Parity of esteem: A global COVID-19 vaccination approach for people with mental illnesses, based on facts from 34 countries; recommendations and solutions.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Patients with severe mental illness are at higher risk of contracting the virus due to social determinants of health. Vulnerable populations include the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions, and those exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Unfortunately, only a few countries have updated vaccination strategies to prioritize patients with mental illnesses. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether individuals with mental disorders are prioritized in vaccine allocation strategies in different world regions. They are often neglected in policymaking but are highly vulnerable to the threatening complications of COVID-19. Methods: A questionnaire was developed to record details regarding COVID-19 vaccination and prioritizations for groups of persons with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental disorders, and substance use disorders (SUDs). NCDs were defined according to the WHO as chronic diseases that are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, and diabetes. Results: Most countries surveyed (80%) reported healthcare delivery via a nationalized health service. It was found that 82% of the countries had set up advisory groups, but only 26% included a mental health professional. Most frequently, malignancy (68%) was prioritized followed by diabetes type 2 (62%) and type 1 (59%). Only nine countries (26%) prioritized mental health conditions. Conclusion: The spread of the coronavirus has exposed both the strengths and flaws of our healthcare systems. The most vulnerable groups suffered the most and were hit first and faced most challenges. These findings raise awareness that patients with mental illnesses have been overlooked in immunization campaigns. The range of their mortality, morbidity, and quality of life could have widened due to this delay.

Prevention of suicides associated with global warming: perspectives from early career psychiatrists.

Climate change poses significant challenges to global mental health, with potential consequences including increased rates of suicide and mental health disorders. Early Career Psychiatrists (ECPs) play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. The Climate Psychiatry Alliance, a group of psychiatrists dedicated to improving mental health amidst climate change, recognizes the importance of cultivating climate-aware ECPs. Training ECPs to become confident climate-aware clinicians enables them to effectively treat patients experiencing anxiety, depression, and PTSD in the context of climate-related distress. Together with other mental health professionals, ECPs can contribute to efforts by implementing strategies for monitoring and treating mental health problems arising from climate events. Additionally, they can raise awareness about the psychological consequences and risks of suicide associated with climate change. Collaboration among ECPs from various regions is essential in developing community-based approaches and reducing vulnerabilities. ECPs must prioritize supporting vulnerable populations by advocating for increased funding for mental health support and research in affected areas. Long-term solutions to address the mental health impacts of climate change and global warming should be pursued to mitigate future suicidality. Integrating climate considerations into local mental health programs and expanding psychological support services is crucial. By promoting emotional resilience and self-awareness, ECPs can contribute to building a more climate-resilient and mentally healthy society.

Association Between Loneliness and Suicidal Behaviour: A Scoping Review. / Yalnizlik ve Özkiyim Davranisi Arasindaki Iliskinin Kapsam Derlemesi.

OBJECTIVE: Suicide is a public health issue, and there are several factors leading to suicide, like mental illness and psychosocial stressors. Actual loneliness (living alone) and subjective loneliness (feeling of being alone) and different suicidal behaviors have been reported to have some link. This scoping review aimed to assess the association between loneliness and suicidal behaviour by exploring the existing literature. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted implementing the appropriate framework and in accord with the PRISMA-ScR extension. A PubMed database search was made using a combination of terms to find publications in English from 2011 to 2021. Studies were included if they reported quantitative outcomes of the association between loneliness and suicidal experiences, including suicidal thoughts, plans, and/or attempts. Screening and data charting of the published literature was conducted by a panel of authors. The accuracy and clarity of extracted data was checked by three reviewers. RESULTS: Among 421 articles found, 31 full texts were evaluated based on exclusion and inclusion criteria, out of which, 18 papers that reported quantitative outcomes of the association between loneliness and suicidal experiences were included. We found that association between loneliness and suicidal behaviour is determined by individual, social and cultural factors. Co-existing mental illness, substance use disorder and economic hardship play an important role for the completion of suicide. CONCLUSION: Loneliness is correlated with suicide, and the knowledge about this association could assist in the identification of suicidal individuals or those at elevated risk of suicidal behaviour. Future studies should focus on loneliness and its relation to suicidal ideation in individuals with different mental health disorders and personalities.

Violence against psychiatric trainees from Asian countries: A pilot online survey.

