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Improving Exposure Therapy: Rationale and Design of an International Consortium
Smits JAJ, Abramowitz JS, Arch JJ, Papini S, Anderson RA, Dixon LJ, Graham BM, Hofmann SG, Hoyer J, Huppert JD, Jacquart J, Johnson D, McEvoy PM, McKay D, Newby J, Otto MW, Pittig A, Rief W, Rosenfield D, Timpano KR, Wannemüller A and
The Exposure Therapy Consortium (ETC) was established to advance the science and practice of exposure therapy. To encourage participation from researchers and clinicians, this article describes the organizational structure and activities of the ETC. Initial research working group experiences and a proof-of-principle study underscore the potential of team science and larger-scale collaborative research in this area. Clinical working groups have begun to identify opportunities to enhance access to helpful resources for implementing exposure therapy effectively. This article discusses directions for expanding the consortium's activities and its impact on a global scale.
Technology-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interventions
Newby JM, Upton E, Mason E and Black M
Technology-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has enabled more people to access effective, affordable mental health care. This study provides an overview of the most common types of technology-delivered CBT, including Internet-delivered, smartphone app, and telehealth CBT, as well as their evidence for the treatment of a range of mental health conditions. We discuss gaps in the existing evidence and future directions in the field for the use of technology CBT interventions.
An Overview of Research on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Levin ME, Krafft J and Twohig MP
This review summarized recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses on randomized controlled trials evaluating acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Although the strength of evidence varies, overall there is plausible evidence for the efficacy of ACT for a wide range of areas including depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, psychosis, substance use disorders, chronic pain, coping with chronic health conditions, obesity, stigma, and stress and burnout. ACT is also efficacious when delivered in digital self-help formats. Reviews of mediation research indicate ACT works through increasing psychological flexibility.
Novel Approaches Toward Studying Change: Implications for Understanding and Treating Psychopathology
Heshmati S, Westhoff M and Hofmann SG
In this article, the authors critically evaluate contemporary models of psychopathology and therapies, underscoring the limitations of traditional symptom-based classification approaches in mental health. The authors introduce a paradigm shift in the field, toward a process-oriented and dynamic systems approach to psychotherapy that offers deeper insights into the complex interplay of symptoms and individual experiences in psychopathology. These approaches offer a more personalized and effective understanding and treatment of mental health issues, moving beyond static and 1-dimensional views. The authors discuss the implications for clinical practice, emphasizing improved assessment, diagnosis, and tailored treatment strategies.
A Review of Transdiagnostic Mechanisms in Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Southward MW, Kushner ML, Terrill DR and Sauer-Zavala S
Cognitive behavior therapies (CBTs) are the gold standard treatment for many psychiatric conditions. However, relatively little is known about how CBTs work. By characterizing these mechanisms, researchers can ensure CBTs retain their potency across diagnoses and delivery contexts. We review 3 classes of putative mechanisms: CBT-specific skills (eg, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation), transtheoretical mechanisms (eg, therapeutic alliance, treatment expectancies, self-efficacy beliefs), and psychopathological mechanisms (aversive reactivity, positive affect, attachment style). We point to future research within each class and emphasize the need for more intensive longitudinal designs to capture how each class of mechanisms interacts with the others to improve outcomes.
Psychedelics and Evidence-based Psychotherapy: A Systematic Review with Recommendations for Advancing Psychedelic Therapy Research
Leone L, McSpadden B, DeMarco A, Enten L, Kline R and Fonzo GA
Administration of psychedelics for mental health treatment, typically referred to as "psychedelic-assisted therapy," is a broad term with a very heterogeneous implementation. Despite increasing interest in the clinical application of psychedelic compounds for psychiatric disorders, there is no consensus on how to best integrate the psychedelic experience with evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatment. This systematic review provides a timely appraisal of existing approaches to combining psychotherapy with psychedelics and provides clear recommendations to best develop, optimize, and integrate evidence-based psychotherapy with psychedelic administration for straightforward scientific inference and maximal therapeutic benefit.
Victim Sexual Arousal During Nonconsensual Sex: A Scoping Review
Vandervoort M, Liosatos A, Aladhami H, Suschinsky KD and Lalumière ML
Sexual arousal in male and female victims during nonconsensual sex is an understudied phenomenon with many potential psychological, clinical, and legal implications for survivors. The aim of this scoping review was to assess the literature to determine whether we could estimate the frequency and circumstances of physiological sexual arousal (e.g., erection, lubrication, ejaculation, orgasm) among victims during nonconsensual sex. Six reference database and hand searches led to the screening of 13,894 articles and other reports. Eight articles and one book published between 1977 and 2019 included relevant data from 136 male survivors and 250 female survivors. Results confirmed that physiological sexual arousal (only genital responses were mentioned) can occur in both male and female victims during nonconsensual sex. The frequency of these responses could not be determined because of the widely different methodologies used. In addition, it was not possible to determine the circumstances in which victim sexual arousal was more likely to occur although some were inferred. The results of the scoping review highlight that physiological sexual arousal during nonconsensual sex does occur for victims but has not been studied systematically. There is a clear need to properly assess the type, circumstances, consequences, and frequency of sexual arousal during nonconsensual sex in large and diverse populations of male and female survivors.
An exploration into the causal relationships between educational attainment, intelligence, and wellbeing: an observational and two-sample Mendelian randomisation study
Armitage JM, Wootton RE, Davis OSP and Haworth CMA
Educational attainment is associated with a range of positive outcomes, yet its impact on wellbeing is unclear, and complicated by high correlations with intelligence. We use genetic and observational data to investigate for the first time, whether educational attainment and intelligence are causally and independently related to wellbeing. Results from our multivariable Mendelian randomisation demonstrated a positive causal impact of a genetic predisposition to higher educational attainment on wellbeing that remained after accounting for intelligence, and a negative impact of intelligence that was independent of educational attainment. Observational analyses suggested that these associations may be subject to sex differences, with benefits to wellbeing greater for females who attend higher education compared to males. For intelligence, males scoring more highly on measures related to happiness were those with lower intelligence. Our findings demonstrate a unique benefit for wellbeing of staying in school, over and above improving cognitive abilities, with benefits likely to be greater for females compared to males.
The long-term changing patterns of suicide mortality in China from 1987 to 2020: continuing urban-rural disparity
Wu Y, Su B, Zhong P, Wang Y, Huang Y and Zheng X
Over the past three decades, China has experienced significant changes in urban-rural, gender, and age-specific suicide mortality patterns. This study aimed to investigate the long-term trends in suicide mortality in China from 1987 to 2020.
The who and the where: Attention to identities and locations in groups
Ma HL, Redden RS and Hayward DA
While it is widely accepted that the single gaze of another person elicits shifts of attention, there is limited work on the effects of multiple gazes on attention, despite real-world social cues often occurring in groups. Further, less is known regarding the role of unequal reliability of varying social and nonsocial information on attention. We addressed these gaps by employing a variant of the gaze cueing paradigm, simultaneously presenting participants with three faces. Block-wise, we manipulated whether one face (Identity condition) or one location (Location condition) contained a gaze cue entirely predictive of target location; all other cues were uninformative. Across trials, we manipulated the number of valid cues (number of faces gazing at target). We examined whether these two types of information (Identity vs. Location) were learned at a similar rate by statistically modelling cueing effects by trial count. Preregistered analyses returned no evidence for an interaction between condition, number of valid faces, and presence of the predictive element, indicating type of information did not affect participants' ability to employ the predictive element to alter behaviour. Exploratory analyses demonstrated (i) response times (RT) decreased faster across trials for the Identity compared with Location condition, with greater decreases when the predictive element was present versus absent, (ii) RTs decreased across trials for the Location condition only when it was completed first, and (iii) social competence altered RTs across conditions and trial number. Our work demonstrates a nuanced relationship between cue utility, condition type, and social competence on group cueing.
The reflective function questionnaire for youth: Hungarian adaptation and evaluation of associations with quality of life and psychopathology
Szabó B, Sharp C, Futó J, Boda M, Losonczy L and Miklósi M
An important correlate of mental health problems is mentalizing capacity, which appears to be particularly influential during adolescence. However, quality of life has not been studied in relation to mentalizing capacity among adolescents. This study aimed to translate the Reflective Function Questionnaire for Youth (RFQY) into Hungarian, present its psychometric properties, and assess its relationship with demographic characteristics, psychopathology and quality of life. A community sample of 384 youths aged 12-18 years completed the RFQY, the Measure of Quality of Life for Children and Adolescents, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. First, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis with direct oblimin rotation on the RFQY items. Next, we assessed the associations between the RFQY and demographics, quality of life, and psychopathology. The EFA resulted in four factors: Internal-self, Internal-other, Self-other, and Strong emotions. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the scales were .81, .82, .67, and .80, respectively. The subscales were uniquely associated with psychopathology and quality of life. Our study provides the first psychometric support for the Hungarian version of the RFQY and indicates that adolescents suffering from internalizing, externalizing symptoms or lower levels of quality of life could benefit from interventions aimed at enhancing mentalizing capacity.
'I'm still su!c!dal when you're done with the paperwork': an inductive framework thematic analysis of #camhs on TikTok
Foster M, Frith H and John M
Young people are sharing their experiences of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the United Kingdom on TikTok. Little is known about the content of these videos and their influence on young people's attitudes towards seeking professional mental health support.
An Age-Progression Intervention for Smoking Cessation: A Pilot Study Investigating the Influence of Two Sets of Instructions on Intervention Efficacy
Walker L, Grogan S, Denovan A, Scholtens K, McMillan B, Conner M, Epton T, Armitage CJ and Cordero MI
Research on age-progression facial morphing interventions for smoking cessation has not investigated the effect of different instructions for intervention delivery. The objective of this pilot study was to investigate the influence of two instruction types used to deliver the intervention on efficacy of the intervention.
Identification of the needs of individuals affected by COVID-19
Stanley HB, Pereda-Campos V, Mantel M, Rouby C, Daudé C, Aguera PE, Fornoni L, Hummel T, Weise S, Mignot C, Konstantinidis I, Garefis K, Ferdenzi C, Pierron D and Bensafi M
The optimal management of COVID-19 symptoms and their sequelae remains an important area of clinical research. Policy makers have little scientific data regarding the effects on the daily life of affected individuals and the identification of their needs. Such data are needed to inform effective care policy.
Factors associated with posttraumatic stress and anxiety among the parents of babies admitted to neonatal care: a systematic review
Malouf R, Harrison S, Pilkington V, Opondo C, Gale C, Stein A, Franck LS and Alderdice F
Posttraumatic stress (PTS) and anxiety are common mental health problems among parents of babies admitted to a neonatal unit (NNU). This review aimed to identify sociodemographic, pregnancy and birth, and psychological factors associated with PTS and anxiety in this population.
Pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women taking oral probiotic undergoing cerclage compared to placebo: two blinded randomized controlled trial
Vanda R, Dastani T, Taghavi SA, Sadeghi H, Lambert N and Bazarganipour F
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the oral probiotic effect on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women undergoing cerclage compared to placebo.
ØCD: protocol for the development and evaluation of a cognitive-behavioral prevention program for obsessive-compulsive disorder
Cardoș RAI, Dumitru EP and David OA
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) imposes significant burdens on individuals, families, and healthcare systems and the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have exacerbated OCD symptoms. Currently, there are no validated prevention programs for OCD, highlighting a critical gap in mental health services. This study aims to develop and validate the first ØCD prevention program, for at-risk adults, utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure response prevention (ERP) techniques.
The vmPFC-IPL functional connectivity as the neural basis of future self-continuity impacted procrastination: the mediating role of anticipated positive outcomes
Zhao X, Zhang R and Feng T
Procrastination is universally acknowledged as a problematic behavior with wide-ranging consequences impacting various facets of individuals' lives, including academic achievement, social accomplishments, and mental health. Although previous research has indicated that future self-continuity is robustly negatively correlated with procrastination, it remains unknown about the neural mechanisms underlying the impact of future self-continuity on procrastination. To address this issue, we employed a free construction approach to collect individuals' episodic future thinking (EFT) thoughts regarding specific procrastination tasks. Next, we conducted voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analysis to explore the neural substrates underlying future self-continuity. Behavior results revealed that future self-continuity was significantly negatively correlated with procrastination, and positively correlated with anticipated positive outcome. The VBM analysis showed a positive association between future self-continuity and gray matter volumes in the right ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Furthermore, the RSFC results indicated that the functional connectivity between the right vmPFC and the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL) was positively correlated with future self-continuity. More importantly, the mediation analysis demonstrated that anticipated positive outcome can completely mediate the relationship between the vmPFC-IPL functional connectivity and procrastination. These findings suggested that vmPFC-IPL functional connectivity might prompt anticipated positive outcome about the task and thereby reduce procrastination, which provides a new perspective to understand the relationship between future self-continuity and procrastination.
Exploring factors affecting the unsafe behavior of health care workers' in using respiratory masks during COVID-19 pandemic in Iran: a qualitative study
Tahernejad A, Sohrabizadeh S and Tahernejad S
The use of respiratory masks has been one of the most important measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, correct and safe use of breathing masks is vital. The purpose of this study was to exploring factors affecting the unsafe behavior of health care workers' in using respiratory masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.
The application of machine learning techniques in posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Wang J, Ouyang H, Jiao R, Cheng S, Zhang H, Shang Z, Jia Y, Yan W, Wu L and Liu W
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) recently becomes one of the most important mental health concerns. However, no previous study has comprehensively reviewed the application of big data and machine learning (ML) techniques in PTSD. We found 873 studies meet the inclusion criteria and a total of 31 of those in a sample of 210,001 were included in quantitative analysis. ML algorithms were able to discriminate PTSD with an overall accuracy of 0.89. Pooled estimates of classification accuracy from multi-dimensional data (0.96) are higher than single data types (0.86 to 0.90). ML techniques can effectively classify PTSD and models using multi-dimensional data perform better than those using single data types. While selecting optimal combinations of data types and ML algorithms to be clinically applied at the individual level still remains a big challenge, these findings provide insights into the classification, identification, diagnosis and treatment of PTSD.
Occupational Therapy in Psychiatric Short-Term Hospitalization Units: Scoping Review
García-Gestal U, Talavera-Valverde MÁ and Souto-Gómez AI
Given the context, the overarching aim is to identify scientific publications on occupational therapy in Psychiatric-Short-Term-Hospitalization-Units. Specific objectives include: (a) Analyzing the historical development of this research area; (b) Synthesizing existing evidence on the nature of documentary sources on occupational therapy in in Psychiatric-Short-Term-Hospitalization-Units; (c) Detailing the volume of scientific literature on occupational therapy in these units; (e) Evaluating available evidence on occupational therapy interventions to improve functionality, quality of life, and recovery in individuals admitted to in Psychiatric-Short-Term-Hospitalization-Units. A scoping review method was employed to conduct a historical mapping of research on in Psychiatric-Short-Term-Hospitalization-Units. The review proceeded in five stages following PRISMA guidelines. After applying selection criteria, the search identified 446 references. Findings are presented under three headings: (a) Historical trends in the scientific literature on occupational therapy and in Psychiatric-Short-Term-Hospitalization-Units; (b) Nature and volume of articles included in the occupational therapy synthesis in Psychiatric Short-Term Hospitalization Units; (c) Data extraction on methodological variables in the research of occupational therapy articles in in Psychiatric-Short-Term-Hospitalization-Units; and (d) Data extraction on research outcome variables of occupational therapy articles in Psychiatric Short-Term Hospitalization Units. The growth of occupational therapy in in Psychiatric-Short-Term-Hospitalization-Units is emphasized, with an increase in qualitative studies. Occupational therapy is underscored as an integral part of care, supporting the diversity and effectiveness of interventions. Common diagnoses include schizophrenia and depressive disorders. Group interventions and the spiritual dimension positively influence the quality of care and meaningful routines for recovery in in Psychiatric-Short-Term-Hospitalization-Units.
The clinical importance of suspected non-Alzheimer disease pathophysiology
Vos SJB, Delvenne A, Jack CR, Thal DR and Visser PJ
The development of biomarkers for Alzheimer disease (AD) has led to the origin of suspected non-AD pathophysiology (SNAP) - a heterogeneous biomarker-based concept that describes individuals with normal amyloid and abnormal tau and/or neurodegeneration biomarker status. In this Review, we describe the origins of the SNAP construct, along with its prevalence, diagnostic and prognostic implications, and underlying neuropathology. As we discuss, SNAP can be operationalized using different biomarker modalities, which could affect prevalence estimates and reported characteristics of SNAP in ways that are not yet fully understood. Moreover, the underlying aetiologies that lead to a SNAP biomarker profile, and whether SNAP is the same in people with and without cognitive impairment, remains unclear. Improved insight into the clinical characteristics and pathophysiology of SNAP is of major importance for research and clinical practice, as well as for trial design to optimize care and treatment of individuals with SNAP.
Effect of Neurotropic and Immunotropic Drugs on Leukocyte Elastase Activity In Vitro
Zozulya SA, Sokolov OY and Kost NV
Leukocyte elastase is a marker of inflammation. Previously, a relationship was found between the severity of mental disorders in patients and elastase-like activity of blood plasma. The effect of various neurotropic drugs on leukocyte elastase activity was analyzed in an in vitro experiment. We revealed an inhibitory effect of the benzodiazepine tranquilizers diazepam and bromodihydrochlorophenylbenzodiazepine and immunomodulators aminodihydrophthalazinedione and diclofenac on the plasma elastase-like activity of healthy donors and pure human neutrophil elastase. The antipsychotics chlorpromazine and alimemazine, as well as the nootropic vinpocetine increased elastase-like activity in a dose-dependent manner. The activating effect of chlorpromazine and vinpocetine, but not alimemazine, was reproduced in neutrophil elastase. We hypothesized that these drugs can affect the development of inflammatory reactions in the complex therapy of mental disorders.
Beta-amyloid interacts with and activates the long-form phosphodiesterase PDE4D5 in neuronal cells to reduce cAMP availability
Sin YY, Cameron RT, Schepers M, MacLeod R, Wright TA, Paes D, van den Hove D, Willems E, Vanmierlo T, Prickaerts J, Blair CM and Baillie GS
Inhibition of the cyclic-AMP degrading enzyme phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) in the brains of animal models is protective in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We show for the first time that enzymes from the subfamily PDE4D not only colocalize with beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques in a mouse model of AD but that Aβ directly associates with the catalytic machinery of the enzyme. Peptide mapping suggests that PDE4D is the preferential PDE4 subfamily for Aβ as it possesses a unique binding site. Intriguingly, exogenous addition of Aβ to cells overexpressing the PDE4D5 longform caused PDE4 activation and a decrease in cAMP. We suggest a novel mechanism where PDE4 longforms can be activated by Aβ, resulting in the attenuation of cAMP signalling to promote loss of cognitive function in AD.
