Workplace bullying and psychotropic drug use: the mediating role of physical and mental health status.

OBJECTIVES: The association between workplace bullying and psychotropic drug use is not well established. This study was aimed at exploring the association between workplace bullying, and its characteristics, and psychotropic drug use and studying the mediating role of physical and mental health. METHODS: The study population consisted of a random sample of 3132 men and 4562 women of the working population in the south-east of France. Workplace bullying, evaluated using the validated instrument elaborated by Leymann, and psychotropic drug use, as well as covariates, were measured using a self-administered questionnaire. Covariates included age, marital status, presence of children, education, occupation, working hours, night work, physico-chemical exposures at work, self-reported health, and depressive symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression analysis and was carried out separately for men and women. RESULTS: Workplace bullying was strongly associated with psychotropic drug use. Past exposure to bullying increased the risk for this use. The more frequent and the longer the exposure to bullying, the stronger the association with psychotropic drug use. Observing bullying on someone else at the workplace was associated with psychotropic drug use. Adjustment for covariates did not modify the results. Additional adjustment for self-reported health and depressive symptoms reduced the magnitude of the associations, especially for men. CONCLUSIONS: The association between bullying and psychotropic drug use was found to be significant and strong and was partially mediated by physical and mental health.

Workplace bullying and sleep disturbances: findings from a large scale cross-sectional survey in the French working population.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between workplace bullying, the characteristics of workplace bullying, and sleep disturbances in a large sample of employees of the French working population. DESIGN: Workplace bullying, evaluated using the validated instrument developed by Leymann, and sleep disturbances, as well as covariates, were measured using a self-administered questionnaire. Covariates included age, marital status, presence of children, education, occupation, working hours, night work, physical and chemical exposures at work, self-reported health, and depressive symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression analysis and was carried out separately for men and women. SETTING: General working population. PARTICIPANTS: The study population consisted of a random sample of 3132 men and 4562 women of the working population in the southeast of France. RESULTS: Workplace bullying was strongly associated with sleep disturbances. Past exposure to bullying also increased the risk for this outcome. The more frequent the exposure to bullying, the higher the risk of experiencing sleep disturbances. Observing someone else being bullied in the workplace was also associated with the outcome. Adjustment for covariates did not modify the results. Additional adjustment for self-reported health and depressive symptoms diminished the magnitude of the associations that remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of workplace bullying (around 10%) was found to be high in this study as well was the impact of this major job-related stressor on sleep disturbances. Although no conclusion about causality could be drawn from this cross-sectional study, the findings suggest that the contribution of workplace bullying to the burden of sleep disturbances may be substantial.

Discontinuation of pharmacological treatment of children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: meta-analysis of 63 studies enrolling 11,788 patients.

BACKGROUND: The risk-benefit balance of pharmacological treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD and the factors that moderate this relationship are unclear. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RPCCTs) investigating the efficacy of pharmacological treatment in children or adolescents with ADHD was carried out. Meta-analysis of treatment discontinuation, clinician-, parent- and teacher-rated efficacy and adverse events was performed. The effect of covariates was studied. RESULTS: Sixty-three studies were included. Ten drugs were investigated, with atomoxetine and methylphenidate the most frequently studied. RPCCTs had mostly a short duration (7.9 weeks). All-cause treatment discontinuation was lower with pharmacological treatment than placebo (OR = 0.68). Pharmacological treatment was more efficacious than placebo independently of the rater (clinician, standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.74; parent, SMD = 0.63; or teacher, SMD = 0.75). Evidence of publication bias was found for clinician-rated efficacy, especially in industry-sponsored RPCCT. Psychostimulants showed a higher efficacy and were associated with a better outcome on treatment discontinuation than non-stimulant drugs. Efficacy was smaller in RPCCTs for which a psychiatric comorbid disorder was an inclusion criterion, was larger in studies with a commercial sponsorship and showed a negative association with treatment length. CONCLUSIONS: In the short term, pharmacological treatment provides moderate-high symptom relief, is safe and shows lower treatment discontinuation than placebo, suggesting a suitable risk-benefit balance, particularly with psychostimulants. The efficacy is lower in patients with a comorbid psychiatric disorder and should be assessed periodically, as it appears to reduce over time. Publication bias of clinician-rated efficacy in studies with a commercial sponsor is suggested.

Efficacy, safety and variability in pharmacotherapy for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis and meta-regression in over 9000 patients.

RATIONALE: The factors underlying the variability in the results of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RPCCT) assessing pharmacological interventions for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not fully understood. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RPCCT comparing pharmacological treatment and placebo in adults with ADHD was carried out. The study outcomes were all-cause treatment discontinuation, efficacy on ADHD symptoms, and safety. Patient-, intervention-, and study design-related covariates were collected. Meta-regression methods were applied. RESULTS: Forty-four studies involving 9952 patients were included. All-cause treatment discontinuation was slightly higher with pharmacological treatment than with placebo (odds ratio (OR) = 1.18; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.02, 1.36; p = 0.003). A better outcome on all-cause treatment discontinuation was observed in studies that provided concomitant psychotherapy when compared to those that did not (rate of OR (ROR) = 0.68, p = 0.048). Pharmacological treatment was efficacious for reducing ADHD symptoms (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.45; 95 % CI 0.37, 0.52; p < 0.00001), with stronger intervention effects found in studies investigating stimulant drugs (difference of SMD (Diff SMD) = 0.18, p = 0.017), in shorter studies (Diff SMD = -0.01, p = 0.044), and when clinician-rated scales were used (Diff SMD = 0.44, p < 0.0001). Pharmacological treatment was associated with more frequent adverse events (AEs) (OR = 2.29; 95 % CI 1.97, 2.66; p = 0.006). Studies with a lead-in phase and with a higher proportion of patients previously treated with stimulants were associated with a better safety outcome (ROR = 0.59, p = 0.017; ROR = 0.98, p = 0.036, respectively). CONCLUSION: Pharmacological treatment provides mild symptom improvement but is associated with frequent AEs and higher treatment discontinuation than placebo, particularly when no concomitant psychotherapy is administered. Stimulants appear more efficacious than non-stimulant drugs and the former should be preferred over the latter. The efficacy of pharmacological treatment should be monitored over time because it may decrease progressively.

