Latin American Trans-ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO): Study protocol.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder. Worldwide, its prevalence is ~2% and its etiology is mostly unknown. Identifying biological factors contributing to OCD will elucidate underlying mechanisms and might contribute to improved treatment outcomes. Genomic studies of OCD are beginning to reveal long-sought risk loci, but >95% of the cases currently in analysis are of homogenous European ancestry. If not addressed, this Eurocentric bias will result in OCD genomic findings being more accurate for individuals of European ancestry than other ancestries, thereby contributing to health disparities in potential future applications of genomics. In this study protocol paper, we describe the Latin American Trans-ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO, https://www.latinostudy.org). LATINO is a new network of investigators from across Latin America, the United States, and Canada who have begun to collect DNA and clinical data from 5000 richly phenotyped OCD cases of Latin American ancestry in a culturally sensitive and ethical manner. In this project, we will utilize trans-ancestry genomic analyses to accelerate the identification of OCD risk loci, fine-map putative causal variants, and improve the performance of polygenic risk scores in diverse populations. We will also capitalize on rich clinical data to examine the genetics of treatment response, biologically plausible OCD subtypes, and symptom dimensions. Additionally, LATINO will help elucidate the diversity of the clinical presentations of OCD across cultures through various trainings developed and offered in collaboration with Latin American investigators. We believe this study will advance the important goal of global mental health discovery and equity.

Latin American Trans-ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO): Study Protocol.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder. Worldwide, its prevalence is ~2% and its etiology is mostly unknown. Identifying biological factors contributing to OCD will elucidate underlying mechanisms and might contribute to improved treatment outcomes. Genomic studies of OCD are beginning to reveal long-sought risk loci, but >95% of the cases currently in analysis are of homogenous European ancestry. If not addressed, this Eurocentric bias will result in OCD genomic findings being more accurate for individuals of European ancestry than other ancestries, thereby contributing to health disparities in potential future applications of genomics. In this study protocol paper, we describe the Latin American Trans-ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO, www.latinostudy.org). LATINO is a new network of investigators from across Latin America, the United States, and Canada who have begun to collect DNA and clinical data from 5,000 richly-phenotyped OCD cases of Latin American ancestry in a culturally sensitive and ethical manner. In this project, we will utilize trans-ancestry genomic analyses to accelerate the identification of OCD risk loci, fine-map putative causal variants, and improve the performance of polygenic risk scores in diverse populations. We will also capitalize on rich clinical data to examine the genetics of treatment response, biologically plausible OCD subtypes, and symptom dimensions. Additionally, LATINO will help elucidate the diversity of the clinical presentations of OCD across cultures through various trainings developed and offered in collaboration with Latin American investigators. We believe this study will advance the important goal of global mental health discovery and equity.

Suicides among adults in Paraguay: An 18-year national exploratory study (2004-2022).

BACKGROUND: The number of suicides has been increasing worldwide, year after year, becoming the fourth leading cause of death among young people between 15 and 29 years of age. AIM: In this study, we explored the frequency and characteristics of suicides among the adult general population in Paraguay between 2004 and 2022, considering that suicide attempts and suicidal risk/ideation are frequent and relevant issues in the consultation activity, even if epidemiological evidence on the national rates of suicide is scarce. METHODS: In this observational, descriptive, and exploratory study, official records of all deaths by suicide were reviewed and information analyzed. In addition, an attempt was made to predict the number of suicides in the next 5 years according to a mathematical modeling. RESULTS: In the 18-year period, 5,527 suicides of adults were recorded. Patients' mean age was 36.8 ± 17 years old. A 76.77% of them were males, 77.44% were from an urban area and 25.98% from the Greater Asunción and Central Department of Paraguay. The most frequently used method of suicide was intentional self-inflicted injury by hanging, strangulation, or suffocation (all 67.6%). The expected number of national suicides in the following years from 2023 to 2027 will range between 462 and 530. Limitations include the lack of information regarding diagnoses and personal history in the suicide reports as well as the possibility of underreporting of national suicide cases. CONCLUSION: Our results represent the first large national epidemiological report of suicides in Paraguay and may be of interest for mental health professionals and health authorities in order to reduce the suicide mortality rate within the country.

