A narrative review: suicide and suicidal behaviour in older adults.

Globally, suicide is a public health concern that claims the lives of many each year. The complex etiology and factors contributing to the risk of suicide make it hard to predict the likelihood of death by suicide. Suicide rates have been increasing over the past 25 years in patients aged 65 years and older, and with the expected increases in the size of the older adult population and the under-detection of suicide risk, these rates may continue to increase. To mitigate and attempt to limit this expected increase, it is important to understand the risk and protective factors of suicide in older adults. This narrative review focuses on individuals above the age of 65 and encompasses relevant peer-reviewed publications from the past 25 years to cover fatal and non-fatal suicidal behaviour. It summarizes several important risk factors for suicide and suicidal behaviors while considering how risk can be detected, assessed, prevented, and mitigated. Screening methods to detect suicide and depression in older adults were examined based on their effectiveness and suitability for use in this population. Lastly, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates in older adults were described.

ADHD Patients with Suicidal Behaviour: Risk Factors, Comorbidities, and Clinical Profile: A Naturalistic Exploratory Study.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that disrupts brain functioning and is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. With varying presentations and complex etiological factors contributing to the development of ADHD, along with its persistence into adulthood, ADHD must be studied. Researchers have taken an interest in the relationship between ADHD and suicide, which is a serious public health concern with increasing prevalence rates in the Americas. The current literature reveals conflicting views on the importance of psychiatric comorbidities in the development of suicidal behaviours in ADHD patients. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether there were significant differences between adult ADHD patients with suicide risk and adult ADHD patients without suicide risk. This study was a naturalistic retrospective chart review pilot study that used a sample of adults with a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD from January 2023 to August 2023. Using convenience sampling and sets of inclusion and exclusion criteria, patient data were sequentially collected from Med Access electronic medical records. The control and experimental groups each consisted of 50 patients (100) ranging from 19 to 58 years old. Our quantitative data were analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests, including the Chi-Square test and the Mann-Whitney U test. The results showed significant associations between ADHD patients with suicide risk and (1) borderline personality disorder; (2) binge eating disorder; (3) seven specific psychosocial risk factors; and (4) a higher number of antidepressant medication trials. No significant associations were found with other psychiatric disorders; however, there are important sex differences in terms of the risk factors. Our pilot study reveals several significant differences between adult ADHD patients with suicide risk and those without suicide risk. However, given our limited sample size and limitations, we hope our study encourages larger-scale studies to further investigate this relationship to improve its generalizability.

Management Strategies for Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder Comorbidities in Adults with ADHD: A Narrative Review.

This narrative review examines two of the common comorbidities of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder (BD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD), which each share several common features with ADHD that can make assessment and diagnosis challenging. The review highlights some of the key symptomatic differences between adult ADHD and these disorders, allowing for more careful consideration before establishing a formal diagnosis. When the disorders are found to be comorbid, further complications may arise; thus, the review will also help to provide evidence-based treatment recommendations as well as suggestions on how to minimize adverse events. Incorporating evidence from systematic reviews, journal articles, randomized controlled trials, and case reports, this review highlights that the diagnosis of ADHD and some of its common comorbidities is challenging and requires full, in-depth assessment and management. The management strategies of these comorbidities will also be addressed, with emphasis on achieving mood stabilization for BD prior to initiating appropriate ADHD pharmacotherapy. Medications, specifically mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants, are fundamental in treating symptoms seen in BD and some cases of BPD, alongside psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications when appropriate. The review highlights the effectiveness of specific medications, including psychostimulants, atomoxetine, and bupropion, as add-on therapies to mood-stabilizing treatments for addressing ADHD symptoms in patients with these comorbidities. Despite limited research, the review will address various pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches for managing comorbid ADHD and BPD, emphasizing the need for further investigations to better understand the unique needs of this patient population.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Misdiagnosis: Why Medical Evaluation Should Be a Part of ADHD Assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that interferes with multiple aspects of daily functioning and is associated with impairments in several domains. It may affect academic, educational, vocational, social, emotional, interpersonal, and health domains, and worsen risks to health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To identify and discuss medical conditions that commonly present with symptoms resembling ADHD. METHOD: This review is selective and not systematic. It is conducted through a focused literature search through PubMed, Google Scholar, and EMBASE. Search term included "ADHD misdiagnosis", "medical conditions with ADHD like symptoms", "ADHD AND medical problems". EXCLUSION: giftedness, high IQ, and any article that does not list medical conditions. The limits applied were the following: the work must have been published in the past 20 years, be on humans, and be in the English language. RESULTS: There are several medical conditions that can be misdiagnosed as ADHD and may show a similar presentation to ADHD, particularly with inattentive symptoms. Examples include, but are not limited to, absence seizure disorder, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, sleep deprivation, post-concussion states, inflammatory bowel disease, iron deficiency states and anemia, and disordered breathing. CONCLUSIONS: Our review suggests that a thorough medical evaluation should be conducted prior to the diagnosis of ADHD. Allied health professionals and psychologists who diagnose ADHD should seek medical clearance from a physician prior to making the ADHD diagnosis in order to reduce misdiagnosis rates and improve patient outcomes. ADHD diagnosis should follow guidelines and be carried out under a systematic standardized approach. A full medical evaluation should be conducted to assess for medical conditions that may look like ADHD or be associated with ADHD.

