Evaluation of Qualitative Outcomes after Surgical Intervention on Patients Affected by Arteriovenous Malformations.
BACKGROUND
Arteriovenous malformations are abnormal tangles of blood vessels that cause irregular connections between arteries and veins. Rupture of arteriovenous malformations represents a frequent complication associated with a neurological impairment and physical disability.


METHODS
We investigated the relationship among coping dimensions and overall quality of life (QoL), and health status after surgical intervention in 20 patients affected by arteriovenous malformations. Each patient was administered a battery of self-report questionnaires (Short Form 12 Health Survey Questionnaire, Brief COPE Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety).


RESULTS
We found that surgical treatment of arteriovenous malformations affected subjective well-being and emotional aspects. Coping ability influenced the QoL and the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms. We found a significant correlation between depression and humor (r = -.47, P = .03) and between QoL and self-distraction (r = -.48, P = .03) and humor (r = .44, P = .05). In particular, humor was a significant predictor of mental health and physical health.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of anxiety and depression was the cause of deterioration of QoL, even if psychological resources used to deal with the disease significantly modified the subjective perception of well-being. The evaluation of the impact of cerebrovascular disease on QoL should be a basis for planning and evaluating therapeutic and psychological rehabilitative interventions.
Neurobioimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo," Messina, Italy. Electronic address: viv.lobuono@gmail.com.
Viviana
V
Lo Buono
Neurobioimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo," Messina, Italy.
Lilla
L
Bonanno
Neurobioimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo," Messina, Italy.
Francesco
F
Corallo
Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Antonina
A
Sidoti
Neurobioimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo," Messina, Italy.
Placido
P
Bramanti
Neurobioimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo," Messina, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Silvia
S
Marino
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic
Anxiety; arteriovenous malformations; coping; depression; quality of life