Distributed Nonlinear Model and Fast Analysis for In-Band IMD3 Prediction of Surface Acoustic Wave Resonators.

The motivation of this work is to analyze the in-band intermodulation distortion (IMD) occurring in surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, using a recently developed fast method based on the input-output equivalent sources (IOES). The method calculates the equivalent current sources of a given harmonic (H) or IMD, which when applied at the boundaries of any uniform nonlinear region produce the same nonlinearities as the full distributed circuit. The accuracy of the method is validated with a very simplified SAW resonator with ten digits, which is modeled by a discretized Mason-based circuit. The IOES method provides equal results to the ones obtained through harmonic balance (HB) simulations, performed by means of commercial software, being the first 1000 times faster. Once the accuracy of the method is guaranteed, it is used to analyze the measured in-band IMD3 of several lithium tantalite 42° cut leaky SAW (LSAW) resonators with different pitches and duty factors at the B66 long term evolution (LTE) frequency band. Those resonators are comprised of 100 and 20 electrode pairs for the active region and each of the reflectors, respectively, which implies the analysis of a very large distributed nonlinear problem with thousands of nonlinear local sources. The IOES method takes 35.4 s in simulating 51 frequency points, whereas this simulation is not possible using a commercial HB simulator on a general-purpose computer.

Barriers to implement screening for alcohol consumption in Spanish hypertensive patients.

Background: Alcohol intake and hypertension (HT) are interrelated public health problems with cost-effective interventions at the primary care level that, to date, are poorly implemented. Objective: This study aims to explore the barriers to implementing alcohol interventions for people with HT in primary care. Methods: As part of the project BASIS (Baseline Alcohol Screening and Intervention Survey), an internet survey from five European countries was developed to determine the role of alcohol in the management of HT in primary care practice. The survey contained 28 core items and 7 country-specific items. We present answers from Spanish general practitioners (GPs), who were reached through the main professional and scientific societies via e-mail and asked to take the online survey. Results: In total, 867 GPs answered the survey (65.1% women, 70.4% > 30 years old). As indicated by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C scores, 12.4% of GPs who responded were risky drinkers (21.3% of men versus 7.1% of women). GPs reported considering alcohol relatively unimportant in HT treatment, as well as a difficult condition to deal with. The three main barriers to implement screening for alcohol consumption in HT patients were the lack of time (50.0%), considering alcohol unimportant for HT (28.4%) and stigma (16.5%). Conclusions: GPs did not consider alcohol consumption a relevant factor for HT and, additionally, found it difficult to deal with alcohol problems. Some of the barriers for alcohol screening could be overcome through structural changes in the health system, such as empowering GPs to treat alcohol use disorders (rather than a single focus on implementing preventive strategies) by enhancing training in alcohol diagnosis and treatment.

Alcoholism and its treatment approach from a citizen perspective. / El alcoholismo y su abordaje desde una perspectiva ciudadana.

INTRODUCTION: The main objective of the study is to describe alcohol consumption in the general Spanish population, to discover citizens' opinion on their alcohol consumption, on alcoholism and on treatment approaches.   METHODS: In 2015 a cross-sectional study was carried out by means of a telephone survey. A representative sample was selected. Participants were asked about their alcohol consumption, their perception of risk regarding their pattern of alcohol consumption, about their opinion on alcoholism, alcohol consequences and the treatment approach. A questionnaire was designed. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C was used to define the pattern of alcohol intake. A descriptive and an statistical inference analysis were done. RESULTS: 22.1% were classified as risky drinkers, with a higher proportion in young males. The majority of individuals think that alcoholism is an illness, and more than 75% agree that alcohol has negative consequences on health, social functioning, occupational functioning and family relationships. Furthermore, the perception of risk that citizens have regarding their own drinking pattern is high (37.6%). 67.7% considered that the general practitioner can manage alcoholism, with females and older people believing this most strongly. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption is very prevalent in the Spanish population, especially in young people (31.8%). The perception of alcohol risk is high. The majority agree with the fact that general practitioners are well prepared for treating alcohol problems.