Risk and Adversity Factors in Adult Patients with Comorbid Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Binge Eating Disorder (BED), and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): A Naturalistic Exploratory Study.

This study was a retrospective pilot chart review of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients diagnosed with and without comorbid binge eating disorder (BED) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). ADHD research is critical because of its prevalence and persistence into adulthood. In the literature, ADHD, BED, and BPD are linked to an underlying impulsivity factor. This comparative study examined whether differences existed between patient groups concerning risk factors, comorbid disorders, and continuous performance test (CPT) cognitive scoring. The main goal was to find significant associations suggestive of correlations between specific factors and a principal diagnosis of ADHD with comorbid BED and BPD. Study participants were patients between 18 and 30 diagnosed by a psychiatrist in an outpatient clinic between June 2022 and December 2022. Both the control and comorbidity groups included 50 participants (N = 100). Patients were randomly chosen based on the chronological order of intake visit dates at the clinic and were selected as participants upon meeting the inclusion criteria. Data were collected through the Med Access EMR database, with quantitative data analyzed using SPSS and chi-squared p-value tests. The results showed significant associations between a principal diagnosis of ADHD with comorbid BPD and BED and (1) having four or more overall risk factors; (2) having five specific reported psychosocial risk factors: family issues, bullying, poverty, trouble with the law, and physical abuse; and (3) having on average more risk factors and comorbidities as compared to ADHD patients without comorbid BPD and BED. No association was found between low CPT scores and, thus, differential cognitive functionality between groups. This research will inform future study hypotheses to develop the clinical profile of ADHD patients with comorbid BED and BPD.

Effect of stimulant medication on loss of control eating in youth with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a prospective, observational case series study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Loss of control eating (LOC-E) in youth predicts the later development of full-syndrome binge-eating disorder (BED), and therefore, could be a relevant target for prevention treatments. To develop these treatments, it is important to understand the underlying disease processes and mechanisms. Based on the putative role of neurocognitive impairments in the pathogenesis of LOC-E, treatments that modulate these neurocognitive factors warrant further exploration. For instance, stimulants are an effective treatment for impulsivity in youth with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and have been shown to improve symptoms of BED in adults. Notably, stimulants have not been examined as a treatment for LOC-E in youth. To explore this gap, we aim to measure change in LOC-E episodes and secondary outcomes in youth with comorbid ADHD and LOC-E who are being started on stimulants. METHODS: We will collect prospective observational data on forty 8-to-13-year-old youth diagnosed with comorbid ADHD and LOC-E who are initiating a stimulant for ADHD. Prior to stimulant initiation, participants will complete baseline measures including LOC-E episode frequency in the last 3 months (primary outcome), and secondary outcomes including disordered eating cognitions, emotions and behaviors, ADHD symptom severity, parental LOC-E, impulsivity and reward sensitivity, and anxiety/mood severity. Outcome measurements will be gathered again at 3-months after initiating the stimulant. Within-patient standardized effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals will be calculated from baseline to 3-month follow-up for all outcomes. DISCUSSION: Many individuals with LOC-E or binge eating do not fully remit over the course of psychotherapy. Whereas psychotherapy may address psychological and sociocultural domains associated with LOC-E, some individuals with neurocognitive impairments (e.g., ADHD) and neurobiological deficits (e.g., low intrasynaptic dopamine or norepinephrine) may benefit from adjunctive treatment that targets those factors. This will be the first study to provide pilot data for future studies that could examine both the effect of stimulants on LOC-E in youth and underlying mechanisms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number: NCT05592119.

