Curriculum development in Liberia's first postgraduate psychiatry training programme.

This paper describes the implementation of curricula for Liberia's first-ever psychiatry training programme in 2019 and the actions of the only two Liberian psychiatrists in the country at the time in developing and executing a first-year postgraduate psychiatry training programme (i.e. residency) with support from international collaborators. It explores cultural differences in training models among collaborators and strategies to synergise them best. It highlights the assessment of trainees' (residents') basic knowledge on entry into the programme and how it guided immediate and short-term priority teaching objectives, including integrated training in neuroscience and neurology. The paper describes the strengths and challenges of this approach as well as opportunities for continued growth.

Teenage Blues: Predictors of depression among adolescents in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Depressive disorders, with a prevalence of 15-21%, are among the most common disorders in children and adolescents, and increases the risk of suicide, the second leading cause of death in children aged 10 to 19. AIM: To determine the prevalence and correlates of depressive disorders among senior students attending secondary schools in Abeokuta. METHOD: The study was conducted in five schools randomly selected from a representative sample and was carried out in 2 phases. In the first phase, students were selected via systematic random sampling and given consent forms and GHQ-12 to administer to the parents. In the second phase, students who returned a signed informed consent form and filled out GHQ-12 were interviewed using MINI-KID, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Family-APGAR, and sociodemographic questionnaire. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted with p-value <0.05 as level of significance. RESULTS: The mean age was 15.3 years (SD = 1.27); 48.8% were male. The twelve-month prevalence of major depression was 11.3% and dysthymia was 1.4%. In the final regression analysis, female gender [OR = 4.3, p = 0.046], the experience of bullying [OR = 7.96, p = 0.004], difficulty getting along with friends, [OR = 7.5, p = 0.004], history of sexual abuse [OR = 8.1, p = 0.01], and perceived family dysfunction [OR = 4.9, p = 0,023] were found to be independent predictors of depressive disorders. CONCLUSION: Depressive syndromes are a significant health burden in adolescents. Being female, being bullied, having a history of sexual abuse, and family dysfunctionality are risk factors associated with depression among these population.

Impact of Medicaid expansion on pregnancy outcomes among women with gestational diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aims to broaden health care access and significantly impacts obstetric practices. Yet, its effect on maternal and neonatal outcomes among women with gestational diabetes across diverse demographics is underexplored. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the impact of the implementation of the ACA on maternal and neonatal health in Maryland with ACA implementation and Georgia without ACA implementation. METHODOLOGY: We used data from the Maryland State Inpatient Database and US Vital Statistics System to assess the ACA's influence on maternal and neonatal outcomes in Maryland, with Georgia serving as a nonexpansion control state. Outcomes compared include cesarean section (CS) rates, low Apgar scores, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions, and assisted ventilation 7 h postdelivery. We adjusted for factors including women's age, race, insurance type, preexisting conditions, prior CS, prepregnancy obesity, weight gain during pregnancy, birth weight, labor events, and antenatal practices. RESULTS: The study included 52 479 women: 55.8% from Georgia and 44.2% from Maryland. Post-ACA, CS rates were 45.1% in Maryland versus 48.2% in Georgia (P = 0.000). Maryland demonstrated better outcomes, including lower rates of low Agar scores (odds ratio [OR], 0.74 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.63-0.86]), assisted ventilation (OR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.71-0.82]), and NICU admissions (OR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.71-0.82]), but no significant change in CS rates (OR, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.92-1.01]). CONCLUSION: After ACA implementation, Maryland showed improved maternal and neonatal outcomes compared with Georgia, a nonexpansion state.

The association between community-level economic deprivation and incidences of emergency department visits on account of attempted suicides in Maryland.

