scholarly journals Psychosocial Risk Factors and Other Than Honorable Military Discharge: Providing Healthcare to Previously Ineligible Veterans

2018 ◽  
Vol 183 (9-10) ◽  
pp. e532-e538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric B Elbogen ◽  
H Ryan Wagner ◽  
Mira Brancu ◽  
Nathan A Kimbrel ◽  
Jennifer C Naylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Research Education ◽  
Military Discharge ◽  
History Of ◽  
Potential Factors

Abstract Introduction In response to a strong focus on suicide prevention for all veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently revised policy to provide emergency mental healthcare for veterans who received Other Than Honorable (OTH) discharges from the military. This current study takes a preliminary step toward identifying demographic, historic, military, clinical, and social characteristics of veterans with OTH discharges. Materials and Methods N = 1,172 Iraq/Afghanistan-era veterans were evaluated between 2005 and 2016 in the multi-site VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) Study of Post-Deployment Mental Health (PDMH Study). Results Veterans with OTH discharges constituted 2.7% of our sample, approximating the estimated rate in the overall U.S. veteran population. Compared to veterans discharged under honorable conditions, veterans with OTH discharges were more likely to be younger and have greater odds of reporting family history of drug abuse and depression. Further, veterans with OTH discharges reported a lower level of social support and were more likely to be single, endorse more sleep problems, score higher on measures of drug misuse, have a history of incarceration, and meet diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. A subsequent matching analysis provided further evidence of the association between OTH discharge and two risk factors: drug misuse and incarceration. Conclusion These findings elucidate potential factors associated with veterans with OTH discharges, particularly substance abuse and criminal justice involvement. Results also indicate higher incidence of risk factors that often accompany suicidal ideation and should be a highlighted component of healthcare delivery to this vulnerable cohort of veterans.

scholarly journals DEPRESSION

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (08) ◽  
pp. 1229-1234
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ishtiaq ◽  
Muhammad Imtiaz Afridi ◽  
Imranullah - ◽  
Said Akbar Khan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
History Of ◽  
Microsoft Office

Prevalence & risk factors of depression among adult population of districtPeshawar. Background: Depression is one of the most common major mental illnesses andaffects 5% to 20% of the adult population and is related to many determinants. Objectives:To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of depression among the adult population. StudyDesign: A cross sectional descriptive study. Setting & Study Duration: The department ofcommunity medicine, Khyber medical college, Peshawar; among the adult population of districtPeshawar; from November 2016 to May 2017. Materials & Methods: A total of 410 adults, bothmale and female, of ages 18 and above years were selected from the District Peshawar; onthe basis of multistage probability sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was usedto collect data regarding the prevalence and risk factors of depression along with importantvariables. Data was analysed by Microsoft Office and SPSS, and results were presented intables. Results: Results showed that the prevalence of depression was 85.85%. Out of thetotal depression, 24.88% had positive medical history; 57.8% had tobacco smoking; 29.02 %had history of abuse or neglect; 60.24% had sleep problems; and 18.29% & 10.49% wereaffected by terrorism and flood respectively. Conclusions: It was concluded that the prevalenceof depression among the adult population of district Peshawar was high and shows strongassociation with predisposing determinants. Moreover, whole population needs to be screento estimate the accurate prevalence and to treat high burden of mental illnesses among thecommunity.

scholarly journals Mitigating COVID-19 impact on the Portuguese population mental health: the opportunity that lies in Digital Mental Health (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Mendes-Santos ◽  
Gerhard Andersson ◽  
Elisabete Weiderpass ◽  
Rui Santana
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Equitable Access ◽  
Portuguese Population ◽  
Research Education ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
Population Mental Health

