Are social pressure, bullying and low social support associated with depressive symptoms, self-harm and self-directed violence among adolescents? A cross-sectional study using a structural equation modeling approach.

BACKGROUND: More in-depth evidence about the complex relationships between different risk factors and mental health among adolescents has been warranted. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine the direct and indirect effects of experiencing social pressure, bullying, and low social support on mental health problems in adolescence. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 among 15 823 Norwegian adolescents, aged 13-19 years. Structural Equation Modelling was used to assess the relationships between socioeconomic status, social pressure, bullying, social support, depressive symptoms, self-harm and suicide thoughts. RESULTS: Poor family economy and low parental education were associated with high pressure, low parental support and depressive symptoms in males and females. Moreover, poor family economy was associated with bullying perpetration and bullying victimization among males and females, and cyberbullying victimization among females, but not males. Low parental education was associated with bullying victimization among males, but not females. Further, high social pressure was associated with depressive symptoms among males and females, whereas high social pressure was linked to self-harm and suicide thoughts among females, but not males. Bullying victimization and cyberbullying victimization were associated with depressive symptoms, self-harm, and suicide thoughts among males and females. Bullying victimization was associated with depressive symptoms among males, but not females, whereas bullying perpetration was linked to self-harm and suicide thoughts among females, but not males. Low parental support was associated with bullying perpetration, bullying victimization, depressive symptoms, self-harm and suicide thoughts among males and females, whereas low parental support was associated with high social pressure among females, but not males. Low teacher support was associated with high social pressure and depressive symptoms. Low support from friends was associated with bullying victimization, depressive symptoms and suicide thoughts among males and females, whereas low support from friends was linked to self-harm among males, but not females. Finally, results showed that depressive symptoms were associated with self-harm and suicide thoughts among males and females. CONCLUSION: Low socioeconomic status, social pressure, bullying and low social support were directly and indirectly associated with depressive symptoms and self-directed violence among Norwegian adolescents.

Bariatric surgery patients in AUD treatment in Norway-an exploratory cross-sectional study.

AIMS: Patients who have undergone some forms of bariatric surgery have increased risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). In the present observational study, we compared patients with AUD who themselves reported to having undergone bariatric surgery with other patients in treatment for AUD. MATERIALS: One-hundred-and-six consecutively enrolled patients in residential treatment for AUD were asked if they had undergone bariatric surgery. Sociodemographics, mental health-related, and alcohol use-related parameters were compared between those who had and those who had not undergone bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Of the 106 patients with AUD, seven (6.6%; 95% confidence interval, 2.7%-13.1%) had undergone bariatric surgery. Six of seven patients had undergone such surgery were women (P < .001). The patients with AUD who had undergone bariatric surgery were similar to other patients with AUD on most other parameters, the exception being a larger number of alcohol units ingested to feel an effect of alcohol (adjusted odds ratio 7.1; 95% confidence interval 2.0-12.2; P = .007). CONCLUSION: The high number of patients with AUD that reported having undergone bariatric surgery emphasizes the risks following such a procedure. The overrepresentation of women may reflect than more women undergo such procedures. The unexpected finding that patients with AUD having undergone bariatric surgery seemed to need more alcohol to feel intoxicated warrants further research.

Is smokeless tobacco a healthier option in patients with AUD? A follow-up study during treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is negatively related to mental health, but there is a paucity of research on the relationship between the use of smokeless tobacco, such as snus, and mental health outcomes, especially in people with alcohol use disorders (AUD). The aim of the present study was to examine the development of mental distress and quality of life (QoL) among AUD patients in treatment who did or did not use snus. METHOD: The study included 128 AUD patients (27% female) from three rehabilitation clinics in Eastern Norway who were interviewed at admission, at 6 weeks, and after 6 months. Patients were asked about their mental health-related problems, alcohol, and substance use, QoL, and physical activity. Information about tobacco use was gathered with the questions "Do you smoke cigarettes?" and "Do you use snus?", with follow-up questions "How often?". RESULT: There were 39 current snus users (31%), of which 20 were also current smokers (dual users). Seventy-five patients (59%) were smokers only, and only 14 (11%) patients were abstainers. Those who used snus only had a lower severity of dependence score than the other groups (p < 0.05). The dual use group reported lower QoL than the no tobacco use group. In a regression model adjusted for sex and age, smokers and dual users, but not users of snus, had higher levels of mental distress and poorer QoL compared to nontobacco users (p < 0.05). There were no differences between tobacco groups at follow-ups. CONCLUSION: In this study, among AUD patients, snus users reported QoL and mental distress close to that of non-smokers, indicating a lower problem load among snus users compared to smokers. IMPLICATIONS: Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the potential harm reduction effect of snus use among patients with AUD who smoke regarding their tobacco use, quality of life and mental health problems. This study suggests that snus use could also be a viable alternative to smoking for patients with addictions.

