Obstructive sleep apnea risk and psychological health among non-Hispanic blacks in the Metabolic Syndrome Outcome (MetSO) cohort study.

Introduction: This study assessed associations of depression and anxiety with risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among non-Hispanic blacks in the Metabolic Syndrome Outcome (MetSO) study.

Method: A total of 1,035 patients participated. ARES™ score ≥6 defined high OSA risk.

Exploring child maltreatment and its relationship to alcohol and cannabis use in selected Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Objectives: Research from developed countries shows that child maltreatment increases the risk for substance use and problems. However, little evidence on this relationship is available from developing countries, and recognition of this relationship may have important implications for substance demand reduction strategies, including efforts to prevent and treat substance use and related problems. Latin America and the Caribbean is a rich and diverse region of the world with a large range of social and cultural influences.

Interpersonal competence and sex risk behaviours among Jamaican adolescents.

Objective: Of particular public health concern to the Jamaican authorities is the consistently high numbers of new HIV infections among adolescents and young adults. The thrust in HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns has largely been toward an increase in knowledge and attitudes as opposed to personality variables. However, it is widely believed that persons with high interpersonal skills may be less likely to engage in sex risk behaviours.

Patterns of depressive symptoms among patients with HIV infection.

Objective: To identify the level of depressive symptoms among patients with HIV infection and to examine the reported patterns of depressive symptoms not confounded by the physical manifestations of HIV-infection.

Method: A total of 191 patients with HIV infection (75 males (39%) and 116 females (61%), mean age 40.48 +/- 10 years), from three HIV clinics were administered the Beck Depression Inventory-II as well as a demographic questionnaire as part of a larger study.

Validation of the Beck Depression Inventory II in HIV-positive patients.

Objective: Research on depression among HIV-positive patients has been limited by the lack of a valid and reliable measure of depression. This project addresses this problem by exploring the internal consistency reliability and the concurrent and discriminant validity of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) using HIV-positive patients in Jamaica.

Method: Patients from three HIV clinics in Jamaica (n = 191 patients; 61% female, 39% male, mean age 40.