Sleep disorders in a naturalistic cohort of Dutch psychiatric outpatients: prevalence rates and associations with psychopathology symptom severity and well-being.

Sleep problems are very common in individuals with a mental disorder. Given the abundant evidence indicating the negative impact of disturbed sleep on mental health outcome, insight into the prevalence of all types of sleep disorders in specific mental disorders and neurodevelopmental conditions is of practical importance. Therefore, we estimated the prevalence of six types of sleep disorders with the Holland Sleep Disorders Questionnaire in an overall mental health sample (n = 1082) and separately for different mental and neurodevelopmental conditions.

Young people's choice and voice concerning sex and relationships: effects of the multicomponent Get Up Speak Out! Programme in Iganga, Uganda.

Background: Young people in Uganda face challenges in achieving their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), such as lack of information, limited access to services, teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. To address this, their empowerment - including their ability to express themselves and make decisions, is a key strategy. This study assessed how young people's voice and choice concerning sex and relationships changed over the period of 3 years of implementation of the Get Up Speak Out! programme.

Disturbed Sleep in PTSD: Thinking Beyond Nightmares.

Sleep disturbances frequently co-occur with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Insomnia and nightmares are viewed as core symptoms of PTSD. Yet, relations between disturbed sleep and PTSD are far more complex: PTSD is linked to a broad range of sleep disorders and disturbed sleep markedly affects PTSD-outcome.

Sleep disorders in people with type 2 diabetes and associated health outcomes: a review of the literature.

Sleep disorders are linked to development of type 2 diabetes and increase the risk of developing diabetes complications. Treating sleep disorders might therefore play an important role in the prevention of diabetes progression. However, the detection and treatment of sleep disorders are not part of standardised care for people with type 2 diabetes.

The association of sleep quality and aggression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Poor sleep quality is closely related to aggression, but despite the promise of new therapeutic possibilities, a systematic synthesis of observational research on the association between sleep quality and aggression is lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the association between sleep quality and aggression, using the academic databases PubMed and PsycINFO. Subjective and objective measures of sleep quality were included, as well as multiple measures of aggression, assessing aggressive and externalizing behavior, anger, hostility and irritability.

The clinical relevance of early identification and treatment of sleep disorders in mental health care: protocol of a randomized control trial.

Background: Sleep disorders are a risk factor for developing a variety of mental disorders, have a negative impact on their remission rates and increase the risk of relapse. Early identification and treatment of sleep disorders is therefore of paramount importance. Unfortunately, in mental health care sleep disorders are often poorly recognized and specific treatment frequently occurs late or not at all.

Sender and Receiver Acceptability and Usability of an Online Partner Notification Tool for Sexually Transmitted Infection in the Netherlands.

Users (index patients with a verified sexually transmitted infection and notified partners) rated the health care provider-initiated Internet-based partner notification application Suggestatest.nl acceptable and usable. Both groups were less positive about Suggestatest.

Young Low-Risk Heterosexual Clients Prefer a Chlamydia Home Collection Test to a Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic Visit in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Home-based self-collection of specimens for urogenital and anorectal chlamydia testing has been proven feasible and acceptable. We studied the efficiency of chlamydia home collection kits for young low-risk persons to optimize care at the Amsterdam sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic.

Methods: Low-risk heterosexual persons under 25 years submitting an appointment request online were offered 3 different ways of chlamydia testing: (1) receiving a home collection kit, (2) coming to the clinic without, or (3) with sexual health counseling.

Sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers tested at STI clinics in the Netherlands, 2006-2013.

Background: Specialised sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics in the Netherlands provide STI care for high-risk groups, including female sex workers (FSW), at the clinic and by outreach visiting commercial sex workplaces with a permit. The objective was to investigate the STI positivity rate and determinants of an STI diagnosis among FSW tested by STI clinics in the Netherlands.

Methods: Sexually transmitted infection clinics report demographic, behavioural and diagnostic information of every consultation to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.

Changing Patterns of Undiagnosed HIV Infection in the Netherlands: Who Benefits Most from Intensified HIV Test and Treat Policies?

Objectives: To estimate HIV prevalence, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and the undiagnosed proportion in the Netherlands for 2012, and to compare these with published 2007 estimates.

Design: Synthesis of all available data sources.

Methods: Multi-Parameter Evidence Synthesis (MPES) was used to obtain estimates in mutually exclusive key populations at higher risk in three geographical regions (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, rest of the Netherlands).

Self-reported testing, HIV status and associated risk behaviours among people who inject drugs in Europe: important differences between East and West.

Aims: To describe HIV-related risk behaviours, HIV testing and HIV status among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in the 2000 in European countries with high-prevalence HIV epidemics among PWID.

Methods: Data from 12 cross-sectional studies among PWID from seven countries were used. Meta-analysis was used to synthesize the data and meta-regression to explain heterogeneity [in addition to deriving adjusted odds ratios (AORmeta)].

Neurosyphilis in the mixed urban-rural community of the Netherlands.

Objective: Neurosyphilis is caused by dissemination into the central nervous system of Treponema pallidum. Although the incidence of syphilis in the Netherlands has declined since the mid-1980s, syphilis has re-emerged, mainly in the urban centres. It is not known whether this also holds true for neurosyphilis.

Identifying recently acquired HIV infections among newly diagnosed men who have sex with men attending STI clinics in The Netherlands.

