History Of Mental Illness Research Articles

Consummated suicide in Gran Canaria in the period 2017–2022, and its relationship with a history of mental disorder

IntroductionSuicide remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Due to the relationship between suicidal behaviour and mental disorder, our aim is to determine the number of people who received care by the Mental Health Network among the total number of suicides consummated between 2017 and 2022 in Gran Canaria, as well as the characteristics of that population and the care received. Material and methodsLongitudinal observational retrospective study in which the study population was extracted from the total number of suicides in the database of the Legal Medicine Institute. Subsequently, the data were cross-checked by the Mental Health Network databases. Finally, a univariate statistical analysis was carried out and the results were compared according to sex and care in the Community Mental Health Unit. ResultsOnly 39.4% had received care at the Mental Health Unit, the majority being women (55.3% vs. 34.6%), with a mean age of 50.9 years for both sexes. History of previous attempts was much more frequent in the population receiving care (45.4% vs. 7%), as well as emergency care (42% vs. 5.7%) and hospital admissions (25.3% vs. 0.7%). ConclusionLess than half of the deceased persons had contact with a Community Mental Health Unit. In addition, care by this unit was higher among those with previous attempts and among the female sex, with the most frequent diagnosis being monopolar affective disorders.

A Prevalence Survey on Attempted Suicides and Suicidal Deaths in a Selected Rural Area of Bangladesh

Introduction: Now-a-days suicide has become a significant public health problem all over the world. It is like a silent parasite of society. With a view to assess the community prevalence of attempted suicide and suicidal deaths a study was conducted among 181 respondents in Muradpur, Sadar, Dinajpur. Concerning National benefits, we have to grow awareness about the issue. Objectives: To assess the community prevalence, high risk groups, causes and process of attempted suicide and suicidal deaths in an area of Bangladesh. Method: This is a cross sectional type of descriptive study conducted in Muradpur, Sadar, Dinajpur from 21th October to 31th October, 2023.The sample size was 181 and convenience sampling technique was used for data collection. Results: This study showed that about 87.8% of the total respondents were literate and regarding occupation, maximum 45.9% female respondents were housewives and 18.8% were engaged in agriculture. Socio-economic status revealed that three-fourths of them were earning around 15,000 Taka monthly. About half of the totalrespondents thought that suicide is religiously prohibited and 34.8% thought that it is not good to commit suicide. In this area about three-fourths of people did not receive any health education regarding suicide prevention. Around 98.34% respondents avoided the thought of suicide and only 1.66% had somehow thought of committing suicide. The study found 16(8.8% of total respondents) cases of suicide, where 7 (3.9% of total respondents) were male and 9 (4.9% of total respondents) were female. Regarding age, maximum 8 (50%) people who committed suicide were more than 50 years old, one-fourths of them had a history of mental disorder and 6 (37.5%) people were attempted suicide previously. Majority of them committed suicide followed by family problem (37.5%) and long-term physical or mental disability (25%). Around 50% of total suicidal cases were conducted by hanging and 43.75% by poisoning. The study found that 50% of individuals who committed suicide were immediately transferred to hospital for treatment. Conclusion: The main reasons for suicide were illiteracy and family problems. Although, majority of the villagers thought that the real reason behind it is lack of religious knowledge. Family and social education will be beneficial for preventing suicide.

Assessment of children suicide attempts frequency in the peripandemic period.

