Addressing aggressive behavior in adolescence is a key step toward preventing violence and associated social and economic costs in adulthood. This study examined the secondary effects of the personality-targeted substance use preventive program Preventure on aggressive behavior from ages 13 to 20.

In total, 339 young people from nine independent schools (M age = 13.03 years, s.d. = 0.47, range = 12–15) who rated highly on one of the four personality traits associated with increased substance use and other emotional/behavioral symptoms (i.e. impulsivity, anxiety sensitivity, sensation seeking, and negative thinking) were included in the analyses (n = 145 in Preventure, n = 194 in control). Self-report assessments were administered at baseline and follow-up (6 months, 1, 2, 3, 5.5, and 7 years). Overall aggression and subtypes of aggressive behaviors (proactive, reactive) were examined using multilevel mixed-effects analysis accounting for school-level clustering.

Across the 7-year follow-up period, the average yearly reduction in the frequency of aggressive behaviors (b = −0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.64 to −0.20; p < 0.001), reactive aggression (b = −0.22; 95% CI 0.35 to −0.10; p = 0.001), and proactive aggression (b = −0.14; 95% CI −0.23 to −0.05; p = 0.002) was greater for the Preventure group compared to the control group.

The study suggests a brief personality-targeted intervention may have long-term impacts on aggression among young people; however, this interpretation is limited by imbalance of sex ratios between study groups.

As the incidence of human papillomavirus related oropharyngeal cancer continues to rise, it is increasingly important for public understanding to keep pace. This study aimed to identify areas of patient interest and concern regarding human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal cancer.

This study was a retrospective survey of search queries containing the keywords ‘HPV cancer’ between September 2015 and March 2021.

There was 3.5-fold more interest in human papillomavirus related oropharyngeal cancer (15 800 searches per month) compared with human papillomavirus related cervical cancer (4500 searches per month). Among searches referencing cancer appearance, 96.8 per cent pertained to the head and neck region (3050 searches per month). Among vaccination searches, 16 of 47 (34.0 per cent; 600 searches per month) referenced human papillomavirus vaccines as being a cause of cancer rather than preventing cancer.

The vast majority of online searches into human papillomavirus cancer pertain to the oropharynx. There are relatively few search queries on the topic of vaccination preventing human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer, which highlights the continued importance of patient education and awareness campaigns.

Delays in the diagnosis and therapy of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo can greatly impact quality of life and increase healthcare costs for patients. This study aimed to appraise the quality of clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

A comprehensive database search of clinical practice guidelines was completed up to 30 October 2021. Four independent reviewers used the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument in the quality appraisal.

The highest score was in ‘clarity and presentation’ (58.33 ± 22.7). The lowest score was in ‘applicability’ (13.96 ± 30.1). Overall, four clinical practice guidelines were ‘low quality’ and only one guideline was ‘high quality’.

This review identified a significant lack of quality in clinical practice guideline development for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, highlighting the need for a more rigorous approach for future guideline development.

Evaluate durability of pregabalin's effect on pain associated with fibromyalgia (FM).

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 1-week single-blind placebo run-in. Patients meeting ACR diagnostic criteria were randomized to pregabalin 300, 450, or 600 mg/d (BID) or placebo for 14 weeks (2-week dosage escalation; 12-week fixed-dosage). Pain was assessed with a daily pain diary using an 11-point numeric scale. Primary efficacy parameter was the LOCF endpoint mean pain score (MPS). Sensitivity analyses were assessed using the Duration Adjusted Average Change (DAAC) and a Mixed Model Repeated Measurements (MMRM).

745 randomized patients: 95% female, mean age=50 years, median FM duration=10 years, baseline MPS=6.7. Placebo-corrected differences in mean change from baseline to endpoint in MPS: 300mg/d, -0.71 (P=0.0009); 450mg/d, -0.98 (P<0.0001); 600mg/d, -1.00 (P<0.0001). Mean differences from placebo at endpoint (adjusted for treatment duration) over the entire treatment period (DAAC): 300mg/d, -.38, P=0.0200; 450mg/d, -.62; P=0.0001 and 600mg/d,-.57 P<0.0001. In the MMRM analysis, all 3 pregabalin treatment groups demonstrated pain relief by Week 1, and every weekly assessment thereafter, with the exception of 300mg/d treatment group at Week 11. Most common AEs: dizziness (all pregabalin, 35.8% vs placebo, 7.6%); somnolence (18.0% vs 3.8%). Most AEs were mild to moderate and resolved with continued treatment.

