Impact of COVID-19 first wave on the mental health of healthcare workers in a Front-Line Spanish Tertiary Hospital: lessons learned.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) were at high risk of experiencing psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact on HCWs' mental health in a Spanish hospital. Cross-sectional study of HCW, active between May and June 2020. A web-based survey assessed probable current mental disorders (major depressive disorder [PHQ-8 ≥ 10], generalized anxiety disorder [GAD-7 ≥ 10], panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD; PLC-5 ≥ 7], or substance use disorder [CAGE-AID ≥ 2]). The Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) was used to assess severe impairment and items taken from the modified self-report version of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) assessed suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A total of 870 HCWs completed the survey. Most frequent probable mental disorders were major depressive disorder (33.6%), generalized anxiety disorder (25.5%), panic attacks (26.9%), PTSD (27.2%), and substance use disorder (5.0%). Being female, having aged 18-29 years, being an auxiliary nurse, direct exposure to COVID-19-infected patients, and pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders were positively associated with mental issues. Hospital HCWs presented a high prevalence of symptoms of mental disorders, especially depression, PTSD, panic attacks, and anxiety. Younger individuals and those with lifetime mental disorders have been more vulnerable to experiencing them.

Health service and psychotropic medication use for mental health conditions among healthcare workers active during the Spain Covid-19 Pandemic - A prospective cohort study using web-based surveys.

Little is known about healthcare workers' (HCW) use of healthcare services for mental disorders. This study presents data from a 16-month prospective cohort study of Spanish HCW (n = 4,809), recruited shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic onset, and assessed at four timepoints using web-based surveys. Use of health services among HCW with mental health conditions (i.e., those having a positive screen for mental disorders and/or suicidal thoughts and behaviours [STB]) was initially low (i.e., 18.2 %) but increased to 29.6 % at 16-month follow-up. Service use was positively associated with pre-pandemic mental health treatment (OR=1.99), a positive screen for major depressive disorder (OR=1.50), panic attacks (OR=1.74), suicidal thoughts and behaviours (OR=1.22), and experiencing severe role impairment (OR=1.33), and negatively associated with being female (OR = 0.69) and a higher daily number of work hours (OR=0.95). Around 30 % of HCW with mental health conditions used anxiolytics (benzodiazepines), especially medical doctors. Four out of ten HCW (39.0 %) with mental health conditions indicated a need for (additional) help, with most important barriers for service use being too ashamed, long waiting lists, and professional treatment not being available. Our findings delineate a clear mental health treatment gap among Spanish HCW.

Riesgo de la medicalización de las respuestas emocionales tras la cuarentena por la COVID-19, crónica de una crisis evitable / Risk of medicalization of emotional responses after quarantine because of COVID-19, chronicle of an avoidable crisis

RESUMEN La cuarentena ha sido la respuesta más general de todos los países afectados por la pandemia del coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Hay suficientes estudios sobre las complicaciones que provoca la cuarentena en la población. La gravedad de las respuestas emocionales derivadas de una cuarentena depende de varios factores, que pueden ocurrir durante o después de la misma; el presente trabajo se propone como objetivo analizar las consecuencias del proceso de medicalización de las respuestas emocionales durante el periodo de cuarentena y sus aspectos sociales.

ABSTRACT Quarantine has been the most general response of all countries affected by the coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2). There are sufficient studies on the complications that quarantine causes in the population. The severity of emotional responses derived from quarantine depends on several factors, which can occur during or after the quarantine; the present work aims to analyze the consequences of the medicalization process of emotional responses during the quarantine period and its social aspects.

La materia terapéutica en La Arcadia, de Lope de Vega / The therapeutic subject in La Arcadia by Lope de Vega

En la actualidad, aún se desconoce el verdadero alcance de la vasta cultura de Lope de Vega, pues, aunque se sabe que fue un gran lector, que legó más de 1500 libros, sus títulos se han perdido a lo largo de la historia. No obstante, en sus obras trasciende una serie de textos que contribuyeron a su formación. En el presente trabajo se analiza La Arcadia (1598), considerada la novela pastoril más erudita del Siglo de Oro, desde la perspectiva de los agentes terapéuticos. En esta obra se mencionan remedios de procedencia herbal (romero, helenium, verbena, lupino, narciso, lirio, jacinto, lechuga o lino), de procedencia mineral (rubí, diamante, esmeralda, pórfido y oro) y también de procedencia animal (sustancias obtenidas del asno, caballo, conejo, zorro, víboras o arañas, entre otros animales). Los resultados confirman que Lope de Vega pudo utilizar una serie de textos científicos en sus citas sobre la materia terapéutica. Entre ellos cabe destacar a Andrés Laguna y su Dioscórides y Plinio el Viejo, cuya Historia Natural pudo haber consultado como fuente primaria, a través de alguna traducción comentada, como la de Gerónimo de Huerta o a través de alguna otra obra basada en ella, como el opúsculo de Constantino Castriota, pues, en este último caso, se encuentran párrafos muy similares y, en algunos casos, casi literales.

Nowadays, the true extent of the vast culture of Lope de Vega is still largely unknown. Although it is known that he was a great reader, who bequeathed more than 1500 books, his titles have been lost throughout history. However, a series of texts that contributed to his education become known in his works. In the present paper, La Arcadia (1598), considered the most erudite pastoral romance of Spanish Golden Age, is analyzed from the therapeutic perspective. Remedies of herbal origin (rosemary, helenium, verbena, lupine, narcissus, lily, hyacinth, lettuce or flax, among others), of mineral origin (ruby, diamond, emerald, porphyry and gold) and also of animal origin (substances obtained from donkeys, horses, rabbits, foxes, vipers or spiders, among other animals) are mentioned in this novel. The results achieved confirm that Lope de Vega was able to use a series of scientific texts in his quotations on the therapeutic subject. Among them, it is worth mentioning Andres Laguna (and his Dioscorides), and Pliny the Elder, whose Natural History could have been consulted as a primary source, through some commented translation, such as that of Geronimo de Huerta, or through some other work based on it, like Constantino Castriota's opuscule. In the latter case, there are very similar and, in some cases, almost literal paragraphs.