Functional impairment in daily activities, such as work and socializing, is part of the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder and most anxiety disorders. Despite evidence that symptom severity and functional impairment are partially distinct, functional impairment is often overlooked. To assess whether functional impairment captures diagnostically relevant genetic liability beyond that of symptoms, we aimed to estimate the heritability of, and genetic correlations between, key measures of current depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and functional impairment.

In 17,130 individuals with lifetime depression or anxiety from the Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) Study, we analyzed total scores from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (depression symptoms), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (anxiety symptoms), and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (functional impairment). Genome-wide association analyses were performed with REGENIE. Heritability was estimated using GCTA-GREML and genetic correlations with bivariate-GREML.

The phenotypic correlations were moderate across the three measures (Pearson’s r = 0.50–0.69). All three scales were found to be under low but significant genetic influence (single-nucleotide polymorphism-based heritability [h2SNP] = 0.11–0.19) with high genetic correlations between them (rg = 0.79–0.87).

Among individuals with lifetime depression or anxiety from the GLAD Study, the genetic variants that underlie symptom severity largely overlap with those influencing functional impairment. This suggests that self-reported functional impairment, while clinically relevant for diagnosis and treatment outcomes, does not reflect substantial additional genetic liability beyond that captured by symptom-based measures of depression or anxiety.

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit smaller regional brain volumes in commonly reported regions including the amygdala and hippocampus, regions associated with fear and memory processing. In the current study, we have conducted a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) meta-analysis using whole-brain statistical maps with neuroimaging data from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD working group.

T1-weighted structural neuroimaging scans from 36 cohorts (PTSD n = 1309; controls n = 2198) were processed using a standardized VBM pipeline (ENIGMA-VBM tool). We meta-analyzed the resulting statistical maps for voxel-wise differences in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes between PTSD patients and controls, performed subgroup analyses considering the trauma exposure of the controls, and examined associations between regional brain volumes and clinical variables including PTSD (CAPS-4/5, PCL-5) and depression severity (BDI-II, PHQ-9).

PTSD patients exhibited smaller GM volumes across the frontal and temporal lobes, and cerebellum, with the most significant effect in the left cerebellum (Hedges’ g = 0.22, pcorrected = .001), and smaller cerebellar WM volume (peak Hedges’ g = 0.14, pcorrected = .008). We observed similar regional differences when comparing patients to trauma-exposed controls, suggesting these structural abnormalities may be specific to PTSD. Regression analyses revealed PTSD severity was negatively associated with GM volumes within the cerebellum (pcorrected = .003), while depression severity was negatively associated with GM volumes within the cerebellum and superior frontal gyrus in patients (pcorrected = .001).

PTSD patients exhibited widespread, regional differences in brain volumes where greater regional deficits appeared to reflect more severe symptoms. Our findings add to the growing literature implicating the cerebellum in PTSD psychopathology.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteriuria (SABU) may represent bacteremia in a subset of patients. We describe the impact of a microbiology alert recommending follow-up blood cultures (FUBC) for patients with SABU in a large integrated health system.

We conducted a quasi-experimental implementation study in adult ambulatory patients with documented SABU. We excluded patients with confirmed SAB up to 14 days prior to index SABU culture and with blood cultures obtained on the day of SABU. The primary outcome was rate of FUBC (collected between 1 and 5 days of SABU) among all cases of SABU. Secondary outcomes included percentage of patients with early SAB (collected between 1 and 5 days of SABU). We used interrupted time series analysis to compare rates of FUBC pre vs postintervention.

A total of 2 540 patients were identified; 1 213 (48%) were male. By the end of the postintervention period, the rate of FUBC (20.6%) had increased by 6.3 percentage points (P = .005) compared to the counterfactual (14.2%) had no intervention taken place (44.5% relative increase). Early SAB detection due to FUBC increased from .6% preintervention to 2.0% postintervention (P = .004).

The microbiology alert initiative increased FUBC in patients with SABU by 44%, but the overall rate of FUBC remained low. The intervention increased early SAB detection. Risk-targeted strategies are needed to optimize FUBC collection in patients with SABU.

