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Paediatric Respiratory Reviews Dec 2023The COVID-19 pandemic has created diagnostic difficulties with the increase in mental health illnesses that often present with nonspecific symptoms, like...
The COVID-19 pandemic has created diagnostic difficulties with the increase in mental health illnesses that often present with nonspecific symptoms, like hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a complex syndrome of varying triggers, onset, severity, and clinical manifestations that can be challenging to diagnose in many cases. Typical symptoms are nonspecific and can be attributed to other entities. There are no pediatric guidelines, which contributes to diagnostic difficulties and delays in treatment. It is particularly important to avoid diagnostic biases, have an index of suspicion for hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and to develop pediatric guidelines as outcomes are excellent when diagnosed and treated promptly. This article discusses hypersensitivity pneumonitis with a focus on the causes, pathogenesis, diagnostic approach, outcomes, and prognosis while using a case to illustrate the diagnostic difficulties worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Topics: Humans; Child; Panic Disorder; Pandemics; Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic; COVID-19; Prognosis
PubMed: 37225541
DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2023.05.002 -
Journal of Law and Medicine Dec 2023Spit hoods have been used for decades to reduce the ability of people to spit and bite police officers, corrective services officers, paramedics, doctors and nurses....
Spit hoods have been used for decades to reduce the ability of people to spit and bite police officers, corrective services officers, paramedics, doctors and nurses. However, historically and in public consciousness they have sinister resonances and often induce fear, panic and distress in persons to whom they are applied or in whose presence they are worn. Problematically frequently spit hoods have been used on detainees from ethnic minorities, including in Australia, on Indigenous persons, individuals with mental illnesses and children taken into custody. On a number of occasions spit hoods have been used with other forms of restraint and been associated with deaths in custody. This editorial reviews high profile cases internationally where spit hoods have played a role in precipitating deaths, important reports and reviews, including from coroners, ombudsmen and commissions of inquiry, into their abuse, and law reform in relation to spit hoods. It supports their abandonment and their replacement with other personal protective equipment options for maintaining custodians' and carers' occupational health and safety.
Topics: Humans; Child; Australia; Mental Disorders; Coroners and Medical Examiners; Occupational Health; Police
PubMed: 38332592
DOI: No ID Found -
Brain Sciences Jun 2024Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress, constitute the most frequent mental disorders and occur in about 14-18% of...
Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress, constitute the most frequent mental disorders and occur in about 14-18% of the overall population [...].
PubMed: 38928597
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14060597 -
Journal of the Academy of... 2024We present the case of a 67-year-old male with a history of major depressive disorder, panic disorder, treatment refractory hypertension, dyslipidemia, benign prostatic... (Review)
Review
We present the case of a 67-year-old male with a history of major depressive disorder, panic disorder, treatment refractory hypertension, dyslipidemia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and environmental allergies who was initially brought to medical attention following an unwitnessed fall. He subsequently developed symptoms of insomnia disorder. Experts in consultation-liaison psychiatry and sleep medicine provide guidance for this clinical scenario based on their experience and a review of current literature, exploring the epidemiology of insomnia disorder and comorbidities in relation to this case. Furthermore, we offer a review of current treatment for insomnia disorder, including non-pharmacologic methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and pharmacotherapy.
Topics: Humans; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Male; Aged; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Depressive Disorder, Major; Panic Disorder; Comorbidity
PubMed: 38016579
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2023.11.684 -
Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology Sep 2023Depression, anxiety, and panic disorders are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and important for the further course of the disease, as they are... (Review)
Review
Depression, anxiety, and panic disorders are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and important for the further course of the disease, as they are associated with increased hospital admissions, longer hospital stays, more frequent doctor visits, and a worsened quality of life. There are also indications of premature death in affected patients. Therefore, knowledge of the risk factors for depression in COPD patients is all the more important for early detection and treatment. Hence, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the MEDLINE/PubMed databases were analyzed for studies on these risk factors. The main factors are as follows: female gender; older/younger age; living alone; higher education; unemployment; retirement; a low quality of life; social isolation; high/low income; high cigarette and alcohol consumption; poor physical fitness; severe respiratory symptoms; high/low body mass index, airway obstruction, dyspnea, exercise capacity index scores; and comorbidities (mainly heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke). This article presents the analyzed medical literature.
