Psychological distress in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
OBJECTIVE
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a genetic neuropathy that causes variable degrees of gait and handgrip impairment, and reduces quality of life. The large majority of CMT patients are moderately affected and lead almost a normal life despite facing numerous difficulties and physical and psychological suffering. This study is aimed at investigating the possible presence of psychological distress in this population.


METHODS
Fifty-three patients (F=30, M=23; age: 16-64 years; disease duration: 1-53 years), with variable gait and handgrip impairments but still able to ambulate independently, referred to a specialized rehabilitation service, and 53 sex and age matched controls were administered with the Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire Italian validated version.


RESULTS
The mean scores of patients, both as a whole and as divided in groups according to sex, age and lower limb impairment severity, did not differ significantly from those of controls (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with CMT are able to cope with the problems caused by their disease without developing more psychological distress than unaffected subjects, probably as the result of a comprehensive adaptation, favoured by the long disease duration, relative mildness of symptoms, good cognitive functioning and availability of rehabilitative resources.
Vinci
P
P
Italian Charcot-Marie-Tooth, Association Rehabilitation Service, Rome, Italy. paolovinci@libero.it <paolovinci@libero.it>
Gargiulo
P
P
Panunzi
M
M
Baldini
L
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002607:Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult