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Pregnancy and lactation change women’s body composition (BC), but few longitudinal studies have investigated postpartum BC trajectories. We aimed to investigate maternal and infant predictors of maternal body fat (BF), fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM) and BMI trajectories during lactation. Longitudinal study with 234 Brazilian mother–infant dyads followed at 1·0–3·49, 3·5–5·99 and 6·0–8·5 months postpartum. Maternal BC was estimated using bioelectrical impedance at all follow-up points. Longitudinal mixed–effects models with interaction terms with time (weeks postpartum) were employed. FFM declined significantly over weeks postpartum (β = −0·02 kg; 95 % CI –0·03, −0·01). Pre-pregnancy overweight women experienced an increase in all body components (BF: β = 4·91 %, 95 % CI 3·79, 6·04; FM: β = 6·46 kg, 95 % CI 5·26, 7·67; FFM: β = 3·72 kg, 95 % CI 2·80, 4·65) and BMI (β = 4·51 kg/m2, 95 % CI 3·91, 5·12). Multiparous women showed BMI increases (β = 0·76 kg/m2, 95 % CI 0·11, 1·41), and those who delivered by caesarean had FFM (β = 1·87 kg, 95 % CI 0·67, 3·07) and BMI (β = 1·39 kg/m2, 95 % CI 0·61, 2·18) increases. Women who birthed girls had reductions in FM (β = −1·24 kg, 95 % CI –2·41, −0·07) and FFM (β = −0·93 kg, 95 % CI –1·84, −0·01). Interactions occurred between maternal age ≥ 30 years, higher family income, multiparity and infant sex for BC and BMI trajectories. Maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, family income, mode of delivery and infant sex predict maternal BC and BMI trajectories.
Bilingual speakers are prompted to remain in a single language, switch between languages, or codeswitch by regulating the concurrent activation of their language systems and adapting to the demands of the communicative context. Unlike studies that compare language switching in bilinguals in distinct interactional and geographical contexts, this study investigates heritage bilinguals who may be required to manage their home and societal languages differently within the course of a day. We examined how this variation affects linguistic and cognitive factors in spoken production. Critically, picture naming in Spanish and English appeared to rely on different mechanisms of cognitive control: greater reliance on proactive control led to decreased performance in Spanish picture naming but increased performance in English. Although convergent with findings that L2-immersed bilinguals prefer proactive control strategies, the findings with heritage bilinguals suggest that recruitment of cognitive control during speech planning is more dynamic than has been previously reported.
This article presents a bioinspired pneumatic soft actuator designed to mimic the flexo-extension movement of the human finger, with a particular focus on stiffness modulation through granular jamming. Three-chamber geometries – honeycomb, rectangular, and half-round – were evaluated to optimize curvature performance, utilizing Mold Star 15 Slow elastomer for actuator fabrication. Granular jamming, both passive and active, was implemented within the inextensible layer using chia and quinoa grains to enhance stiffness modulation. Experimental results revealed that the honeycomb geometry most closely aligned with the natural index finger trajectory. Stiffness evaluations demonstrated a range of 0–0.47 N/mm/° for quinoa and 0–0.9 N/mm/° for chia. The actuator’s force output increased by 16% for quinoa and 71% for chia compared to the nonjammed configuration. This enhanced performance is particularly beneficial for applications such as hand rehabilitation, where adaptive stiffness and force modulation are critical. Granular jamming, especially with active chia, provided superior adaptability for tasks requiring variable stiffness and resistance, making it a promising candidate for wearable robotic applications in rehabilitation.
Summary: Disorders related to progressive cognitive decline constituting an important cause of global death and disability-adjusted life years because conditions are also associated to impairment of several brain functions, psychological and behavioral changes, regardless of economic status. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin highly relevant in memory, learning and neuroplasticity processes in adults. The amount of plasma BDNF has been considered to partly reflect its secretion in the brain. Its deficiency is associated with affective disorders and neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer disease and Parkinson’sdisease.
The aim of this study was to identify quantifiable biomarkers (serum levels of BDNF) and clinical marker (state of depression and anxiety) that allow early detection of cognitive impairment risk. We made an analytic and transversal study with a representative sample (n:307) of the population over 50 years old in the south of Chile (X region). We determine the cognitive condition of the population by applying cognitive functionality tests, such as the minimental status examination (MMSE) test and identify demographic and psychosocial characteristics that constitute impairment cognitive risk. Subsequently, we determined depression status (scale of Yesavage) and anxiety status (Beck inventory), and finally we made a quantitative determination of human BDNF at the blood level using ELISA technique.
