The Double-edged Sword: A Mixed Methods Study of the Interplay between Bipolar Disorder and Technology Use

Human behavior is increasingly reflected or acted out through technology. This is of particular salience when it comes to changes in behavior associated with serious mental illnesses including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Early detection is crucial for these conditions but presently very challenging to achieve. Potentially, characteristics of these conditions\u27 traits and symptoms, at both idiosyncratic and collective levels, may be detectable through technology use patterns. In bipolar disorder specifically, initial evidence associates changes in mood with changes in technology-mediated communication patterns. However much less is known about how people with bipolar disorder use technology more generally in their lives, how they view their technology use in relation to their illness, and, perhaps most crucially, the causal relationship (if any exists) between their technology use and their disease. To address these uncertainties, we conducted a survey of people with bipolar disorder (N = 84). Our results indicate that technology use varies markedly with changes in mood and that technology use broadly may have potential as an early warning signal of mood episodes. We also find that technology for many of these participants is a double-edged sword: acting as both a culprit that can trigger or exacerbate symptoms as well as a support mechanism for recovery. These findings have implications for the design of both early warning systems and technology-mediated interventions

The chalenges for families in the digital age.

UID/CCI/04667/2016It is with great pleasure that we present the 2018 Yearbook from the International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth and Media at Nordicom: Digital Parenting: The Challenges for Families in the Digital Age. The topics addressed in the 2018 Yearbook – how to relate to or mediate children’s use of digital media, generational gaps in the use of media and the use of social media to display or seek support in parenthood – are timely and relevant in many respects and have engaged many qualified scholars from around the world. Parenting in the digital media environment is a theme often discussed in news media and among parenting groups. Balancing the opportunities of digital media and at the same time considering potentially unwanted and/or negative effects can be a challenge, both for adults and for the younger generation. There are no established policies, long traditions or experience to turn to and many are seeking advice. The 2018 Yearbook is the result of a great collaborative effort. Nordicom is deeply grateful to the editors of this new anthology, Giovanna Mascheroni, Cristina Ponte and Ana Jorge, as well as to all the contributors who have made this publication possible. It is our hope that the collection of articles will make interesting reading all around the world, stimulate new research and debate and provide new ideas regarding the topical and highly relevant issue of being a parent in the digital age. In the work of the Clearinghouse, the global dimension is a core principle, both with respect to the content we publish and distribute and to the contributors who produce it. Digital Parenting represents this principle by presenting contributions and examples and involving authors from many areas of the world. All books published by the Clearinghouse aim to shed light on different aspects concerning children, youth and media, spread current information and knowledge and hopefully stimulate further research. Various groups of users are targeted; researchers, policymakers, media professionals, voluntary organizations, teachers, students and interested individuals. It is our hope that this new Yearbook will be of interest and provide new insights on the topic of digital parenting to a broad range of readers. Göteborg, October 2018 Catharina Bucht Jonas Ohlsson Information coordinator Directorpublishersversionpublishe

Jogo responsável e saúde mental : tópicos para uma estratégia integrada na prevenção e redução de danos das adições comportamentais

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use.Problem gambling has become a major public health concern, with psychosocial and mental health consequences. Some efforts have been done in the last years by regulatory and health related bodies worldwide for assuring that betting can be safer and less harmful. A vast consensus concerning the need to promote Responsible Gambling strategies have been put forward, even though the implementation of policies in this domain is very broad, poorly systematized and often does not translate, in an evident manner, to consolidated and valid practices for promoting safe gambling and the prevention of morbidity. This paper aims to review theoretical and research‑based arguments supporting the need of investment in responsible gambling field, and to propose some recommendations for sponsoring strategic policies in which harm‑minimization and prevention tools are prioritized. A literature review was carried out through an intensive search of online electronic databases and collaborative contacts with researchers in the field of non‑substance addictive behaviors. Papers and documents from scientific and governmental boards, related to prevention and harm minimization or reduction of gambling problems and published between 1998 and 2018 were selected. Different tools in the field of responsible gambling are pointed as good and evidence‑based practices that need to be continuously implemented and replicated. Some others can be promising but need further research. The findings of this study may help many entities and stakeholders involved in this behavioral addiction field (researchers, governmental and health agencies, regulators and gambling industry) for strengthening responsible gambling national policies and strategies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Jogo Responsável e Saúde Mental: Tópicos para uma Estratégia Integrada na Prevenção e Redução de Danos das Adições Comportamentais

