Practice Change After Training Psychiatry Residents in Tobacco Use Disorder.

The goal of this study was to evaluate treatment practices among psychiatry residents before and 3 months after a course on tobacco use disorder. After completing the course, residents (N=89) reported a significant increase in the frequency in nine of the 12 tobacco use disorder treatment practices studied. Participants reported being more likely to assess patient willingness to quit smoking, advise patients to stop smoking, prescribe treatment medications, and provide cessation treatment.

Evaluation of an Online Residency Training in Tobacco Use Disorder.

Background And Objectives: Despite the overwhelming need for tobacco use disorder (TUD) treatment in behavioral health settings, few models have emerged for training psychiatry residents. One barrier may be a lack of curricula or faculty expertize in this area. The goal of this project was to develop and evaluate a 3 hour online webinar-based course for teaching psychiatry residents about TUD.

MRI abnormalities following repeated and incoming seizures.

Neuroimaging, an important diagnostic tool frequently used in the evaluation of patients with epilepsy, has mainly the aim to identify structural abnormalities needing a treatment and to contribute to the definition of the aetiology. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in epilepsy is more sensitive than computerized tomography (CT) scan for detecting abnormalities. Status epilepticus (SE) and repeated incoming seizures may determine extensive and transient or long lasting pronounced MRI changes.

Diabetes preceding Parkinson's disease onset. A case-control study.

Objective: To assess the association between diabetes preceding Parkinson's disease (PD) and PD.

Methods: PD individuals were matched to PD free individuals randomly selected from people in the same municipality as the cases. Occurrence of diabetes preceding PD onset among cases and controls was assessed through a structured questionnaire.

Predictors of caregiver burden in partners of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Aim of this study was to determine the predictors of caregiver burden among spouse caregivers of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Forty consecutive PD patients and their spouse caregivers were included. Patients were assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the Hoehn and Yahr scale (HY), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).

High prevalence and fast rising incidence of multiple sclerosis in Caltanissetta, Sicily, southern Italy.

Background: Epidemiological studies conducted in Sicily and Sardinia, the two major Mediterranean islands, showed elevated incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS)and a recent increase in disease frequency.

Objective: To confirm the central highlands of Sicily as areas of increasing MS prevalence and elevated incidence, we performed a follow-up study based on the town of Caltanissetta (Sicily), southern Italy.

Methods: We made a formal diagnostic reappraisal of all living patients found in the previous study performed in 1981.