Blue Mood Research Articles

Adherence to DOTS Therapy and its Impact on Quality of Life

A descriptive study “to assess the adherence to DOTS therapy and its impact on quality of life among clients registered at selected DOTS centers of Punjab”. The objectives of the study were to assess the adherence to DOTS therapy among patients who were registered at selected DOTS centers in Punjab, to identify the problems related to adherence among the patients, to assess the impact of DOTS therapy on the quality of life of patients registered at selected DOTS centers of Punjab, to assess the association between adherence to DOTS treatment and socio-demographic variables. A quantitative research approach was designed, and 100 subjects were selected through convenient sampling. The results of the study showed that the majority of the subjects (56%) were non-adhered, while 44% adhered to DOTS treatment. The results revealed that the majority of the subjects 74(74%), felt the unpleasant effects of medication, and 97(97%) felt weird on medication. While 83(83%) subjects felt negative feelings such as blue mood, despair, anxiety, and depression, the majority of the subjects 83(83%) were not satisfied with their health status. Findings revealed that the most affected domain of quality of life was the environment domain (21.41±2.68), physical domain (19.36±3.21), and psychological domain (16.31±1.87). Whereas the social domain is 7.60±1.66 lowest. The study emphasized the need to strengthen adherence to DOTS therapy among the subjects and then reduce the impact of tuberculosis on quality of life.

Feasibility of the CART In‐Home Technology Platform in a Pilot Study of Hispanic Older Adults Residing in South Texas

AbstractBackgroundAs Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevalence rises, the development of effective screening tools is necessary to aid in earlier AD diagnosis. In the USA, Hispanic and Non‐Hispanic Black adults are at a disproportionately higher risk of developing dementia than non‐Hispanic whites but are poorly represented in AD research. A digital assessment system ‐ the Collaborative Aging Research using Technology (CART) platform, has been developed to remotely and continuously detect early declines in cognition by analyzing changes in everyday activity levels. Although the platform is promising, installing digital technology in a home can cause concerns over privacy and user friendliness, especially in older adults. In our CART pilot study at UTHSCSA, we sought to determine the feasibility of deploying the CART platform in an underrepresented, mostly Hispanic population and to gain insight from their experiences.MethodSeven cognitively intact participants were enrolled in our year‐long pilot study. The CART platform consisted of a watch‐actigraph, digital scale, electronic pillbox, bed mat (measuring sleep), and wall‐mounted motion sensors. Participants completed weekly online surveys including mood assessments, the UDS3 neuropsychological battery at baseline and one‐year follow‐up, and an end‐of‐study user experiences survey. Wilcoxon signed rank exact tests were used to determine significance.ResultOur cohort consisted of five Hispanic, one non‐Hispanic Black, and one non‐Hispanic white participant, ages 65‐80. There were no significant changes in cognition, daily steps, sleep, weight, or heart and respiratory rate measured during sleep over the course of the study (p>0.05). Self‐reported depressive symptoms decreased (p = 0.034) (Figure 1J). Weekly survey results supported this finding because self‐reported feelings of loneliness and “blue mood” also decreased. Responses to the user experience survey demonstrated that participants found the technology installation satisfactory (43%) or very satisfactory (57%) and thought that their privacy concerns were addressed satisfactorily (43%) or very satisfactorily (57%) (Figure 2).ConclusionOur results suggest that the CART platform was widely accepted by our mostly Hispanic older adult participants and that they were comfortable with the study devices. The findings support the feasibility of increasing representation of diverse older adults in dementia prevention research using digital devices.

Mood and activity changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural and urban Veterans and their cohabitants

ABSTRACT Objectives We aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic-related stay-at-home orders on weekly reports of mood and activity before and during COVID-19 in a sample of older Veterans and their cohabitants. Methods Urban and rural Veterans and their cohabitants living in the Pacific Northwest ≥62 years old were enrolled as part of the Collaborative Aging Research Using Technology initiative (n = 100, age = 71.2 ± 6.5, 41% women). Participants reported frequency of social activities (e.g., travel away), physical illness, and mood (blue mood and loneliness) via weekly online health forms. Results A total of 2,441 weekly online health forms (OHFs) were collected from 100 participants. During the COVID-19 pandemic, blue mood (OR = 4.4, p < .0001) and loneliness (OR = 7.2, p < .0001) were significantly higher than before the pandemic, and travel away from home was significantly lower (OR = 0.5, p < .0001). Prevalence of blue mood and loneliness were not associated with rurality. Conclusions The current study established that blue mood and loneliness were significantly more prevalent in older Veterans following COVID-19 stay-at-home orders regardless of rurality. Clinical Implications The COVID-19 pandemic associated health precautions, while necessary to curb acute health risks, have created a unique situation that places vulnerable populations at increased risk of low mood.

