Are social pressure, bullying and low social support associated with depressive symptoms, self-harm and self-directed violence among adolescents? A cross-sectional study using a structural equation modeling approach.

BACKGROUND: More in-depth evidence about the complex relationships between different risk factors and mental health among adolescents has been warranted. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine the direct and indirect effects of experiencing social pressure, bullying, and low social support on mental health problems in adolescence. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 among 15 823 Norwegian adolescents, aged 13-19 years. Structural Equation Modelling was used to assess the relationships between socioeconomic status, social pressure, bullying, social support, depressive symptoms, self-harm and suicide thoughts. RESULTS: Poor family economy and low parental education were associated with high pressure, low parental support and depressive symptoms in males and females. Moreover, poor family economy was associated with bullying perpetration and bullying victimization among males and females, and cyberbullying victimization among females, but not males. Low parental education was associated with bullying victimization among males, but not females. Further, high social pressure was associated with depressive symptoms among males and females, whereas high social pressure was linked to self-harm and suicide thoughts among females, but not males. Bullying victimization and cyberbullying victimization were associated with depressive symptoms, self-harm, and suicide thoughts among males and females. Bullying victimization was associated with depressive symptoms among males, but not females, whereas bullying perpetration was linked to self-harm and suicide thoughts among females, but not males. Low parental support was associated with bullying perpetration, bullying victimization, depressive symptoms, self-harm and suicide thoughts among males and females, whereas low parental support was associated with high social pressure among females, but not males. Low teacher support was associated with high social pressure and depressive symptoms. Low support from friends was associated with bullying victimization, depressive symptoms and suicide thoughts among males and females, whereas low support from friends was linked to self-harm among males, but not females. Finally, results showed that depressive symptoms were associated with self-harm and suicide thoughts among males and females. CONCLUSION: Low socioeconomic status, social pressure, bullying and low social support were directly and indirectly associated with depressive symptoms and self-directed violence among Norwegian adolescents.

Time trends in self-reported depressive symptoms, prescription of antidepressants, sedatives and hypnotics and the emergence of social media among Norwegian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Research has shown increased mental health problems and use of prescription drugs among adolescents in recent years and social media use has been linked to poorer mental health. However, trend studies concerning these topics are scarce. The purpose of this study was to analyze gender-specific trends in a) symptoms of depression and loneliness, and b) prescription of antidepressants, hypnotics and sedatives, in relation to the emergence of social media among adolescents in Norway. METHODS: This is an ecological study using data from the 'Young in Oslo' surveys from 1996 to 2021. The surveys included approximately 110 000 students, 14-17 years of age, and yielded a response rate varying from 95% in 1996 to 64% in 2021. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect information on symptoms of depression and loneliness. Information on antidepressant and sleep medication prescription was retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Database for the age group 15 to 19 years. A graphical approach and logistic regression models were used to examine gender-specific time-trends between 1996 to 2021. RESULTS: We found a doubling in self-reported symptoms of depression and loneliness among girls between 1996 and 2021, with the steepest increase in the period from 2006 to 2012, when Facebook and other social media were introduced. A similar trend was observed in the prescription of antidepressants among girls, with the steepest increase between 2011 and 2013. Among both boys and girls, 'worried too much about things' and 'had sleep problems' were the two symptoms with the greatest changes. CONCLUSION: A significant upward trend in self-reported depressive symptoms and medication use was observed over the past 25 years, with variations in the rate of increase, including a steeper trajectory during certain periods immediately after the introduction of social media platforms in Norway.

Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 and all-cause mortality in persons with co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness during the pandemic: a Norwegian cohort study.