Background: Suicide is a major cause of mortality in the United States, accounting for 14.5 deaths per 100,000 population. Many emergency department (ED) visits in the United States are due to attempted suicides. Suicide attempts predict subsequent completed suicides. Socioeconomic factors, such as community-level socioeconomic deprivation, significantly affect many traditional risk factors for attempted suicides and suicides. Aim: To determine the association between community-level socioeconomic deprivation and ED visits for attempted suicide in Maryland. Methods: A retrospective analysis of attempted suicides in the Maryland State Emergency Department Database from January 2018 to December 2020. Community-level socioeconomic deprivation was measured using the Distress Community Index (DCI). Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to identify the association between DCI and attempted suicides/self-harm. Results: There were 3,564,987 ED visits reported in the study period, with DCI data available for 3,236,568 ED visits; 86.8% were younger than 45 years, 64.8% were females, and 54.6% non-Hispanic Whites. Over the study period, the proportion of ED visits due to attempted suicide was 0.3%. In the multivariate logistic regression, compared to prosperous zones, those in comfortable (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.73-0.88, p < 0.01), Mid-Tier (OR = 0.76, 95%CI:0.67-0.86, p < 0.01), At-Risk (OR = 0.77; 95%CI: 0.65-0.92, p < 0.01) and Distressed zones (OR = 0.53; 95% CI:0.42-0.66, p < 0.01) were less likely to visit the ED for attempted suicide. Conclusion: Prosperous communities had the highest rate of attempted suicides, with the risk of attempted suicide increasing as individuals move from the least prosperous to more prosperous areas.

Factors associated with suicide/self-inflicted injuries among women aged 18-65 years in the United States: A 13-year retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample database.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a significant cause of mortality in the United States, accounting for 14.5 deaths/100,000. Although there are data on gender disparity in suicide/self-inflicted injury rates in the United States, few studies have examined the factors associated with suicide/self-inflicted injury in females. OBJECTIVE: To determine factors associated with suicide/self-inflicted injuries among women aged 18-65 years in the United States. METHODS: Hospitalizations for suicide or self-inflicted injuries were identified using the National Inpatient Sample database from 2003-2015 using sample weights to generate national estimates. Independent predictors of suicide/self-inflicted injuries were identified using multivariable regression models. Interaction term analysis to identify the interaction between race/ethnicity and income were conducted. RESULTS: There were 1,031,693 adult women hospitalizations in the U.S. with a primary diagnosis of suicide/self-inflicted injury in the study period. The highest suicide/self-inflicted injury risk was among women aged 31-45years (OR = 1.23, CI = 1.19-1.27, p < 0.05). Blacks in the highest income strata had a 20% increase in the odds of suicide/self-inflicted injury compared to Whites in the lowest socioeconomic strata (OR = 1.20, CI = 1.05-1.37, p <0.05). Intimate partner violence increased suicide/self-inflicted injury risk 6-fold (OR = 5.77, CI = 5.01-6.65, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Suicide risk is among women aged 31-45 years, higher earning Black women, intimate partner violence victims, uninsured, and current smokers. Interventions and policies that reduce smoking, prevents intimate partner violence, addresses racial discrimination and bias, and provides universal health coverage are needed to prevent excess mortality from suicide deaths.

Building a postgraduate psychiatry training program in Liberia through cross-country collaborations: initiation stages, challenges, and opportunities.

Background: About 80% of the nearly 2 billion people experiencing psychiatric conditions worldwide do not have access to quality, affordable mental health care. In Africa, there are 0.004 psychiatrists per 10,000 people, with the shortage exacerbated by a limited number of postgraduate psychiatry training opportunities. As of 2018, there were only two psychiatrists in Liberia. Methods: This paper aims to offer a framework for developing postgraduate (i.e., residency) psychiatry training in resource-constrained settings to disseminate best practices and lessons learned. This article describes the approach to developing the formal global academic partnership that supported the initiation of Liberia's first postgraduate psychiatry training program in July 2019. Results: Authors describe strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement in the planning and initiation stages of the postgraduate program. Key strengths of the program planning process include: (1) collaboration with a coalition of local and national stakeholders committed to improving mental health care in Liberia; (2) early procurement of quality video conferencing equipment and internet service to facilitate remote learning and broaden access to digital materials; and (3) leveraging of intra-continental partnerships for subspecialty training. Challenges experienced include: (1) navigating the intricacies of local political and administrative processes; (2) recruiting candidates to a medical specialty with historically lower salaries; and (3) the added burden placed on the limited number of local specialists. Identified opportunities include building a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework, further diversifying subspecialty areas of psychiatric and neurological training, and obtaining full accreditation of the postgraduate psychiatry program through the West African College of Physicians (WACP). Conclusion: The successful launch of the postgraduate psychiatry training program in Liberia is attributed to several factors, including a long-standing academic collaboration of over 10 years and support for mental health capacity-building efforts at national and local levels.

