Reliability and validity of the Estonian version of the Clinical Institute of Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale.

Aims: Our aim was to adapt the Clinical Institute of Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale (CIWA-Ar) into Estonian and test its reliability and validity.

Methods: A total of 72 patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome participated in the study. In order to assess the interrater reliability, at first assessment the CIWA-Ar was simultaneously completed by two nurses.

Implementing a digital solution for patients with migraine-Developing a methodology for comparing digitally delivered treatment with conventional treatment: A study protocol.

Migraine is one of the most frequent and expensive neurological disease in the world. Non-pharmacological and digitally administered treatment options have long been used in the treatment of chronic pain and mental illness. Digital solutions increase the patients' possibilities of receiving evidence-based treatment even when conventional treatment options are limited.

Changes in the Mental Health Indicators and Training Opportunities for Estonian Elite Athletes Compared to the COVID-19 Isolation Period.

Background: In spring 2020, two-thirds of Estonian elite athletes had symptoms of emotional distress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mental health indicators and training opportunities for elite Estonian athletes a year after the complete COVID-19 isolation period compared to June 2020. Methods: In both cross-sectional studies, athletes completed self-reported questionnaires, including the Emotional State Questionnaire.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Estonian Elite Athletes: Survey on Mental Health Characteristics, Training Conditions, Competition Possibilities, and Perception of Supportiveness.

: The postponement and cancellation of the competition season due to COVID-19 could cause significant mental health problems for an elite athlete. The aim of this study was to describe the mental health characteristics of Estonian elite athletes, their training conditions, competition possibilities, and the support they received during COVID-19. : Athletes completed self-reported questionnaires (including Emotional State Questionnaire).

Personality traits and escitalopram treatment outcome in major depression.

Background: Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) have proven to be effective in treatment of depression. Still, treatment efficacy varies significantly from patient to patient and about 40% of patients do not respond to initial treatment. Personality traits have been considered one source of variability in treatment outcome.

Association between personality traits and Escitalopram treatment efficacy in panic disorder.

Background: There is strong evidence to suggest that personality factors may interact with the development and clinical expression of panic disorder (PD). A greater understanding of these relationships may have important implications for clinical practice and implications for searching reliable predictors of treatment outcome.

Aims: The study aimed to examine the effect of escitalopram treatment on personality traits in PD patients, and to identify whether the treatment outcome could be predicted by any personality trait.

Mental health and alcohol problems among Estonian cleanup workers 24 years after the Chernobyl accident.

Purpose: To study the long-term mental health consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident among cleanup workers from Estonia.

Methods: In 2010, 614 Estonian Chernobyl cleanup workers and 706 geographically and age-matched population-based controls completed a mail survey that included self-rated health, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL), alcohol symptoms (AUDIT), and scales measuring depressive, anxiety, agoraphobia, fatigue, insomnia, and somatization symptoms. Respondents were dichotomized into high (top quartile) and low symptom groups on each measure.

Quality of life and emotional state in chronic skin disease.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between chronic inflammatory skin conditions and patients' emotional state and quality of life. The following self-rated questionnaires were used: Emotional State Questionnaire, a self-report scale assessing depression and anxiety symptoms; Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI); and RAND-36, a measure of health-related quality of life. The study group comprised 40 patients with psoriasis, 40 with eczema, 40 with acne, 15 with seborrhoeic dermatitis and 40 healthy controls.

Social support in depression: structural and functional factors, perceived control and help-seeking.

Aims. This study examined the associations of social support, loneliness and locus of control with depression and help-seeking in persons with major depression. Methods.

Help-seeking for emotional problems in major depression : findings of the 2006 Estonian health survey.

To study help-seeking among the general population and people with major depression. 12-month help-seeking for emotional problems was assessed in a cross-sectional 2006 Estonian Health Survey. Non-institutionalized individuals aged 18-84 years (n = 6,105) were interviewed.

Associations between unemployment and major depressive disorder: evidence from an international, prospective study (the predict cohort).

Unemployment is known to be associated with poor mental health, but it is not clear how strongly unemployment leads to onset of diagnosed clinical depression (causation), or if depression raises the risks of becoming unemployed (health selection), or indeed if both pathways operate. We therefore investigate the direction of associations between clinical depression and unemployment in a cross-cultural prospective cohort study. 10,059 consecutive general practice attendees (18-75 years) were recruited from six European countries and Chile between 2003 and 2004 and followed up at six, 12 and (in a subset) 24 months.

Development and validation of a risk model for prediction of hazardous alcohol consumption in general practice attendees: the predictAL study.

Background: Little is known about the risk of progression to hazardous alcohol use in people currently drinking at safe limits. We aimed to develop a prediction model (predictAL) for the development of hazardous drinking in safe drinkers.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of adult general practice attendees in six European countries and Chile followed up over 6 months.

