アスベスト外来受診者の不安およびうつ状態と病態像について

Anxiety, Depression, and Clinical Profile of Patients Who Visited Asbestos Center

要旨

　目的：アスベストばく露を受けた人々の不安およびうつ状態と病態像について検討した．

　方法：アスベストばく露後関連病変の検査のために初めてA病院アスベスト外来を訪れた人を対象とした．調査内容は，診察前の不安，不安性格傾向，うつ状態，レントゲン所見，咳嗽や胸痛などのアスベストに関連する症状，年齢および初回ばく露から今回の受診までの期間で，それらの関係をみた．不安とうつ状態は，それぞれState-Trait Anxiety Inventory，Beck Depression Inventoryを使用した．

　結果：受診者138名が分析対象となり，半数以上は診察前に強い不安を感じていた．診察前の不安は初回ばく露からの期間と有意な相関はみられなかった．自覚症状のある人はない人より診察前の不安が強く，うつ状態も強かった．「関連病変あり」群は「異常なし」群に比較し，自覚症状のある割合，診察前の不安，不安性格傾向，うつ傾向すべてにおいて有意に高い値を示した．不安性格傾向は，年齢，初回ばく露からの期間，症状との相関はなかった．

　結論：受診者の半数以上が診察前に強い不安を感じていた．関連病変のみられた人は異常なしの人に比べ，不安およびうつ状態も強く，症状のある割合も高かった．これらの結果はアスベストばく露を受けた人々への精神面でのサポートの必要性を示唆するものである．

Abstract

　Aim: The purpose of this study was to characterize anxiety, depression and clinical profile of patients in light of their asbestos exposure.

　Methods: Outpatients from the Asbestos Center at Hospital A who visited for their first medical examination of asbestos-related illnesses were surveyed. We examined the relationships between anxiety prior to doctor consultation, anxiety as a personality trait, depression, X-ray findings, asbestos-related symptoms(e.g., cough and chest pain), age, and period since first exposure to asbestos. Anxiety was assessed using State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and depression was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory.

　Results: Our analysis of 138 outpatients revealed that more than half of the patients felt strong anxiety prior to doctor consultation. No significant correlation was observed between anxiety prior to doctor consultation and the period since first exposure to asbestos. Patients with asbestos-related symptoms were more anxious prior to doctor consultation and depressed. Patients with 'asbestos-related findings' exhibited significantly more frequent symptoms, more anxiety prior to doctor consultation, a more anxious personality, and more depression, compared to patients with no asbestos-related findings. There was no correlation between anxious personality and age, period since first exposure to asbestos, and asbestos-related symptoms.

　Conclusion: More than half of the outpatients seemed to exhibit anxiety prior to doctor consultation. Anxiety, depression, and frequency of asbestos-related symptoms were worse in patients with 'asbestos-related findings' than in those with no asbestos-related findings. Our findings demonstrate the need for psychological support in people exposed to asbestos.