Our study aimed to evaluate patients after suicide attempts treated at the Department of Trauma Surgery for Children in the peripandemic period, assessment of potential risk factors, and the school's participation as the unit responsible for the prevention of suicidal behavior. Retrospective review of the medical database at equal time intervals of 24 months to identify patients treated before and after the COVID-19 was done. Thorough analysis including injury mechanism, medical procedures, history of previous mental disorders or suicidal behavior was performed. Furthermore, results were compared with the Polish police suicide statistics. Based on our retrospective review we found 4 patients treated in our department before the pandemic and 10 patients treated after COVID-19 outbreak. The group before SARS-Cov-2 era consisted of three girls and one boy with a mean age of 14.97 (12.7-17.6). The group treated in the pandemic crisis consisted of 8 boys and 2 girls, the mean age was 15.49 (10.8-17.2). In the pre-COVID-19 group, 2 out of 4 patients had received psychiatric treatment before, but none had attempted suicide before. In the COVID-19 group, 6 out of 10 patients had previously received psychiatric treatment, moreover 3 of them attempted suicide before. Based on our analysis, the number of individuals who displayed suicidal attempts has raised. Between 2018 and 2021 the largest number of suicides concerned the 13-18 y.o. group, both for the Silesian Voivodeship (H = 9.374; p = 0.0092) and for the whole country (H = 10.203; p = 0.0061). (1) Results of our study indicate that the pandemic may have caused a wide range of negative mental health consequences for young individuals; (2) Suicide attempts in children are often related with high energy trauma; (3) Teachers and school psychologists, as well as medical health providers, should be aware of rising suicide rates among adolescents.

МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЕ ФАКТОРОВ, АССОЦИИРОВАННЫХ С ОТНОШЕНИЕМ К ЛИЦАМ С ПСИХИЧЕСКИМИ РАССТРОЙСТВАМИ И РАССТРОЙСТВАМИ ПОВЕДЕНИЯ

Significance. The increasing intensity of social processes contributes to the increase in the incidence of mental disorders and behavioral disorders among citizens. A history of mental and behavioral disorders creates conditions for social isolation of the patient. A questionnaire survey was conducted with the purpose of identifying factors associated with the attitude of citizens towards patients with mental and behavioral disorders. Material and methods. To collect data, a validated author's questionnaire was used, the answers to the questions and judgments of which were presented in the form of a five-level scale of the total Likert ratings. Simple and multiple binary logistic regression analysis, and simple ordinal logistic regression analysis were used to select factors that affect the respondents' choice of options for questions-judgments reflecting their attitude towards patients with mental disorders and behavioral disorders. Results. Respondents with a history of dealing with patients with mental disorders and behavioral disorders are more likely to agree with the statement that the latter should be isolated from society. Older respondents are more likely to agree with the statement that patients with mental and behavioral disorders may be restricted in rights. Middle-aged respondents (compared with the elderly) who have secondary vocational education (compared with those with higher education) are more likely to agree with the statement that patients with mental disorders and behavioral disorders pose a danger. Non-religious respondents are less likely to agree with the statement that patients with mental disorders and behavioral disorders pose a danger. Conclusion. The attitude of residents of Cherepovets towards people with mental disorders and behavioral disorders is mediated by the characteristics of their demographic status, previous history of dealing with such patients and self-rated religious commitment. Scope of application. The study results can be used to develop social programs aimed at preventing interpersonal conflicts and formation of negative social stereotypes resulting in social isolation of people with mental and behavioral disorders.

Incidence of suicidal ideation in a cohort of civil servants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: insights from the ELSA-Brasil Study.

This study investigated the incidence of suicidal ideation and its associated risk factors in the state of São Paulo in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto [ELSA-Brasil]) cohort during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In a pre-pandemic ELSA-Brasil onsite assessment in 2016-2018 (wave 3) and a pandemic online assessment in May-July 2020 (wave COVID), we assessed suicidal ideation using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R). Single and multi predictor logistic regressions were performed using sociodemographic characteristics, household financial impact during the pandemic, presence of previous chronic diseases, alcohol abuse, adverse childhood experiences (ACE), living alone, and previous common mental disorders (CMD) as predictors. Incidence of suicidal ideation was used as outcome. Out of 4,191 participants in wave 3, 2,117 (50.5%) also answered the COVID wave. There was a threefold increase in suicide ideation, from 34 (1.8%) to 104 (5.6%) participants. In multiple predictor models, we found that previous CMD (odds ratio [OR] 7.17; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 4.43 - 11.58) and ACE (OR 1.72; 95%CI 1.09 - 2.72) increased the odds of incident suicidal ideation. The sociodemographic predictors female sex, younger age, and low income were significant risk factors in the single predictor models only. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring and supporting individuals who suffered ACE and have a history of mental health disorders. This is especially critical in times of heightened societal stress, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Magnitude and factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder among war-affected internally displaced people in northwest Ethiopia, 2022.

