Mortality in people with mental disorders in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide, register-based cohort study.

Purpose Of Review: People with mental disorders in Poland have increased standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). This is the first study to assess all-cause mortality in people with mental disorders in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Findings: A nationwide, register-based cohort study utilizing data from the registry of healthcare services (2011-2020) and the all-cause death registry (2021) in Poland was conducted.

The European psychiatric association (EPA) - early career psychiatrists committee survey on trainees' and early-career psychiatrists' attitudes towards therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) use and utility during antipsychotic treatment.

Objectives: This survey assessed psychiatry residents'/early-career psychiatrists' attitudes towards the utility of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antipsychotics.

Methods: A previously developed questionnaire on attitudes on TDM utility during antipsychotic treatment was cross-sectionally disseminated by national coordinators between 01/01/2022-31/12/2023. The frequency of using TDM for antipsychotics other than clozapine was the main outcome in a linear regression analysis, including sex, clinical setting, caseload, and factors generated by an exploratory factor analysis.

Evaluation of mental health services delivered before and after the introduction of pilot Mental Health Centers in Poland using monitoring indicators.

Objectives: The study assessed the performance of Mental Health Centres compared to previous non-integrated mental health facilities.

Methods: The study used National Health Fund (NHF) data of individuals over 18 years treated in 27 centres (January 2017 - February 2020). Performance indicators from 19 months before (N = 124,497) and after the introduction of Mental Health Centres (N = 182,789) were compared for outpatient care, community treatment teams, inpatient wards and day wards.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being, work conditions, and education of early career psychiatrists in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: study protocol.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic placed great strain on healthcare professionals, leading to a substantial impact and a redistribution of the workforce. Despite the active involvement of the Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (EMRO) and the World Health Organization in managing mental health crises, there is a knowledge gap concerning the working conditions and training opportunities available for early career psychiatrists (ECPs) during the pandemic period.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ECPs and how it affected their well-being, employment, and educational opportunities.

Non-binary gender, vulnerable populations and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Data from the COVID-19 MEntal health inTernational for the general population (COMET-G) study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant mental health challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations, including non-binary gender individuals. The COMET international study aimed to investigate specific risk factors for clinical depression or distress during the pandemic, also in these special populations.

Methods: Chi-square tests were used for initial screening to select only those variables which would show an initial significance.

Somatic multicomorbidity and disability in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population: a quasi-epidemiological investigation in 54,826 subjects from 40 countries (COMET-G study).

Background: The prevalence of medical illnesses is high among patients with psychiatric disorders. The current study aimed to investigate multi-comorbidity in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population. Secondary aims were to investigate factors associated with metabolic syndrome and treatment appropriateness of mental disorders.

Psychoactive substance use in patients diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: an exploratory study.

Introduction: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was originally treated as a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs mainly in children and tends to diminish or disappear with age, but we now know that symptoms persist into adulthood in over 50% of ADHD patients. Undiagnosed individuals often turn to psychoactive substance to minimize the negative aspects of functioning and improve quality of life.

Methods: The study was conducted online using random sampling through a Facebook group administered by physicians and targeted to patients diagnosed with ADHD.

Mortality in people with mental disorders in Poland: A nationwide, register-based cohort study.

Background: Mortality among people with mental disorders is higher in comparison with the general population. There is a scarcity of studies on mortality in the abovementioned group of people in Central and Eastern European countries.

Methods: The study aimed to assess all-cause mortality in people with mental disorders in Poland.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Iranian Psychiatric Trainees' and Early Career Psychiatrists' Well-being, Work Conditions, and Education.

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists in Iran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, the authors used a 24-item questionnaire inquiring about the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, their views on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their professional careers, methods of education, workplace environment, well-being and mental health, and the use of telepsychiatry in Iran.

Results: A total of 159 responses were received.

PAID-PL-The Polish Version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale: Perfect Reliability and a One-Factor Structure.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the structure and validate the Polish version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale, as the current translations of the original English version significantly vary in their psychometric properties.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred and sixteen consecutive Polish outpatients were invited to participate in this international cross-sectional study on depression in diabetes. The research was based on the demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population, including the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA) and scores obtained in the Polish versions of the following questionnaires: PAID, World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9).

Psychiatry Trainees' Attitudes, Knowledge, and Training in Addiction Psychiatry-A European Survey.

Although psychoactive substance use disorders (PSUDs) are a domain of mental health, addiction psychiatry is only formally recognized as a subspecialty in a few European countries, and there is no standardized training curriculum. A 76-item questionnaire was developed and disseminated through an online anonymous data-collecting system and hand-to-hand amongst psychiatric trainees from the 47 European countries of the Council of Europe plus Israel and Belarus. 1,049/1,118 psychiatric trainees from 30 European countries completed the questionnaire.

What opportunities do early career psychiatrists have in Europe and beyond?

The European Psychiatric Association (EPA), the main association in the field of mental health in Europe, has long been supporting the development of early career psychiatrists. The EPA Early Career Psychiatrists Committee (ECPC) and its core task forces promote research activities among young psychiatrists, contribute to their professional development through organising courses and other educational events, prepare online educational materials and publications, and actively collaborate with other organisations. The EPA ECPC is always open to fostering cooperation on new professional, educational or research initiatives with early career psychiatrists from different countries.

People with diabetes need a lower cut-off than others for depression screening with PHQ-9.

Aims: This study evaluated the psychometric characteristics of the Polish version of the PHQ-9 in detecting major depression (MDD) and 'MDD and/or dysthymia' in people with and without type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Participants were randomly selected from a diabetes outpatient facility (N = 216) and from among patients admitted to a medical center and psychiatric hospital (N = 99). The participants completed the PHQ-9.

Factors associated with the onset of major depressive disorder in adults with type 2 diabetes living in 12 different countries: results from the INTERPRET-DD prospective study.

Aims: To examine the factors that are associated with changes in depression in people with type 2 diabetes living in 12 different countries.

Methods: People with type 2 diabetes treated in out-patient settings aged 18-65 years underwent a psychiatric assessment to diagnose major depressive disorder (MDD) at baseline and follow-up. At both time points, participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the WHO five-item Well-being scale (WHO-5) and the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale which measures diabetes-related distress.