Understanding Health Related Quality of Life in Hypertensive Patients: Interrogating Effect of Psychological and Environmental Factors

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> Health-related quality of life has become an important aspect in the field of healthcare as an important outcome measure for chronic diseases like hypertension. Improvement in HRQoL have become a focal point in health research, with clinicians, scientists and policy makers realizing the value of individual&rsquo;s self-rated experience, beyond or in addition to objective and clinical measure of health.<strong> Aim:</strong> To study the effect of psychological and environmental factors on HRQoL in patients suffering from hypertension using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. <strong>Methods and Materials: </strong>The study was carried out for six weeks in medicine outpatient and inpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. All patients diagnosed with essential hypertension were recruited and socio-demographic and clinical data were noted. Patients were interviewed using WHOQOL-BREF using questionnaire. <strong>Results: </strong>Of total 100 patients, female was more prevalent to hypertension compared to male. Mean score of environmental domain was greater than the psychological domain [72.375 (SD &plusmn;19.23) and 68.91667 (SD &plusmn; 19.59), respectively] suggesting the inverse correlation of quality of life with negative thoughts, blue mood, anxiety and depression. Regarding individual questions, most of the participants felt safe in their daily life, were satisfied with their physical environment and condition of living place with a mean score of 4.58 (SD&plusmn;0.55), 4.03 (SD&plusmn;0.69) and 4.24 (SD&plusmn;0.66), respectively. In contrary, majority of study participants often had negative feelings such as blue mood, anxiety, despair and depression [2.86 (SD&plusmn;0.96)], were dissatisfied with their transport [3.5 (SD&plusmn;0.85)] and lacked opportunity for leisure activities [3.57 (SD&plusmn;0.85)] thus indicating poor quality of life as mean values were low. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Female gender, older age, negative feelings, co-morbid condition and level of education may be important predictors of QOL in hypertensive patients. <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Key words:</strong> Hypertension, Quality of life, WHO BREF QOL, Psychological factors, Environmental factors.

Older Adults' Daily Activity and Mood Changes Detected During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Remote Unobtrusive Monitoring Technologies.

Background and ObjectivesThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has limited older adults’ access to in-person medical care, including screenings for cognitive and functional decline. Remote, technology-based tools have shown recent promise in assessing changes in older adults’ daily activities and mood, which may serve as indicators of underlying health-related changes (e.g., cognitive decline). This study examined changes in older adults’ driving, computer use, mood, and travel events prior to and following the COVID-19 emergency declaration using unobtrusive monitoring technologies and remote online surveys. As an exploratory aim, the impact of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on these changes was assessed.Research Design and MethodsParticipants were 59 older adults (41 cognitively intact and 18 MCI) enrolled in a longitudinal aging study. Participants had their driving and computer use behaviors recorded over a 5-month period (75 days pre- and 76 days post-COVID emergency declaration) using unobtrusive technologies. Measures of mood, overnight guests, and frequency of overnight travel were also collected weekly via remote online survey.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, gender, and education, participants showed a significant decrease in daily driving distance, number of driving trips, highway driving, and nighttime driving, post-COVID-19 as compared to pre-COVID-19 (p < .001) based on generalized estimating equation models. Further, participants spent more time on the computer per day post-COVID-19 (p = .03). Participants endorsed increases in blue mood (p < .01) and loneliness (p < .001) and decreases in travel away from home and overnight visitors (p < .001) from pre- to post-COVID-19. Cognitive status did not impact these relationships.Discussion and ImplicationsFrom pre- to post-COVID-19 emergency declaration, participants drove and traveled less, used their computer more, had fewer overnight visitors, and reported greater psychological distress. These results highlight the behavioral and psychological effects of stay-at-home orders on older adults who are cognitively intact and those with MCI.