Malingering and Stimulant Medications Abuse, Misuse and Diversion.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that interferes with multiple aspects of daily functioning. Malingering or feigning of symptoms can be a major challenge during ADHD assessment. Stimulant medication abuse, misuse and diversion may constitute another challenge during management. A literature search of the past 15 years on the topic continued to suggest that there are several reasons for malingering and faking ADHD symptoms. Some of the reasons include the intent to obtain prescriptions for stimulant medications for performance enhancement, to gain access to additional school services and accommodations, to use recreationally and to sell as a street drug. In some countries, patients may receive additional tax or student loan benefits. Several researchers suggested that self-report rating measures are easily simulated by patients without ADHD. They concluded that no questionnaire has proved sufficiently robust against false positives. Some clinical factors that may suggest malingering during the ADHD assessment are highlighted and some available tests to detect malingering are discussed.

Psychosocial Interventions for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by the CADDRA Guidelines Work GROUP.

Multiple psychosocial interventions to treat ADHD symptoms have been developed and empirically tested. However, no clear recommendations exist regarding the utilization of these interventions for treating core ADHD symptoms across different populations. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis by the CADDRA Guidelines work Group was to generate such recommendations, using recent evidence. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and meta-analyses (MA) from 2010 to 13 February 2020 were searched in PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, EBM Reviews and CINAHL. Studies of populations with significant levels of comorbidities were excluded. Thirty-one studies were included in the qualitative synthesis (22 RCT, 9 MA) and 24 studies (19 RCT, 5 MA) were included in the quantitative synthesis. Using three-level meta-analyses to pool results of multiple observations from each RCT, as well as four-level meta-analyses to pool results from multiples outcomes and multiple studies of each MA, we generated recommendations using the GRADE approach for: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Physical Exercise and Mind-Body intervention; Caregiver intervention; School-based and Executive intervention; and other interventions for core ADHD symptoms across Preschooler, Child, Adolescent and Adult populations. The evidence supports a recommendation for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for adults and Caregiver intervention for Children, but not for preschoolers. There were not enough data to provide recommendations for the other types of psychosocial interventions. Our results are in line with previous meta-analytic assessments; however, they provide a more in-depth assessment of the effect of psychosocial intervention on core ADHD symptoms.

Developmental Risk, Adversity Experiences and ADHD Clinical Profiles: A Naturalistic Exploratory Study.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a persistent neurodevelopmental disorder that results from complex interactions of multiple genes and environmental risk and adversity factors. Some researchers have suggested a need for additional research into differing clinical presentations of ADHD for further classification. In this context, this study aimed to investigate whether increases in risk and adversity factors increase the severity of ADHD and the number of comorbid psychiatric disorders. This is a naturalistic retrospective chart review exploratory study in 100 patients 16 years or older who have a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, using the Mann-Whitney test for parametric data and the Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis p value tests for non-parametric and categorical data. Qualitative data were tabulated and described. The study found that (1) the average number of comorbidities increases with the severity of ADHD, (2) the average number of risk and adversity factors increases with the severity of ADHD, (3) the number of risk and adversity factors were positively associated with the number of comorbidities, and (4) Level of education was negatively associated with the number of risk and adversity factors and the number of comorbidities. The implications of these findings are discussed, and future research in this important area is suggested.

Treatment retention in opioid agonist therapy: comparison of methadone versus buprenorphine/naloxone by analysis of daily-witnessed dispensed medication in a Canadian Province.