Individual Trajectories of Specialist Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Treatment Utilization Among Young Adults With Substance Use Problems: A Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to identify groups of young adults with distinct longitudinal patterns of use of treatment for substance use disorders and mental health (MH) problems and to investigate potential explanatory factors for different patterns of treatment use over time, including sociodemographic factors. METHODS: The sample consisted of 447 young adults aged 16-29 years who entered long-term residential substance use disorder treatment facilities in Norway from 2011 to 2016. In this study, we obtained data collected by the Norwegian Patient Registry and Statistics Norway. These data were linked with the electronic health record data of the substance use disorder treatment facilities from which the participants were recruited. Growth mixture modeling was performed. The identified groups were further compared using analysis of variance or χ2 test. RESULTS: Four groups of participants for total treatment use, substance use disorder treatment use, and MH treatment use were identified. Most participants from the overall sample were classified as members of a group characterized by a low and stable pattern of treatment use over time. A group with a high and stable pattern of treatment use was identified in total and MH treatment use. The proportion of participants with higher levels of substance use disorder treatment use at the end of the study period than at the beginning was larger (35%) than in the case of MH treatment use (14.2%). Younger age was associated with a decreasing pattern of MH treatment use and with an increasing pattern of substance use disorder treatment use over time. There were larger proportions of female participants in groups with a stable high use of MH treatment and in groups with an initially increasing trend of substance use disorder treatment use. Findings revealed that most participants across the identified groups were recipients of welfare benefits, had low educational attainment, and were not working. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrated significant variation in trajectories of treatment use among young adults with substance use disorder. Differences in treatment use could indicate differences in symptom severity and complexity. In this study, treatment use was associated with socioeconomic factors, sex, and age. Integrative approaches, including interagency and interdisciplinary collaboration, will often be necessary to sufficiently address the multidimensionality of substance use disorder.

Which factors affect job satisfaction of doctors in psychiatry?

BACKGROUND: Recent reports have described challenges in retaining and recruiting psychiatrists in public mental health care. To improve the work situation for doctors, the Norwegian Psychiatric Association (NPA) conducted surveys to explore job satisfaction among its members. The purpose of this study is to explore how doctors in mental health services perceive their work, and factors affecting their job satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A Questback survey was sent to all employed members of NPA in June 2020 and in December 2021. In the first survey, 670 members (37%) responded and 903 (43%) in the second. Job satisfaction was measured on a Likert scale from one to five. Linear regression was used to examine associations between work-related factors and job satisfaction. RESULTS: In 2021, more than half of the respondents (56%) were satisfied, 16% were dissatisfied and 27% were neutral. The oldest and youngest doctors were most satisfied (p < 0.001). Partial treatment responsibility was related to reduced job satisfaction (ß = -0.23, p < 0.001) as well as access to an experienced colleague (ß = 0.39, p < 0.001), time for direct patient contact (ß = 0.17, p < 0.001) and ability to treat patients in a satisfactory manner (ß = 0.52, p < 0.001). Job satisfaction decreased from 2020 to 2021. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatrists seem to be torn between treating their own patients and having medically responsible for other therapists' patients. Time for patient contact and discussions with colleagues are crucial for psychiatrists' well-being at work.

Training non-specialists in teaching recovery techniques (TRT) to help traumatised children in humanitarian settings: a qualitative analysis of experiences gained from 20 years of practice.