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio es describir el consumo de alcohol de la población general española, conocer la opinión que tienen los ciudadanos de su consumo, del alcoholismo y de su abordaje terapéutico.Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal mediante encuesta telefónica  que se realizó en mayo de 2015. Se seleccionó una muestra representativa de la población adulta española a quien se le preguntó acerca de su patrón de consumo de alcohol, percepción de riesgo, opinión acerca del alcoholismo,  y consecuencias del consumo, y abordaje terapéutico. Se diseñó un cuestionario ad hoc utilizando el AUDIT-C para determinar el patrón de consumo. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo e inferencial según las características socio-demográficas.Resultados:  El 22,1% presentan un consumo de riesgo, siendo mayor en los hombres y los jóvenes. Mayoritariamente el alcoholismo es considerado una enfermedad y más del 75% de los ciudadanos coinciden que el alcohol tiene consecuencias negativas en la salud  a nivel sociolaboral y familiar. La percepción de riesgo que tienen los ciudadanos de su consumo es mayor de lo esperado (37,6%). El 67,7% considera  al médico de familia capacitado para atender los problemas relacionados con el consumo de alcohol, sobre todo entre las mujeres y los ciudadanos de mayor edad.Conclusiones: El consumo de riesgo es muy prevalente entre los ciudadanos españoles sobre todo entre los  jóvenes (31,8%). Existe una alta autopercepción de riesgo del consumo de alcohol. La mayoría de ciudadanos coinciden que el médico de familia está capacitado para tratar el alcoholismo.

El alcoholismo y su abordaje desde una perspectiva ciudadana / Alcoholism and its treatment approach from a citizen perspective

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio es describir el consumo de alcohol de la población general española, conocer la opinión que tienen los ciudadanos de su consumo, del alcoholismo y de su abordaje terapéutico. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal mediante encuesta telefónica que se realizó en mayo de 2015. Se seleccionó una muestra representativa de la población adulta española a quien se le preguntó acerca de su patrón de consumo de alcohol, percepción de riesgo, opinión acerca del alcoholismo, y consecuencias del consumo, y abordaje terapéutico. Se diseñó un cuestionario ad hoc utilizando el AUDIT-C para determinar el patrón de consumo. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo e inferencial según las características socio-demográficas. Resultados: El 22,1% presentan un consumo de riesgo, siendo mayor en los hombres y los jóvenes. Mayoritariamente el alcoholismo es considerado una enfermedad y más del 75% de los ciudadanos coinciden que el alcohol tiene consecuencias negativas en la salud a nivel sociolaboral y familiar. La percepción de riesgo que tienen los ciudadanos de su consumo es mayor de lo esperado (37,6%). El 67,7% considera al médico de familia capacitado para atender los problemas relacionados con el consumo de alcohol, sobre todo entre las mujeres y los ciudadanos de mayor edad. Conclusiones: El consumo de riesgo es muy prevalente entre los ciudadanos españoles sobre todo entre los jóvenes (31,8%). Existe una alta autopercepción de riesgo del consumo de alcohol. La mayoría de ciudadanos coinciden que el médico de familia está capacitado para tratar el alcoholismo

Introduction: The main objective of the study is to describe alcohol consumption in the general Spanish population, to discover citizens’ opinion on their alcohol consumption, on alcoholism and on treatment approaches. Methods: In 2015 a cross-sectional study was carried out by means of a telephone survey. A representative sample was selected. Participants were asked about their alcohol consumption, their perception of risk regarding their pattern of alcohol consumption, about their opinion on alcoholism, alcohol consequences and the treatment approach. A questionnaire was designed. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C was used to define the pattern of alcohol intake. A descriptive and an statistical inference analysis were done. Results: 22.1% were classified as risky drinkers, with a higher proportion in young males. The majority of individuals think that alcoholism is an illness, and more than 75% agree that alcohol has negative consequences on health, social functioning, occupational functioning and family relationships. Furthermore, the perception of risk that citizens have regarding their own drinking pattern is high (37.6%). 67.7% considered that the general practitioner can manage alcoholism, with females and older people believing this most strongly. Conclusions: Alcohol consumption is very prevalent in the Spanish population, especially in young people (31.8%). The perception of alcohol risk is high. The majority agree with the fact that general practitioners are well prepared for treating alcohol problems

[SEMERGEN positioning for the treatment of alcohol disorders in primary care]. / Posicionamiento de SEMERGEN para el abordaje de los trastornos por consumo de alcohol en atención primaria.

The present manuscript is based on the recommendations of a panel of health care professionals, including several experts in primary health care, psychiatry and addictions. The participants are recognized specialists in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. The panel met in Barcelona on 2015 April 22 with the aims of evaluating the current management of alcohol use disorder in primary health care and developing a strategy to address this problem, basing on the evidence and the recommendations of the scientific societies and national and international organizations.

