Electrophysiological biomarkers in dual pathology.

INTRODUCTION: The co-occurrence of substance use disorder with at least one other mental disorder is called dual pathology, which in turn is characterised by heterogeneous symptoms that are difficult to diagnose and have a poor response to treatment. For this reason, the identification and validation of biomarkers is necessary. Within this group, possible electroencephalographic biomarkers have been reported to be useful in diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, both in neuropsychiatric conditions and in substance use disorders. This article aims to review the existing literature on electroencephalographic biomarkers in dual pathology. METHODS: A narrative review of the literature. A bibliographic search was performed on the PubMed, Science Direct, OVID, BIREME and Scielo databases, with the keywords: electrophysiological biomarker and substance use disorder, electrophysiological biomarker and mental disorders, biomarker and dual pathology, biomarker and substance use disorder, electroencephalography, and substance use disorder or comorbid mental disorder. RESULTS: Given the greater amount of literature found in relation to electroencephalography as a biomarker of mental illness and substance use disorders, and the few articles found on dual pathology, the evidence is organised as a biomarker in psychiatry for the diagnosis and prediction of risk and as a biomarker for dual pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Although the evidence is not conclusive, it suggests the existence of a subset of sites and mechanisms where the effects of psychoactive substances and the neurobiology of some mental disorders could overlap or interact.

Evolution of psychopathology, purpose in life, and moral courage in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study.

Introduction: Almost 2 years and five infection waves after the COVID-19 pandemic started, healthcare workers continued dealing with the pandemic situation and facing the health consequences and the mental health disorders it caused. This study aimed to evaluate the onset and progression of psychopathology as well as the role of predictor variables such as purpose in life and moral courage among healthcare workers during this time. Materials and methods: This was a longitudinal prospective study carried out with 45 Spanish healthcare workers who answered two questionnaires, the first questionnaire in April-May 2020 (T1) and the second questionnaire in September-October 2021 (T2). Results: Although 29.5% of the sample considered that their mental health had improved over this time, almost half of them (47.7%) said it had not changed, while 22.7% reported a decline in their mental health from the first time they were asked. Specifically, 46.8% presented anxiety, 23.4% depression, and 42.6% acute stress at T1, and 38.3% had anxiety, 17% depression, and 27.7% post-traumatic stress disorder at T2. Despite this, there were no differences between T1 and T2 anxiety scores (p = 0.53), although there was a decrease in depression (p = 0.03) and acute stress (p = 0.02) scores. Predictor variable outcomes such as purpose in life (p = 0.88) and moral courage (p = 0.86; p = 0.38) did not change over time, but when modelling the data, purpose in life predicted psychopathology at T1, which in turn affected the psychopathology results at T2. Conclusion: This study showed that, although psychopathology decreased over the months, its prevalence remained high. Even though the purpose in life predicted psychopathology at T1, it seems that once the psychopathology is established (T2), the factors that would improve it would be different from the protective factors that prevented its establishment, which become secondary.

Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Southern Regions of Colombia.

Background: Recent reports suggest that by 2050 there will be an increase of around 310% of cases affected by dementia in Latin American countries. A previous study in a Southern region reported one of the highest prevalences of dementia in Latin America. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment associated with low education, rurality, and demographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited a community-dwelling sample of 823 adults from rural and urban areas of two Southern provinces of Colombia from 2020-2022. Participants were assessed with a neuropsychological protocol validated in Colombia. To obtain general and region-specific prevalence rates, age, sex, schooling, and socioeconomic level were considered and controlled for. Results: Most of the participants reported low education and socioeconomic level, the participation of women was higher. It was determined that the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was 53.6%, with 56.6% in the province of Caquetá followed by 51.9% in the province of Huila. The amnestic MCI represented 42.6%, the amnestic multi-domain was 39%, the non-amnestic 16.55%, and the non-amnestic multi-domain 1.81%. Our participants reported comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. We also observed a relationship between exposure to pesticides and MCI. Conclusions: We observed one of the highest prevalences of MCI in Latin America reported to date. Variables such as age, gender, and education proved risk factors for MCI in the explored regions. Our findings are very much in line with recent studies that highlight the influence of non-canonical risk factors of dementia in underrepresented countries from Latin America.