The role of AI and machine learning in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonisms
Dennis AP and Strafella AP
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative movement disorder associated with motor and non-motor symptoms causing severe disability as the disease progresses. The development of biomarkers for Parkinson's disease to diagnose patients earlier and predict disease progression is imperative. As artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques efficiently process data and can handle multiple data types, we reviewed the literature to determine the extent to which these techniques have been applied to biomarkers for Parkinson's disease and movement disorders. We determined that the most applicable machine learning techniques are support vector machines and neural networks, depending on the size and type of the data being analyzed. Additionally, more complex machine learning techniques showed increased accuracy when compared to less complex techniques, especially when multiple machine learning models were combined. We can conclude that artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques may have the capacity to significantly boost diagnostic capacity in movement disorders and Parkinson's disease.
Health and Community Care workers' Knowledge and Perceptions of Social Prescribing in Singapore
Tan LF and Merchant RA
This study aimed to survey knowledge and perceptions of social prescribing (SP) amongst health and community care workers.
Personal growth initiative across the life span: a systematic review protocol of quantitative studies using the Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II
Verdoodt K, Simons M, de Hoog N, Reijnders J and Jacobs N
Personal Growth Initiative (PGI) a multi-dimensional construct, conceptualised as a skill set that helps individuals to intentionally grow is considered an important construct throughout the life span. Coping with the challenges, transitions, experiences and stressors of life requires an active growth orientation. In previous empirical research, the construct has been measured by either the PGIS-I or PGIS-II, of which only the latter takes account of the theoretically established multi-dimensionality of the construct. This paper describes the protocol for conducting a systematic review of published peer-reviewed empirical research articles on the multi-dimensional construct of PGI. The aim of this review is threefold: (1) to better understand the multi-dimensional construct PGI in different contexts and populations, (2) to improve our understanding of the reliability and validity of the PGIS-II in various research populations and (3) to obtain an overview of its associations with relevant psychosocial factors.
The mental health of high school students returning to in-class lessons
Bouvard M, Casarin S, Coutereau F and Fournet N
It is known that lockdown alters the mental health of children in general and adolescents in particular. Here, we surveyed the mental health of high school students returning to in-class lessons after the pandemic. We compared an "anxious-depressed" group with a "neither anxious nor depressed" group with regard to perceived self-efficacy.
Self-reported suicidal behaviour among people living with disabilities: prevalence and associated factors from a cross-sectional nation-wide survey in Bangladesh
Koly KN, Anjum A, Muzaffar R, Pollard T, Akter T, Rahman Z, Ahmed HU and Eaton J
Disability marginalises a large portion of Bangladesh's population. Global pre- and post-pandemic research evidently states that, this group is more prone to develop mental health problems, which increases the risk of self-harm and suicide among them. It is crucial to comprehend and mitigate the mental health challenges among the people with disabilities which in turn can promote their greater participation in community, and in national socioeconomic development. However, currently there is limited information available, regarding the suicidal behaviour of this group in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and contributing factors of suicidal behaviour among people with disabilities.
A systematic review to determine the effect of strategies to sustain chronic disease prevention interventions in clinical and community settings: study protocol
Riley-Gibson E, Hall A, Shoesmith A, Wolfenden L, Shelton RC, Doherty E, Pollock E, Booth D, Salloum RG, Laur C, Powell BJ, Kingsland M, Lane C, Hailemariam M, Sutherland R and Nathan N
The primary purpose of this review is to synthesise the effect of strategies aiming to sustain the implementation of evidenced-based interventions (EBIs) targeting key health behaviours associated with chronic disease (i.e. physical inactivity, poor diet, harmful alcohol use, and tobacco smoking) in clinical and community settings. The field of implementation science is bereft of an evidence base of effective sustainment strategies, and as such, this review will provide important evidence to advance the field of sustainability research.
Profile, reasons for hospitalization and nursing diagnoses of refugee-native patients admitted to internal medicine clinic-an evaluation from nursing perspective
Kıskaç N, Rashidi M, Yıldırım G, Çelik A, Hacıoğlu B, Genç A, Çakmak S and Şahin BS
The study aims to evaluate the hospitalization diagnoses and nursing diagnoses of the refugee and local population hospitalized in internal medicine clinics, which are especially important in the early diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of chronic diseases, and to emphasize their importance in nursing care.
A case series of musical hallucinations in psychiatry of old age-in search of the sound of silence
Twomey R, Young A and Clarke C
Musical hallucinations (MH) are the subjective experience of hearing music when none is played. They are a rare, understudied area of psychiatry. MH are more common in women and older age and have several underlying aetiologies and predisposing factors such as hearing impairment, mental illness and certain medications. There are no consensus guidelines on treatment; thus, current treatment has two broad approaches: (1) the removal of potential inciting factors (e.g. optimising hearing aids, medications) or (2) pharmacotherapy (antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilisers and cognitive enhancers). This paper presents a case series of patients presenting with MH to a psychiatry of old age service in Dublin City and reviews the current literature of MH. Older age, female gender and hearing impairment are known risk factors for MH. Our findings concurred with the literature-two of three patients were female, and two of three patients suffered from hearing impairment. As this was a psychiatry of old age service, all patients were elderly. One case had a swift resolution of symptoms with a combination of an antipsychotic and antidepressant. The other two cases had limited responses to treatment despite optimising their hearing aids and trials of a number of medications at therapeutic levels. Further research into MH is needed to establish a treatment that is evidence based and symptom focused.
Investigating the spatiotemporal patterns and clustering of attendances for mental health services to inform policy and resource allocation in Thailand
Rotejanaprasert C, Thanutchapat P, Phoncharoenwirot C, Mekchaiporn O, Chienwichai P and Maude RJ
Mental illness poses a substantial global public health challenge, including in Thailand, where exploration of access to mental health services is limited. The spatial and temporal dimensions of mental illness in the country are not extensively studied, despite the recognized association between poor mental health and socioeconomic inequalities. Gaining insights into these dimensions is crucial for effective public health interventions and resource allocation.
Growth of Community Outpatient Care in the Veterans Affairs System After the MISSION Act
Yoon J, Gujral K, Dismuke-Greer C, Scott JY and Jiang H
The Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018 authorized a major expansion of purchased care in the community for Veterans experiencing access barriers in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.
Mother, child and adolescent health outcomes in two long-term refugee camp settings at the Thai-Myanmar border 2000-2018: a retrospective analysis
Benner MT, Mohr O, Kaloy W, Sansoenboon A, Moungsookjarean A, Kaiser P, Carrara VI and McGready R
The study assessed mothers, children and adolescents' health (MCAH) outcomes in the context of a Primary Health Care (PHC) project and associated costs in two protracted long-term refugee camps, along the Thai-Myanmar border.
Pilot study with randomised control of dual site theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for methamphetamine use disorder: a protocol for the TARTAN study
Yadav T, Lokuge B, Jackson MA, Austin EK, Fitzgerald PB, Brown AL, Paton B, Sequeira M, Nean M, Mills L and Dunlop AJ
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) (including the theta burst stimulation (TBS) form of TMS used in this study) is a non-invasive means to stimulate nerve cells in superficial areas of the brain. In recent years, there has been a growth in the application of TMS to investigate the modulation of neural networks involved in substance use disorders. This study examines the feasibility of novel TMS protocols for the treatment of methamphetamine (MA) use disorder in an ambulatory drug and alcohol treatment setting.
Cerebrospinal fluid synaptic biomarker changes in bipolar disorder - A longitudinal case-control study
Knorr U, Simonsen AH, Nilsson J, Brinkmalm A, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Knudsen MB, Forman J, Hasselbalch SG and Kessing LV
This exploratory study investigated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) synaptic protein biomarkers in bipolar disorder (BD), aiming to highlight the neurobiological basis of the disorder. With shared cognitive impairment features between BD and Alzheimer's disease, and considering increased dementia risk in BD patients, the study explores potential connections.
Understanding Parental Secure Base Support Across Youth Sport Contexts in Sweden
Tove M, Knight CJ, Davis L, Nyström MBT and Rouquette OY
The notion of secure base explains how a child can grow and become independent through access to a significant other (i.e., parent) who is available, encouraging, and noninterfering. The purpose of the current study was to develop an understanding of parental secure base support within the context of youth sport in Sweden, with a specific focus on: (a) what parental behaviors constitute a secure base, and (b) how these behaviors differ across contexts (at home before and after sport, at practice and during competitions). An interpretive descriptive methodology (Thorne, 2016) was used. Interviews were conducted with 13 family triads (children aged 12-15 years) and 1 dyad living in Sweden. Analysis was conducted to illuminate associations, patterns, and relationships within the sample. Analysis led to the development of nine categories of parental behaviors that were perceived to underpin a secure base. Availability was seen to comprise physical presence and support provision, being responsive, and developing positive mental representations. Encouragement encompassed demonstrating that sport participation is valued, motivating to explore sporting endeavors, and reinforcing and rewarding persistence in sports. Interference was described as unrequested interference, requested interference, and intentionally constrained involvement. Additionally, influencing factors such as communication, family structure and culture, were identified. The findings provide an empirical illustration for several behaviors that have been perceived as positive in previous literature, as well as highlighting numerous further complexities, particularly as it relates to interference.