Heavy episodic drinking in Europe: a cross section study in primary care in six European countries.

Aims: We examined the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking in general practice attenders who were non-hazardous drinkers, the associated risk factors and the outcome over 6 months.

Methods: Consecutive attenders aged 18-75 were recruited from the UK, Spain, Slovenia, Estonia, the Netherlands and Portugal and followed up after 6 months. Data were collected on alcohol use using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification test (at recruitment and 6 months) and risk factors for heavy episodic alcohol use at recruitment.

An international risk prediction algorithm for the onset of generalized anxiety and panic syndromes in general practice attendees: predictA.

Background: There are no risk models for the prediction of anxiety that may help in prevention. We aimed to develop a risk algorithm for the onset of generalized anxiety and panic syndromes.

Method: Family practice attendees were recruited between April 2003 and February 2005 and followed over 24 months in the UK, Spain, Portugal and Slovenia (Europe4 countries) and over 6 months in The Netherlands, Estonia and Chile.

Factors associated with recurrent depression: a prospective study in family practice.

Background: Depression has a high rate of recurrence. Finding the variables that predict which patients are at higher risk of experiencing a recurrent episode of depression would benefit an individual patient.

Objective: To determine the factors associated with recurrent depression >12 months.

Point prevalence of major depression in Estonia. Results from the 2006 Estonian Health Survey.

Aim: The study focuses on the point prevalence of major depressive episode in the Estonian population in 2006 and assesses the relationship of sociodemographic factors, health status indicators, alcohol use, and previous depressive episodes to major depression.

Methods: The present major depressive episode was assessed within the nationally representative, cross-sectional 2006 Estonian Health Survey (EHIS 2006), in which non-institutionalized individuals aged 18-84 years (n=6105) were interviewed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).

Results: The point prevalence of major depressive episode in the Estonian population was 5.

Associations between personality traits and CCK-4-induced panic attacks in healthy volunteers.

In this study we examined how personality disposition may affect the response to cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4; 50 microg) challenge in healthy volunteers (n=105). Personality traits were assessed with the Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP). Statistical methods employed were correlation analysis and logistic regression.

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor and tumor necrosis factor levels in depressed patients in Estonia.

Several studies have reported immune system alterations in depressed patients. Furthermore, correlations between some interleukins and specific depressive symptoms have been found, but results are ambiguous. It might be caused by heterogeneous patient population and concomitant administration of antidepressants.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS): Pathophysiology in Estonians.

The aim of the study was to clarify the roles of age, obesity, smoking, alcohol, pathoanatomy and -physiology in Estonian's OSAS. For this 164 randomly chosen such patients were selected in different regions of Estonia. They underwent naso-oropharyngeal examination, physical examination of craniofacial abnormalities, and polysomnography.

Evaluation of personality traits in panic disorder using Swedish universities Scales of Personality.

Personality factors may interact with development and expressions of panic disorder (PD). This study sought to identify differences in personality traits between patients with PD and healthy individuals and explore the relationships between personality domains and various demographic and clinical variables of PD. Personality traits were evaluated in 193 patients and 314 matched healthy subjects using the Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP).

Development and validation of an international risk prediction algorithm for episodes of major depression in general practice attendees: the PredictD study.

Context: Strategies for prevention of depression are hindered by lack of evidence about the combined predictive effect of known risk factors.

Objectives: To develop a risk algorithm for onset of major depression.

Design: Cohort of adult general practice attendees followed up at 6 and 12 months.

Personality traits measured by the Swedish universities Scales of Personality: factor structure and position within the five-factor model in an Estonian sample.

The study aims to test the reliability and validity of the Estonian version of the Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP), and to characterize the position of the SSP-measured traits within the basic personality dimensions of the five-factor model. A total of 529 participants completed the Estonian version of the SSP. A subsample of 197 persons completed the SSP together with the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R).

Prevalence of common mental disorders in general practice attendees across Europe.

Background: There is evidence that the prevalence of common mental disorders varies across Europe.

Aims: To compare prevalence of common mental disorders in general practice attendees in six European countries.

Method: Unselected attendees to general practices in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia and The Netherlands were assessed for major depression, panic syndrome and other anxiety syndrome.

Family doctors' problems and motivating factors in management of depression.

Background: Depression is a frequent psychiatric disorder, and depressive patient may be more problematic for the family doctors (FD) than a patient suffering from a somatic disease. Treatment of patients with depressive disorders is a relatively new task for Estonian FDs. The aim of our study was to find out the family doctors' attitudes to depression related problems, their readiness, motivating factors and problems in the treatment of depressive patients as well as the existence of relevant knowledge.