Problem gambling has become a major public health concern, with psychosocial and mental health consequences. Some efforts have been done in the last years by regulatory and health related bodies worldwide for assuring that betting can be safer and less harmful. A vast consensus concerning the need to promote Responsible Gambling strategies have been put forward, even though the implementation of policies in this domain is very broad, poorly systematized and often does not translate, in an evident manner, to consolidated and valid practices for promoting safe gambling and the prevention of morbidity. This paper aims to review theoretical and research‑based arguments supporting the need of investment in responsible gambling field, and to propose some recommendations for sponsoring strategic policies in which harm‑minimization and prevention tools are prioritized. A literature review was carried out through an intensive search of online electronic databases and collaborative contacts with researchers in the field of non‑substance addictive behaviors. Papers and documents from scientific and governmental boards, related to prevention and harm minimization or reduction of gambling problems and published between 1998 and 2018 were selected. Different tools in the field of responsible gambling are pointed as good and evidence‑based practices that need to be continuously implemented and replicated. Some others can be promising but need further research. The findings of this study may help many entities and stakeholders involved in this behavioral addiction field (researchers, governmental and health agencies, regulators and gambling industry) for strengthening responsible gambling national policies and strategies.Os problemas de jogo constituem uma preocupação crescente no domínio da saúde, com graves consequências psicossociais e na saúde mental. Alguns esforços a nível internacional têm sido empreendidos nas últimas décadas pelas entidades reguladoras e da saúde, visando práticas de jogo mais seguras e menos lesivas. Um vasto consenso em torno da promoção de estratégias de jogo responsável é atualmente aceite, não obstante a implementação de políticas neste domínio seja pouco sistematizada e não se traduza, frequentemente e de modo evidente, em práticas validadas de promoção do jogo responsável e de prevenção da morbilidade associada. Este artigo tem como objetivo uma revisão teórica e dos achados da investigação científica que dão suporte à necessidade de investimento no campo do jogo responsável, propondo recomendações que subsidiem o desenvolvimento de políticas estratégicas que priorizem a minimização de danos e a prevenção dos problemas de jogo. Foi desenvolvida uma revisão da literatura através de uma procura intensiva de conteúdos publicados nas bases de dados internacionais e por meio de contactos colaborativos com investigadores no domínio dos comportamentos aditivos sem substância. Foram selecionados artigos científicos e documentos conformadores produzidos por entidades científicas e governamentais, relacionados com prevenção e redução de riscos e minimização de danos dos problemas de jogo, publicados entre 1998 e 2018. Vários instrumentos no domínio do jogo responsável são identificados como boas práticas e devidamente baseados na evidência, sendo necessária a continuidade da sua implementação bem como a sua replicação noutros contextos. Outros ainda parecem ser promissores, mas requisitam investigação adicional

Models of collaboration between psychologist and family doctor: a systematic review of primary care psychology

open2noThe prevalence of psychological suffering is greater than the actual request for clinical consultation in Europe (Alonso et al., 2004). In Italy, no more than 5.5% of the population requested psychological assistance during lifetime (Miglioretti et al., 2008). There are different obstacles that prevent the access to mental health services, such as economic restrictions (Mulder et al., 2011), cultural prejudice (Kim et al., 2010), and lack of knowledge about the service providers that can answer to the patient’s psychological needs (Molinari et al., 2012). Therefore, the psychologist is often consulted as a last resort, only after everything else has failed, when problems have become severe, and thus requiring longer, more intensive, and expensive treatments. The introduction of the Primary Care Psychologist, a professional who works together with the family doctor, allows to overcome the above-mentioned problems and intercept unexpressed needs for psychological assistance. This professional role is operating in many countries since several years. In this study, current literature concerning different models of collaboration between physician and psychologist, in Europe and in Italy, was reviewed. A systematic search of Web of Science (ISI), Pubmed, Scopus, and PsychINFO was conducted using the initial search terms Primary Care Psychologist, Family Doctor, Primary Care, Collaborative Practice, and several relevant papers were identified. The review has shown the improved quality of care when mental health care is integrated into primary. Analyzing how different programs are implemented, results indicated that the more efficacious models of Primary Care Psychology are those tailored on the environment’s needs.The results of our systematic review stress the importance of the Primary Care Psychologist implementation also in Italy, to intercept unexpressed psychological needs and enhance clients’ quality of life.openFrancesca, Bianco; Enrico, BenelliBianco, Francesca; Benelli, Enric