BACKGROUND: The last decade has shown a remarkable increase in the rates of illicit opioid use in Canada and internationally, which is associated with large increases in opioid related morbidity and mortality. While the differences between methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone in terms of retention have been studied outside Canada, the unique location and design of this study, gives it a specific significance. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe the relative treatment retention rates for first episode opioid replacement treatment between methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone for patients receiving daily witnessed dispensed medications in Nova Scotia. METHODS: A longitudinal retrospective descriptive study analyzing secondary data from the Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program on patients 18 years of age and older who started first episode opioid agonist therapy with methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone for opioid use disorder in Nova Scotia between 2014 and 2018. Treatment episode was defined as date of initial opioid agonist prescription until there is a gap of greater than 6 days without receiving opioid agonist medication at a pharmacy. RESULTS: One thousand eight hundred sixty-seven of whom were analyzed as they had at least 1 day in treatment. There was significant treatment dropout within the first 2 weeks of treatment, which did not show a significant difference between OAT medication (23.4% of buprenorphine/naloxone; 22.2% methadone). Median duration of retention in treatment was 58 days for those treated with buprenorphine/naloxone and 101 days for patients treated with methadone. Multivariate cox proportional hazards model showed that buprenorphine/naloxone use as compared to methadone lead to increased hazard of treatment dropout by 62% (HR = 1.62). Hazard rate of treatment dropout for patients below 25 years of age was calculated. (HR 1.53). Median duration of retention in treatment for this subgroup of patients younger than age 25 was 37.5 days for patients treated with buprenorphine/naloxone and 69 days for patients treated with methadone. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that methadone is a numerically superior medication for opioid use disorder when the metric of treatment retention is viewed in isolation, for our population in Nova Scotia. However, the results should be interpreted carefully considering the number of limitations of this study. There are social/accessibility, pharmacologic/safety, and patient preference factors which are also key in decision making when prescribing opioid agonist therapy. These must all be considered when deciding on which medication to initiate for a patient beginning a new treatment episode with OAT for opioid use disorder. This study should stimulate further research into this important area in addiction medicine.

Influence of age and education on a performance-based measure of everyday functioning.

Sociodemographic variables, such as age and education, influence the determination of impairment on neuropsychological tests, but their influence on impairment determinations for tests of everyday functioning is less well defined. Existing studies suggest that older age and lower education levels are associated with worse everyday functioning when assessed by self- or collateral-report. This relationship, however, has not been thoroughly investigated with performance-based methods of everyday functioning. This study aimed to determine the influence of sociodemographic factors on the Functional Impact Assessment (FIA), a performance-based measure of everyday functioning that includes measures of both accuracy and speed. Seventy-three healthy individuals, ages 42 - 88 years, completed the FIA and an additional everyday functioning self-report questionnaire (Functional Activities Questionnaire). Using a multiple regression statistical approach, age and education predicted overall FIA accuracy, while age alone predicted FIA speed. Sociodemographic variables continued to predict FIA performance when controlling for overall cognitive functioning. Sociodemographic variables were unrelated to FAQ scores. These findings indicate that age and education are associated with scores on a performance-based test of everyday functioning. Demographic corrections may improve accuracy in determining functional impairment, but more research is needed given the complex relationships among demographic factors, healthy aging, and dementia risk.

Clinical practice guideline: evidence, recommendations and algorithm for the preoperative optimization of anemia, hyperglycemia and smoking.

Preoperative optimization has not been explored comprehensively in the surgical literature, as this responsibility has often been divided among surgery, anesthesia and medicine. We developed an evidence-based clinical practice guideline to summarize existing evidence and present diagnostic and treatment algorithms for use by surgeons caring for patients scheduled to undergo major elective surgery. We focus on 3 common comorbid conditions seen across surgical specialties - anemia, hyperglycemia and smoking - as these conditions increase complication rates in patients undergoing major surgery and can be optimized successfully as soon as 6-8 weeks before surgery. With the ability to address these conditions earlier in the patient journey, surgeons can positively affect patient outcomes. The aim of this guideline is to bring optimization in the preoperative period under the existing umbrella of evidence-based surgical care.

Naturalistic exploratory study of the associations of substance use on ADHD outcomes and function.

BACKGROUND: Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with an increased risk of substance use disorder (SUD), existing literature on how SUD interacts with ADHD outcomes is limited. This study investigates whether SUD among individuals with ADHD is associated with worse ADHD outcomes and prognosis, and the association between overall functioning and SUD. In addition, we seek to understand whether heavy cannabis use is a better predictor of poorer outcomes compared to SUD status alone. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective analysis on 50 ADHD patient charts, which were allocated based on SUD status. Subgroup analysis was performed on the total sample population, with allocation based on heavy cannabis use. Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square tests were used for both the primary and subgroup analyses. RESULTS: SUD status highly correlated with more ADHD-related cognitive impairments and poorer functional outcomes at the time of diagnosis. ADHD patients with comorbid ADHD-SUD scored significantly lower (p = < 0.0001) on objective cognitive testing (Integrated Auditory and Visual Continuous Performance Test (IVA/CPT)) than ADHD patients without SUD. The correlation with poorer ADHD outcomes was more pronounced when groups were allocated based on heavy cannabis use status; in addition to significantly lower IVA/CPT scores (p = 0.0011), heavy cannabis use was associated with more severe fine motor hyperactivity and self-reported hyperactivity/impulsivity scores (p = 0.0088 and 0.0172, respectively). CONCLUSION: Future research is needed to determine how substance abuse can be a barrier to improved ADHD outcomes, and the effect cannabis and other substances have on cognitive function and pharmacotherapy of ADHD.