A large number of people are often directly involved in armed conflict and, therefore, are at greater risk of developing a wide range of mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite this, few have been reported about it in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. This study was carried out to assess the magnitude and factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder among war-affected internally displaced people in northwest Ethiopia, 2022. Cross-sectional study design was conducted from May 23 to June 22, 2022, and simple random sampling was used to select a sample of 412 participants. Data were collected by structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. The post-traumatic stress disorder checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition with extended criteria-A was used to assess post-traumatic stress disorder. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. A total of 412 participants were interviewed with the response rate of 100%. The mean age of the respondents was 34.7 (±10.9) years. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder was found to be 60.98% (95% CI: 56.1%, 65.5%) with an estimated prevalence of 23.5% and 76.5% among males and females, respectively. In multivariable analysis, female sex (AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.48, 3.86), having depression (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.78, 4.60), family history of mental illness (AOR = 3.67; 95% CI: 1.43, 9.42), and poor social support (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI: 1.74, 7.47) were factors significantly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder at p-value < 0.05. Based on this study, at least 6 out of 10 war-affected populations have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. Especially females, those who had depression, family history of mental illness, and poor social support, were more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, it is recommended to do on-site screening and provide treatment for all displaced populations suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder by giving special concern for females, individuals having depression, poor social support, and family history of mental illness.

Research on feeding and eating disorders in India: A narrative review.

Despite growing evidence of their prevalence, research on feeding and eating disorders (FEDs) in India has been sporadic. This narrative review aimed to summarize the research on FED in India and set priorities for future research and translation of evidence. An electronic search was conducted in the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases to identify relevant English peer-reviewed articles from April 1967 to July 2023. The extracted data from these studies included author names, publication year, research location, type of intervention (for interventional studies), nature of comparator treatments, and main outcomes or findings. We found a rising trend in the prevalence of EDs in India. Adolescent age group, female sex, higher socioeconomic status, family history of mental illness or disordered eating, and borderline personality pattern were risk factors for EDs. For feeding disorders (FDs), childhood age group, malnutrition, pregnancy, psychosis, intellectual disability (ID), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were putative risk factors. Both physical and psychiatric comorbidities were common in FEDs. Culture appears to exert a pathoplastic effect on symptom presentation in FEDs; an illustrative example is the documented nonfat phobic variant of anorexia nervosa (AN) in India. Research on management has focused on using assessment tools, investigations to rule out medical comorbidities, psychosocial and family-based psychotherapies, nutritional rehabilitation, pharmacotherapy, and neuromodulation approaches. Whereas the publication output on FEDs in India has increased over the last decade, it remains an under-researched area, with a striking paucity of original research. Future research priorities in FEDs include conducting country-wide registry-based studies to offer real-world insights, longitudinal research to identify culturally relevant risk factors, and developing brief, culturally sensitive diagnostic instruments for FEDs in the Indian context. This will help generate locally relevant epidemiological data on FEDs and inform treatment and prevention strategies.

COVID-19 AND MANIA: A CASE WITH A ONE-YEAR FOLLOW UP.

