Factors Associated With Psychological Disturbances During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Multicountry Online Study.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of individuals. However, the susceptibility of individuals to be impacted by the pandemic is variable, suggesting potential influences of specific factors related to participants' demographics, attitudes, and practices.

Objective: We aimed to identify the factors associated with psychological symptoms related to the effects of the first wave of the pandemic in a multicountry cohort of internet users.

Worsening of Preexisting Psychiatric Conditions During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To ascertain factors associated with worsening of psychiatric conditions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study anonymously examined 2,734 psychiatric patients worldwide for worsening of their preexisting psychiatric conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. An independent clinical investigation of 318 psychiatric patients from United States was used for verification.

Increased Vascular Pathology in Older Veterans With a Purple Heart Commendation or Chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to determine whether stressors related to military service, determined by a diagnosis of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) or receiving a Purple Heart (PH), are associated with an increased risk of vascular risk factors and disease, which are of great concern for veterans, who constitute a significant portion of the aging US population. The Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 16 administrative database was searched for individuals 65 years or older between October 1, 1997 to September 30, 1999 who either received a PH but did not have cPTSD (PH+/cPTSD-; n = 1499), had cPTSD without a PH (PH-/cPTSD+; n = 3593), had neither (PH-/cPTSD-; n = 5010), or had both (PH+/cPTSD+; n = 153). In comparison to the control group (PH-/cPTSD-), the PH+/cPTSD- group had increased odds ratios for incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

Hippocampal volumes in patients with chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review.

The authors and others have recently demonstrated that veterans with chronic combat-related PTSD (CR-PTSD) have a twofold increased risk of dementia. To understand this increased incidence, they performed a systematic review of the literature on neuroanatomical differences between veterans with chronic CR-PTSD and control subjects (22 included studies). The hippocampus was most commonly and consistently reported to differ between groups, thereby suggesting the hypothesis that PTSD is associated with smaller hippocampi, which increases the risk for dementia.

Anxiety disorders, physical illnesses, and health care utilization in older male veterans with Parkinson disease and comorbid depression.

This study examined the rates of anxiety and depressive disorders, physical illnesses, and health service use in male patients 55 years or older with a diagnosis of Parkinson disease who were seen at least twice at the 10 medical centers in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare Network of the South Central region of the United States. Of the 273 male patients diagnosed between October 1, 1997, and September 30, 2009, 62 (22.7%) had a depressive disorder.

Medical and environmental risk factors associated with frontotemporal dementia: a case-control study in a veteran population.

Background: Compared with other major dementias, very little is known about the medical and environmental risk factors associated with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). In this study, we evaluated medical and environmental disorders associated with FTD in a veteran population.

Methods: The medical records of 845 consecutive veterans who were evaluated for cognitive and/or behavioral complaints at a cognitive disorders clinic in an academic medical center between March 1, 2003, and June 30, 2008, were reviewed and 554 patients received a diagnosis of dementia.

Is there evidence for late cognitive decline in chronic schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia (SZP) has been historically referred to as "dementia praecox" because of the recognition that its onset is associated with deficits in memory, attention and visuospatial orientation. We wondered whether there is evidence for additional cognitive decline late in the course of chronic SZP. This review examined the evidence (1) for cognitive decline late in the course of chronic SZP, (2) for how often the late cognitive decline occurs, and (3) whether the cognitive decline in late-life SZP is related to pathophysiology of SZP versus the superimposition of another type of dementia.

The impact of Purple Heart commendation and PTSD on mortality rates in older veterans.

Background: To determine whether having received a Purple Heart (PH) or having been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affected mortality in older veterans.

Methods: We compared mortality rates of older veterans with a PH but without PTSD (PH+/PTSD-) to veterans with a PH and PTSD (PH+/PTSD+), veterans without a PH but with PTSD (PH-/PTSD+), and a comparison group without a PH or PTSD (PH-/PTSD-). Administrative data from the Veterans Integrated Service Network 16 were collected between 10/01/97 and 09/30/99 for veterans who were 65 years or older.

Does PTSD impair cognition beyond the effect of trauma?

This systematic review analyzed data from studies examining memory and cognitive function in subjects with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared with subjects exposed to trauma (but without PTSD). Based on analysis of 21 articles published in English from 1968 to 2009, the conclusion is that individuals with PTSD, particularly veterans, show signs of cognitive impairment when tested with neuropsychological instruments, more so than individuals exposed to trauma who do not have PTSD.

Does diabetes mellitus alter the onset and clinical course of vascular dementia?

Background: Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common dementing illness. Multiple risk factors are associated with VaD, but the individual contribution of each to disease onset and progression is unclear. We examined the relationship between diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM) and the clinical variables of VaD.

Greater prevalence and incidence of dementia in older veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Unlabelled: To explore the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dementia in older veterans.

Design: Administrative database study of individuals seen within one regional division of the Veterans Affairs healthcare network.

Setting: Veterans Integrated Service Network 16.

A decrease in body mass index is associated with faster progression of motor symptoms and shorter survival in ALS.

Our objective was to test the hypothesis that changes in body mass index (BMI) are associated with changes in the clinical course of ALS. We examined the relationships between BMI at first clinical visit and changes in BMI up to a two-year follow-up, and multiple clinical variables related to ALS: age of onset, rate of progression of motor symptoms, and survival. Baseline BMI was classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.

Does use of antihypertensive drugs affect the incidence or progression of dementia? A systematic review.

Background: Hypertension appears to contribute to the development of dementia. Antihypertensive drugs may play an important role in altering the incidence or progression of dementia, particularly dementia of the vascular type; however, the neuroprotective effects of these agents in other types of dementia are not well characterized.

Objectives: The main aims of this review were to examine the relationship between use of antihypertensive agents and the incidence and progression of Alzheimer's dementia (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and unspecified dementia, and to consider whether these agents may be neuroprotective.

Psychotherapy as a treatment modality for psychiatric disorders: Perceptions of general public of Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Psychiatric disorders affect about 450 million individuals worldwide. A number of treatment modalities such as psychotropic medications, psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy can be used to treat these disorders. Attitudes of general public play a pivotal role in effective utilization of mental health services.

The link between post-traumatic stress disorder and physical comorbidities: a systematic review.

Context: Returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq will increase frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Little is known about its impact on physical health.

Objective: Systematic literature review focusing on the association between PTSD and specific physical disorders.

An atypical course of myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic neuromuscular disease which leads to varying degrees of weakness in the skeletal muscles. Some of the symptoms of the disorder include weakness of the eye muscles, difficulty in swallowing and slurred speech. When only the muscles of the eyes are affected, the illness is termed ocular myasthenia, which is often characterized by abrupt onset of diplopia and ptosis of the eyelid.