Professional burnout syndrome represents a significant occupational hazard within European primary care physicians, impacting their well-being, quality of care, and the sustainability of healthcare systems. This joint European Psychiatric Association (EPA) and the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians- Europe Region (WONCA Europe) viewpoint focuses specifically on primary care physicians, contrasts their risk profile with other specialties, and outlines actionable, system-level recommendations for policymakers, provider organizations, and professional associations. Evidence indicates a wide range in professional burnout syndrome prevalence, influenced by assessment methodologies and specific national contexts. The syndrome manifests through emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, often accompanied by secondary psychological and physical symptoms. A multitude of interacting risk factors at the individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels contribute to its development. Effective mitigation strategies necessitate a multi-pronged approach encompassing individual coping mechanisms and systemic organizational changes aimed at alleviating workload, enhancing autonomy, and fostering supportive work environments.

This study focuses on the national and subnational estimation of prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) related to self-harm and suicide mortality in Iran. These indicators of disease burden were analyzed over the period from 1990 to 2021, with stratifications based on sex, age and geographic location. Additionally, the percentage change observed between 1990 and 2021 was documented. The age-standardized prevalence rate (per 100,000) of self-harm decreased from 173.92 (95% UI: 146.13–208.75) in 1990 to 131.2 (95% UI: 110.55–156.67) in 2021, reflecting a percentage change of −0.25% over the period. In terms of self-harm prevalence in 2021, males had a higher rate (137.62 per 100,000) compared to females (124.82 per 100,000). The findings of the current study revealed that, despite significant challenges such as demographic shifts, economic instability and the impacts of war, the trends in self-harm incidents and suicide mortality rates in Iran have generally been on the decline. Additionally, it was observed that suicide-related deaths were more prevalent among males when compared to females. However, when examining self-harm behaviors over previous decades, these acts appeared to be more frequent among females.

Continuous traumatic stress (CTS) exposure describes extended and ongoing collective trauma exposure that is associated with potential future danger and threat to the community. CTS has generated debate in the context of current definitions of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the DSM-5. Prevalence data on posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and PTSD in adolescents aged 10 to 24 years following CTS exposure in Sub-Saharan Africa are lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to address this gap. We also synthesized evidence on other trauma-related mental disorders and moderators such as mean age, sex, country income, education level, PTSS/PTSD assessment tool, and recruitment method. A systematic literature search covering four databases yielded 460 papers that were screened for eligibility, with 10 studies included. Data were extracted and coded, and a meta-analysis of the pooled prevalence of clinically significant PTSS/PTSD was conducted. Results indicated a pooled prevalence of PTSS/PTSD of 32.0% (95% CI: 20.7% to 46.0%). Country income (World Bank category) and type of assessment (clinician-administered vs. self-report) significantly moderated the prevalence of PTSS/PTSD. Further research is needed to not only measure CTS as an exposure but also as a response separate from PTSS/PTSD among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, research is needed to determine the validity, reliability, and cultural relevance of CTS response measures. Such studies will help in better understanding the psychosocial impact of CTS exposure on adolescents and inform the development of future interventions. Detailed data on the prevalence of PTSS/PTSD and moderators thereof following CTS exposure in Sub-Saharan Africa are sparse. Further studies are needed to characterize CTS-related comorbidities and related phenomena in adolescents living under conditions of CTS exposure and to optimize evidence-based interventions.

This systematic review and meta-analysis was a study that enquired into the prevalence and epidemiology of depression in university students in Pakistan, between 2000 and 2025. Depression is a significant global mental illness with high prevalence in young adulthood. University students are the most susceptible to this risk because of the factors related to it, i.e., academic stress, financial hardships, social pressure, and cultural stigma of mental illness. Although the concerns have been on the increase, the prevalence rates of depression have been widely varied among Pakistani students, with some studies reporting as low as 2.5% to as high as 85%, primarily because of the sampling techniques, assessment instruments, and geographical settings. The present review is based on the findings of 35 studies involving over 11,000 students and suggests that the prevalence rate is approximately 51% in a pooled form, meaning that about 50% of university students in Pakistan are subjected to depressive symptoms. The high level of heterogeneity of the selected studies highlights the acute necessity of the formulation of a standard-based diagnostic criteria and culturally competent mental health assessment instruments. Moreover, systemic challenges, such as the shortage of trained mental health professionals and the general unawareness of the disorder, are continuing to affect the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder at an early stage. According to the results, the necessity of a multi-faceted approach toward mental health, including the establishment of counseling facilities in universities, the development of stress management training, and the federal stigma-reduction campaign, is pressing. The most significant elements of enhancing the well-being of students and the mental health landscape of Pakistan as a whole are early intervention and empowering mental health infrastructure.

