Adapting the athlete sleep behavior questionnaire (ASBQ) for Arabic-speaking populations: Translation, reliability testing, and validation using classical theory and item response theory.

Sleep is essential for athletes' physical performance as well as their general health, well-being, and quality of life. To assess athletes' sleep behaviors, the Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ) was developed in the English language. However, a validated Arabic-version of the ASBQ is lacking. This study aimed to translate the ASBQ into Arabic (ASBQ-AR) and evaluate its reliability and validity among Arabic-speaking athletes. A total of 458 participants (254 athletes, 202 non-athletes) from four Arabic countries completed the ASBQ-AR and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaires. The psychometric properties of the ASBQ-AR were examined using unidimensional reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Item Response Theory (IRT), and convergent validity. The ASBQ-AR had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.723, McDonald's ω = 0.725) and a factorial structure, confirming its construct validity. CFA demonstrated improved model fit indices after the removal of two potentially misfitting items (items 4 and 13); however, the model's fit to the data remains suboptimal. IRT results indicated that the majority of items demonstrated a good model fit, suggesting effective measurement of the intended construct without significant interference, except for ASBQ-AR 4. Additionally, ASBQ-AR 4 appears to present the highest level of difficulty for respondents. In terms of convergent validity, the mean ASBQ-AR global score was correlated with the mean ISI global score (r = 0.5, p < 0.0001). The ASBQ-AR is a reliable and valid tool for assessing maladaptive sleep practices among Arabic-speaking athletes. Additional refinements to the ASBQ-AR are warranted to optimize its psychometric properties.

The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the dieting beliefs scale (DBS).

Background: There are relatively few data about the association between locus of control and weight loss in Arabic populations. A tool does exist, the Dieting Belief Scale (DBS), that was designed to measure individuals' beliefs regarding their ability to control their body weight. The aim of this study was to translate this tool into Arabic and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods: The forward translation of the DBS from English to Arabic was completed by two professional bilingual translators, while the back translation from Arabic to English was independently performed by another two different professional bilingual translators. An online survey using the tool was then completed by 245 participants, fully aware of the study's purpose. Psychometric analyses were subsequently conducted to assess the reliability and validity of the Arabic DBS.Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω coefficients. Test-retest reliability was also assessed. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to evaluate the fit of a three-factor model, with indices including Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR). Convergent validity was assessed by examining the correlation between the Arabic DBS and the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) previously translated into Arabic, the latter identifying attitudes, feelings and behaviors related to eating. Results: The Arabic translated DBS scale demonstrated high translation accuracy and content validity estimates. Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω reliability coefficients for the translated scale were approximately 0.91. Test-retest reliability was 0.96. The three-factor model showed an acceptable fit (CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.92, RMSE = 0.08, SRMR = 0.06). The Arabic version of the DBS was found to have good convergent validity, as evidenced by the significant correlation between the EAT-26 and DBS questionnaires (r = 0.53, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The Arabic version of the DBS is highly reliable and has sufficient content validity to measure belief about personal ability to control one's weight.

Development and Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Evaluating the Nutritional Status of Patients with Serious Mental Illnesses (DIETQ-SMI) in Bahrain.

General food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) have not been tailored for or validated in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Given the unique eating behaviors of patients with serious mental illnesses (SMIs), custom-made tools are needed. Therefore, we developed and validated an FFQ customized to individuals with SMIs. A total of 150 adults with SMIs (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression) were recruited from Bahrain. The participants completed the 50-item Dietary Intake Evaluation Questionnaire for Serious Mental Illness (DIETQ-SMI) FFQ and a 3-day food record (FR). The validity of the FFQ was assessed by comparing nutrient intake to FR intake using correlation and reliability statistics. The DIETQ-SMI demonstrated a good ranking validity compared to the FR based on correlation coefficients (rho 0.33 to 0.92) for energy and macro- and micronutrients. The FFQ had high internal consistency (McDonald's omega = 0.84; Cronbach's alpha = 0.91) and test-retest reliability (ICC > 0.90). The FFQ tended to estimate higher absolute intakes than the FR but adequately ranked the intakes. The FFQ value was correlated with the FR for all the items (p < 0.001). The DIETQ-SMI is a valid and reliable FFQ for ranking dietary intake in individuals with an SMI. It can help assess nutritional status and, subsequently, guide interventions in high-risk psychiatric populations.

Reliability generalization meta-analysis of orthorexia nervosa using the ORTO-11/12/15/R scale in all populations and language versions.

BACKGROUND: The ORTO scale was developed in 2004 as a self-report questionnaire to assess symptoms of orthorexia nervosa (ON). ON is an unhealthy preoccupation with eating healthy food. The scale aims to measure obsessive attitudes and behaviors related to the selection, purchase, preparation, and consumption of pure, healthy food. Since its development, the ORTO-15 has been adapted into several shorter versions. The objective was to conduct a reliability generalization meta-analysis of the ORTO scale and its variant versions in all populations and languages. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies reporting the internal consistency of ORTO. Random-effect models were used to evaluate summary statistics of reliability coefficients, weighting the coefficients by the inverse variance using the restricted maximum likelihood method. The heterogeneity among the reliability coefficients was evaluated and assessed using numerous statistical metrics. The tau (τ), tau2 (τ2), I2, H2, R2, df, and the Q-statistic are among those obtained. Meta-regression analyses were used to examine moderators such as age and sex. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies (k = 21) involving 11,167 participants (n = 11,167) were analyzed. The overall effect estimate on internal consistency was 0.59 (95% CI 0.49-0.68), with a minimum reliability coefficient of 0.23 and a maximum reliability coefficient of 0.83. The heterogeneity statistics were found to have an I2 of 99.31%, which suggested high heterogeneity owing to a decrease in the confidence interval (95% CI) and an increase in variability. Sensitivity analysis revealed that a few studies strongly influenced the overall estimate. Egger's test suggested possible publication bias. Neither age nor sex significantly moderated reliability via meta-regression. CONCLUSIONS: The ORTO scale has a relatively low pooled reliability coefficient. Alternative ON assessment tools with enhanced psychometric properties are needed. Clinicians should not base diagnoses or treatment decisions on ORTO alone. Comprehensive psychiatric assessment is essential for accurate ON evaluation.

This review looked at the reliability of the ORTO scale and its shortened versions for assessing orthorexia nervosa (an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy foods). The researchers analyzed data from 21 previous studies involving over 11,000 participants. Results showed that the ORTO scale had relatively low reliability in consistently measuring orthorexia symptoms across studies. The summary reliability score was 0.59 on a 0 to 1 scale, with individual study scores ranging from 0.23 to 0.83. There was a significant inconsistency across the different study results. We concluded that the ORTO scale has low reliability overall for diagnosing orthorexia nervosa. New assessment tools with better measurement properties are needed. Clinicians should not rely solely on the ORTO scale, but should conduct a comprehensive psychological evaluation to properly assess for orthorexia.

Exploring the Mediating Role of Sleep Deficit-Related Functional Status in Subacute Stroke Survivors.

Background: Understanding post-stroke fatigue (PSF) and its associated factors is crucial for effective therapy and rehabilitation. This study aimed to assess the mediating role of the excessive daytime sleepiness-related functional status (SFS) on the relationship between sleep and the severity of fatigue in subacute stroke survivors. Methods: Subacute stroke survivors (n = 50; male = 38; female = 12), completed a cross-sectional study involving the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), the insomnia severity index (ISI), the functional outcome of the sleep questionnaire (FOSQ), and the fatigue severity scale (FSS). Results: The SFS mediated the association between the severity of fatigue and sleep problems. The PSQI and FOSQ (b = -0.37, p < 0.001), and the FOSQ and FSS were correlated (b = -0.18, p < 0.05), with a significant indirect effect of the PSQI on the FSS. The ISI correlated with the FOSQ (b = -0.20, p < 0.001), with significant direct (b = 0.15, p < 0.001), as well as indirect, effects of the ISI on the FSS. The ESS correlated with the FOSQ (b = -0.23, p < 0.001), with a significant indirect effect of the ESS on the FSS. Conclusions: In subacute stroke survivors, fatigue and sleep are linked. Increased understanding of sleep-PSF may help in exploring new targets for supplement therapy.

