Gaps in psychiatric care before and after the COVID-19 pandemic among patients with depression using electronic health records.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption to health services. It is unclear if there were inequalities in the continuity of mental health care in the years around the COVID-19 pandemic. We used electronic health records (EHR) to detect mental health care gaps of more than six months in psychiatric appointments across demographic and socioeconomic characteristics among patients with depression.

Alterations in Brain Activity Induced by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Their Relation to Decision Making.

Understanding the intricate dynamics between conscious choice and neural processes is crucial for unraveling the complexity of human decision-making. This study investigates the effects of inhibitory Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on choice bias, shedding light on the malleability of cognitive-motor functions involved in decisions. While reaction times remained unaffected, inhibitory TMS to either the left or right motor cortex led to a significant bias in screen side preference during a choice task.

Use of Non-Psychiatric Medications With Potential Depressive Symptom Side Effects and Level of Depressive Symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder.

To determine whether use of medications with potential depressive symptom side effects is associated with a higher level of depressive symptoms in adults with antidepressant-treated major depressive disorder (MDD). The study was based on the 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)-a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of the US general population. In 885 adult participants from these NHANES cycles who reported receiving antidepressants for treatment of MDD, the association between the number of medications with potential depressive symptom side effects and the level of depressive symptoms was assessed.

Availability of Trauma-Specific Services in US Substance Use Disorder and Other Mental Health Treatment Facilities: 2015-2019.

This study assessed trends in provision of trauma-specific services, defined as dedicated programming for persons with a history of trauma, in US Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and other Mental Health (MH) facilities. Facility level data from the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services and the National Mental Health Services Survey (2015-2019) were used to examine trends in provision of trauma specific-services. Trauma specific service provision trended up significantly between 2015 and 2019.

Assessing Self-reported Recovery in a Community Psychiatry Setting.

Objective: This study examined demographic and diagnostic characteristics associated with self-reported recovery in patients with serious mental illness.

Methods: Patient demographics and diagnoses were obtained from a retrospective review of charts from 981 patients attending a community psychiatry outpatient program between January 2015 and December 2016. All patients completed the Recovery Assessment Scale-Revised (RAS-R), a self-report recovery questionnaire consisting of 5 subscales, approximately every 6 months.

Remission and Treatment Augmentation of Depression in the United States.

To determine the proportion of adults treated for depression in the US who achieve remission and, among those not achieving remission, the proportion receiving augmentation treatment. Using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for years 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018, we identified 869 adults who reported using antidepressant medications for depression for at least 3 months. This sample was partitioned into remitted (score < 5) and non-remitted (score ≥ 5) respondents based on 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score-a questionnaire based on the criteria for major depressive disorder.

Symptom Severity and Care Delay among Patients with Serious Mental Illness.

Purpose: This study investigated associations between psychiatric symptom severity and delay in seeking general medical services among individuals with serious mental illness.

Methods: The association of psychiatric symptom severity, measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and general medical care delay was examined among 271 patients at two urban, outpatient psychiatric clinics.

Results: Higher scores for PANSS paranoid/belligerence were associated with delays in accessing general medical care (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.

Electronic health record adoption among US substance use disorder and other mental health treatment facilities.

Objective: This study examined Electronic Health Record (EHR) utilization among US substance use disorder (SUD) versus mental health (MH) treatment facilities.

Methods: Data from the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services and the National Mental Health Services Survey were used to examine differences in clinical and administrative utilization of EHR.

Results: EHR use was significantly less common among SUD facilities compared to MH facilities for both non-exclusive (mixed computer and paper) and exclusive (paper-free) use.

Symptom severity and medication-assisted treatment for individuals with serious mental illness and a history of heroin use.

The study examined associations between medication assisted treatment (MAT) and psychiatric symptom severity, measured by Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), among individuals with serious mental illness and a history of heroin use. Of 271 participants, 32% (n=87) reported a history of heroin use and, of those, 14.9% (n=13) reported MAT.

The relationship between social and environmental factors and symptom severity in the seriously mentally ill population.

Background: The goal of this article is to investigate the relationship of psychiatric symptom severity with internalised stigma, neighbourhood environment, and social support among individuals with serious mental illness.

Method: Using a longitudinal study design we examined the relationship between psychiatric symptom severity with internalised stigma, neighbourhood environment, and social support among 271 adults with serious mental illness recruited from new admissions to two urban mental health clinics.

Results: After controlling for demographics increased stigma levels predicted greater symptom severity, as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Positive, Negative, and General Psychopathology scales over a 4-year period ( < .

Integrated dual diagnosis treatment among United States mental health treatment facilities: 2010 to 2018.

Objective: Little is known about the correlates of and recent trends in implementation of Integrated Dual Diagnosis model, an evidence-based approach for dual diagnosis services, in US mental health facilities between 2010 and 2018.

Methods: Changes over time in Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment use were examined using multiple waves of a national survey of mental health treatment facilities that reported offering any substance use services. State and facility correlates of offering integrated dual diagnosis services among these facilities in 2018 were examined.

Financial hardship among individuals with serious mental illness.

This study explored financial hardship, defined as difficulty in obtaining food, shelter, or medicine in the past 12 months and its personal and clinical correlates in individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) in a sample of 271 adults with SMI newly admitted to two inner city community mental health centers. The study found that 59 percent (n = 161) reported experiencing financial hardship in the past 12 months. Patients with financial hardship were more likely to be female, to experience self-stigma, to experience medical care delays, and to use emergency services.