Postintensive care unit follow-up general health survey: A cross-sectional study in a tertiary academic hospital

Background: Despite the tremendous efforts regarding post hospital discharge services, the literature regarding health status, social and medical support of ICU survivors in Saudi Arabia is very limited. The main aim of our study is to conduct a general survey to describe health, medical and social status of ICU survivors. Methods: This was a cross- sectional study conducted at a tertiary academic center in Saudi Arabia. The phone survey has been conducted by the study investigators after getting a verbal consent for participation. A list of patients who were discharged from the hospital after an intensive care unit's admission from January 2018 to December 2018 was obtained. Results: Majority of our participants have no issues in concentration and only small percentage reported that they experience one or more of anxiety, depression, despair, and blue mood. A larger percentage of our subjects were satisfied by the support they received from their relatives, social support, and access to medical services. Conclusion: ICU survivors discharged from one center in Saudi Arabia reported great general health and satisfied by social and medical support but functional and mental status and multidisciplinary team approach worth further investigations.

Increased Blue Mood and Loneliness during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Veteran Cohort

Older Veterans are at especially high risk of depression and social isolation due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and necessary safety precautions. We aimed to objectively measure differences in mood reports before and after COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in rural older Veterans. Participants age > 62 were enrolled in the Collaborative Aging Research using Technology (CART) initiative, a NIH and VA HSRD funded multi-site study examining the feasibility of unobtrusive remote sensing and monitoring of physical, cognitive, and health-related activities. The VA CART site consists of Pacific Northwest Veteran volunteers and their cohabitants. Weekly online health forms including questions about blue mood and loneliness were collected January – July 2020. A COVID stay-at-home order was instituted March 13 2020. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) with logit link was used to investigate differences in mood reports pre- and post- stay-at-home orders. 100 older volunteers completed 2441 health reports (mean age 71.2 years, 41% female, 19% single). Thirty-five percent were urban, 34% large rural, and 31% small rural using rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) scores urban: 1-3; large rural 4-6; small rural 7-10. After adjusting for covariates, incidence of blue mood and loneliness reports were significantly higher after stay-at-home orders (OR=4.4, p<0.0001 and OR=7.2, p<0.0001 respectively). Results varied by rurality with large rural volunteers showing the largest increases. Real-world monitoring of weekly health reports may identify those at greatest risk for depression and social isolation in older Veterans and their cohabitants and is of particular relevance in rural settings, where access to specialty care is limited.

Символизм Андрея Белого в эпоху джаза – контрапункты двух философий (на примере «Котика Летаева»)

ABSTRACTThe connection between jazz philosophy, pre-jazz genres and Belyj’s creational method is analyzed in this paper through cultural-historical, comparative and mythopoetic methods. The tunes of jazz predecessors (spirituals, blues, ragtime, working songs) had started to spread in Russian since the beginning of the 20th century. Andrej Belyj also could have become acquainted with jazz culture in Europe during his frequent journeys. The most prominent features of jazz are difficult rhythms originated in African drums playing style, the influence of European musical harmony, but at the same time dedication to dissonances, accents on weak beats, “blue mood,” “call-and-response pattern,” scat, falsetto break from working songs and many others. The novel Kotik Letaev could be called the most jazz-inspiring work of the author. Despite the fact that this novel has been created at the dawn of “jazz era,” there are a lot of features that connect this work to jazz philosophy. Belyj sensed the mood of his time, the jazz pulsation of the century. Returning to the ancient African drums rhythm in jazz has its reflection in Belyj’s novel through the resurrection of the myth, remembering the “inner form” of words which was used by the first speaking man on the Earth, rebirth of the word through the child speech. Kotik Letaev is rhythmically complex text decorated with alliteration – the scat analogy.Every character in Kotik Letaev has their own melody and musical voice. “Blue mood” is also a prominent feature in this novel: fear and anxiety (“blue tonality”) govern the text. It could be attributed to Kotik Letaev’s feeling of dread after the escape from the chaotic pre-existence and his attempts to find his place in new cosmos. The main elements of the novel’s inner structure are dissonance and ambivalence. Improvisation in word, sound and symbol creation is used in the novel, which also reminds us about jazz intention to overcome any previous boundaries in music in order to express inexpressible.

ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES ON DEPRESSION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MEKELLE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS IN, MEKELLE CITY, ETHIOPIA 2010/11

Background: Depression goes by many names: Depression, blues, biological depression, major depression or clinical depression. But it all refers to the same thing: feeling sad and depressed for weeks or months on end (not just a passing blue mood). This feeling is most often accompanied by feelings of hopelessness, a lack of energy (or feeling weighed down), and taking little or no pleasure in things that gave you joy in the past. The lifetime prevalence of major depressive episode ranges 5 – 17%. Women are more at risk of severe depression. Women are usually affected between the age of 35 and 45 and men over 55. Mental and emotional symptoms are expressed differently at different ages. Adolescents are at a vital transition stage between childhood and adulthood. Their bodies are changing fast with strong feelings of independence and sexuality emerging. Objective: was to assess Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of depression and associated factors among the students of Mekelle University College of Health Sciences. Methodology: Institutional based cross sectional study design was conducted using a stratified random sampling method from Feb. 28-Jun 23/ 2011. The study was conducted at Mekelle University, College of health sciences students. The sample size was 290 students. The study area was Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences. Result: Out of the total 290 respondents, 46.9% were developed depressions. The leading cause to develop depression was an academic problem, separation from family and financial problem. There is an association between sex and age. There is also an association of depression status with the department and batch; whereas religion and ethnicity have no association. Conclusion-there is new depression due to associated factors such as academic problem 40.4%, financial problem 25.1% & separation from family 23.5% in Mekelle University, College of health sciences students 2003. In addition, to that biological, genetics & Sico-social factors are included.

EPA-1260 – Gene-environment interplay in the influence of early life stress on emotionality

The emotional behavior is influenced by several factors, including environment, genetic and the interaction between them, which is the aim of this work. Early life stress has been related to the development of emotional disturbances late in life, nevertheless recent studies have showed a new operational model to this relation, depending on the genetic background. Regarding to depression-like behavior, the most recent manuals for diagnosis of this disease highlights the importance of assess the anhedonia, more than the blue mood, to a correct identification of this pathology. Animal models of affective disorders has been developed aiming to access all range of depressive-like behaviors. A behavioral test to evaluate this lowest tendency to attend pleasure situations is the Sucrose Preference Test (SPT). The neonatal maternal separation procedure was carried out with the Carioca rats, an anxiety disorder Wistar rat model, developed through selective lines matching based in a task of contextual fear conditioning, which gives rise to two different lines: CHF (Carioca High Freezing) and CLF (Carioca Low Freezing). Six CHF and 10 CLF animals were used in this work. We also used Maternal Separated AFR (Animal Facility Rearing) (n=15) and Non-separated AFR groups as controls (CTR group, n=8). The rat pups were separated as a litter (8 to 10 animals per dam) from the dam from post natal day (PND) 1–14, daily, for a three-hour period/day (MS-CHF, MS-CLF and MS-AFR groups); the CTR group did not receive any kind of manipulation in these 14 days, exception for the home cage cleaning once a week, performed for all groups. The weaning was performed at PND21. All the animals were tested in the SPT at PND 60, using a 10% sucrose-solution. The animals were grouped in 4–6 animals and were tested in a free choice protocol for 48 hours. In the first 12 hours, the animals were trained with two bottles of water in the cage. After this, there were two bottles for each cage: one with water and the other with the 10% sucrose solution. The bottles' location was changed often to avoid possible position preference. The total liquid consumption and then thee sucrose consumption ratio were measured. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the differences between the three MS groups. The Dunn's post hoc test showed a difference between the groups in relation to relative sucrose consumption: MS-CHF consumed less sucrose solution than the MS-CLF and MS-AFR groups (KW: 24.02; p

Perceptions of Psychological Domain of Quality of Life in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Adaptation to changes that occur with diabetes mellitus is often accompanied by a variety of negative emotional responses, including anger, guilt, frustration, denial, and loneliness. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess psychological domain of quality of life for people with diabetes mellitus in relation to some of the socio-demographic variables. Methods: The study included 150 patients with diabetes mellitus from October 2011 until June 2012 year, using the questionnaire for quality of life of the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: Mean score for psychological health domain was 56.28 (± 14.88), without statistically significant difference in relation to sex and with a statistic significant difference decreased with increasing of age (F = 6.715, p = 0.000) and increased with the level of education (F = 7.958, p = 0.000). Negative emotions, such as blue mood, despair, anxiety, depression were present in almost 1/2 of the respondents, “often” (32.7%), “very often” (11.3%) and “always” (4.0%) without statistically significant difference in relation to gender, age and level of education. Discussion: Mean scores for psychological health domain were lower in older and less educated patients. Conclusion: Negative feelings were present in all patients indicating the need for preventive action to soften and reduce these negative feelings.

