RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Association of Psychometric Indices and Normal Electrodiagnostic Studies in Referral for Suspected Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
JF In Vivo
JO In Vivo
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 1791
OP 1797
DO 10.21873/invivo.12439
VO 35
IS 3
A1 MARIANNA PAPADOPOULOU
A1 GEORGIOS TSIVGOULIS
A1 IOANNA CHATZI
A1 LINA PALAIODIMOU
A1 MARIANNA BREGIANNI
A1 KONSTANTINOS VOUMVOURAKIS
A1 IOANNIS MICHOPOULOS
YR 2021
UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/35/3/1791.abstract
AB 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.