Psychological analysis of patients with untreated un-ruptured intracranial aneurysms

Objective To assess and investigate the psychological problems of patients with untreated un-ruptured intracranial aneurysm(UIA).Methods Seventy patients with untreated UIA,admitted to our hospital from January 2008 to January 2011,and 48 healthy controls were evaluated by Symptom Checklist-90(SCL-90),Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS)and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS).Results In the SCL-90,the sub-scores of somatization,depression,anxiety and terror,and the total scores of patient group were significantly higher than those of controls(P＜0.05); as compared with the controls,these patients were more likely having depression and anxiety(P＜0.05).The depression and anxiety in introverted patients and poor education patients were more serious as compared with those in other types (P＜0.05); regression analysis suggested that the indepent risks of psychology included education levels and personality types.Conclusion The untreated UIA patients will be prone to depression or anxiety,and poor educational or introverted patients are more likely to have depression or anxiety. Key words: Unruptured intracranial aneurysm;  Psychology;  Depression;  Anxiety