Potencial de disparidad o Mismatch negativity y P3a en pacientes con esquizofrenia / Mismatch negativity and P3a in patients with Schizophrenia

Resumen Antecedentes: la esquizofrenia es una enfermedad crónica que genera gran discapacidad, para la cual se han reportado biomarcadores potenciales, pero sin suficiente validez clínica. El mismatch negativity (MMN) y el P3a son potenciales relacionados con eventos que han demostrado ser indicadores neurofisiológicos del procesamiento auditivo pre-atencional y potenciales biomarcadores. Objetivo: evaluar el MMN y P3a en pacientes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia y su relación con variables sociodemográficas y clínicas. Método: estudio cuantitativo transversal de 23 sujetos con esquizofrenia (ESQ) y 22 controles sanos (SN). Las amplitudes promedio y latencias del MMN/P3a para la condición infrecuente en duración y frecuencia fueron obtenidas mediante un paradigma oddball auditivo en un EEG de 32 canales. Resultados: se encontraron diferencias para la condición frecuencia en la amplitud del MMN (p=0.046; CI 95% 0.009; 0.87) y la amplitud del P3a (p=0.042; CI 95% 0.025; 1.24) entre los grupos; la amplitud del MMN fue menor en el grupo ESQ (-0.36 DE 0.51 µV) en comparación con los participantes del grupo de SN (-0.81 DE 0.89 µV), mientras que la amplitud del P3a fue menor en el grupo SN (0.18 DE 0.97 µV) versus el grupo ESQ (0.82 DE 1.05 µV). En relación con las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas, las asociaciones con el P3a fueron moderadas y con el MMN débiles. Conclusiones: la reducción de la amplitud del MMN a la condición frecuencia exhibe mayor utilidad que el P3a como medida de alta estabilidad en pacientes con esquizofrenia, lo que reitera su posible uso como biomarcador.

Abstract Background: schizophrenia is a chronic disease that generates great disability, which currently has potential biomarkers but without sufficient clinical validity. Mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a are event-related potentials that have been shown to be neurophysiological indicators of pre-attentional auditory processing and potential biomarkers. Objective: to evaluate MMN and P3a in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and their relationship with sociodemographic and clinical variables. Method: a quantitative cross-sectional study of 23 subjects with schizophrenia and 22 healthy controls was performed. The average amplitudes and latencies of the MMN/P3a for the condition infrequent in duration and infrequent in frequency were obtained using an auditory oddball paradigm on a 32-channel EEG. Results: differences were found for the frequency condition in the amplitude of the MMN (p=0.046; 95% CI 0.009; 0.87) and the amplitude of the P3a (p=0.042; 95% CI 0.025; 1.24) between the groups; MMN amplitude was lower in schizophrenia (-0.36 SD 0.51 µV) compared to healthy controls (-0.81 SD 0.89 µV), while P3a amplitude was lower in healthy controls (0.18 SD 0.97 µV) versus the group with schizophrenia (0.82 SD 1.05 µV). In regard to sociodemographic and clinical variables, the associations with P3a were moderate, and showed weak MMN. Conclusions: MMN amplitude reduction to the frequency condition exhibits greater utility than P3a as a measure of high stability in schizophrenia, restating its potential use as a biomarker.