Phlebotonics for venous insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a common condition caused by inadequate blood flow through the veins, usually in the lower limbs. It can result in considerable discomfort with symptoms such as pain, itchiness and tiredness in the legs. Sufferers may also experience swelling and ulcers. Phlebotonics are a class of drugs that are often used to treat CVI. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of oral or topical phlebotonics. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group trials register (April 2005), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2005), MEDLINE (January 1966 to April 2005), EMBASE (January 1980 to April 2005) and reference lists of articles. We also contacted pharmaceutical companies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of rutosides, hidrosmine, diosmine, calcium dobesilate, chromocarbe, centella asiatica, disodium flavodate, french maritime pine bark extract, grape seed extract and aminaftone in CVI patients at any stage of the disease. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. The effects of treatment were estimated by relative risk (RR) or by standardised mean differences (SMD) by applying a random effects statistical model. Sensitivity analyses were also performed. MAIN RESULTS: Fifty-nine RCTs of oral phlebotonics were included, but only 44 trials involving 4413 participants contained quantifiable data for the efficacy analysis: 23 of rutosides, ten of hidrosmine and diosmine, six of calcium dobesilate, two of centella asiatica, one of french maritime pine bark extract, one of aminaftone and one of grape seed extract. No studies evaluating topical phlebotonics, chromocarbe, naftazone or disodium flavodate fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Outcomes included oedema, venous ulcers, trophic disorders, subjective symptoms (pain, cramps, restless legs, itching, heaviness, swelling and paraesthesias), global assessment measures and side effects. The results of many variables were heterogeneous. Phlebotonics showed some global benefit (i.e. oedema reduction) (relative risk 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 0.81). The benefit for the remaining CVI signs and symptoms must be evaluated by phlebotonic group. There were no quantifiable data on quality of life. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is not enough evidence to globally support the efficacy of phlebotonics for chronic venous insufficiency. There is a suggestion of some efficacy of phlebotonics on oedema but this is of uncertain clinical relevance. Due to the limitations of current evidence, there is a need for further randomised, controlled clinical trials with greater attention paid to methodological quality.

Pharmacological treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with co-morbid drug dependence.

BACKGROUND: Drug dependence is frequent in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nevertheless, the efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments in this population are unclear. METHODS: A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed. Randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials investigating the efficacy of pharmacological treatment in patients with co-occurring ADHD and substance use disorder (SUD) were included. ADHD symptom severity, drug abstinence and all-cause treatment discontinuation were the primary study endpoints. The effects of patient-, intervention- and study-related covariates over the primary outcomes were investigated by means of meta-regression. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included, enrolling a total of 1,271 patients. A small to moderate reduction of ADHD symptoms was found. Meta-regression analysis identified the presence of a lead-in period as a covariate associated with reduced efficacy. Conversely, no beneficial effect was observed either on drug abstinence or treatment discontinuation. The efficacy on ADHD symptoms was smaller in studies with a lead-in period. A positive correlation between the efficacy for ADHD and that for SUD was found. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of pharmacological interventions for co-occurring ADHD and SUD has been little investigated. Mixed results were obtained: while pharmacological interventions improved ADHD symptoms, no beneficial effect on drug abstinence or on treatment discontinuation was noted. The strength of the recommendation of pharmacological treatment for co-occurring ADHD and SUD is therefore modest. The study was registered with the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO): CRD 4212003414.

[Cough caused by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. A series of cases collected by spontaneous notification of adverse reactions]. / Tos por inhibidores de la enzima conversiva de la angiotensina. Casuística reunida por notificación espontánea de reacciones adversas.

Cough is one of the possible untoward adverse drug effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. We describe the available information on 50 cough episodes attributable to captopril and 18 episodes attributable to enalapril reported to the Spanish Drug Surveillance System. Cough represented 37% and 39% of the reports of side effects of captopril and enalapril, respectively. There was a remarkable female predominance among the patients with cough. Cough developed at very low doses (15 mg of captopril and 5 mg of enalapril daily), although the patients on captopril who developed cough were receiving higher doses than those who presented other side effects. A high proportion of patients (29%) continued with the drug for more than six months after cough had developed, suggesting the need for a wider knowledge of this side effect.

Drugs in the Spanish health system.

This paper presents data on drug consumption in Spain, analyzed from a cultural as well as from a medical point of view. The overuse of medicines is an economic rather than a pharmaceutical problem, and the main characteristic of drug use in Spain seems to be the misuse of pharmacologic therapeutic strategies. Four factors which influence the quantity and quality of drug consumption are identified and analyzed: 1) the structure of the primary health care system, 2) general requirements for marketing drugs and the characteristics of pharmaceutical supply, 3) information about drugs used by health professionals, and 4) development and activities--pre-graduate teaching and continuing education--in the field of clinical pharmacology. Some recent activities in this area are also presented. These are intended as a contribution to the development of clinical pharmacology with the aim of turning benefit-risk ratios to the side of the benefit, through the promotion of a more rational drug therapy.