomic dysfunction) and (ii) psychological factors (anxiety, depression, somatisation, personality traits) in patients presenting with sinonasal symptoms.

Design
The following validated questionnaires were administered to patients: the Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test‐22 (SNOT‐22) identifying symptom burden, Composite Autonomic Symptom Score‐31 (COMPASS‐31) measuring autonomic function, Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire‐15 (PHQ‐15) addressing somatisation symptoms, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the International Personality Item Pool‐50 (IPIP‐50). Comparisons were made with normative and general population data, and relationships were analysed using nonparametric correlation.

Setting
Secondary care ENT outpatients.

Participants
Adults referred with chronic sinonasal symptoms.

Main outcome measures
SNOT‐22, COMPASS‐31, Chalder, PHQ‐15, HADS, and IPIP‐50 questionnaire scores.

Results
Sixty‐one patients were included. There was a high prevalence of all general and psychological factors assessed compared with controls. Total SNOT‐22 scores showed significant correlation with Chalder fatigue scores, total autonomic dysfunction score, anxiety, depression, somatisation tendencies and the emotionally unstable personality trait. Emotional instability and psychological dysfunction correlated significantly with sleep and psychological subscales of SNOT‐22 but not the rhinological or ear/facial subscales.

Conclusion
Patients with sinonasal symptoms demonstrate high prevalence and complex associations of general illness factors, psychological distress and certain personality traits. The SNOT‐22 is a valuable tool, but its utility is limited by correlations with these confounding factors (eg psychological factors) that may exaggerate the total score. The use of the SNOT‐22 component subscales is likely to provide more clinically meaningful and discriminant information.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	anxiety, autonomic nervous system, depression, fatigue, patient reported outcome measures, personality, sinusitis
Subjects:	C800 Psychology
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2018 13:05
Last Modified:	11 Oct 2019 18:30
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/36820

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