The dose-effect relationship of six stimulation parameters with rTMS over left DLPFC on treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Hsu TW, Yeh TC, Kao YC, Thompson T, Brunoni AR, Carvalho AF, Hsu CW, Tu YK and Liang CS
This study aimed to evaluate the association of the six parameters, namely stimulation intensity, stimulation frequency, pulses per session, treatment duration, number of sessions, and total number of pulses with the efficacy of conventional transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). A random-effects dose-response meta-analysis of blinded randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 2391 participants were conducted to examine the dose-effect relationship of six stimulation parameters. Any of the six parameters significantly individually predicted proportion of variance in efficacy: pulses per session (R²=52.7%), treatment duration (R²=51.2%), total sessions (R²=50.9%), frequency (R²=49.6%), total pulses (R²=49.5%), and intensity (R²= 40.4%). Besides, we identified frequency as a potential parameter interacting with the other five parameters, resulting in a significant increase in variance(ΔR) ranging from 5.0% to 16.7%. Finally, we found that RCTs using frequency > 10Hz compared to those of 10Hz showed better dose-effect relationships. We conclude that the six stimulation parameters significantly predict the dose-effect relationship of conventional rTMS on TRD. Besides, higher stimulation frequency, higher stimulation intensity, and adequate number of pulses were associated with treatment efficacy.
Effects of Detraining on Physical Capacity and Its Relationship With Depressive Symptoms, Quality of Life and Sedentary Behavior in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study
Cassemiliano G, Farche ACS, Lee S, Rossi PG, Message LB, Dos Santos TR, Santos VRS and Takahashi ACM
Detraining is the partial or complete loss of physical training-induced adaptations as a result of exercise interruption or reduction. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the discontinuation of many older adult exercise programs and led to increased depressive symptoms (DS), increased sedentary behavior (SB), and decreased quality of life (QoL).
The use and potential of artificial intelligence for supporting clinical observation of child behaviour
Minnis H, Vinciarelli A and Alsofyani H
Observation of child behaviour provides valuable clinical information but often requires rigorous, tedious, repetitive and time expensive protocols. For this reason, tests requiring significant time for administration and rating are rarely used in clinical practice, however useful and effective they are. This article shows that Artificial Intelligence (AI), designed to capture and store the human ability to perform standardised tasks consistently, can alleviate this problem.
High-Frequency Heart Rate Variability Is Prospectively Associated With Sleep Complaints in a Healthy Working Cohort
Cribbet MR, Thayer JF, Jarczok MN and Fischer JE
Vagus nerve functioning, as indexed by high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), has been implicated in a wide range of mental and physical health conditions, including sleep complaints. This study aimed to test associations between HF-HRV measured during sleep (sleep HF-HRV) and subjective sleep complaints 4 years later.
Neural Control of Naturalistic Behavior Choices
Asinof SK and Card GM
In the natural world, animals make decisions on an ongoing basis, continuously selecting which action to undertake next. In the lab, however, the neural bases of decision processes have mostly been studied using artificial trial structures. New experimental tools based on the genetic toolkit of model organisms now make it experimentally feasible to monitor and manipulate neural activity in small subsets of neurons during naturalistic behaviors. We thus propose a new approach to investigating decision processes, termed reverse neuroethology. In this approach, experimenters select animal models based on experimental accessibility and then utilize cutting-edge tools such as connectomes and genetically encoded reagents to analyze the flow of information through an animal's nervous system during naturalistic choice behaviors. We describe how the reverse neuroethology strategy has been applied to understand the neural underpinnings of innate, rapid decision making, with a focus on defensive behavioral choices in the vinegar fly .
Evaluation of adherence to pharmacological treatments by undocumented migrants with chronic diseases: a 10-year retrospective cohort study
Fiorini G, Pellegrini G, Franchi M, Rigamonti AE, Marazzi N, Sartorio A, Corrao G and Cella SG
To investigate the time course of medication adherence and some of the factors involved in this process in undocumented migrants with chronic diseases.
Interventions to promote medical student well-being: an overview of systematic reviews
Bennett-Weston A, Keshtkar L, Jones M, Sanders C, Lewis C, Nockels K, Solomon J and Howick J
To conduct an overview of systematic reviews that explore the effectiveness of interventions to enhance medical student well-being.
Adjustment of p values for multiple hypotheses: why, when and how
Lydersen S
It is quite common to investigate multiple hypotheses in a single study. For example, a researcher may want to investigate the effect on several outcome variables or at different time points, compare more than two groups or undertake separate analyses for subgroups. This increases the probability of type I errors. Different procedures for multiplicity adjustment are available to control the probability of type I errors. In the present article, we describe some methods for multiplicity adjustment, along with recommendations.
Depressive disorders in children: recent prevalence and future directions
Nelson KM and Wilson S
Pilot mental health drop-in service for the siblings of paediatric patients
Colville G
A pre-post study design: evaluating the effectiveness of a new community-based integrated service model on patient outcomes
Engelsbel F, Keet R and Nugter A
This study aimed to evaluate a new service model, Specialists Together In the Community (STIC), in terms of patient outcomes. This model integrates Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT)-principles with expertise of specialized teams that offer diagnosis-related outpatient treatment. In a pre-post design, symptoms and quality of life of 930 former FACT-patients were measured repeatedly pre- and post-STIC. Regarding patients in former specialized teams, pre- and post-treatment social functioning and symptoms were measured for the pre- (n = 944) and post-STIC (n = 544) groups. Against expectation, symptoms of former FACT-patients remained stable post-STIC compared to a slight decrease pre-STIC. According to expectation, pre- and post-STIC groups had an equal symptom reduction. Unexpectedly, the post-STIC group did not improve more on social functioning than the pre-STIC group. Explorative analysis showed less treatment contacts in the post-STIC group. The highly similar patient outcomes post-STIC could be improved by monitoring process outcomes and prolonging study duration.
A Guiding Model for Undergraduate Medical Education Well-Being Programs
Lawrence EC, Sheridan C, Hurtado A, Lee WW, Lizotte-Waniewski M, Rea M and Zehle C
Most medical schools have instituted undergraduate medical education (UME) well-being programs in recent years in response to high rates of medical student distress, but there is currently significant variability in the structure of UME well-being programs and limited guidance on how to best structure such programs to achieve success. In this article, the authors, all leaders of medical student well-being programs at their home institutions and members of the Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Student Affairs Committee on Student Affairs Working Group on Medical Student Well-Being between 2019 and 2023, offer guidance to the national community on how best to structure a UME well-being program. They use the current literature and their professional experiences leading well-being efforts at 7 different institutions to review the case for addressing medical student well-being, propose a guiding model, and make recommendations for strategies to implement this model.The proposed guiding model emphasizes the importance of the learning environment and efficiency of learning to medical student well-being, as well as personal resilience. Based on this model, the authors recommend specific and tangible well-being strategies to implement systemic interventions to improve the learning environment, efficiency of learning, and personal resilience, including: formalizing the well-being program; hiring qualified, dedicated, and empowered well-being leadership with clear responsibilities; acting as a central hub for resources and as a liaison with mental health care; and establishing robust program evaluation methods.
Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Students in Special Education Through a Trauma-Informed Resilience Curriculum
Gray K, Marlotte L, Aralis H, Kaufman J, Kataoka S, Venegas-Murillo A, Lester P, Escudero P and Ijadi-Maghsoodi R
This school program evaluation aims to highlight the mental health needs of students in special education with behavioral and emotional challenges and describe the implementation of a resilience curriculum with this population. We evaluated district mental health data from a convenience sample of 814 students in grades 5-12 special education to identify risk for mental health symptoms, violence exposure, and substance use. School social workers provided feedback on the implementation of the resilience curriculum to inform program evaluation. Students reported significant risk for traumatic stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, and high rates of violence exposure and substance use. School social workers described adaptations to the resilience curriculum and gave recommendations for future implementation. Students receiving special education services for behavioral and emotional challenges had high mental health need, including high rates of violence exposure, and may benefit from a trauma-informed school-based resilience curriculum adapted for their needs.
Preface: Special issue: "Ion channels and genetic epilepsy"
Reid CA
This preface introduces the Journal of Neurochemistry Special Issue on Advances in Epilepsy Research. Epilepsy is a devastating disease characterized by recurrent seizures. Despite the addition of numerous therapeutics over the last few decades epilepsy patients resistant to standard of care treatments remains stubbornly high. This highlights a clear unmet clinical need and the importance of new research into this disease. One major advance over the last two decades has been the recognition that genetic factors play a significant role in the underlying pathogenesis of epilepsy. Much of our insights into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying genetic epilepsy has come from research into genes that encode ion channels. In this issue, there are up-to-date reviews discussing epilepsy caused by variation in HCN channels, voltage-dependent sodium channels, voltage-dependent calcium channels, and GABA receptors. The reviews highlight our understanding of the genotype-phenotype relationships and the identification of precision medicine approaches. Complimenting this is a review on metabolic aspects modulating ion channels in genetic disease. This issue also has fundamental research manuscripts investigating how currently approved drugs may rescue NMDA receptor dysfunction and how in vitro neuron cultures can be used to probe network scale deficits and drug impacts in SCN2A disease. Other primary data manuscripts include those focusing on metabolic therapies, gut microbiota, and new in vivo screening tools for identifying novel anti-seizure drugs. Collectively, manuscripts published as part of this edition highlight recent research gains, especially in our understanding of genetic causes of epilepsy involving ion channels.
Factors contributing to readmission in patients with psychotic disorders, with a special reference to first follow-up visit in outpatient care
Suokas K, Lindgren M, Gissler M, Liukko E, Schildt L, Salokangas RKR, Rissanen P, Gauffin T, Näätänen P, Holm M and Suvisaari J
Timely outpatient follow-up and readmission after discharge are common quality indicators in psychiatric care, but their association varies in previous research. We aimed to examine whether the impact of outpatient follow-up and other factors on readmission risk evolves over time in people with non-affective psychotic disorder (NAP).