BACKGROUND: Although several manuals and guidelines have been developed to enhance the quality of task-sharing interventions, it remains challenging to train non-professional personnel in mental health and psychosocial support. Practitioners must translate general recommendations into practical applications to make them relevant in demanding contexts. However, limited research exists on practical experiences with standardised programmes in the field. AIM: To explore how experiences gained from the training of first-line health providers in a low-threshold intervention for children with trauma symptoms may guide implementation of such interventions in local communities in low-income countries. METHOD: We summarise 20 years of experience in the training of first-line health providers, teachers, and school counsellors in providing a low-threshold intervention. The intervention is called teaching recovery techniques (TRT), developed by the Children and War Foundation (CAW). Field notes containing notes from trainings and oral, informal feedback from participants are analysed using thematic analysis, a method well-suited for identifying, analysing, and reporting patterns, or themes, within data in qualitative research. FINDINGS: The analysis showed three main themes/ challenges: (1) Who can conduct the TRT intervention? (2) What form and content should the training take? (3) How can the intervention be used in a responsible way to follow the 'do no harm' principle? We discuss the implications of the findings for trainings in scalable interventions and further research.

Perceived Stigmatization among Dermatological Outpatients Compared with Controls: An Observational Multicentre Study in 17 European Countries.

Perceived stigmatization places a large psychosocial burden on patients with some skin conditions. Little is known about the experience of stigmatization across a wide range of skin diseases. This observational cross-sectional study aimed to quantify perceived stigmatization and identify its predictors among patients with a broad spectrum of skin diseases across 17 European countries. Self-report questionnaires assessing perceived stigmatization and its potential predictors were completed by 5,487 dermatology outpatients and 2,808 skin-healthy controls. Dermatological diagnosis, severity, and comorbidity were clinician-assessed. Patients experienced higher levels of perceived stigmatization than controls (p < 0.001, d = 0.26); patients with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, alopecia, and bullous disorders were particularly affected. Multivariate regression analyses showed that perceived stigmatization was related to sociodemographic (lower age, male sex, being single), general health-related (higher body mass index, lower overall health), disease-related (higher clinician-assessed disease severity, presence of itch, longer disease duration), and psychological (greater distress, presence of suicidal ideation, greater body dysmorphic concerns, lower appearance satisfaction) variables. To conclude, perceived stigmatization is common in patients with skin diseases. Factors have been identified that will help clinicians and policymakers to target vulnerable patient groups, offer adequate patient management, and to ultimately develop evidence-based interventions.

The impact of PTSD on risk of cardiometabolic diseases: a national patient cohort study in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with cardiometabolic diseases, concurrent anxiety, alcohol use disorder and depression. The relationship between PTSD and cardiometabolic diseases are still unclear, and less is known about the effects of socioeconomic status, comorbid anxiety, comorbid alcohol use disorder and comorbid depression. The study, therefore, aims to examine the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus over time in PTSD patients, and to what extent socioeconomic status, comorbid anxiety, comorbid alcohol use disorder and comorbid depression attenuate associations between PTSD and risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. METHOD: A retrospective, register-based cohort study with 6-years follow-up of adult (> 18 years) PTSD patients (N = 7 852) compared with the general population (N = 4 041 366), was performed. Data were acquired from the Norwegian Patient Registry and Statistic Norway. Cox proportional regression models were applied to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) (99% confidence intervals) of cardiometabolic diseases among PTSD patients. RESULTS: Significantly (p < 0.001) higher age and gender adjusted HRs were disclosed for all cardiometabolic diseases among PTSD patients compared to the population without PTSD, with a variation in HR from 3.5 (99% CI 3.1-3.9) for hypertensive diseases to HR = 6.5 (5.7-7.5) for obesity. When adjusted for socioeconomic status and comorbid mental disorders, reductions were observed, especially for comorbid depression, for which the adjustment resulted in HR reduction of about 48.6% for hypertensive diseases and 67.7% for obesity. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD was associated with increased risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases, though attenuated by socioeconomic status and comorbid mental disorders. Health care professionals should be attentive towards the burden and increased risk that low socioeconomic status and comorbid mental disorders may represent for PTSD patients' cardiometabolic health.

Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 and all-cause mortality in persons with co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness during the pandemic: a Norwegian cohort study.