Blue Mood for Superfood

The term superfood refers to food with high levels of either nutrient or bioactive phytochemicals with human health benefits. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring compounds in plants that provide their color, flavor and odor. Phenolic compounds form the major constituents of phytochemicals. Plant traits in phytochemical production are tightly bound with the genome while modified markedly by the environmental conditions. Here, we studied the effect of supplemented blue light on the production of several phenolics in the leaves of tomato, basil and parsley, which are widely cultivated food plant species. The results indicated doubled or higher increases in the accumulation of several species-specific phenolic acids or flavonoids. In conclusion, we showed for the first time, that supplemented blue light results in high yield improvement of phytochemicals related to superfood products.

Management of Stress and Depression in Nursing Students through Positive Therapy

The fund of human knowledge has continued and is continuing to virtually explode, technologies are multiplying the productivity of man a hundredfold. Education has been slow to meet the changing demands of the modem world, but the expanding knowledge in many fields with its modifying effect on the curriculum and the advancing technologies with their effect on the instructional process leave no choice to education but to review its practices and to make the major changes necessary for today's world. These are the inescapable facts of modem life. The direction of the progress of ideas, resembling life itself, generally goes from the simple to the complex. As concepts are developed and elaborated they become more sophisticated (Heidgerken, 2000).Health Education has complex philosophical and technological bases and identifiable skills and competencies that are needed for its successful implementation. Students in this field are thus provided with a challenging but clearly marked pathway to professional competence (Greene & Simons, 1984). The World Health Organization (1947) has defined the concept of Health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely absence of diseases and infirmity.Stress is the body's reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response. Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes an individual feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or anxious. Stress is caused by an existing stresscausing factor or stressor. Dealing with a serious illness or caring for someone with a great deal of stress (Morrow, 2011).Although it may not be possible to change the effects of stress, it can be relieved by exercise and a healthy diet. Regular aerobic exercise, consisting of a daily 40-minute brisk walk, can reduce anxiety. In stressful situations, those who exercise regularly tend to have less muscle tension and lower blood pressure than inactive people.Depression is nourished by a lifetime of ungrieved and unforgiven hurts. - Penelope SweetAn illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts, which affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels and thinks about oneself and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with a depressive disease cannot merely 'pull themselves together' and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with depression.It was also found from the previous researches that Positive Therapy had been very successful in alleviating stress and depression. It helped people to have a pleasing personality with positive perception. It helped to deal with problems more effectively and lead a successful life. Hence, the researcher made an attempt to pursue this study and help the Nursing Students Manage their Stress and Depression through Positive Therapy.Objectives of the study* To find out the relation between Stress and Depression* To identify the level of Stress in the Nursing Students* To identify the level of Depression in the Nursing Students* Positive Therapy helps the Nursing Students to Manage their Stress and DepressionHypotheses of the studyThe hypotheses are stated as alternate hypotheses, so that they can be either accepted or rej ected based on the results.* There will be a relationship between Stress and Depression of the Nursing Students* The Negative Emotions of the Nursing Students will be reduced after the Positive Therapy.* The Stress Level among the Nursing Students will be reduced significantly due to Positive Therapy.* The Depression Level among the Nursing Students will be reduced significantly due to Positive Therapy.* There is a significant difference between Before, After and Follow-up periods of Positive Therapy in the Level of Stress experienced by the Nursing Students. …

Treating pediatric depression in primary care: Coping with the patients’ blue mood and the FDA’s black box

Treating pediatric depression in primary care: Coping with the patients’ blue mood and the FDA’s black box

A comparing study between somatic complain and effectiveness among depressed outpatients

目的 了解抑郁症患者常见躯体主诉,探讨不同求医主诉患者的临床症状特点及治疗疗效.方法连续门诊就诊、符合CCMD-3诊断标准的抑郁症患者,根据求医主诉不同(采用三级病诉法)分为躯体症状主诉组和精神症状主诉组,各30例.给予8周氟西汀(百优解)治疗,治疗前和治疗后1,4,8周分别予HAMD-17、CGI、TESS等量表评定.结果抑郁症患者最常见的三大类躯体主诉为疼痛(52%)、胃肠道症状(25%)、疲劳和精力缺乏(17%),并且75%的躯体症状主诉抑郁症患者在深入问诊时承认有精神症状.经8周氟西汀治疗,躯体症状主诉组有效率和临床治愈率分别为83%和51%,精神主诉组有效率和治愈率分别为86%和70%.结论两组患者都具有抑郁症核心症状,但躯体症状主诉抑郁症患者程度较重,并且急性期治疗时间可能需要更长。

Complications of SSRI treatment.