Advances in medicine have led to an improvement in life expectancy, thus increasing the population of older individuals within the criminal justice system. This study investigates the determinants of risk formulation, care plan, and disposition among older adult forensic patients (OAFP) in Ontario, Canada.

This retrospective analysis utilized the Ontario Review Board database, focusing on 161 OAFP, aged 55 years and older. Hierarchical regression was used to analyze the relationship between changes in risk and six blocks of variables: sociodemographic characteristics (Block 1), circumstances during the index offense (Block 2), current clinical profile (Block 3), past psychiatric history and behavioral patterns (Block 4), criminal history and legal status (Block 5), and recent violent events (Block 6).

The median age of patients was 61 years (IQR 58–67), with 83.4% being male. Schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis (68.3%), and 9.3% had neurocognitive disorders. The model with six blocks of factors explained 92% of the variability in risk change. Models 2 (blocks 1 and 2) and 4 (blocks 1–4) were statistically significant, explaining 34% (p = 0.010) and 22% (p = 0.018) of the variance in the change in risk of threat to public safety, respectively. OAFP with a significant risk to public safety were more likely to be inpatients and less likely intoxicated during their index offense.

Resources, policies, and a supervised model of care to curtail behavioral risks are relevant to the care of OAFP. Innovative risk management models for OAFP are indicated.

Australian children fall short of national dietary guidelines with only 63 % consuming adequate fruit and 10 % enough vegetables. Before school care operates as part of Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) services and provides opportunities to address poor dietary habits in children. The aim of this study was to describe the food and beverages provided in before school care and to explore how service-level factors influence food provision.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in OSHC services. Services had their before school care visited twice between March and June 2021. Direct observation was used to capture food and beverage provision and child and staff behaviour during breakfast. Interviews with staff collected information on service characteristics. Foods were categorised using the Australian Dietary Guidelines, and frequencies were calculated. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare food provision with service characteristics.

The before school care of OSHC services in New South Wales, Australia.

Twenty-five OSHC services.

Fruit was provided on 22 % (n 11) of days and vegetables on 12 % (n 6). Services with nutrition policies containing specific language on food provision (i.e. measurable) were more likely to provide fruit compared with those with policies using non-specific language (P= 0·027). Services that reported receiving training in healthy eating provided more vegetables than those who had not received training (P= 0·037).

Before school care can be supported to improve food provision through staff professional development and advocating to regulatory bodies for increased specificity requirements in the nutrition policies of service providers.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) prevalence has increased in the last 10 years, most likely due to increased recognition by clinicians. Even so, an issue with under-diagnostics may persist. Historically ADHD has been described as a male-dominant disorder. However, recent evidence shows that ADHD prevalence is similar between the sexes, but that the related impairment or symptomatology might vary. This study estimated the prevalence of undiagnosed ADHD symptoms (pADHD) and explored the sex-stratified symptomatology and associations with self-perceived health-related quality of life (HRQL) and experience of depressive symptoms.

This was done in a unique cohort of 50,937 healthy blood donors – individuals who successfully maintain regular commitments despite potential ADHD symptoms. ADHD symptoms were estimated using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), health-related quality of life (HRQL) measured using mental and physical component scores (MCS/PCS) estimated based on a 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) with a higher score indicating better HRQL, and depressive symptoms were measured using Major Depression Inventory (MDI) with higher score indicating more depressive symptoms.

In total, 3% were classified with pADHD (sex ratio 1:1). pADHD was associated with reduced MCS and PCS, and increased MDI score. Males scored on average higher on inattentive symptoms compared to females, whereas females scored on average higher on hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Individuals scoring high on the combined inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptom presentation were most likely to be impaired in terms of higher MDI scores and lower PCS when compared to non-ADHD controls.

In conclusion, ADHD symptoms are common in this seemingly healthy and undiagnosed population. Symptom presentations differ between sexes and the type of presentation seems to impact the association with depressive symptoms and level of reduced HRQL.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce cardiovascular outcomes in patients with congestive heart failure and a biventricular circulation. Congestive heart failure in Fontan univentricular circulation is distinctly different. Experience with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in this group has not yet been well described.

