Nurse rostering: understanding the current shift work scheduling processes, benefits, limitations, and potential fatigue risks.

BACKGROUND: Implementing appropriate shift work schedules can help mitigate the risk of sleep impairment and reduce fatigue of healthcare workers, reducing occupational health and safety risks. In Australia, the organisation has a responsibility to make sure all reasonable measures are taken to reduce fatigue of staff. Therefore, it is important to assess what the current rostering processes is for staff responsible for creating the rosters for nurses. AIM: The aims of the project were to understand (1) who creates the rosters and what the process is, (2) what training and knowledge these staff have in establishing rostering schedules that optimise the sleep and wellbeing of staff, and (3) what the benefits and limitations are of current rostering practices. METHODS: Findings were generated through semi-structured interviews, using cluster coding to form categories. Twenty four nurses responsible for rostering staff were interviewed from three different sites in Victoria (one metropolitan and two regional/rural hospitals). Data was analysed using selected grounded theory methods with thematic analysis. RESULTS: The common themes that came out of the interviews were that rostering staff were under prepared, unaware of fatigue and safety guidelines and polices from governing bodies and had not received any education or training before taking on the role. The most common rostering style was self-rostering, where staff could submit preferences. However, there were concerns about staff fatigue but were divided as to who should be responsible, with many saying it was up to staff to preference shifts that they could cope with. The final theme was cultural barriers to change. CONCLUSION: While self-rostering resulted in staff having more freedom and flexibility,  shift preferences may be influenced more so by a need to fit with lifestyle rather than to minimise fatigue and increase safety in the workplace. Greater consideration of the impact of shift work schedules on fatigue is required to ensure that the layers of clinical governance in health care organisations minimise the risk of occupation health and safety issues for employees delivering direct patient care.

Preparedness and training needs of a regional public mental health service to support people with intellectual disability.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the preparedness and training needs of a regional public mental health workforce to support people with intellectual disability and mental ill health. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Staff from a regional public mental health service in Victoria, Australia. DESIGN: A mixed-methods design comprised a survey, interviews and a focus group to collect data about staff attitudes, confidence, education and professional development regarding supporting people with intellectual disability and mental ill health. Descriptive and thematic analyses were used. RESULTS: Data from 31 survey respondents, seven interviews and one focus group were analysed. Survey descriptive analyses showed participants believed treating people with intellectual disability was part of their role but reported areas of low confidence along with insufficient education and training in intellectual disability mental health. Thematic analyses from interviews showed that underpinning confidence, education and training were the themes (1) need for flexibility, such as having more time and (2) solutions but with challenges, such as limited opportunity to upskill and availability of experts. A need for collaborative problem-solving where staff share skills and information to work towards person-centred solutions was a key theme from the focus group analysis. CONCLUSION: Professional development in intellectual disability mental health is required for the regional public mental health workforce but needs to account for the challenges experienced and reflect how teams function. Exploration of described preparedness offered a possible learning approach informed by workforce members. Collaborative learning approaches to supporting people with intellectual disability and mental ill health are suggested.

Differences in shift and work-related patterns between metropolitan and regional/rural healthcare shift workers and the occupational health and safety risks.

OBJECTIVES: To explore if there are differences in shift patterns and work-related factors between metropolitan and regional/rural healthcare shift workers and their risk of poor sleep and mental health. Furthermore, explore whether these factors impact on medical errors, workplace and car/near car accidents. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: An anonymous online survey of healthcare shift workers in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 403 nurses, midwives and paramedics completed the survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sample characteristics, employment location, shift work-related features, sleep and mental health measurements, workplace accidents, medical errors and car/near car accident post shift. RESULTS: Regional/rural healthcare shift workers were significantly older, had more years' experience, worked more nights, on-call and hours per week. Those in metropolitan areas took significantly longer (minutes) to travel to work, had higher levels of anxiety, increased risk of shift work disorder, reported significantly more workplace accidents and were more likely to have a car/near car accident when commuting home post shift. Both groups reported ~25% having a medical error in the past year. Workplace accidents were related to more on-call shifts and poor sleep quality. Medical errors were associated with fewer years' experience, more evening shifts and increased stress. Car accidents were associated with metropolitan location and increased depression. CONCLUSION: Differences in work-related factors between metropolitan and regional/rural healthcare shift workers were observed. Some of these factors contributed to occupational health and safety risks. Further exploration is needed to understand how to reduce occupational health and safety risks, and improve employee and patient safety both in both regional/rural and metropolitan areas.

Apnoea and hypopnoea scoring for people with spinal cord injury: new thresholds for sleep disordered breathing diagnosis and severity classification.

STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of respiratory event rule-set changes on the apnoea hypopnoea index, and diagnostic and severity thresholds in people with acute and chronic spinal cord injury. SETTING: Eleven acute spinal cord injury inpatient hospitals across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and England; community dwelling chronic spinal cord injury patients in their own homes. METHODS: Polysomnography of people with acute (n = 24) and chronic (n = 78) tetraplegia were reanalysed from 1999 American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) respiratory scoring, to 2007 AASM 'alternative' and 2012 AASM respectively. Equivalent cut points for published 1999 AASM sleep disordered breathing severity ranges were calculated using receiver operator curves, and results presented alongside analyses from the able-bodied. RESULTS: In people with tetraplegia, shift from 1999 AASM to 2007 AASM 'alternative' resulted in a 22% lower apnoea hypopnoea index, and to 2012 AASM a 17% lower index. In people with tetraplegia, equivalent cut-points for 1999 AASM severities of 5,15 and 30 were calculated at 2.4, 8.1 and 16.3 for 2007 AASM 'alternative' and 3.2, 10.0 and 21.2 for 2012 AASM. CONCLUSION: Interpreting research, prevalence and clinical polysomnography results conducted over different periods requires knowledge of the relationship between different rule-sets, and appropriate thresholds for diagnosis of disease. SPONSORSHIP: This project was proudly supported by the Traffic Accident Commission (Program grant) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (PhD stipend 616605).

Sleep and fatigue management strategies: How nurses, midwives and paramedics cope with their shift work schedules-a qualitative study.

AIMS: To understand the benefits and challenges of shift work, and the coping strategies used by nurses, midwives and paramedics to manage the impact of shift work on sleep and fatigue from shift work. DESIGN: A single case study with embedded units. METHODS: Twenty-seven participants were interviewed exploring their shift work experiences, coping strategies used to improve sleep, and what their recommendations are for improving shift work management. Interviews were completed between November and December 2022. RESULTS: Participants enjoyed the lifestyle, flexibility and financial rewards offered by working shift work. However, fatigue and sleep deprivation undermined these benefits, as it impacted their ability to enjoy social and family events. There were also concerns of long-term health consequences of shift work and delivery of care. Changes to rostering practices and sleep and shift work education were common recommendations. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights on how healthcare professionals manage sleep and fatigue due to shift work and the inadequate support. There is absence of adequate policies, processes and training at an organizational, academic and personal level on how to best manage sleep and fatigue when working shift work. Future research is needed to explore how to equip healthcare shift workers with the skills to successfully manage their schedules to mitigate the negative impact that poor sleep and fatigue has on the health and safety of themselves and their patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Understanding the specific challenges of shift work and how workers manage their shift work schedules is critical for improving the health and safety of themselves and their patients. This study identified that there is insufficient training regarding sleep and shift work management strategies, potentially leading to occupational health and safety concerns. Further education and training to equip staff with the necessary information, training and guidance to staff on how to reduce fatigue risk is required. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study involved healthcare shift workers in semi-structured interviews. Data gathered from a previous survey that participants were involved in helped shape the interview topics and the study design.

Maternal Circadian Disruption from Shift Work and the Impact on the Concentration of Melatonin in Breast Milk.