COVID-19 may affect central nervous system. The symptoms related to the CNS may occur through the direct neuroinvasion of the virus, inflammation, autoimmunity, psychosocial stressors and treatment side effects. COVID-19 can increase the severity of existing mental illnesses and also trigger the onset of a new mental illness. In this case report, we present a 52-year-old male patient with no previous psychiatric history as well as no family history of mental illness. The patient's manic symptoms began while he was hospitalized due to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The patient, who self-discharged himself from the hospital was brought to the emergency department involuntarily by his relatives 14 days later and was admitted to the psychiatry service. In this case report, possible etiological factors were discussed and the treatment course during the hospitalization and one year follow-up were presented. Our aim is to contribute to the literature by discussing possible etiological factors and management of mania that started during the treatment of COVID-19. COVID-19 can affect the central nervous system and be associated with psychiatric symptoms. Keywords: COVID-19, Mania, Bipolar Disorder, Central Nervous System.

The pooled prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children and adolescents in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common childhood neurobehavioral disorders, which has a serious negative effect on educational achievement, peer relationships, social functioning, behavior, and self-esteem of children. However, the pooled prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is not well known in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to estimate the pooled prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children and adolescents in Ethiopia. PubMed, HINARI, Science Direct, Psych INFO, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, and cross-referenced were searched to identify relevant articles. Quality appraisal was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Heterogeneity was tested using the I-square statistics. Publication bias was tested using a funnel plot visual inspection. Further, trim and fill analysis was done to correct publication bias.Forest plots and tables were used to present results. The random effect model was used to compute the pooled prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children and adolescents. The overall pooled prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children and adolescents in Ethiopia was 14.2% (95% CI: 8.48, 22.83). Being male (OR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.54; 3.12), being aged 6-11 years (OR: 3.67, 95% CI: 1.98; 6.83), low family socioeconomic status (OR: 3.45 95% CI: 2.17; 5.47), maternal complication during pregnancy (OR: 3.29, 95% CI: 1.97; 5.51) and family history of mental illness (OR: 3.83, 95% CI:2.17; 6.77) were factors associated with a higher odds of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children and adolescents. The overall pooled prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children and adolescents is high in Ethiopia as compared to previous literature. To reduce the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children and adolescents, emphasis has to be given to prevention, early detection, and management of pregnancy-related complications. Moreover, parents with mental illness should be supported and properly treated to reduce the impact of hostile parenting on their child's health. Registered in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42024536334.

Prevalence of Mental Distress and Its Predictors Among Adult Women Attending Court After Experiencing Gender‐Based Violence: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Background: Despite being a universal problem, violence against women is the least acknowledged category of human rights violations worldwide. Long‐term mental health conditions such as anxiety, sadness, and posttraumatic stress disorders are associated with violence against women and girls. Despite its magnitude, severity, and negative consequences, studies on the prevalence of mental distress and associated factors among women who experienced gender‐based violence (GBV) are limited in Ethiopia.Objective: To assess the prevalence of mental distress and associated factors among women who experienced GBV and attended courts in the Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia, from July to September 2023.Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 426 adult women who experienced GBV and attended the courts. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. The collected data were entered into EpiData Version 4.6 and then exported to SPSS Version 26 for analysis. A logistic regression model was used to identify independent factors of mental distress. The strength of the associations is presented as odds ratios with 95% CIs, and the results are reported as significant at p values &lt; 0.05.Results: A total of 420 participants were enrolled for a 99.5% response rate. The prevalence of mental distress was 52.6% (95% CI: 49.65–58.85). Mental distress was associated with rural residence (AOR: 2.753; 95%CI = 1.749, 4.332), being concerned about food insecurity (AOR = 2.808; 95%CI = 1.344, 5.864), having a family history of mental illness (AOR = 2.647; 95%CI = 1.488, 4.708), having a husband ever khat use (AOR = 1.918; 95%CI = 1.192, 3.085), and having a husband who married another wife (AOR = 2.209; 95%CI = 1.199, 4.072).Conclusion: The prevalence of mental distress among women who experienced GBV and attended the courts of the Hadiya Zone was high. Place of residence, concern about food insecurity, family history of mental illness, ever khat use, and having a husband who marries another wife were found to have statistically significant associations with mental distress among women who experienced GBV and attended the courts of the Hadiya Zone. Women need to be assessed regularly for GBV during health care visits. Regular counseling, facilitating, and adhering to different GBV coping mechanisms during the waiting time is imperative to overcome this problem.

