MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES IN COVID-19 SURVIVORS: ROLE OF CLINICAL PREDICTORS.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major worldwide impact resulting in more than 7 million deaths due to COVID-19. Mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been observed in COVID-19 survivors worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the psychological impact of COVID-19 survivors three months after discharge from hospital and examine associated risk factors.

Unlocking asylum seekers' voices: protocol of a mixed-method clinical study on the use of the cultural formulation interview with asylum seekers in Belgium.

Background: Despite a high prevalence of mental disorders among asylum seekers, many barriers to mental healthcare exist. Cultural and contextual factors strongly influence the experience and expression of psychological distress, putting asylum seekers at greater risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) is a useful tool to map out cultural and contextual factors of mental disorders; however, to the best of our knowledge, it has not yet been investigated in asylum seekers specifically.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after COVID-19 Intensive Care admission: Characteristics and Perspectives.

An increase of psychopathology such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is described in patients affected with COVID-19 that stayed at an intensive care unit (ICU). However, data on follow-up and on impact of contextual factors are limited. In a single-center, observational study, PTSD symptomatology was prevalent among 38% of participants (n=8), persisting in clinical PTSD in 2 participants after one year.

The Role of Kynurenines in Cognitive Dysfunction in Bipolar Disorder.

Introduction: Chronic low-grade inflammation is suggested to play a pathophysiological role in bipolar disorder (BD) and its related cognitive dysfunctions. Although kynurenine (KYN) pathway metabolites are key inflammatory mediators, studies investigating the association between KYN metabolism and cognition in BD are scarce. We aimed to explore the relationship between KYN metabolism and cognitive functioning across different mood states in BD.

Self-Reported Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Use during COVID-19 Lockdown Measures: Results from a Web-Based Survey.

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has led to measures of social distancing and quarantine worldwide. This stressful period may lead to psychological problems, including increases in substance use.

Objective: To investigate changes in alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis consumption before and during COVID-19 lockdown and motives for these changes in substance use.

Performance of the Psychotic Depression Assessment Scale as a Predictor of ECT Outcome.

Objectives: The presence of psychotic symptoms is an important predictor of responsiveness to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This study investigates whether a continuous severity measure, the Psychotic Depression Assessment Scale (PDAS), is a more accurate predictor.

Methods: Depression severity was assessed before and after the ECT course using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) in 31 patients with psychotic depression and 34 depressed patients without psychotic symptoms.

A mood state-specific interaction between kynurenine metabolism and inflammation is present in bipolar disorder.

Objectives: Cytokines are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of psychiatric symptoms by kynurenine pathway activation. Kynurenine metabolites affect neurotransmission and can cause neurotoxicity. We measured inflammatory markers in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and studied their relation to kynurenine metabolites and mood.

Markers of Inflammation and Monoamine Metabolism Indicate Accelerated Aging in Bipolar Disorder.

A mild pro-inflammatory status accompanies bipolar disorder (BD). Inflammation can cause a shift in monoamine metabolism, thereby activating more cytotoxic pathways. The extent to which low-grade inflammation in BD interacts with monoamine metabolism and how this accords to aging and clinical course is unknown.

Prediction of Electroconvulsive Therapy Response and Remission in Major Depression: Meta-analysis - CORRIGENDUM.

This notice describes a correction to the above mentioned paper.

Prediction of electroconvulsive therapy response and remission in major depression: meta-analysis.

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered to be the most effective treatment in severe major depression. The identification of reliable predictors of ECT response could contribute to a more targeted patient selection and consequently increased ECT response rates. Aims To investigate the predictive value of age, depression severity, psychotic and melancholic features for ECT response and remission in major depression.

Neurotrophic and inflammatory markers in bipolar disorder: A prospective study.

Altered neurotrophic signaling is thought to impair neuroplasticity in bipolar disorder (BD). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is proposed as a neurotrophic marker in BD. However, the current evidence for its use in monitoring disease activity and illness progression is conflicting and an exploration of additional neurotrophic markers is needed.

The effect of mood-stabilizing drugs on cytokine levels in bipolar disorder: A systematic review.

Objectives: Cytokine level alterations suggest a role for the immune system in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). Pharmacotherapy is an important confounding factor in clinical research on cytokine levels. In this systematic review we collate the evidence on blood cytokine levels in medication-free BD and the effects of single mood-stabilizing drugs on these levels.

The role of the healthcare sector in the prevention of sexual violence against sub-Saharan transmigrants in Morocco: a study of knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare workers.

Background: Sub-Saharan transmigrants in Morocco are extremely vulnerable to sexual violence. From a public health perspective, the healthcare system is globally considered an important partner in the prevention of sexual violence. The aim of this study is twofold.