Background and Objective: Melatonin in breast milk exhibits a 24-hour circadian rhythm, present in nighttime breast milk but nearly undetectable in daytime breast milk. Shift work can disrupt the circadian timing of individuals, evident in changes in melatonin in saliva and urine samples. However, it is unknown whether these changes are also reflected in breast milk from a shift working mother. The aim of this study was to investigate whether maternal circadian rhythm disturbance from shift work impacts the melatonin concentration in breast milk. Materials and Methods: Breast milk and saliva samples were collected from 11 shift working mothers at four timepoints across five consecutive days. This included during their day shift or nonworkdays to act as a control, night shift, subsequent night shifts and postnight shift. Where possible, pre- and postfeed collections were also undertaken. Samples were grouped into four-time intervals: 12-6:30 am, 7-11:30 am, 12-6:30 pm, 7-11:30 pm, and melatonin levels (picogram per milliliter) in the breast milk and saliva samples were analyzed. Results: There was a significant decrease in breast milk melatonin (p = 0.026) at the 12-6:30 am time interval on subsequent night shifts, compared with control days. However, there was no overall time and shift type interaction effect (p = 0.70). In addition, no observed difference in melatonin levels was found in saliva samples, or when comparing pre- and postfeed breast milk. Breast milk melatonin however was found to be significantly higher compared with saliva (p > 0.001), at all but one time interval. Conclusion: The findings suggest that there is a potential effect of maternal circadian rhythm disruption from shift work on breast milk melatonin levels. This is an important step in exploring the role of maternal circadian timing and the effect on breast milk composition. Expansion of this research and exploration of other circadian rhythm misalignment sleep disorders on breast milk is highly recommended.

Rapid Versus Slow Cooling Pasteurization of Donor Breast Milk: Does the Cooling Rate Effect Melatonin Reduction?

Background and Objective: There is a question as to whether melatonin levels in breast milk are impacted by the cooling rate postpasteurization. Past research that has used in the Australian donor bank's breast milk Holder Pasteurization technique has reported varying findings regarding melatonin levels postpasteurization. Where breast milk was cooled slowly, a significant reduction in breast milk melatonin levels was observed. Conversely, where a rapid cooling method was used, there was no significant reduction in melatonin levels. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the cooling process between the different pasteurization techniques impact on melatonin levels in breast milk postpasteurization. Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven nighttime breast milk samples were collected, with each sample divided into three; one remained unpasteurized, one was pasteurized and rapidly cooled to 4°C, and the other was pasteurized and cooled slowly to 4°C. Results: Melatonin levels were significantly reduced in both the rapidly cooled and slow cooled breast milk samples when compared to their unpasteurized counterpart (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in melatonin levels between the two cooling methods (p = 0.91). Conclusion: This study showed that both the rapid and cooling pasteurization processes had a similar reduction in melatonin levels in breast milk. However, even after pasteurization melatonin was still present. Therefore, it is recommended that donor banks still take into consideration circadian timing hormones such as melatonin and the time of day breast milk is expressed.

High-Temperature Pasteurization Used at Donor Breast Milk Banks Reduces Melatonin Levels in Breast Milk.

Background and Objective: Donor human milk banks are used when breast milk directly from mothers is unavailable or insufficient. Breast milk contains melatonin, which exhibits a 24-hour pattern. Melatonin promotes sleep onset and is barely detected in daytime milk but rises in the evening and peaks early in the morning. Melatonin supports the development of an infant's own circadian rhythm and is important for neurodevelopment. Currently, donor banks pasteurize breast milk using a Holder Pasteurization (HoP) technique where breast milk is treated at a high temperature (+62°) for 30 minutes before cooling to eliminate any pathogens before it is given to infants. It is not known how the pasteurization process affects the melatonin levels in breast milk. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the pasteurization process reduces melatonin levels in breast milk. Materials and Methods: Ten night-time breast milk samples were collected and each divided into two groups; one group remained unpasteurized and the other group was pasteurized using the HoP technique. Results: Melatonin levels between the unpasteurized and pasteurized groups were compared. Results showed that there was a significant reduction after pasteurization (mean ± standard deviation = 51.92 pg/mL ± 19.54 versus 39.66 pg/mL ± 13.05, p = 0.01). Conclusions: It is important to understand that pasteurization can reduce melatonin levels in breast milk because this hormone is considered important to support the neurodevelopment of infants, especially those born preterm. Further focus on the effect of pasteurization techniques on melatonin in donor breast milk is warranted.