Pregabalin demonstrated significant reduction in endpoint MPS in FM patients. The DAAC sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of this effect. MMRM analyses demonstrated significant pain relief by Week 1 that was maintained throughout pregabalin treatment.

Study funded by Pfizer, Inc.

This study (A0081057) was designed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of pregabalin treatment of fibromyalgia (FM).

In this 1-year, open-label (OL) extension of a 13-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial of pregabalin FM patients had the option of continuing pregabalin at doses of 150 to 600 mg/d. Efficacy was measured by the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), which included sensory and affective pain descriptors, Present Pain Intensity (PPI) index, and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

429 of 431 screened patients entered OL treatment, 249 (58%) completed, 70 (16.3%) discontinued due to an adverse event (AE), and 110 (25.7%) discontinued for other reasons. Median duration of treatment with pregabalin was 357 days (range, 1-402 days); 114 received pregabalin for ≥1 year. No clinically meaningful increases in dose were noted over the OL treatment period. Weighted mean dose was 414 mg/d in the first 3 months of treatment and 444 mg/d after 9 months of treatment. SF-MPQ sensory, affective, and total scores were improved relative to baseline, VAS pain score decreased 21 points (0-100 scale), and PPI decreased 0.9 point (0-5 scale). The most frequently reported all-causality AEs were dizziness, somnolence, peripheral edema, and increased weight, most of which were mild to moderate in intensity and of limited duration.

Pregabalin administered for up to 1 year was generally well tolerated by FM patients without evidence of dose increase over time. The sustained improvement in pain measures during OL treatment was consistent with that in shorter term double-blind trials.

Examine the evidence for a relationship between pregabalin effect on pain and baseline anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).

Chronic pain and concomitant anxiety and depressive symptoms are common in patients with FM, as well as in other chronic pain disorders. Pregabalin was effective for treating pain in FM patients in three parallel group RCTs (105, 1056, 1077) where data for anxiety and depressive symptom levels were collected.

Patients meeting ACR criteria for FM with a pain VAS score ≥40 mm were followed for 8-14 weeks in 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Patients (N=2022) received 150, 300, 450 or 600mg/d pregabalin or placebo. The primary efficacy parameter was change in endpoint Mean Pain Score (MPS) (range 0 [no pain]-10[worst possible pain]). Regression analyses evaluated whether changes in pain bore any relation to the baseline Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS-A) and (HADS-D) levels.

Pregabalin 300, 450, and 600 mg/d, but not 150 mg/d, showed statistically significant improvements in pain compared with placebo (p<0.0001). For each pregabalin treatment group, improvements in pain at endpoint were not found to have a statistically significant association with baseline levels of anxiety or depressive symptoms. Adverse events (AEs) were consistent with known side effects of pregabalin; dizziness and somnolence, mild to moderate in intensity, were the most frequently reported AEs for pregabalin patients.

Pregabalin treatment demonstrated significant improvements in pain regardless of baseline anxiety or depressive symptom levels for patients with FM.

Study funded by Pfizer, Inc

The education and training of doctors specialising in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) varies substantially across Europe. There is a paucity of information available about training quality. This prompted an initial training survey led by Dr E Barrett (2010) which was expanded upon by the CAP working group in the 2010 EFPT international forum in Dubrovnik to create ‘country reports’ for 2010–2011.

The objectives of this study were to collect information relating to key aspects of CAP training programmes in Europe in a systematic way in order to start a ‘Training Database’ that can be held centrally by the EFPT. Information will be added to the database every year following EFPT annual international meetings.

We aim to better understand the training structures in CAP across europe to help inform best practice standards for training.

A pro-forma word document was emailed to all EFPT CAP contacts: there were 20 contacts emailed.

So far we have a response rate of over 60% and we are continuing to collect and collate relevant data. This survey highlighted a large variation in CAP training across Europe. It represents the basis for systematic data collection on an international level, and will help focus on areas where CAP training could be improved.