Objectives: The current surveillance system in The Netherlands cannot differentiate recent HIV infections from established infections, which is crucial for estimating the HIV incidence; this information is needed for assessing trends of the HIV epidemic and the impact of prevention interventions. We determined the proportion of recent HIV infections (RI) and estimated HIV incidence using a recent infection testing algorithm (RITA) among men who have sex with men (MSM) newly diagnosed as having HIV attending sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics.

Methods: Plasma samples collected between 2009 and 2011 were tested for RI with the Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo immunoassay.

Sexually transmitted infections screening at HIV treatment centers for MSM can be cost-effective.

Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of anorectal chlamydia screening among men who have sex with men (MSM) in care at HIV treatment centers.

Design: Transmission model combined with economic analysis over a 20-year period.

Setting And Participants: MSM in care at HIV treatment centers.

Modelling the impact of chlamydia screening on the transmission of HIV among men who have sex with men.

Background: Recent studies have found high prevalences of asymptomatic rectal chlamydia among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). Chlamydia could increase the infectivity of HIV and the susceptibility to HIV infection. We investigate the role of chlamydia in the spread of HIV among MSM and the possible impact of routine chlamydia screening among HIV-infected MSM at HIV treatment centres on the incidence of chlamydia and HIV in the overall MSM population.

Higher Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence in ethnic minorities does not always reflect higher sexual risk behaviour.

Background: In affluent countries, the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is often higher in certain ethnic minorities than in the majority population. In The Netherlands, we examined why CT prevalence is higher in Surinamese/Antilleans, the largest minority in the country.

Methods: Heterosexuals were recruited for a cross-sectional survey from May through August 2010 at the sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic in Amsterdam.

Hepatitis C among injecting drug users is two times higher in Stockholm, Sweden than in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

This study assessed risk behavior and preventive measures for hepatitis C among injecting drug users in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (452 participants, 2002-2003) and Stockholm, Sweden (310 participants, 2004-2006), two cities with contrasting drug policies. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression models were used. We found that the prevalence of hepatitis C was almost two times higher in participants from Stockholm than in participants from Rotterdam, even after adjustment for sex sharing paraphernalia (adjusted relative risk: 1.

Do sexual risk behaviour, risk perception and testing behaviour differ across generations of migrants?

Background: Behaviour and related health outcomes of migrants have been suggested to shift towards the practices of the indigenous population of the host country. To investigate this, we studied generational differences in sexual behaviour between first- and second-generation migrants (FGMs and SGMs) in The Netherlands.

Methods: In 2003-05, persons aged 16-70 years with origins in Surinam, the Antilles and Aruba were interviewed on their sexual behaviour in The Netherlands and their country of origin.

How patterns of migration can influence the heterosexual transmission of HIV in The Netherlands.

Objectives: Migrants originating from countries with a high HIV prevalence account for a large number of heterosexually acquired HIV infections in western European countries. These migrants may be infected before migrating and they may engage in unsafe sexual practices both in the country of residence and in their country of origin. This report investigates how patterns of migration may affect the heterosexual HIV epidemic in The Netherlands.

National estimate of HIV prevalence in the Netherlands: comparison and applicability of different estimation tools.

Objectives: to determine limitations and strengths of three methodologies developed to estimate HIV prevalence and the number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Methods: the UNAIDS/WHO Workbook method; the Multiparameter Evidence Synthesis (MPES) adopted by the Health Protection Agency; and the UNAIDS/WHO Estimation and Projection Package (EPP) and Spectrum method were used and their applicability and feasibility were assessed. All methods estimate the number infected in mutually exclusive risk groups among 15-70-year-olds.

Seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis b, and hepatitis c among opioid drug users on methadone treatment in the netherlands.

Background: Injecting drug users (IDU) remain an important population at risk for blood-borne infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). In the Netherlands, a program is being implemented to offer annual voluntary screening for these infections to opioid drug users (ODUs) screened in methadone care. At two care sites where the program is now operating, our study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence among ODUs screened for HIV, HBV and HCV; to evaluate HBV vaccination coverage; and to assess the feasibility of monitoring seroprevalence trends by using routine annual screening data.

Can migrants from high-endemic countries cause new HIV outbreaks among heterosexuals in low-endemic countries?

Objectives: To investigate how the sexual behaviour of migrants originating from HIV-endemic countries affects the spread of HIV among heterosexuals in low-endemic countries.

Methods: A mathematical model is developed describing the transmission of HIV in heterosexual partnerships between African migrants, Caribbean migrants, and local natives. The model accounts for infection of migrants before migration and during trips to their home country.

STD coinfections in The Netherlands: Specific sexual networks at highest risk.

Background: Specific subpopulations infected with multiple bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may facilitate ongoing STD transmission. To identify these subpopulations we determined the extent of concurrent incident STD infections and their risk factors among the high-risk population seen at Dutch STD clinics.

Methods: STD surveillance data submitted routinely by STD clinics to the National Institute for Public Health on demographics, sexual behavior, STD testing, and diagnoses for the period 2004-2007 were analyzed.

Delayed circadian rhythm in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and chronic sleep-onset insomnia.

Background: Previous studies suggest circadian rhythm disturbances in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep-onset insomnia (SOI). We investigate here sleep and rhythms in activity and melatonin in adults with ADHD.

Methods: Sleep logs and actigraphy data were collected during 1 week in 40 adults with ADHD, of whom 31 reported SOI.