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Cureus Apr 2024Anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (anti-LGI1) limbic encephalitis is a rare autoimmune neurologic disorder with antibodies against LGI1. It was first...
Anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (anti-LGI1) limbic encephalitis is a rare autoimmune neurologic disorder with antibodies against LGI1. It was first recognized as a disease in 2010 and represents the second most common cause of autoimmune encephalitis. Clinically, it is characterized by subacute changes in cognition, memory, and behavior, associated with hyponatremia and faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDS). This report discusses a unique onset of anti-LGI1 limbic encephalitis where an elderly female presented with symptoms of new-onset panic attacks and rhythmic facial movements for one week. She was then admitted to neurology for further serum, cerebrospinal fluid(CSF), and lab testing. She was eventually found to be positive for antibodies against LGI1 voltage-gated potassium channels, which confirmed the diagnosis of limbic encephalitis. The quick recognition of symptoms and escalation of management allowed the patient to experience drastic improvements after the initiation of steroids, immunotherapy, and lacosamide. Since anti-LGI1 limbic encephalitis is underdiagnosed, it can lead to irreversible long-term cognitive sequelae (i.e., memory deficits). Thus, awareness of the typically associated findings of FBDS, cognitive disturbances, psychiatric changes, and hyponatremia can aid in early diagnosis and prompt treatment with immunotherapy, allowing for more favorable outcomes.
PubMed: 38756253
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58406 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024The following work aims to compare the types and magnitude of risk events in patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder and each of those groups with of a group of...
INTRODUCTION
The following work aims to compare the types and magnitude of risk events in patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder and each of those groups with of a group of healthy siblings, exploring differences and similarities of the two psychotic disorders.
METHODS
Retrospective interviews were conducted with 20 families to investigate maternal and obstetric health, social support and the presence of early trauma for the affected family members and healthy siblings. Mothers were interviewed with the Prenatal Psychosocial Profile and each family participant was assessed with the Early Trauma Inventory, Screening Questionnaire of the Genomic Psychiatry Cohort and the Diagnostic Interview for Psychosis and Affective Disorders.
RESULTS
Obstetric and gestational history, pregnancy weight changes and early trauma were associated with offspring's mental illness, including statistically significant findings for complications of pregnancy, pregnancy weight changes, general trauma, physical punishment and emotional abuse.
CONCLUSION
These findings highlight the different risk factor exposures that occur within a family, which may increase the risk for severe mental illness.
PubMed: 38745777
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1374216 -
Journal of Health, Population, and... May 2024The outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) has caused worldwide panic in the global... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) has caused worldwide panic in the global population taking people's lives, creating fear, and affecting mother-child relationships. Many questions were raised on the dangers of being infected with COVID-19 for newborns and safety concerns during feeding by COVID-19-positive mothers. Moreover, questions and doubts about the safety of the administration of vaccinations for nursing mothers are still open. This review attempts to fill the existing literature gap by exploring concepts concerning COVID-19 and breastfeeding mothers, the safety of vaccinations, the beneficial effects of breastfeeding on both mother and child, important hygiene recommendations for SARS-CoV-2 infected mothers, and possible solutions to optimize breastfeeding and safety precautions amidst the fear of emergence of novel variants.
METHODS
All relevant publications from Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus search engines from December 2019 to October 2022 related to SARS-CoV-2, breastfeeding, COVID-19, lactating guidelines, and vaccination were included using 'Breastfeeding AND vaccine AND SARS-CoV-2' as MESH TERMS. Apart from the literature review, existing maternity protocols followed in Northern UAE were gathered from lactation consultants practicing in the UAE.
RESULTS
Out of 19,391 records generated, only 24 studies were analyzed and summarized in this exhaustive review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow chart. Previous studies suggest that breastmilk is predominantly the primary source of nutrition for neonates. Breast milk is a rich source of antibodies that help the baby to fight against infections including other benefits. Hygiene recommendations for suspected or confirmed COVID-19-infected mothers are required along with psychological and emotional support.
CONCLUSIONS
The administration of vaccinations should be advised and encouraged to protect the mothers with antibodies and the neonates by the passive transmission of antibodies through breast milk. This is a significant reason for not stopping breastfeeding even in case of COVID-19 infection. With adherence to proper hygiene methods, breastfeeding is recommended to be continued as the benefits greatly outweigh the risks.
Topics: Humans; Breast Feeding; COVID-19; Female; Infant, Newborn; United Arab Emirates; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccination; COVID-19 Vaccines; Pregnancy; Mothers; Infant
PubMed: 38745335
DOI: 10.1186/s41043-024-00544-0 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024Anxiety is common in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). The parent version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS-P) is a widely used measure to assess anxiety...