The Translation and Preliminary Psychometric Validation of the Ghosting Questionnaire in Urdu.

BACKGROUND: "Ghosting" refers to the practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with a person with whom you have been in constant correspondence. The break comes without warning and without understandable provocation. The term most commonly applies to online romantic relationships. The motives for and effects of ghosting have been studied, and validated research questionnaires have been developed; however, there are no such questionnaires available for Urdu speakers. The purpose of this study was to adapt the "Ghosting Questionnaire (GQ)" for use in Pakistan and India, two of the world's most populous countries-a process that involves translation, adaptation, and validation. METHODS: The study's methodology involved translating the GQ into Urdu using both forward and backward translation techniques. Convergent validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, confirmatory factor analysis, and goodness of fit were all components of the psychometric analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The Urdu version of the GQ demonstrated a good internal consistency, with the Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega both exceeding 0.90. It also showed a high test-retest reliability-(0.96). The one-factor structure was confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis, which agreed with the original English version of the GQ.

A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide a pooled prevalence estimate of self-reported disordered eating (SRDE) in athletes based on the available literature, and to identify risk factors for their occurrence. METHODS: Across ten academic databases, an electronic search was conducted from inception to 7th January 2024. The proportion of athletes scoring at or above predetermined cutoffs on validated self-reporting screening measures was used to identify disordered eating (DE). Subgroup analysis per country, per culture, and per research measure were also conducted. Age, body mass index (BMI), and sex were considered as associated/correlated factors. RESULTS: The mean prevalence of SRDE among 70,957 athletes in 177 studies (132 publications) was 19.23% (17.04%; 21.62%), I2 = 97.4%, τ2 = 0.8990, Cochran's Q p value = 0. Australia had the highest percentage of SRDE athletes with a mean of 57.1% (36.0%-75.8%), while Iceland had the lowest, with a mean of 4.9% (1.2%-17.7%). The SRDE prevalence in Eastern countries was higher than in Western countries with 29.1% versus 18.5%. Anaerobic sports had almost double the prevalence of SRDE 37.9% (27.0%-50.2%) compared to aerobic sports 19.6% (15.2%-25%). Gymnastics sports had the highest SRDE prevalence rate, with 41.5% (30.4%-53.6%) while outdoor sports showed the lowest at 15.4% (11.6%-20.2%). Among various tools used to assess SRDE, the three-factor eating questionnaire yielded the highest SRDE rate 73.0% (60.1%-82.8%). Meta-regression analyses showed that female sex, older age, and higher BMI (all p < 0.01) are associated with higher prevalence rates of SRDE. CONCLUSION: The outcome of this review suggests that factors specific to the sport affect eating behaviors throughout an athlete's life. As a result, one in five athletes run the risk of developing an eating disorder. Culture-specific and sport-specific diagnostic tools need to be developed and increased attention paid to nutritional deficiencies in athletes.