Background: Violence against psychiatry trainees is an important issue to the medical profession. However, this matter has been under researched, especially in Asian countries. Aim: We aimed to explore the rates and factors associated with violence against psychiatric trainees in Asian countries. Methods: An online, 15 item cross sectional pilot survey was designed and disseminated among psychiatric trainees in Asia through the World Network of Psychiatric Trainees, national and local networks of trainees, and social media. The questionnaire sought to enquire about the experience of physical, verbal, and sexual assaults and its impact. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) V20.0. Results: A total of 467 responses were obtained from psychiatric trainees in 16 countries in Asia. More than two thirds of participants (n = 325, 69.59%) reported a history of assault. Psychiatry inpatient units were the most common setting (n = 239, 73.54%). A relatively lower proportion of participants from the East Asian countries reported an assault, compared to other countries (χ2 = 13.41, P = 0.001). Sexual assault was more common among women compared to men (χ2 = 0.94, P = 0.002). Conclusion: Violence against psychiatric trainees seems common across Asian countries. Our findings call for further systematic investigation of the phenomenon and suggest the need to develop programs to protect psychiatric trainees against the threat of violence and its subsequent psychological complications.

Reliability and Validity of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale Clinician Administered Turkish Form. / Klinisyen Tarafindan Uygulanan Snaith-Hamilton Zevk Alma Ölçegi Türkçe Uyarlamasinin Geçerlik ve Güvenilirlik Çalismasi.

OBJECTIVE: Anhedonia, which is defined as diminished capacity of having pleasure, is a common symptom in many mental disorders. It has been aimed in this study to adapt to the Turkish language the Snaith- Hamilton Pleasure Scale Clinician Administered Form (SHAPS-C) and examining reliability and validity of Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale Clinician Administered Turkish Form (SHAPS-C-TR) which measures anhedonia in clinical and healthy samples. METHOD: Two groups consisting of 63 participants consulting the psychiatry clinic and 67 non-clinical participants were included in the study. Data were collected with the Turkish version of the SHAPS-C (the SHAPS-C-TR), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Positive Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). RESULTS: The Kuder-Richardson internal consistency coefficient for the entire participants, the clinical and the non-clinical group were, 0.765, 0.813 and 0.657 respectively. The intra-class coefficient for test-retest reliability was 0.732. The total score on the SHAPS-C-TR significantly correlated with the scores on the anhedonia items of the BDI and the MADRS but not the scores on anxiety items. The PANAS positive symptoms scores were negatively correlated with the SHAPSC- TR total score. In the clinical group, the participants followed up with depression had significantly higher SHAPS-C-TR score than the rest of the participants. A similar difference was not demonstrated by the scores of the clinical group participants followed up with anxiety disorder. Scores on the SHAPS-C-TR did not vary with respect to the demographic characteristics of the participants. CONCLUSION: The SHAPS-C-TR is a valid and reliable measurement tool to assess anhedonia in both clinical and non-clinical individuals irrespective of differences in demographic features.

A Severe Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Treated with Daily Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Case Report. / Günlük Elektrokonvülzif Terapi ile Tedavi Edilen Siddetli Nöroleptik Malign Sendrom: Bir Olgu Sunumu.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by dopamine modulating medications, particularly antipsychotics. First-line treatments of neuroleptic malignant syndrome are supportive care, discontinuation of the offending agent and pharmacotherapy. In drug-resistant and severe situations, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is recommended as well. In this paper we present a 23-year old male with bipolar disorder who was treated with multiple injections of zuclopenthixol long acting and depot forms for a recent manic episode and developed NMS. The patient was transferred to an intensive care unit, medical management was initiated including benzodiazepines, bromocriptine and dantrolene. Due to the inadequate response after several days, ECT (bitemporal electrode placement, briefpulse, on a daily basis) was initiated. After 17 sessions, NMS relieved and there was no need for maintenance ECT. The patient is under follow-up care for 3 years with no cognitive and physical sequela. Keywords: Electroconvulsive therapy, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, bipolar disorder.

Violence Against Psychiatric Trainees: Findings of a European Survey.

OBJECTIVES: Violence by patients against health care professionals has been widely described. Although psychiatric trainees are particularly exposed, little is known about the extent, context, and impact of violence toward them in Europe. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed between June 2018 and December 2019 among European psychiatric trainees through professional networks, using a snowball approach. The questionnaire asked about experiences of verbal abuse and physical and sexual assaults, as well as their context and impact. Descriptive analyses of the obtained data were conducted. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 827 trainees from 39 countries (68.4% females). Most (83.6%) reported having been abused/assaulted at least once (of these, 92% verbally, 44.1% physically, and 9.3% sexually). Emergency rooms and inpatient units were the most frequent settings. Psychological impact of these events was commonly reported. Most respondents did not report abuses and assaults to their supervisors. They also described a lack of training for staff and aggression management plans at their institutions or of being unaware of their existence. CONCLUSIONS: Violence from patients is reported by many psychiatric trainees across countries in Europe, with very frequent verbal abuse and worrisome figures of physical and sexual assaults. Particularly concerning are the low proportion of trainees reporting to authorities, the lack of staff training and management protocols, and trainees' lack of awareness about those resources. Despite the study limitation of a small response rate, these results support a call for urgent efforts to address this problem in Europe, and possibly beyond.