Association Between Obesity and Self-Reported Depression Among Female University Students in the United States.

AIM: To determine the relationship between obesity and depression among female undergraduate students at Western Illinois University (WIU), Macomb, Illinois. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using self-reported questionnaires were conducted between August 15, 2019, and December 15, 2019. A cohort of 434 female undergraduate students was retrieved from the study. We determined the association between self-reported diagnosis of depression within the last year and body mass index (BMI) among female students. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression among female undergraduates at WIU was 33.2%. Obese and overweight female undergraduate students had a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with depression than students with normal BMI (reference), overweight (OR= 1.91; 95% CI 1.11-3.31), obese (OR= 2.20; 95% CI 1.30-3.80). Latino and black students were less likely to report depression than white students, Latino (OR=0.37 95% CI 0.15-0.92), and Black (OR= 0.40; 95% CI 0.18-0.86). There was also a positive association between chronic back pain and development of the diagnosis of depression, (OR=2.26; 95% CI 1.45-3.52). CONCLUSION: Depression among female undergraduate students is very common in the USA. Obese and overweight female students are more likely to be depressed than students with normal BMI. There is a need for urgent public health interventions to reduce the obesity rate among university students.

Suicidal ideation among Nigerian patients with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with epilepsy are at increased risk of suicide which is often preceded by suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation is rarely assessed in Nigerian patients with epilepsy and there are limited studies on prevalence and determinants. METHODS: Two-hundred and seventy patients with epilepsy attending the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta were recruited. Suicidal ideation was assessed with item 9 of the BDI-II. QOLIE-31, MINI-PLUS, and a sociodemographic questionnaire were also administered to the participants. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients reported having suicidal ideation with a prevalence of 8.9 %. Suicidal patients were younger, more likely to have a current or history of a mood disorder, and had a lower quality of life scores on all domains. In the multivariate analysis, current major depression (OR=26.26, p < 0.0001, CI= 8.51 - 81.05) and a lower score on the cognitive functioning subscale of the QOLIE-31 (OR=0.97, p = 0.003, CI=0.96 - 0.99) were the only independent predictors of suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal ideation is common among Nigerian patients with epilepsy. Comorbid depression and poor cognitive functioning are risk factors for suicidal ideation among them. Clinicians should screen for suicidal ideation and comorbid mood disorders among patients with epilepsy and identify patients at increased risk of suicide.

Ethyl acetate fraction of Spathodea campanulata (Bignoniaceae) attenuates lead acetate induced testicular toxicity in male Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: The use of Spathodea campanulata in folklore medicine for the management of reproductive disorders has been poorly reported. We sought to investigate the protective potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of S. campanulata stem bark extract (EFSC) on lead acetate-induced (LA) testicular toxicity in male rats. METHODS: Animals during a 28 days treatment received dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 0.1%), LA (20 mg/kg), and EFSC (200 mg/kg). Others received EFSC only (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) or vitamin E (100 mg/kg) 1 h prior to LA (20 mg/kg) administration. RESULTS: LA administration decreased sperm counts and motility by 36.39 and 40.69% respectively in rats. Also, LA-untreated rats showed elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased total proteins in testis (260, 33%) and epididymis (62, 29%) respectively. However, EFSC (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) administrations improved sperm morphological characteristics as well as antioxidant status in LA-treated rats. EFSC (400 mg/kg) showed improved testis seminiferous tubules that were almost normal in the LA-treated rats. Further, EFSC contains a high 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, evidence by LA-induced testicular toxicity, EFSC provides chemopreventive roles via antioxidant mechanisms.