Depresión y trastornos del sueño relacionados con hipertensión arterial: un estudio transversal en Medellín, Colombia / Depression and sleep disorders related to hypertension: A cross-sectional study in Medellín, Colombia

RESUMEN Introducción: Los factores psicosociales se han mostrado como potenciadores y desencadenantes de enfermedades cardiovasculares como la hipertensión arterial. El propósito del estudio es explorar la relación de los factores psicosociales con la presencia de hipertensión arterial en una muestra aleatoria poblacional en la ciudad de Medellín. Métodos: Estudio de tipo observacional de corte transversal con enfoque analítico. La variable respuesta (hipertensión arterial) se contrastó con las psicosociales y sociodemográficas mediante análisis bivariable, y posteriormente se realizó un análisis de regresión logística multivariable. Resultados: Tras ajustar por edad, sexo y eventos de vida estresantes, los factores psicosociales asociados con hipertensión arterial son la depresión (OR = 1,65; IC95%, 1,13-2,41) y los trastornos del sueño (OR = 1,41; IC95%, 1,00-1,98). Conclusiones: La depresión y los trastornos del sueño se relacionan con la hipertensión arterial. En Colombia hay estudios que relacionan factores psicosociales como la depresión con la hipertensión, pero se desconoce el impacto de los trastornos de sueño en la población.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Psychosocial factors have been shown to be potentiators and triggers of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between psychosocial factors and the presence of hypertension in a random population sample in the city of Medellin. Methods: Observational cross-sectional study with an analytical approach. The endpoint (hypertension) was contrasted with the psychosocial and sociodemographic endpoints by means of a bivariate analysis, and later a multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out. Results: After adjusting for age, gender and stressful life events, depression (OR= 1.65; 95% CI: 1.13-2.41) and sleep disorders (OR= 1.41; 95% CI: 1.00-1.98) were found to be psychosocial factors associated with hypertension. Conclusions: Depression and sleep disorders are related to hypertension. In Colombia there are studies that correlate psychosocial factors such as depression with hypertension; however, the impact of sleep disorders on the population is unknown.

Depression and sleep disorders related to hypertension: A cross-sectional study in Medellín, Colombia. / Depresión y trastornos del sueño relacionados con hipertensión arterial: un estudio transversal en Medellín, Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Psychosocial factors have been shown to be potentiators and triggers of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between psychosocial factors and the presence of hypertension in a random population sample in the city of Medellin. METHODS: Observational cross-sectional study with an analytical approach. The endpoint (hypertension) was contrasted with the psychosocial and sociodemographic endpoints by means of a bivariate analysis, and later a multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, gender and stressful life events, depression (OR=1.65; 95% CI: 1.13-2.41) and sleep disorders (OR=1.41; 95% CI: 1.00-1.98) were found to be psychosocial factors associated with hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Depression and sleep disorders are related to hypertension. In Colombia there are studies that correlate psychosocial factors such as depression with hypertension; however, the impact of sleep disorders on the population is unknown.

Salud mental en Colombia. Un análisis crítico / Mental health in Colombia. A critical analysis

Resumen Introducción: La Organización Mundial de la Salud declaró la importancia de la salud mental y estableció la necesidad de promover el bienestar, la prevención, el tratamiento y la rehabilitación de las personas con trastornos mentales. Colombia adoptó estos lineamientos, pero la crisis de la salud de los últimos años afectó la atención de los pacientes con enfermedad mental. Este estudio indaga aspectos históricos frente a la salud mental en Colombia, las principales limitaciones al actual sistema y las estrategias que podrían implementarse. Método: Búsqueda en bases de datos bibliográficos de artículos enfocados en la normatividad e implementación de políticas públicas de salud mental en Colombia. Resultados: Se han hecho importantes esfuerzos por promulgar leyes y políticas que acaben las brechas para el diagnóstico y el tratamiento y transformar la realidad de los colombianos que sufren trastornos mentales. Conclusión: La salud mental continúa siendo la cenicienta en las políticas públicas. Es evidente la falta de coherencia entre lo que se propone y lo que ocurre por la inadecuada implementación e interpretación de las normas. La normatividad en salud mental no ha logrado cumplir sus objetivos, lo cual hace que la atención en salud mental en Colombia aun sea muy deficiente.

