Revista de Psicologia e Psicoterapia
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Psychological Correlates in Subjects with Hereditary Angioedema (HAE)

Marilisa Salemi, Francesca Di Bella, Antonino Miragliotta, Roberto Perricone, Maria Domenica Guarino, Marco Cicardi, Andrea Zanichelli, Francesco Arcoleo, Valentina Selvaggio and Enrico Cillari

Objectives: Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a rare serious medical condition caused by a deficiency of C1-inhibitor, due to mutations in its structural gene. The disease appears clinically as cutaneous swelling of the extremities, face, genitals, and trunk, painful swelling of the gastrointestinal mucosa and life threatening laryngeal edema. In this study we evaluated in HAE patients and in the relative controls the psychological status and gender differences to verify if there is a link between disease and mental status.

Methods: We studied “psychological stress”, using the Cognitive Behavioural Assessment 2.0 (CBA-2.0), in a total of 70 patients with confirmed HAE from different Italian Hospitals (41 women, 29 men; aged 17 to 78).

Results: The analysis of the majority factors of CBA-2.0 tests indicates a clear difference between male and female patients; in fact, women perceive more intensively than men the different signs of the disease (have more consciousness of the consequences that this illness provokes in their life).

Conclusion: Our data indicate that HAE is associated with emotional factors that can also complicate the clinical status of patients.