Disordered eating (DE) refers to eating behaviors that limit food choices, reduce or exaggerate food intake, cause physical discomfort, create a sense of loss of control, or lead to negative emotions like shame or guilt. The DE label does not signify the presence of a diagnosed mental health disorder, but, rather, describes self-reported, regular eating patterns that psychiatrists consider to fall into the at-risk category for an eating disorder. In this review, we performed a search of academic databases to find all relevant studies that measured the frequency of self-reported DE in athletes. We analyzed 177 studies involving over 70,000 athletes in total. In this study, DE was defined as a score above cut-off on validated screening tests for problematic eating behaviors. Our goal was to estimate the prevalence of DE in athletes globally and to determine the factors that increase risk. We found that approximately 1 in 5 athletes (19%) endorsed DE behaviors such as, among others, restrictive dieting, bingeing, and purging. These behaviors were seen most commonly in indoor sports like gymnastics and less commonly in the context of outdoor sports. Rates were highest in female athletes, older athletes, athletes with high body mass index (BMI) scores, and those from Eastern countries and cultures. Australia had the highest rates (over 50%), while rates were lowest in Iceland. We suggest the development of screening tests specifically tailored and applicable to athletes. In addition, we recommend raising public awareness of the health effects of nutrition in sports.

Health trends in Canada 1990-2019: An analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study.

OBJECTIVE: Monitoring trends in key population health indicators is important for informing health policies. The aim of this study was to examine population health trends in Canada over the past 30 years in relation to other countries. METHODS: We used data on disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years of life lost (YLL), years lived with disability, life expectancy (LE), and child mortality for Canada and other countries between 1990 and 2019 provided by the Global Burden of Disease Study. RESULTS: Life expectancy, age-standardized YLL, and age-standardized DALYs all improved in Canada between 1990 and 2019, although the rate of improvement has leveled off since 2011. The top five causes of all-age DALYs in Canada in 2019 were neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorders, and mental disorders. The greatest increases in all-age DALYs since 1990 were observed for substance use, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, and sense organ disorders. Age-standardized DALYs declined for most conditions, except for substance use, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, and musculoskeletal disorders, which increased by 94.6%, 14.6%, and 7.3% respectively since 1990. Canada's world ranking for age-standardized DALYs declined from 9th place in 1990 to 24th in 2019. CONCLUSION: Canadians are healthier today than in 1990, but progress has slowed in Canada in recent years in comparison with other high-income countries. The growing burden of substance abuse, diabetes/chronic kidney disease, and musculoskeletal diseases will require continued action to improve population health.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: La surveillance des tendances des indicateurs clés de la santé de la population est importante pour éclairer les politiques de santé. Dans cette étude, nous avons examiné les tendances de la santé de la population au Canada au cours des 30 dernières années par rapport à d'autres pays. MéTHODES: Nous avons utilisé des données sur les années de vie ajustées en fonction de l'incapacité (DALY), les années de vie perdues (YLL), les années vécues avec un handicap, l'espérance de vie (LE) et la mortalité infantile pour le Canada et d'autres pays entre 1990 et 2019, fournies par l'Étude mondiale sur le fardeau de la maladie. RéSULTATS: L'espérance de vie, les YLL ajustées selon l'âge et les DALY ajustées selon l'âge ont tous connu une amélioration au Canada entre 1990 et 2019, bien que le taux d'amélioration se soit stabilisé depuis 2011. Les cinq principales causes des DALY pour tous les âges au Canada en 2019 étaient les néoplasmes, les maladies cardiovasculaires, les affections musculosquelettiques, les affections neurologiques et les troubles mentaux. Les plus fortes augmentations des DALY pour tous les âges depuis 1990 ont été observées pour l'usage de substances, le diabète et les maladies rénales chroniques, ainsi que les troubles des organes sensoriels. Les DALY ajustées selon l'âge ont diminué pour la plupart des conditions, à l'exception de l'usage de substances, du diabète et des maladies rénales chroniques, ainsi que des troubles musculosquelettiques, qui ont augmenté de 94,6 %, 14,6 % et 7,3 % respectivement depuis 1990. Le classement mondial du Canada pour les DALY ajustées selon l'âge est diminué de la 9ième place en 1990 à la 24ième place en 2019. CONCLUSION: Les Canadiens sont en meilleure santé aujourd'hui qu'en 1990, mais les progrès se sont ralentis ces dernières années par rapport à d'autres pays à revenu élevé. La croissance du fardeau lié à l'abus de substances, au diabète/maladies rénales chroniques et aux affections musculosquelettiques exigera des actions continues pour améliorer la santé de la population.

