Clinical Characteristics of Frequency-Anxiety Syndrome

Kim, Doo Hong; Kwon, Heon Young

Abstract

PURPOSE: Lower urinary tract symptom in elderly person leads to their psychological anxiety and stress in their travel and further, loss of self esteem that can set limitation during their social activities and their lives. we coined a frequency-anxiety syndrome (FAS) for the patients with lower urinary tract symptom and anxiety. This study was performed to characterize the clinical characteristics of FAS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
24 FAS patients and 20 controls were included in this study. For the analysis and comparisons, we investigated frequency, urgency, i-nternational prostate symptom score (I-PSS), cystoscopy, and urodynamic study in both groups. We also performed semi-structured psychiatric interview and state-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
RESULTS
In the average I-PSS, FAS group had significantly higher score of 22.9+/-10.9 than control group of 10.6+/-6.5 (p<0.001). The control group had significantly higher quality of life herving problems (QOL) value of 1.8+/-1.2 as compared to FAS group of 5.1+/-0.1 (p<0.005). In STAI, FAS group had significantiy higher score than control group.
CONCLUSIONS
There were significant differences between FAS group and control group in regard to lower urinary tract symptom, I-PSS, QOL, and anxiety. The above results suggest that FAS could be considered as independent syndrome.