The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Receipt of Needed Medical Care and At-Home Support among U.S. Households Receiving Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance on the Basis of Disability.

More than 8.1 million Americans with disabilities qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Individuals with disabilities were particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, which may have altered individual and household behavior. Research on the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with disabilities and their families remains limited. Authors analyzed 2020 National Health Interview Survey data. Logistic regression models were applied, controlling for the effects of age, race, sex, income, education, employment, and health status. Households with SSI/SSDI beneficiaries with disabilities were associated with significantly greater odds of delaying or forgoing medical care and receiving needed personal and household care at home due to COVID-19 compared with households without beneficiaries. The health and well-being of households with individuals with disabilities may require more robust and inclusive social work initiatives that aim to reduce adverse pandemic impacts.

A review of excluded groups and non-response in population-based mental health surveys from high-income countries.

National mental health surveys play a critical role in determining the prevalence of mental disorders in a population and informing service planning. However, current surveys have important limitations, including the exclusion of key vulnerable groups and increasing rates of non-response. This review aims to synthesise information on excluded and undersampled groups in national mental health surveys. We conducted a targeted review of nationally representative adult mental health surveys performed between 2005 and 2019 in high-income OECD countries. Sixteen surveys met our inclusion criteria. The response rate for included surveys ranged between 36.3% and 80.0%. The most frequently excluded groups included people who were homeless, people in hospitals or health facilities and people in correctional facilities. Males and young people were the most commonly underrepresented groups among respondents. Attempts to collect data from non-responders and excluded populations were limited, but suggest that mental health status differs among some of these cohorts. The exclusion of key vulnerable groups and high rates of non-response have important implications for interpreting and using the results of national mental health surveys. Targeted supplementary surveys of excluded or hard-to-reach populations, more inclusive sampling methodologies, and strategies aimed at improving response rates should be considered to strengthen the accuracy and usefulness of survey findings.

The overestimated prevalence of hypertension in a population survey: a cross-sectional study from Hebei province, China.

OBJECTIVE: Currently, the prevalence of hypertension is mainly ascertained using a one-visit population survey, which may lead to overestimation. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of hypertension prevalence determined by a one-visit population survey. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, we continuously enrolled 1116 volunteers without a hypertension history in Hebei province from January 2018 to December 2019. The study population included 511 (45.80%) males and 605 (54.20%) females with a mean age of 48 years. The hypertension prevalence was assessed using two methods: one-visit screening and daytime ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring. We directly compared the performances of daytime ambulatory BP monitoring and one-visit screening in the same group of subjects. In addition, we explored possible thresholds to improve the detection of hypertension. RESULTS: During the one-visit survey, the mean BP value was about 8 mmHg higher than that determined by daytime ambulatory BP monitoring. The prevalence of hypertension was 29.84% and 14.07% during the one-visit and daytime multiple visit surveys, respectively. The risk factors for overestimated hypertension were female sex, body mass index < 24.00 kg/m2, and diastolic BP of 100 mmHg. The positive predictive value of the one-visit population survey for diagnosing hypertension was 36.34%. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that in males, the best diagnostic threshold for hypertension diagnosis was 148/96 mmHg. CONCLUSION: The hypertension prevalence was likely overestimated by 2-fold in the one-visit survey group compared to the daytime ambulatory BP monitoring group. Thus, the threshold for one-visit BP screening should be raised to 148/96 mmHg to improve the accuracy of hypertension diagnosis.

Duration of anxiety disorder and its associated risk indicators: Results of a longitudinal study of the general population.