Waking Up the Sleep Field: An Overview on the Implications of Genetics and Bioinformatics of Sleep.

Sleep genetics is an intriguing, as yet less understood, understudied, emerging area of biological and medical discipline. A generalist may not be aware of the current status of the field given the variety of journals that have published studies on the genetics of sleep and the circadian clock over the years. For researchers venturing into this fascinating area, this review thus includes fundamental features of circadian rhythm and genetic variables impacting sleep-wake cycles. Sleep/wake pathway medication exposure and susceptibility are influenced by genetic variations, and the responsiveness of sleep-related medicines is influenced by several functional polymorphisms. This review highlights the features of the circadian timing system and then a genetic perspective on wakefulness and sleep, as well as the relationship between sleep genetics and sleep disorders. Neurotransmission genes, as well as circadian and sleep/wake receptors, exhibit functional variability. Experiments on animals and humans have shown that these genetic variants impact clock systems, signaling pathways, nature, amount, duration, type, intensity, quality, and quantity of sleep. In this regard, the overview covers research on sleep genetics, the genomic properties of several popular model species used in sleep studies, homologs of mammalian genes, sleep disorders, and related genes. In addition, the study includes a brief discussion of sleep, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome from the viewpoint of a model organism. It is suggested that the understanding of genetic clues on sleep function and sleep disorders may, in future, result in an evidence-based, personalized treatment of sleep disorders.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Faith Healers and Psychiatric Illnesses: A Systematic Review of the Literature in the Arab World.

Faith healing is a traditional healing method involving spiritual and faith-based practices performed by a religious medicine man referred to here as a faith healer. The practice of faith healing is widespread in the Arab World for treating a range of mental disorders. This research aims to review the literature concerned with faith healing practice in the Muslim Arab population. Based on the results of the review, there are seven distinct aspects of faith healing. These include the characteristics of persons who visit faith healers, the rate of visits, the symptoms for which visits are made, the treatment methods, the general stigma and prevalent attitudes toward mental disorders in the Arab world, and the perceived effectiveness of faith healing as applied to mental disorders. The results of the review show that many patients with mental disorders, as a first resort, prefer to seek the help of faith healers (or other non-professional trusted counselors) rather than approach mental health services. This is due to several factors: the misconceptions around causes of mental illness in Arab traditions and culture and the stigma associated with mental illness. As an overall determination derived from the literature, Arabs remain highly reliant on faith healers as helpful resources for dealing with mental health problems. In conclusion, the recommendation to public health authorities is to consider including faith healers in the support system for mental health and cease viewing them as barriers to optimal care.

Global research evidence on nomophobia during 2008-2022: a bibliometric analysis and review.

Nomophobia, often known as a 21st-century disorder, is a recent condition that has received considerable attention, with numerous studies conducted to better understand it since it was first introduced in 2008. To better understand the present research status and prospects to assist practitioners, policymakers, and funding agencies in protecting the population from nomophobia-related harm, a bibliometric study of nomophobia-related publications was conducted. We used Scopus and dimensions.ai to perform a search between 2008 and 2022. The HistCite, R software, and VOSviewer were used to analyze the data and extract relevant keywords indexed in medical databases using mesh heading phrases. Between January 2008 and April 2022, 1,781 papers, 30 datasets, two grants, six patents, four clinical trials, and five policy documents were identified. The bulk of the articles included in this review were published after 2017 with the majority written in English. Most of the research focuses on determining the prevalence of nomophobia in various populational groups, such as students, clinical samples, and the general adult population. Several studies examined the possible association between nomophobia symptoms and other psychiatric or physical health issues, such as changes in sleep, learning and attention, academic performance, coping strategies, etc. The current body of research knowledge of nomophobia in the main includes epidemiologic and diagnostic effort that has provided mixed results regarding its assessment and prevalence rates, and appreciable data on its treatment and prevention are lacking.