Our results revealed that 26.7% of the participants exhibited some degree of cognitive impairment, being higher in women (55.7%) with average age of 70,7. A 18,2% of subjects manifested indicators of depression and 33,2% have a very hight level of anxiety. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between MMSE test (p < 0.001) and both BDNF plasma levels (p < 0.001) and education level (p < 0.001) scores. The results additionally indicated a negative correlation between cognitive functions and age range/anxiety state, suggesting low age level/hight level of anxiety in subjects with more pronounced cognitive decline (p < 0.001),. In consistent, the results of our study point towards decreases plasma BDNF levels and hight levels of anxiety in cognitive impairment subjects compared with cognitive normal subjects, which may be due to the early and middle stages of neurodegeneration process.
The development of thermal boundary layers and plume near a section-triangular roof under different isothermal heating conditions has been the focus of numerous numerical studies. However, flow transition in this type of flow has never been observed experimentally. Here, phase-shifting interferometry and thermistor measurements are employed to experimentally observe and quantify the flow transitions in a buoyancy-driven flow over an isothermal section-triangular roof. Visualisation of temperature contours is conducted across a wide range of Rayleigh numbers from laminar at 103 to chaotic state at 4 × 106. Power spectral density of the temperature measurements reveals the type of bifurcations developing as the Rayleigh number is increased. This flow transition is characterised as a complex bifurcation route with the presence of two fundamental frequencies, a low and a high frequency. We found that the thermal stratification in the environment plays a significant role in the flow transition. The spatial development of flow is also quantitatively and qualitatively described. In addition to clarifying flow transition in experiments, the work demonstrates the implementation of phase-shifting interferometry and punctual temperature measurements for characterisation of near-field flow over a heated surface.
Suicide attempts (SA) leading to highly lethal consequences have been associated with heightened suicide planning (Barker et al., 2022), along with deficits in social cognition (Levi-Belz et al., 2022). Hypomentalizing, characterized by excessive uncertainty regarding mental states, may contribute to heightened social withdrawal and an increased risk of SA (Nestor & Sutherland, 2022). Although certain studies have identified a connection between hypomentalizing profiles and self-harm (Badoud et al., 2015), research into the lethality of SA remains limited.
Objectives
This study aimed to explore the association between hypomentalizing and SA lethality.
Methods
Our study encompassed a cohort of 1,371 patients who committed a SA. We conducted assessments of mentalizing using the RFQ-8 instrument, and evaluations of suicidal ideation and behavior employing the CSRSS questionnaire. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared using the T-student and Chi-square tests. To investigate the relationship between hypomentalizing and the SA lethality, we employed logistic regression models.
Results
Descriptive date are presented in Table 1. Our results show that hypomentalizing do not predict a higher SA lethality. Additionally, hypomentalizing increased the risk of SA planning (p≤0.001, B=-0.182), and SA planning predicted a higher SA lethality (see Table 2).Table 1.
Means Comparison for low and high lethality (N=1371)
Low lethality N=539
High lethality N=832
p value
Effect size
Age, mean (SD)
38.65 (15.65)
41.91 (15.37)
≤0.001
-0.209a
Female sex, N (%)
392 (72.7)
571 (68.6)
0.116
0.044b
Educational years, mean (SD)
12.45 (2.99)
12.43 (3.41)
0.890
0.0076a
Employed, N (%)
220 (41.2)
332 (40)
0.692
0.012b
Suicide Ideation, N (%)
475 (88.1)
742 (89.2)
0.541
0.016b
Suicide Planning, N (%)
159 (39.2)
400 (58.1)
≤0.001
0.183b
Number of attempts, mean (SD)
3.28 (5.48)
3.63 (5.74)
0.269
-0.169a
RFQ, mean (SD)
4.68 (1.27)
4.56 (1.32)
0.087
0.095a
Table 2.
Logistic regression analyses for high SA lethality (N=1371).
