Pharmacogenetic testing in psychiatry: Perspective on clinical utility.

Pharmacogenetic studies the influence of inherited characteristics on medication. While different from pharmacogenomics, which is a study of the entire genome in relation to medication effect, their distinction remains inconsistent, and the two terms are used interchangeably. Although the potential of pharmacogenomics in psychiatry is apparent and its clinical utility is suboptimal, the uptake of recommendations and guidelines is minimal and research into PGx is not diverse. This article offers an overview of pharmacogenetics (PGx) in psychiatry, explores the difficulties, and provides recommendations on improving its applicability and clinical utility.

Prevalence of mental illness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea - A cross-sectional study from Kashmir, India.

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of mental illness in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to examine whether patients with obstructive sleep apnea require screening for mental illness. Methods: We performed polysomnography studies of patients that were referred from various subspecialty clinics in Kashmir from Jan 2020-December 2020. using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI plus) scale to make a psychiatric diagnosis. We administered the General Health Questionnaire - 28 (GHQ - 28), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) to patients. Descriptive statistics and correlations were used for data analysis. Results: 182 patients underwent polysomnography, 85 (46.7%) of which were suffering from mental illness Based on the Apnea-Hypopnea Index score, 8 (4.39%) patients had mild, 35 (41.1%) had moderate and 42 (49.4%) had severe OSA. The mean GHQ -28 score was significantly higher in patients with Obstructive sleep apnea (p < 0.001) (11.34 ± 8.2) as compared to non-Obstructive sleep apnea patients (1.98 ± 4.38). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the increased prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with OSA. Therefore, we recommend timely screening for any mental health issues in patients with OSA and necessary interventions to address the issues, thus preventing mental health morbidities in patients with OSA this would help subsequently in an improved lifestyle.

Associations of lockdown stringency and duration with Google searches for mental health terms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nine-country study.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the associations of lockdown stringency and duration with Google searches for four mental health concepts (i.e., "Anxiety," "Depression," "Suicide," "Mental Health") in nine countries (i.e., Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Paraguay, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We retrieved national-level data for each country from Google Trends and the Global Panel Database of Pandemic Policies. In our primary analysis, we used data from all countries to estimate a set of multilevel regression models examining associations of overall lockdown stringency and lockdown duration with relative search volumes for each mental health term. We repeated the models after replacing overall lockdown stringency with each of the lockdown stringency components. RESULTS: A negative association was found between overall lockdown stringency and "Depression." Lockdown duration and the most stringent stay-at-home requirements were negatively associated with "Anxiety." Policies that recommended or required the cancelation of public events evidenced negative associations with "Depression," whereas associations between policies that required some or all levels of schooling to close and "Depression" were positive. Policies that recommended or required workplaces to close and those that enforced quarantines on non-citizens arriving from high-risk regions or closed borders entirely were negatively associated with "Suicide." CONCLUSIONS: Lockdown duration and some lockdown policies during the COVID-19 pandemic were generally associated with significantly lower, rather than higher, Google searches for selected mental health terms. These findings could be used alongside other evidence to develop future lockdown strategies that are sensitive to mental health issues during public health crises.

Is everyone invited to the discussion table? A bibliometric analysis COVID-19-related mental health literature.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has captured the mental health discussion worldwide. Examining countries' representation in this discussion could prove instrumental in identifying potential gaps in terms of ensuring a truly global conversation in times of global crisis. Methods: We collected mental health and COVID-19-related journal articles published in PubMed in 2020. We focused on the corresponding authors' countries of affiliation to explore countries' representation. We also examined these articles' academic impact and correlations with their corresponding authors' countries of affiliation. Additional journals and countries' indicators were collected from the Web of Science and World Bank websites, respectively. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics and the VOSviewer software. Results: In total, 3492 publications were analyzed. Based on the corresponding author, high-income countries produced 61.9% of these publications. Corresponding authors from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East combined accounted for 11.8% of the publications. Europe hosted corresponding authors with the most publications and citations, and corresponding authors from North America had the largest mean journal impact factor. Conclusions: The global scientific discussion during the COVID-19 pandemic saw an increased contribution of academics from developing countries. However, authors from high-income countries have continued to shape this discussion. It is imperative to ensure the active participation of low- and middle-income countries in setting up the global mental health research agenda, particularly in situations of global crisis, such as the ongoing pandemic.