Mental health and use of psychotropic prescription drugs in adult patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Mannering N, Hansen DL, Pottegård A, Andersen K and Frederiksen H
Patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) suffer from reduced survival and quality of life, but the underlying reasons for this are largely undescribed. Mental health and the use of psychotropic drugs in ITP is unknown. We investigated the risk of hospital registered mental health events including fatigue and the use of psychotropic drugs in adult patients with ITP compared with the general population, using nationwide registry-data. We identified 3,749 patients with ITP and 149,849 age-sex matched general population comparators in the Danish Health Registries in the period 1997-2016. The median age was 60 years (IQR 40-73) and 53% were women. We followed the individuals for incident mental health events and estimated the use of psychotropic drugs over calendar-years and in temporal relation to diagnosis of ITP. The first year cumulative incidence of any mental health event was 2.3% (95% confidence interval, 1.9-2.9) in patients and 0.7% (0.6-0.7) in comparators, yielding an adjusted cause-specific hazard ratio (csHR) of 3.57 (2.84-4.50). The corresponding estimates for depression were 1.2% (0.9-1.6) and 0.3% (0.3-0.4) respectively, with an adjusted csHR of 3.53 (2.56-4.85). We found similar findings for anxiety and fatigue, but risks generally diminished after 1-5 years. The use of opioids, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines increased in temporal relation to diagnosis of ITP. The risk of mental health events and the use of psychotropic drugs is higher in adult patients with ITP compared with the general population, and has a temporal relation to diagnosis of ITP emphasizing that mental health in ITP is a concern.
Epigenetic mechanisms linking early-life adversities and mental health
Cánepa ET and Berardino BG
Early-life adversities, whether prenatal or postnatal exposure, have been linked to adverse mental health outcomes later in life increasing the risk of several psychiatric disorders. Research on its neurobiological consequences demonstrated an association between exposure to adversities and persistent alterations in the structure, function, and connectivity of the brain. Consistent evidence supports the idea that regulation of gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms are involved in embedding the impact of early-life experiences in the genome and mediate between social environments and later behavioral phenotypes. In addition, studies from rodent models and humans suggest that these experiences and the acquired risk factors can be transmitted through epigenetic mechanisms to offspring and the following generations potentially contributing to a cycle of disease or disease risk. However, one of the important aspects of epigenetic mechanisms, unlike genetic sequences that are fixed and unchangeable, is that although the epigenetic markings are long-lasting, they are nevertheless potentially reversible. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the mental health consequences derived from early-life exposure to malnutrition, maltreatment and poverty, adversities with huge and pervasive impact on mental health. We also discuss the evidence about transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in mammals and experimental data suggesting that suitable social and pharmacological interventions could reverse adverse epigenetic modifications induced by early-life negative social experiences. In this regard, these studies must be accompanied by efforts to determine the causes that promote these adversities and that result in health inequity in the population.
Patients' experiences of and roles in interprofessional collaborative practice in primary care: a constructivist grounded theory study
Davidson AR, Morgan M, Ball L and Reidlinger DP
This constructivist grounded theory study aimed to (1) explore patients' experiences of and roles in interprofessional collaborative practice for chronic conditions in primary care and (2) consider the relevance and alignment of an existing theoretical framework on patients' roles and based on the experiences of patient advocates.
Dopamine Switches Affective States Under Acute Sleep Deprivation
Luo ZC and Gao TM
Action sequence learning, habits, and automaticity in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Banca P, Herrojo Ruiz M, Gonzalez-Zalba MF, Biria M, Marzuki AA, Piercy T, Sule A, Fineberg NA and Robbins TW
This study investigates the goal/habit imbalance theory of compulsion in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which postulates enhanced habit formation, increased automaticity, and impaired goal/habit arbitration. It directly tests these hypotheses using newly developed behavioral tasks. First, OCD patients and healthy participants were trained daily for a month using a smartphone app to perform chunked action sequences. Despite similar procedural learning and attainment of habitual performance (measured by an objective automaticity criterion) by both groups, OCD patients self-reported higher subjective habitual tendencies via a recently developed questionnaire. Subsequently, in a re-evaluation task assessing choices between established automatic and novel goal-directed actions, both groups were sensitive to re-evaluation based on monetary feedback. However, OCD patients, especially those with higher compulsive symptoms and habitual tendencies, showed a clear preference for trained/habitual sequences when choices were based on physical effort, possibly due to their higher attributed intrinsic value. These patients also used the habit-training app more extensively and reported symptom relief post-study. The tendency to attribute higher intrinsic value to familiar actions may be a potential mechanism leading to compulsions and an important addition to the goal/habit imbalance hypothesis in OCD. We also highlight the potential of smartphone app training as a habit reversal therapeutic tool.
Exploring decision-making performance in young adults with mental health disorders: a comparative study using the Cambridge gambling task
Effah R, Ioannidis K, Grant JE and Chamberlain SR
Decision-making deficits, assessed cognitively, are often associated with mental health symptoms, however, this relationship is not fully understood. This paper explores the relationship between mental health disorders and decision-making, using the Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT). Our study investigated how decision-making varied across 20 different mental health conditions compared to controls in a sample of 572 young adults from the Minneapolis and Chicago metropolitan areas, using a computerized laboratory-based task. Almost all mental health conditions were associated with at least mild (i.e. at least small effect size) impairment in all three studied parameters of the CGT (risk adjustment, quality of decision-making and overall proportion of bet). Notably, binge eating disorder had the largest cognitive impairment and gambling disorder had moderate impairment. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was associated with impaired decision-making while obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression showed moderate impairment. Additionally, half of the disorders assessed had moderate to large impairment in risk adjustment.These findings suggest that mental health conditions may have a more complex cognitive profile than previously thought, and a better understanding of these impairments may aid in risk assessment and targeted clinical interventions. This study underscores the need for further research to determine the causal pathways between mental health conditions and cognition, as well as to better understand the day-to-day impact of such deficits.
Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About the Physical Manifestations of Psychiatric Illness and Treatment
Robbins-Welty GA, Shalev D, Riordan PA, Noufi P, Webb JA, Brenner KO, Rosa WE and Chammas D
Addressing the psychiatric aspects of serious illness in palliative care (PC) is crucial to both care delivery and outcomes. Psychiatric comorbidities are common among patients with PC needs and can significantly impact their total burden of symptomatic distress, overall quality of life, functional independence, and healthcare utilization. Yet, these aspects of care are often deferred to mental health consultant teams in the context of busy PC services and often limited human resources. To provide comprehensive and person-centered care, PC clinicians must understand the interplay between medical conditions and psychiatric presentations within a biopsychosocial framework to respond empathically, efficiently, and effectively. This article is the first of a two-part series developed in collaboration with a group of psychiatric-palliative care specialists. This article explores ten common physical manifestations of psychiatric illness and treatment among patients facing serious illnesses. The second article will provide pragmatic tips PC clinicians should know about the psychiatric manifestations of nonpsychiatric serious illness and treatment. Combined, these two articles support a holistic approach that PC clinicians can use to prioritize and integrate both mental and emotional well-being throughout the continuum of serious illness.
Comparing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, personality disorder models scored from the same interview
Ringwald WR, Woods WC and Wright AGC
The alternative model of personality disorders (AMPD) traits were designed to maintain continuity with the Section II personality disorder (PD) diagnoses by retaining the same clinical information. Whether the AMPD traits achieve this is not well established. Prior work testing incremental validity of AMPD traits and Section II diagnoses is limited by the fact each model was measured by a different instrument or rater, making it unclear whether discrepancies are due to the constructs or methods. Here, we compare the incremental validity of AMPD traits versus Section II PDs assessed by the same instrument and rater. Participants ( = 311, 50% received past-year mental health treatment) completed a clinical interview, baseline self-reports, and 14-day ambulatory assessment protocol. Interviewers rated AMPD domains, facets, and Section II criteria from the same interview (Structured Interview for Personality). We used hierarchical regression models to evaluate the variance predicted in 17 clinically relevant cross-sectional and momentary variables by the AMPD traits and Section II PDs. Incremental ² showed that Section II PDs account for little variance in outcomes over and above the AMPD domains/facets, whereas the AMPD facets were generally more predictive of outcomes than the Section II PDs. Results add novel evidence that dimensional PD traits-not a particular assessment method-are equivalent or superior to PD categories for predicting social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Associations between information and communication technology use and frailty in community-dwelling old-old adults: results from the ILSA-J
Shiratsuchi D, Makizako H, Akaida S, Tateishi M, Hirano H, Iijima K, Yamada M, Kojima N, Obuchi S, Fujiwara Y, Murayama H, Nishita Y, Jeong S, Otsuka R, Abe T and Suzuki T
Frailty is a significant cause of adverse health events including long-term care and hospitalization. Although information and communication technology (ICT) has become an integral part of modern life, it remains unclear whether ICT use is associated with frailty.
Mitigation of Effect Modification by Psychological Status in Patients with Hearing Loss
Kim M, Willard EG, Corrales CE, Prince AA, Zhou AS, Rosner B, Edelen M and Shin JJ
Although patient-reported outcomes provide valuable insights, these subjective data may not align with objective test results. Hearing loss is a pervasive problem, such that concordance between subjective perceptions of hearing ability and objective audiogram assessments would be beneficial.