Univariate analysis
Multivariate analysis
OR
p value
OR
p value
Age
1.014 (1.007-1.021)
≤0.001
1.014 (1.005-1.022)
0.001
Female sex
0.820 (0.646-1.042)
0.105
Educational years
0.998 (0.965-1.031)
0.890
Employed
0.952 (0.763-1.187)
0.660
Suicide ideation
1.111 (0.790-1.562)
0.545
Suicide planning
2.150 (1.674-2.761)
≤0.001
2.183 (1.697-2.808)
≤0.001
Number SA
1.012 (0.990-1.034)
0.277
RFQ
0.929 (0.854-1.011)
0.088
Conclusions
While the association between hypomentalizing and high SA lethality was not significant, a discernible trend toward such relationship can be noted. Further studies examining the moderating effects of planning in the association between hypomentalizing and SA lethality are required.
Cancer treatments can affect male fertility. However, the reproductive concerns of this population remain little explored. There is a need to invest in understanding how concerns related to fertility and parenting affect psychosocial adjustment, in order to improve counseling in this context. To this end, it is a priority to provide reliable and valid measures for assessing this construct.
Objectives
This study aimed to translate, adapt and preliminarily explore the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer Scale - Male Version (RCAC-M).
Methods
Translation and back-translation were carried out by two independent translators. A reconciled version was obtained and evaluated by a panel of experts who ensured its cultural adaptation. Before studying the psychometric properties, a pre-test was carried out involving a focus group of 5 male cancer survivors who assessed the adequacy of the measure. The preliminary validation included 32 male cancer survivors aged between 18 and 55. Recruitment was carried out by providing an online questionnaire. A principal component analysis was carried out to explore the factor structure of the measure and to analyze the reliability and convergent validity of the measure.
Results
The results showed good internal consistency of a version consisting of 17 items, grouped into four factors: fertility potential, child health and future life, personal health and future life, and acceptance. Significant moderate associations were found between reported concerns and other constructs that are consistently related to this variable in the literature, namely the importance of parenting and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Conclusions
The original structure of the scale was not corroborated. However, this study suggests the promising character of the Portuguese version of the RCAC-M as a reliable and valid tool for assessing the reproductive concerns of male cancer survivors.
There are numerous structured group psychological treatments (GPT), especially in the cognitive behavioral paradigm, which have proven effective. In these TPG, strategies, guidelines, knowledge, etc. are worked and, in many cases, homework is prescribed as an integral part of the treatment. A group context is also generated where people relate, generally with a similar culture, ages, mental health states and life problems
Objectives
Elucidate which group therapeutic factors (GTF) are valued as most important by patients in their psychological improvement process. Know what our patients consider has helped them most in their GPT, whether the GTF or the content of the therapy (CT), conceptualized as the set of guidelines, knowledge, strategies, exercises and learning carried out with the therapists intrasession and with the material provided intersessions
Methods
A total of 36 patients(mean age=51.04 (9.21)); 69.44% women (n=25); with main diagnoses (77.77%, n=28) of adaptive disorder, 6 patients of major depression (16.66%) and 2 unspecified anxiety disorders (5.55%) are included in GPT based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) of Hayes’s (2012) for primary care patients, and on a treatment protocol developed in our clinical health psychology section (Segú et al. PaP 2023; 25 6-18) in long covid patients
Patients are recruited and cared for in the collaboration program with the primary care centers (CPPC), n=22(61.11%), and 12 patients (38.89%) diagnosed with long covid in the specialized post-covid unit of internal medicine, and treated in the clinical health psychology section on the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona (HCB)
Post-treatment evaluation is carried out using the GTF questionnaire, based on Yalom’s Q-short(1985), validated with 11 items, adapted to Spanish (Ribé et al. RAEN 2018; 38(134) 473-89). Patients rate from 1 to 10 how much they consider each FTG has helped them in their improvement process
Results
The relevance of the GTF are: Altruism(8.16), catharsis(7.61), cohesiveness(7.94), corrective recapitulation(6.15); socialization techniques (6.41); self-awareness of reality(6.65); imitative behavior(6.43); participated information(6.69), instill hope(6.39); interpersonal learning (7.07), universality(8.27).
