Substance use, mental health and dual disorders on pregnancy: Results of prevalence and treatment rates in a developed country. / Salud mental, abuso de sustancias y trastornos duales en el embarazo: Tasas de prevalencia y tratamiento en un país desarrollado.

Smoking and substance use during pregnancy are major preventable causes of mortality and morbidity, having a bidirectional and deleterious relationship with the mental health of the mother and child. As part of the WOMAP (Woman Mental Health and Addictions on Pregnancy) initiative, our study aimed to describe the prevalence of co-occurring mental illness and substance use problems, diagnoses and severity of those considered at risk and rates of treatment.A screening of 2,014 pregnant women was done using the AC-OK scale and they were asked about their smoking habits and services use for mental health/substance abuse. Of these, 170 women were considered at risk of co-occurring mental illness and substance use problems (≥ 2 positive responses to the AC-OK-Mental Health subscale, ≥ 1 positive response to the AC-OK-Substance Abuse subscale and/or smoking more than once a month and no use of specialized services) and were assessed with a more extensive battery of measures (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9], General Anxiety Disorder [GAD-7], Posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] Checklist for DSM-5 [PCL-5], Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT], Drug Abuse Screening Test [DAST] and Fagerström).In the last year, 614 women (30.5%) smoked tobacco (42.5% daily) and 9.8% were positive for both substance use and mental illness per the AC-OK. Only 11.1% of them received specific treatment in the previous three months while another 13.6% were scheduled to attend services in the following month. From the subsample assessed in depth, 62(36.5%) endorsed at least moderate depression, 35(20.6%) endorsed at least moderate anxiety, 32(18.8%) endorsed PTSD on the PCL, and 37 out of 88 alcohol users scored above the threshold in AUDIT (≥ 3). In conclusion, high prevalence and low treatment rates suggest that effective detection mechanisms should be integrated into usual care, allowing for early interventions.

El tabaquismo y el consumo de sustancias durante el embarazo son importantes causas prevenibles de morbimortalidad, teniendo una relación bidireccional y deletérea con la salud mental de la madre y el niño. Como parte de la iniciativa WOMAP (Woman Mental Health and Addictions on Pregnancy), se estudiaron 2.014 embarazadas buscando describir la prevalencia de trastornos mentales y por uso de sustancias concurrentes, las tasas de tratamiento y los diagnósticos y la gravedad. Las participantes fueron evaluadas con la escala AC-OK y se les preguntó sobre sus hábitos tabáquicos y uso de servicios de salud mental/sustancias. De las participantes, 170 mujeres resultaron positivas para un trastorno mental y por uso de sustancias concurrentes (≥ 2 positivos a la subescala AC-OK-Salud Mental, ≥ 1 positivos a la subescala AC-OK-Sustancias y/o fumar más de una vez al mes y no estar en tratamiento) y fueron evaluadas en profundidad mediante una batería de escalas (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9], General Anxiety Disorder [GAD-7], Post-traumatic stress disorder Checklist [PCL-5], Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT], Drug Abuse Screening Test [DAST] y Fagerström).En el último año, 614 mujeres (30,5%) fumaron tabaco (42,5% diariamente) y el 9,8% fueron positivas para problemas por uso de sustancias y salud mental según la AC-OK. Solo el 11,1% había recibido tratamiento en los tres meses previos y solo un 13,6% tenía una cita en el siguiente mes. De las 170 pacientes evaluadas secundariamente, 62(36,5%) presentaron al menos depresión moderada, 35(20,6%) al menos ansiedad moderada, 32(18,8%) fueron positivas a la PCL-5, y 37 de las 88 que reconocieron uso de alcohol puntuaron por encima del umbral en AUDIT (≥ 3). En conclusión, la combinación de una prevalencia significativa junto con bajas tasas de tratamiento, remarcan la necesidad de mecanismos de detección efectivos en la atención habitual, permitiendo una intervención temprana.