Depresión, ansiedad y estrés durante la pandemia COVID-19 en estudiantes de Odontología / Depression, anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in dental students

Resumen Introducción: en diciembre del 2019, se reporta en el mundo un caso de neumonía causada por el coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). En Paraguay, actualmente se registraron más de 428.000 casos confirmados y más de 13.500 muertes. En ese contexto, la enseñanza ha tenido que convocarse al entorno virtual generando, en todos los niveles, modificaciones reactivas conductuales nacidas desde diversas causas: la dificultad al acceso a elementos informáticos, necesidad en diversos grados de reaprendizaje en un entorno no habitual y sobre todo la incertidumbre. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar los niveles de depresión, ansiedad y estrés durante la pandemia covid-19 en estudiantes de Odontología. Métodos: para este estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal se incluyeron estudiantes de grado de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Nacional de Asunción, matriculados al periodo académico 2021. Se utilizó la escala de Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21) short form. Cada uno de los tres ejes (depresión, ansiedad y estrés) contiene 7 ítems, divididas en subescalas de contenido similar. Las puntuaciones fueron categorizadas en cinco grupos ordenados (normal, leve, moderada, severa y muy severa). Resultados: los estudiantes de Odontología presentaron cuadros de depresión y ansiedad, con síntomas de ansiedad moderada en un 42,58%; 1,29% presentó depresión severa. Conclusión: la mayoría de los estudiantes de Odontología presentaron cuadros de depresión y ansiedad con síntomas muy comunes, como la imposibilidad de relajarse, falta de iniciativa, irritabilidad y nervios.

Abstract Introduction: in December 2019, a case of pneumonia caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in the world. Currently, Paraguay has registered more than 428,000 confirmed cases and more than 13,500 deaths. In this context, teaching has had to be transferred to the virtual environment, generating reactive behavioral modifications at all levels arising from various causes: difficulty in accessing computer elements, the need in varying degrees of relearning in an unusual environment and, above all, uncertainty. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of depression, anxiety and stress during the covid-19 pandemic in dental students. Methods: for this cross-sectional descriptive observational study, undergraduate students from the School of Dentistry of the National University of Asunción, enrolled in the academic period 2021, were included. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21) short form scale was used. Each of the three axes (depression, anxiety, and stress) contains 7 items, divided into subscales of similar content. The scores were categorized into five ordered groups (normal, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe). Results: dentistry students presented symptoms of depression and anxiety with symptoms of moderate anxiety in 42.58%; 1.29% presented severe depression . Conclusion: most of the dental students presented depression and anxiety with very common symptoms such as the inability to relax, lack of initiative, irritability and nervousness.

Cribado de trastornos psiquiátricos y patrones de consumo de sustancias en estudiantes de Medicina / Screening for psychiatric disorders and patterns of substance use in Medicine students

Existen varios trastornos mentales que se relacionan con el consumo del alcohol y otras drogas, cierto número de personas desarrollan un patrón evolutivo al abuso, sea este persistente o esporádico, produce perturbaciones o limitaciones clínicamente significativas con variadas manifestaciones en el hogar, la escuela y el trabajo. Se determinó la frecuencia y asociación entre trastornos psiquiátricos, patrones de consumo de sustancias y variables sociodemográficas en estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Asunción. El diseño de estudio fue observacional, analítico, corte transversal, La población estuvo constituida por 626 estudiantes de la carrera de medicina del primero al quinto curso, que fueron seleccionados por un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. Se aplicaron 3 cuestionarios que abarcaban tres aspectos: datos sociodemográficos, abuso de drogas y diagnóstico psiquiátrico. Los datos fueron analizados mediante GNU Perfect Statistics Professionally Presented y Epi Info. Se concluyó que el trastorno más frecuente fue el Trastorno por Abuso de drogas, seguido del Trastorno Obsesivo-Compulsivo y el Trastorno Depresivo Mayor. La sustancia más consumida fue el alcohol, seguido del tabaco y la marihuana. Esta última fue la única que se asoció con todas las sustancias. El consumo de alcohol presentó asociación con TOC, Fobia Social y Ansiedad; los consumidores de benzodiacepinas presentaron mayor riesgo de Trastorno Depresivo, Trastorno por Estrés Postraumático, Bulimia, Pánico, Agorafobia, Ansiedad y Trastorno de Somatización. Se recomienda la implementación de políticas de educación preventiva, así como estudios prospectivos para evaluar relaciones de causalidad en las asociaciones encontradas.

There are several mental disorders that are related to the consumption of alcohol and other drugs, a number of people develop an evolutionary pattern of abuse, whether it is persistent or sporadic, it produces clinically significant disturbances or limitations with various manifestations at home, school and the job. The frequency and association between psychiatric disorders, patterns of substance use and socio-demographic variables in medical students of the National University of Asunción was determined. The study design was observational, analytical, cross-sectional. The population consisted of 626 medical students from the first to the fifth year, who were selected by a non-probabilistic convenience sampling. 3 questionnaires were applied that covered three aspects: sociodemographic data, drug abuse and psychiatric diagnosis. The data was analyzed using GNU Perfect Statistics Professionally Presented and Epi Info. It was concluded that the most frequent disorder was Drug Abuse Disorder, followed by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. The most used substance was alcohol, followed by tobacco and marijuana. The latter was the only one that was associated with all substances. Alcohol consumption was associated with OCD, Social Phobia and Anxiety; Benzodiazepine users had a higher risk of Depressive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bulimia, Panic, Agoraphobia, Anxiety and Somatization Disorder. The implementation of preventive education policies is recommended, as well as prospective studies to evaluate causal relationships in the associations found.