Living with schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes and the implication for diabetes self-care: A qualitative study.

AIM: To achieve an in-depth understanding of the challenges associated with diabetes management when having both schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes, while also identifying the needs for improved diabetes self-care. DESIGN: The study employed a qualitative explorative design utilizing a phenomenological-hermeneutic inspired approach, involving field observations and individual semistructured interviews. METHODS: Data were collected during 2020-2021 through 17 field observations of outpatient consultations and 13 individual semistructured interviews. Data, including field notes and verbatim transcribed interviews, underwent analysis following Ricoeur's interpretive philosophy, encompassing three levels: naïve reading, structural analysis and critical interpretation and discussion. This study adheres to the COREQ guidelines for qualitative research. RESULTS: Three key themes emerged: 'Diabetes when life is noisy', 'Sacrifices and compromises in life' and 'The double silence'. Everyday life is significantly affected when having both schizophrenia and T2D. The mental health state dominates in relation to diabetes self-care and individuals experience challenges balancing between the two conditions. However, there exists a general acknowledgement for diabetes and its long-term complications as a serious medical condition demanding careful attention and treatment. CONCLUSION: Self-managing two such complex conditions can be overwhelming and make it difficult for the individual to differentiate symptoms and prioritize diabetes care. Moreover, the existing fragmentation within healthcare systems poses communication challenges, resulting in disjointed patient pathways. IMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENT CARE: The study emphasizes the need for a holistic re that addresses the physical, emotional and social challenges. There is also a need for increased awareness and education among informal caregivers and healthcare professionals to foster better understanding and support.

Risk of repeated suicide attempt after redeeming prescriptions for antidepressants: a register-based study in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear how SSRIs and other antidepressants are associated with the risk of repeated suicide attempts. We aimed to analyse the association between redeemed antidepressant prescriptions and the risk of repeated suicide attempts, hypothesising that antidepressant treatment is associated with increased risk of repeated suicide attempts. METHODS: The study was based on Danish register data and a validated cohort of 1842 suicide attempts. We used three Cox regression models (crude, adjusted and propensity score matched) to analyse the data; these models included both static and dynamic time-dependent factors. RESULTS: 1842 individuals attempted suicide in the study period, with a total of 210 repeated attempts. Individuals redeeming antidepressant prescriptions were more likely to repeat a suicide attempt. All crude models showed all antidepressants to be significant risk factors (HR around 1.39), whereas all adjusted models showed all antidepressants to be insignificant risk factors. CONCLUSION: We found no significant increased risk of repeated suicide attempts in individuals redeeming a prescription for any antidepressant (or only SSRIs) when considering the individuals' baseline risk of repetition. This study is based on validated suicide attempts, register data, and strong epidemiology designs, but it still has some limitations, and the results should be replicated and confirmed in other studies.

Psychiatric disorders, diagnosed in psychiatric clinics, in patients with back pain: A cohort study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients with a non-specific back pain disorder are more likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder than patients with a specific back pain disorder (such as a herniated disc or inflammatory back disorder). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using Danish registries. Results: Our study population included 24,518 patients younger than 61 years and 12,274 patients older than 61 years. In both subpopulations, 60% had a non-specific back pain diagnosis (BPD). In the younger subpopulation, 2.1% of the patients with a non-specific BPD and 1.3% of the patients with a specific BPD had a psychiatric diagnosis within one year of their BPD. In the older subpopulation, 0.6% of patients had a psychiatric diagnosis in both BPD groups. The most frequent psychiatric diagnoses were stress-related disorders. In the younger subpopulation, patients with non-specific back pain had a higher risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder than patients with specific back pain (adjusted odds ratio 1.56, 95% confidence interval 1.25-1.94). The type of BPD had no effect on the risk of having a psychiatric diagnosis among older patients. Conclusions: Patients with a non-specific back pain disorder younger than 61 years were more likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder than patients with a specific back pain disorder. We recommend that spine specialists pay special attention to patients younger than 61 years with a back pain disorder to prevent them from developing a psychiatric disorder.

