Features of responding to stress of elderly patients with chronic brain ischemia

Author:
T.A. SLYUSAR, YU.V. ABRAMENKO, S.S. RUBINA, R.V. MAYOROV, I.N. SLYUSAR

Tver State Medical University, Tver, Russia

Summary:
The aim of the study. To study the peculiarities of responding to stress, the stress resistance and adaptation of older men and women with chronic brain ischemia, as well as the stressboard effect of Mexidol. Material and methods. 124 patients aged 60–74 years old are surveyed: 72 men and 52 women (average age, respectively, 65.3 ± 0.4 and 64.7 ± 0.7 years) with Chronic Brain Ischemia I–II stage against the background of arterial hypertension and its combinations with atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels. The level of psychosocial stress was determined on the Holmes-Ray scale. Features of the response of patients to stress was studied using the methodology Scale of Psychological Stress PSM‑25 and S. Rogenzweig. Stress resistance was investigated using S. Kuhlen’s stress resistance self-resistant test and Villianson. The level of anxiety was determined using a scale of Ch. D. Spilberger and Yu. L. Khanin, depressed – backup questionnaire. The type of adaptation reactions was studied in the leukocyte blood formula on the percentage ratio of lymphocytes and segmented neutrophils, taking into account the representation of other formed elements. Results. The level of stress in older women with Chronic Brain Ischemia was higher than in men. The predominance of the intrinsic orientation of the reaction to stress and resolving the type of response to men, and the extrapunitive or self-defense type among women, which may indicate the largerness of the latter. The level of stress resistance was lower in women than in men, which correlated with higher indicators of situational anxiety. Adverse adaptation reactions were more often registered in women than in men. The course of treatment with Mexidol of elderly patients with chemical leads to a decrease in the severity of subjective and objective symptoms, alarming disorders, increases the stress resistance and adaptive capabilities of the body, which is confirmed by an increase in the number of persons with favorable adaptation reactions. The high efficiency and safety of sequential therapy with Mexidol (injections, then the tableted form of Mexidol Forte 250) is shown. Keywords: chronic brain ischemia, sex, stress, stress resistance, emotional disorders, anxiety, depression, Mexidol, adaptation reactions.