BACKGROUND: Data on episode duration of anxiety disorders are required for informing patients and for disease management, but such data from population studies are lacking. METHODS: Three-year longitudinal data were used from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2, a psychiatric epidemiological cohort study among the general adult population (N = 6646). Respondents with a new (first or recurrent) anxiety disorder were selected (n = 158). DSM-IV diagnoses were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview; the Life Chart Interview assessed episode duration and recovery rates. RESULTS: Among those with anxiety disorder, median episode duration was 7.5 months and mean duration was 15.2 months. 38.8% had not recovered at 12 months and 30.1% not at 36 months. Longer duration was associated with older age, not having a paid job, higher neuroticism, more physical disorders, and worse physical functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Also, in the general population, anxiety disorder has a rather chronic course. After 12 months the cumulative recovery rate flattened. To prevent and manage chronicity, timely treatment, and chronic disease management are required. The risk indicators found may help to identify individuals with an anxiety disorder at risk for chronicity.

Early identification of bipolar disorder among young adults - a 22-year community birth cohort.

OBJECTIVE: We set forth to build a prediction model of individuals who would develop bipolar disorder (BD) using machine learning techniques in a large birth cohort. METHODS: A total of 3748 subjects were studied at birth, 11, 15, 18, and 22 years of age in a community birth cohort. We used the elastic net algorithm with 10-fold cross-validation to predict which individuals would develop BD at endpoint (22 years) at each follow-up visit before diagnosis (from birth up to 18 years). Afterward, we used the best model to calculate the subgroups of subjects at higher and lower risk of developing BD and analyzed the clinical differences among them. RESULTS: A total of 107 (2.8%) individuals within the cohort presented with BD type I, 26 (0.6%) with BD type II, and 87 (2.3%) with BD not otherwise specified. Frequency of female individuals was 58.82% (n = 150) in the BD sample and 53.02% (n = 1868) among the unaffected population. The model with variables assessed at the 18-year follow-up visit achieved the best performance: AUC 0.82 (CI 0.75-0.88), balanced accuracy 0.75, sensitivity 0.72, and specificity 0.77. The most important variables to detect BD at the 18-year follow-up visit were suicide risk, generalized anxiety disorder, parental physical abuse, and financial problems. Additionally, the high-risk subgroup of BD showed a high frequency of drug use and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a risk calculator for BD incorporating both demographic and clinical variables from a 22-year birth cohort. Our findings support previous studies in high-risk samples showing the significance of suicide risk and generalized anxiety disorder prior to the onset of BD, and highlight the role of social factors and adverse life events.

Concordance between health administrative data and survey-derived diagnoses for mood and anxiety disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether estimates of survey structured interview diagnoses of mood and anxiety disorders were concordant with diagnoses of these disorders obtained from health administrative data. METHODS: All Ontario respondents to the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health (CCHS-MH) were linked to health administrative databases at ICES (formerly known as the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences). Survey structured interview diagnoses were compared with health administrative data diagnoses obtained using a standardized algorithm. We used modified Poisson regression analyses to assess whether socio-demographic factors were associated with concordance between the two measures. RESULTS: Of the 4157 Ontarians included in our sample, 20.4% had either a structured interview diagnosis (13.9%) or health administrative diagnosis (10.4%) of a mood or anxiety disorder. There was high discordance between measures, with only 19.4% agreement. Migrant status, age, employment, and income were associated with discordance between measures. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that previous estimates of the 12-month prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in Ontario may be underestimating the true prevalence, and that population-based surveys and health administrative data may be capturing different groups of people. Understanding the limitations of data commonly used in epidemiologic studies is a key foundation for improving population-based estimates of mental disorders.

Quality of life assessment instruments for adults: a systematic review of population-based studies.

