Risk factors at the low end of the psychosis continuum: much the same as at the upper end?

We investigated risk factors for subclinical symptoms of psychosis, and focused on two psychosis dimensions previously identified in the Zurich Study, namely "schizophrenia nuclear symptoms" and "schizotypal signs". We examined the data from 9814 Swiss conscripts from 2003. The psychosis symptom dimensions were derived from the Symptom-Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and were regressed on a broad range of known risk factors for psychosis.

Mass casualty incidents with multiple burn victims: rationale for a Swiss burn plan.

Introduction: Mass casualty incidents involving victims with severe burns pose difficult and unique problems for both rescue teams and hospitals. This paper presents an analysis of the published reports with the aim of proposing a rational model for burn rescue and hospital referral for Switzerland.

Methods: Literature review including systematic searches of PubMed/Medline, reference textbooks and journals as well as landmark articles.

Risk factors for stuttering: a secondary analysis of a large data base.

The spectrum of risk and concomitant factors in stuttering is generally thought to be wide and heterogeneous. However, only a few studies have examined these factors using information from large databases. We examined the data on 11,905 Swiss conscripts from 2003.

Body mass index, blood pressure, and serum cholesterol in young Swiss men: an analysis on 56784 army conscripts.

Questions Under Study: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of excess bodyweight and high blood pressure in young Swiss men and to evaluate the associations of these disorders with serum cholesterol in this important population.

Methods: The study investigated a large cohort of 56784 Swiss army conscripts aged 18-25 years from 2004 through to 2007.

Results: From the investigated men, 2231 (3.

Antecedents and covariates of alcohol consumption among Swiss male conscripts.

This study aimed to investigate prevalence and correlates of alcohol consumption frequency in a sample of Swiss conscripts (n=25,611) in order to identify factors that predispose for frequent consumption. A self-report of drinking frequencies, as well as socio-demographic and psychosocial variables, was collected at psychiatric baseline screening. Based on univariate analyses, relevant variables were included in a multivariate multinomial logistic regression model.

The pattern of psychopathology associated with malingering tendencies at basic psychiatric screening of the Swiss Armed Forces.

This study uses military recruitment data, collected in 2003 from Swiss Armed Forces conscripts, to observe the pattern of psychopathology and addictive behavior for conscripts identified as those with malingering tendencies. To that end, we first applied Derogatis' criterion for the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised to identify recruits with malingering tendencies. We then used bivariate methods (t test and chi2 tests) to compare self-reported psychopathology and addictive behavior of such recruits to that of recruits not identified as potential malingerers.

Prevalence of long and short QT in a young population of 41,767 predominantly male Swiss conscripts.

Background: Abnormally long and short QT intervals are recognized to be associated with an increased risk for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. It is therefore important to define the upper and lower border of the normal QT.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the normal distribution of the QT interval in a contemporary population of young conscripts and to define long and short limits of the QT interval.

[Growing importance of the Coordinated Medical Services].

Diminishing resources and growing risks call more than ever for optimum coordination of all medical assets between the different partners, so that all patients can be given the best possible medical support in all situations. The significance of the Coordinated Medical Services (CMS) has been underlined by the new ordinance which entered into force on 1 June 2005.

Respiratory symptoms and smoking behaviour in Swiss conscripts.

Aim: Smoking is a major health hazard in young adults. Reducing smoking is the only well established effective primary prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We undertook a prospective cross sectional study to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, smoking behaviour and willingness to participate in a smoking cessation program in Swiss conscripts.