Telepsychiatry Use in U.S. Mental Health Facilities, 2010-2017.

Objective: The study examined the use of telepsychiatry in U.S. mental health facilities between 2010 and 2017.

Availability of Assertive Community Treatment in the United States: 2010 to 2016.

Objective: The study examined change in availability of assertive community treatment (ACT) and associated services over time.

Methods: Change over time in the availability of facilities in the United States offering ACT and its associated services was examined by using 2010 and 2016 data from the National Mental Health Services Survey.

Results: The proportion of facilities that self-reported provision of ACT and its associated services declined between 2010 and 2016 (odds ratio [OR]=0.

Distribution and Correlates of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and ACT-Like Programs: Results From the 2015 N-MHSS.

Objective: The study examined the availability and characteristics of assertive community treatment (ACT) programs across mental health treatment facilities in the United States.

Methods: Prevalence and correlates of facilities that reported offering ACT, broadly defined as intensive community services for serious mental illness provided by multidisciplinary teams in the clients' natural settings and including both ACT and "ACT-like" programs, were examined by using data from the National Mental Health Services Survey. Availability of services essential to the ACT model in these facilities was also examined.

Prescription opioid use among individuals with serious mental illness.

Prevalence and correlates of prescription opioid use were explored in individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) by examining a sample of adults from two inner city community psychiatry clinics. Of 271 participants, 12.9% (n = 35) were on a prescribed opioid.

Delays in Seeking General Medical Services and Measurable Abnormalities Among Individuals With Serious Mental Illness.

Objective: The study explored the association of delays in seeking general medical care with elevated blood pressure and metabolic abnormalities among individuals with serious mental illness.

Methods: Association of delays in medical care with blood pressure, serum hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), and lipids was assessed among patients at two inner-city community mental health centers.

Results: Of 271 participants, 62% reported delays in seeking general medical care due to attitudinal and financial barriers.

A key enzyme of animal steroidogenesis can function in plants enhancing their immunity and accelerating the processes of growth and development.

Background: The initial stage of the biosynthesis of steroid hormones in animals occurs in the mitochondria of steroidogenic tissues, where cytochrome P450 (CYP11A1) encoded by the CYP11A1 gene catalyzes the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone - the general precursor of all the steroid hormones, starting with progesterone. This stage is missing in plants where mitochondrial cytochromes P450 (the mito CYP clan) have not been found. Generating transgenic plants with a mitochondrial type P450 from animals would offer an interesting option to verify whether plant mitochondria could serve as another site of P450 monooxygenase reaction for the steroid hormones biosynthesis.

Exposure to Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising and Medication Nonadherence Among Patients With Serious Mental Illness.

Objective: This study explored the association of exposure to direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) with medication nonadherence among individuals with serious mental disorders.

Methods: Results of an anonymous survey administered at an inner-city mental health clinic were examined by using logistic regression. Nonadherence was defined as not taking prescribed medications for at least two out of seven days.

Clothing Flammability and Burn Injuries: Public Opinion Concerning an Overlooked, Preventable Public Health Problem.

The objective of this study was to describe knowledge of clothing flammability risk, public support for clothing flammability warning labels, and stronger regulation to reduce the risk. As part of a national survey of homeowners about residential sprinkler systems, the authors included questions about clothing flammability. The authors used an online web panel to sample homeowners and descriptive methods to analyze the resulting data.

[Peculiarities of urinary bladder cancer tumor cells apoptosis response on neoadjuvant chemotherapy].

Induced apoptosis in urinary bladder cancer tumor cells of patients was studied using TUNEL reaction. It was shown that increase in induced apoptosis value had a definite correlation between corresponding features of tumor reaction as a response on Gemcitabine-Cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy application. It was found that evaluation of induced apoptosis in urinary bladder cancer tumor cells using TUNEL method allows forecasting the effectiveness of chemotherapy on the cellular level in patients with this type of cancer.

[Characteristics of steroid metabolism in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants bearing the CYP11A1 cDNA of cytochrome P450(SCC) from the bovine adrenal cortex].

In the mitochondria of animal steroidogenic tissues, cytochrome P450(SCC), encoded by the CYP11A1 gene, catalyzes the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone - the general precursor of all steroid hormones. In this work, we study the steroid metabolism in transgenic tobacco plants carrying the CYP11A1 cDNA cytochrome P450(SCC)from the bovine adrenal cortex. The transgenic plants under investigation markedly surpass the control wild-type plants by size and are characterized by a shortened period of vegetative growth (by rapid flowering); their leaves contain pregnenolone - the product of a reaction catalyzed by cytochrome P450(SCC).

[Construction and characteristics of transgenic tobacco Nicotiana tabacum L. plants expressing CYP11A1 cDNA encoding cytochrome P450scc].

In steroidogenic animal tissues cytochrome P450scc catalizes the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone, a common metabolic precursor of all steroid hormones. To study the possibility of functioning of mammalian cytochrome P450scc in plants and the mechanism of its integration in the plant steroidogenic system, transgenic plants of tobacco Nicotiana tabacum L. were developed carrying cDNA of CYP11A1 encoding cytochrome P450scc of bovine adrenal cortex.