The shared and dissociable aspects of burnout, depression, anxiety, and irritability in health professionals during COVID-19 pandemic: A latent and network analysis.

Burnout syndrome (BS) has been classified as an independent 'work-related phenomenon', however, there is still an important discussion on whether BS is a unique clinical construct due to the overlapping symptoms with other domains of negative affect such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irritability. Thus, we investigated the common and dissociable aspects between BS and domains of negative affect such as depression, anxiety, and irritability through a cross-sectional study with 3428 essential service professionals from a national project during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were assessed with Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scales to assess the severity of depression, anxiety, and irritability. The discriminability between the constructs was investigated using correlation tests, Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Bifactor (ESEM), and network analyzes. The mean correlation among the four subscales of BAT-12 was stronger with each other than with depression, anxiety, and irritability. Both ESEM and network analysis, despite showing shared characteristics, clearly delineated that Burnout domains were dissociable from other domains of negative affect. Our findings corroborate the ICD-11 strategy to include BS as a separate entity that cannot be fully explained by variance accounted for by other domains.

Re-traumatization Cycle: Sexual Abuse, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Club Drug Users.

Background: Club drug users are high risk and vulnerable population for adverse drug-related consequences and sexual risk behaviors. Few investigations have addressed the possible interrelationship between early trauma and PTSD among young club drug using populations. Objective: Exposure to traumatic experiences - especially in childhood, has been linked to risk behaviors exposure and substance use disorder. This study aimed to assess and compare drug use patterns and the presence of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) experiences among ecstasy and LSD users with and without Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Method: This cross-sectional study employed targeted sampling and ethnographic mapping approaches via face-to-face interviews conducted at bars and electronic music festivals. The Global Appraisal of Individual Needs questionnaire was used as the primary assessment instrument. Participants were from 18 to 39 years of age, had used ecstasy and/or LSD in the 90 days prior to the interview, and were not in treatment for alcohol and other drug problems. Results: Out of the 240 participants, 123 (51.2%) presented PTSD symptoms. Those presenting PTSD were younger, less educated, with lower income, and presented higher drug use severity than those without PTSD symptoms. Moreover, a higher prevalence of sexual risk behavior was verified among those with PTSD. There was an association between PTSD symptoms and CSA history, where 64.2% of individuals with PTSD also presented CSA, compared to 47% among those without PTSD (p = .028). Individuals with co-occurring history of CSA and PTSD symptoms reported earlier use of ecstasy, LSD, and cocaine compared to individuals with a history of CSA but without PTSD. Conclusions: In the present study, participants with a history of PTSD demonstrate a history of CSA, as well as pronounced severity in several areas - precocity of use, severity of addiction, and greater exposure to situations of sexual risk. Thus, a cycle of traumatization may be established through early potential trauma, which can remain unprocessed and contribute to earlier and more severe substance use and sexual risk behaviors. Identification of PTSD symptoms and risk for HIV and other STIs among young club drug users is critical to address focused treatment approaches for this vulnerable population.

Comorbid social anxiety disorder in patients with alcohol use disorder: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Lifetime prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SAD) among patients with alcohol dependence is around 11%. However, no systematic review has assessed the effect of comorbid SAD on the clinical outcomes of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare clinical outcomes, such as alcohol relapse, suicide attempts, treatment response, readmissions, psychiatric comorbidities, and treatment compliance between patients with AUD and comorbid SAD versus patients with AUD without SAD. METHODS: We carried out a systematic review by searching PubMed for articles published between January 1, 1960 and May 6, 2018. Inclusion criteria were met if a study reported a dichotomous sample of adult patients with AUD and SAD compared to patients with AUD without SAD. Review articles and preclinical studies were excluded. From the eligible studies, we extracted outcomes of interest, such as alcohol relapse, suicidal thoughts, suicide plan and attempts, treatment response, readmissions, psychiatric comorbidities, and treatment compliance. RESULTS: Patients with both AUD and SAD have a higher prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities, mainly major depressive disorder (MDD), and depressive symptoms. In addition, they have poor treatment compliance. Conversely, the impact of comorbid SAD on alcohol relapse is controversial and current studies have yielded mixed results. Only one study assessed the impact of comorbid SAD on treatment response and showed no association. Furthermore, one study assessed suicidality and found higher rates of suicidal thoughts, suicide plans and attempts in patients with AUD and SAD. CONCLUSION: The present systematic review shows that it is important to screen for other psychiatric comorbidities (especially MDD), suicidality, and improve treatment adherence in patients with AUD and comorbid SAD. Future prospective studies should clarify the impact of comorbid SAD.

The impact of machine learning techniques in the study of bipolar disorder: A systematic review.

Machine learning techniques provide new methods to predict diagnosis and clinical outcomes at an individual level. We aim to review the existing literature on the use of machine learning techniques in the assessment of subjects with bipolar disorder. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science for articles published in any language up to January 2017. We found 757 abstracts and included 51 studies in our review. Most of the included studies used multiple levels of biological data to distinguish the diagnosis of bipolar disorder from other psychiatric disorders or healthy controls. We also found studies that assessed the prediction of clinical outcomes and studies using unsupervised machine learning to build more consistent clinical phenotypes of bipolar disorder. We concluded that given the clinical heterogeneity of samples of patients with BD, machine learning techniques may provide clinicians and researchers with important insights in fields such as diagnosis, personalized treatment and prognosis orientation.

Neuroprogression and illness trajectories in bipolar disorder.

INTRODUCTION: The longitudinal course of bipolar disorder is highly variable, and a subset of patients seems to present a progressive course associated with brain changes and functional impairment. Areas covered: We discuss the theory of neuroprogression in bipolar disorder. This concept considers the systemic stress response that occurs within mood episodes and late-stage deficits in functioning and cognition as well as neuroanatomic changes. We also discuss treatment refractoriness that may take place in some cases of bipolar disorder. We searched PubMed for articles published in any language up to June 4th, 2016. We found 315 abstracts and included 87 studies in our review. Expert commentary: We are of the opinion that the use of specific pharmacological strategies and functional remediation may be potentially useful in bipolar patients at late-stages. New analytic approaches using multimodal data hold the potential to help in identifying signatures of subgroups of patients who will develop a neuroprogressive course.

Down syndrome: Prevalence and distribution of congenital heart disease in Brazil.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder, affecting 1/700 live births. Among the clinical findings, one constant concern is the high prevalence of congenital heart disease. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and profile of congenital heart disease among patients attended at a Down syndrome outpatient clinic in southern Brazil between 2005 and 2013. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in a referral center. METHODS: Data were retrospectively gathered from the medical files of 1,207 patients with Down syndrome, among whom 604 (50.0%) had been diagnosed with congenital heart disease. These data were subjected to descriptive analysis using the Statistica software. RESULTS: Among the 604 patients with congenital heart disease, 338 (55.8%) were male and 269 (44.5%) were female. The most common heart diseases were atrial septal defect in 254 patients (42.1%); total atrioventricular septal defect in 91 (15.1%); atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect in 88 (14.6%); ventricular septal defect in 77 (12.7%); patent ductus arteriosus in 40 (6.6%); patent foramen ovale in 34 (5.6%) patients; tetralogy of Fallot in 12 (2%); and other diseases in 8 (1.3%). Pulmonary hypertension was present in 57 (9.4%). Out of the total, 150 patients (24.8%) underwent cardiac surgery. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of congenital heart disease among the patients at the Down syndrome outpatient clinic (50%) was similar to findings from other studies and justifies investigation during the neonatal period, so as to decrease mortality and morbidity.

Down syndrome: Prevalence and distribution of congenital heart disease in Brazil / Síndrome de Down: prevalência e distribuição de cardiopatia congênita no Brasil

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder, affecting 1/700 live births. Among the clinical findings, one constant concern is the high prevalence of congenital heart disease. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and profile of congenital heart disease among patients attended at a Down syndrome outpatient clinic in southern Brazil between 2005 and 2013. DESIGN AND SETTING : Cross-sectional study conducted in a referral center. METHODS : Data were retrospectively gathered from the medical files of 1,207 patients with Down syndrome, among whom 604 (50.0%) had been diagnosed with congenital heart disease. These data were subjected to descriptive analysis using the Statistica software. RESULTS : Among the 604 patients with congenital heart disease, 338 (55.8%) were male and 269 (44.5%) were female. The most common heart diseases were atrial septal defect in 254 patients (42.1%); total atrioventricular septal defect in 91 (15.1%); atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect in 88 (14.6%); ventricular septal defect in 77 (12.7%); patent ductus arteriosus in 40 (6.6%); patent foramen ovale in 34 (5.6%) patients; tetralogy of Fallot in 12 (2%); and other diseases in 8 (1.3%). Pulmonary hypertension was present in 57 (9.4%). Out of the total, 150 patients (24.8%) underwent cardiac surgery. CONCLUSION : The high prevalence of congenital heart disease among the patients at the Down syndrome outpatient clinic (50%) was similar to findings from other studies and justifies investigation during the neonatal period, so as to decrease mortality and morbidity.

RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO : A síndrome de Down é a anomalia genética mais comum e afeta 1/700 nascidos vivos. Entre os achados clínicos, uma preocupação constante é a alta prevalência de cardiopatia congênita e o objetivo do presente estudo é determinar a prevalência e o perfil de cardiopatia congênita em pacientes atendidos em um ambulatório de síndrome de Down no período de 2005 a 2013 no sul do Brasil. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL : Estudo transversal conduzido em um centro de referência. MÉTODOS : Foi realizada coleta retrospectiva de dados de 1.207 prontuários de pacientes com síndrome de Down, com 604 (50,0%) diagnosticados com cardiopatia congênita. Os dados foram submetidos a análise descritiva, utilizando-se o programa Statistica. RESULTADOS : Entre os 604 pacientes com cardiopatia congênita, 338 (55,8%) eram do sexo masculino e 269 (44,5%) do feminino. A cardiopatia mais comum foi comunicação interatrial, observada em 254 (42,1%) pacientes, defeito de septo atrioventricular total, em 91 (15,1%), comunicação interatrial em conjunto com comunicação interventricular, em 88 (14,6%), comunicação interventricular, em 77 (12,7%), persistência do canal arterial, em 40 (6,6%), forame oval patente, em 34 (5,6%), tetralogia de Fallot, em 12 (2%) e outras cardiopatias observadas em oito (1,3%) pacientes. Hipertensão pulmonar esteve presente em 57 (9,4%). Do total, 150 (24,8%) pacientes foram submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca. CONCLUSÃO : A elevada prevalência das cardiopatias congênitas nos pacientes do ambulatório da síndrome de Down, de 50%, semelhante à encontrada em outros estudos, justifica a investigação no período neonatal, com diminuição da mortalidade e morbidade.