Changes in attitudes toward alcohol control policies in Lithuania: findings from two representative surveys in 2015 and 2020.

A set of evidence-based alcohol control policy measures was adopted in the period 2016-2020 in Lithuania. The present study fills a knowledge gap on how changes in alcohol control policy are associated with attitudes toward different alcohol policy measures. This study aims to explore whether support for key alcohol control policy measures in Lithuania declined following implementation of alcohol control measures.

Prevalence and determinants of psychotropic medication use in Poland.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of psychotropic medication use among adult population in Poland in past 12 months, and to analyse the relationship between psychotropic medication use and sociodemographic factors as well as mental health disorders experienced by respondents.

Methods: Composite International Diagnostic Instrument (WHO CIDI 3.0) was used in Polish survey of general population aged 18-64.

Age of onset and cumulative risk of mental disorders: a cross-national analysis of population surveys from 29 countries.

Background: Information on the frequency and timing of mental disorder onsets across the lifespan is of fundamental importance for public health planning. Broad, cross-national estimates of this information from coordinated general population surveys were last updated in 2007. We aimed to provide updated and improved estimates of age-of-onset distributions, lifetime prevalence, and morbid risk.

Development and evaluation of a risk algorithm predicting alcohol dependence after early onset of regular alcohol use.

Aims: Likelihood of alcohol dependence (AD) is increased among people who transition to greater levels of alcohol involvement at a younger age. Indicated interventions delivered early may be effective in reducing risk, but could be costly. One way to increase cost-effectiveness would be to develop a prediction model that targeted interventions to the subset of youth with early alcohol use who are at highest risk of subsequent AD.

Perceived helpfulness of treatment for alcohol use disorders: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys.

Aim: We examined prevalence and factors associated with receiving perceived helpful alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment, and persistence in help-seeking after earlier unhelpful treatment.

Methods: Data came from 27 community epidemiologic surveys of adults in 24 countries using the World Health Organization World Mental Health surveys (n = 93,843). Participants with a lifetime history of treated AUD were asked if they ever received helpful AUD treatment, and how many professionals they had talked to up to and including the first time they received helpful treatment (or how many ever, if they had not received helpful treatment).

Perceived helpfulness of treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: a World Mental Health Surveys report.

Background: Treatment guidelines for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are based on a relatively small number of randomized controlled trials and do not consider patient-centered perceptions of treatment helpfulness. We investigated the prevalence and predictors of patient-reported treatment helpfulness for DSM-5 GAD and its two main treatment pathways: encounter-level treatment helpfulness and persistence in help-seeking after prior unhelpful treatment.

Methods: Data came from community epidemiologic surveys in 23 countries in the WHO World Mental Health surveys.

Do outcomes of psychiatric hospital treatment differ for migrants and non-migrants?

Purpose: Providing effective treatment for immigrants is an increasing challenge for mental health services across Europe. Yet, little is known as to whether current practice is associated with different outcomes in migrant and non-migrant patients. We compared outcomes of inpatient psychiatric treatment for migrants and non-migrants in a sample from five European countries.

Perceived helpfulness of treatment for specific phobia: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys.

Background: Although randomized trials show that specific phobia treatments can be effective, it is unclear whether patients experience treatment as helpful in clinical practice. We investigated this issue by assessing perceived treatment helpfulness for specific phobia in a cross-national epidemiological survey.

Methods: Cross-sectional population-based WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys in 24 countries (n=112,507) assessed lifetime specific phobia.

Occupational position and alcohol use disorders in Poland.

Objectives: The following analysis covers the role of the occupational structure in the prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The authors investigated whether the occupational position affected the prevalence of AUDs among men and women, and how this relationship varied in lifetime and past year periods.

Material And Methods: Data were taken from the General Population Survey on Mental Health in Poland (EZOP) utilizing the questionnaire (N = 2806).

A new perspective on European drinking cultures: a model-based approach to determine variations in drinking practices among 19 European countries.

Background And Aims: In recent decades, alcohol drinking in the European Union has been characterized by increasing homogenization of levels of drinking coupled with an overall decrease. This study examined whether we can still distinguish distinct practices of drinking by addressing two research questions: (1) are drinking practices still characterized by the choice of a certain alcoholic beverage; and (2) how do drinking practices vary across countries?

Design: Cross-sectional study: latent-class analyses of drinking variables and fractional response regression analyses of individual characteristics for individual-level class endorsement probabilities, respectively.

Setting: Nineteen European countries and one autonomous community.

Comparing subjective intoxication with risky single-occasion drinking in a European sample.

In most epidemiological literature, harmful drinking-a drinking pattern recognized as closely linked to alcohol-attributable diseases-is recorded using the measure risky single-occasion drinking (RSOD), which is based on drinking above a certain quantity. In contrast, subjective intoxication (SI) as an alternative measure can provide additional information, including the drinker's subjective perceptions and cultural influences on alcohol consumption. However, there is a lack of research comparing both.

Comparing discrimination among people with schizophrenia, affective and anxiety disorders. A multilevel study in five European countries.