Topics: Female; Humans; Comorbidity; Depression; Dyspnea; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life; Risk Factors
PubMed: 37393968
DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2023.104110 -
Le Infezioni in Medicina 2023The history of pandemics spans centuries and has had a profound impact on human health, societies, and economies. Pandemics have caused fear, panic, and significant... (Review)
Review
The history of pandemics spans centuries and has had a profound impact on human health, societies, and economies. Pandemics have caused fear, panic, and significant morbidity and mortality rates throughout history. From the Athenian Plague in 430 BC to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, infectious diseases have posed a continuous threat to global health systems. The transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agrarian communities, increased trade and interaction between humans and animals, urbanization, travel rates, and the impact of a growing human population have all contributed to the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. Climate change and changes in land use further affect the transmission of pathogens and the distribution of disease-carrying vectors. Lessons from previous pandemics include the importance of early diagnosis and response, global cooperation and collaboration, strengthened healthcare systems, preparedness planning, public health education and communication, research and development, and adaptability and flexibility in response strategies. These lessons emphasize the significance of timely identification, swift action, sharing information and resources, investing in healthcare infrastructure, preparedness planning, effective communication, research advancements, and the ability to adapt measures as pandemics evolve. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for a collaborative and coordinated global response to future pandemics. Governments, international bodies, healthcare organizations, and individuals could learn from the lessons of the past and apply them effectively to combat and mitigate the impact of future outbreaks. By prioritizing all the recommendations stated, the world can synergistically protect public health and minimize the devastating consequences of pandemics.
PubMed: 38075409
DOI: 10.53854/liim-3104-2 -
Journal of Reproductive and Infant... Sep 2023Perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder (POCD) is characterised by the presence of intrusive thoughts resulting in significant distress and urges to execute repeated...
INTRODUCTION
Perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder (POCD) is characterised by the presence of intrusive thoughts resulting in significant distress and urges to execute repeated behaviours occurring in the perinatal period. POCD is largely understudied and existing literature has mostly studied POCD quantitatively.
OBJECTIVE
This qualitative study explores the experiences of 10 mothers randomly selected from a larger sample (N = 251; 86.8% White) who met high risk criteria based on the Postnatal Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (POCS≥16). These mothers were interviewed about their experiences with POCD retrospectively.
RESULTS
Qualitative analysis of the interviews (n = 10) revealed three main themes regarding women's experiences with POCD: 1) obsessions (i.e. safety, cleanliness), 2) compulsions (i.e. excessive checking for safety, excessive cleaning, researching information online), and 3) other emotional experiences (i.e. fear, panic, anxiety, suicidal ideation, guilt, shame, irritability/anger).
CONCLUSION
Mothers at high risk for POCD report obsessions and compulsions as well as other emotional experiences that are distressing, demonstrating the enduring impact of POCD beyond the perinatal period.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Mothers; Retrospective Studies; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders
PubMed: 34894885
DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2021.2013457 -
Journal of Psychiatric Research Sep 2023Repeated panic attacks are the core symptom of panic disorder and severely stressful for patients. Additional to the psychological response, the physiological symptoms...
Repeated panic attacks are the core symptom of panic disorder and severely stressful for patients. Additional to the psychological response, the physiological symptoms are an important aspect of the experienced panic. However, data on the extent of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activation during panic attacks is inconsistent. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed at investigating the stress-axis activity in more detail by including Copeptin (CoP) as a stable surrogate parameter for the vasopressinergic hypothalamic activity during experimentally induced panic attacks in healthy adults (N = 21). During a placebo-controlled panic challenge with 35% CO compared to normal air inhalation, we measured CoP and the peripheral effector hormones Adrenocorticotropic Releasing Hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in plasma along with the psychological response to panic anxiety. We analyzed hormonal secretion patterns, their correlations and individual panic ratings over time and explored differences between female and male participants. We found a significant CO-induced increase of CoP plasma levels and psychological panic symptoms after CO-administration, while no positive correlations of CoP levels with the peripheral HPA-axis hormones and with panic symptoms were present. No differences between female and male participants concerning their psychological response nor their baseline CoP levels, the release of CoP or its increase during the experiment were found. CoP could be a sensitive indicator for an organism's physiologic acute hypothalamic response during stress and panic attacks.
Topics: Humans; Male; Adult; Female; Carbon Dioxide; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Panic; Panic Disorder; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Pituitary-Adrenal System
PubMed: 37517243
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.07.006 -
Seminars in Neurology Jun 2024In this article, we will discuss the history, pharmacodynamics, and neurotoxicity of psychostimulants and hallucinogens. The drugs discussed are widely used and have...
In this article, we will discuss the history, pharmacodynamics, and neurotoxicity of psychostimulants and hallucinogens. The drugs discussed are widely used and have characteristic toxidromes and potential for neurological injuries with which the practicing clinician should be familiar. Psychostimulants are a class of drugs that includes cocaine, methamphetamine/amphetamines, and cathinones, among others, which produce a crescendoing euphoric high. Seizures, ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, rhabdomyolysis, and a variety of movement disorders are commonly encountered in this class. Hallucinogens encompass a broad class of drugs, in which the user experiences hallucinations, altered sensorium, distorted perception, and cognitive dysfunction. The experience can be unpredictable and dysphoric, creating a profound sense of anxiety and panic in some cases. Recognizing the associated neurotoxicities and understanding the appropriate management is critical in caring for these patient populations. Several of these agents are not detectable by standard clinical laboratory analysis, making identification and diagnosis an even greater challenge.
PubMed: 38889896
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1787572