Artificial intelligence is set to transform mental health services.

The current development in the field of artificial intelligence and its applications has advantages and disadvantages in the digital age that we now live in. The state of the use of AI for mental health has to be assessed by stakeholders, which includes all of us. We must comprehend the trends, gaps, opportunities, challenges, and shortcomings of this new technology. As the field evolves, rules, regulatory frameworks, guidelines, standards, and policies will develop and will progressively scale upwards. To advance the field, mental health professionals must be prepared to meet obstacles and seize possibilities presented by creative and disruptive technologies like AI. Therefore, a collaborative strategy must include multi-stakeholder participation in basic, translational, and clinical aspects of AI. Mental health practitioners need to be ready to face challenges and embrace and harness the power of innovative and disruptive technology such as AI that could offer to move the field forward.

The worldwide prevalence of self-reported psychological and behavioral symptoms in medical students: An umbrella review and meta-analysis of meta-analyses.

OBJECTIVE: Medical students frequently experience a range of stressors, such as demanding academic requirements, competition and rivalry, self-doubt, and financial distress. As a result, they are at risk for psychological and behavioral symptoms (PBS) including: depression, anxiety, and sleep difficulties as well as maladaptive substance use. METHODS: To determine the degree of risk for these symptoms, 13 databases, without language restriction., were searched. RESULTS: A total of 32 meta-analyses were included in this umbrella review. A global analysis of all self-reported PBS combined yielded a pooled prevalence rate of 30.3% [26.9%; 33.7%]; 95% PI [2.2%; 58.3%]. The highest reported prevalence was for sleep problems 42.0% [35.6%; 48.4%], followed by stress 41.7% [35.3%; 48.1%], burnout 35.8% [25.7%; 45.8%], anxiety 32.5% [27.9%; 37.1%], depression 32.5% [28.8%; 36.1%], internet addiction 26.0% [5.5%; 46.5%], substance use 25.2% [18.9%; 31.6%], eating disorders 9.8% [1.1%; 18.4%], and suicidal thoughts/gestures/acts 8.9% [4.8%; 12.9%]. The prevalence estimates were deemed acceptable for all PBS. CONCLUSION: The evidence shows that fully one-third of medical students experience a range of problematic PBS, likely attributable to the demanding and intense study environment, the hierarchical structure of medical training facilities, and the vulnerability of the young adulthood time period. Appropriately targeted assessment and intervention efforts are clearly warranted to decrease the psychological burden of medical student training. PROSPERO Identifier: CRD42023391800. Open Science Network (OSF) Identifier: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/SXQYN.

Development and validation of a questionnaire (GHOST) to assess sudden, unexplained communication exclusion or "ghosting".

The topic of "ghosting" as a method of terminating a relationship has been discussed in both popular media and academic circles. Although research on this issue is scarce, the concept has acquired popularity and gained scholarly attention. A reliable and valid measure of this phenomenon does not, however, exist. GHOST (The Ghosting Questionnaire) was designed and psychometrically tested to explore ghostee experiences. A total of 811 adults participated in an online survey to test this instrument. It was developed based on a thorough analysis of research on the topic of ghosting using a phenomenological qualitative method to identify ghosting domains and generate questionnaire items. In terms of content validity and construct validity, the final version of the measure was found to be satisfactory. GHOST was found to have adequate internal consistency - scores of 0.74, 0.74, and 0.80, indicating acceptable Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and ordinal's alpha coefficients, respectively. Factor analyses found the GHOST questionnaire to be a valid and reliable instrument that can be used for screening ghosting experiences and for designing community-based distress prevention and intervention programs. A dynamic fit index (DFI) cutoffs approach was also used and showed robust fitting.

Sleep Patterns of Pilots: An Objective Assessment.