The heligmosomid nematodes Heligmosomum mixtum and Heligmosomoides glareoli are dominant helminths infecting bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in the temperate forests of NE Poland. Both are relatively long-lived species that accumulate in hosts with increasing host age. Based on studies showing that the closely related species, Heligmosomoides bakeri is immunomodulatory in murine hosts, we hypothesized that heligmosomid-infected bank voles should show higher prevalence and abundance with other helminths. To test this hypothesis, we analysed a database containing quantitative data on helminth parasites of bank voles (n = 922), comprising worm burdens recorded during 4 surveys, conducted at 3- to 4-year intervals, in 3 forest sites, during late summer of each year. After controlling for both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, the presence of heligmosomid nematodes was significantly associated with higher species richness of other helminth species, with the greater likelihood of voles carrying other helminth species, with higher worm burdens of other helminths and with significant positive covariance of heligmosomid burdens with those of other concurrently residing helminths. These patterns might be explained by a number of biological processes, including correlated host exposure or correlated host susceptibility not driven by the parasitic infections themselves. However, we consider it most likely that these results are consistent with the idea that like H. bakeri, the heligmosomid nematodes of bank voles employ non-specific immunomodulation to facilitate their own long-term survival, with the consequence that other concurrently infecting intestinal helminths benefit.

Strongyloides stercoralis infection affects approximately 600 million individuals worldwide. This parasite has the ability to exacerbate infection through internal autoinfection, which can lead to hyperinfection and/or dissemination, conditions associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients such as those with alcohol use disorder (AUD). In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the prevalence and risk of having S. stercoralis infection among individuals with AUD. Searches were performed in the PubMed, Embase, and LILACS databases to identify studies investigating the prevalence of S. stercoralis infection in individuals with AUD, with or without comparison to non-alcoholic groups. The pooled prevalence was calculated using the Probit Logit (PLOGIT) transformation, and the odds ratio (OR) was used for risk comparison. The initial search yielded 154 studies, of which seven were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The combined prevalence of S. stercoralis infection among patients with AUD was 16.9%. Risk analysis based on four studies showed that individuals with AUD had a 6.08-fold higher risk of infection compared with non-alcoholic individuals. These findings highlight chronic alcoholism as a significant risk factor for strongyloidiasis, likely due to a combination of environmental, physiological, and immunological factors. This meta-analysis underscores the critical need for routine screening for S. stercoralis infection in patients with AUD, even in the absence of clinical symptoms, to ensure early detection and timely intervention.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms among adolescents in Can Tho City, Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,054 students aged 15–18 years, recruited from eight high schools using one-off anonymous questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised – Vietnamese version. The Self-esteem Scale of Vietnamese Adolescents, the Crandell Cognitions Inventory-Short form scale, the School Connectedness Scale and the Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents were used to assess self-esteem, cognitive distortion, school connectedness and educational stress, respectively. Univariate analyses explored the relationships between sociodemographic variables and depressive symptoms. Pearson correlations were calculated for the associations between variables. Multiple regression was used to adjust for the factors that contributed to depressive symptoms in adolescents. The findings revealed that 37.4% of adolescents in Can Tho City, Vietnam, experienced depressive symptoms. Factors influencing depression in adolescents include cognitive distortions, academic pressure, exposure to interpersonal violence, consumption of alcohol and smoking, family history of depression, family incarceration and experiences of digital sexual violence. These results underscore the urgent need for a multilevel and multidimensional intervention strategy involving parents, educators, mental health professionals and policymakers to promote early identification, provide support and enhance mental health literacy among adolescents.

Recent research on zoonotic diseases has increasingly focused on tick-borne illnesses due to their high prevalence in northwestern China. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in yaks (Bos grunniens) within Qinghai Province. A total of 299 blood samples were collected from yaks in Xining City of Qinghai Province and analysed using polymerase chain reaction. Results indicated the absence of several significant zoonotic pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma spp. and Coxiella burnetii. However, rickettsiae were detected in the sampled yaks. The overall prevalence of spotted fever group rickettsiae was 46·5%, with a significant difference between females (68·3%) and males (9·09%). Age was also identified as a significant factor influencing infection rates. Furthermore, sequencing analysis revealed that the obtained rickettsial sequences shared 99·04–100% nucleotide identity with Rickettsia raoultii, a species endemic to Qinghai, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ompA and gltA genes confirmed that these sequences clustered within the R. raoultii clade. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of R. raoultii infection in yaks from Qinghai. Consequently, the implementation of preventive and therapeutic measures for yaks is recommended to mitigate the risk of transmission. This study did not collect tick samples simultaneously, so the transmission vector cannot be identified. Additionally, uneven sample distribution across some age groups may affect the representativeness of the results.

Attaining the target of <0.1% HBsAg positives in children aged <5 years in vaccinated populations by 2030 is a WHO indicator of hepatitis B elimination. We aimed to calculate the prevalence of HBsAg- and anti-HBc-positive children and adolescents in the low-prevalence country of Germany. In total, 3567 children and adolescents aged 3–17 years participated in a national population based cross-sectional study. Data were collected between 2014 and 2017 using questionnaires and health examinations, including blood samples. Applying a weighted analysis to account for survey design and participant characteristics, we calculated the HBsAg and anti-HBc prevalence and described them by anti-HBs positivity. In total, 3007 participants had all three sero-markers measured. None were found HBsAg and anti-HBc positive. Seven (0.3%, 95% CI: 0.1–0.8) were anti-HBc positive and HBsAg negative; six were also anti-HBs positive. All anti-HBc-positive participants were aged ≥7 years and three had no migration background. Four anti-HBc-positive participants had known vaccination status; three had been vaccinated according to national recommendations. This very low hepatitis B virus sero-prevalence among children and adolescents indicates that Germany is reaching some hepatitis B virus elimination targets. We recommend maintaining preventive measures, in particular a high vaccination coverage, in order to reach hepatitis B elimination.