Relationships between objective sleep indices and symptoms in a community sample of people with tetraplegia.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between injury severity, quality of life, sleep symptoms, objectively measured sleep, and sleep disorders in chronic tetraplegia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: People with tetraplegia (N=78; 59 men, 35 with motor and sensory complete tetraplegia; mean age ± SD, 43±12.1; age range 18-70y), living in the state of Victoria, Australia, who were not currently being treated for sleep disorders and who completed both questionnaires and sleep studies comprised the study cohort. INTERVENTION: Questionnaire battery mailed to potential participants. Returned questionnaires were followed with full, home-based polysomnography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographics and questionnaire responses. RESULTS: Quality of life (Assessment of Quality of Life instrument) was worse in the group with complete lesions compared with incomplete lesions (P=.001; median=16; interquartile range, 9 vs 12 [12]), and the Apnea-Hypopnea Index was higher (P=.002; interquartile range, 32.0 [25.2] vs 13.2 [24.8]). Ninety-one percent of those with complete lesions had obstructive sleep apnea (Apnea-Hypopnea Index >10) versus 55.8% of those with incomplete tetraplegia. No effect of lesion level on the Apnea-Hypopnea Index was observed (r=-.04, P=.73). In the complete group, the time taken from sleep onset until the first rapid eye movement sleep period was significantly delayed at over 2 hours. Multiple regression analyses showed substantially stronger relationships between daytime sleep complaints and abnormalities observed in the sleep study in those with complete lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Obstructive sleep apnea is a major problem, particularly in those with complete tetraplegia, and this single comorbidity is associated with reduced quality of life. In those with incomplete cervical lesions, the relationships between sleepiness, other sleep symptoms, and polysomnography indices are less precise.

Preliminary Exploration into the Impact of Mistimed Expressed Breast Milk Feeding on Infant Sleep Outcomes, Compared to Other Feeding Patterns.

Background and Objective: The presence and fluctuation of melatonin in breast milk during the night and day may be providing sleep timing information to infants, thereby supporting/enabling the development of their own circadian cycle. If this is the case, then it is important that infants consume breast milk according to the time of day it is produced. However, breast milk is not always consumed at the "right" time. The aim of this study was to investigate whether consuming mistimed expressed breast milk impacts infant sleep compared with other feeding types. Methods: A total of 329 mothers completed an online anonymous survey. Mothers were grouped into one of five groups; direct breastfed only, formula only, express mistimed, express-timed, and combined breastfed/formula fed. Results: Cross-sectional analysis showed mistimed expressed breast milk was significantly associated with delayed sleep onset of the infant (p < 0.001), but direct breastfed infants had significantly more awakenings at night (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings from this study suggest a potential effect of mistimed expressed breast milk consumption on an infant's circadian rhythm, affecting some aspects of their sleep. This is an important first step in exploring mistimed feeding on infant sleep outcomes and provides preliminary evidence that warrants future research.

Collaborative team approaches to supporting inclusion of children with disability in mainstream schools: A co-design study.

BACKGROUND: Collaborative consultation involving educational staff, allied health professionals and parents working towards goals for children with disability is considered best practice in inclusive education. However, challenges can hinder effective collaboration, thereby potentially limiting child outcomes. AIMS: The study aims were to (a) explore the experiences of teachers, teacher assistants, allied health professionals, and parents engaging in collaborative teamwork to support inclusion of children with disability in mainstream primary schools, and (b) identify key factors influencing effective teamwork and the design of support strategies. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A co-design research method emulated collaborative consultation and authentic stakeholder teamwork. Data were from a series of six co-design workshops (15 h); discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. An interpretive descriptive method of thematic analysis resulted in four key themes. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Critical factors that influenced collaborative teamwork were access to diagnosis and funding, mechanisms for team communications, practical ways of working together, and shared understandings of inclusion. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Stakeholder teams require effective communication mechanisms and practical ways of working together within and outside of classrooms. Shared understandings of inclusion provide a foundation for collaboration, requiring access to professional development to ensure teamwork is informed by best inclusive education practice.