This work describes safety and tolerability of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in patients with Fontan circulation.

Single-centre review of patients with Fontan circulation prescribed a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors for congestive heart failure. Primary outcome was tolerability or need for discontinuation. Secondary outcomes were changes in New York Heart Association class, congestive heart failure hospitalisation, ventricular function, exercise performance, and laboratory values.

We identified 25 patients with Fontan circulation prescribed an sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, most with a systemic right ventricle. Over a third of subjects had at least moderately reduced baseline ventricular function. Baseline catheterisation showed a mean Fontan pressure of 17.1 ± 3.7 mmHg and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure 11.7 ± 3.2 mmHg at rest; 59% had occult diastolic dysfunction with abnormal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure elevation following volume expansion. Most were on congestive heart failure medications and/or a pulmonary vasodilator prior to sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors addition, and three had a congestive heart failure hospitalisation within the previous year. All reported good medication tolerance except one patient was nonadherent to medications and two discontinued sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors for perceived side effects. There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes. There was, however, a downward trend of serum brain natriuretic peptide (n = 13) and improved peak VO2 (n = 6), though neither statistically significant (p > 0.05).

This series, the largest published to date, suggests that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors are safe and tolerable congestive heart failure therapy in Fontan circulation. Further research is warranted to explore therapy in this unique population.

Impulsivity is a multidimensional trait associated with substance use disorders (SUDs), but the relationship between distinct impulsivity facets and stages of substance use involvement remains unclear.

We used genomic structural equation modeling and genome-wide association studies (N = 79,729–903,147) to examine the latent genetic architecture of nine impulsivity traits and seven substance use (SU) and SUD traits.

We found that the SU and SUD factors were strongly genetically inter-correlated (rG=0.77) but their associations with impulsivity facets differed. Lack of premeditation, negative and positive urgency were equally positively genetically correlated with both the SU (rG=.0.30–0.50) and SUD (rG=0.38–0.46) factors; sensation seeking was more strongly genetically correlated with the SU factor (rG=0.27 versus rG=0.10); delay discounting was more strongly genetically correlated with the SUD factor (rG=0.31 versus rG=0.21); and lack of perseverance was only weakly genetically correlated with the SU factor (rG=0.10). After controlling for the genetic correlation between SU/SUD, we found that lack of premeditation was independently genetically associated with both the SU (β=0.42) and SUD factors (β=0.21); sensation seeking and positive urgency were independently genetically associated with the SU factor (β=0.48, β=0.33, respectively); and negative urgency and delay discounting were independently genetically associated with the SUD factor (β=0.33, β=0.36, respectively).

Our findings show that specific impulsivity facets confer risk for distinct stages of substance use involvement, with potential implications for SUDs prevention and treatment.

Previous studies have linked social behaviors to COVID-19 risk in the general population. The impact of these behaviors among healthcare personnel, who face higher workplace exposure risks and possess greater prevention awareness, remains less explored.

We conducted a Prospective cohort study from December 2021 to May 2022, using monthly surveys. Exposures included (1) a composite of nine common social activities in the past month and (2) similarity of social behavior compared to pre-pandemic. Outcomes included self-reported SARS-CoV-2 infection (primary)and testing for SARS-CoV-2 (secondary). Mixed-effect logistic regression assessed the association between social behavior and outcomes, adjusting for baseline and time-dependent covariates. To account for missed surveys, we employed inverse probability-of-censoring weighting with a propensity score approach.

An academic healthcare system.

Healthcare personnel.

Of 1,302 healthcare personnel who completed ≥2 surveys, 244 reported ≥1 positive test during the study, resulting in a cumulative incidence of 19%. More social activities in the past month and social behavior similar to pre-pandemic levels were associated with increased likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection (recent social activity composite: OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.02–1.21; pre-pandemic social similarity: OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.07–1.21). Neither was significantly associated with testing for SARS-CoV-2.

Healthcare personnel social behavior outside work was associated with a higher risk for COVID-19. To protect the hospital workforce, risk mitigation strategies for healthcare personnel should focus on both the community and workplace.