Mental health disparities of sexual minority refugees and asylum seekers: Provider perspectives on trauma exposure, symptom presentation, and treatment approach
Bird C, Somantri AR, Narasimhan R, Lee I, Bowers G, Loo S, Piwowarczyk L and Ng LC
Refugees and asylum seekers who identify as sexual minorities and/or who have been persecuted for same-sex acts maneuver through multiple oppressive systems at all stages of migration. Sexual minority refugees and asylum seekers (SM RAS) report experiencing a greater number of persecutory experiences and worse mental health symptoms than refugees and asylum seekers persecuted for reasons other than their sexual orientation (non-SM RAS). SM RAS are growing in numbers, report a need and desire for mental health treatment, and are often referred to therapy during the asylum process. However, little research has been conducted on the treatment needs of SM RAS in therapy or the strategies therapists use to address these needs. This study sought to identify these factors through qualitative interviews with providers at a specialty refugee mental health clinic ( = 11), who had experience treating both SM RAS and non-SM RAS. Interviews were transcribed and coded for themes of similarities and differences between SM RAS and non-SM RAS observed during treatment and factors that could be leveraged to reduce mental health disparities between SM RAS and non-SM RAS. Clinicians reported that compared to the non-SM RAS, SM RAS reported greater childhood trauma exposure, increased isolation, decreased support, identity-related shame, difficulty trusting others, and continued discrimination due to their SM identitiy. Suggested adaptations included reducing isolation, preparing for ongoing identity-based challenges, creating safe spaces to express SM identity, and a slower treatment pace. Providers reported benefits and drawbacks to centering the client's SM identity in treatment and encouraging community involvement for SM RAS, and noted additional training in cultural awareness would be beneficial. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Understanding the Impacts of Online Mental Health Peer Support Forums: Realist Synthesis
Marshall P, Booth M, Coole M, Fothergill L, Glossop Z, Haines J, Harding A, Johnston R, Jones S, Lodge C, Machin K, Meacock R, Nielson K, Puddephatt JA, Rakic T, Rayson P, Robinson H, Rycroft-Malone J, Shryane N, Swithenbank Z, Wise S and Lobban F
Online forums are widely used for mental health peer support. However, evidence of their safety and effectiveness is mixed. Further research focused on articulating the contexts in which positive and negative impacts emerge from forum use is required to inform innovations in implementation.
Assessment of symptom severity in psychotic disorder patients based on heart rate variability and accelerometer mobility data
Książek K, Masarczyk W, Głomb P, Romaszewski M, Stokłosa I, Ścisło P, Dębski P, Pudlo R, Buza K, Gorczyca P and Piegza M
Advancement in mental health care requires easily accessible, efficient diagnostic and treatment assessment tools. Viable biomarkers could enable objectification and automation of the diagnostic and treatment process, currently dependent on a psychiatric interview. Available wearable technology and computational methods make it possible to incorporate heart rate variability (HRV), an indicator of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, into potential diagnostic and treatment assessment frameworks as a biomarker of disease severity in mental disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD).
Intensive longitudinal assessment following index trauma to predict development of PTSD using machine learning
Horwitz A, McCarthy K, House SL, Beaudoin FL, An X, Neylan TC, Clifford GD, Linnstaedt SD, Germine LT, Rauch SL, Haran JP, Storrow AB, Lewandowski C, Musey PI, Hendry PL, Sheikh S, Jones CW, Punches BE, Swor RA, Hudak LA, Pascual JL, Seamon MJ, Harris E, Pearson C, Peak DA, Domeier RM, Rathlev NK, Sergot P, Sanchez LD, Bruce SE, Joormann J, Harte SE, Koenen KC, McLean SA and Sen S
There are significant challenges to identifying which individuals require intervention following exposure to trauma, and a need for strategies to identify and provide individuals at risk for developing PTSD with timely interventions. The present study seeks to identify a minimal set of trauma-related symptoms, assessed during the weeks following traumatic exposure, that can accurately predict PTSD. Participants were 2185 adults (Mean age=36.4 years; 64% women; 50% Black) presenting for emergency care following traumatic exposure. Participants received a 'flash survey' with 6-8 varying symptoms (from a pool of 26 trauma symptoms) several times per week for eight weeks following the trauma exposure (each symptom assessed ∼6 times). Features (mean, sd, last, worst, peak-end scores) from the repeatedly assessed symptoms were included as candidate variables in a CART machine learning analysis to develop a pragmatic predictive algorithm. PTSD (PCL-5 ≥38) was present for 669 (31%) participants at the 8-week follow-up. A classification tree with three splits, based on mean scores of nervousness, rehashing, and fatigue, predicted PTSD with an Area Under the Curve of 0.836. Findings suggest feasibility for a 3-item assessment protocol, delivered once per week, following traumatic exposure to assess and potentially facilitate follow-up care for those at risk.
Emerging Trends of Self-Harm Using Sodium Nitrite in an Online Suicide Community: Observational Study Using Natural Language Processing Analysis
Das S, Walker D, Rajwal S, Lakamana S, Sumner SA, Mack KA, Kaczkowski W and Sarker A
There is growing concern around the use of sodium nitrite (SN) as an emerging means of suicide, particularly among younger people. Given the limited information on the topic from traditional public health surveillance sources, we studied posts made to an online suicide discussion forum, "Sanctioned Suicide," which is a primary source of information on the use and procurement of SN.
Identification of Potential Biomarkers for Major Depressive Disorder: Based on Integrated Bioinformatics and Clinical Validation
Zhong X, Chen Y, Chen W, Liu Y, Gui S, Pu J, Wang D, He Y, Chen X, Chen X, Qiao R and Xie P
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe mental illness characterized by a lack of objective biomarkers. Mounting evidence suggests there are extensive transcriptional molecular changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of individuals with MDD. However, it remains unclear whether there are specific genes that are consistently altered and possess diagnostic power. In this study, we conducted a systematic search of PFC datasets of MDD patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We calculated the differential expression of genes (DEGs) and identified robust DEGs using the RRA and MetaDE methods. Furthermore, we validated the consistently altered genes and assessed their diagnostic power through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay experiments in our clinical blood cohort. Additionally, we evaluated the diagnostic power of hub DEGs in independent public blood datasets. We obtained eight PFC datasets, comprising 158 MDD patients and 263 healthy controls, and identified a total of 1468 unique DEGs. Through integrated analysis, we identified 290 robustly altered DEGs. Among these, seven hub DEGs (SLC1A3, PON2, AQP1, EFEMP1, GJA1, CENPD, HSD11B1) were significantly down-regulated at the protein level in our clinical blood cohort. Moreover, these hub DEGs exhibited a negative correlation with the Hamilton Depression Scale score (P < 0.05). Furthermore, these hub DEGs formed a panel with promising diagnostic power in three independent public blood datasets (average AUCs of 0.85) and our clinical blood cohort (AUC of 0.92). The biomarker panel composed of these genes demonstrated promising diagnostic efficacy for MDD and serves as a useful tool for its diagnosis.
Typology of employers offering line manager training for mental health
Blake H, Hassard J, Dulal-Arthur T, Wishart M, Roper S, Bourke J, Belt V, Bartle C, Pahl N, Leka S and Thomson L
Mental ill health has a high economic impact on society and employers. National and international policy advocates line manager (LM) training in mental health as a key intervention, but little is known about employer training provisions.
Antipsychotic-Related DRESS Syndrome: Analysis of Individual Case Safety Reports of the WHO Pharmacovigilance Database
de Filippis R, Kane JM, Arzenton E, Moretti U, Raschi E, Trifirò G, Barbui C, De Fazio P, Gastaldon C and Schoretsanitis G
Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is gaining attention in pharmacovigilance, but its association with antipsychotics, other than clozapine, is still unclear.
Distinct patterns of monocular advantage for facial emotions in social anxiety
Gong M, Pan C, Pan R, Wang X, Wang J, Xu H, Hu Y, Wang J, Jia K and Chen Q
Individuals with social anxiety often exhibit atypical processing of facial expressions. Previous research in social anxiety has primarily emphasized cognitive bias associated with face processing and the corresponding abnormalities in cortico-limbic circuitry, yet whether social anxiety influences early perceptual processing of emotional faces remains largely unknown. We used a psychophysical method to investigate the monocular advantage for face perception (i.e., face stimuli are better recognized when presented to the same eye compared to different eyes), an effect that is indicative of early, subcortical processing of face stimuli. We compared the monocular advantage for different emotional expressions (neutral, angry and sad) in three groups (N = 24 per group): individuals clinically diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD), individuals with high social anxiety in subclinical populations (SSA), and a healthy control (HC) group of individuals matched for age and gender. Compared to SSA and HC groups, we found that individuals with SAD exhibited a greater monocular advantage when processing neutral and sad faces. While the magnitudes of monocular advantages were similar across three groups when processing angry faces, individuals with SAD performed better in this condition when the faces were presented to different eye. The former findings suggest that social anxiety leads to an enhanced role of subcortical structures in processing nonthreatening expressions. The latter findings, on the other hand, likely reflect an enhanced cortical processing of threatening expressions in SAD group. These distinct patterns of monocular advantage indicate that social anxiety altered representation of emotional faces at various stages of information processing, starting at an early stage of the visual system.
Psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale among postpartum women
Zhong X, Barnes CR, Adamson-Macedo EN, Li X, Guo X, He T, Li D, Li Z, Wang B and Wu H
Maternal parenting self-efficacy plays a critical role in facilitating positive parenting practices and successful adaption to motherhood. The Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale (PMPS-E), as a task-specific measure, confirms its psychometric properties in cultural contexts. Compared with other tools, the advantages of the PMPS-E are as follows: (i) specific context or time period during the lifespan of a child, (ii) explicitly assess parenting self-efficacy across a diverse enough range of parenting tasks or activities during the perinatal/postnatal period and (iii) having robust psychometric properties. The aim of this study was to translate and determine the psychometric properties of the PMPS-E among Chinese postpartum women (C-PMPS-E).