Mentalization-oriented psychodynamic group therapy for patients with personality disorders: a naturalistic prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with personality disorders (PDs) are often treated with non-manualized psychodynamic group therapy (PDT) lasting for several years. Non-manualized PDT often combines a variety of therapeutic approaches from different PDT traditions, including mentalization-based therapy. Currently, little is known about the effect of this long-term, costly treatment. This study investigated the extent to which patients with different PDs benefit from mentalization-oriented PDT as it is implemented in clinical practice in terms of symptom severity, interpersonal problems, and general functioning. METHODS: The design was a naturalistic, prospective cohort study. Seventy-five consecutive PD patients were assessed before treatment with the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90-R) as the primary outcome measure and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) as secondary outcome measures. The sample was repeatedly assessed every 12 months for up to 36 months. Paired t-tests were applied to examine the effectiveness of the intervention. RESULTS: Among completers (n = 42; 56%), improvement was observed on the SCL-90-R: Global Severity Index (mean change = -0.45 [95% CI = -0.72, -0.19]; Cohen's d = -0.55), Positive Symptom Distress Index (-0.40 [-0.63, -0.17]; -0.56); Positive Symptoms Total (-10.70 [-17.31, -4.09]; -0.52). Secondary outcomes also improved: IIP-total (mean change = -0.50 [95%CI = -0.74, -0.25]; Cohen's d = -0.66); GAF-Functioning (8.79 [6.32, 11.27]; 1.15); and GAF-Symptoms (10.67 [8.09, 13.25]; 1.34). CONCLUSIONS: Completers improved on symptom severity, interpersonal problems, and general functioning, with within-group effect sizes ranging from medium to large. Approximately half the sample dropped out, suggesting that mentalization-oriented PDT spanning several years may be unrealistic for many patients with PD. Significant outcomesThere are no clear guidelines for psychological interventions targeting personality disorders (PDs), and currently eclectic and non-manualized psychodynamic approaches lasting for up to 3 years are prevailing in some clinical practices.Although this treatment approach may have an effect on compliant patients, the high drop-out rate indicates that it may not be suitable for a large proportion of PD patients since it requires long-term commitment. Furthermore, it is difficult to identify the content of the non-manualized psychodynamic therapy and what helps the patients.More specific clinical guidelines emphasizing the application of evidence-based treatments or at least manualized treatments are warranted for the treatment of emotionally unstable PDs and other PDs. LimitationsThe naturalistic study design, without any control group, limits conclusions about mechanisms of action of the intervention.Since the intervention was not manualized, it is unknown exactly which treatment was actually administered, which reduces external validity.The outcomes are based on completer data of a relatively small sample size with high drop-out rate.

Eating disorders and subsequent risk of substance use disorders involving illicit drugs: a Danish nationwide register-based cohort study.

PURPOSE: No study has investigated the ongoing risk of substance use disorders involving illicit drugs (ISUD) after first eating disorder (ED) and whether the pattern of risk differs according to types of ED and ISUD. Therefore, we aimed to longitudinally assess the risk of a subsequent diagnosis of any ISUD (pooled category) and specific ISUD after a first-time diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), or unspecified ED (USED). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using data from Danish nationwide registers identified 20,759 ED patients and 83,038 matched controls (1:4 ratio). Risk of any ISUD diagnosis after first ED diagnosis was estimated by generating hazard ratios (HR). Logistic regression was applied to assess associations between each ED and specific ISUD. RESULTS: Patients with AN, BN, and USED (without a prior ISUD diagnosis) exhibited an increased relative risk of a subsequent diagnosis of any ISUD compared with respective controls, and the elevated risk persisted over 10 years (AN, adjusted HRs ranging from 1.60 [99% CI 1.15-2.24] to 5.16 [3.14-8.47]; BN, 2.35 [1.46-3.79] to 14.24 [6.88-29.47]; USED, 2.86 [1.35-3.79] to 8.56 [3.31-29.47]). The highest estimates were observed during the first year of follow-up. Each ED type was associated with an increased likelihood of all types of ISUD. AN and USED were most strongly associated with sedatives/hypnotics, BN with other illegal substances (e.g., ecstasy and hallucinogens). CONCLUSIONS: ED patients have a considerable risk for subsequent ISUD. Prevention efforts and treatment targeting ISUD are likely required to improve ED treatment prognosis.

Relapse prevention for alcohol use disorders: combined acamprosate and cue exposure therapy as aftercare.

AIMS: Many patients with alcohol use disorders are challenged by cravings leading to repeated relapses. Both cue exposure therapy (CET) and acamprosate target alcohol cravings and are often combined (CET + acamprosate). The main aim of this study was to investigate whether aftercare treatment consisting of CET combined with acamprosate is equivalent to (A) CET as monotherapy, (B) aftercare as usual (AAU) as monotherapy or (C) AAU combined with acamprosate. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive either CET with urge-specific coping skills (USCS) as aftercare or AAU. Acamprosate prescription data were extracted from patient case records. Alcohol consumption, cravings, and USCS were assessed at pre-aftercare, post-aftercare, and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Overall, patients increased their alcohol consumption during and following aftercare treatment, thereby relapsing despite any treatment. However, CET + acamprosate achieved greater abstinence compared to AAU + acamprosate at follow-up (p=.047). CET + acamprosate also reduced number of drinking days (p=.020) and number of days with excessive drinking (p=.020) at post-aftercare, when compared to AAU monotherapy. CET monotherapy increased sensible drinking at post-aftercare compared to AAU monotherapy (p=.045) and AAU + acamprosate (p=.047). Only CET monotherapy showed improvement in cravings, when compared to AAU at follow-up (mean urge level: p=.032; peak urge level: p=.014). CONCLUSION: The study showed that CET both as monotherapy and combined with acamprosate was superior to AAU monotherapy and AAU + acamprosate in reducing alcohol consumption. Only CET + acamprosate was capable of reducing alcohol consumption in the longer term, indicating that anti-craving medication may not impede CET from exerting an effect on alcohol consumption. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02298751 (24/11-2014).

Vocational Outcomes of the Individual Placement and Support Model in Subgroups of Diagnoses, Substance Abuse, and Forensic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Analysis of Pooled Original Data.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) according to diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorders, or forensic psychiatric conditions. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted in June 2017 and repeated in December 2020. The systematic review included 13 studies. Analyses of pooled original data were based on the six studies providing data (n = 1594). No studies on forensic psychiatric conditions were eligible. Hours and weeks worked were analyzed using linear regression. Employment, and time to employment was analyzed using logistic regression, and cox-regression, respectively. RESULTS: The effects on hours and weeks in employment after 18 months were comparable for participants with schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder but only statistically significant for participants with schizophrenia compared to services as usual (SAU) (EMD 109.1 h (95% CI 60.5-157.7), 6.1 weeks (95% CI 3.9-8.4)). The effect was also significant for participants with any drug use disorder (121.2 h (95% CI 23.6-218.7), 6.8 weeks (95% CI 1.8-11.8)). Participants with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and any drug use disorder had higher odds of being competitively employed (OR 2.1 (95% CI 1.6-2.7); 2.4 (95% CI 1.3-4.4); 3.0 (95% CI 1.5-5.8)) and returned to work faster than SAU (HR 2.1 (95% CI 1.6-2.6); 1.8 (95% CI 1.1-3.1); 3.0 (95% CI 1.6-5.7)). No statistically significant effects were found regarding depression. CONCLUSIONS: IPS was effective regarding schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder; however, the effect on hours, and weeks worked was not statistically significant regarding bipolar disorder. For people with depression the impact of IPS remains inconclusive. Non-significant results may be due to lack of power. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO protocol nr. CRD42017060524.

Association Between Neurological Disorders and Death by Suicide in Denmark.

Importance: Neurological disorders have been linked to suicide, but the risk across a broad spectrum of neurological disorders remains to be assessed. Objectives: To examine whether people with neurological disorders die by suicide more often than other people and to assess for temporal associations. Design, Setting, and Participants: Nationwide, retrospective cohort study on all persons 15 years or older living in Denmark, from 1980 through 2016 (N = 7 300 395). Exposures: Medical contact for head injury, stroke, epilepsy, polyneuropathy, diseases of myoneural junction, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, central nervous system infections, meningitis, encephalitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington disease, dementia, intellectual disability, and other brain diseases from 1977 through 2016 (n = 1 248 252). Main Outcomes and Measures: Death by suicide during 1980-2016. Adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRRs) were estimated using Poisson regressions, adjusted for sociodemographics, comorbidity, psychiatric diagnoses, and self-harm. Results: Of the more than 7.3 million individuals observed over 161 935 233 person-years (49.1% males), 35 483 died by suicide (median duration of follow-up, 23.6 years; interquartile range, 10.0-37.0 years; mean age, 51.9 years; SD, 17.9 years). Of those, 77.4% were males, and 14.7% (n = 5141) were diagnosed with a neurological disorder, equivalent to a suicide rate of 44.0 per 100 000 person-years compared with 20.1 per 100 000 person-years among individuals not diagnosed with a neurological disorder. People diagnosed with a neurological disorder had an adjusted IRR of 1.8 (95% CI, 1.7-1.8) compared with those not diagnosed. The excess adjusted IRRs were 4.9 (95% CI, 3.5-6.9) for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 4.9 (95% CI, 3.1-7.7) for Huntington disease, 2.2 (95% CI, 1.9-2.6) for multiple sclerosis, 1.7 (95% CI, 1.6-1.7) for head injury, 1.3 (95% CI, 1.2-1.3) for stroke, and 1.7 (95% CI, 1.6-1.8) for epilepsy. The association varied according to time since diagnosis with an adjusted IRR for 1 to 3 months of 3.1 (95% CI, 2.7-3.6) and for 10 or more years, 1.5 (95% CI, 1.4 to 1.6, P < .001). Compared with those who were not diagnosed with a neurological disorder, those with dementia had a lower overall adjusted IRR of 0.8 (95% CI, 0.7-0.9), which was elevated during the first month after diagnosis to 3.0 (95% CI, 1.9-4.6; P < .001). The absolute risk of suicide for people with Huntington disease was 1.6% (95% CI, 1.0%-2.5%). Conclusions and Relevance: In Denmark from 1980 through 2016, there was a significantly higher rate of suicide among those with a diagnosed neurological disorder than persons not diagnosed with a neurological disorder. However, the absolute risk difference was small.

Implementing ethics reflection groups in hospitals: an action research study evaluating barriers and promotors.

BACKGROUND: An ethics reflection group (ERG) is one of a range of ethics support services developed to better handle ethical challenges in healthcare. The aim of this article is to evaluate the implementation process of interdisciplinary ERGs in psychiatric and general hospital departments in Denmark. To our knowledge, this is the first study of ERG implementation to include both psychiatric and general hospital departments. METHODS: The implementation and evaluation strategies are inspired by action research, using a qualitative approach and systematic text condensation of 28 individual interviews and 4 focus groups with clinicians, ethics facilitators and ward managers. RESULTS: The implementation process was influenced by both structural factors and factors related to clinicians having different values, interests and experiences. Structural barriers and promotors in the process to implement ERG included the following sub-categories: Organizational factors, recruitment and training of ethics facilitators, the deliberation model, planning and recruitment of participants to the ERGs, the support of the ward managers and the project group. Barriers and promotors found among clinicians included the following sub-categories: Expectations and pre-understandings of ERGs, understandings of a physician's job, challenges experienced by ethics facilitators. At the end of the study, when it was decided that the ERGs should be continued, the implementation strategies were remodeled by the participants to meet new challenges. CONCLUSION: The study of ERG implementation identified important structural and professional barriers and promotors that are likely to be relevant to anyone wanting to implement ethics support services across various types of healthcare services.

Applying sensory modulation to mental health inpatient care to reduce seclusion and restraint: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical training in managing conflicts and preventing violence seldom contains sensory modulation (SM) as a method to de-escalate and prevent restraint and seclusion. Sensory-based interventions promote adaptive regulation of arousal and emotion. SM is a complementary approach that is associated with reduced rates of seclusion and restraint in mental healthcare, but there is need for more research in this area. AIMS: Using SM to reduce restraint and seclusion in inpatient mental health care. METHODS: The study included two similar psychiatric units where one unit implemented SM and one unit served as the control group. In the very beginning of the study, a staff-training program in the use of SM including assessment tools and intervention strategies was established. Data on restraint and forced medicine were sampled post the course of the year of implementation and compared with the control group. RESULTS: The use of belts decreased with 38% compared to the control group. The use of forced medication decreased with 46% compared to the control group. Altogether the use of physical restraint and forced medication decreased significantly with 42% (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a SM approach in mental healthcare facilities has a significant effect on the reduction of restraint and seclusion. As a part of the implementation, staff training and education in SM are crucial.

Psychiatric co-morbidity in multiple sclerosis: The risk of depression and anxiety before and after MS diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Studies of depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have reported higher rates in MS patients than the general population. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of depression and anxiety and the use of tricyclic antidepressant and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) prescriptions, in the pre-diagnostic and the post-diagnostic period of MS compared to the background population. METHODS: A cohort of 5084 MS patients was included and matched with a control population of 24,771 persons linked to nationwide registers. Logistic regression analyses were performed estimating odds ratios (OR). RESULTS: In the pre-diagnostic period, the OR for having a diagnosis of depression and anxiety is 1.4 (95% confidence interval (CI) =1.05-1.88), and the OR of redemption prescriptions of TCAs is 1.90 (CI=1.54-2.34) and OR is 1.34 (CI= 1.20-1.51) for SSRI. In the post-diagnostic period the OR is 1.23 (CI= 0.92-1.64) for depression and anxiety diagnosis. The OR is 6.70 (CI=5.81-7.72) for TCA and OR is 2.46 (CI= 2.25-2.69) for SSRI. CONCLUSION: During both the pre- diagnostic and post-diagnostic period, MS patient have increased risk of depression and anxiety diagnoses and redemption of antidepressant and anxiolytic prescriptions, compared to the background population.

A randomized controlled study of exposure therapy as aftercare for alcohol use disorder: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: It is well documented that individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) respond well during evidence-based psychological treatment, but also that a large proportion relapses when discharged from treatment and confronted with alcohol in real life. Cue Exposure Treatment (CET) focuses on exposing individuals to alcohol cues in order to reduce cravings as well as the likelihood of relapse. The aims of the study are: 1) to investigate whether CET aftercare delivered via a smartphone or in group sessions increases the effect of Cognitive Behavioural Treatment in groups of alcohol dependent individuals; 2) to investigate whether CET as a smartphone application is as or more effective than CET group therapy, and 3) to investigate whether CET as a smartphone application is more cost-effective than CET group aftercare and Aftercare as Usual. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study will be implemented as an investigator-blinded randomized controlled trial. A total of 300 consecutively enrolled alcohol use disorder individuals recruited from an alcohol outpatient clinic will be randomized into one of the three following aftercare groups after concluding primary treatment: (1) CET as a smartphone application; (2) CET as group therapy, and (3) Aftercare as Usual. It is hypothesized that the two experimental groups will achieve better treatment outcomes compared to the control group (3). DISCUSSION: Individuals in the CET groups are given the opportunity to practise coping strategies during exposure to alcohol stimuli before being unavoidably confronted with alcohol and associated stimuli in real life. Thus, CET may help prevent patients from relapsing after concluding treatment, and in the long term. Moreover, the CET application has the potential to improve AUD treatment and continuing care by offering psychological treatment whenever and wherever the patient finds it convenient. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02298751 Registration date: 6 November 2014.

SSRIs and risk of suicide attempts in young people - A Danish observational register-based historical cohort study, using propensity score.

BACKGROUND: SSRIs are widely used in the treatment of mental illness for both children and adults. Studies have found a slightly increased risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in young people using SSRIs but SSRIs' impact on risk for suicides in youth is not well-established. AIM: Is there indication that SSRIs might raise risk for suicide attempts in young people? METHODS: We used an observational register-based historical cohort design, a large cohort of all Danish individuals born in 1983-1989 (n = 392,458) and a propensity score approach to analyse the impact from SSRIs on risk for suicide attempts. Every suicide attempt and redeemed prescription of SSRIs was analysed by Cox regression. RESULTS: We found a significant overlap between redeeming a prescription on SSRIs and subsequent suicide attempt. The risk for suicide attempt was highest in the first 3 months after redeeming the first prescription. The hazard ratio for suicide attempts after redeeming a prescription was estimated to 5.23, 95% CI 4.82-5.68. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the risk of suicide attempt is higher for young people in the first months after redeeming their first prescription for SSRIs, compared to non-users. For SSRI users with lower propensity score (fewer risk factors for SSRIs) the risk of suicide attempt is estimated to be highest. Although the design may miss some explicit reason for prescription of SSRIs and SSRIs might be a marker for those in high risk rather than a causal risk factor, we would recommend systematic risk assessment in the period after redeeming the first prescription.

Physical diseases as predictors of suicide in older adults: a nationwide, register-based cohort study.

PURPOSE: The objective of the study was to examine the association between 39 physical diseases and death by suicide in older adults. METHODS: Individual-level register data on all older adults aged 65 years and over living in Denmark during 1990-2009 (N = 1,849,110) were analysed. Rate ratios were calculated for 39 physical diseases while adjusting for period, age group, conjugal status, income, physical comorbidity, and psychiatric disorders. RESULTS: In all, 4792 older adults aged 65+ died by suicide during the follow-up of >16 million person-years. Gastrointestinal cancer was linked to a rate ratio of 2.5 (95 % CI 1.9-3.5) in men while excess suicide risk for women with brain cancer was 3.5 (95 % CI 1.1-10.8) within three years of diagnosis. Men and women diagnosed with liver diseases within three years experienced a 2.7- (95 % CI 1.7-4.2) and 4.0- (95 % CI 2.5-6.4) fold higher risk of suicide, respectively, than those not diagnosed. Elevated risks of suicide were identified for lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer, genital cancer, bladder cancer, lymph node cancer, epilepsy, cerebrovascular diseases, cataract, heart diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD), gastrointestinal disease, liver disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, prostate disorders, male genital disorders, and spinal fracture when compared to persons not diagnosed within three years. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple physical diseases were linked to increased risks of suicide in older adults. Increased attention to suicidal ideation and risk assessment might be warranted during the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.

The effect of co-morbid depression and anxiety on the course and outcome of alcohol outpatient treatment: A naturalistic prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Studies examining the effect of alcohol treatment among patients with alcohol use disorders (AUD) and co-morbid depression and/or anxiety are few and show inconsistent, but mainly negative drinking outcomes. AIMS: To describe the prevalence of anxiety and depression among Danish patients seeking treatment for an AUD, and to investigate the influence of psychiatric co-morbidity on the course and effect of treatment. METHOD: A consecutive sample of 363 outpatients with an AUD diagnosis according to the ICD-10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research was assessed by the means of the Addiction Severity Index at treatment start and 276 (76%) followed up after 1 year. RESULTS: 15.7% of the patients suffered from depression and 12.7% from anxiety at baseline. Both patients with or without co-morbidity had improved on drinking outcome measures at follow-up with medium to large effect sizes. No difference was found between patients with and without co-morbidity. CONCLUSION: In contrast to the majority of prior studies, this study provides evidence that depression and anxiety do not have an effect on alcohol treatment. However, because of the naturalistic setting, a number of limitations should be taken into consideration interpreting the results.

Experiences of parents whose sons or daughters have (had) attempted suicide.

AIM: The aim of this exploratory study was to gain further insights into the experiences of parents of sons or daughters who have attempted suicide and how these parents respond to the increased psychosocial burden following the suicide attempt(s). BACKGROUND: Suicide is a major public health problem and relatives are understood as playing an important role in suicide prevention; however, suicide and suicidal behaviour affect the relatives' lives profoundly, both emotionally and socially, and the psychosocial impact on families is underresearched. DESIGN: Focus groups with parents of sons or daughters who have attempted suicide. METHODS: In January and February 2012, we interviewed two groups of parents recruited at a counselling programme for relatives of persons who have attempted suicide. The analysis combined a thematic analysis with a subsequent analysis of how the themes were negotiated in the conversational interactions. The findings were interpreted and discussed within an interactionist framework. FINDINGS: The participants in the study described their experiences as a double trauma, which included the trauma of the suicide attempt(s) and the subsequent psychosocial impact on the family's well-being. The pressure on the parents was intense and the fundamentally unpredictable character of suicide attempts was frequently emphasized. CONCLUSION: Being the parent of a child who attempts suicide meant managing a life-threatening situation and the additional moral stigma. In part, the participants did this in the group by negotiating the character of the suicide attempt(s) and who was responsible.

Risk factors and study designs used in research of youths' suicide behaviour-an epidemiological discussion with focus on level of evidence.

UNLABELLED: Abstract Introduction: Many different epidemiology study designs have been used to analyse risk factors for suicide behaviour. The purpose of this study was to obtain an insight into the current study design used in research on youths' risk factors for suicide behaviour and to rank the studies according to level of evidence (LoE). METHODS: We searched PubMed and psycINFO in order to identify relevant individual studies. RESULTS: We included 36 studies of children and youth on suicidal behaviour and ideation-many rank low on LoE. For suicide, cohort design was often used, and mental illness (depression, substance abuse and severity of mental illness) was the most common risk factor. Cohort studies are ranked 2b, which is high according to LoE. For suicide attempts, survey was often used, and psychopathology, substance abuse and being exposed to suicidal behaviour were the most common risk factors. For suicidal ideation, survey was the only design used, and substance abuse and psychopathology the most common risk factors. Surveys are ranked 4, which are low according to LoE. Many risk factors were broad and unspecific, and standard definitions of outcome and exposure were rarely used. CONCLUSION: A good study of risk factors for suicidal behaviour would need a high LoE, as a high-powered longitudinal epidemiological study (cohort or case-control) of very specific risk factors. The factors would have high prevention potential, compared with more broad and unspecific risk factors, to which many people are exposed. We would recommend a cohort design (in high-risk populations) or a case-control design to identify risk factors, using clinical and/or register data instead of self-reported information, reporting adjusted estimates and using standard definition of suicidal outcome and risk factors.

Pathways and transitions for patients admitted to an emergency department after self-harming events.

The frequency of people presented in emergency departments (EDs) after self-harming events is increasing. Previous studies have shown that the complexity of the disorders of patients admitted to the ED after self-harming events can be overwhelming for ED healthcare professionals (HCPs) to handle. The objective of this study was to observe and investigate the pathways for patients admitted to the ED after self-harming events to either transition or discharge. Participant observation and interviews were selected as the methods to generate insight into the pathways of patients admitted to the ED after self-harming events. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. A sample size of 20 patients was analysed, and a total of 213 h of observation took place during the data collection. Three main themes appeared: (1) patients' mental stress versus high expectations, (2) uncertainty about how to address the self-harming event and (3) a system of chaos. Patients admitted to the ED after self-harming events struggle with difficult mental stress. Despite this, they face high expectations that they will fit in and cooperate in the ED. The healthcare system is organised with unclear responsibilities and without systematic ways to care for self-harm patients and so provides chaotic patient pathways. There is a need for improved cross-sectional competencies, mutual agreements and systematic communication for discharge, transitions and follow-up care between those involved in the patient's pathway and care.

Opening the black box of registration practice for self-harm and suicide attempts in emergency departments: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization has called for improved surveillance of self-harm and suicide attempts worldwide to benefit suicide prevention programs. International comparisons of registrations are lacking, however, and there is a need for systematically collected, high-quality data across countries. The current study investigated healthcare professionals' perceptions of registration practices and their suggestions for ensuring high-quality registration of self-harm and suicide attempts. METHODS: Qualitative interviews (N = 20) were conducted among medical secretaries, medical doctors, nurses, and registration advisers from psychiatric and somatic emergency departments in all regions of Denmark between September 2022 and March 2023. Content analysis was performed using NVivo. RESULTS: Despite great efforts to standardize and assure the quality of registration in Denmark, almost all the healthcare professionals perceived registration practice as inconsistent and unreliable. Codes are often misclassified or unused due to insufficient time, non-standardized training, or insufficient information. The interview informants suggested that coding guidelines should be simplified and made more visible, alongside technical solutions in the electronic health record system. CONCLUSION: The study findings resulted in eight overall recommendations for clinical practice that aim at improving the registration of patients presenting with self-harm or suicide attempts. This would be expected to help improve surveillance and prevention programs.

"Maze Out": a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial using a mix methods approach exploring the potential and examining the effectiveness of a serious game in the treatment of eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: Eating Disorders (ED) are severe and costly mental health disorders. The effects of existing treatment approaches are limited and there is a need to develop novel interventions, including digital strategies that can increase engagement and effectiveness. Maze Out is a new serious game coproduced by patients and ED therapists, which allows patients to "play" with the reality of an ED and reflect on associated challenges. OBJECTIVES: The present study has two main objectives: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of adding Maze Out to treatment as usual (TAU) in a randomised controlled trial (RCT); and (2) to examine in depth the potential of Maze Out by examining how it is perceived and used in the context of an RCT. METHODS: Participants will be recruited from mental health care services, endocrinology departments or Community Centres offering treatment for ED. Patients suffering from ED (N = 94) will be randomised to either TAU or TAU plus Maze Out. Primary outcome will be measured in terms of changes in self-efficacy, measured by a 5-item self-efficacy questionnaire (5-item SE_ED). Secondary outcome measures will include feelings of ineffectiveness and self-image, as measured by Eating Disorder Inventory, version 3 (EDI-3), Brief INSPIRE-O and Structural Analysis of Social Behaviour Intrex Questionnaire (SAS-B). Data will be collected at baseline (enrolment in the study), and subsequently 8 and 15 weeks after inclusion. Experiences of playing Maze Out will be examined in a sub-sample of participants, utilising both quantitative user analytics and qualitative interview data of patients, interview data of significant others, and healthcare professionals to explore the possible impact of Maze Out on disorder insight, communication patterns between patients and therapists and understanding of their disorder. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge Maze Out is the first serious game coproduced by patients and therapists. It is a novel and theoretically grounded intervention that may significantly contribute to the healing process of ED. If found effective, the potential for wide-spread impact and scalability is considerable. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05621018.