The effect of 90 day administration of a high dose vitamin B-complex on work stress.

OBJECTIVE: Occupational stress is increasing in Western societies and the impact is significant at a personal, organisational and community level. The present study examined for the first time the efficacy of 3 months administration of two forms of high dose vitamin B complex on mood and psychological strain associated with chronic work stress. METHOD: Sixty participants completed the 3-month, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in which personality, work demands, mood, anxiety and strain were assessed. RESULTS: After individual differences in personality and work demands were statistically controlled, the vitamin B complex treatment groups reported significantly lower personal strain and a reduction in confusion and depressed/dejected mood after 12 weeks. There were no treatment-related changes in other measures of mood and anxiety. DISCUSSION: The results of the study are consistent with two previous studies examining multivitamin supplementation and personal (non-work) feelings of strain and suggestive of significant decreases in the experience of workplace stress after 90 day supplementation of a B multivitamin. CONCLUSION: Given the direct and indirect costs of workplace stress, these findings point to the utility of a cost-effective treatment for the mood and psychological strain effects of occupational stress. These findings may have important personal health, organisational and societal outcomes given the rising cost and incidence of workplace stress.

The contribution of fatigue and sleepiness to depression in patients attending the sleep laboratory for evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: A high prevalence of depressive symptomatology has been reported amongst sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but it remains unclear as to whether this is due to their OSA or other factors associated with the disorder. The current study aimed to assess the incidence and aetiology of depression in a community sample of individuals presenting to the sleep laboratory for diagnostic assessment of OSA. METHODS: Forty-five consecutive individuals who presented to the sleep laboratory were recruited; of those, 34 were diagnosed with OSA, and 11 were primary snorers with no clinical or laboratory features of OSA. Nineteen control subjects were also recruited. Patients and controls completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to assess their mood and sleepiness, prior to their polysomnography. RESULTS: All patients reported significantly more depressive symptoms compared with healthy controls, regardless of their degree of OSA. There were no significant differences between OSA patients and primary snorers on any of the mood and self-rated sleepiness measures. Depression scores were not significantly associated with any of the nocturnal variables. Regression analysis revealed that the POMS fatigue subscale explained the majority of the variance in subjects' depression scores. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue was the primary predictor of the level of depressive symptoms in patients who attended the sleep laboratory, regardless of the level of severity of sleep-disordered breathing. When considering treatment options, practitioners should be aware of the concomitant occurrence of depressive symptoms and fatigue in patients presenting with sleep complaints, which may not be due to a sleep disorder.

Transcutaneous measurement of carbon dioxide tension during extended monitoring: evaluation of accuracy and stability, and an algorithm for correcting calibration drift.

BACKGROUND: When polysomnography is indicated in a patient with a presumed sleep disorder, continuous monitoring of arterial carbon dioxide tension (P(aCO(2))) is desirable, especially if nocturnal hypoventilation is suspected. Transcutaneous CO(2) monitors (P(tcCO(2))) provide a noninvasive correlate of P(aCO(2)), but their accuracy and stability over extended monitoring have been considered inadequate for the diagnosis of hypoventilation. We examined the stability and accuracy of P(tcCO(2)) measurements and the performance of a previously described linear interpolation technique designed to correct for calibration drift. METHODS: We compared the P(tcCO(2)) values from 2 TINA TCM-3 monitors to P(aCO(2)) values from arterial blood samples obtained at the beginning, every 15 min of the first hour, and then hourly over 8 hours of monitoring in 6 hemodynamically stable, male, intensive care patients (mean age 46 ± 17 y). RESULTS: Time had a significant (P = .002) linear effect on the P(tcCO(2))-P(aCO(2)) difference, suggesting calibration drift over the monitoring period. We found no differences between monitor type or interaction between time and monitor type. For the 2 monitors the uncorrected bias was 3.6 mm Hg and the limits of agreement were -5.1 to 12.3 mm Hg. Our linear interpolation algorithm improved the bias and limits of agreement to 0.4 and -5.5 to 6.4 mm Hg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Following stabilization and correction for both offset and drift, P(tcCO(2)) tracks P(aCO(2)) with minimal residual bias over 8 hours of monitoring. Should future research confirm these findings, then interpolated P(tcCO(2)) may have an increased role in detecting sleep hypoventilation and assessing the efficacy of treatment.