Regarding the other objective, 44.44%(n=16) consider the GTF more important than the content of the therapy in their improvement; 36.11%(n=13) equal importance; 13.88%(n=5) plus the CT and 2 consider that none of it has helped them (5.55%). Total importance CT(7.18/10) and GTF(7.44/10). The perceived help in their improvement process in the GPT(CT + GTF)=7.61/10.
Conclusions
In two structured group treatments, based on ACT, a greater percentage of patients value that the GTFs have helped them more in their improvement process than the CT. The GTFs considered most relevant were universality, altruism, cohesiveness and catharsis.
Cognitive rehabilitation interventions (CRIs) for cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) have shown promising results. However, the acceptability of CRIs in the context of CRCI treatment has not yet been assessed among cancer survivors. Due to the absence of suitable instruments designed to assess the acceptability of CRIs in this population, we developed the Acceptability regarding Cognitive Rehabilitation Interventions Survey for Cancer Survivors (ACRIS-CS).
Objectives
This study aimed to develop and test the psychometric properties of the newly created instrument, ACRIS-CS.
Methods
The study was conducted in two stages: (1) the creation of scale items derived from a comprehensive literature review, considering the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA); and (2) the assessment of the scale’s psychometric properties with cancer survivors. At the end of stage 1, the questionnaire was revised by four clinicians and researchers with expertise in the field of CRCI, and the final item selection was determined by the authors, considering redundancy, item relevance, and face validity. The final scale comprised 11 items, answered on a 5-point Likert scale (ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”). Higher scores indicated more positive perceptions related to the acceptability of CRIs. Data were collected online and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 28.0). Construct validity (exploratory factor analysis, EFA) and reliability (internal consistency) analyses were performed.
Results
In this study, 154 cancer survivors were included. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of 0.847 confirmed the adequacy of sampling (KMO>0.5), and Bartlett’s test of sphericity yielded statistical significance (Χ² (55) = 864.431, p < 0.001), validating the structure of the correlation matrix. The EFA results indicated the presence of three factors, each with eigenvalues exceeding the Kaiser criterion of 1. The scree plot confirmed the existence of three factors beyond the inflection point. All items demonstrated factor loadings higher than 0.40, indicating their relevance to the identified factors. This factor structure was conceptually justifiable. These factors were labeled as follows: 1) Affective attitude and effectiveness (6 items); 2) Perceived benefits and self-efficacy (3 items); and 3) Perceived burden (2 items). Collectively, these factors accounted for 68.7% of the total variance. The ACRIS-CS total scale and subscales demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.727 to 0.848.
Conclusions
The results of the EFA and internal consistency analysis were satisfactory. The ACRIS-CS appears to be a valid and reliable scale for assessing the acceptability of CRIs among cancer survivors.
Acute kidney injury is associated with worse outcomes after cardiac surgery. The haemodynamic goals to ameliorate kidney injury are not clear. Low post-operative renal perfusion pressure has been associated with acute kidney injury in adults. Inadequate oxygen delivery may also cause kidney injury. This study evaluates pressure and oximetric haemodynamics after paediatric cardiac surgery and their association with acute kidney injury.
Materials and Methods:
Retrospective case–control study at a children’s hospital. Patients were < 6 months of age who underwent a Society of Thoracic Surgery-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Congenital Heart Surgery categories ≥ 3. Low renal perfusion pressure was time and depth below several tested thresholds. The primary outcome was serum creatine-defined acute kidney injury in the first 7 days.
Results:
Sixty-six patients (median age 8 days) were included. Acute kidney injury occurred in 36%. The time and depth of renal perfusion pressure < 42 mmHg in the first 24 hours was greater in acute kidney injury patients (94 versus 35 mmHg*minutes of low renal perfusion pressure/hour, p = 0.008). In the multivariable model, renal perfusion pressure < 42 mmHg was associated with acute kidney injury (aOR: 2.07, 95%CI: 1.25–3.82, p = 0.009). Mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, and measures of inadequate oxygen delivery were not associated with acute kidney injury.
Conclusion:
Periods of low renal perfusion pressure (<42 mmHg) in the first 24 post-operative hours are associated with acute kidney injury. Renal perfusion pressure is a potential modifiable target that may mitigate the impact of acute kidney injury after paediatric cardiac surgery.