Anxiety is common in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). The parent version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS-P) is a widely used measure to assess anxiety across a broad range of childhood populations. However, assessment of the measurement properties of the SCAS-P in NDDs have been limited. The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the SCAS-P in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using Rasch Measurement Theory. Data from the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders Network Registry were used in the analysis. Children (ages 6-13 years old) with a primary diagnosis of ADHD (n=146) or ASD (n=104) were administered the SCAS-P. Rasch Measurement Theory was used to assess measurement properties of the SCAS-P, including unidimensionality and item-level fit, category ordering, item targeting, person separation index and reliability and differential item functioning. The SCAS-P fit well to the Rasch model in both ADHD and ASD, including unidimensionality, satisfactory category ordering and goodness-of-fit. However, item-person measures showed poor precision at lower levels of anxiety. Some items showed differential item functioning, including items within the obsessive-compulsive, panic/agoraphobia and physical injury fears domains, suggesting that the presentation of anxiety may differ between ADHD and ASD. Overall, the results generally support the use of the SCAS-P to screen and monitor anxiety symptoms in children with ADHD and ASD. Future studies would benefit from examination of more severely anxious NDD cohort, including those with clinically diagnosed anxiety.
PubMed: 38742131
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1240357 -
World Psychiatry : Official Journal of... Jun 2024Psychotherapies are first-line treatments for most mental disorders, but their absolute outcomes (i.e., response and remission rates) are not well studied, despite the...
Psychotherapies are first-line treatments for most mental disorders, but their absolute outcomes (i.e., response and remission rates) are not well studied, despite the relevance of such information for health care users, providers and policy makers. We aimed to examine absolute and relative outcomes of psychotherapies across eight mental disorders: major depressive disorder (MDD), social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), specific phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD). We used a series of living systematic reviews included in the Metapsy initiative (www.metapsy.org), with a common strategy for literature search, inclusion of studies and extraction of data, and a common format for the analyses. Literature search was conducted in major bibliographical databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials) up to January 1, 2023. We included randomized controlled trials comparing psychotherapies for any of the eight mental disorders, established by a diagnostic interview, with a control group (waitlist, care-as-usual, or pill placebo). We conducted random-effects model pairwise meta-analyses. The main outcome was the absolute rate of response (at least 50% symptom reduction between baseline and post-test) in the treatment and control conditions. Secondary outcomes included the relative risk (RR) of response, and the number needed to treat (NNT). Random-effects meta-analyses of the included 441 trials (33,881 patients) indicated modest response rates for psychotherapies: 0.42 (95% CI: 0.39-0.45) for MDD; 0.38 (95% CI: 0.33-0.43) for PTSD; 0.38 (95% CI: 0.30-0.47) for OCD; 0.38 (95% CI: 0.33-0.43) for panic disorder; 0.36 (95% CI: 0.30-0.42) for GAD; 0.32 (95% CI: 0.29-0.37) for social anxiety disorder; 0.32 (95% CI: 0.23-0.42) for specific phobia; and 0.24 (95% CI: 0.15-0.36) for BPD. Most sensitivity analyses broadly supported these findings. The RRs were significant for all disorders, except BPD. Our conclusion is that most psychotherapies for the eight mental disorders are effective compared with control conditions, but absolute response rates are modest. More effective treatments and interventions for those not responding to a first-line treatment are needed.
PubMed: 38727072
DOI: 10.1002/wps.21203 -
Journal of Education and Health... 2024COVID-19 has caused a wide range of psychological problems, such as panic disorders, anxiety, and depression. Knowing what others have researched on, what constructs... (Review)
Review
COVID-19 has caused a wide range of psychological problems, such as panic disorders, anxiety, and depression. Knowing what others have researched on, what constructs they have focused on, will (a) summarize published information, (b) help identify research gaps, and (c) encourage future research that addresses these gaps. The aim of the study was to analyze the bibliometric indicators of scientific productivity of the impact of COVID-19 on constructs affecting undergraduate happiness. A bibliometric study was conducted. The PubMed database was used. Data summarized were: authors, year of publication, journal name, country, language of publication, and subtopic addressed. A total of 16 English-language studies were identified between April 2022 and December 2022. There were 12 countries that have published on the impact of COVID-19 on constructs affecting college students' happiness. Most of the studies were developed in the United States ( = 4, 25%) and China ( = 2, 12.5%). Thirteen journals publishing these topics were detected. The subtopics considered were organized into nine categories (e.g., a: Psychological impact, b: Adverse childhood experiences, c: Stress, d: Personality traits, e: Perception of the educational environment, f: Spiritual health, g: Distress, h: Uncertainty and socioemotional learning, i: Satisfaction with life). This study suggests that the number of countries and scientific journals that have published on the impact of COVID-19 on constructs affecting college students' happiness is small. In addition, the most discussed subtopics during the pandemic were related to constructs such as psychological impact and stress affecting college students' happiness.
