bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oral health attitudes and behavior among undergraduate students
Authors: Nikolaev E. , Petunova S. , Dakdaki N. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionOral health behavior is based on an acquired experience and cultural traditions. University education may smooth out cultural differences in oral health practice.ObjectivesOur goal is to study self-reported oral health attitudes and behavior of university students and the cultural basis for it.MethodsWe used the English version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavioral Inventory to carry out an online survey of 136 university students of Morocco and Russia.ResultsOver half of the students (60.3%) do not feel anxious when visiting a dentist. Most of them take care of their gums (41.2%), teeth color (49.3%) and the degree of their cleanness (38.2%). The overwhelming majority of the students brush their each tooth very thoroughly (62.5%), they regularly examine their teeth in the mirror after brushing them (90.4%). They are well aware that tooth brushing alone cannot prevent a gum disease (63.2%), and they feel concerned about the possibility of having bad breath (73.6%). At the same time, over half of the students (61.7%) put off their visit to a dentist until they have a toothache, which is a negative behavioral factor. We did not reveal any gender or cultural differences between the students of the two countries, which can be regarded as a universalization factor of oral health behavior in young people who get higher education in universities.ConclusionsThe majority of the surveyed Russian and Moroccan university students have similar patterns of oral health attitudes and behavior. This assumption needs verification on a larger sample of students.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
«The Application of the New Law of Adoption and the Psychological Preparation of Prospective Stepparents»
Authors: Farmakopoulou I. , Stavropoulou K. , Bari N. , Theodoropoulou N. , Theodoratou M. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe new adoption law, which was introduced in Greece in 2018, brought radical changes in adoption.ObjectivesThis presentation aimed to investigate the emotions of the prospective stepparents, based on the changes which were effectuated by the new law of adoption.MethodsThis survey was conducted through mixed methodology. Quantitative research was addressed to investigate the emotions of the to prospective stepparents. Qualitative research was addressed to social workers and its goal was to depict their opinion about the new law and the prospective stepparents’ expressed emotions.ResultsThe findings of the survey have demonstrated that the stepparents had a variety of emotions that changed throughout the adoption process. The dominant feelings of parents at the first visit with the social worker were stress and anxiety. However, at the end of the training process, these feelings were replaced by confidence and impatience. This emotional rotation of prospective stepparents was confirmed in the social workers’ interviews. In addition, social workers interviews highlighted the importance of the amendment of the old law of adoption’s process.ConclusionsTo sum up, this research has shown the importance of the new law and therefore the significance of its right application from all children’s placements in Greece. Nevertheless, it seems that due to the recent application of the new law, many placements have not yet complied with it and therefore there is urgent need for reinforcement of its application, according to the guidelines of the European Union that demanded gradual deinstitutionalization using the alternative types of child care.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Psychotherapy employed additionally to Psychopharmacotherapy is not related to Better Treatment Outcome in Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Bartova L. , Fugger G. , Dold M. , Mitschek M. , Zohar J. , Mendlewicz J. , Souery D. , Montgomery S. , Fabbri C. , Serretti A. , Kasper S. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionAlthough numerous effective antidepressant (AD) strategies are available for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), many patients do not achieve satisfactory treatment response.ObjectivesThe aims of the present European, cross-sectional, multicenter, naturalistic study were (1) to determine the proportion of patients suffering from primary MDD who received additional psychotherapy to their ongoing psychopharmacotherapy and (2) to identify the associated socio-demographic and clinical patterns.MethodsPatients receiving both treatments were compared to those lacking concomitant additional psychotherapy that was manual-driven psychotherapy (MDP) in all cases.ResultsWhile 68.8% of a total of 1279 MDD patients received exclusively psychopharmacotherapy, 31.2% underwent a psychopharmacotherapy-MDP combination. The latter patient population was rather younger, higher educated, employed, exhibited an earlier mean age of MDD onset, lower severity of current depressive symptoms with lower odds of suicidality and higher rates of melancholic features, and comorbid asthma and migraine, and was generally treated with lower daily doses of their first-line ADs. Whereas agomelatine was more commonly dispensed in these patients, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were more often prescribed in MDD patients lacking additional MDP. No significant between-group differences were detected in terms of treatment outcome.ConclusionsThe fact that the employment of additional MDP was not related to better treatment outcome in MDD represents our major and clinically most relevant finding. Generally, MDP was employed in a minority of our patients who experienced rather beneficial socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. This might reflect an inferior accessibility of these psychotherapeutic techniques for patients who are more severely ill and less socio-economically privileged.DisclosureReferences Bartova L, Fugger G, Dold M, Swoboda MMM, Zohar J, Mendlewicz J, Souery D, Montgomery S, Fabbri C, Serretti A, Kasper S. Combining psychopharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is not associated with better treatment outcome in major depressive disor
Clozapine and myopathic dysfunction: is creatinine kinase an important parameter to measure?