PURPOSE: Most people were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons with co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness (MI) are already a marginalized group, with above average mortality. Thus, the study aim was to investigate SARS-CoV-2 incidence and mortality among persons with SUD/MI during the first two years of the pandemic. METHODS: This historical cohort study merged data from the Norwegian Patient Register, the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases and census data from Statistics Norway. We calculated crude mortality rates for persons with SUD and mild/moderate vs. severe MI and compared them to persons with physical illnesses or healthy controls. The incidence rate ratios for SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality were estimated using Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, the SARS-Cov-2-infection rate was marginally lower in persons with SUD and mild/moderate MI (IRR,1.19 [95%CI,1.09-1.30]) as in persons with physical illness (IRR,1.35 [95%CI, 1.23-1.47]), whereas persons with SUD and severe MI showed a lower rate compared to healthy controls. Crude mortality rates for persons with SUD/MI were substantially higher and increased much more during the pandemic than for persons with physical illnesses or healthy controls. The IRR for mortality in persons with SUD and mild/moderate MI was 10.61 (95%CI,7.19-15.67) and 11.44 (95%CI,7.50-17.45) for SUD and severe MI, compared to 5.03 (3.34-7.57]) for persons with physical illnesses only. CONCLUSION: The analysis showed excess mortality during COVID-19-pandemic for SUD/MI, but without higher SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in this group. Consequently, excess mortality among persons with SUD/MI was not due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Education and Training in Addiction Medicine and Psychology across Europe: A EUFAS Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Training in addiction medicine and addiction psychology is essential to ensure the quality of treatment for patients with substance use disorders. Some earlier research has shown varying training between countries, but no comprehensive study of addiction training across Europe has been performed. The present study by the European Federation for Addiction Societies (EUFAS) aimed to fill this gap. METHODS: A Delphi process was used to develop a questionnaire on specialist training in addiction treatment in 24 European countries. The final questionnaire consisted of 14 questions on either addiction medicine or addiction psychology, covering the nature and content of the training and institutional approval, the number of academic professorial positions, and the estimated number of specialists in each country. RESULTS: Information was not received from all countries, but six (Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Romania) reported no specialized addiction medicine training, while 17 countries did. Seven countries (Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands) reported no specialized addiction psychology training, while 14 countries did. Training content and evaluation methods varied. Approval was given either by governments, universities, or professional societies. Eighteen countries reported having professorships in addiction medicine and 12 in addiction psychology. The number of specialists in addiction medicine or psychology varied considerably across the countries. DISCUSSION: The survey revealed a large heterogeneity in training in addiction medicine and addiction psychology across Europe. Several countries lacked formal training, and where formal training was present, there was a large variation in the length of the training. Harmonization of training, as is currently the case for other medical and psychology specializations, is warranted to ensure optimal treatment for this under-served patient group.

Promoting Social Participation and Recovery Using Virtual Reality-Based Interventions Among People With Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: People with mental health disorders (MHDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) are a highly vulnerable group, particularly affected by social exclusion, marginalization, and disconnectedness. Virtual reality technology holds a potential for simulating social environments and interactions to mitigate the social barriers and marginalization faced by people recovering from MHDs and SUDs. However, it is still unclear how we can harness the greater ecological validity of virtual reality-based interventions targeting social and functional impairments in individuals with MHDs and SUDs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to explore how service providers in community-based MHD and SUD health care services perceive the barriers to social participation among adults recovering from MHDs and SUDs to provide a broader understanding of how learning experiences can be modeled to promote social participation in virtual reality environments. METHODS: Two semistructured, open-ended, and dual-moderator focus group interviews were conducted with participants representing different community-based MHD and SUD health care services. Service providers were recruited from their MHD and SUD services in our collaborating municipality in Eastern Norway. We recruited the first participant group at a municipal MHD and SUD assisted living facility for service users with ongoing excessive substance use and severe social dysfunctionality. We recruited the second participant group at a community-based follow-up care service aimed at clients with a broad range of MHDs and SUDs and various levels of social functioning. The qualitative data extracted in the interviews were analyzed, using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: The analysis of the service providers' perceptions of the barriers to social participation among clients with MHDs and SUDs revealed the following five main themes: challenging or lacking social connections, impaired cognitive functions, negative self-perception, impaired personal functioning, and insufficient social security. The barriers identified are interrelated in a cluster of cognitive, socioemotional, and functional impairments, leading to a severe and diverse complex of barriers to social participation. CONCLUSIONS: Social participation relies on people's capability to use their present social opportunities. Promoting basic human functioning is key to promoting social participation among people with MHDs and SUDs. The findings in this study indicate a need to address cognitive functioning, socioemotional learning, instrumental skills, and complex social functions to meet the complexity and diversity of the identified barriers to social functioning in our target group. Virtual reality-based interventions for promoting social participation should be sequenced into distinct scenarios dedicated to specific learning goals to build complex learning in a step-by-step process based on successively more complex levels of human and social functioning.