This article presents the development of a robot capable of modifying its size through a wheel reconfiguration strategy. The reconfigurable wheel design is based on a four-bar retractable mechanism that achieves variation of the effective radius of the wheel. A reconfiguration index is introduced based on the number of retractable mechanisms that predicts the radius of configuration according to the number of mechanisms implemented in the wheel. The kinematics of the retractable mechanism is studied to determine the theoretical reconfiguration radius during the transformation process, it is also evaluated numerically with the help of the GeoGebra software, and it is validated experimentally by image analysis using the Tracker software. The transformation process of the robot is investigated through an analysis of forces that consider the wheel in contact with the obstacle, the calculation of the wheel torque and the height of the obstacle to be overcome are presented. On the other hand, the experimental validation of the robot reconfiguration process is presented through the percentage of success shown by the robot to overcome obstacles of 50, 75, 100 and 125 mm. In addition, measurements of energy consumption during the transformation process are reported. Reconfigurable wheels, capable of adapting their size, offer innovative solutions to various challenges across different applications such as robotic exploration and search and rescue missions to industrial settings. Some key issues that these wheels can address include terrain adaptability enhancing a robot’s mobility over uneven surfaces, or obstacles; enhanced robotic design; cost-effective design; space efficiency; and versatility in applications.
Population-wide restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic may create barriers to mental health diagnosis. This study aims to examine changes in the number of incident cases and the incidence rates of mental health diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
By using electronic health records from France, Germany, Italy, South Korea and the UK and claims data from the US, this study conducted interrupted time-series analyses to compare the monthly incident cases and the incidence of depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol misuse or dependence, substance misuse or dependence, bipolar disorders, personality disorders and psychoses diagnoses before (January 2017 to February 2020) and after (April 2020 to the latest available date of each database [up to November 2021]) the introduction of COVID-related restrictions.
Results
A total of 629,712,954 individuals were enrolled across nine databases. Following the introduction of restrictions, an immediate decline was observed in the number of incident cases of all mental health diagnoses in the US (rate ratios (RRs) ranged from 0.005 to 0.677) and in the incidence of all conditions in France, Germany, Italy and the US (RRs ranged from 0.002 to 0.422). In the UK, significant reductions were only observed in common mental illnesses. The number of incident cases and the incidence began to return to or exceed pre-pandemic levels in most countries from mid-2020 through 2021.
Conclusions
Healthcare providers should be prepared to deliver service adaptations to mitigate burdens directly or indirectly caused by delays in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions.
A quaternary ammonium and alcohol-based disinfectant with reported continuous activity demonstrated reduced microbial buildup on surfaces over time compared to routine disinfectants without continuous activity in in vitro and hospital studies. We compared these disinfectants in ambulatory settings and found no difference in bioburden on high-touch surfaces over time.
The comorbidity between Schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms represents almost 25% of schizophrenic patients and it is believed that almost 12% match the diagnostic criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Some second-generation antipsychotics may worsen or even induce those symptoms, which makes the treatment of this patients a difficult challenge.
Objectives
To assess the link between Schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, to discuss the diagnostic challenges and treatment options. To present a clinical case report of a schizophrenic patient with Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, which improved with proper treatment.
Methods
We performed a non-systematic review of the existent literature with the keywords “Schizophrenia” and “Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms”. Description of a clinical case report.
Results
We present the case report of a male, 21 years old, single, diagnosed with Schizophrenia. In the past year, he was admitted twice in a psychiatric ward for persecutory and mystic delusions, which lead him to erratic behaviour. Since his adolescence he manifested repeated washing and compulsive cleaning associated with the fear of being contaminated with multiple diseases. Those compulsions worsened when he started being treated with antipsychotics. However, with therapeutic adjustments and with the introduction of an antidepressant we were able to control those symptoms.
Conclusions
Some antipsychotics may induce or even aggravate Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in psychotic patients. It is of extreme relevance to differentiate those symptoms as comorbid in Schizophrenia or if they existed prior to the first positive symptoms, since they can be representative of an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Understanding this diagnostic and treatment complexity enables us to be more familiar with the development of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in schizophrenic patients.
Cancer treatments can have a detrimental impact on cancer survivors’ cognitive function. Cognitive rehabilitation is considered the first-line intervention to address cognitive difficulties of cancer survivors. Nevertheless, its efficacy remains unclear.
Objectives
This meta-analysis aimed to understand the effects of cognitive rehabilitation in non-central system (non-CNS) cancer survivors, through the assessment of the overall efficacy on subjective cognitive outcomes.
Methods
This meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis statement. An electronic search on the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in May 2021, considering the past 15 years, by two independent authors. Studies were eligible if they included cancer survivors (excluding CNS cancers) who were exposed to cognitive rehabilitation interventions, in which the subjective cognitive effects were measured through self-report questionnaires. The quality of studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials. The effect size was the standardized mean difference in the cognitive assessment, between baseline and post-intervention. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using I2 Statistic. Publication bias was evaluated with Egger’s test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The meta-analysis was performed using R software.
Results
Among 14 studies, with 1115 cancer survivors, one study included a pediatric population, other young adult survivors, and the remaining adult population. The most used scale for measuring cognitive changes was the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog) and, as recommended, the Perceived Cognitive Impairments (PCI) subscale was used as the primary measure of subjective cognitive function. Results indicated beneficial effects following cognitive rehabilitation, with an overall standard mean difference between pre- and post-treatment of 3.4447, with CI95% [1.5543; 5.3350], p-value<0.0004. The subgroup analysis between the measures of cognitive outcomes showed that the heterogeneity is Group=Other 0.00% (I2) and for the Group=FACT-Cog PCI is 86% (I2). Analyzing the FACT-Cog PCI, the CI95% [-2.93; 6.43] includes 0, meaning that the overall effect in this subgroup is non-significant. The meta-analysis does not demonstrate publication bias (p-value of the Egger test=0.3220).
Conclusions
Improvement of cognitive function in non-CNS survivors throughout cognitive rehabilitation appears to be effective. The findings of this meta-analysis can help inform clinical practice and assist practitioners in recommending and developing interventions of cognitive rehabilitation and deciding how to evaluate them. Further research is required to strengthen this evidence.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social and communication deficits and restricted and repetitive or stereotyped behaviours. The prevalence of ASD has been thought to be higher in men, which may reflect aspects of the own aetiology of the disorder. Still, it may also be associated with misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of females with autism due to specific phenotypic traits.
Objectives
To explore the differences between sex/gender in autism’s clinical presentation.
Methods
Non-systematic literature review using the most relevant papers found on PubMed and Google Scholar using the following keywords: “autism spectrum disorder”, “gender differences”, and “autistic women”.
Results
Autistic women seem to have a “camouflage” phenomenon, characterized by a high level of functioning, less unusual play or restricted interests, better socio-emotional reciprocity and coping behaviours. Therefore, women with ASD commonly have an anteriority of multiple diagnoses, which delays their access to the support and care they need.
Conclusions
Professionals must be aware of the sex/gender clinical differences to prevent the misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of females with autism. Moreover, the current clinical criteria used to diagnose ASD may underserve the female population and deserve to be reviewed.
Research on life stress in bipolar disorder largely fails to account for the possibility of a dynamic relationship between psychosocial stress and episode initiation. The kindling hypothesis states that over the course of recurrent affective disorders, there is a weakening temporal relationship between major life stress and episode initiation that could reflect either a progressive sensitization or progressive autonomy to life stress.
Objectives
To explore the concept of the Kindling model applied to bipolar disorder and to present a clinical case of a bipolar patient whose latter mood episodes were caused by adverse life events.
Methods
We performed a non-systematic literature review using the most relevant papers found on the database PubMed with the keywords “kindling effect”, “allostatic load”, “bipolar disorder” and “prevention”. Description of the clinical case report.
Results
The phenomenon of kindling was first discovered by Goddard in 1967 who described it in epilepsy. Later, Post applied it to the bipolar disorder, arguing that the initial episodes of both unipolar and bipolar affective disorders are often precipitated by psychosocial stressors, but after multiple recurrences, not only do precipitated episodes continue to occur, but so do spontaneous ones as well. We present the case report of a 62 years old woman, divorced, diagnosed with type 1 bipolar disorder since she was 20 years old. She always have had poor adherence to her medication and follow-up with Psychiatry consultation, with a non-containing sociofamily environment that does not promote clinical stability. Over the time, her admissions on the Psychiatry ward were more frequent and precipitated by adverse life events, mainly caused by the deteriorated relationship with her children.