Abstract Introduction: The World Health Organization declared the importance of mental health and established the need to promote the welfare, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of people with mental disorders. Although these guidelines were adopted in Colombia, the health crisis of recent years affected the care of patients with mental illness. This study seeks to investigate historical aspects of mental health in Colombia, the main limitations to the current system and the strategies that could be implemented. Method: Search in bibliographic databases of articles focused on the regulation and implementation of public mental health policies in Colombia. Results: In Colombia, significant efforts have been made to enact mental health laws and policies that overcome the gaps in diagnosis and treatment and transform the reality of Colombians suffering from mental disorders. Conclusion: Despite the attempts, mental health continues to be ashen in public policies. It is evident the lack of coherence between what is proposed and what happens due to the inadequate implementation and interpretation of the norms. Mental health regulations have not met their objectives, which means that mental health care in Colombia is still very poor.

Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with dual disorders in a psychiatric hospital / Factores sociodemográficos y clínicos asociados a patología dual en un hospital psiquiátrico

Abstract: Introduction: Among patients with mental illness, dual disorders patients are characterized by a heterogeneous and more severe clinical presentation that is difficult to treat. Therefore, knowledge about the distribution of this disorder and the characteristics of these patients can be helpful to optimize and organize health resources. Objective: To explore the prevalence and socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with dual disorders patients who were hospitalized due to mental illness at a psychiatric unit in Colombia between January and June 2013; this data was collected and analyzed on the basis of the medical records of each patient. Method: Observational, quantitative, cross-sectional study of a secondary source. It included the analysis of 201 patients aged 18 to 65. Results: There were 201 patients analyzed; 45.3% had dual disorders, with a ratio of 2.24 men:women; there was a high frequency of single marital status (69.2%) and more than 90% had a low socioeconomic level. The factors significantly associated with dual disorders in order of importance were: age from 18 to 35 years (OR = 11.03; CI 95% [4.43, 27.46]), male (OR = 5.10, CI 95% [2.26, 11.50]), history of aggression (OR = 3.35; CI 95% [1.63, 6.91]), and readmission in the year after hospital discharge (OR = 2.23; CI 95% [1.08, 4.61]). Discussion and conclusion: Dual disorders prevalence in this study is similar to that found by other authors. The high prevalence of dual disorders requires specialized therapeutic programs for treatment. The more hospitals know about the associated variables in this study, the more they will be able to improve their approach to patients.

Resumen: Introducción: Dentro de los pacientes con trastornos mentales, el grupo con patología dual se caracteriza por una presentación clínica heterogénea, más grave y difícil de tratar, por lo que conocer la distribución de este trastorno y las características de estos sujetos puede ayudar a optimizar y organizar los recursos sanitarios. Objetivo: Explorar la prevalencia y los factores sociodemográficos y clínicos asociados a la patología dual en pacientes hospitalizados por trastorno mental en una unidad de psiquiatría general de Colombia entre enero a junio del 2013, analizando los datos recolectados a partir de las historias clínicas. Método: Estudio cuantitativo y observacional de corte transversal de fuente secundaria. Se incluyeron en el análisis 201 pacientes con edades entre los 18 a 65 años. Resultados: De los 201 pacientes analizados, el 45.3% presentaron patología dual, con una razón hombre-mujer de 2.24. La mayoría tenía como estado civil soltero (69.2%), y más del 90% presentaron un nivel socioeconómico bajo. Los factores que resultaron significativamente asociados a patología dual, por su orden de importancia, fueron la edad de 18 a 34 años (OR = 11.03; IC 95% [4.43, 27.46]), el sexo masculino (OR = 5.10; IC 95% [2.26, 11.50]), antecedente de heteroagresión (OR = 3.35; IC 95% [1.63, 6.91]) y la rehospitalización durante el año posterior al egreso (OR = 2.23; IC 95% [1.08, 4.61]). Discusión y conclusión: La prevalencia de patología dual en este estudio coincide con el rango encontrado por otros autores. Por la elevada prevalencia de la patología dual, es necesario disponer de programas terapéuticos especializados para su tratamiento. En la medida en que se conozcan las variables asociadas, el tratamiento de los pacientes mejorará considerablemente.