PURPOSE: Most people were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons with co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness (MI) are already a marginalized group, with above average mortality. Thus, the study aim was to investigate SARS-CoV-2 incidence and mortality among persons with SUD/MI during the first two years of the pandemic. METHODS: This historical cohort study merged data from the Norwegian Patient Register, the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases and census data from Statistics Norway. We calculated crude mortality rates for persons with SUD and mild/moderate vs. severe MI and compared them to persons with physical illnesses or healthy controls. The incidence rate ratios for SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality were estimated using Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, the SARS-Cov-2-infection rate was marginally lower in persons with SUD and mild/moderate MI (IRR,1.19 [95%CI,1.09-1.30]) as in persons with physical illness (IRR,1.35 [95%CI, 1.23-1.47]), whereas persons with SUD and severe MI showed a lower rate compared to healthy controls. Crude mortality rates for persons with SUD/MI were substantially higher and increased much more during the pandemic than for persons with physical illnesses or healthy controls. The IRR for mortality in persons with SUD and mild/moderate MI was 10.61 (95%CI,7.19-15.67) and 11.44 (95%CI,7.50-17.45) for SUD and severe MI, compared to 5.03 (3.34-7.57]) for persons with physical illnesses only. CONCLUSION: The analysis showed excess mortality during COVID-19-pandemic for SUD/MI, but without higher SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in this group. Consequently, excess mortality among persons with SUD/MI was not due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Association of daily hassles, daily uplifts, coping styles and stress-related symptoms among women exposed to sexual abuse-A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Women who experience physical or sexual violence report poor self-perceived health. Knowledge of daily hassles, daily uplifts and coping styles, as well as how these factors can affect health and well-being among survivors of sexual abuse, is important for healthcare professionals to understand and target their needs. AIM: The aim of the current study was to explore the association of daily hassles, daily uplifts, coping strategies and stress-related symptoms among female survivors of sexual abuse. METHODS: A group of women (n = 57), exposed to sexual abuse, were recruited from nine support centres in Norway. Participants completed a questionnaire that addressed demographics, socioeconomic conditions, trauma history, daily hassles, daily uplifts, coping styles and stress-related symptoms. Two groups of participants were compared: one group that had above-median scores on uplifts and adaptive coping styles and one group that had above-median scores on daily hassles and maladaptive coping styles. RESULTS: Results indicate that women who experienced more daily hassles and used maladaptive coping styles reported significantly more stress-related symptoms, and particularly emotional symptoms, than women who experienced more daily uplifts and used adaptive coping styles. There were few differences between the two groups related to socioeconomic conditions and trauma history. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that women in both groups struggle with stress-related physical, emotional, cognitive and target group-specific symptoms. However, high incidence of daily hassles and the use of maladaptive coping styles were associated with an increase in stress-related symptoms. Novell's findings indicate that despite severe traumatic experiences, adaptive coping styles and favourable perceptions of stress in everyday life were associated with a lower frequency of stress-related symptoms. It may therefore be helpful to focus on altering maladaptive coping styles to reduce stress-related symptoms among sexual abuse survivors.

Body dysmorphia in common skin diseases: results of an observational, cross-sectional multicentre study among dermatological outpatients in 17 European countries.

BACKGROUND: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a common psychiatric disorder associated with high costs for healthcare systems as patients may repeatedly ask for different, often not effective, interventions. BDD symptoms are more prevalent in patients with dermatological conditions than in the general population, but there are no large sample studies comparing the prevalence of BDD symptoms between patients with dermatological conditions and healthy skin controls. OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of BDD symptoms between patients with different dermatological conditions and healthy skin controls and to describe sociodemographic, physical and psychological factors associated with BDD symptoms to identify patients who may have a particularly high chance of having this condition. METHODS: This observational, cross-sectional, comparative multicentre study included 8295 participants: 5487 consecutive patients with different skin diseases (56% female) recruited among dermatological outpatients at 22 clinics in 17 European countries, and 2808 healthy skin controls (66% female). BDD symptoms were assessed by the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire. Sociodemographic data and information on psychological factors and physical conditions were collected. Each patient was given a dermatological diagnosis according to ICD-10 by a dermatologist. The study was registered with number DRKS00012745. RESULTS: The average participation rate of invited dermatological patients was 82.4% across all centres. BDD symptoms were five times more prevalent in patients with dermatological conditions than in healthy skin controls (10.5% vs. 2.1%). Patients with hyperhidrosis, alopecia and vitiligo had a more than 11-fold increased chance (adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) > 11) of having BDD symptoms compared with healthy skin controls, and patients with atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, prurigo and bullous diseases had a more than sixfold increased chance (adjusted OR > 6) of having BDD symptoms. Using a logistic regression model, BDD symptoms were significantly related to lower age, female sex, higher psychological stress and feelings of stigmatization. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical BDD symptoms are significantly associated with common dermatological diseases. As such symptoms are associated with higher levels of psychological distress and multiple unhelpful consultations, general practitioners and dermatologists should consider BDD and refer patients when identified to an appropriate service for BDD screening and management.