This survey highlights a large variation in CAP training across Europe. It represents the basis for systematic data collection on an international level, and will help focus on areas where CAP training could be improved.

Sleep disturbance is prominent in fibromyalgia (FM). This 14-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, evaluated the effect of pregabalin on pain and sleep-related outcomes in FM.

Patients meeting ACR (FM) diagnostic criteria were randomized to pregabalin 300, 450, or 600mg/d (BID) or placebo for 14 weeks (A0081077). Primary efficacy parameter: LOCF endpoint mean pain score (MPS). At baseline and endpoint, patients completed the Medical Outcomes Sleep (MOS) Sleep Scale. Mean Sleep Quality scores (11-point numeric ratings) were derived from patient daily diaries.

745 randomized patients: 95% female, mean age=50 years, baseline MPS: 6.7. Placebo-corrected differences from baseline to endpoint in MPS were: 300mg/d, -0.71 (p=.0009); 450mg/d, -0.98 (p<.0001); 600mg/d, -1.00 (p<.0001). For MOS Sleep Disturbance, all 3 pregabalin groups demonstrated significant improvements versus placebo (300, 450, and 600 mg/d, -8.91 [p=.0006]; -10.63 [p<.0001]; and -14.93 [p<.0001], respectively). Similar improvements were seen in Sleep Quality (300, 450, and 600mg/d; 0.42, p=0.0030; 0.48, p=.0006; and 0.68, p<.0001 respectively) and MOS Sleep Adequacy (300, 450 and 600mg/d; 5.86, p=.0324; 7.89, p=.0036, and 11.16, p<.0001 respectively). Endpoint Mean Sleep Quality scores across all 3 treatment groups showed significant improvements (300, 450 and 600mg/d; -0.74, p=.0006, -1.12, and -1.35, both p<.0001 respectively). Most common AEs: dizziness (all pregabalin, 35.8% vs placebo, 7.6%); somnolence (18.0% vs 3.8%). Incidence of AEs appeared to be dose-related; most were mild to moderate.

Pregabalin treatment demonstrated significant improvements in pain and patient reported measures of sleep disturbance, adequacy, and quality.

Study funded by Pfizer, Inc.

No existing models of alcohol prevention concurrently adopt universal and selective approaches. This study aims to evaluate the first combined universal and selective approach to alcohol prevention.

A total of 26 Australian schools with 2190 students (mean age: 13.3 years) were randomized to receive: universal prevention (Climate Schools); selective prevention (Preventure); combined prevention (Climate Schools and Preventure; CAP); or health education as usual (control). Primary outcomes were alcohol use, binge drinking and alcohol-related harms at 6, 12 and 24 months.

Climate, Preventure and CAP students demonstrated significantly lower growth in their likelihood to drink and binge drink, relative to controls over 24 months. Preventure students displayed significantly lower growth in their likelihood to experience alcohol harms, relative to controls. While adolescents in both the CAP and Climate groups demonstrated slower growth in drinking compared with adolescents in the control group over the 2-year study period, CAP adolescents demonstrated faster growth in drinking compared with Climate adolescents.

Findings support universal, selective and combined approaches to alcohol prevention. Particularly novel are the findings of no advantage of the combined approach over universal or selective prevention alone.

Most empirical studies into the covariance structure of psychopathology have been confined to adults. This work is not developmentally informed as the meaning, age-of-onset, persistence and expression of disorders differ across the lifespan. This study investigates the underlying structure of adolescent psychopathology and associations between the psychopathological dimensions and sex and personality risk profiles for substance misuse and mental health problems.

This study analyzed data from 2175 adolescents aged 13.3 years. Five dimensional models were tested using confirmatory factor analysis and the external validity was examined using a multiple-indicators multiple-causes model.

A modified bifactor model, with three correlated specific factors (internalizing, externalizing, thought disorder) and one general psychopathology factor, provided the best fit to the data. Females reported higher mean levels of internalizing, and males reported higher mean levels of externalizing. No significant sex differences emerged in liability to thought disorder or general psychopathology. Liability to internalizing, externalizing, thought disorder and general psychopathology was characterized by a number of differences in personality profiles.

This study is the first to identify a bifactor model including a specific thought disorder factor. The findings highlight the utility of transdiagnostic treatment approaches and the importance of restructuring psychopathology in an empirically based manner.