Pathways to Care among patients with Mental Illness at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The first line of care is a paramount stage in the management of the mentally ill persons. In Nigeria, traditional and faith-based healers compete with medical professionals in providing care. AIM: To determine the pathway to care among patients with Mental Illness at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The characteristics of the patients and their pathways to care were assessed using a questionnaire specifically designed by the researchers, based on previous studies. A total of 270 participants were recruited over a three-month period using a convenience sampling technique. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Chi-square tests were applied to examine associations, with significance set at P-values less than 0.05. Binary logistic regression was used to identify determinants of the pathway to care. RESULTS: Few respondents (15.9%) had consulted a psychiatrist and that at least 3.6 (SD ± 6.0) non-medical healers were consulted before seeing a psychiatrist. There was a statistically significant association between the pathway to care and the level of education (p = 0.047), ethnicity (p = 0.001), religion (p &lt; 0.001), diagnosis (p = 0.002), and family history of mental illness (p = 0.002). However, religion, family history of mental illness, and diagnosis emerged as determinants of the pathway to care. CONCLUSION: The study found that the use of non- medical care was high among patients with mental illness. Religion, family history of mental illness, and diagnosis are determinants of the pathway to care. Keywords: Pathway, Mental illness, care.

Polymorphic variants in the cluster of genes encoding trace amine receptors and cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and healthy controls

To evaluate the association of polymorphisms in the TAAR1-9 gene cluster on chromosome 6 with cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and healthy controls. Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (n=216) and healthy people without a family history of mental disorders (n=240) completed a battery of cognitive tests, from which individual indices of cognitive functioning were derived. Associations of the cognitive index with 22 polymorphisms in the TAAR genes were assessed using ANCOVA controlling for sex, age, genetic structure of the sample, and polygenic risk scores of schizophrenia and intelligence. An interaction effect between group and genotype on the cognitive index was found at the rs3813355 site in the TAAR5 gene (F=6.68; p=0.010; η2p=0.02). A post hoc analysis revealed genotype-related differences in the patient group. Homozygotes for the common A allele had a milder cognitive deficit than carriers of the minor G allele (t=2.75; p=0.032; Cohen's d=0.38). The effect of genotype on cognitive index remained significant after the inclusion of disease duration and negative symptoms in the model (F=7.99; p=0.005; η2p=0.04). Of the individual cognitive indicators, associations with genotype were found for working memory and attention (F=8.25; p=0.005; η2p=0.05), cognitive flexibility (F=5.82; p=0.017; η2p=0.05) and verbal episodic memory (F=6.75; p=0.011; η2p=0.05). The results are consistent with the assumption of the role of the TAAR5 genetic polymorphism in the variability of cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia.

Standardized Treatment and Shortened Depression Course can Reduce Cognitive Impairment in Adolescents With Depression.

This study aimed to explore the influence of depression severity, disease course, treatment status, and other factors on cognitive function in adolescents with depressive disorders. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Sociodemographic data of each participant were recorded, including age, sex, and family history of mental disorders. Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale was used to assess depression status in adolescents. Moreover, P300 and mismatch negativity (MMN) were used to objectively evaluate the participants' cognitive function. Only 26.8% of the adolescents with depression received standard antidepressant treatment. The latencies of N2 (267.80±23.34 ms), P3 (357.71±32.09 ms), and MMN (212.10±15.61 ms) in the adolescent depression group were longer than those in the healthy control group (p<0.01). Further analysis revealed that the latency of MMN was extended with increased levels of depression in adolescents. The MMN latency was short in participants with depression receiving standardized treatment. Furthermore, the latency of MMN was positively correlated with the severity and duration of depression (correlation coefficients were 0.465 and 0.479, respectively) (p<0.01). Receiving standardized treatment and shortening the course of depression can reduce cognitive impairment in adolescents with depression.