Delayed care during pregnancy and postpartum linked to poor maternal mental health: evidence in the United States
Lee J, Howard KJ, Leong C, Grigsby TJ and Howard JT
Mental health disorders are important prenatal and postpartum health complications. In the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, concerns have been raised about maternal mental well-being in the United States. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between delayed perinatal care and women's mental health during pregnancy and postpartum.
Eye-movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) to prevent transition to psychosis in people with an at-risk mental state (ARMS): mixed method feasibility study
Strelchuk D, Wiles N, Turner K, Derrick C, Martin D, Davies J and Zammit S
Trauma plays an important role in the development of psychosis, but no studies have investigated whether a trauma-focused therapy could prevent psychosis.
"Exploring job demands and resources influencing mental health and work engagement among physical therapists: a cross-sectional survey of Norwegian physical therapists."
Hagen S, Bergheim LTJ and Torp S
Physical therapists play a vital role in the Norwegian health care system, and their work environment may be a significant determinant for their wellbeing and job performance.
Baseline trait mindfulness moderates the efficacy of mindfulness interventions and active controls: A meta-analysis of 177 randomised controlled trials
Sieder K, Thiedmann P, Voracek M and Tran US
Previous evidence suggests that benefits of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may depend on individuals' baseline trait mindfulness (BTM) levels. This meta-analysis investigated moderating effects of BTM on changes in mental health outcomes and trait mindfulness in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of MBIs. A total of 177 primary studies (total N = 13,486), comparing the treatment effects of MBIs against active, treatment-as-usual (TAU) and waitlist control groups, were synthesised via three-level meta-analysis. Lower BTM was associated with larger changes in mental health outcomes (B = -0.14, 95% CI [-0.21, -0.06], p < .001) and trait mindfulness (B = -0.09 [-0.16, -0.02], p = .009) in MBIs and active controls combined. These associations were significantly larger than from those in TAU and waitlist controls. Moderating effects were less tangible for changes in trait mindfulness in MBIs and active controls individually and less tangible in various sensitivity analyses which, however, were confounded by client type across the RCTs. Individuals low in BTM may, by a small effect size, benefit more from MBIs and active control interventions. BTM may thus affect the evaluation of treatment efficacy. MBIs and active interventions could be offered specifically to persons low in BTM.
Associations and Mediating Pathways between Childhood Adversity and Risk of Dementia: A Cohort Study in the UK Biobank
Hu W, Zhang W, Liu B and Jia C
While childhood adversity (CA) is known to be associated with multiple adverse outcomes, its link with dementia is an area with limited exploration and inconsistent agreement. The study aimed to examine the longitudinal associations of CA with incident all-cause dementia and to quantify the potential mediating pathways.
The potential value of brief waitlist interventions in enhancing treatment retention and outcomes: a randomised controlled trial
Keegan E, Waller G, Tchanturia K and Wade TD
People with eating disorders are often placed on lengthy waitlists for treatment. This is problematic, as increased time spent on waitlists has been shown to predict dropout. We examined whether providing brief interventions to people on a waitlist improved retention or outcomes in treatment. Participants ( = 85) were referred to a university training clinic for 10-session cognitive behavioural therapy for non-underweight patients with eating disorders (CBT-T). While waitlisted for CBT-T, participants were randomised to one of two waitlist interventions or a control condition. In one waitlist intervention (CRT-Brief), participants received a cognitive remediation therapy session at the start of the waitlist period. In the other waitlist intervention (brief contact), participants were sent a short supportive email and psychoeducation halfway through the waitlist period. The control condition was waitlist as usual. There was no evidence to suggest that the waitlist interventions improved symptoms during the waitlist period or CBT-T. However, participants who received a waitlist intervention were three times more likely to complete treatment. The present study suggests that providing even brief contact while people are waitlisted for eating disorder treatment significantly improves retention. However, replication in a more adequately powered study is required.
Bimodal diurnal preference in undergraduate students is associated with negative health and sleep outcomes
da Silva Vallim JR, Tsuji HMS, Lima GS, Xylaras BDP, Louzada FM, Tufik S and D'Almeida V
The bimodal preference is a fourth diurnal preference proposed by re-scoring the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. The present work aimed to describe the prevalence of the bimodal preference in a sample of undergraduate students and to characterize the bimodal type in terms of their health and sleep-related outcomes. A web-based cross-sectional study conducted between September 2018 and March 2021 (convenience sampling method). The sample was composed of undergraduate students who completed an electronic form that included the Morningness and Eveningness Questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Self-Compassion Scale, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the World Health Organization Subjective Well-Being Index. The final sample consisted of 615 students (82% female, mean age: 23.4 ± 6.5 years), of whom 108 (18%) had positive bimodality indexes. Bimodal subjects comprised 48 students, 8% of the total sample. Bimodal subjects had poorer subjective sleep quality, more daytime sleepiness, lower subjective well-being, greater anxiety and depression symptoms, and lower self-compassion than morning and/or intermediate types; they did not differ from evening types. The description of bimodal diurnal preference in this population may be of interest for the design of academic policies more in line with the circadian reality of students.
Work-related behavior and experience patterns of music educators - a basis for intervention
Thielmann B, Kirsch M and Böckelmann I
Music educators are subjected to many physical and psychological stresses encountered in the workplace. These stresses could be counteracted by certain work-related behavior and experience patterns as personal resources to reduce the negative consequences of stress. The aim of the study was to determine the existing work-related behavioral and experiential patterns and the characteristics of the ( - AVEM) questionnaire dimensions in the professional group of music educators according to age group.
Identifying factors associated with physical therapy use versus non-use among injured workers with back pain in Washington State
Chin B, Rundell SD, Sears JM, Fulton-Kehoe D, Spector JT and Franklin GM
There is little information about predictors of physical therapy (PT) use among injured workers with back pain. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the associations between PT use and baseline factors not routinely captured in workers' compensation (WC) data.
Depression Literacy and Depressive Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Self-Rated Mental Health Among Korean Americans
Park Y, Cho S, Lee YS and Roh S
Depression literacy (DL) is increasingly recognized as an important predictor of mental health outcomes, but there remains a noticeable lack of scientific inquiry focusing on Korean Americans in this area. In addition, women are known to be more susceptible to depression, potentially affecting their DL and depressive symptoms differently than men. This study aimed to explore two primary objectives: (1) the potential role of self-rated mental health (SRMH) in mediating the association between DL and depressive symptoms in this population, and (2) whether gender differences exist in the presence and magnitudes of these mediation effects.
Social axioms and psychological toll: A study of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive responses across 35 cultures during the COVID-19 pandemic
Ye FT, Hui BPH, Ng JCK, Lam BCP, Au AKY, Wu WCH, Ng HKY and Chen SX
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the psychological well-being of individuals worldwide. Previous research has indicated that values and beliefs, particularly social axioms, are associated with psychological responses during crises. However, most of the studies have focused on specific regions; the impact of social axioms on a global scale remains unclear. We conducted a multinational study comprising stratified samples of 18,171 participants from 35 cultures. Using multilevel modeling, we examined the associations between social axioms, personal worry, normative concerns, trust, and individuals' psychological responses to the pandemic. The results showed that greater personal worry and normative concerns predicted more negative psychological responses. Furthermore, the study also identified significant buffering effects at the societal level, as cultures with higher overall levels of fate control, religiosity, or reward for application exhibited weaker associations between personal worry and negative responses. Our findings reveal the influence of social axioms on psychological responses during the pandemic, with varying effects across cultures. The buffering effects of fate control, religiosity, and reward for application underscore the importance of considering cultural differences and individual variability when examining the impact of social axioms on psychological outcomes.
Linkage of routinely collected NHS data to evaluate liaison mental health services: challenges and lessons learned
Guthrie E, House A, Smith C, Relton S, Romeu D, Saraiva S, Trigwell P, West R, Shuweihdi F, Crawford M, Fossey M, Hewison J, Hulme C and Tubeuf S
Liaison mental health services provide mental health care to patients in acute hospital settings. Evaluation of liaison services is challenging due to their heterogeneous organisation and delivery, high case throughput and varied patient case mix. We aimed to link routinely collected National Health Service data from secondary care settings, chosen for their service characteristics, to data from primary care to evaluate hospital-based liaison mental health services in England.
Practical implications of overlapping mental capacity assessments
Griffith R
, Senior Lecturer in Health Law at Swansea University, considers the practical implications of undertaking mental capacity assessments with a person across a range of different decisions.
Investigating Drivers of Telecare Acceptance to Improve Healthcare Quality for Independently Living Older Adults
Lassar W and Hertelendy AJ
Background - Contemporary telecare systems facilitate the ability for older adults to age in place, keeping them out of residential care facilities and providing numerous quality-of-life advantages for both care receivers and caregivers. However, despite the acceptance of digital health interventions among older adults and their caregivers' telecare adoption has been slower than expected. This paper aimed to compare attitudes towards adopting telecare systems between care receivers (aging adults) and their caregivers (family/friends). Methods -Data was collected via an online survey. Respondents included aging adults concerned about their care (care receivers), and older adults who cared for an aging loved one (caregivers). Analysis of covariance and partial-least-squares techniques were used to examine the relationships between healthcare concerns for older adults, functional telecare benefits, and telecare acceptance. Results - Concerns for health care status, mainly driven by care receivers, positively impacted telecare acceptance. However, concerns for mental and physical stimulation had a negative relationship with telecare acceptance, while caregivers showed a neutral relationship. Telecare's ability to improve healthcare quality and cognitive stimulation positively impacted its acceptance. Caregivers mainly drove the impact of healthcare quality on telecare acceptance, while the relationship was not significant for care receivers. Care receivers' age reduced telecare acceptance, and higher educational levels of caregivers increased telecare acceptance. Conclusion - We found significant differences in telecare acceptance and its drivers between caregivers and care receivers in the US. In addition, we discerned that not all healthcare concerns or functional telecare characteristics influenced telecare acceptance equally between the two. Consequently, telecare providers must consider the different needs of constituencies interested in telecare to support the life quality of older adults.