Associations between Mental Health, Lifestyle Factors and Worries about Climate Change in Norwegian Adolescents.

Climate change is a serious global health threat that has an impact on young people's lives and may influence their mental health. Since the global climate strike movement, many adolescents have expressed worries about climate change. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of worries about climate change, and factors associated with worries about climate change, in a representative sample of Norwegian adolescents. Data were retrieved from Ungdata, an annual nationwide online youth survey. Adolescents (n = 128,484) from lower and upper secondary school participated in the study. Data were analysed descriptively and with logistic regression. Most of the adolescents were not worried or a little worried about climate change. Girls, pupils who had at least one parent with higher education and pupils from urban areas were more inclined to worry about the climate. Adolescents who worried about the climate had more symptoms of depression than those who were less worried. While worry about climate change may constitute an additional burden for adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms, such worry can also be seen to reflect climate-friendly values.

Physical comorbidity among patients attending mental health services at Windhoek Central Hospital, Namibia.

Introduction: physical health problems are common among people with mental illness. Understanding common co-occurring mental and physical conditions can aid health providers to effectively screen individuals and also integrate care for both conditions. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of comorbidity among patients attending the outpatient section of the Mental Health Care Centre, Windhoek Central Hospital. Methods: a cross-sectional survey of 385 patients attending the Mental Health Care Centre of Windhoek Central Hospital was carried out using structured questionnaire. Results: the study found that 33.8% of participants had comorbid physical and mental conditions. The most common co-occurring physical conditions were from the cardiovascular system (40.8%), infections (30.8%), and neurological conditions (13.0%). Female patients were more likely to have comorbidity compared to their male counterparts (OR=2.8; CI = 1.5-5.0; p=0.001), and the risk of comorbidity increased with age (OR=1.1; CI = 1.0-1.1; p<0.001). Conclusion: the study emphasizes the inseparability of mental and physical health, and the bidirectional association between mental and physical conditions. The high prevalence of somatic disorder points to the need of integration of physical and mental health services. Mental health and somatic services must be adjusted to the fact that most of the people who come to seek help are likely to suffer from more than one illness.

Association between cannabis use and physical health problems in Norwegian adolescents: a cross-sectional study from the youth survey Ungdata.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis use is increasing among young Norwegians and several studies show a high incidence of common physical health problems. An association has previously been found between cannabis use and mental health problems. Since physical and mental health problems often co-occur, the aim of this study is to explore the relationship between cannabis use and physical health problems. METHODS: In 2017-2019, the Norwegian youth survey Ungdata collected data from 249,100 Norwegian adolescents, which equalled around 80% of all lower secondary school pupils (13-15 years) and about 50% of upper secondary pupils (16-19 years) in Norway. Descriptive analysis was used to calculate the prevalence of cannabis use and bi- and multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine the association between cannabis use and physical health problems, controlled for sociodemographics and mental health problems. RESULTS: Almost 10% of Norwegian adolescents had used cannabis once or more in the previous 12 months. The use of cannabis increased with age and it was more prevalent among boys. There is a clear connection between physical health problems and cannabis use (OR = 1.582 (CI: 1.527-1.638)) even after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and mental health problems (OR = 1.366 (CI: 1.312-1.423)). CONCLUSION: More studies are needed to explore if there might a bidirectional relationship between cannabis use and physical health problems where physical problems increase cannabis use and cannabis use increases the risk of physical health problems. More knowledge on the effect of and motivation for cannabis use are important for policy makers and health care professionals involved in young people.

Therapists and the Topic of Meaning in Life in Their Encounters With Adolescents With Developmental Trauma: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Meaning in life is important to achieve quality of life, psychological well-being and good mental health. Existential issues such as meaning in life have limited attention in mental health care and treatment for children and young people in Norway. People in crisis often ponder existential questions. We find little research on this topic in relation to therapists who work with adolescents with developmental trauma. The purpose of this study was to examine how meaning in life is understood and addressed from the perspectives of therapists working with adolescents struggling with trauma. METHOD: The study has a qualitative design, based on focus groups with therapists in mental health care for children and adolescents. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using systematic text condensation. RESULTS: Therapists had limited professional experience and competence to address and explore meaning as a topic in therapy. Yet there was interest in the topic and they thought that young people with trauma experience may benefit from the incorporation of meaning perspectives into therapy. CONCLUSION: Therapists at a mental health outpatient clinic for children and adolescents found the topic of meaning important but challenging to involve in the treatment of adolescents with developmental trauma. There is a need for more research to enhance understanding of what it means to include meaning as a topic in child and adolescent psychiatry, and what may be the specific benefit and challenges involved.

How did the first COVID-19 lockdown affect persons with concurrent mental health and substance use disorders in Norway? A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of COVID-19 with its severe social restrictions touched the daily life of most people. While everyday social life becomes difficult for citizens with economic and cultural capital, it becomes even worse for vulnerable groups such as persons with mental health and substance use disorders, who are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion. The aim of this study is to investigate how the first COVID-19 lockdown affected the everyday life and health of persons with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. METHODS: This qualitative study reports data from 17 individual interviews and one focus group of five participants, all with a self-reported mental health and substance use disorder. Interviews were conducted based on a semi-structured interview guide in September and October 2020 in a medium-sized local authority in Norway. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. A reference group of people with varied knowledge and experiences of the phenomenon were involved in study design, recruitment, data generation and analysis. RESULTS: The analysis identified four interrelated main themes, describing how the first lockdown affected the everyday life and health of persons suffering from a mental health and substance use disorder: (1) The COVID-19 outbreak as a perceived challenge, (2) A decline in mental health and well-being, (3) Increased substance use challenges, and (4) Diverse experiences with health and social services. The results show that people with a co-occurring disorder have challenges with digital tools and/or do not have the appropriate equipment. Further, participants were not concerned about becoming infected themselves, but infecting others. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with a mental health and substance use disorder face major challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to maintain continuous low-threshold services especially directed towards persons with co-occurring disorders during the pandemic. Furthermore, it is important to improve the digital skills of every service user or offer alternatives to digital consultations and meetings.

Sleep and energy drink consumption among Norwegian adolescents - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents are recommended to get 8-10 h of sleep at night, yet more than 80% fail to obtain this goal. Energy drink (ED) consumption has been linked to later bedtime in adolescents. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential association between ED consumption and sleep duration, and shuteye latency among adolescents in Norway. METHODS: This study was based on data from 15- to 16-year-old adolescents living in Oppland County in 2017. In total, 1353 adolescents were included in the analysis. Multiple regression models were used to estimate the associations between the frequency of ED consumption with sleep duration, shuteye latency, and getting 8 h of sleep. RESULTS: Forty-six point five percent of the adolescents reported sleeping more than 8 h at night. Those who reported ED consumption at any frequency had significantly shorter sleep duration than those who did not. On average, high consumers of ED (consuming ED ≥ 4 times a week) had 0.95 (95% CI: 0.61, 1.28) hours (i.e., 57 min) less sleep than those who never consumed ED. In addition, high consumers had more than 25 min (95% CI: 13.95, 36.92) longer shuteye period than those who never consumed ED. CONCLUSION: Most ED consumers fail to obtain the recommended 8 h of sleep at night, which could be a consequence of shorter sleep duration and longer shuteye latency. We found a dose-response relationship between frequency of ED consumption and reduced sleep. Yet, the potential long-term effects of both ED consumption and insufficient sleep among adolescents remain unclear.

Is There an Association between Intra-Operative Detection of Pathogens in Subcutaneous Tissue and Surgical Site Infections? Results from a Prospective Study.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common complication in visceral surgery. Pathogens causing SSIs vary depending on the type of surgery. Patients and Methods: Within the scope of the Reduction of Postoperative Wound Infections by Antiseptica (RECIPE) trial we analyzed the pathogens cultured in intra-operative, subcutaneous swabs and in swabs from SSI in a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled study. Definition of SSI complied with the criteria of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Results: The overall rate of SSI was 28.2% in 393 patients. Colorectal surgery was performed in 68.2% of elective laparotomies. Pathogens were more often detected in intra-operative subcutaneous swabs in patients who developed SSIs than in patients who did not develop SSIs (64.4% vs. 38.0%; p < 0.001). Enterococci were found in 29.1% of intra-operative swabs in patients with SSIs, followed by Escherichia coli in 15.5%. A higher rate of Enterococcus faecium was found in patients with anemia versus those without anemia (9.2% vs. 2.3%; p = 0.006) and in patients who smoked versus those who did not (11.8% vs. 3.6%; p = 0.008). A positive subcutaneous swab (odds ratio [OR], 2.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-4.29; p = 0.001), pre-operative anemia (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.08-3.13; p = 0.016), and renal insufficiency (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.01-4.59; p = 0.048) were risk factors for SSIs. Conclusions: There is an association between the intra-operative detection of pathogens in subcutaneous tissue and the development of SSIs in visceral surgery. The most prevalent pathogens causing SSIs were enterococci and Escherichia coli. More efforts are justified to reduce subcutaneous colonization with pathogens, for example by using intra-operative wound irrigation with polyhexanide solution. This trial is registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04055233).

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease among people with mental illness in Namibia.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among people with mental illness attending the Mental Health Care Centre, Windhoek, Namibia. Design: Observational, cross-sectional study. Setting: Mental health Care Centre, Windhoek Central Hospital. Namibia. Participants: Adult patients with a mental illness attending the Mental Health Care Centre, Windhoek. Data collection: Within a systematic random sampling method, 385 adult patients with mental illness were recruited between May and December 2017. Statistical analysis: Validated assessment tools were used. Descriptive summary statistics and Chi-squared tests of association were conducted. Results: One-third (31.7%) of participants used alcohol, 21% used nicotine, 21.3% had hypertension, 55% were over-weight or obese, 59.2% of females and 11.5% of males had abdominal obesity. About twenty per cent (19.9%) of participants did meet the World Health Organisation recommended level of activity, while more than two-thirds of participants did not participate in moderate or vigorous physical activities. The patient's psychiatric condition was significantly associated with alcohol use (Chi-square=20.450, p=0.002) and physical activity (Chi-square=20.989, p=0.002). The psychiatric condition was not associated with the waist circumference and gender of the participant. Conclusions: The increased prevalence of CVD risk factors in people with mental illness calls for mental health practitioners to screen, monitor and manage these risk factors regularly. Systematically screening and monitoring for cardiovascular risk factors is likely to contribute to National targets and significantly impact cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in people with mental illness. Funding: This work was financed by internal resources of the Mental Health Care Centre, Windhoek Central Hospital.

The relationship between religiosity/spirituality and quality of life among female Eritrean refugees living in Norwegian asylum centres.

BACKGROUND: Women are more vulnerable to mental health problems than men after migration, but little is known about the influence of religiosity/spirituality on their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore religiosity/spirituality, in relationships with various domains of quality of life, among female Eritrean refugees staying in Norwegian asylum centres. METHOD: A questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics was used together with the World Health OrganizationQuality of Life - Spirituality, Religiosity and Personal Beliefs (WHOQOL-SRPB) questionnaire, which assesses religiosity/spirituality and domains of quality of life. A total of 63 adult female Eritrean refugees who had been granted asylum but were still living in asylum reception centres located in southern and central Norway participated. RESULTS: Religiosity/spirituality was independently associated with psychological quality of life (B = 0.367, p < .001), level of independence (B = 0.184, p = .028), social quality of life (B = 0.500, p = .003), environmental quality of life (B = 0.323, p < .001) and overall quality of life (B = 0.213, p < .001), but not with physical quality of life (B = 0.056, p = .679). There were no significant differences between religious affiliations on religiosity/spirituality or quality of life measures. CONCLUSION: Consistent with previous research, this study highlights the correlation between religiosity/spirituality and overall quality of life. We recommend a longitudinal follow-up study of similar populations, after they are resettled and integrated into their host countries, to understand the associations between quality of life and religiosity/spirituality over time.

The impact of surgical site infection-a cost analysis.

PURPOSE: Surgical site infection (SSI) occurs in up to 25% of patients after elective laparotomy. We aimed to determine the effect of SSI on healthcare costs and patients' quality of life. METHODS: In this post hoc analysis based on the RECIPE trial, we studied a 30-day postoperative outcome of SSI in a single-center, prospective randomized controlled trial comparing subcutaneous wound irrigation with 0.04% polyhexanide to 0.9% saline after elective laparotomy. Total medical costs were analyzed accurately per patient with the tool of our corporate controlling team which is based on diagnosis-related groups in Germany. RESULTS: Between November 2015 and May 2018, 456 patients were recruited. The overall rate of SSI was 28.2%. Overall costs of inpatient treatment were higher in the group with SSI: median 16.685 €; 19.703 USD (IQR 21.638 €; 25.552 USD) vs. median 11.235 €; 13.276 USD (IQR 11.564 €; 13.656 USD); p < 0.001. There was a difference in surgery costs (median 6.664 €; 7.870 USD with SSI vs. median 5.040 €; 5.952 USD without SSI; p = 0.001) and costs on the surgical ward (median 8.404 €; 9.924 USD with SSI vs. median 4.690 €; 5.538 USD without SSI; p < 0.001). Patients with SSI were less satisfied with the cosmetic result (4.3% vs. 16.2%; p < 0.001). Overall costs for patients who were irrigated with saline were median 12.056 €; 14.237 USD vs. median 12.793 €; 15.107 USD in the polyhexanide group (p = 0.52). CONCLUSION: SSI after elective laparotomy increased hospital costs substantially. This is an additional reason why the prevention of SSI is important. Overall costs for intraoperative wound irrigation with saline were comparable with polyhexanide.

Negative social media-related experiences and lower general self-efficacy are associated with depressive symptoms in adolescents.

Social media are an integral part of adolescents' daily lives, and reviews have suggested an overall small association between more social media use and mental health problems. However, researchers have commonly investigated social media use in a time use perspective, rendering nuances in adolescents' social media experience less well explored. Thus, studies of relationships between social media use and mental health problems need also examine the nature of the events taking place on social media. This study aimed to examine depressive symptoms in adolescents in relationship to time spent on social media, negative social media-related experiences, and general self-efficacy. Data collected in a national survey, Ungdata 2021 (n = 139,841), was used. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that time spent on social media was associated with depressive symptoms (ß = 0.09, p < 0.001). However, negative social media-related experiences were more strongly associated with depressive symptoms (ß ranging 0.09-0.22, all p < 0.001), and their inclusion weakened the initial association between time on social media and depressive symptoms. General self-efficacy was directly associated with lower symptom levels (ß = -0.29, p < 0.001) but did not change the associations between social media use and depressive symptoms. The findings imply that not only time spent on social media, but in particular negative social media-related experiences, are related to depressive symptoms in Norwegian adolescents. General self-efficacy is an important resource for adolescents' mental health.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease among people with mental illness in Namibia

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among people with mental illness attending the Mental Health Care Centre, Windhoek, Namibia Design: Observational, cross-sectional study. Setting: Mental health Care Centre, Windhoek Central Hospital. Namibia Participants: Adult patients with a mental illness attending the Mental Health Care Centre, Windhoek. Data collection: Within a systematic random sampling method, 385 adult patients with mental illness were recruited between May and December 2017. Statistical analysis: Validated assessment tools were used. Descriptive summary statistics and Chi-squared tests of association were conducted. Results: One-third (31.7%) of participants used alcohol, 21% used nicotine, 21.3% had hypertension, 55% were overweight or obese, 59.2% of females and 11.5% of males had abdominal obesity. About twenty per cent (19.9%) of participants did meet the World Health Organisation recommended level of activity, while more than two-thirds of participants did not participate in moderate or vigorous physical activities. The patient's psychiatric condition was significantly associated with alcohol use (Chi-square=20.450, p=0.002) and physical activity (Chi-square=20.989, p=0.002). The psychiatric condition was not associated with the waist circumference and gender of the participant. Conclusions: The increased prevalence of CVD risk factors in people with mental illness calls for mental health practitioners to screen, monitor and manage these risk factors regularly. Systematically screening and monitoring for cardiovascular risk factors is likely to contribute to National targets and significantly impact cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in people with mental illness

Are There Differences in Video Gaming and Use of Social Media among Boys and Girls?-A Mixed Methods Approach.

Gaming is widespread among adolescents and has typically been viewed as an activity for boys. There are however a growing number of female gamers and we need to learn more about how gender affects gaming. The aim of this study is to both quantify gaming among Norwegian adolescents and explore how gender differences are perceived. A mixed method approach was used to capture gaming experiences among boys and girls. Survey data (N = 5607) was analyzed descriptively, and five focus groups were conducted, applying thematic analysis. Statistics showed that boys from the age of 14 use video games up to 5 times more than girls, while girls are much more on social media. From the focus groups, we found that boys did not view social media as socially significant as gaming and that there is a greater social acceptance of gaming among boys than among girls. Gender differences in video gaming are not necessarily a problem per se, as they may reflect gender-specific motivations and interests. However, the study also finds that girls feel less encouraged than boys to play video games due to different gender-related experiences of video gaming. Therefore, gendered barriers in video gaming must be explored in future research.

Validation of the German Classification of Diverticular Disease (VADIS)-a prospective bicentric observational study.

PURPOSE: The German Classification of Diverticular Disease was introduced a few years ago. The aim of this study was to determine whether Classification of Diverticular Disease enables an exact stratification of different types of diverticular disease in terms of course and treatment. METHODS: This was a prospective, bicentric observational trial. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with diverticular disease were prospectively included. The primary endpoint was the rate of recurrence within 2 year follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index, Quality of life measured by SF-36, frequency of gastrointestinal complaints, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 172 patients were included. After conservative management, 40% of patients required surgery for recurrence in type 1b vs. 80% in type 2a/b (p = 0.04). Sixty percent of patients with type 2a (micro-abscess) were in need of surgery for recurrence vs. 100% of patients with type 2b (macro-abscess) (p = 0.11). Patients with type 2a reached 123 ± 15 points in the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index compared with 111 ± 14 in type 2b (p = 0.05) and higher scores in the "Mental Component Summary" scale of SF-36 (52 ± 10 vs. 43 ± 13; p = 0.04). Patients with recurrent diverticulitis without complications (type 3b) had less often painful constipation (30% vs. 73%; p = 0.006) when they were operated compared with conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: Differentiation into type 2a and 2b based on abscess size seems reasonable as patients with type 2b required surgery while patients with type 2a may be treated conservatively. Sigmoid colectomy in patients with type 3b seems to have gastrointestinal complaints during long-term follow-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.drks.de ID: DRKS00005576.

Comparison of European Clinical Guidelines on the Management of Alcohol Use Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the European region, and tackling the harmful use of alcohol is a public health priority. Most countries in the region have national strategies for treating alcohol use disorders (AUD), but there is significant between-country variation. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare clinical guidelines for the management of AUD from countries of the European region and to determine whether countries' relative wealth or quality of their health systems had affected the guidelines. METHODS: A survey was conducted of 24 countries. The survey encompassed how AUD clinical guidelines were researched, the range and expertise of contributors, which topics of AUD treatment were included, the definition of a "standard drink" used, and the publishing, funding, endorsement, and dissemination of the guideline. RESULTS: Twenty-one of the 24 countries surveyed had a clinical guideline for AUD. All guidelines were underpinned by a literature review, and psychiatrists were the professional group most commonly involved in producing them. Most of the guidelines covered typical cornerstones of AUD care such as treatment of alcohol dependence, pharmacotherapy for relapse prevention, and detoxification. Definitions of a "standard drink" ranged from 8 to 20 grams of ethanol. Governments or governmental bodies were the main publishers and funders of guidelines, and the vast majority of guidelines were freely available online. There were no statistically significant effects of GDP, GDP per capita, or World Health Organization's World Health Report rankings on whether countries were more likely to have an AUD clinical guideline, to have performed a systematic literature review, or to have involved service users in producing their guideline. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey reflect widespread good practice in producing AUD clinical guidelines across European countries. Regional research collaborations could offer significant time and cost savings in producing the evidence base from which guidelines are then written.