Conclusions
The kindling model clarifies aspects of the longitudinal course of episode development, recurrence, and progression to spontaneity, as well as further conceptual and theoretical rationales for intervention in order to prevent illness progression.
Suicide behaviour is a complex and multifactor concept that includes different risk factors. According with literature a dimensional concept of illness could help to understand this complexity and clarify clinical aspects of suicide risk.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to identify different profiles of symptoms in a sample of suicide attempters and the relationship between this profiles and suicide behaviour in terms of outcome: presence and intensity of suicidal ideation, presence and number of attempts and severity of the medical damage in the current attempt.
Methods
634 patients were recruited at the psychiatry emergency of eight public general hospitals in Spain between November 2020 until February 2022 in the SURVIVE protocol. The patients were assessed in 15 days using a battery of clinical tools that includes Brief Symptom Inventory, a sociodemographic interview, Mini Clinical Interview and C-SSRS, ACSS and BIS-11 scales. Latent profile analysis was applied to obtain profile symptoms. Logistic and multivariant regression was used to obtain data about outcome.
Results
Three clinical profiles of psychiatric symptoms were described in suicide attempters (p < 0.01): high symptoms (HS) (45.02%), moderate symptoms (MS) (42.5 %) and low symptoms (LS) (12.48%). Significant differences were found between classes in four symptom domains (Figure 1): anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, sensitivity, and somatization (p < 0.01). Participants of the HS class showed higher values in relation with the BSI summary indexes, and more diagnoses, higher levels of suicidal ideation and suicidal related behaviour as well as higher acquired capability for suicide. Participants of the LS class were more likely to be women, older and unemployed and was related, according the analysis, with severe medical damage when compared with other groups (P< 0.01).
Image:
Conclusions
According with the predictive model the study suggests different symptom-frequency clusters related with suicide attempt outcomes. Suicide ideation presence and intensity is related with HS class and acquired capability of suicide. Suicide ideation intensity is also related with number of diagnosis and number of previous attempts. Suicide behaviours presence is associated with being student and number with HS profile. Both presence and number were related with number of diagnosis as well as number of previous attempts (the higher all these clinical factors, the more intense of ideation in the last month). Finally, the severity of medical damage was related with LS profile and unemployed/retired work status. The dimensional symptom profile could be useful to predict suicide attempt outcome. Further study is needed to clarify this relation.
Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide and the risk of death from cancer has decreased continuously since 1991, therefore, This translates into an increasing number of cancer survivors (CS) worldwide.
During the survivorship seasons, CS face several short-term, long-term, persistent, and late-emerging health and psychosocial problems, including cancer-related pain, fatigue, menopausal symptoms, anxiety, depression, distress associated with the risk of cancer recurrence, chronic uncertainty, social disruption, alterations of sleep, sexual and cognitive dysfunctions.
Since 2002 that some researchers and clinicians argued that it is important to de-velop and implement rehabilitation programs for cancer patients that integrate both psychosocial and physical rehabilitation.
Objectives
With the scarcity of studies on the effectiveness of combined interventions in this population, despite the strong recommendation to perform and study it, and aiming to contribute to a greater knowledge on the theme, the present work aims to build, implement, and evaluate a combined intervention program, which integrates psychoeducational intervention with physical exercise to cancer survivors and relatives, through the following indicators: psychopathological symptoms (anxiety and depression), self-concept, coping strategies, personal growth and QoL.
Methods
A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 70 cancer survivors was assigned to: control (without intervention: n=32), combined intervention (n=21) and psychoedu-cation intervention (n=17) groups. Both intervention groups were 9 consecutive weeks duration. The combined intervention group benefited from 2 weekly exercise sessions additionally. It was administered before and after intervention the following questionnaires: demographic; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); Clinical Self-concept Inventory (ICAC); Cancer Coping Questionnaire (CCQ); sub-scale of Personal Growth of the Psychological Well-being Scale (EBEP) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref).
Results
It was observed a statistically significant reduction of anxiety and depression symptoms from the beginning to the end of the intervention, as well as a significative improvement of overall and all do-mains of self-concept and personal growth. It was not observed a significative difference on quality of life.
Conclusions
The findings of this study contribute to support of the beneficial effect of combined intervention on psychological functioning of cancer survivors. Positive effects of the psychological program were observed but not into the same extent as in the combined intervention.