Relationship between quality of life and social integration among patients with schizophrenia attending a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: Despite decades of de-institutionalization and the best efforts of community mental health services, individuals with schizophrenia living outside the hospital may be described as in the community but not of the community, and remain in a very real sense socially excluded. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between social integration and quality of life among patients with schizophrenia attending the outpatient clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Abeokuta in Nigeria. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-one patients were recruited. Sociodemographic questionnaire, MINI-PLUS, WHOQOL-BREF, Social Integration Scale and PANSS were administered. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify the determinants of quality of life and the relationship with social integration. RESULTS: The mean (± SD) age of the respondents was 40.00 (± 10.23), 56.3% were males, 37.1% were single. Independent predictors of lower quality of life were: (1) more severe psychopathology for the domains of general health (p = 0.003), social relationship (p = 0.019) and environment (p = 0.008); (2) longer duration of illness for the social relationship (p = 0.028) and environment (p = 0.015) domains; and (3) negative symptoms (p = 0.034) for the physical domain. CONCLUSION: There is a need to pay closer attention to social outcome measures such as quality of life and level of social integration among patients with schizophrenia who come in contact with psychiatry services, and not just on symptom remission only.

Quality of life among patients with epilepsy in Nigeria: predictors and barriers to routine clinical use of QOLIE-31.

PURPOSE: To determine the factors predicting poorer quality of life (QOL) among patients with epilepsy attending an out-patient clinic in a Nigerian tertiary hospital, and reflect on the barriers to successful adoption of a structured QOL instrument into routine clinical practice. METHODS: Two-hundred and seventy patients with a diagnosis of epilepsy attending the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta, Nigeria were recruited. Sociodemographic and clinical information were collected using a proforma. QOLIE-31 was administered to measure QOL. RESULTS: The mean (SD) QOLIE-31 scores were 77.98 (13.32), with 15.2%, 74.1%, and 10.7% of the respondents classified as low, moderate, and high QOL, respectively. Factors associated with poorer QOL include seizure frequency, depression, and family history of epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Quality of life is an important outcome measure for people with epilepsy and it focuses on the individual's subjective assessment of their well-being. Although useful for clinical management of patients with epilepsy, the uniqueness of the practice settings and the limitations of clinical practice in a developing country pose challenges to successful adoption of structured QOL instrument into routine clinical practice.

The use of combined high-fructose diet and glyphosate to model rats type 2 diabetes symptomatology.

An ideal food-chemical combination that will promote insulin resistance and its consequent development of pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction may open a new vista for Type 2 diabetes (T2D) research. Thus, we investigated the modulatory effects of a high-fructose diet (FRC) combined with glyphosate (GP). Male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of eight/group and received distilled water, FRC, GP, and their combinations orally for eight consecutive weeks. We assessed the changes in fasting blood glucose levels (FBGLs), biochemical indices, oxidative stress parameters, and organ histopathology. From the results obtained, FBGLs and serum insulin levels were increased in the FRC-GP (2.3-3.1 and 1.9-2.2 folds) treated rats compared with the control baseline group. Also, the FRC-GP high dose increased FBGLs (1.9 folds), insulin (1.4 folds), triglycerides (1.5 folds), and uric acid (2 folds) levels compared with the FRC group. Malondialdehyde levels increased in the pancreas (54% and 78%) and liver (31.3% and 56.6%) of the FRC-GP treated rats. The FRC-GP treatments reduced serum high-density lipoprotein (57%), total protein (47%), and antioxidant parameters (non-enzymatic and enzymatic, 1.6-1.9 folds) respectively in the treated animals. The weight of the pancreas relative to the body increased (2-3 folds) while we observed mild inflammation and vascular congestion in vital organs in the treated rats. Overall, these results demonstrate the potential of FRC-GP-diet to induce conditions of rats T2D. Also, this novel finding suggests a cost-effective GP as an alternative in this model type and provides further insight into understanding FRC-GP interactions.

M3, a 1,4-Dihydropyridine Derivative and Mixed L-/T-Type Calcium Channel Blocker, Attenuates Isoproterenol-Induced Toxicity in Male Wistar Rats.

