Opinion and perception of attitudes related to smoking and its prohibition in mental health services

Introduction: The opinions and perceptions about smoking in the psychiatric population contribute to the fact that its prevalence in this population remains two or three times higher than that found in other groups.Aims: 1) To compare the opinions of the psychiatric population and general population regarding the smoking ban in mental health services, as well as their perception of mental health professionals’ attitudes in relation to smoking; 2) To identify the association between personal and clinical variables with opinions and perception of attitudes.Methods: This Brazilian cross-sectional epidemiological study took place in: Mental Health Outpatient Unit (n=126), Psychiatric Hospital (n=126) and Primary Health Unit (n=126). Individual interviews were performed using a questionnaire.Results: Most participants believe that smoking ban may aggravate psychiatric symptoms. When comparing the responses of the psychiatric population with those of the general population, it is observed that the two groups have similar opinions regarding the effects of tobacco on psychiatric symptoms and behaviors. The population hospitalized in the psychiatric hospital was the one that most agreed with the perception of the attitudes of professionals working in mental health services towards smoking, possibly due to situations experienced in the psychiatric hospital. Among the personal and clinical variables, the illiterate or those who studied up to primary/junior high school were the ones who most agreed that the smoking ban aggravates psychiatric symptoms.Conclusions: This study contribute to the practice of psychiatric nursing by disclosing the opinions and perceptions of attitudes associated with smoking in mental health services. Introducción: Las opiniones y percepciones acerca del tabaquismo de la población psiquiátrica contribuyen a que su prevalencia, en esa población, sea de dos a tres veces superior a la encontrada en otros grupos.Objetivos: 1) Comparar las opiniones de la población psiquiátrica y de la población general en relación a la prohibición de fumar, en los servicios de salud mental, así como comparar la percepción que tienen de las actitudes de profesionales de salud mental, en relación al tabaquismo; 2) Identificar la asociación entre variables personales y clínicas con las opiniones y percepciones de las actitudes.Método: Este estudio epidemiológico brasileño de corte transversal fue realizado en Ambulatorio de Salud Mental (n=126), en Hospital psiquiátrico (n=126) y en Unidad Básica de Salud (n=126). Fueron realizadas entrevistas individuales usando un cuestionario.Resultados: La mayoría de los participantes cree que los síntomas psiquiátricos pueden agravarse con la prohibición de fumar. Al comparar las respuestas de la población psiquiátrica con la población general, se observó que los dos grupos tienen opiniones similares acerca de los efectos del tabaco en los síntomas psiquiátricos y en el comportamiento. La población internada en el hospital psiquiátrico fue la que más concordó con las afirmaciones relacionadas a las actitudes de los profesionales que trabajan en los servicios de salud mental, en relación al tabaquismo, posiblemente debido a las situaciones que experimentan en el hospital psiquiátrico. Entre las variables personales y clínicas, los analfabetos y los que estudiaron hasta la enseñanza fundamental fueron los que más concordaron que la prohibición de fumar puede agravar los síntomas psiquiátricos.Conclusión: Este estudio contribuye para la práctica de la enfermería psiquiátrica, al revelar las opiniones y percepciones de actitudes relacionadas al tabaquismo, en los servicios de salud mental. Introdução: As opiniões e percepções acerca do tabagismo da população psiquiátrica contribuem para sua prevalência, nessa população, ser duas a três vezes superior à encontrada em outros grupos.Objetivo: 1) Comparar as opiniões da população psiquiátrica e da população geral em relação à proibição do fumo nos serviços de saúde mental, bem como a percepção que elas têm das atitudes dos profissionais de saúde mental em relação ao tabagismo; 2) Identificar a associação entre variáveis pessoais e clínicas com as opiniões e percepção das atitudes.Método: Este estudo epidemiológico brasileiro de corte transversal foi realizado em: Ambulatório de Saúde Mental (n=126), Hospital psiquiátrico (n=126) e Unidade Básica de Saúde (n=126). Foram conduzidas entrevistas individuais usando questionário.Resultados: A maioria dos participantes acredita que os sintomas psiquiátricos podem ser agravados com a proibição do fumo. Ao comparar as respostas da população psiquiátrica com as da população geral, é observado que os dois grupos têm opiniões similares acerca dos efeitos do tabaco nos sintomas psiquiátricos e no comportamento. A população internada no hospital psiquiátrico foi a que mais concordou com as afirmativas relacionadas às atitudes dos profissionais que trabalham nos serviços de saúde mental em relação ao tabagismo, possivelmente devido às situações que experienciam no hospital psiquiátrico. Dentre as variáveis pessoais e clínicas, os analfabetos e os que estudaram até o ensino fundamental foram os que mais concordaram que a proibição do fumo pode agravar os sintomas psiquiátricos.Conclusão: Este estudo contribui para a prática da enfermagem psiquiátrica ao revelar as opiniões e percepções das atitudes relacionadas ao tabagismo nos serviços de saúde mental.

Physical comorbidity and use of healthcare services in people with schizophrenia: protocol for a systematic review

IntroductionPeople with schizophrenia die about 15–20 years earlier than the general population. A constellation of factors contributes to this gap in life expectancy: side effects of psychotropic drugs, unhealthy lifestyles (inactivity, unhealthy diet) and inequality in the provision of healthcare services. This is a topic of main importance, which requires constant update and synthesis of the literature. The aim of this review is to explore the evidence of physical comorbidity and use of healthcare services in people with schizophrenia.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a systematic literature search in the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library, Proquest Health Research Premium Collection, in order to identify studies that answer to our research question: Are patients with schizophrenia different from the non-psychiatric population in terms of physical comorbidity and use of healthcare services? Two authors will independently review the studies and extract the data.Ethics and disseminationThis study does not include human or animal subjects. Thus, ethics considerations are not applicable. Dissemination plans include publications in peer-reviewed journals and discussion of results in psychiatric congresses.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020139972.

The effect of smoking on the plasma concentration of tricyclic antidepressants: a systematic review

Smoking is highly prevalent in the psychiatric population, and hospital admittance usually results in partial or complete smoking cessation. Tobacco use is known to affect the metabolism of certain psychoactive drugs, but whether smoking influences the plasma concentration of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) remains unclear. This article investigates the possible effect of smoking on the plasma concentration of TCAs. A systematic review of the literature available on PubMed and EMBASE as of October 2020 was carried out using PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting plasma concentrations of any TCA in both a smoking and a non-smoking group were included and compared. Ten eligible studies were identified and included. In the eight studies investigating the effect of smoking on amitriptyline and/or nortriptyline, five studies found no significant effect. Two studies investigating the effect of smoking on imipramine found a significant effect, and one study investigating the effect of smoking on doxepin found no significant effect. The majority of studies included in this review were influenced by small study populations and other methodical issues. The effect of smoking on the plasma concentration of TCAs is still not entirely clear. There is a possibility that smoking affects the distribution of TCA metabolites, but this is probably not of clinical importance.

Toe Support Pattern as a New Predictive Factor Associated with Falls in Older People with Psychiatric Disorders

Background Maintaining autonomy is one of the principal objectives for seniors and people with psychiatric disorders. Podiatric medical care can help them maintain autonomy. This work aimed to characterize and quantify the support of the toes in a psychiatric population by analyzing the influence of psychotropic medications and toe and foot support parameters on the prevalence of falls. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study in 67 participants (31 people with psychiatric disorders and 36 without diagnosed disorders [control population]). Toe support pattern was analyzed with a pressure platform. Variables were measured in static and dynamic loading and related to falls and psychotropic medication use. Results The psychiatric population fell more than the control population and presented less toe-ground contact in static measurements, although it has more foot-ground contact time. Maximum toe pressure during toe-off is also less intensive in the psychiatric population and is related to people who take psychotropic medications. Conclusions Toe support pattern could be used as a predictive factor for falls and to improve stability in these populations.

An Interview with Dr. Dag Körlin

For many years, Dr. Körlin, a well-known practitioner and primary trainer of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) has been developing the practice of Music Breathing (MB) as an adaptation of GIM. A semi-structured interview was conducted in English to deepen the learning experience from the MB training with him. The first part of Dr. Körlin’s comprehensive training program for MB was started in 2019, and since then more and more GIM therapists have been encouraged to practice MB clinically. A brief description of stages in MB, rationales behind this development and other innovators in adapting GIM techniques specific for psychiatric population are reviewed. Following the content of the interview transcript, the author will identify key merits of this technique and provide a web link to a short video clip for the purpose of promoting MB to clinicians and the general public. In conclusion, MB is a useful asset for music therapists.

When rare meets common: Treatable genetic diseases are enriched in the general psychiatric population

Mental illnesses are one of the biggest contributors to the global disease burden. Despite the increased recognition, diagnosis and ongoing research of mental health disorders, the etiology and underlying molecular mechanisms of these disorders are yet to be fully elucidated. Moreover, despite many treatment options available, a large subset of the psychiatric patient population is non-responsive to standard medications and therapies. There has not been a comprehensive study to date examining the burden and impact of treatable genetic disorders (TGDs) that can present with neuropsychiatric features in psychiatric patient populations. In this study, we test the hypothesis that TGDs that present with psychiatric symptoms are more prevalent within psychiatric patient populations compared to the general population by performing targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of 129 genes associated with 108 TGDs in a cohort of 2301 psychiatric patients. In total, 72 putative affected and 293 putative carriers for TGDs were identified, with known or likely pathogenic variants in 78 genes. Despite screening for only 108 genetic disorders, this study showed an approximately four-fold (4.13%) enrichment for genetic disorders within the psychiatric population relative to the estimated 1% cumulative prevalence of all single gene disorders globally. This strongly suggests that the prevalence of these, and most likely all, genetic diseases are greatly underestimated in psychiatric populations. Increasing awareness and ensuring accurate diagnosis of TGDs will open new avenues to targeted treatment for a subset of psychiatric patients.