Salud mental, abuso de sustancias y trastornos duales en el embarazo: Tasas de prevalencia y tratamiento en un país desarrollado / Substance use, mental health and dual disorders on pregnancy: Results of prevalence and treatment rates in a developed country

El tabaquismo y el consumo de sustancias durante el embarazo son importantes causas prevenibles de morbimortalidad, teniendo una relaciónbidireccional y deletérea con la salud mental de la madre y el niño.Como parte de la iniciativa WOMAP (Woman Mental Health and Addictions on Pregnancy), se estudiaron 2.014 embarazadas buscando describir la prevalencia de trastornos mentales y por uso de sustancias concurrentes, las tasas de tratamiento y los diagnósticos y la gravedad. Lasparticipantes fueron evaluadas con la escala AC-OK y se les preguntó sobre sus hábitos tabáquicos y uso de servicios de salud mental/sustancias.De las participantes, 170 mujeres resultaron positivas para un trastornomental y por uso de sustancias concurrentes (≥ 2 positivos a la subescalaAC-OK-Salud Mental, ≥ 1 positivos a la subescala AC-OK-Sustancias y/ofumar más de una vez al mes y no estar en tratamiento) y fueron evaluadas en profundidad mediante una batería de escalas (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9], General Anxiety Disorder [GAD-7], Post-traumatic stress disorder Checklist [PCL-5], Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT], Drug Abuse Screening Test [DAST] y Fagerström).En el último año, 614 mujeres (30,5%) fumaron tabaco (42,5% diariamente) y el 9,8% fueron positivas para problemas por uso de sustancias ysalud mental según la AC-OK. Solo el 11,1% había recibido tratamientoen los tres meses previos y solo un 13,6% tenía una cita en el siguientemes. De las 170 pacientes evaluadas secundariamente, 62(36,5%) presentaron al menos depresión moderada, 35(20,6%) al menos ansiedadmoderada, 32(18,8%) fueron positivas a la PCL-5, y 37 de las 88 quereconocieron uso de alcohol puntuaron por encima del umbral en AUDIT (≥ 3).En conclusión, la combinación de una prevalencia significativa junto conbajas tasas de tratamiento, remarcan la necesidad de mecanismos de detección efectivos en la atención habitual, permitiendo una intervencióntemprana. (AU)

Smoking and substance use during pregnancy are major preventablecauses of mortality and morbidity, having a bidirectional and deleterious relationship with the mental health of the mother and child.As part of the WOMAP (Woman Mental Health and Addictions onPregnancy) initiative, our study aimed to describe the prevalence ofco-occurring mental illness and substance use problems, diagnosesand severity of those considered at risk and rates of treatment.A screening of 2,014 pregnant women was done using the AC-OKscale and they were asked about their smoking habits and servicesuse for mental health/substance abuse. Of these, 170 women wereconsidered at risk of co-occurring mental illness and substance useproblems (≥ 2 positive responses to the AC-OK-Mental Health subscale, ≥ 1 positive response to the AC-OK-Substance Abuse subscaleand/or smoking more than once a month and no use of specialized services) and were assessed with a more extensive battery of measures(Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9], General Anxiety Disorder[GAD-7], Posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] Checklist for DSM-5[PCL-5], Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT], DrugAbuse Screening Test [DAST] and Fagerström).In the last year, 614 women (30.5%) smoked tobacco (42.5% daily) and9.8% were positive for both substance use and mental illness per theAC-OK. Only 11.1% of them received specific treatment in the previousthree months while another 13.6% were scheduled to attend services inthe following month. From the subsample assessed in depth, 62(36.5%)endorsed at least moderate depression, 35(20.6%) endorsed at leastmoderate anxiety, 32(18.8%) endorsed PTSD on the PCL, and 37 outof 88 alcohol users scored above the threshold in AUDIT (≥ 3).In conclusion, high prevalence and low treatment rates suggest thateffective detection mechanisms should be integrated into usual care,allowing for early interventions. (AU)

Feasibility of a Virtual Reality-Based Psychoeducational Tool (VRight) for Depressive Patients.

E-health is opening new prospects in the management of mental disorders. Virtual reality (VR)-based interventions, which provide a safe nonjudging environment, may improve symptoms awareness in patients with depressive disorders. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of a novel VR software, the VRight, in depressive patients. Adult outpatients with depressive disorders presenting to our mental health clinic during December 2018 were invited to participate in the study. Participants completed a satisfaction survey at the end of the session, including questions about user-friendliness and about usefulness of the software. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was administered to participants before and after the VR-based intervention to assess depressive symptoms severity. We explored the correlation between the score difference and the variables: age, gender, and initial score. Twenty-eight patients (71.4 percent women, mean age: 51.18 ± 16.13 years) were recruited. Thirteen subjects had major depressive disorder (46.4 percent). Most of the patients (n = 26) were satisfied with the VR experience, which they found to be helpful. PHQ-9 score difference and the initial score correlated positively at a significant level. There was no significant correlation between score difference and age or gender. VRight was well accepted among depressive patients, showing high levels of satisfaction. The VRight could contribute to increase depressive symptoms awareness, which is of clinical relevance given the association of greater insight with positive outcomes in depression. Further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of VRight as a psychoeducational tool in clinical practice.