Scaling Up Global Mental Health Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.

Every health care system requires an adequate health care workforce, service delivery, financial support, and information technology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, global health systems were ill prepared to address the rising prevalence of mental health problems, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), thereby increasing treatment gaps. To close these gaps globally, task shifting and telepsychiatry should be made available and maximized, particularly in LMICs. Task shifting to nonspecialist health workers to improve essential mental health coverage and encourage efficient use of the available resources and technology has become the most viable strategy.

Anxiety and depression among women with COVID-19 infection during childbirth-experience from a tertiary care academic center.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and postpartum are vulnerable periods for mental health problems and distress. Studies conducted worldwide have highlighted the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in adding to the rates of depression and anxiety in the perinatal period. However, there are very few reports on mothers who were identified as having COVID-19 infection at the time of childbirth. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to find the prevalence of depression and anxiety among pregnant women who were admitted for labor and tested positive for COVID-19 infection. We also aimed to study the association of various sociodemographic, social support, and obstetrical factors and that of COVID-19-related worries with depression and anxiety. STUDY DESIGN: The study was conducted at the obstetrics inpatient setting in a public hospital in New Delhi, which had a separate designated COVID-19 block. Pregnant and postpartum women >18 years of age who were admitted to the COVID-19 maternity ward for delivery were included for this study. The women were interviewed within the first week of admission and after 6 to 8 weeks of childbirth. The sociodemographic and obstetrical details and COVID-19-related worries and concerns were assessed. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire version 9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale, respectively.The normally distributed variables are expressed as mean±standard deviation and continuous variables with skewed distribution as median (interquartile range). The categorical data presented as proportions of categorical variables were compared using the chi-square or the Fischer exact test. All the tests are 2-sided, with a significance level of 5%. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 24. The rates of depression and anxiety were calculated and univariate analysis was done to identify the factors associated with moderate and severe anxiety and depression using various sociodemographic and obstetrical variables, the total COVID anxiety scale scores, and the social support score. RESULTS: The mean age of the women was 26.86 years (±4.31). Of the 243 women assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire version 9, 168 (69.13%) had mild depressive disorder, and 29 (11.3%) had moderate depressive disorder. Of the 187 women who were assessed at the 6-weeks follow-up, 31 (16.57%) had minimal depression, 131 (70.05%) had mild depression, and 25 (13.36%) had moderate depression. Mild anxiety was seen in 121 cases (49.79%) and 13 (5.34%) had moderate anxiety symptoms. Women reported several worries, especially about the stigma of COVID-19 infection, support for infant care, and access to infant health services. CONCLUSION: Screening for common mental illnesses with the timely identification of associated risk factors should be done, with a liaison between obstetricians and mental health professionals. Obstetricians can address and reassure pregnant women regarding concerns about contracting the infection, worries about the possible effects of COVID-19 on the fetus and the newborn, and concerns about future consultations. In case the worries are out of proportion and necessitate intervention by mental health professionals, referral services should be made available. Hence, identifying and addressing the mental health concerns will help provide the optimum perinatal care during the pandemic.

How to overcome barriers to publication in low- and middle-income countries: Recommendations from early career psychiatrists and researchers from around the world.

There is an increasing movement toward international collaboration and global discussion in mental health. If provided with the right opportunities, early career psychiatrists (ECPs) and researchers in mental health can contribute meaningfully to this discussion. However, they often experience multiple barriers when attempting to add their voices via academic publications. We represent a diverse group of ECPs and researchers from all six World Health Organization regions. In this piece, we discuss these barriers, grounded in our first-hand experiences, and put forth a series of recommendations. The most potentially beneficial and immediate way forward is ensuring a much-needed mentorship and support, particularly for low- and middle-income countries. In this regard, international organizations, especially those with a particular focus on education, such as the Section on Education in Psychiatry of the World Psychiatric Association, can play a pivotal role.