Authors: Barbosa P. , Remelhe M. , Venâncio Â. , Ribeiro L. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThere have been reports of myopathic dysfunction with creatinine kinase (CK) elevation associated with neuroleptics, particularly, in clozapine-treated patients. The patients in these reports did not have any other clinical symptoms or signs indicative of neuropleptic malignant syndrome. Myopathic dysfunction was supported by the presence of CK elevations and either proximal limb weakness or fatigue, characteristic electrophysiologic abnormalities, or both. It has also been reported that CK elevation is neither dose nor treatment-duration dependent. The underlying mechanism is still unknown although it has been postulated that it is associated with cytochrome P450 interactions and/or calmodulin antagonism.ObjectivesTo report a case of elevation of CK during treatment with clozapine.MethodsThe authors report a case of elevation of CK during treatment with clozapine. A non-systematic review was conducted by searching the PubMed database, using the terms “clozapine”, “myotoxicity”.ResultsA 36-year-old man was admitted after abandoning treatment with clozapine. During the titration of the medication, he developed complaints of muscle fatigue in conjunction with an elevation of CK. CK levels normalized after intravenous hydration and with dose reduction. Furthermore, CK levels would increase with clozapine re-titration.ConclusionsClozapine has numerous side effects. Myopathic dysfunction with CK elevation is a possible side effect which could have serious consequences such as renal impairment. In such cases, appropriate treatment should be implemented. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of this potential side effect.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Belief in conspiracy theories and esoteric thinking during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Medvedeva T. , Enikolopov S. , Boyko O. , Vorontsova O. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionPsychological distress during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic can manifest itself in interpretations of what is happening.ObjectivesTo analyze response to COVID-19 pandemic in people with high level of esoteric thinking.Methods
Internet survey 23.03.20-29.01.21 (N=621); Constructive Thinking Inventory(CTI); SCL-90R. It was proposed to assess statements: “The authorities are hiding the true scale of the coronavirus pandemic”, “Coronavirus is the result of biological weapons development”, “Coronavirus is a punishment or a sign sent to people from above”, “The emergence of the coronavirus is the Earth’s response to its pollution”. It was offered to express an opinion about pandemic. The answers were coded on the basis of qualitative semantic analysis.ResultsThe growth of “esoteric thinking” was revealed (Std.J-T, p=.025). With a high level of esoteric thinking, emotional statements (“fear, anxiety, panic”) are more common (27.8% versus 16.9% for group with high and low level of «esoteric thinking»). Correlations of the level of «esoteric thinking» with level of depression (Spearman’s correlation ,085*), anxiety (,097*), GSI (,130**), «fears for the life» (23.4% versus 14.5%) show high emotional distress. With an increase in the level of «esoteric thinking», belief in various conspiracy theories increases; Spearman’s correlation ,370** with the belief is biological weapons, punishment for sins (,355**), belief in concealing information about the pandemic (,167**).ConclusionsA high level of esoteric thinking is associated with an increased emotional response to the pandemic and with belief in conspiracy theories, and can increase emotional instability by itself also making constructive decisions difficult in situations related to protecting personal health and safety.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and a tendency to conspiracy thinking as factors that may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression among Polish citizens
Authors: Dębski P. , Piegza M. , Kapuśniak N. , Boroń A. , Dębska M. , Gorczyca P. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has become the subject of intense discussion on social media platforms. Fake news and conspiracy theories about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in particular its origin, spread, impact on health and prevention, have become especially popular. The social crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a growing tendency to believe in conspiracy theories, which in turn may contribute to an increase in anxiety tension and thus deteriorate the psychological health of citizens.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to determine the relationships between the tendency to believe in false information about the COVID-19 pandemic and the severity of symptoms of anxiety and depression among the surveyed Polish citizens.MethodsThe study included 700 Polish people aged 24.7±6.34 years. We used questionnaires such as: COVID-19 Conspiratorial Beliefs Scale to measure the level of belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale to measure tendencies to believe in conspiracy theories, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.ResultsBelief in false information about the COVID-19 pandemic may be associated with a slight increase in the severity of both anxiety symptoms (b=0.044; p=0.021) and depression (b=0.048; p=0.004). A factor known as belief in the criminal activity of government organizations may also contribute to predicting the increase in the severity of symptoms of anxiety (b=0.172; p=0.001) and depression (b=0.169; p=0.000) during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionsBelief in false information about the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as belief in general conspiracy theories, can contribute to the psychological deterioration of citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation and mortality rates in people with severe mental illness: findings from two UK cohort studies
Authors: Hassan L. , Firth J. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionRecent systematic reviews have highlighted that people with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) have higher risks of infection, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19, although the full extent of these disparities are not yet established.ObjectivesUtilising electronic health records, we investigated COVID-19 related infection, hospitalisation and mortality among people with schizophrenia/psychosis, bipolar disorder (BD) and/or major depressive disorder (MDD) in two large UK samples: the UK Biobank (UKB) cohort study and GP-registered patients in Greater Manchester (GM).MethodsWe sampled 447,296 adults with and without SMI from UKB (inc. schizophrenia/psychosis=1,925, BD=1,483 and MDD=41,448, non-SMI=402,440) and 1,152,831 adults from GM (inc. schizophrenia/psychosis =46,859, BD=3,461, recurrent MDD=134,661, non-SMI = 922,264). Primary care, hospital and death records were linked to identify COVID-19 related outcomes. Logistic regression models were used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) to compare differences in COVID-19 outcomes by diagnosis, controlling for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities.ResultsWe will report the findings of unadjusted and adjusted analyses, comparing ORs for people with and without SMI, by diagnosis. Findings will be compared between the two datasets, with attention to the demographic and clinical profiles of each sample. We will consider the role of demographic characteristics and comorbidities in attenuating outcomes.ConclusionsEmerging evidence suggests that people with SMI have higher risks of COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation and mortality. Based on two large datasets utilising EHRs, we present findings from the UK on COVID-19 outcomes among people with SMI, a country that has been severely affected by COVID-19.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Retinal single-layer analysis with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in schizophrenia spectrum disorder
Authors: Kregel T. , Schönfeldt-Lecuona C. , Schmidt A. , Kassubek J. , Dreyhaupt J. , Freudenmann R. , Connemann B. , Gahr M. , Pinkhardt E. 
Published: September 2022

Introduction
Volume reductions in brain structures of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) have repeatedly been found in voxel-based morphometry MRI studies. Hence, an underlying neurodegenerative etiological component of SSD is currently being discussed. In recent years, the imaging method of optical coherence tomography (OCT) has shown its potential in evaluating structural changes in the retina in patients with confirmed neurodegenerative disorders, providing a window into the brain.ObjectivesTo evaluate potential differences in measurements of retinal layers between patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and healthy controls with OCT.MethodsTwenty-six patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 23 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were examined with the Heidelberg Spectralis OCT system to derive a single-layer analysis of both retinas. The segmentation of retinal layers was manually corrected to minimize artifacts and software imprecisions.ResultsCompared to the control group, SSD patients showed reduced thickness and volume measurements for nearly all retinal layers, and these differences reached significance for macular volume, macular thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and inner nucleiform layer (INL). Furthermore, a significant correlation between the duration of illness and the total volume of the RNFL was found.ConclusionsOur OCT measurements demonstrate reduced single retinal layer thickness in patients with SSD. In the context of the MRI volume changes, our results provide further evidence that structural changes seen in the brain of patients are also observable in the retina, potentially allowing further insights into the different components of the nervous system that are altered in this highly etiologically complex disorder.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor availability in First-Episode Psychosis: a multi-modal PET-MR brain imaging study
Authors: Beck K. , Arumuham A. , Brugger S. , Mccutcheon R. , Veronese M. , Kaar S. , Pillinger T. , Stone J. , Howes O. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionN-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction is hypothesised to underlie psychosis but this has not been tested early in illness.Objectives
Our aim was to determine if NMDAR availability was lower in patients with first episode psychosis compared to healthy controls.MethodsTo address this, we studied 40 volunteers (21 patients with first episode psychosis and 19 matched healthy controls) using PET imaging with an NMDAR selective ligand, [18F]GE179, that binds to the ketamine binding site to index its distribution volume ratio (DVR) and volume of distribution (VT). Striatal glutamatergic indices (glutamate and Glx) were measured simultaneously using magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (1H-MRS).Results
Hippocampal DVR, but not VT, was significantly lower in patients relative to controls (p=0.02, Cohen’s d=0.81; p=0.15, Cohen’s d=0.49), and negatively associated with total (rho=-0.47, p= 0.04), depressive (rho=-0.67, p=0.002), and general symptom severity (rho=-0.74, p<0.001). Exploratory analyses found no significant differences in other brain regions (anterior cingulate cortex, thalamus, striatum and temporal cortex). We found an inverse relationship between hippocampal NMDAR availability and striatal glutamate levels in people with first-episode psychosis (rho = -0.74, p <0.001) but not in healthy controls (rho = -0.22, p = 0.44).ConclusionsThese findings are consistent with the NMDAR hypofunction hypothesis and identify the hippocampus as a key locus for relative NMDAR hypofunction, although further studies should test specificity and causality.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Increased Risk for Substance Use-Related Problems in Mild Intellectual Disability: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Påhlsson A. , Liu S. , Tideman M. , Larsson H. , Lichtenstein P. , Butwicka A. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionIntellectual disability (ID) has been linked to substance use-related problems (SUP). However, previous research is limited by the small sample sizes, lack of general population comparison and have not accounted for familial confoundings. The role of other psychiatric comorbidities also remains unknown.ObjectivesTo examine the risk of SUP in individuals with mild-ID and assess whether the associations depend on other psychiatric comorbidities, controlling for potential familial confounding.MethodsPopulation-based cohort study of individuals born in Sweden 1973-2003. We identified 19,078 individuals with mild-ID, 953,900 reference individuals from the general population, and 20,722 full-siblings of individuals with mild-ID. Conditional logistic regression models were used to compare individuals with mild-ID to the general population and their full-siblings regarding the risk of SUP, including alcohol and substance use disorders, alcohol and substance-related somatic diseases, substance-related crime, and substance-related death. Analyses were repeated stratified by the presence of psychiatric comorbidities.ResultsIndividuals with mild-ID had increased risks of any SUP (adjusted OR [95%CI]: 1.41 [1.35, 1.47]), compared to the general population, including alcohol-related somatic diseases (3.27 [1.92, 5.59]), alcohol (2.05 [1.91, 2.22]) and drug-use disorder (1.79 [1.69, 1.91]), and alcohol (1.36 [1.19, 1.49]) and drug-related crime (1.27 [1.19, 1.36]). The risk of SUP for individuals with mild ID was particularly elevated with comorbid mood (3.74 [3.47, 4.04]), anxiety (3.30 [3.09, 3.53]) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (2.61 [2.44, 2.80]). Increased risk of SUP remained significant when controlling for familial confounding.ConclusionsIndividuals with mild-ID, especially those with other psychiatric comorbidities, are at increased risks of SUP.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Psychological impacts of Intentional Non-Medical Fentanyl Use Among People Who Use Drugs: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tsang V. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe use of non-medical fentanyl and structurally related compounds has changed drastically over the last ten years. Community members working with individuals who use fentanyl intentionally currently struggle with the rapidly evolving drug markets and patterns of use, thereby failing to adapt treatment approaches and harm reduction strategies to individuals with severe opioid use disorder (OUD) and concurrent psychiatric disorders.ObjectivesThis systematic review aims to evaluate intentional fentanyl among PWUD by summarizing demographic variance, concurrent disorders, and resulting patterns of use.MethodsThe search strategy in this study was developed with a combination of free text keywords and Mesh and non-Mesh keywords, and adapted with database-specific filters to Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and PsychINFO (May 2021). The search results resulted in 4437 studies after de-duplication, of which 132 were selected for full-text review. A total of 42 articles were included in this review.ResultsIt was found that individuals who use fentanyl intentionally were more likely to be young, male, and Caucasian. Individuals who intentionally use fentanyl were more commonly homeless, unemployed or working illegally, and live-in cities. Independent correlates of any purposeful fentanyl use included moderate/severe depression.ConclusionsIndividuals who intentionally use fentanyl are more likely to report injection drug use and polysubstance use, including cocaine use, heroin use, and methamphetamine use. Among PWUD, individuals who intentionally use fentanyl have the most severe substance use patterns, the most precarious living situation, and the most extensive overdose history and higher proportion of ever having a mental health diagnosis.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Distinct behavior in early life stress dams predicts heterogeneity in future stress response in offspring over lifespan
Authors: Mey F. , Treccani G. , Schmitt U. , Müller M. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionExposure to early life stress (ELS) strongly predicts prevalent, impairing, and costly psychiatric illness throughout life including mental disorders. The reason, some individuals are more vulnerable to ELS whereas others remain resilient, is poorly understood. There is a need for better understanding of early biological changes triggered by ELS with responsibility to negative outcomes in health.ObjectivesWe stratify animals after ELS according to corticosterone levels. [1] Re-challenging the animals to a second stressor, chronic social defeat (CSD) [2], in adulthood was performed to understand individual trajectories depending on corticosterone exposure during early adverse conditions.MethodsWe performed ELS as previously reported [1]. Behavior of mothers was observed during ELS. Correlation between level of corticosterone and behavior observed in dams. ELS animals were exposed to a second stress in adulthood. A battery of tests for different behavioral domains was performed. Behavioral analyses was combined with assessment of litter HPA system reactivity and observed behavior in dams.ResultsStress dams where significantly higher in number of sorties over whole observation period, time dams spent outside the nest differed. We could correlate the number of sorties on p3 with corticosterone plasma level at p9. Control dams spent significantly more time outside in 9pm recordings than stress animals. We could show reduced interaction with social juvenile targets in sociability test for CSD mice. Light dark transition was significantly higher for control mice compared to CSD but lower for control vs ELS animals.ConclusionsBehavior in dams during ELS correlates with chronic stress coping mechanisms in offspring’s adulthood.DisclosureNo significant relationships.