How did the first COVID-19 lockdown affect persons with concurrent mental health and substance use disorders in Norway? A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of COVID-19 with its severe social restrictions touched the daily life of most people. While everyday social life becomes difficult for citizens with economic and cultural capital, it becomes even worse for vulnerable groups such as persons with mental health and substance use disorders, who are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion. The aim of this study is to investigate how the first COVID-19 lockdown affected the everyday life and health of persons with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. METHODS: This qualitative study reports data from 17 individual interviews and one focus group of five participants, all with a self-reported mental health and substance use disorder. Interviews were conducted based on a semi-structured interview guide in September and October 2020 in a medium-sized local authority in Norway. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. A reference group of people with varied knowledge and experiences of the phenomenon were involved in study design, recruitment, data generation and analysis. RESULTS: The analysis identified four interrelated main themes, describing how the first lockdown affected the everyday life and health of persons suffering from a mental health and substance use disorder: (1) The COVID-19 outbreak as a perceived challenge, (2) A decline in mental health and well-being, (3) Increased substance use challenges, and (4) Diverse experiences with health and social services. The results show that people with a co-occurring disorder have challenges with digital tools and/or do not have the appropriate equipment. Further, participants were not concerned about becoming infected themselves, but infecting others. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with a mental health and substance use disorder face major challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to maintain continuous low-threshold services especially directed towards persons with co-occurring disorders during the pandemic. Furthermore, it is important to improve the digital skills of every service user or offer alternatives to digital consultations and meetings.

Music therapy for people with substance use disorders.

BACKGROUND: Substance use disorder (SUD) is the continued use of one or more psychoactive substances, including alcohol, despite negative effects on health, functioning, and social relations. Problematic drug use has increased by 10% globally since 2013, and harmful use of alcohol is associated with 5.3% of all deaths. Direct effects of music therapy (MT) on problematic substance use are not known, but it may be helpful in alleviating associated psychological symptoms and decreasing substance craving. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of music therapy (MT) in addition to standard care versus standard care alone, or to standard care plus an active control intervention, on psychological symptoms, substance craving, motivation for treatment, and motivation to stay clean/sober. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following databases (from inception to 1 February 2021): the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Specialised Register; CENTRAL; MEDLINE (PubMed); eight other databases, and two trials registries. We handsearched reference lists of all retrieved studies and relevant systematic reviews. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials comparing MT plus standard care to standard care alone, or MT plus standard care to active intervention plus standard care for people with SUD. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard Cochrane methodology. MAIN RESULTS: We included 21 trials involving 1984 people. We found moderate-certainty evidence of a medium effect favouring MT plus standard care over standard care alone for substance craving (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.23 to -0.10; 3 studies, 254 participants), with significant subgroup differences indicating greater reduction in craving for MT intervention lasting one to three months; and small-to-medium effect favouring MT for motivation for treatment/change (SMD 0.41, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.61; 5 studies, 408 participants). We found no clear evidence of a beneficial effect on depression (SMD -0.33, 95% CI -0.72 to 0.07; 3 studies, 100 participants), or motivation to stay sober/clean (SMD 0.22, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.47; 3 studies, 269 participants), though effect sizes ranged from large favourable effect to no effect, and we are uncertain about the result. There was no evidence of beneficial effect on anxiety (mean difference (MD) -0.17, 95% CI -4.39 to 4.05; 1 study, 60 participants), though we are uncertain about the result. There was no meaningful effect for retention in treatment for participants receiving MT plus standard care as compared to standard care alone (risk ratio (RR) 0.99, 95% 0.93 to 1.05; 6 studies, 199 participants). There was a moderate effect on motivation for treatment/change when comparing MT plus standard care to another active intervention plus standard care (SMD 0.46, 95% CI -0.00 to 0.93; 5 studies, 411 participants), and certainty in the result was moderate. We found no clear evidence of an effect of MT on motivation to stay sober/clean when compared to active intervention, though effect sizes ranged from large favourable effect to no effect, and we are uncertain about the result (MD 0.34, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.78; 3 studies, 258 participants). There was no clear evidence of effect on substance craving (SMD -0.04, 95% CI -0.56 to 0.48; 3 studies, 232 participants), depression (MD -1.49, 95% CI -4.98 to 2.00; 1 study, 110 participants), or substance use (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.29; 1 study, 140 participants) at one-month follow-up when comparing MT plus standard care to active intervention plus standard care. There were no data on adverse effects. Unclear risk of selection bias applied to most studies due to incomplete description of processes of randomisation and allocation concealment. All studies were at unclear risk of detection bias due to lack of blinding of outcome assessors for subjective outcomes (mostly self-report). We judged that bias arising from such lack of blinding would not differ between groups. Similarly, it is not possible to blind participants and providers to MT. We consider knowledge of receiving this type of therapy as part of the therapeutic effect itself, and thus all studies were at low risk of performance bias for subjective outcomes.  We downgraded all outcomes one level for imprecision due to optimal information size not being met, and two levels for outcomes with very low sample size.  AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Results from this review suggest that MT as 'add on' treatment to standard care can lead to moderate reductions in substance craving and can increase motivation for treatment/change for people with SUDs receiving treatment in detoxification and short-term rehabilitation settings. Greater reduction in craving is associated with MT lasting longer than a single session. We have moderate-to-low confidence in our findings as the included studies were downgraded in certainty due to imprecision, and most included studies were conducted by the same researcher in the same detoxification unit, which considerably impacts the transferability of findings.