BACKGROUND: Against a backdrop of population aging and improving survival rates for chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCD), researchers are placing growing emphasis on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to identify the QoL assessment instruments used in population-based studies with adults conducted around the world. METHODS: A systematic review of original research published in all languages between 2008 and 2018 was conducted. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were excluded. RESULTS: Sixty-three articles (38.1% conducted in the Americas) fitted the eligibility criteria. Based on the AHRQ checklist for cross-sectional studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cohort studies, methodological quality was shown to be fair in the majority of studies (55.6%) and good in 44.4%. The country with the highest number of publications was Brazil (20.6%). Twelve types of generic instruments and 11 specific instruments were identified. The generic instrument SF-36 was the most frequently used measure (33.3% of studies). In-home interviewing was exclusively used by 47.6% of the studies, while 39 studies (61.9%) reported the use of self-administered questionnaires. Over two-thirds of the studies (34.9%) used questionnaires to investigate the association between chronic diseases and/or associated factors. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the wide range of instruments and modes of questionnaire administration used by the studies may hinder comparisons between population groups with the same characteristics or needs. There is a lack of research on QoL and the factors affecting productive capacity. Studies of QoL in older persons should focus not only on the effects of disease and treatment, but also on the determinants of active aging and actions designed to promote it. Further research is recommended to determine which QoL instruments are best suited for population-based studies.

Underreporting of drug use on a survey of electronic dance music party attendees.

OBJECTIVES: Skip-logic is commonly used on electronic surveys in which programs provide follow-up questions to affirmative responses and skip to the next topic in response to non-affirmative responses. While skip-logic helps produce data without contradictory responses, erroneous non-affirmative reports can lead to loss of accurate information. We examined the extent to which type-in drug use responses contradict unreported use in a survey of a high-risk population-electronic dance music (EDM) party attendees. DESIGN: We surveyed 1029 EDM party-attending adults (ages 18-40) using time-spacing sampling in 2018. We examined the extent to which reporting of recent drug use via type-in responses occurred after past-year use of the same drugs were unreported earlier on the same survey. Changes in prevalence of use and predictors of providing discordant responses were examined. RESULTS: 3.6% of participants typed in names of drugs they had used that they did not report using earlier on the survey. Changes in prevalence were not significant when correcting contradictory responses, but prevalence of past-year cocaine use increased from 23.3% to 24.3%. Those with a college degree were at lower odds for providing a discordant response (aOR = 0.13, p = .019). Females (aOR = 2.82, p = .022), those earning ≥$1000 per week (aOR = 11.03, p = .011), and those identifying as gay/lesbian (aOR = 5.20, p = .032) or bisexual or other sexuality (aOR = 15.12, p < .001) were at higher odds of providing a discordant response. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic surveys that query drug use can benefit from follow-up (e.g. open-ended) questions not dependent on previous responses, as they may elicit affirmative responses underreported earlier in the survey.

Screening for hepatitis C in a general adult population in a low-prevalence area: the Tromsø study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can progress to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease in a substantial proportion of patients. The infection is frequently asymptomatic, leaving many infected individuals unaware of the diagnosis until complications occur. This advocates the screening of healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HCV infection in the general adult population of the municipality of Tromsø, Norway, and to evaluate the efficiency of such an approach in a presumed low-prevalence area. METHODS: The study was part of the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study (Tromsø 7) in 2015-2016. Sera from 20,946 individuals aged 40 years and older were analysed for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV). A positive anti-HCV test was followed up with a new blood test for HCV RNA, and the result of any previous laboratory HCV data were recorded. Samples positive for anti-HCV and negative for HCV RNA were tested with a recombinant immunoblot assay. All HCV RNA positive individuals were offered clinical evaluation. RESULTS: Among 20,946 participants, HCV RNA was detected in 33 (0.2%; 95% CI: 0.1-0.3), of whom 13 (39.4%; 95% CI: 22.7-56.1) were unaware of their infection. The anti-HCV test was confirmed positive in 134 individuals (0.6%; 95% CI: 0.5-0.7) with the highest prevalence in the age group 50-59 years. Current or treatment-recovered chronic HCV-infection was found in 85 individuals (0.4%; 95% CI: 0.3-0.5) and was associated with an unfavorable psychosocial profile. CONCLUSION: In this population-based study, the prevalence of viraemic HCV infection was 0.2%. A substantial proportion (39%) of persons with viraemic disease was not aware of their infectious status, which suggests that the current screening strategy of individuals with high risk of infection may be an inadequate approach to identify chronic HCV infection hidden in the general population.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Western countries: discrepancies in published estimates.