The feasibility of using auto-titrating continuous positive airway pressure to treat obstructive sleep apnoea after acute tetraplegia.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort with acute tetraplegia. OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common within weeks of tetraplegia. This study aimed at determining the feasibility of auto-titrating continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat OSA after acute tetraplegia. SETTING: The Victorian Spinal Cord Service, Melbourne, Australia. METHODS: Participants underwent full, portable polysomnography. Those with an apnoea hypopnoea index of more than 10 events per hour were defined as having OSA and were offered treatment with CPAP. Treatment adherence was objectively monitored, and measures of quality of life, sleepiness and functional outcomes were determined at enrollment and 3 months later at study conclusion. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients were admitted to our Spinal Cord Service over 9 months, and 19 participated. Fourteen of them had OSA and seven were adherent with therapy for 3 months. Compared with those who did not have OSA, and with those with OSA who were not adherent with CPAP, those who adhered to CPAP were older (mean (s.d.) age 54 years (13) versus non-adherent 28 years (15) and no OSA 29 years (10)) and heavier (body mass index (BMI) 32.5 (11.7), 24.1 (3.7) and 20.6 (3.1), respectively). CPAP-adherant patients and those without OSA showed a 50% or greater improvement in their state sleepiness over the 3 months. Patients with OSA who did not tolerate CPAP had no improvement in sleepiness. CONCLUSION: Auto-titrating CPAP is a feasible treatment for OSA in acute tetraplegia. Intensive clinical support was required initially, and a tolerance of therapy for at least 4 h for one of the first 3 days was predictive of good CPAP usage. SPONSORSHIP: Transport Accident Commission.

Evidence against a subcortical gate preventing conscious detection of respiratory load stimuli.

Respiratory related evoked potentials (RREP) were used to examine respiratory stimulus gating. RREPs produced by consciously detected vs. undetected loads, near the detection threshold, were compared. Participants (n = 17) were instrumented with EEG and a nasal mask connected to a loading manifold, which presented a range of mid-inspiratory resistive loads, plus a control, in a random block design. Participants were cued prior to the stimulus and signalled detection by a button press. There were statistically significant differences in peak-to-peak amplitude of the P1 RREP peak for detected (mean ± SD; 3.86 ± 1.45 µV; P = 0.020) and undetected loads (3.67 ± 1.27 µV; P = 0.002) vs. control (2.36 ± 0.81 µV), although baseline-to-peak differences were not significantly different. In contrast peak-to-peak P3 amplitude was significantly greater for detected (5.91 ± 1.54 µV; P < 0.001) but not undetected loads (3.33 ± 0.98 µV; P = 0.189) vs. control (3.69 ± 1.46 µV), with the same pattern observed for baseline-to-peak measurements. The P1 peak, thought to reflect arrival of somatosensory information, appeared to be present in response to both detected and undetected loads, but the later P3 peak, was present for detected loads only. This suggests that for sub-threshold loads sensory information may reach the cortex, arguing against a sub-cortical gating process.