Implementation of a systematic tobacco treatment protocol in a surgical outpatient setting: a feasibility study.

Background: Smoking cessation programs started as late as 4 weeks before surgery reduce perioperative morbidity and death, yet outpatient clinic interventions are rarely provided. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a tobacco treatment protocol designed for an outpatient surgical setting. Methods: We completed a pre-post feasibility study of the implementation of a systematic, evidence-based tobacco treatment protocol in an outpatient colorectal surgery clinic. Outcomes included smoking prevalence, pre- and postimplementation smoker identification and intervention rates, recruitment, retention, smoking cessation and provider satisfaction. Results: Preimplementation, 15.5% of 116 surveyed patients were smokers. Fewer than 10% of surveyed patients reported being asked about smoking, and none were offered any cessation intervention. Over a 16-month postimplementation period, 1198 patients were seen on 2103 visits. Of these, 950 (79.3%) patients were asked smoking status on first visit and 1030 (86.0%) were asked on at least 1 visit. Of 169 identified smokers, 99 (58.6%) were referred to follow-up support using an opt-out approach. At 1-, 3- and 6-month follow-up, intention-to-quit rates among 78 enrolled patients were 24.4%, 22.9% and 19.2%, respectively. Postimplementation staff surveys reported that the protocol was easy to use, that staff would use it again and that it had positive patient responses. Conclusion: Implementation of our smoking cessation protocol in an outpatient surgical clinic was found to be feasible and used minimal clinic resources. This protocol could lead to increases in identification and documentation of smoking status, delivery of smoking cessation interventions and rates of smoking reduction and cessation.

Contexte: Les programmes d'abandon du tabagisme entamés jusqu'à 4 semaines avant une opération réduisent la morbidité et la mortalité périopératoires, mais les cliniques externes n'en proposent que rarement. L'étude visait à évaluer s'il est faisable d'appliquer un protocole de traitement du tabagisme pensé pour les milieux de soins chirurgicaux extrahospitaliers. Méthodes: Nous avons réalisé une étude de faisabilité pré- et postexpérimentale sur l'application d'un protocole de traitement systématique fondé sur des données probantes à une clinique externe de chirurgie colorectale. Les résultats à l'étude étaient les suivants : prévalence du tabagisme, identification des fumeurs et taux d'intervention avant et après la mise en place du protocole, recrutement, rétention, abandon du tabagisme et satisfaction des fournisseurs. Résultats: Au départ, 15,5 % des 116 patients sondés fumaient. Moins de 10 % des répondants avaient été questionnés sur leur statut tabagique, et aucun ne s'était vu proposer un programme d'abandon. Au cours des 16 mois suivant la mise en place du protocole, 1198 patients ont été rencontrés dans le cadre de 2103 consultations. Parmi eux, 950 (79,3 %) ont été interrogés sur leur statut tabagique à la première rencontre, et 1030 (86 %) l'ont été au moins 1 fois. Des 169 fumeurs identifiés, 99 (58,6 %) ont été orientés vers un programme de soutien selon une approche de consentement présumé. Après 1 mois, 24,4 % des 78 patients participants étaient déterminés à arrêter de fumer; 22,9 % l'étaient toujours après 3 mois, et 19,2 % après 6 mois. Les sondages menés a posteriori auprès du personnel indiquent que le protocole est facile à utiliser, que les employés s'en serviraient de nouveau, et que les patients l'ont accueilli favorablement. Conclusion: Il a été possible de mettre en place notre protocole d'abandon du tabagisme à une clinique externe de chirurgie, et ce en employant un minimum de ressources cliniques. Le protocole pourrait permettre de connaître et de consigner davantage de statuts tabagiques, d'orienter un plus grand nombre de fumeurs vers les programmes d'abandon et d'accroître les taux de réduction et d'abandon du tabagisme.