Two papers were extracted and pooled data from published sources were used to estimate the distribution of BMI values for adults living in many countries around the world. The NCD Risk Factor Collaboration and the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 presented data for 200 and 188 countries, respectively. We extracted estimates from the two datasets for the prevalences of overweight and obesity in 28 Western countries. The two studies used similar methodology for extracting and pooling data, however the papers show serious discrepancies in several countries. Our analysis reveals the need for increased standardization of the identification and analysis of surveys of BMI distribution. This is necessary in order to facilitate comparability of study results and accurate global monitoring of obesity trends. Our findings also indicate that if findings from Western countries contain serious discrepancies, then findings from middle-income and low-income countries will likely have a poor level of accuracy as far fewer surveys of BMI distribution have been carried out.

[Methodology of the National Health and Nutrition Survey for localities with less than 100 000 inhabitants (Ensanut 100k)]. / Metodología de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición para localidades con menos de 100 000 habitantes (Ensanut 100k).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the methodological design of the National Health and Nutrition Survey in localities with less than 100 000 inhabitants (Ensanut 100k). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Ensanut 100k is a probabilistic survey that over-represents households with less economic capabilities. This paper describes the scope of the survey, sampling procedures, measurement and inference and logistics organization. RESULTS: 10 461 home interviews and 26 161 individual interviews were obtained. The household response rate was 89 and 92% from individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The probabilistic design of the Ensanut 100k allows to make valid statistical inferences about parameters of interest for public health in localities with less than 100 000 inhabitants, localities where 52% of the population lives according to the 2010 census. The comparability of the results with the Ensanut 2012 faci- litates the assessment of the government's support actions to populations with lower economic capacities in the period 2012-2018.

OBJETIVO: Describir el diseño metodológico de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición en localidades con menos de 100 000 habitantes (Ensanut 100k). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: La Ensanut 100k es una encuesta probabilística que sobrerrepresenta a los hogares con menos capacidades económicas. Se describe el alcance de la encuesta, los procedimientos de muestreo, medición e inferencia y la organización logística. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvieron 10 461 entrevistas de hogar y 26 161 de individuos. La tasa de respuesta de hogar fue 89% y de individuos 92. CONCLUSIONES: El diseño probabilístico de la Ensanut 100k permite hacer inferencias estadísticas válidas sobre parámetros de interés para la salud pública en localidades con menos de 100 000 habitantes, localidades donde vive 52% de la población según el censo de 2010. La comparabilidad de los resultados con la Ensanut 2012 facilita evaluar las acciones de apoyo que otorga el gobierno a poblaciones con menores capacidades económicas en el periodo 2012-2018.

[Stunting in children population in localities under 100 000 inhabitants in Mexico.] / Desnutrición crónica en población infantil de localidades con menos de 100 000 habitantes en México.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the undernutrition prevalence, as well as some sociodemographic characteristics associated to stunting in children under five years old, living on locali- ties with less than 100 000 inhabitants in Mexico in 2012 and 2018. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Low weight, stunting and wasting prevalences were calculated in children under 5y according to WHO Growth Reference. A comparison of stunting by sociodemographic and diet diversity variables is presented. Multi-variated logistic models between chronic malnutrition and sociodemographic variables were calculated. RESULTS: In 2018, 4.4% of the individuals suffered low weight, 14.9% stunting and 1.5 % wasting. Stunting was greater in indigenous households (24.5%), households from the lower socioeconomic-index tertile (17.5%), and households with moderated/severe food insecurity (15.3%). Stunting was positively associated with indigenous condition; on the other hand a highly diverse diet resulted to be a protective factor against it. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of chronical malnutrition was documented associated with high poverty conditions. It is important to enforce strategies aimed to contain it, mainlyin such populations with greater social deprivation.

