Possible interpretation of subjective complaints in patients with spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse factors related to subjective non-cognitive and cognitive complaints in patients with spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage and 27 age-, sex- and education-matched healthy controls.


METHODS
A battery of cognitive tests measuring visuo-spatial abilities, verbal abilities, and fine-motor skill, Brief Social Support Questionnaire, and Life Orientation Scale were individually presented to all participants.


RESULTS
Cognitive complaints were related to low social support but not to cognitive performance. Complaints about headaches and dizziness were also related to decreased cognitive performance. Above-normal optimistic life-orientation was related to the absence of complaints in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage. Healthy participants were best discriminated from patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage by less satisfactory social support system and decreased fine motor skills in the latter group.


CONCLUSIONS
Change in social support network may be an important resource for increasing quality of life in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage not only through help provided by supporters but also indirectly, through increasing subjective well-being. The absence of subjective complaints in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage is not necessarily related to better objective condition but rather to inadequately optimistic life orientation.
Toomela
Aaro
A
Department of Special Education, School of Teacher Education, University of Tartu, Estonia. aaro.toomela@ut.ee
Pulver
Aleksander
A
Tomberg
Tiiu
T
Orasson
Anu
A
Tikk
Arvo
A
Asser
Toomas
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*