Association between cannabis use and physical health problems in Norwegian adolescents: a cross-sectional study from the youth survey Ungdata.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis use is increasing among young Norwegians and several studies show a high incidence of common physical health problems. An association has previously been found between cannabis use and mental health problems. Since physical and mental health problems often co-occur, the aim of this study is to explore the relationship between cannabis use and physical health problems. METHODS: In 2017-2019, the Norwegian youth survey Ungdata collected data from 249,100 Norwegian adolescents, which equalled around 80% of all lower secondary school pupils (13-15 years) and about 50% of upper secondary pupils (16-19 years) in Norway. Descriptive analysis was used to calculate the prevalence of cannabis use and bi- and multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine the association between cannabis use and physical health problems, controlled for sociodemographics and mental health problems. RESULTS: Almost 10% of Norwegian adolescents had used cannabis once or more in the previous 12 months. The use of cannabis increased with age and it was more prevalent among boys. There is a clear connection between physical health problems and cannabis use (OR = 1.582 (CI: 1.527-1.638)) even after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and mental health problems (OR = 1.366 (CI: 1.312-1.423)). CONCLUSION: More studies are needed to explore if there might a bidirectional relationship between cannabis use and physical health problems where physical problems increase cannabis use and cannabis use increases the risk of physical health problems. More knowledge on the effect of and motivation for cannabis use are important for policy makers and health care professionals involved in young people.

Sleep and energy drink consumption among Norwegian adolescents - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents are recommended to get 8-10 h of sleep at night, yet more than 80% fail to obtain this goal. Energy drink (ED) consumption has been linked to later bedtime in adolescents. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential association between ED consumption and sleep duration, and shuteye latency among adolescents in Norway. METHODS: This study was based on data from 15- to 16-year-old adolescents living in Oppland County in 2017. In total, 1353 adolescents were included in the analysis. Multiple regression models were used to estimate the associations between the frequency of ED consumption with sleep duration, shuteye latency, and getting 8 h of sleep. RESULTS: Forty-six point five percent of the adolescents reported sleeping more than 8 h at night. Those who reported ED consumption at any frequency had significantly shorter sleep duration than those who did not. On average, high consumers of ED (consuming ED ≥ 4 times a week) had 0.95 (95% CI: 0.61, 1.28) hours (i.e., 57 min) less sleep than those who never consumed ED. In addition, high consumers had more than 25 min (95% CI: 13.95, 36.92) longer shuteye period than those who never consumed ED. CONCLUSION: Most ED consumers fail to obtain the recommended 8 h of sleep at night, which could be a consequence of shorter sleep duration and longer shuteye latency. We found a dose-response relationship between frequency of ED consumption and reduced sleep. Yet, the potential long-term effects of both ED consumption and insufficient sleep among adolescents remain unclear.

Post-traumatic Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents After the 2015 Earthquake in Nepal: A Longitudinal Study.