OBJETIVO: Describir la prevalencia de desnutrición infantil y algunas características sociodemográficas asociadas con la desnutrición crónica en menores de cinco años, de localidades de menos de 100 000 habitantes en 2012 y 2018 en México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se calcularon prevalencias de bajo peso, desnutrición crónica y emaciación. Se presenta la comparación de la desnutrición crónica por variables sociodemográficas y de diversidad dietética. Se probaron modelos logísticos multivariados entre desnutrición crónica y variables sociodemográficas. RESULTADOS: En 2018, 4.4% presentó bajo peso, 14.9% desnutrición crónica y 1.5% emaciación. La desnutrición crónica fue mayor en hogares indígenas (24.5%), hogares de mayores carencias socioeconómicas (17.5%) y hogares con inseguridad alimentaria moderada/severa (15.3%). La desnutrición crónica se asoció positivamente con habitar hogar indígena y la alta diversidad dietética resultó factor protector de desnutrición crónica. CONCLUSIONES: Se documenta una alta prevalencia de desnutrición crónica asociada con condiciones de alta marginalidad. Es importante fortalecer estrategias diseñadas para contener la desnutrición, sobre todo en las poblaciones de mayores carencias sociales.

Recurrence and chronicity of major depressive disorder and their risk indicators in a population cohort.

OBJECTIVE: The naturalistic course of major depressive disorder (MDD) and risk indicators for recurrence and chronicity are best studied using a population sample without clear selection bias. However, such studies are scarce. This limits clinical decision-making concerning monitoring and maintenance treatment. METHOD: Data were used from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2, a psychiatric epidemiological cohort study among a representative adult population. Two groups at baseline were selected to study recurrence and chronicity of MDD at follow-up. Diagnoses were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0. RESULTS: Among remitted MDD cases (n = 746), the cumulative recurrence rate was 4.3% at 5 years, 13.4% at 10 years and 27.1% at 20 years. Time to recurrence was predicted by vulnerability characteristics (childhood abuse, negative life events, parental psychopathology), physical health, functioning, clinical characteristics of depression (previous episodes, severity, medication use), psychiatric comorbidity and mental health use. Among current MDD cases (n = 242), 12% developed a chronic depressive episode over 6 years. Chronic course was predicted by similar risk indicators as recurrence, except for vulnerability characteristics and physical health. CONCLUSION: These risk indicators may help to identify patients requiring monitoring and who could benefit from preventive interventions or maintenance treatment.

[Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, 2016 Halfway National Health and Nutrition Survey update]. / Sobrepeso y obesidad en niños y adolescentes en México,actualización de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición de Medio Camino 2016.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate recent overweight and obesity prevalences in Mexican population under 20 years from Halfway National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut MC 2016). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ensanut MC 2016 is a probabilistic national survey which gives representative information from national, regional and rural/urban levels. BMIz was estimated through weight and height, then it was classified into overweight risk or overweight or obesity ac¬cording to WHO growth reference standards. Association between overweight and sociodemographic information was analyzed through logistic regression models. RESULTS: Overweight-obesity prevalence was 5.1% in girls and 6.5% in boys<5y, 32.8% in girls and 33.7% in boys 5-11y, and 39.2% in female adolescents and 33.5% in male adolescents. Female adolescents from rural localities increased overweight-obesity prevalence from 27.7% in 2012 to 37.2% in 2016. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight-obesity increased in girls and females, mainly from rural areas. Strategies focued in containing this phenomenon are encouraged to implement in this context.

OBJETIVO: Actualizar las prevalencias de sobrepeso y obe­sidad (SP+O) y estudiar algunos determinantes asociados en población<20 años, de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición de Medio Camino 2016 (Ensanut MC 2016). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: La Ensanut MC 2016 es una encuesta nacional probabilística. Se estimó el puntaje Z del índice de masa corporal. Se clasificó el riesgo de sobrepeso, sobrepeso y obesidad de acuerdo con el patrón de referencia de la OMS. Se estudiaron variables sociodemográficas asociadas con sobrepeso mediante regresión logística. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia nacional de SP+O en <5 años fue niñas 5.8%, niños 6.5%; escolares niñas 32.8%, niños 33.7%; adolescentes mujeres 39.2% y hombres 33.5%. Las mujeres adolescentes de localidades rurales mostraron un incremento de 2012 a 2016 de 9.5 puntos porcentuales. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de SP+O en niñas y mujeres en zonas rurales muestran un aumento importante en un periodo corto, lo que llama a implementar acciones de atención inmediatas.

Patterns of response by sociodemographic characteristics and recruitment methods for women in UK population surveys and cohort studies.

Women are an important public health focus, because they are more likely to experience some social determinants of disease, and they influence family health. Little research has explored the sociodemographic representativeness of women in research studies. We examined the representativeness of female respondents across four sociodemographic factors in UK population surveys and cohort studies. Six UK population-based health surveys (from 2009-2013) and eight Medical Research Council cohort studies (from 1991 to 2014) were included. Percentages of women respondents by age, income/occupation, education status, and ethnicity were compared against contemporary population estimates. Women aged <35 years were under-represented. The oldest women were under-represented in four of nine studies. Within income/occupation, at the highest deprivation level, the range was 4 percent under-representation to 43 percent over-representation; at the lowest level, it was 6 percent under-representation to 21 percent over representation. Of nine studies reporting educational level, four under-represented women without school qualifications, and three under-represented women with degrees. One of five studies over-represented non-white groups and under-represented white women (by 9 percent). Response patterns varied by topic and recruitment and data collection methods. Future research should focus upon the methods used to identify, reach, and engage women to improve representativeness in studies addressing health behaviors.

Factors Associated With Worsened or Improved Mental Health in the Great East Japan Earthquake Survivors.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors contributing to the worsening or improved mental health of long-term evacuees over three years following the Great East Japan Earthquake. METHOD: The Japanese version of the K6 questionnaire was used as a measure of mental health. The first- and third-year survey results were compared and differences in mental health status calculated. Respondents were then divided into two groups according to worsening or improved mental health status. Differences in stress factors, stress relief methods, and demographics were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Factors associated with exacerbation of poor mental health were the stress factors "Uncertainty about future" (p=0.048) and "Loss of purpose in life" (p=0.023). Multivariable analysis identified two factors associated with improved mental health, the stress relief methods "Accepting myself" (odds ratio (OR): 2.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-4.51) and "Interactions with others" (OR: 3.34, 95% CI: 1.43-7.79). CONCLUSION: While motivation and hope of livelihood reconstruction have gradually risen in the three years since the disaster, anxieties about an uncertain future, loss of purpose in life, and disruption of social networks continue adversely to affect the mental health of survivors.

eHealth provides a novel opportunity to exploit the advantages of the Nordic countries in psychiatric genetic research, building on the public health care system, biobanks, and registries.

Nordic countries have played an important role in the recent progress in psychiatric genetics, both with large well-characterized samples and expertise. The Nordic countries have research advantages due to the organization of their societies, including system of personal identifiers, national health registries with information about diseases, treatment and prescriptions, and a public health system with geographical catchment areas. For psychiatric genetic research, the large biobanks and population surveys are a unique added value. Further, the population is motivated to participate in research, and there is a trust in the institutions of the society. These factors have been important for Nordic contributions to biomedical research, and particularly psychiatric genetics. In the era of eHealth, the situation seems even more advantageous for Nordic countries. The system with public health care makes it easy to implement national measures, and most of the Nordic health care sector is already based on electronic information. The potential advantages regarding informed consent, large scale recruitment and follow-up, and longitudinal cohort studies are tremendous. New precision medicine approaches can be tested within the health care system, with an integrated approach, using large hospitals or regions of the country as a test beds. However, data protection and legal framework have to be clarified. In order to succeed, it is important to keep the people's trust, and maintain the high ethical standards and systems for secure data management. Then the full potential of the Nordic countries can be leveraged in the new era of precision medicine including psychiatric genetics.

Changes in sleep duration and recreational screen time among Canadians, 1998-2010.

It is commonly claimed that sleep duration has declined in recent years - over a period coinciding with a marked increase in personal electronics and communications use. The aim of this study was to assess change in sleep duration among Canadians from 1998 to 2010, and examine any associations with non-work-related screen time. The analysis uses population-representative data from Statistics Canada's General Social Survey cycles of 1998 and 2010; the respective samples numbered 10 749 and 15 390 individuals. Response rates were 80% in 1998 and 55% in 2010. Respondents were aged 15 years and older, residing in private households in the 10 Canadian provinces. The General Social Survey is administered by computer-assisted telephone interviewing. Data on sleep duration (excluding naps outside essential sleep time) and recreational screen time were obtained using a 24-h time-use diary. Survey weights were applied to adjust for non-response and non-landline households. Frequencies (respondent characteristics) and averages (time-use variables) were estimated by age group and sex. Sleep duration was examined by weighted quartile of screen time. Confidence intervals (95%) were calculated around estimates. Average sleep duration increased from 8.1 h in 1998 to 8.3 h in 2010. Average screen time increased from 140 min in 1998 to 154 min in 2010. Sleep duration and screen time were positively related in both years. The percentage of people averaging less than 6 h sleep decreased from 9.6% in 1998 to 8.6% in 2010. Between 1998 and 2010, increases in screen time did not occur at the expense of sleep duration.

Comparing post-deployment mental health services utilization in soldiers deployed to Balkan, Iraq and Afghanistan.

OBJECTIVE: Insight on how different missions have impacted rates of mental health service (MHS) utilization is unexplored. We compared postdeployment MHS utilization in a national cohort of first-time deployed to missions in Balkan, Iraq, and Afghanistan respectively. METHODS: A prospective national cohort study of 13 246 first-time deployed in the period 1996 through 2012 to missions in Balkan area, Iraq, or Afghanistan respectively. Soldiers 'MHS utilization was also compared with a 5:1 sex-, age-, and calendar year-matched never-deployed background population. Postdeployment utilization of MHS was retrieved from national coverage registers. Using Cox survival analyses, participants were followed and compared with regard to receiving three different types of psychiatric services: (i) admission to psychiatric hospital, (ii) psychiatric outpatient contact, and (iii) prescriptions of psychotropics. RESULTS: Utilizing of psychiatric outpatient services and psychotropics was significantly higher in first-time deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan compared with deployed to Balkan. However, the rate of postdeployment admission to psychiatric hospital did not differ between missions. Postdeployment rates of psychiatric admission and psychiatric outpatient treatment were significantly higher in Afghanistan-deployed personnel compared with the background population. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of MHS differed significantly between mission areas and was highest after the latest mission to Afghanistan.

Duration of major and minor depressive episodes and associated risk indicators in a psychiatric epidemiological cohort study of the general population.

OBJECTIVE: Hardly any studies exist on the duration of major depressive disorder (MDD) and factors that explain variations in episode duration that lack biases. This limits clinical decision-making and leaves patients wondering when they will recover. METHOD: Data were used from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2, a psychiatric epidemiological cohort study among a nationally representative adult population. Respondents with a newly originated depressive episode were selected: 286 MDD and 107 minor depressive disorder (MinDD) cases. DSM-IV diagnoses were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 and episode duration with the Life Chart Interview. RESULTS: Among MDD cases, median episode duration was 6 months, mean duration was 10.7 months, and 12% had not recovered at 36 months. Longer duration was associated with comorbid dysthymia, anxiety disorder, psychotropic medication use (i.e. antidepressants or benzodiazepines prescribed by a mental health professional), mental health care use and suicidal behaviour. Better physical and mental functioning before depression onset predicted shorter duration. Among MinDD cases, shorter median duration (3 months) but similar mean duration (8.7 months), risk of chronicity (10% not recovered at 36 months) and risk indicators for episode duration were found. CONCLUSION: As the risk of chronicity was similar for MDD and MinDD, MinDD cannot be dismissed as a merely brief mood state.