Leveraging neuroscience education to address stigma related to opioid use disorder in the community: a pilot study.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose deaths are a public health crisis. One contributing factor is stigma towards people who use opioids. We developed and conducted a public-facing, half-day educational event designed to challenge misperceptions about OUD from a contemporary neuroscience perspective.

Leveraging neuroscience education to address stigma related to opioid use disorder (OUD) in the community: A pilot study.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose deaths are a public health crisis. One contributing factor is stigma towards people who use opioids. We developed and conducted a public-facing, half-day educational event designed to challenge misperceptions about OUD from a contemporary neuroscience perspective.

Supporting patients by family education in psychotic illness: a longitudinal pre-post study protocol.

Introduction: A lack of education, resources and support for family carers of young adults with psychotic illnesses leaves them ill-equipped to support their loved one. By equipping families with skills and knowledge, public healthcare harnesses a powerful ally to support community stabilisation.

Aims: The primary goal is to study the effect of a psychoeducation intervention for family carers supporting young adults with psychosis on family burden and stabilisation of service users.

Burnout among Residents: Prevalence and Predictors of Depersonalization, Emotional Exhaustion and Professional Unfulfillment among Resident Doctors in Canada.

Background: Burnout in the medical profession has garnered a lot of attention over recent years. It has been reported across all specialties and all stages of medical education; however, resident doctors in particular are at risk for burnout throughout their years of training. This study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence and correlates of burnout among resident doctors in Alberta.

Pharmacological Interventions for Primary Psychodermatologic Disorders: An Evidence Mapping and Appraisal of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: The lack of clinical guidelines for the treatment of primary psychodermatologic disorders (PPDs) hinders the delivery of optimal care to patients. The review aimed to identify, appraise, and summarize the currently available evidence about the safety and effectiveness of pharmacological management of PPDs through randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRIMSA) statement and the Global Evidence Mapping Initiative guidance were followed.

Prevalence and Correlates of Likely Major Depressive Disorder among Medical Students in Alberta, Canada.

Background: Medical students are exposed to multiple factors during their academic and clinical studies that contribute to depression.

Aims: This study aims to examine the prevalence and correlates of likely major depressive disorder (MDD) among medical students.

Methods: This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design.

Clinicians' Attitudes Toward Telepsychology in Addiction and Mental Health Services, and Prediction of Postpandemic Telepsychology Uptake: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented uptake of telepsychology services; however, clinicians have mixed attitudes toward virtual technologies.

Objective: This study (1) explored clinicians' experiences of and intentions to use video, telephone, and in-person services, and (2) tested the utility of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to predict clinicians' intentions to offer telepsychology after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Clinician satisfaction and therapeutic alliance were compared across in-person, video, and telephone services, while technology attitudes and intention to use after the pandemic were compared across video and telephone services among 118 addiction and mental health clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reducing readmission rates for individuals discharged from acute psychiatric care in Alberta using peer and text message support: Protocol for an innovative supportive program.

Background: Individuals discharged from inpatient psychiatry units have the highest readmission rates of all hospitalized patients. These readmissions are often due to unmet need for mental health care compounded by limited human resources. Reducing the need for hospital admissions by providing alternative effective care will mitigate the strain on the healthcare system and for people with mental illnesses and their relatives.

Identification of psychiatric inpatient recovery trajectories using routine outcome monitoring with emerging adults.

Early intervention for emerging adults with addiction and mental health disorders is beneficial for long-term recovery. The present study investigated the utility of routine outcome monitoring during acute inpatient hospitalization for identifying emerging adults at risk of poor outcomes. This is a retrospective study using latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to identify patient groups with different recovery trajectories, with additional analyses to clarify the characteristics of these trajectory groups.

Psychodermatology in Canada: A National Survey Assessment of Dermatologists' Perception, Practice Patterns, and Challenges.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the perception of psychodermatology, practice patterns, and challenges reported by Canadian dermatologists.

Methods: We designed an online questionnaire based on previous literature, including questions about practitioners' perceptions, practice patterns, training, and challenges in psychodermatology. We solicited their opinions on desired training, research needs, and clinical approach recommendations.

Psychiatric hospital experiences that support and frustrate emerging adults' psychological needs: A self-determination theory perspective.

Aim: There are international efforts to implement developmentally appropriate and youth-oriented mental health services for emerging adults to increase treatment engagement and the success of early intervention. While significant progress has been made in developing community service models, limited research has focused on how to design psychiatric inpatient settings that promote the recovery of emerging adults. The present study attempts to address this knowledge gap through a qualitative exploration of hospital experiences that influence psychological need satisfaction and frustration, as defined by self-determination theory (SDT).

COVID-19 Pandemic: Demographic Predictors of Self-Isolation or Self-Quarantine and Impact of Isolation and Quarantine on Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Depression.

With the sudden onset and global dispersal of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, many nations including Canada attempted to reduce spread of the resultant COVID-19 syndrome with self-isolation and quarantine, while seeking a cure or vaccine for this disease. Understanding impacts of self-isolation and self-quarantine on stress, anxiety, and depression will help us to mitigate these issues through appropriate development of mental health services. The sample was drawn from individuals who self-subscribed to Text4Hope, a service that delivers text messages based on a cognitive behavioral therapy framework.

The relation between psychological need satisfaction in acute psychiatric hospital and recovery among emerging adults: A self-determination theory approach.

Objective: Mental illness and addiction are prevalent during emerging adulthood and are associated with poorer functioning and quality of life. Research supports early intervention for enhancing recovery, though emerging adults frequently disengage from services, reducing effectiveness of early care. Research on self-determination theory shows healthcare climates that support psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness foster sustained engagement in treatment and health-promoting behaviors.

Implementation and Evaluation of a Text Message-Based Addiction Counseling Program (Text4Hope-Addiction Support): Protocol for a Questionnaire Study.

Background: With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing counseling to people with drug or alcohol addiction while maintaining physical distance has been challenging. This protocol describes the use of text messaging (as used in the Text4Hope-Addiction Support program) as a convenient, evidence-based, cost-effective, and accessible population-level mental health intervention with high user satisfaction proven in prior research.

Objective: The project goal is to implement a program of daily supportive text messaging (Text4Hope-Addiction Support) to reduce drug or alcohol cravings as well as anxiety and depression, typically associated with alcohol and substance use disorders.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health: Prevalence and Correlates of New-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in a Canadian Province.

: This cross-sectional online survey investigates the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms at an early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. : OCD symptoms, moderate/high stress, likely generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and likely major depressive disorder (MDD) were assessed with the Brief Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (BOCS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale, respectively. : Out of 32,805 individuals subscribed to Text4Hope, 6041 completed an online survey; the response rate was 18.

Estimated Frequency of Psychodermatologic Conditions in Alberta, Canada.

Background: Psychodermatologic disorders are difficult to identify and treat. Knowledge about the prevalence of these conditions in dermatological practice in Canada is scarce. This hampers our ability to address potential gaps and establish optimal care pathways.

Effectiveness of Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exercise in the Management of Major Depressive Disorder: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Despite evidence in scientific literature indicating the effectiveness of both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and physical exercise in the management of major depressive disorder (MDD), few studies have directly compared them.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of group CBT, physical exercise, and only wait-listing to receive treatment-as-usual (TAU) in the management of MDD. The investigators hypothesize that participants with MDD assigned to the group CBT or exercise arms of the study will achieve superior outcomes compared with participants wait-listed to receive TAU only.