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Astheno-emotional disorder after aneurysmal SAH: reliability, symptomatology and relation to outcome
M Rödholm1, J E Starmark, E Svensson
1Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden.
Objectives:
Neuropsychiatric symptoms commonly found after aneurysmal SAH are covered in the astheno-emotional disorder (AED) of Lindqvist & Malmgrens diagnostic system for organic psychiatry. This study aims to describe the reliability and symptomatology of AED and its relationship with social outcome.
Material And Methods:
Patients referred due to aneurysmal SAH (n=78) were assessed after 1-6 months for AED inter-rater reliability (n=36) and after 12 months for AED severity grade, symptomatology and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) (n=63).
Results:
There was no systematic error in diagnosing and grading AED, and the agreement was 85% and 67% respectively (kappa=0.65 and 0.52). Fatigability, concentration difficulties and memory difficulties were the most frequent symptoms of AED. The relationship between AED and "moderate disability" of GOS was highly significant (P<0.00006).
Conclusions:
AED affects social outcome, and can be diagnosed with high reliability even without neuropsychological testing. Use of the AED diagnosis for evaluation of organic mental symptoms is encouraged.