A feasibility study evaluating lisdexamfetamine dimesylate for the treatment of adults with bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the feasibility, safety, and potential efficacy of lisdexamfetamine (LDX) as a treatment for adults with bulimia nervosa (BN). METHOD: An open-label 8-week feasibility study was conducted in participants with BN. Enrollment rate, dropout rate, safety outcomes, and eating disorder symptom change were examined. RESULTS: Eighteen of 23 participants completed the study per protocol. There was no participant-initiated dropout due to adverse drug reactions and no severe and unexpected adverse drug reactions. An average increase in heart rate of 12.1 beats/min was observed. There was a mean weight reduction of 2.1 kg and one participant was withdrawn for clinically significant weight loss. In the intent-to-treat sample, there were reductions in objective binge episodes and compensatory behaviors from Baseline to Post/End-of-Treatment (mean difference = -29.83, 95% confidence interval: -43.38 to -16.27; and mean difference = -33.78, 95% confidence interval: -48.74 to -18.82, respectively). DISCUSSION: Results of this study indicate that a randomized controlled trial would be feasible with close monitoring of certain safety parameters (especially over a longer time period as long-term safety is unknown). However, the results should not be used as evidence for clinicians to prescribe LDX to individuals with BN before its efficacy and safety are properly tested. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03397446.

Stress and Burnout Among Mental Health Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has deeply altered social and working environments among health care workers. These health care workers are therefore at risk of additional psychosocial strain and ensuing metal health symptoms, which indirectly affects patient care. In this study, we aimed to assess the psychosocial and psychopathological impact of COVID-19 among acute care mental health and addictions staff. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional survey and contains a sample size of 60 mental health and addiction acute care workers recruited from within Nova Scotia Health Authority. The survey was constructed using the online survey system, Opinio, and consisted of three sections: demographic variables (gender, age group and profession); the DASS-21 Questionnaire (which provides dimensional measures of stress, anxiety and depression); and the MBI-HSS (MP) Questionnaire (which measures three dimensions of burnout-emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal achievement). RESULTS: The majority of participants had at least one pathologic score on the DASS-21 and MBI-HSS (MP) sections (75.5% and 93.5%, respectively). The median severity on the DASS-21 and MBI-HSS (MP) were both moderate, with the younger age group (20-35 years) having more significant burnout scores (p = 0.0494). Simple logistic regression showed a significant relationship between burnout severity and pathologic distress, and simple linear regression showed significant correlation between DASS-21 and MBI-HSS (MP) scores, with a R2 value of 0.4633. CONCLUSION: More planning, programs, resources and further research are needed to support wellness and recovery of all health care professionals who work at the mental health and addictions acute care unit.

Use of Medical Cannabis to Treat Traumatic Brain Injury.

There is not a single pharmacological agent with demonstrated therapeutic efficacy for traumatic brain injury (TBI). With recent legalization efforts and the growing popularity of medical cannabis, patients with TBI will inevitably consider medical cannabis as a treatment option. Pre-clinical TBI research suggests that cannabinoids have neuroprotective and psychotherapeutic properties. In contrast, recreational cannabis use has consistently shown to have detrimental effects. Our review identified a paucity of high-quality studies examining the beneficial and adverse effects of medical cannabis on TBI, with only a single phase III randomized control trial. However, observational studies demonstrate that TBI patients are using medical and recreational cannabis to treat their symptoms, highlighting inconsistencies between public policy, perception of potential efficacy, and the dearth of empirical evidence. We conclude that randomized controlled trials and prospective studies with appropriate control groups are necessary to fully understand the efficacy and potential adverse effects of medical cannabis for TBI.

A new suicide risk assessment tool in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Suicide is a major public health concern. In Canada, suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in all ages, with a rate of 10.3 deaths per 100,000 people. In Nova Scotia, Canada, 137 suicides were reported in 2016 [1]. Suicide risk assessment (SRA) and management are clinical competencies required for patient care. Strategies used for SRA include the use of formal self-report measures [2], personalized clinical interview however vital information about suicide risk may be missed during that unstructured assessment [3] and structured tool to supplement the clinical interview.