Gadamer 관점에 따른 묻지마 범죄에 대한 음악치료 현장에서의 창의성 이해

Unlike traditional incidents, “Do-not-ask” crimes occur against unspecified people or an unspecified number of people without a specific cause, so anyone can become a victim of “Do-not-ask” crimes, causing serious fear in many people. And, regardless of who is involved, it is difficult to clearly distinguish between a potential perpetrator of a crime and an actual perpetrator, leading to confusion in prevention. Through research to date, it is understood that perpetrators of “Do-not-ask” crimes generally have common problems such as poor economic and family environments, cognition, thinking, impulsiveness control, and emotional control abilities. Additionally, many perpetrators of “Do-not-ask” crimes have a history of mental illness and/or have a thinking disorder due to addiction to psychotropic drugs. Rather than increasing the severity of legal punishment for perpetrators of “Do-not-ask” crimes who have these problems, it is judged that mental rehabilitation treatment that includes drug treatment, interpersonal training, art therapy, and family education is more urgent, and preemptive measures against random crimes are considered more urgent. It is believed that information sharing and the establishment of a cooperative system with various organizations are urgently needed for prevention. First of all, in terms of therapeutic approach, there may be various understandings of perpetrators of crime without question, but crime without question is understood simply as a symptom and the goal is not to reduce or eliminate symptoms, but rather the psychological state of criminals without question is a process of horizon fusion, dialectic. By understanding it as a temporary and intermediate situation, we aim to suggest a direction for healing through the formation of perpetrators' creativity and the role of art and play (Spiel) where this creativity can be actively expressed.

SLEEPY MELODIES: Android-Based Application For Hypno Sleeping Process In Babies 0-6 Months

The postpartum period is the period of six weeks after delivery or 42 days from the birth of the baby until the reproductive organs return to their normal pre-pregnancy state. During the postpartum period, only some postpartum mothers managed to adjust to the post-natal psychological change phase, while others did not manage to adjust and experienced psychological disorders. According to Nasri (2017), one of the problems of postpartum mothers is psychological problems, the most common affective or mood disorders found in postpartum women are postpartum blues. According to Ibrahim (2012) many factors are suspected to be the trigger for the postpartum blues including hormonal factors, age, parity, experience in the process of pregnancy and childbirth, education, marital status, unwanted pregnancies, history of mental disorders, socioeconomic, and social support. . In addition, readiness in caring for babies is also a factor in the occurrence of post partum blues if the baby is fussy for a long time. One way for mothers who are affected by the postpartum blues due to difficulties in caring for babies, especially putting babies to sleep, is to use the hypno sleeping method with white noise media. According to the National Sleep Foundation, white noise can give babies a better sense of sleep, without being distracted by distracting high-pitched sounds.Along with the industrial revolution 4.0 which changed the way humans work from manual use to digitalization, the representation of applications that can be used in community service. The aim of this study was to produce an application Sleppy Melodies Android-based to help mothers make it easier for their children to sleep. This research design uses the model Research and Development. Sources of data for this study came from mothers with children aged 0-6 months, midwives, material experts, and media experts. There were 87% of mothers and 89% of midwives who responded very well to the application Sleepy Melodies Android-based. In this study it can be concluded that application Sleepy Melodies android-based declared eligible by 86% to be used by health workers and mothers in improving the quality of infant sleep.

