Marianna Papadopoulou1,2, Georgios Tsivgoulis3, Ioanna Chatzi4, Lina Palaiodimou3, Marianna Bregianni3, Konstantinos Voumvourakis3, Ioannis Michopoulos5. 1. Second Department of Neurology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University General Hospital, Athens, Greece; marpapgr@yahoo.co.uk mpapad@uniwa.gr. 2. Department of Physiotherapy, Laboratory of Neuromuscular and Cardiovascular Study of Motion, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece. 3. Second Department of Neurology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University General Hospital, Athens, Greece. 4. Department of Neurology, Euroclinic of Athens, Athens, Greece. 5. Second Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate psychometric indices and their association with electrodiagnostic studies (EDX). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients referred for EDX testing of the upper limbs were prospectively enrolled. Demographic data, laboratory test results, referral physician specialty, main symptom, WHODAS 2.0-12 item version, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) indicating the extent of their discomfort were collected. RESULTS: Normal EDX results were elicited from 56% of patients. Only the presence of numbness in the right hand, pain in the left hand and older age were significantly associated with an abnormal EDX result. The more depressed and anxious the patients were, the more they scored on psychometric scales. CONCLUSION: The large prevalence of normal EDX studies raises the issue of unnecessary referrals. A proportion of patients are referred only according to their reported symptoms. Psychological factors affect the way a person expresses physical discomfort, leading to unnecessary EDX referrals and inevitably with normal results. Copyright
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate psychometric indices and their association with electrodiagnostic studies (EDX). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients referred for EDX testing of the upper limbs were prospectively enrolled. Demographic data, laboratory test results, referral physician specialty, main symptom, WHODAS 2.0-12 item version, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) indicating the extent of their discomfort were collected. RESULTS: Normal EDX results were elicited from 56% of patients. Only the presence of numbness in the right hand, pain in the left hand and older age were significantly associated with an abnormal EDX result. The more depressed and anxious the patients were, the more they scored on psychometric scales. CONCLUSION: The large prevalence of normal EDX studies raises the issue of unnecessary referrals. A proportion of patients are referred only according to their reported symptoms. Psychological factors affect the way a person expresses physical discomfort, leading to unnecessary EDX referrals and inevitably with normal results. Copyright
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