Few longitudinal studies have focused on mental health problems among adolescents after earthquakes. We investigated changes in post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depressive symptoms from 18 to 31 months after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal and explored potential risk factors associated with the change in psychiatric symptoms. This study comprised of 515 adolescents, aged 11-17 years from two earthquake-affected areas, one severely affected than the other. The psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the standardized Child Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Scale and the Depression Self-Rating Scale. No significant change was observed in the prevalence of PTSS and depressive symptoms from 18 to 31 months after the earthquake. Living in severely affected area and exposure to trauma after the earthquake were associated with adolescents who developed chronic or delayed PTSS and depressive symptoms. The study findings highlight the need for disaster preparedness and early interventions that strengthen support at various levels.

Smoking among inpatients in treatment for substance use disorders: prevalence and effect on mental health and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is still prevalent among people with substance use disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking among patients in treatment for substance use disorders and to analyze the effect of smoking both at baseline and follow-up on drop-out, mental health and quality of life. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight inpatients (26% female), mainly with alcohol use disorder, staying at three different rehabilitation clinics in Eastern Norway, were interviewed at admission, and at 6 weeks and 6 months follow-up. The interview contained mental health-related problems, trauma, questions on alcohol and other substances and quality of life. Non-parametric tests were used to test group differences and unadjusted and adjusted linear regression to test the associations between smoking and the main outcome variables, while logistic regression was used to test the association between smoking and drop-out. RESULTS: At admission, 75% were daily smokers. Compared to non-smokers at baseline, the smokers had higher drop-out rates (37% vs. 13%), more mental distress, and lower quality of life from baseline up to 6 months follow-up. Those quitting smoking while admitted improved in mental distress and quality of life at the same rate as non-smokers. Alcohol-related factors did not differ between smokers and non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking was associated with mental distress, quality of life and treatment drop-out among patients in primary alcohol use disorder treatment. The results indicate that smoking cessation should be recommended as an integral part of alcohol use treatment both before and during inpatient treatment to reduce drop-out.

Persistent level of mental distress in PTSD patients is not reflected in cytokine levels 1 year after the treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Cross-sectional data show that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients often have increased levels of circulating inflammatory markers. There is, however, still a paucity of longitudinal studies with long follow-up times on levels of cytokines in such patients. The current study assesses patients with and without PTSD diagnosis 1 year after discharge from inpatient treatment. METHODS: Patients in treatment for serious non-psychotic mental disorders were recruited at the beginning of their treatment stay at a psychiatric centre in Norway. Ninety patients submitted serum samples and filled out the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-90 Revised Global Severity Index (HSCL-90R GSI) questionnaire during their mainstay and at a follow-up stay 1 year after discharge. Of these patients, 33 were diagnosed with PTSD, 48 with anxiety, depression, or eating disorder, while 9 patients had missing data. The patients were diagnosed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). RESULTS: At the follow-up stay (T3), PTSD patients had higher levels of GSI scores than non-PTSD patients (p = 0.048). These levels were unchanged from the year before (T2) in both groups. The levels of circulating cytokines/chemokine did not differ between the PTSD and non-PTSD patients at T3. At T2, however, the PTSD and non-PTSD groups exhibited different levels of interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) (p = 0.053), IL-1RA (p = 0.042), and TNF-α (p = 0.037), with the PTSD patients having the higher levels. CONCLUSION: Despite exhibiting different mental distress scores, the PTSD and non-PTSD patients did not differ regarding levels of circulating inflammatory markers at 1-year follow-up.

Circulating cytokine levels in the treatment of comorbid anxiety disorders.

Psychotherapy research aims to investigate predictors and moderators of treatment outcome, but there are few consistent findings. This study aimed to investigate cytokines in patients undergoing treatment for anxiety disorders and whether the level of cytokines moderated the treatment outcome. Thirty-seven patients with comorbid and treatment-resistant anxiety disorders were investigated using multilevel modelling. Serum cytokine levels were measured three times: pretreatment, in the middle of treatment, and at the end of treatment. Anxiety and metacognitions were measured weekly throughout treatment by self-report. The levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist did not change during therapy or were not related to the level of anxiety. Metacognitive beliefs predicted anxiety, but the relationship between metacognitions and anxiety was not moderated by cytokines. Limitations of the study include that the patients were not fasting at blood sampling, and we did not assess body mass index, which may affect cytokine levels. The lack of significance for cytokines as a predictor or moderator may be due to a lack of power for testing moderation hypotheses, a problem associated with many psychotherapy studies. Cytokines did not predict the outcome in the treatment of comorbid anxiety disorders in our sample. Furthermore, cytokines did not moderate the relationship between metacognitions and anxiety.