Background: Most research on mental illness stigma has involved people with psychosis; less information is available for people with affective and anxiety disorders. We aimed to compare experienced and anticipated discrimination among people with schizophrenia, and affective and anxiety disorders.

Methods: People with schizophrenia (n=773), affective (n=1010) and anxiety disorders (n=372) were recruited during psychiatric admission across 5 EU countries.

Why Is Per Capita Consumption Underestimated in Alcohol Surveys? Results from 39 Surveys in 23 European Countries.

Aims: The aims of the article are (a) to estimate coverage rates (i.e. the proportion of 'real consumption' accounted for by a survey compared with more reliable aggregate consumption data) of the total, the recorded and the beverage-specific annual per capita consumption in 23 European countries, and (b) to investigate differences between regions, and other factors which might be associated with low coverage (prevalence of heavy episodic drinking [HED], survey methodology).

Use of psychiatric hospitals and social integration of patients with psychiatric disorders: a prospective cohort study in five European countries.

Purpose: Long lengths of stay (LoS) in psychiatric hospitals or repeated admission may affect the social integration of patients with psychiatric disorders. So far, however, studies have been inconclusive. This study aimed to analyse whether long LoS or repeated admissions in psychiatric wards were associated in different ways with changes in the social integration of patients.

Unrecorded Alcohol Consumption in Seven European Union Countries.

Introduction: Unrecorded alcohol, that is, alcohol not reflected in official statistics of the country where it is consumed, contributes markedly to overall consumption of alcohol. However, empirical data on unrecorded alcohol consumption are scarce, especially in high-income countries. This study measures the contribution of unrecorded alcohol in 7 member states of the European Union.

Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) - knowledge and expe riences of drug users from Hungary, Poland, the UK and the USA.

Background: The recent decade witnessed growing prevalence of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) among young people in Europe and elsewhere. The study, conducted in 2011 as part of the EU-funded ReDNet project, aimed at better understanding of motives behind the demand for NPS among youth as well as at their information needs in this regard. In addition to historical values, the lessons learned during the legal status of NPS may contribute to a more general understanding of use of new drugs and to current drug policies.

Variations in experience of social support and physical health among adult residents of Poland in urban versus rural areas.

Background: A study reveals – against to common beliefs –less support between rural area residents in comparison to town-dwellers and significantly higher support for healthy, not for poor health research participants.

Objectives: The aim of our paper was comparing support from spouse/partner, relatives, friends and strangers among people with good and ill physical health. A next purpose was to find differences of social support and experience of social undermining in urban and rural residential settings.

The epidemiology of alcohol use disorders cross-nationally: Findings from the World Mental Health Surveys.

Background: Prevalences of Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) and Mental Health Disorders (MHDs) in many individual countries have been reported but there are few cross-national studies. The WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative standardizes methodological factors facilitating comparison of the prevalences and associated factors of AUDs in a large number of countries to identify differences and commonalities.

Methods: Lifetime and 12-month prevalence estimates of DSM-IV AUDs, MHDs, and associations were assessed in the 29 WMH surveys using the WHO CIDI 3.

How Attitudes toward Alcohol Policies Differ across European Countries: Evidence from the Standardized European Alcohol Survey (SEAS).

Alcohol policy endorsements have changed over time, probably interacting with the implementation and effectiveness of alcohol policy measures. The Standardized European Alcohol Survey (SEAS) evaluated public opinion toward alcohol policies in 20 European locations (19 countries and one subnational region) in 2015 and 2016 ( = 32,641; 18-64 years). On the basis of the SEAS report, we investigated regional differences and individual characteristics related to categories of alcohol policy endorsement.

Personal continuity versus specialisation of care approaches in mental healthcare: experiences of patients and clinicians-results of the qualitative study in five European countries.

Background: The current debate on organisation of the mental health care raises a question whether to prioritise specialisation of clinical teams or personal continuity of care. The article explores the experiences of patients and clinicians regarding specialisation (SC) and personal continuity (PCC) of care in five European countries.

Methods: Data were obtained via in-depth, semi-structured interviews with patients (N = 188) suffering from mental disorders (F20-49) and with clinicians (N = 63).

Assessment and Treatment of Patients with Comorbidity of Mental Health Problems and Alcohol Use Disorders: Experiences of Clinicians and Patients in the UK and Poland.

Aims: Treatment of patients with comorbidity of mental health problems and alcohol use disorder (AUD) constitutes a challenge in many countries. The article aimed at exploration of personal experiences of clinicians and patients with the comorbidity regarding its assessment, treatment and organization of care in Poland and the UK.

Methods: Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews with clinicians (N = 28) and patients (N = 81) in both countries, according to a unified study protocol.

Factors associated with satisfaction of inpatient psychiatric care: a cross country comparison.

Background: Patient satisfaction is a key indicator of inpatient care quality and is associated with clinical outcomes following admission. Different patient characteristics have been inconsistently linked with satisfaction. This study aims to overcome previous limitations by assessing which patient characteristics are associated with satisfaction within a large study of psychiatric inpatients conducted across five European countries.