Bridging personality dimensions and eating symptoms: A transdiagnostic network approach
Ruiz-Gutiérrez J, Miras-Aguilar MDM, Rodríguez-Pérez N, Ventura L, González Gómez J, Del Barrio AG and Gónzalez-Blanch C
Eating disorders (ED) have recently been studied from a network approach, conceptualising them as a complex system of interconnected variables, while highlighting the role of non-ED symptoms and personality dimensions. This study aims to explore the connections between personality and ED symptoms, identify central nodes, and compare the EDs network to a healthy control network.
Examining the unique relationships between problematic use of the internet and impulsive and compulsive tendencies: network approach
Liu C, Rotaru K, Ren L, Chamberlain SR, Christensen E, Brierley ME, Richardson K, Lee RSC, Segrave R, Grant JE, Kayayan E, Hughes S, Fontenelle LF, Lowe A, Suo C, Freichel R, Wiers RW, Yücel M and Albertella L
Both impulsivity and compulsivity have been identified as risk factors for problematic use of the internet (PUI). Yet little is known about the relationship between impulsivity, compulsivity and individual PUI symptoms, limiting a more precise understanding of mechanisms underlying PUI.
The contribution of cannabis use to the increased psychosis risk among minority ethnic groups in Europe
Selten JP, Di Forti M, Quattrone D, Jones PB, Jongsma HE, Gayer-Anderson C, Szöke A, Llorca PM, Arango C, Bernardo M, Sanjuan J, Santos JL, Arrojo M, Tarricone I, Berardi D, Lasalvia A, Tosato S, la Cascia C, Velthorst E, van der Ven EMA, de Haan L, Rutten BP, van Os J, Kirkbride JB, Morgan CM, Murray RM and Termorshuizen F
We examined whether cannabis use contributes to the increased risk of psychotic disorder for non-western minorities in Europe.
Meaning-focused coping as a cultural process: A mixed quantitative and PhotoVoice study of adolescents with Arab backgrounds overcoming stigma and harassment
Seff I, Bennouna C, Gillespie A, Ali A, Allaf C, Wessells M and Stark L
Poor mental health among U.S. adolescents has reach epidemic proportions, with those from the Middle East and North African region exhibiting increased risk for distress and suicide ideation. This mixed-methods study analyzes quantitative data from first- and second-generation Arab adolescents (n = 171) and qualitative data from a participatory study conducted with 11 adolescents of the same population to understand the role of cultural resources in coping. Drawing on the Intersectional Theory of Cultural Repertoires in Health, we show that: 1) cultural resources underlie meaning-making throughout coping; 2) coping strategies are inseparable from the influence of peer and familial relationships, as dictated through the social norms and other cultural resources; 3) collectively held repertoires of coping can promote belonging, affirm identity, and protect against discrimination; and 4) the outcomes of coping strategies, and the culturally informed meaning individuals make of these outcomes, influence their future coping behaviors.
Neuroecological links of the exposome and One Health
Ibanez A, Melloni L, Świeboda P, Hynes W, Ikiz B, Ayadi R, Thioye M, Walss-Bass C, Güntekin B, Mishra J, Salama M, Dunlop S, Duran-Aniotz C and Eyre HA
This NeuroView assesses the interplay among exposome, One Health, and brain capital in health and disease. Physical and social exposomes affect brain health, and green brain skills are required for environmental health strategies. Ibanez et al. address current gaps and strategies needed in research, policy, and technology, offering a road map for stakeholders.
Five Years After Cannabis Legalization, Is It Time to Ease Restrictions on Promotion?
Crépault JF, Rueda S and Tang V
In the spring of 2024, the federal government is expected to report on its legislative review of the (2018). One of the most contentious issues is whether to relax restrictions on cannabis promotion. This commentary describes the tension between the public health aims of legalization and the secondary aim of displacing the illicit market. We maintain that among jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis, Canada stands out as having the stated primary objective of safeguarding public health, and its restrictions on promotion are evidence-based and innovative. These measures must be preserved, even in the face of growing industry pressure to loosen them.
Healthcare Service Utilization and Perceived Gaps: The Experience of French-Speaking 2S/LGBTQI+ People in Manitoba
De Moissac D, Prada K, Gueye NR, Avanthay-Strus J and Hardy S
Ethnolinguistically diverse 2S/LGBTQI+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex) populations have unique healthcare needs and experience health inequities compared to their cisgender or heterosexual peers. This community-based participatory study sought to describe the profile and healthcare needs and experiences of official language minority French-speaking 2S/LGBTQI+ adults in Manitoba. Participants ( 80) reported that gender and sexual identity were often concealed from service providers; many respondents faced discrimination based on their ethnolinguistic and sexual identities. Service gaps are identified pertaining to mental and sexual health; locating 2S/LGBTQI+-friendly, patient-centred care in French is difficult. Policy and practice should address systemic inequity and discrimination experienced by this equity-seeking population.
Imagery-Focused Therapy for Visual Hallucinations: A Case Series
Paulik G and Taylor CDJ
Visual hallucinations (VH) are more common than previously thought and are linked to higher levels of distress and disability in people with a psychotic illness. Despite this, scant attention has been given to VHs in the clinical literature, and the few therapy case series of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) published to date have not demonstrated reliable change. In other areas of clinical research, problematic mental imagery has been found to be more strongly related to negative affect in psychological disorders than negative linguistic thinking, and imagery focused techniques have commonly been found to improve the outcomes in CBT trials. Given VHs have many similarities with visual mental imagery and many of the distressing beliefs associated with VHs targeted in CBT are maintained by accompanying mental imagery (i.e., imaging a hallucinated figure attacking them), it seems plausible that an imagery-focused approach to treating VHs may be most effective.
Stressful life events, psychiatric comorbidities and serum neuromediator levels in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria treated with omalizumab
Elçin A, Ayla G, Tuba Saadet Deveci B, Özlem G, Murat Ö, Ahmet Selim B and Behçet C
Many chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients have highly stressful life events and exhibit psychiatric comorbidities. Emotional stress can cause or exacerbate urticaria symptoms by causing mast cell degranulation via neuromediators.
Violence Exposure and Disability in Colombian Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: the Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms
Sandoval LM, Castro ES, Fandiño-Losada A, Pacichana-Quinayaz SG, Lennon SE and Gutiérrez-Martínez MI
Violence is an important public health problem and one of the main causes of deaths worldwide. The mental health consequences of surviving intimate partner violence (IPV) include depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Previous studies have identified that there is a relationship between depression and level of disability in female survivors of IPV. Estimating the direct, indirect or total effect of an exposure on an outcome makes it possible to identify mediating effects between a group of variables. Detecting mediation effects is useful for identifying casual pathways that generate a final outcome and provides a rationale for designing interventions to target the mediator, which in turn positively affects the outcome. The objective was to identify the mediating role of depressive symptoms on the relationship between IPV and disability.
Interrelationship of Sleep Disturbances and Cognitive Status on Mortality
Mattos MK, Zawar I, Manning C, Patrie J and Quigg MS
Sleep disturbances may promote the development and advancement of Alzheimer's disease. Our purpose was to determine if sleep disturbances were associated with earlier mortality while accounting for cognition. The National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database was used to evaluate mortality risk conferred by sleep, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score determined cognitive status. Demographics, sleep disturbances, cognitive status, and comorbid/other neuropsychiatric conditions were examined as predictors of survival time via Cox regression. The sample (N = 31,110) had a median age [interquartile range] of 72 [66, 79] years, MoCA score of 23 [16, 26], and survival time of 106.0 months [104.0,108.0]; 10,278 (33%) died during follow-up; 21% (n = 6461) experienced sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances impacted survival time depending on cognition, with the greatest effect in transition from normal to cognitive impairment ( < .001). Findings support that sleep disturbances negatively impact survival time, and the impact of sleep disturbances on survival time is interrelated with cognition.
Emotion Regulation and Mentalization in Patients With Depression and Anxiety
Bryde Christensen A, Poulsen S, Højberg TM, Jessen SB, Reinholt N, Hvenegaard M, Eskildsen A, Arendt M and Arnfred S
Theoretical conceptualizations of emotion and affect regulation have a considerable common ground. However, mentalization theory considers the ability to regulate affects as being contingent on the ability to mentalize. The aim of the present study is to examine the association between emotion regulation and mentalization, operationalized as reflective functioning, in a sample of patients with depression and/or anxiety.
Mood and Sleep Quality in Peruvian Medical Students During COVID-19 Pandemic
Olarte-Durand M, Roque-Aycachi JB, Rojas-Humpire R, Canaza-Apaza JF, Laureano S, Rojas-Humpire A and Huancahuire-Vega S
The prolongation and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an uncertain and devastating panorama in many populations, and the evidence shows a high prevalence of mental health problems in medical students. The objective was to evaluate the association between mood disorders and sleep quality (SQ) in Peruvian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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