Recent evidence indicates that Ca2+ dysregulation is involved in the pathogenesis of isoproterenol (ISP)-induced biochemical toxicity and associated oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the chemopreventive benefit of M3, a 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, against ISP-induced toxicity in male Wistar rats. Adult rats were divided into eight groups of six rats/group. Groups 1-5 received normal saline (control, 10 mL/kg/day, p.o.), ISP (85 mg/kg/day, s.c.), M3 lower dose (M3LD, 5 mg/kg, p.o.), M3 upper dose (M3UD, 20 mg/kg/day, p.o.), and Nifedipine (NFD, 20 mg/kg/day, p.o.), respectively. Others (groups 6-8) were pretreated with either M3LD, M3UD or NFD one hour before ISP administration. All rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last administration and changes in biochemical, hematological, and antioxidant parameters were assessed. Histologic examination of the heart, liver and kidney was also conducted. ISP elevated (p < 0.05) Ca2+, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein levels when compared with control. Similarly, ISP increased levels of markers of renal function (p < 0.01), C-reactive protein (148.1%) and myocardial malondialdehyde (MDA, 88.7%) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (109.2%). Platelet level was reduced (p < 0.05) in the ISP-intoxicated control rats. M3 exhibited antioxidant property, reduced levels of triglycerides, MDA and improved biochemical and hematological alterations associated with ISP toxicity. M3, however, was not effective in restoring histological changes that characterized ISP toxicity at the doses used. M3 offers chemopreventive benefits against ISP toxicity possibly through L-/T-type calcium channels blockade and modulatory actions on biochemical and antioxidant homeostasis.

Correlates of depression and quality of life among patients with epilepsy in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorders (MDD) and its relationship to Quality of life. DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Out-Patient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta, Nigeria. SUBJECTS: Patients with diagnosis of Epilepsy with Electroencephalogram (EEG) confirmation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Depression and Quality of life. RESULTS: The prevalence of current MDD was 11.9 %, and patients having at least 1 seizure per week were 5 times more likely to develop MDD (OR = 5.104, p = 0.014). The mean (SD) QOLIE-31 scores was 77.98 (13.32), with presence of MDD (ß = -11.101, p = 0.0001); having at least 1 seizure/week (ß = -6.653, p = 0.037) being independent predictors. CONCLUSION: Depression is a common comorbidity in patients with epilepsy and is associated with a lower quality of life.

Amlodipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker, protects against chlorpromazine-induced neurobehavioural deficits in mice.

This study investigated the modulatory and chemopreventive benefit of amlodipine (AML), a dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist, against neurobehavioural abnormalities (NAs) associated with chlorpromazine (CPZ) toxicity in mice. Adult mice were divided into five groups of six animals/group. Group 1 (control) was administered saline (10 mL/kg i.p.). Group 2 received CPZ (2 mg/kg i.p.). Groups 3 and 4 received bromocriptine (BMC, 2.5 mg/kg s.c.) and AML (1 mg/kg s.c.), respectively, while group 5 received their combination. Groups 3-5 later received CPZ 30 min after initial treatments. Animals were subjected to neurobehavioural tests and euthanized 18 h later. CPZ-induced NAs were characterized by significant increase (P < 0.001) in cataleptic behaviour and lowered (P < 0.05) spontaneous activity reaction time in mice. There were also significant (P < 0.001) increases in malondialdehyde levels and decreased locomotion plus learning and memory parameters (P < 0.05-0.001). AML pretreatment alone did not alleviate CPZ-induced motor deficits in the mice. While pretreatment with BMC alone attenuated CPZ-associated catalepsy, its combination with AML further protected mice against NAs. Furthermore, BMC pretreatment did not affect CPZ-induced increase in malondialdehyde level, but AML or BMC+AML significantly (P < 0.05) decreased malondialdehyde in the CPZ-treated rats. Reduced glutathione levels and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase remained elevated in all treatment groups. In conclusion, data from this study suggest possible chemopreventive benefit of AML alone or in combination with BMC against CPZ-associated neurobehavioural deficits. The ameliorative effect of AML may be related to its antioxidant and/or calcium channel blocking property.