Objectives Circadian dysregulation (jetlag), sleep loss (extended wakefulness), sleep deprivation (acute or chronic), fatigue (exhaustion), preexisting medical and mental conditions, and medication use can all affect the cognitive and behavioral performance of commercial aircraft pilots. This study evaluated the sleep habits of pilots and copilots flying short-haul flights in the Gulf region. Methods This cross-sectional study examined Airbus A320 pilots and copilots for one of Saudi Arabia's commercial airlines. Data such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), employment position, work experience, flight hours, and rest time were collected. Each participant completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for daytime sleepiness, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Fatigue Severity Index (FSI). Actigraphy equipment was used to perform objective sleep evaluations. Results Twenty-four participants were included. Actigraphy showed that 66.7% had an irregular sleep pattern and that 41.7% had poor sleep efficiency. We found that 12.5% had daytime sleepiness, 33% had poor sleep quality, and 29.2% had fatigue. We found a significant negative correlation between years of experience and time in bed; however, there was no significant difference in sleep time or sleep efficiency between pilots with different levels of experience. Conclusions We found that pilots and copilots are at risk of irregular sleep patterns, poor sleep efficiency, poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue. This study emphasizes the need to instigate measures to minimize these risks.

The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress.

BACKGROUND: The way how technology addiction relates to psychosis remains inconclusive and uncertain. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis of a mediating role of depression, anxiety and stress in the association between three technology (behavioral) addictions (i.e., Addiction to the Internet, smartphones and Facebook) and psychosis proneness as estimated through schizotypal traits in emerging adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed among non-clinical Tunisian university students (67.6% females, mean age of 21.5 ± 2.5 years) using a paper-and-pencil self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Results for the Pearson correlation revealed that higher smartphone, Internet, and Facebook addictions' scores were significantly and positively correlated with each of the depression, anxiety and stress subscores; whereas depression (r = 0.474), anxiety (r = 0.499) and stress (r = 0.461) scores were positively correlated with higher schizotypal traits. The results of the mediation analysis found a significant mediating effect for depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms on the cross-sectional relationship between each facet of the TA and schizotypal traits. CONCLUSION: Our findings preliminarily suggest that an addictive use of smartphones, Internet and Facebook may act as a stressor that exacerbates psychosis proneness directly or indirectly through distress. Although future longitudinal research is needed to determine causality, we draw attention to the possibility that treating psychological distress may constitute an effective target of interventions to prevent psychosis in adolescents with technology addictions.

Neurocognitive, mood changes, and sleepiness in patients with REM-predominant obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: This article focuses on recent evidence linking rapid eye movement (REM) obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (REM-OSA) to neurocognitive dysfunction and mood changes; the proposed mechanisms for increased risk of neurocognitive dysfunction in REM-OSA, and future research prospects. METHODS: PubMed and Google Scholar records were examined for articles utilizing pre-defined keywords. In this work, we mainly included studies published after 2017; nevertheless, critical studies published prior to 2017 were considered. RESULTS: REM-OSA is an under-recognized stage-related sleep-disordered breathing in which obstructive respiratory events happen chiefly in stage REM. The disorder is commonly seen amongst younger patients and females and has recently been linked to cardiometabolic complications. Although less symptomatic than non-REM-OSA and non-stage-specific OSA, current findings indicate that REM-OSA may have neurocognitive repercussions and mood changes and could be linked to insomnia, increased dreams, and nightmares. CONCLUSION: Currently available evidence indicates that REM-OSA may present with insomnia and nightmares and could affect cognitive function and mood.

Harbingers of Hope: Scientists and the Pursuit of World Peace.

The ongoing wars in many regions-such as the conflict between Israel and Hamas-as well as the effects of war on communities, social services, and mental health are covered in this special editorial. This article emphasizes the need for international efforts to promote peace, offer humanitarian aid, and address the mental health challenges faced by individuals and communities affected by war and violence.