Ansiedade em Profissionais dos Cuidados de Saúde Primários na Primeira Vaga da Pandemia COVID-19

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic led to the adoption of paramount measures to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection and prevent its spread, causing anxiety in the general population. Health professionals have been considered one of the most vulnerable groups for mental health problems, as observed in past epidemics. The present study aimed to assess the anxiety in primary healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the factors that influenced it. Methodology This cross-sectional study was performed via an online anonymous survey, disseminated primarily through social networks and institutional mailing lists, between March 29th and April 5th 2020, applied to primary healthcare professionals in mainland Portugal. Anxiety levels were obtained by applying the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with anxiety levels. Results The study included 696 participants, of which 61.9% were physicians, 84.8% were women and 43.8% presented mild to severe levels of anxiety. Factors such as personal history of previous mental health disorders (p&lt;0.001), having a family member with risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 complications (p=0.012) and being an administrative clerk (p=0.014), showed to relate with higher levels of anxiety. On the other hand, the existence of a workspace contingency plan was associated with lower anxiety levels (p=0.048); nevertheless, 6.9% considered it inadequate, mainly due to inappropriate protective equipment for professionals (79.6%). Conclusion This study highlights a high prevalence of anxiety among health professionals and reinforces the need of, in future pandemics, promoting the adoption of adequate measures to protect their mental health and, ultimately, safeguard the quality of patient care. Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, anxiety, health personnel, occupational health, occupational medicine.

Burden of anxiety in Adolescent: A community-based study in Western Uttar Pradesh

Background: Anxiety is a prevalent issue among adolescents and can adversely affect their academic performance and everyday functioning. Aims &amp; Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of anxiety among adolescents in urban and rural areas and to study the socio-demographic correlates of anxiety among adolescents in urban and rural areas. Methods: A comprehensive survey was conducted in the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine of a Medical College in western district of Uttar Pradesh. The survey was aimed at young people between the ages of 10 and 19 who lived in the practice area of the medical college. Result: The burden of anxiety was observed to be 19.6 % (n=92). Female gender, urban residence, early adolescent age-group (10-13 yr), nuclear family, day-time somnolence and family history of mental illness were factors having statistical significance. Poor education level of parents was also statistically significant. Physical activity and substance abuse did not have significant contribution in burden of anxiety. Conclusion: Anxiety in adolescents is a significant issue influenced by various factors. Early intervention and support are crucial.

Utilisation of specialist epilepsy services and antiseizure medication adherence rates in a cohort of people with epilepsy (PWE) accessing emergency care

BackgroundAn epilepsy-related attendance at A&E is associated an increased risk of subsequent death within 6 months. Although further work is required to provide a definitive explanation to account for these findings, in the interim it would seem reasonable that services are designed to ensure timely access and provide support at a time of greatest risk. We aim to determine the frequency of patients accessing specialist neurology services following an epilepsy-related admission/unscheduled care episode and consider ASM adherence at the point of attendance. MethodsPatients were identified retrospectively via the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde live integrated epilepsy Dashboard following an unscheduled epilepsy-related admission or A&E attendance between 1st January 2022 and 30th June 2022. We calculated adherence to anti-seizure medication for a period of 6 months prior to admission and defined poor medication adherence as a medication possession ratio of less than 80 %. We evaluated the rate of any outpatient neurology clinic attendance in the subsequent 3, 6 and 12 months following an epilepsy-related unscheduled care episode. Additional clinical information was identified via the electronic patient records. ResultsBetween 1st Jan 2022 and 30th June 2022, there were 266 emergency care seizure-related attendances. The mean age at attendance was 46 years (range: 16–91). Most of PWE were males (63 %) and 37 % were females.Epilepsy classification-29.3 % had GGE, 41.7% had focal epilepsy, and in 29 % of cases the epilepsy was unclassified.Of the admissions, 107/ 266 (40.2 %) generated follow-up within 6 months of attendance. Poor medication adherence was noted in 54/266 (20.3 %). 28.2 % of cases had input from on-call neurology service during admission/ED attendance, and of those 60 % had ASM adjusted.18 % of attendances had a background diagnosis of learning disability. One-third of attendances of PWE had a history of mental health disorder 35 % (93/266). 25 % of ED attendances noted an active history of alcohol consumption misuse or/and recreational drug use.14 (5.5 %) of PWE died during the period of interest (12 months following the last ED visit). In 6/14 (42.3 %) death was associated with poor medication adherence. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that a significant proportion of patients who experienced seizure-related admissions/ attendance did not access specialist neurology services in a timely manner. In addition, poor medication adherence remains a problem for a substantial number of people living with epilepsy. Early access to specialist services may go some way to improving care and reducing excessive mortality in PWE by allowing anti-seizure medication to be titrated and poor medication adherence to be addressed in those at greatest risk.

