Search Results (4)

This study assessed the physical and psychological health parameters of adults experiencing homelessness to inform the development and delivery of health services by comparing with a housed population in the same South Australian city. Adults experiencing homelessness, known to existing support services, were invited to participate in a comprehensive assessment of their physical and mental health using questionnaires and objective assessments. Descriptive analyses using the percentage of participants failing to attain recommended published thresholds and accumulated health deficits for 16 health assessments were compared for the young group of people experiencing homelessness (18–40 years), the middle aged and older people experiencing homelessness (40–75 years), and a housed population of the middle aged and older people (40–75 years). Those experiencing homelessness had multiple and potentially inter-related health deficits compared with a population of people not experiencing homelessness in the same city. They were significantly less likely to meet healthy population norms for clinical frailty (p < 0.001), psychological distress (p < 0.001), grip strength (p < 0.001), lung function (p < 0.001), sleep quality (p < 0.001), and pelvic floor bother (p = 0.002). Significantly more accumulated health deficits were found for people experiencing homelessness when compared with the same ages for those who were not (mean 6.5 (SD 2.4) compared with 5.0 (SD 2.1)). This considerably increased for people experiencing homelessness aged less than 40 years (mean 8.7 (1.7)). Priorities for health service provision for people of different ages experiencing homelessness, when compared with housed community dwellers, have been described. The provision of targeted health assessments and service provision that specifically address healthcare needs among people experiencing homelessness are likely to have the biggest impacts across multiple health domains. Full article

Tinnitus is a common symptom reported in otolaryngologic practice. Although the pathophysiology of tinnitus has not been fully understood, clinical studies suggest that psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatization are increased in tinnitus patients. However, patients seeking medical treatment for tinnitus may be especially vulnerable. Population-based studies reporting on the association between tinnitus and psychological distress are still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of tinnitus with depression, anxiety, or somatization in a large population-based cohort. The Gutenberg Health Study is a population-based cohort study. Participants were asked about the occurrence of tinnitus (yes/no) and how much they were bothered by it. In addition, they completed the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and SSS-8 questionnaires to assess depressive symptoms, anxiety, and somatic symptom disorders. A total of 8539 participants were included in the study cohort. Tinnitus prevalence was 28.0% (2387). The prevalence of depression/anxiety/somatic symptom disorders was significantly higher among participants with tinnitus than among participants without tinnitus (7.9%/5.4%/40.4% participants with tinnitus vs. 4.6%/3.3%/26.9% participants without tinnitus, p-value < 0.0001). Logistic regression results showed that participants with tinnitus were more likely to suffer from depression (OR = 2.033, 95% CI [1.584; 2.601], p-value < 0.0001), anxiety (OR = 1.841, 95% CI [1.228; 2.728], p-value = 0.0027), or somatic symptom disorders (OR = 2.057, 95% CI [1.799; 2.352], p-value < 0.0001). Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptom disorders were increased in participants with tinnitus. This must be taken into account when treating these patients. Full article

The lack of empirically based diagnostic criteria for delayed ejaculation (DE) not only undermines confidence in the reported prevalence rates for this sexual dysfunction, but it has also resulted in a lack of validated patient reported outcomes (PROs) for assessing this condition. The current study was designed to describe and evaluate six face-valid variables previously shown to discriminate between men with and without DE for their utility as diagnostic measures for DE. A sample of 1285 men (mean age = 37.8, SD = 12.7) free of erectile problems and premature ejaculation completed an online sexual health survey that included potential questions intended for use in the diagnosis of DE. Questionnaire items included ones reflective of previously proposed diagnostic constructs related to DE: ejaculation timing/latency, ejaculation efficacy/control, and negative effects of DE. Results indicated that five of the six proposed items showed moderate intercorrelations, suggesting that each constituted a distinct (i.e., non-redundant) though relevant criterion related to the diagnosis of DE. Based on the level of interrelatedness, the better items representing each construct were included in commonality analysis to assess their unique contributions to the diagnosis of DE. Perceived lack of ejaculatory efficacy/control contributed the largest portion of the variance to the diagnosis of DE (58%), with bother/distress (an index of the negative effects of DE) contributing the second largest portion (25%), and ejaculation timing/latency contributing only a small portion of the variance (6%) to the diagnosis of DE. The relevance of these findings to developing a patient report outcome (PRO) for diagnosing DE that considers both empirically supported questions/items and an appropriate balance of items regarding the three constructs was discussed. Full article

“Ejaculatory control” and “bother/distress” are key criteria for diagnosing men with premature ejaculation (PE), yet compared with ejaculatory latency (EL), these constructs have received only minimal attention. In addition, they have not been characterized in men having different sexual orientations or subtypes of PE. This study aimed to characterize relationships among ejaculatory control, bother/distress, and EL; to assess differences across men having different sexual orientations, PE status, and PE subtypes (i.e., lifelong vs. acquired); and to determine the importance of ejaculatory control to men’s sexual partners. In total, 1071 men and sexual partners of men rated their ejaculatory control and bother/distress and estimated their EL; these measures were compared across sexual orientation, PE status, PE subtype, and male and female partners of men. Results revealed a monotonic though slightly curvilinear relationship between ejaculatory control and bother/distress. These PE criteria differed significantly between PE and non-PE men, to a lesser extent between gay and straight men, and not at all between men having lifelong vs. acquired PE. Female and male partners of men affirmed the importance of ejaculatory control during partnered sex, indicating lack of control as a potential reason for ending a relationship. Full article