EVEN THOUGH THE SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIs) have a very favorable side-effect profile, problems can develop during treatment that can cause concern. Complications of treatment that are easiest to deal with are those that are expected, occur early in the course of treatment, are mostly physical in nature, and either go away on their own or with dose reduction or medication discontinuation. More problematic are those complications of treatment that are late in onset, unexpected, and do not go away with dose reduction or medication discontinuation. In addition, complications that present as behavior changes are the most problematic, as it can be difficult to differentiate what is a medication effect and what is related to the disorder or child being treated. Prior to initiating medication most psychopharmacologists will review the physical side effects with patients and their families, but are less likely to discuss adverse behavioral changes seen during medication treatment. Our approach is to talk about the complications of treatment during informed consent rather than side effects, as it is a broader concept and we think it prepares children and families better for participation in a medication trial. In this column we offer an update of important complications (both common and rare) that can occur during SSRI treatment. We have created an A,B,C mnemonic to make it easier to remember (Walkup and Labellarte, 1999). Activation is an increase in activity level that does not include any real change in mood, impulse control, or a change in the child’s demeanor or other behaviors. Others may describe this symptom as disinhibition, akathisia, hyperactivity, etc., but we prefer activation because it does not have a particular etiological association and merely describes what a clinician or a family member may observe. Although most of the time the child is aware of the increase in activity level, they will not necessarily complain about it or experience it as a substantial change in their own behavior. Activation is most often seen early in the course of treatment or soon after a dose increase. In our clinical experience, it probably occurs more commonly in young children than adolescents and adults, and is perhaps even more frequent in children with concurrent minimal brain dysfunction (to use an old term)— including children with ADHD but also children with difficult temperaments or subtle CNS dysfunction. Activation is easily managed by dose reduction or medication discontinuation, although at times it is difficult to get the dose low enough to actually get rid of the activation

Smoking among Male Psychiatric Outpatients in Saudi Arabia

The prevalence rate of smoking among psychiatric patients has been shown to be higher than that among the general population, and this may have several neuropsychiatric implications. This cross-sectional study examines the prevalence, sociodemographic variables and pattern of smoking among psychiatric outpatients in Saudi Arabia. Over a period of 18 months (January 1996 to June 1997), 505 outpatients from five different hospitals were randomly selected to participate in the study. It was observed that 292 patients (57.83%) were current smokers, 199 (39.4%) were nonsmokers and 14 patients (2.77%) were ex-smokers. Besides revealing certain attitudes towards smoking and religious antismoking notions, it was observed that unemployment, low education status, rural background, and drug abuse were significantly associated with smoking. The prevalence rate of smoking revealed in this study is consistent with international data, and probably has implications similar to those reported in other studies. This study also found certain patterns of tobacco use in psychiatric outpatients characterized by certain sociodemographic variables and drug abuse.

Blue mood, blackened lungs. Depression and smoking

Blue mood, blackened lungs. Depression and smoking

Blue Mood, Blackened Lungs

The notion of "self-medication" is one of the most intuitively appealing theories about drug abuse. According to this hypothesis, 1 drug abuse begins as a partially successful attempt to assuage painful feelings. This does not mean seeking "pleasure" from the use of drugs. Rather, individuals predisposed by biological or psychological vulnerabilities find that drug effects corresponding to their particular problems are powerfully reinforcing. For example, clinical observations suggest that persons who have difficulty regulating mood may be particularly vulnerable to abuse of cocaine or other stimulant drugs, persons who have difficulty controlling anger to abuse of heroin and other opioids, and persons who have high anxiety levels to abuse of alcohol and other sedatives. Many drug abusers report that their drug helped them to feel "normal," even before they developed physiological dependence with continued drug use necessary to prevent withdrawal symptoms. 1 Such clinical observations are supported by the recent