Showing papers by "Jong Ling Fuh published in 2001"
TL;DR: It is found that CDH is not uncommon in the community and its prevalence is similar among different populations, and older subjects and those with medication overuse may have a more protracted course of illness.
Abstract: We conducted a two-stage population-based headache survey among subjects aged > or = 15 in Taipei, Taiwan. Subjects with chronic daily headache (CDH) in the past year were identified, interviewed and followed-up. CDH was defined as a headache frequency > 15 days/month, with a duration > 4 h/day. Of the 3377 participants, 108 (3.2%) fulfilled the criteria for CDH, with a higher prevalence in women (4.3%) than men (1.9%). TM was the most common subtype (55%), followed by CTTH (44%). Thirty-four per cent of the CDH subjects overused analgesics. At the 2-year follow-up, 35% of the CDH subjects still had CDH. The significant predictors for persistent CDH at follow-up included: older age ( > or = 40 years) (RR = 2.4), CDH onset after 32 years (RR = 1.8), CDH duration > or = 6 years (RR = 2.0), medication overuse (RR = 1.8), and "daily" headache (RR = 2.1). We found that CDH is not uncommon in the community and its prevalence is similar among different populations. Older subjects and those with medication overuse may have a more protracted course of illness.
240 citations
TL;DR: This study is the first to demonstrate that the SF‐36 scores differ among headache diagnoses, and suggests that improvement in the pain profile as well as psychological well‐being can predict a generalized improvement inTheSF‐36 scales in headache patients.
Abstract: This paper presents the results of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in 901 patients consecutively visiting a headache clinic of a national medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. HRQoL was evaluated with the Medical Outcome Study-Short Form (SF-36) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). According to the classification criteria for chronic daily headache (CDH) proposed by Silberstein et al. (Neurology 47 (1996) 871) five hundred and ninety-three (66%) patients had CDH, of whom transformed migraine (TM) was diagnosed in 310, and chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) in 231. One hundred and ninety-three patients had episodic migraine. All SF-36 scale scores significantly correlated with the HADS scores and the intensity and frequency of pain. Compared with the normative data, a pervasive multi-dimensional decline of the SF-36 scores was noted among the headache patients except for the physical functioning scale. The decline was most remarkable in the role limitations of physical and emotional dimensions and in the bodily pain. An increasing impairment of the SF-36 scores was noted from migraine to CTTH to TM. After controlling for the HADS, age, gender, education, and chronic illness by multiple linear regression analyses, the patients with TM had the worst SF-36 profile; whereas, the patients with CTTH and migraine had compatible results. This study is the first to demonstrate that the SF-36 scores differ among headache diagnoses. Psychological distress, as well as the percentages of the types of patients, greatly influenced the SF-36 scores in hospital-based headache samples. Our findings also suggest that improvement in the pain profile as well as psychological well-being can predict a generalized improvement in the SF-36 scales in headache patients.
191 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that the NPI is a reliable tool to assess behavioral disturbance and caregiver distress in Taiwanese AD patients, and confirm the high prevalence of psychopathology among AD patients and the marked distress produced by many of these behaviors.
Abstract: Objectives: To evaluate the applicability of the Chinese version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Scale (NPI), and to explore the neuropsychiatric manifestations of Taiwanese patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and caregiver distress. Method: The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was administered to 95 patients with AD, and their caregivers were interviewed with the NPI. To assess the test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of the NPI, 86 caregivers underwent a second NPI 3 weeks later. Results: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Chinese version of the NPI was .76. The test-rest reliabilities of frequency, severity, and caregiver burden scores were significantly correlated; overall correlations were .85 for frequency (p < .001), .82 for severity (p < .001), and .79 (p < .001) for distress. Factor analysis was carried out, and three groups, “mood and psychosis,” “psychomotor regulation,” and “social engagement,” were found. Aberrant motor behavior was the most frequently recorded behavior; euphoria was the least. There was no significant correlation between the patient's MMSE and the caregiver distress score, except for aberrant motor activity (r = −.23, p = .03). The symptoms most frequently reported to be severely distressing to caregivers were aberrant motor activity, anxiety, agitation, and delusions. Conclusions: These results indicate that the NPI is a reliable tool to assess behavioral disturbance and caregiver distress in Taiwanese AD patients. These findings also confirm the high prevalence of psychopathology among AD patients and the marked distress produced by many of these behaviors.
119 citations
TL;DR: The age at menopause did not differ much from Western studies, but the menopausal symptoms, especially the vasomotor symptoms, were much lower in the study population, Nevertheless, vasom motor symptoms were still significantly associated with menopausal status.
91 citations
TL;DR: Two patients with migraine reported having experienced persistent auralike visual phenomena for months to years and after lamotrigine treatment for 2 weeks, they both had a resolution of the visual symptoms.
Abstract: Two patients with migraine reported having experienced persistent auralike visual phenomena for months to years. All laboratory investigations were normal except for occipital hypoperfusion on the brain single photon emission computed tomography. After lamotrigine treatment for 2 weeks, they both had a resolution of the visual symptoms. Persistent migrainous visual phenomena are potentially benign and probably a status of spontaneous aura.
76 citations
TL;DR: This study found self-perception of headache impact and co-morbid illnesses were important factors affecting the decision to consult physicians about headache.
Abstract: We conducted a population-based headache questionnaire survey including questions on physician consultation for headache in Taipei, Taiwan from August 1997 to June 1998. The participants comprised ...
29 citations
TL;DR: A 68-y-old man who suffered from a brain abscess over the right-side thalamus and midbrain and no portal of entry for the microorganism was identified.
Abstract: Haemophilus parahaemolyticus rarely causes disease in humans. We present the case of a 68-y-old man who suffered from a brain abscess over the right-side thalamus and midbrain. Stereotactic aspirates grew H. parahaemolyticus. No portal of entry for the microorganism was identified in this case. The patient made a good recovery after treatment.
4 citations