Consumer knowledge of mental health conditions, awareness of mental health support services, and perception of community pharmacists' role in mental health promotion.

To explore community pharmacy consumers' knowledge and attitudes of mental illness, support services, and community pharmacists' role in supporting people living with mental illness (PLMI). This survey was conducted in 15 community pharmacies between June and September 2019. Participants were aged 18 years or older without prior or ongoing history of mental illness and/or with close family members with mental illness. Open-ended responses to the anonymous questionnaire were analysed using content analysis. Majority of the 380 participants were female (57.4%) with a mean age 52.9 years and 33.7% having completed university. Most (70.3%) believed that people with mental illness had a negative image due to poor health literacy providing possible solutions of 'awareness campaigns', 'education and training', and 'increased government funding for mental health (MH) support services'. Only 33.7% and 63.7% of participants were aware of Mental Health Week and the R U OK? Campaign, respectively. Whilst 12.4% of participants had participated in MH campaigns, only 3.4% were aware of community pharmacists-led MH educational activities. There were significant differences between adults (<65 years) and older adults (≥65 years old) with the latter reporting a more negative image for mental illness (P < 0.05) and having less exposure and engagement with MH resources (P < 0.001) and campaigns (P < 0.01). Despite awareness, participants reported low engagement with MH campaigns. Additionally, older adults had lower MH literacy and exposure to resources and campaigns. This study highlighted that the community lacked awareness of what pharmacists can offer to support PLMIs.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Self-Reported Substance Use among Patients with Mental Illness in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Background. Substance use is prevalent among patients with mental illness in low- and middle-income countries, including Tanzania. This heightened prevalence not only increases the risk of developing mental disorders and substance use disorders but also contributes to poor treatment outcomes for these patients. Despite these concerns, the current prevalence of substance use and its associated factors in this population remains unclear in Tanzania. Therefore, this study is aimed at determining the 12-month period prevalence of self-reported substance use and associated factors among patients with mental illness. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study among patients with mental illness at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Respondents were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data on self-reported substance use were collected using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) alcohol, smoking, and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST) V3.0. IBM SPSS version 25 was employed for data analysis, utilizing frequencies and percentages to determine the prevalence of self-reported substance use. The study employed bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses to investigate the association between patient characteristics and self-reported substance use, with statistical significance set at apvalue of &lt; 0.05. Results. A total of 364 patients were enrolled in the study, with 215 (59.1%) being male and a mean (SD) age of 35.57 (±9.01) years. Among the participants, 119 (32.7%) reported substance use. The most commonly used substances were alcohol (21.7%), tobacco (19.8%), and cannabis (12.9%). Factors significantly associated with self-reported substance use included younger age (AOR: 1.829; 95% CI: 1.112, 3.010;p=0.017), male gender (AOR: 2.346; 95% CI: 1.397, 3.939;p=0.001), positive family history of mental illness (AOR: 2.247; 95% CI: 1.364, 3.701;p=0.001), and a family history of substance use (AOR: 3.804; 95% CI: 2.305, 6.276;p&lt;0.001). Conclusions. A significant proportion, amounting to one-third of patients, reported substance use, highlighting the imperative need for targeted measures within this population. The implementation of routine substance use screening programs for patients with mental illness is crucial, alongside gender-sensitive and age-specific interventions. Consideration of patients’ family history of mental illness and substance use should be an integral part of these measures.