The effects of electro-convulsive therapy on the speed of information processing in major depression.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates whether cognitive impairment is evident in inpatients diagnosed with Major Depression (MD) following electro-convulsive therapy (ECT), and if so, whether it is independent from depressive symptomatology. METHODS: Speed of information processing was measured using the inspection time (IT) task. IT was compared between twelve inpatients diagnosed with MD receiving ECT and twelve age-, gender-, verbal IQ-, and depression and anxiety severity matched control inpatients diagnosed with MD not receiving ECT, over four testing sessions (prior to ECT, following one ECT session, following the completion of an ECT block, and 4 to 6 weeks after the ECT block (follow-up)). RESULTS: The mean IT score for the inpatients diagnosed with MD who received ECT slowed significantly from the first ECT to immediately after the ECT block, and was significantly faster at follow-up. The mean IT score of the inpatients diagnosed with MD not receiving ECT gradually but significantly became faster over the entire equivalent time period. LIMITATIONS: Small sample sizes. CONCLUSIONS: ECT temporarily slows information processing speed in MD patients, independent of depression symptomatology.

Neuropsychological Function in Patients With Acute Tetraplegia and Sleep Disordered Breathing.

Study objectives: To investigate the relationship between apnea severity and neuropsychological function in patients with acute-onset tetraplegia and sleep disordered breathing. Methods: Polysomnography and neuropsychological testing were performed on 104 participants (age M = 45.60, SD = 16.38; 10 female) across 11 international sites, 2 months postinjury (M = 60.70 days, SD = 39.48). Neuropsychological tests assessed attention, information processing, executive function, memory, learning, mood, and quality of life. Results: More severe sleep apnea was associated with poorer attention, information processing, and immediate recall. Deficits did not extend to memory. Higher preinjury intelligence and being younger reduced the associations with sleep disordered breathing; however, these protective factors were insufficient to counter the damage to attention, immediate recall, and information processing associated with sleep disordered breathing. Conclusions: These data suggest that new spinal cord injury may function as a model of "acute sleep apnea" and that more widespread sleep apnea-related deficits, including memory, may only be seen with longer exposure to apnea. These findings have important implications for functioning and skill acquisition during rehabilitation and, as such, highlight the importance of sleep health following tetraplegia.

Light sensors for objective light measurement in ambulatory polysomnography.

Ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) does not commonly include an objective measure of light to determine the time of lights off (Loff), and thus cannot be used to calculate important indices such as sleep onset latency and sleep efficiency. This study examined the technical specifications and appropriateness of a prototype light sensor (LS) for use in ambulatory Compumedics Somte PSG.Two studies were conducted. The first examined the light measurement characteristics of the LS when used with a portable PSG device, specifically recording trace range, linearity, sensitivity, and stability. This involved the LS being exposed to varying incandescent and fluorescent light levels in a light controlled room. Secondly, the LS was trialled in 24 home and 12 hospital ambulatory PSGs to investigate whether light levels in home and hospital settings were within the recording range of the LS, and to quantify the typical light intensity reduction at the time of Loff. A preliminary exploration of clinical utility was also conducted. Linearity between LS voltage and lux was demonstrated, and the LS trace was stable over 14 hours of recording. The observed maximum voltage output of the LS/PSG device was 250 mV, corresponding to a maximum recording range of 350 lux and 523 lux for incandescent and fluorescent light respectively. At the time of Loff, light levels were within the recording range of the LS, and on average dropped by 72 lux (9-245) in the home and 76 lux (4-348) in the hospital setting. Results suggest that clinical utility was greatest in hospital settings where patients are less mobile. The LS was a simple and effective objective marker of light level in portable PSG, which can be used to identify Loff in ambulatory PSG. This allows measurement of additional sleep indices and support with clinical decisions.

Neuropsychological sequelae of digital mobile phone exposure in humans.

The effect of electromagnetic fields from digital mobile phones (DMP) on cognitive functioning is an area receiving increased attention. This study compares the performance of 120 volunteers on 8 neuropsychological tests during real or sham exposure to a DMP set to maximum permissible radiofrequency power output. When results were adjusted for known covariates (gender, age, or education), several alterations at significance levels of p<0.05 were obtained. Of these, simple and choice reaction times (CRT) showed strong evidence of impairment. Further, performance on the Trail Making Task (TMT) improved, supporting the hypothesis that DMP radiofrequency emissions improve the speed of processing of information held in working memory.