Posicionamiento de SEMERGEN para el abordaje de los trastornos por consumo de alcohol en atención primaria / SEMERGEN positioning for the treatment of alcohol disorders in primary care

Este artículo se basa en las recomendaciones de un grupo de profesionales sanitarios, incluidos expertos en la atención primaria, psiquiatría y adicciones. Los participantes son reconocidos especialistas en el tratamiento del trastorno por consumo de alcohol. El grupo se reunió en Barcelona el 22 de abril de 2015 para evaluar la situación actual en el manejo del trastorno por consumo de alcohol en atención primaria y desarrollar una estrategia para abordar este problema, basándose en la evidencia y las recomendaciones de sociedades científicas y organismos nacionales e internacionales (AU)

The present manuscript is based on the recommendations of a panel of health care professionals, including several experts in primary health care, psychiatry and addictions. The participants are recognized specialists in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. The panel met in Barcelona on 2015 April 22 with the aims of evaluating the current management of alcohol use disorder in primary health care and developing a strategy to address this problem, basing on the evidence and the recommendations of the scientific societies and national and international organizations (AU)

Systematic depression screening in high-risk patients attending primary care: a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Systematic screening for depression in high-risk patients is recommended but remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of such screening in everyday clinical practice on depression recognition. METHODS: A pragmatic, cluster randomized, controlled study that randomized primary care physicians (PCPs) in Spain either to an intervention or control group. The intervention group (35-PCPs) received training in depression screening and used depression screening routinely for at least 6 months. The control group (34-PCPs) managed depression in their usual manner. Adherence to (1-6; never-very frequently), feasibility (1-4; unfeasible-very feasible), and acceptance (1-5; very poor-very good) of the screening were evaluated. Underrecognition (primary outcome) and undertreatment rates of major depressive disorder (MDD) in the two groups were compared 6 months after randomization in a random sample of 3737 patients assigned to these PCPs using logistic regression adjusting for the clustering effect. RESULTS: No significant differences were found for recognition rates (58.0% vs. 48.1% intervention vs. control; OR [95%CI] 1.40 [0.73-2.68], p = 0.309). The undertreatment rate did not differ significantly either (p = 0.390). The mean adherence to depression screening was 4.4 ± 1.0 ('occasionally'), the mean feasibility was 3.1 ± 0.5 ('moderately feasible'), and the mean acceptance was 4.2 ± 0.6 ('good'). CONCLUSIONS: This research was not able to show effectiveness of the systematic screening for MDD in high-risk patients on depression recognition in primary care. The poor adherence to screening implementation could partially explain the results. These reflect the difficulties of putting into practice the clinical guidelines usually based on interventional research. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01662817.

Functional impairment related to painful physical symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety disorder with or without comorbid major depressive disorder: post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most frequent anxiety disorder in primary care patients. It is known that painful physical symptoms (PPS) are associated with GAD, regardless the presence of comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD). However the specific role of such symptoms in patients' functional impairment is not well understood. The objective of the present study is to assess functional impairment related to the presence of PPS in patients with GAD. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional study. Functioning, in the presence (overall pain score >30; Visual Analog Scale) or absence of PPS, was assessed using the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) in three groups of patients; 1) GAD and comorbid MDD (GAD+MDD+), 2) GAD without comorbid MDD (GAD+MDD-), 3) controls (GAD-MDD-). ANCOVA models were used. RESULTS: Of those patients with GAD+MDD+ (n = 559), 436 (78.0%) had PPS, compared with GAD+MDD- (249 of 422, 59%) and controls (95 of 336, 28.3%). Functioning worsened in both GAD groups in presence of PPS (SDS least squares mean total score: 16.1 vs. 9.8, p < 0.0001, GAD+MDD+; 14.3 vs. 8.2, p < 0.0001, GAD+MDD-). The presence of PPS was significantly associated with less productivity. CONCLUSIONS: Functional impairment related to the presence of PPS was relevant. Clinical implications should be considered.

Generalized anxiety disorder, with or without co-morbid major depressive disorder, in primary care: prevalence of painful somatic symptoms, functioning and health status.

BACKGROUND: Painful physical symptoms (PPS) have received little attention in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of PPS in patients with GAD vs patients with GAD and co-morbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and a control group (patients neither with GAD nor MDD). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, multi-center, epidemiological study, in primary care. Patients were screened for GAD (HADS-A), followed by a diagnosis confirmation (MINI). Patients were considered to have PPS when VAS overall pain score >30. Functioning and health status was assessed (SDS, EUROQoL-5D). Relationships between the presence of PPS and functioning and health status was analyzed (ANCOVA models). Results were adjusted for confounding factors. RESULTS: Of 7152 patients, 1546 (22%) screened positive for GAD, 981 (14%) had confirmed GAD diagnosis, of whom 559 (8%) had GAD with co-morbid MDD and 422 (6%) had GAD alone. Of the 5292 (74%) patients screened negative for GAD, 336 (5%) were confirmed as controls. PPS in patients with GAD were twice as prevalent as in the control group: 59.0% vs. 28.3%; p<0.001. The presence of co-morbid MDD was associated with a significantly higher prevalence of PPS: 78.0% vs. 59.0%; p<0.001. PPS were significantly associated with functioning and health status impairment (p<0.001) both in GAD alone and in GAD and co-morbid MDD compared with controls. LIMITATIONS: Results do not prove causal relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the clinical relevance of PPS in patients suffering from GAD; therefore they need to be considered when evaluating the patient.