Changes in mortality after first psychiatric admission: a 20-year prospective longitudinal clinical study.

Objective: To examine changes in the mortality of patients admitted to a Norwegian psychiatric hospital from 1985 to 2003: this period saw profound changes in structure and organization of the mental healthcare system.

Method: A 20-year prospective longitudinal, record linkage study of all patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital with sector responsibility from 1985 to 2003.

Results: Excess mortality was found for the patient group.

[Sleep disturbances in patients with mental disorders].

Background: Sleep disturbances are common co-morbid disturbances in mental disorders, and are often seen as secondary symptoms. The article aims to shed light on the most common sleep disturbances and their relation to mental disorders.

Material And Method: This review is based on the authors' clinical experience and research, and articles identified by non-systematic searches of PubMed.

Nonlinear analysis of motor activity shows differences between schizophrenia and depression: a study using Fourier analysis and sample entropy.

The purpose of this study has been to describe motor activity data obtained by using wrist-worn actigraphs in patients with schizophrenia and major depression by the use of linear and non-linear methods of analysis. Different time frames were investigated, i.e.

A prospective longitudinal study of utilization of a psychiatric hospital in Hordaland County, Norway, from 1985 to 2003.

Background: In Norway, as in the rest of the Western world, during the last three decades there has been a reduction of psychiatric hospital beds and expansion of extramural mental services, more based on ideology than empirical research.

Aims: To study the use of a psychiatric hospital before and after expansion of the outpatient psychiatric care in Hordaland County, Norway from 1985 to 2003.

Methods: All patients admitted from a catchment area of 168,000 inhabitants were included in a prospective longitudinal study.

Actigraphic registration of motor activity reveals a more structured behavioural pattern in schizophrenia than in major depression.

Background: Disturbances in motor activity pattern are seen in both schizophrenia and depression. However, this activity has rarely been studied objectively. The purpose of the present study has been to study the complexity of motor activity patterns in these patients by using actigraphy.

Increased health risk in subjects with high self-reported seasonality.

Background: Seasonal variations in mood and behaviour, termed seasonality, are commonly reported in the general population. As a part of a large cross-sectional health survey in Hordaland, Norway, we investigated the relationship between seasonality, objective health measurements and health behaviours.

Methodology/principal Findings: A total of 11,545 subjects between 40-44 years old participated, completing the Global Seasonality Score, measuring seasonality.

Self-reported seasonality is associated with complaints of sleep problems and deficient sleep duration: the Hordaland Health Study.

Change in sleep duration dependent on time of year is a central characteristic of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). In a community health survey, we analysed associations between seasonality, subjective sleep problems and sleep duration. Totally, 8860 subjects (3531 men and 5329 women) aged between 40 and 44 years were included in the study.

Outcome of pharmacological treatments of pathological gambling: a review and meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Although several qualitative reviews on pharmacological interventions for pathological gambling have been published, no quantitative review of this field has been conducted.

Methods: Studies of pharmacological interventions of pathological gambling were identified by computer searches in the PsychINFO and MEDLINE databases covering the period from 1966 to July 2006, as well as from relevant reference lists. The inclusion criteria were as follows: the target problem had to be pathological gambling, the interventions were pharmacological, the study was written in English, and the study reported outcomes particularly pertaining to gambling.

Seasonality is associated with anxiety and depression: the Hordaland health study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess how seasonal changes in mood and behaviour were associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in a sample from a general population, and to investigate how prevalence figures were affected by month of questionnaire completion.

Methods: The target population included all individuals in the Hordaland county (Norway) born 1953-57 (N=29,400). In total, 8598 men (57% response rate) and 9983 women (70% response rate) attended the screening station.

Randomized placebo-controlled field study of the effects of bright light and melatonin in adaptation to night work.

Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of bright light and melatonin on adaptation to night work on an oil rig in the North Sea.

Methods: Seventeen persons working a schedule of 2 weeks on a 12-hour shift, with the first week on night shift and the second week on day shift (ie, the swing shift schedule) participated. In a randomized controlled crossover design, the shift workers received a placebo, melatonin (3 mg, 1 hour before bedtime), or bright light (30-minute exposure, individually scheduled) during the first 4 days on the night shift and during the first 4 days on the day shift.

Subjective and objective measures of adaptation and readaptation to night work on an oil rig in the North Sea.

Study Objectives: To study the adaptation and readaptation processes to 1 week of night work (6:30 PM to 6:30 AM) followed by 1 week of day work (6:30 AM to 6:30 PM).

Design: Part of a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover field study. Here, data from the placebo arm are presented.

[Pharmacological treatment of pathological gambling].

Background: The need for effective treatment for pathological gambling is urgent. The majority of treatment studies and available treatments today are based upon cognitive-behavioural therapy. Recently, however, several studies investigating the effects of pharmacological interventions have been published.

Sleep duration, subjective sleep need, and sleep habits of 40- to 45-year-olds in the Hordaland Health Study.

Study Objective: To report the distribution of various sleep parameters in a population-based study.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional study with self-administered questionnaires.

Setting: Conducted as part of the Hordaland Health Study '97-'99 in collaboration with the Norwegian National Health Screening Service.

Seasonal variations in mood and behaviour associated with gender, annual income and education: the Hordaland Health Study.

Objective: To explore the relationship between demographic factors and seasonal changes in mood and behaviour.

Method: A health survey was conducted among 40-45 year old inhabitants in Hordaland County, Norway. The Global Seasonality Score, investigating seasonal symptoms, was given to 4299 men and 9983 women.

[Shift work and accidents--relevance for the offshore industry].

Background: Increased use of shift work depends on keeping productivity and safety at acceptable levels. Approximately 7000 workers in the Norwegian offshore industry are working night shifts.

Material And Methods: We have reviewed relevant literature on injuries in relation to shift work.

[Are sleep difficulties in night work a problem for the offshore industry?].

Background: Shift work is increasingly used in industry and services; in the Norwegian offshore industry approximately 6750 employees work night shifts. We wanted to look into the implications of night shifts on sleep and circadian rhythm, with particularly focus on the offshore sector.

Material And Methods: We conducted literature searches on Medline, covering the period from 1966 to 2003; only eight studies pertaining to the offshore activity in the North Sea with emphasis on sleep and night work were identified.

Improvement in behavioral symptoms and advance of activity acrophase after short-term bright light treatment in severe dementia.

Ten elderly subjects with severe dementia were given bright light (5000-8000 lux) for 45 min each morning for 4 weeks. Two rating scales of behavioral symptoms in dementia were used as outcome measures: Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and Behavior Pathology In Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD), a scale for sleep-wake disturbances, and actigraphy to monitor activity rhythm. Behavioral symptoms improved with treatment.

Light therapy for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Objectives: To review literature concerning the efficacy, clinical practicability and safety of light treatment for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

Method: Data collection included computer literature searches (MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Cochrane) and checks of references, covering the period of January 1980-September 2003. Trials were searched for evidence for treatment efficacy and for their consideration of the treatment's clinical practicability and evidence of adverse effects.

Sleep disturbances in patients with Addison's disease.

Objective: The standard replacement therapy in Addison's disease does not restore normal nocturnal levels of the hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of sleep disturbances in patients with Addison's disease.

Methods: Sixty patients completed a self-administered sleep questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire.