Coping and emotions of global higher education students to the Ukraine war worldwide.

Trauma scientists have raised the alarm about the devastating consequences of the Ukraine war on mental health. We examined how higher education students-as indirect victims-coped with this conflict and how they emotionally reacted during 2022. We involved 2314 students from 16 countries through an online survey. A structural equation model indicated significant relations between war-related worry about military and macroeconomics domains and two coping strategies (opposition, support giving), in turn significantly linked with six emotions. The model was strongly invariant across gender, study field, and geographic area. The most frequent emotions were anger and anxiety, followed by two future-centred emotions (hopelessness and hope). Emotions were more frequent for females and students of the countries geographically close to the war region. Our findings call for evidence-based policy recommendations to be implemented by institutions to combat the negative short and long-term psychological sequelae of being witnesses of armed conflicts.

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the suicidal narrative inventory in major depression: A multicentric evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The Suicidal Narrative Inventory (SNI) is a 38-item self-report measure developed to assess elements of the suicidal narrative, a subacute, predominantly cognitive, presuicidal construct. Our objectives were to assess the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the SNI-38 among adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, we administered the Hindi version of the SNI along with other self-report measures to adults with MDD, recruited from 24 tertiary care hospitals across India. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to assess the factor structure of SNI-38. Reliability (internal consistency) was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (α). Convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity of the SNI-38 were tested by comparing it against other appropriate measures. RESULTS: We collected usable responses from 654 Hindi-speaking participants (Mean age = 36.9 ± 11.9 years, 50.2% female). The eight-factor solution of the SNI showed good model fit indices (χ2[637] = 3345.58, p <.001, CFI =.98, and RMSEA =.08). Internal consistencies for the SNI subscale scores were good to excellent, α ranging from .73 to.92. While most subscales significantly converged with other measures, associations were comparatively weaker and inconsistent for the 'thwarted belongingness' and 'goal reengagement' subscales. CONCLUSION: Consistent with prior data, our study confirmed an eight-factor solution and demonstrated adequate psychometric properties for the Hindi version of the SNI-38 in our sample. These findings provide empirical support for the use of SNI to assess the suicidal narrative among Indian adults with MDD.

Electroconvulsive therapy in South Asia: Past, present, and future.

The practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) varies both between and within countries. We aimed to review historical and current trends in ECT practices, perceptions, and legislations in South Asia, a region with a high burden of mental illness and suicide. We searched MEDLINE (PubMed) and Google Scholar databases for relevant literature on ECT from each country. Additionally, a team of country-specific investigators performed supplemental searches and contacted key country contacts for relevant information. Relevant data were abstracted under the following headings: ECT practices, perceptions, and legislations. Knowledge gaps and research priorities were synthesized. Modified bitemporal ECT, delivered using brief pulse devices, was most commonly offered across institutions. Schizophrenia, not affective illness, was the most common indication. Electroencephalographic monitoring of seizures was rarely practiced. Thiopentone or propofol was preferred for anesthetic induction, while the favored muscle relaxant was succinylcholine. In India and Sri Lanka, perceptions about ECT were largely favorable; not so in Pakistan and Nepal. Only India and Pakistan had laws that governed any aspect of ECT practice; ECT practice guidelines were available only in India. There is a lack of research on efficacy, ECT in special populations, continuation ECT practices, and interventions to improve ECT-related perceptions. Most regional institutions offered modified brief-pulse ECT, and schizophrenia was the most common indication. Knowledge of and attitude towards ECT varied between countries. There is a need to develop a regional ECT consortium to facilitate uniform training, advocacy efforts, and the development of regional practice guidelines.

The Efficacy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been increasingly used for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Although several meta-analyses have explored its effectiveness and safety, there is no umbrella review specifically focused on rTMS for OCD. This umbrella review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and analyzed relevant meta-analyses on rTMS for OCD. METHODS: Twenty-three articles were identified from PubMed, and after screening, 12 meta-analyses were included in the review. The studies analyzed in the meta-analyses ranged from 10 to 27, with total participants ranging from 282 to 791. The most commonly studied regions were the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), supplementary motor area (SMA), and orbito-frontal cortex (OFC). RESULT: The majority of the meta-analyses consistently supported the effectiveness of rTMS in reducing OCD symptoms when applied to the DLPFC and SMA. Encouraging results were also observed when targeting the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) through deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS). However, there was a high level of heterogeneity in the findings of nine out of 12 meta-analyses. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, existing evidence suggests that rTMS targeting the DLPFC and SMA consistently reduces OCD symptoms, but targeting the mPFC and ACC through dTMS shows variable results. However, the high heterogeneity in the study findings indicates a need for further research and standardization in the field.

Exploring the role of ChatGPT in patient care (diagnosis and treatment) and medical research: A systematic review.

Background: ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence based tool developed by OpenAI (California, USA). This systematic review examines the potential of ChatGPT in patient care and its role in medical research. Methods: The systematic review was done according to the PRISMA guidelines. Embase, Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar data bases were searched. We also searched preprint data bases. Our search was aimed to identify all kinds of publications, without any restrictions, on ChatGPT and its application in medical research, medical publishing and patient care. We used search term "ChatGPT". We reviewed all kinds of publications including original articles, reviews, editorial/ commentaries, and even letter to the editor. Each selected records were analysed using ChatGPT and responses generated were compiled in a table. The word table was transformed in to a PDF and was further analysed using ChatPDF. Results: We reviewed full texts of 118 articles. ChatGPT can assist with patient enquiries, note writing, decision-making, trial enrolment, data management, decision support, research support, and patient education. But the solutions it offers are usually insufficient and contradictory, raising questions about their originality, privacy, correctness, bias, and legality. Due to its lack of human-like qualities, ChatGPT's legitimacy as an author is questioned when used for academic writing. ChatGPT generated contents have concerns with bias and possible plagiarism. Conclusion: Although it can help with patient treatment and research, there are issues with accuracy, authorship, and bias. ChatGPT can serve as a "clinical assistant" and be a help in research and scholarly writing.

The effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of the people in the Indian subcontinent: A scoping review.

Indian subcontinent has high mental heath burden and low resources to cope the mental health challenges. Assessment of impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health would help to prioritize the resource allocations. We aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of people in the Indian subcontinent. Following the PRISMA 2020 guideline, a scoping review was performed by systematically searching the PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases to identify original studies that assessed mental health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Indian subcontinent. In this review, a total of 34 studies conducted between 2020 and 2022 were analyzed. The prevalence of anxiety disorders was found to range widely, from 2.5% in North Indian urban slum to 53% in Bangladesh and 21.7% in Pakistan. Similarly, the prevalence of depression varied widely, with rates ranging from 3.5% in North India to 29.8% in Pakistan. The prevalence of stress-related problems ranged from 18.3% in Pakistan to 59.7% in Bangladesh. Factors such as female gender, married status, healthcare workers, and mental illness were identified as important predictors of anxiety and depressive disorders. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in Indian subcontinent varies widely based on study population and methods. Therefore, a cautious interpretation is needed while generalizing the study results.

Anomic suicides on rise during recently emerging crises: revisiting Durkheim's model.

Suicide is a global public health issue, with behavior differing across genders, age groups, places, and sociopolitical settings. Emile Durkheim characterized anomic suicide as occurring when social standards fail, resulting in purposelessness and directionlessness. Young people who are experiencing social issues are in danger, even if they do not voice suicidal ideas. Prevention interventions should target these people by strengthening resilience, minimizing social dysregulation stress, and fostering the development of life skills, coping resources, and social support. Anomic suicide has important psychological and societal implications, emphasizing the importance of fostering social cohesion and assisting persons experiencing purposelessness or a lack of direction in life.

Drug-drug Interaction between Psychotropic Medications and Medications Used in COVID-19: Comparison of Online Databases.

Objective: COVID-19 has gravely affected patients with psychiatric conditions. Potential interactions may occur between psychotropic medications and medications used in treatment of COVID-19. This study aimed to compare the online databases in terms of the quality of drug-drug interaction related information available on them. Methods: 216 drug interactions which included fifty-four psychotropic medication interactions with four COVID-19 drugs across six databases were analyzed by four authors independently. The overall grading of the databases was done on Likert scale independently by the authors using the parameters of ease of understanding for consumers and professionals, level of completeness, discussion on level of evidence and the number of available drugs, congruity with other databases and the mean score was tabulated. Results: Drugbank and Lexicomp had maximum discrepancy. The safety profile of Hydroxychloroquine was the best (eighteen moderate/severe psychotropic medication reactions) while Ritonavir has worst profile with thirty-nine medications. Drugbank had the highest SCOPE score (1.00) for completeness and covid19druginteractions.com had least (0.81). Overall, Liverpool© Drug Interaction Group and Lexicomp scored the highest (23/30 each) and were the best interaction checker software closely followed by Drugs.com (22/30). Medscape and WebMD were the poorest interaction checker databases. Conclusion: There is significant variability in the available online databases. Liverpool© Drug Interaction Group and Lexicomp were the most reliable sources for healthcare workers whereas for patients, Drugs.com was the easiest to understand (as it segregates the needs of general consumers and professionals distinctly to explain the interaction).

Gender and Geographical Distribution of Editorial Board Members of Three Leading Suicide Journals.

Background Despite the recent progress of women in academia, there is an underrepresentation of female editors in academic journals. Additionally, although suicide affects more low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than high-income countries, little is known about the geographical distribution of editors in suicidology journals. Aims We aimed to determine the gender and geographical distribution of the editorial board members (EBMs) of leading suicide journals. Method Data were collected between November 27 and 29, 2022. We purposively selected suicidology journals, searched the journal websites, and extracted data on the gender and affiliated country of the EBM to identify the continent and income category of the country. Results The proportion of female EBMs was 32.37% with better representation in senior positions. Only six positions (3.47%) were occupied by four individuals affiliated with LMIC backgrounds. The highest number of EBMs was located in North America (58.38%) while one member was from Africa. Limitations Only three purposively selected journals were scrutinized. Conclusion This study reveals that approximately one third of the editorial positions were occupied by women and less than 4% of editors were from LMICs, where suicide represents a significant burden.