UNSTRUCTURED COVID-19 mitigation measures present unprecedent challenges in mental healthcare delivery, posing high risk to the mental health of populations. Ensuring safe and equitable access to mental healthcare requires resorting to innovative psychosocial intervention strategies such as, Digital Mental Health. In this perspective piece, we discuss how timely implementation of a comprehensive Digital Mental Health strategy, coupling research, education, implementation and quality assessment initiatives, might strengthen the Portuguese mental healthcare system and, therefore, buffer COVID-19´s impact on the Portuguese society.

scholarly journals Risk factors for repeated emergency compulsory psychiatric admissions

BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark H. de Jong ◽  
André I. Wierdsma ◽  
Jeroen Zoeteman ◽  
Christina A. van Boeijen ◽  
Arthur R. Van Gool ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Global Assessment Of Functioning ◽  
Psychiatric Admission ◽  
Psychiatric Admissions ◽  
History Of ◽  
Baseline Factors ◽  
Gaf Scores

Background The characteristics of patients who have repeated compulsory psychiatric admissions are largely unknown. Aims To investigate the frequency and risk factors for repeated emergency compulsory psychiatric admission (ECPA); and to identify targets for interventions to reduce repeated ECPA. Method Data were collected from a database of electronic patient files (EPFs) held by three psychiatric emergency services (PES) in the Netherlands. Analyses were based on the data for adult patients (aged 18–75 years) with a first PES contact in 2010–2015. Using descriptive statistics and regression analysis, we studied the associations between baseline patient factors and repeated ECPA and time to readmission, within a 2-year follow-up period. Results We included 6059 patients: 15.6% had two or more ECPAs. In total, 66% of second ECPAs had occurred within 6 months of the first. About 30% of all ECPAs were repeated ECPAs. Two baseline factors were associated with a higher frequency of a second ECPA: history of receiving any mental healthcare treatment, whether in-patient or out-patient or both, and a lower level of self-care. Three were associated with a lower frequency: ethnicity (other than Dutch), older age and suicidality. Lower Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores and housing problems were associated with a shorter time to compulsory readmission and persistent psychiatric problems with a longer time to compulsory readmission. Conclusions We found that 15.6% of patients had two or more ECPAs. Two-thirds of the second ECPAs had occurred within 6 months of the first. Like earlier studies, the risk factors we identified suggest that interventions to reduce the risk of repeated compulsory psychiatric admission should seek to improve self-care, general daily functioning and homelessness.

scholarly journals Homicide by men diagnosed with schizophrenia: national case–control study

BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Baird ◽  
Roger T. Webb ◽  
Isabelle M. Hunt ◽  
Louis Appleby ◽  
Jenny Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Alcohol Misuse ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Conditional Logistic Regression ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
History Of ◽  
Control Study

Background Some people diagnosed with schizophrenia are more prone to committing acts of serious violence, especially in the presence of drug or alcohol misuse. The rarity of homicide has meant that no large controlled study has previously examined clinical risk factors. Aims To determine the risk factors for homicide by males diagnosed with schizophrenia. Method A national nested case–control study of all previously admitted males diagnosed with schizophrenia, convicted of homicide between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2012. Univariate and multivariable conditional logistic regression models were fitted to identify predictors of homicide in this population. Results During the observation period 160 male patients with schizophrenia and a history of psychiatric admission were convicted of homicide, and they were matched with 542 male control patients who had not been convicted of homicide. Patients who committed homicide were more likely to have a history of violence and comorbid personality disorder or drug misuse. They were more likely to have missed their last contact with services prior to the offence and to have been non-adherent with their treatment plan. Almost all (94%) of homicides were committed by patients who had a history of alcohol or drug misuse and/or who were not in receipt of planned treatment. Conclusions In England and Wales, homicides by patients with schizophrenia without substance misuse and in receipt of planned care are exceptionally rare. To prevent serious violence, mental health services should focus on drug and alcohol misuse, treatment adherence and maintaining contact with services.

Protective Factors and Suicidality in Members of Arab Kindred

Crisis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Hamdan ◽  
Nadine Melhem ◽  
Israel Orbach ◽  
Ilana Farbstein ◽  
Mohammad El-Haib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Composite International Diagnostic Interview ◽  
Diagnostic Interview ◽  
Suicidal Risk ◽  
Arab Population ◽  
Psychiatric Interview ◽  
History Of

Background: Relatively little is known about the role of protective factors in an Arab population in the presence of suicidal risk factors. Aims: To examine the role of protective factors in a subsample of in large Arab Kindred participants in the presence of suicidal risk factors. Methods: We assessed protective and risk factors in a sample of 64 participants (16 suicidal and 48 nonsuicidal) between 15 and 55 years of age, using a comprehensive structured psychiatric interview, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), self-reported depression, anxiety, hopelessness, impulsivity, hostility, and suicidal behavior in first-degree and second-relatives. We also used the Religiosity Questionnaire and suicide attitude (SUIATT) and multidimensional perceived support scale. Results: Suicidal as opposed to nonsuicidal participants were more likely to have a lifetime history of major depressive disorder (MDD) (68.8% vs. 22.9% χ2 = 11.17, p = .001), an anxiety disorder (87.5% vs. 22.9, χ2 = 21.02, p < .001), or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (25% vs. 0.0%, Fisher’s, p = .003). Individuals who are otherwise at high risk for suicidality have a much lower risk when they experience higher perceived social support (3.31 ± 1.36 vs. 4.96 ± 1.40, t = 4.10, df = 62, p < .001), and they have the view that suicide is somehow unacceptable (1.83 ± .10 vs. 1.89 ± .07, t = 2.76, df = 60, p = .008). Conclusions: Taken together with other studies, these data suggest that the augmentation of protective factors could play a very important role in the prevention of incidental and recurrent suicidal behavior in Arab populations, where suicidal behavior in increasing rapidly.

Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization among Vietnamese adults: prevalence, risk factors and antibiotic susceptibility profile

MedPharmRes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-31
Author(s):  
Nguyen Phan ◽  
Hien Pham ◽  
Thuc Nguyen ◽  
Hoai Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antibiotic Susceptibility ◽  
Nasal Carriage ◽  
Resistance Rate ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Weight History ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
History Of ◽  
Vietnamese Community

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has long been recognized as an important human pathogen causing many severe diseases. It is also a part of human normal flora with its ecological niche in the human anterior nares. This study focused on screening S. aureus nasal carriage in community and its relationship to human physiological and pathological factors which have not been studied in Vietnam previously. Two hundred and five volunteers in Ho Chi Minh City from 18 to 35 and over 59 years old both male and female participated in the study. Result showed that the prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage in southern Vietnamese community was relatively low, only 11.2% (23/205), much lower than that in other international reports on human S. aureus. In addition, nasal carriage of the older age group (> 59 years old, 13.7%) was higher than that of younger age (18-35 years old, 10.4%). Other potential risk factors such as gender, career, height, weight, history of antibiotic usage, daily nasal wash, use of nasal medication sprays, acne problems, smoking and nasal problems showed no significant impact on S. aureus carriage. The obtained S. aureus nasal isolates were all sensitive to vancomycin. Lincomycin and tetracycline had low resistance rate with 4.3 % and 17.4 %, respectively. However, the isolates showed particularly high rate of multidrug resistance (54.2%) In summary, our data provided researchers an overview on S. aureus nasal carriage and antibiotic susceptibility profile of the community- isolated S. aureus in Vietnam. This would serve as valuable information on assessing risk of community-acquired S. aureus infections.

CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS PECULIARITIES IN MEN UNDER 60 YEARS OLD WITH MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AND CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY LUNG DISEASES

2020 ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
Tupitsyn V.V. ◽  
Bataev Kh.M. ◽  
Men’shikova A.N. ◽  
Godina Z.N.
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Digestive System ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Type I ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
History Of

Relevance. Information about the cardiovascular diseases risk factors (CVD RF) for in men with chronic lung inflam-matory pathology (CLID) is contradictory and requires clarification. Aim. To evaluate the peculiarities of CVD RF in men under 60 years of age with CLID in myocardial infarction (MI) to improve prevention. Material and methods. The study included men aged 19-60 years old with type I myocardial infarction. Patients are divided into two age-comparable groups: I - the study group, with CLID - 142 patients; II - control, without it - 424 patients. A comparative analysis of the frequency of observation of the main and additional cardiovascular risk fac-tors in groups was performed. Results. In patients of the study group, more often than in the control group we observed: hereditary burden of is-chemic heart disease (40.8 and 31.6%, respectively; p = 0.0461) and arterial hypertension (54.2 and 44.6%; p = 0.0461), frequent colds (24.6 and 12.0%; p = 0.0003), a history of extrasystoles (19.7 and 12.7%; p = 0.04); chronic foci of infections of internal organs (75.4 and 29.5%; p˂0.0001), non-ulcer lesions of the digestive system (26.1 and 14.6%; p = 0.007), smoking (95.1 and 66.3%; p˂0.0001), MI in winter (40.8 and 25.9%; p = 0.006). Less commonly were observed: oral cavity infections (9.2 and 23.6%; p˂0.0001); hypodynamia (74.5 and 82.5%; p = 0.0358), over-weight (44.4 and 55.2%; p = 0.0136), a subjective relationship between the worsening of the course of coronary heart disease and the season of the year (43.7 and 55.2%; p = 0.0173) and MI - in the autumn (14.1 and 21.9%; p = 0.006) period. Conclusions. The structure of CVD RF in men under 60 years of age with CLID with MI is characterized by the pre-dominance of smoking, non-ulcer pathology of the digestive system, frequent pro-student diseases, meteorological dependence, a history of cardiac arrhythmias and foci of internal organ infections. It is advisable to use the listed factors when planning preventive measures in such patients.

Stress, Cortisol and Suicide Risk

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daryl Brian O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Additional Risk ◽  
Global Health Issue ◽  
History Of ◽  
Hpa Axis Activity ◽  
The Impact

Suicide is a global health issue accounting for at least 800,000 deaths per annum. Numerous models have been proposed that differ in their emphasis on the role of psychological, social, psychiatric and neurobiological factors in explaining suicide risk. Central to many models is a stress-diathesis component which states that suicidal behavior is the result of an interaction between acutely stressful events and a susceptibility to suicidal behavior (a diathesis). This article presents an overview of studies that demonstrate that stress and dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, as measured by cortisol levels, are important additional risk factors for suicide. Evidence for other putative stress-related suicide risk factors including childhood trauma, impaired executive function, impulsivity and disrupted sleep are considered together with the impact of family history of suicide, perinatal and epigenetic influences on suicide risk.

The Relationship Between Fear of Falling and Functional Fitness among Older Adults Living in Rest Home

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Tuna ◽  
Ö Bozan ◽  
B Gürpınar ◽  
N İlçin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Functional Fitness ◽  
Fall Risk Factors ◽  
Rest Home ◽  
History Of

Objective: This study aimed to report the fear of falling and assess its associations with several fall-related characteristics and functional fitness parameters among older adults living in the rest home. Methods: Seventy-eight older adults aged between 65-94 years were included in the study. History of falling and the number of risk factors for falling were recorded. Fear of falling was evaluated with The Falls Efficacy ScaleInternational. Functional fitness was assessed with Senior Fitness Test, including tests for the functional measurement of strength, flexibility, aerobic endurance and dynamic balance. Result: The mean age of participants was 78.46±7.16 years. There were correlations exist between fear of falling and number of fall risk factors, dynamic balance, upper body flexibility and aerobic endurance (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the parameters with the highest determinants of fear of falling were the dynamic balance and history of falling (p<0.05). Conclusions: In our study, history of falling, number of fall risk factors, flexibility for the upper body, aerobic endurance and dynamic balance were parameters related to fear of falling among older adults, but the most influential factors in fear of falling were dynamic balance and history of falling.

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