Perinatal Mental Health Care for Women With Severe Mental Illness During the COVID-19 Pandemic in India-Challenges and Potential Solutions Based on Two Case Reports.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in India has created several challenges in the care of women with perinatal mental illness. Access to healthcare has been disrupted by lockdowns, travel restrictions, and the unavailability of outpatient services. This report aims to discuss the challenges faced by women with severe mental illnesses during the perinatal period with the help of two case reports. Accordingly, we have highlighted the role of COVID-19 infection as a traumatic event during childbirth and its role in triggering a psychotic episode in women with vulnerabilities; difficulties faced by women with postpartum psychosis in accessing perinatal psychiatry services; and the challenges of admission into an inpatient Mother-Baby Unit (MBU). Further, we have discussed potential solutions from the perspectives of Lower and Middle-income (LAMI) countries that need to be extended beyond the pandemic. They include offering video consultations, reviewing hospital policies, and evolving strategies to mitigate traumatic experiences for pregnant and postpartum women with severe mental illnesses in both obstetric and psychiatric care.

Video consultations from an Indian academic hospital: First 3 years of experience from telepsychiatric after-care clinic.

Background Continuity of care for psychiatric disorders by conventional in-person consultation by psychiatrists is associated with several challenges. There is a need to develop alternative models of specialist care. We studied our 3 years' experience of live video consultations (VCs) from the tele after-care clinic to patients with psychiatric disorders at an Indian academic hospital. Methods We did a file review of 669 VCs provided to 213 patients in the first 3 years (2017-2019) from the telemedicine centre of a tertiary care academic hospital. We analysed details of sociodemography, clinical profile, tele after-care consultations and outcome. Results Two hundred and thirteen patients (55% men) were enrolled for the tele after-care clinic. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 42.2 (17.29) years and a majority were educated till high school and beyond. Patients with severe and common mental disorders constituted 60.1% and 40%, respectively. Among the total 669 appointments, 542 (81%) VCs were successfully provided; of the remaining, 125 were cancelled and 2 were aborted due to a medical emergency. Medication prescriptions were unchanged in 499 and modified/totally changed in 47 VCs. Conclusion Our large study shows that telepsychiatric after-care is a useful alternative method which can supplement in-person follow-up. Barriers such as distance, cost and medical illness can be overcome using tele after-care clinics for regular follow-ups in stabilized psychiatric patients. There is a need for prospective studies, preferably, randomized controlled trials comparing effectiveness of tele after-care with in-person consultations to assess treatment outcomes.

Management of psychiatric conditions and delirium during the COVID-19 pandemic across continents: lessons learned and recommendations.

BACKGROUND: With the uncertainties of COVID-19, people infected with coronavirus present with diverse psychiatric presentations. Some institutions have had to manage their patients with existing protocols, others have had to create them. In this article we aimed to report the challenges and good practices in the management of psychiatric conditions and delirium coexisting with COVID-19 across continents. METHODS: Early Career Psychiatrists (ECPs) from across five continents were approached to share their experiences on the management of psychiatric conditions in patients with COVID-19 during the current pandemic. RESULTS: We collected information about the experiences from sixteen countries. Commonalities were similar psychiatric presentations and poor preparedness across countries. Differences were varying adjustments made in the management of psychiatric conditions coexisting with COVID-19 and different innovations. Good practices which can be adopted by other countries are novel approaches such as telepsychiatry, proactive consultation-liaison units and enhanced community services targeted at circumventing challenges faced when providing mental health services. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for global preparedness in the mental health sector during outbreaks of infectious diseases, and the need for concerted efforts targeted at global and locally sensitive adaptation of existing protocols and the development of new guidelines for the management of psychiatric conditions for the present pandemic and subsequent occurrences.