PubMed: 38726077
DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_615_23 -
Spanish Journal of Psychiatry and... 2024Population studies on social anxiety disorder (SAD) are relatively scarce and there is no previous reported evidence on prevalence or correlates of SAD in an Andalusian...
INTRODUCTION
Population studies on social anxiety disorder (SAD) are relatively scarce and there is no previous reported evidence on prevalence or correlates of SAD in an Andalusian general population sample.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We used a random representative sample previously identified via standard stratification procedures. Thus, a final sample of 4507 participants were included (response rate 83.7%). Interviewees were thoroughly assessed on sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial factors, including: exposures to threatening life events (TLEs), childhood abuse, personality disorder and traits (neuroticism, impulsivity, paranoia), global functioning, physical health and toxics consumption. SAD diagnosis was ascertained using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Both, pooled prevalences (with 95% confidence intervals) and risk correlates for SAD were estimated using binary logistic regression.
RESULTS
Estimated prevalence for SAD was 1.1% (95% CI=0.8-1.4). Having a SAD diagnosis was independently and significantly associated with younger age, poorer global functioning, higher neuroticism and paranoia personality traits, having suffered childhood abuse and exposure to previous TLEs. Furthermore, SAD was significantly associated with comorbid personality disorder, major depression, panic disorder and alcohol abuse.
CONCLUSIONS
Among this large Andalusian population sample, the prevalence of SAD and its associated factors are relatively similar to previously reported international studies, although no population study had previously reported such a strong association with paranoia.
Topics: Humans; Phobia, Social; Female; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Spain; Prevalence; Young Adult; Adolescent; Comorbidity; Aged; Personality Disorders
PubMed: 38720187
DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsm.2021.09.006 -
Behaviour Research and Therapy Jul 2024Although observational fear learning has been implicated in the development of phobic-related fears, studies investigating observational learning of fear of bodily...
Although observational fear learning has been implicated in the development of phobic-related fears, studies investigating observational learning of fear of bodily symptoms remain scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether fear in response to bodily symptoms can be acquired simply by observing a fearful reaction to provocation of aversive bodily symptoms in others. Forty healthy participants underwent an observational fear conditioning paradigm consisting of two phases. In the first phase, participants observed a demonstrator reacting to an aversive bodily symptom provocation (unconditioned stimulus or US, i.e., labored breathing) paired with one conditioned stimulus (CS+) but not with the other one (CS-, both CSs were geometric symbols presented on a screen the demonstrator was watching). In the second phase, participants were directly presented with the same conditioned stimuli, but in the absence of the US. Our results revealed enhanced conditioned fear responses in the beginning of the second phase to the CS + as compared to CS-, as indexed by greater skin conductance and subjective fear responses, as well as greater potentiation of startle eyeblink responses to the CS + as compared to the ITI. Taken together, these findings implicate that fear of bodily symptoms can be learned through observation of others, that is, without first-hand experience of bodily threat.
Topics: Humans; Fear; Female; Male; Conditioning, Classical; Reflex, Startle; Young Adult; Galvanic Skin Response; Adult; Adolescent; Blinking
PubMed: 38718630
DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104555 -
Emergency Medicine International 2024. Throughout history, communities have faced outbreaks of infectious diseases and other natural and man-made disasters that pose significant threats to lives, public... (Review)
Review
. Throughout history, communities have faced outbreaks of infectious diseases and other natural and man-made disasters that pose significant threats to lives, public health, and business continuity. Many of these disasters are crises that require critical decisions to be made in a short, crucial time with limited information and unforeseen circumstances amidst panic, fear, and shock. The COVID-19 pandemic is a recent example, with public leaders responding to and formulating strategies to attenuate the relentless waves of transmission and surges in resource demands. The pandemic underscored the importance of understanding how healthcare leaders make decisions in-crisis and what factors healthcare leaders prioritize in their decision-making process. . PubMed(NLM), Embase(Ovid), Scopus(Elsevier), Business Source(EBSCOhost), and ProQuest will be searched for primary qualitative studies published in English to explore the multi-faceted decision-making processes of healthcare leaders during a public health crisis. A meta-ethnographic approach will synthesize insights into healthcare leaders' experiences and perspectives and generate a conceptual theory of decision-making in crisis. . Understanding how healthcare leaders make critical decisions during public health crises takes advantage of the lessons learned to inform how future health crises are managed. (This systematic review is registered in PROSPERO: CRD42023475382).
PubMed: 38715979
DOI: 10.1155/2024/2038608