Computer Crime and Control in Hong Kong

This Article is a first attempt to study cyberspace governance and computer crime control in Hong Kong. It begins with a discussion of how computer crime was discovered as a cognizable object of control. Next, it explores the nature, prevalence and distribution of computer crime in Hong Kong before embarking on a comprehensive review and critical analysis of the Hong Kong government\u27s cyberspace governance philosophy and computer crime control policy. The Article closes with a number of recommendations for improving Hong Kong cyberspace governance, which focus on developing a broad, overarching policy that both meets the public\u27s goals and addresses private sector concerns

Gambling Harm as a Global Public Health Concern: A Mixed Method Investigation of Trends in Wales

Background: Recent research evidence has suggested that gambling is a public health concern. A number of studies report the association between gambling activity and increased instances of various other harms, including substance misuse and psychological disorders. In parallel to alcohol misuse, it is also becoming clear that gambling related harm is more of a continuum of harm, as opposed to traditionally accepted categorisations of gambling behavior: safe and responsible or “problem” and harmful. Previous effective treatment models for alcohol misuse have considered a public health approach to develop interventions. As such, the current research seeks to use a public health approach to both investigate the extent of gambling harm across Wales, and to identify upstream predictors of harm to inform future interventions. / Method: A triangulation of data collection methods was utilized across Wales, UK. Two hundred and forty-eight participants completed a quantitative survey relating to gambling behavior and related harm, which included the Problem Severity Gambling Index, the Gambling Commission measure of frequency, The Gambling Motives Questionnaire and the Fast Alcohol Screening tool. Ninety-eight of these participants completed a qualitative subsection. Structured interviews were conducted with 20 individuals from 11 service providers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for the five case studies of individuals who had previously sought help for gambling. The geographical density and distribution of Licensed Gambling Outlets was also mapped in local areas. / Results: The findings provide further evidence of a continuum of gambling related harm. Twenty seven percent of survey participants demonstrate some indicators of risk of gambling harm. Social, cultural and environmental contexts play a role in initiation and maintenance of gambling behavior and the subsequent related harm. Accounts from individuals corroborated the quantitative findings. / Conclusions: Findings from this Welsh sample are in line with and add support to the growing international research evidence that gambling harms are a universal issue that cross cultures. It is clear that action is needed by legislators at a policy level and that broadening the focus of intervention to a public health level is necessary to develop effective strategies for harm reduction

Gambling harm as a global public health concern: A mixed method investigation of trends in Wales

Background: Recent research evidence has suggested that gambling is a public health concern. A number of studies report the association between gambling activity and increased instances of various other harms, including substance misuse and psychological disorders. In parallel to alcohol misuse, it is also becoming clear that gambling related harm is more of a continuum of harm, as opposed to traditionally accepted categorisations of gambling behavior: safe and responsible or “problem” and harmful. Previous effective treatment models for alcohol misuse have considered a public health approach to develop interventions. As such, the current research seeks to use a public health approach to both investigate the extent of gambling harm across Wales, and to identify upstream predictors of harm to inform future interventions. Method: A triangulation of data collection methods was utilized across Wales, UK. Two hundred and forty-eight participants completed a quantitative survey relating to gambling behavior and related harm, which included the Problem Severity Gambling Index, the Gambling Commission measure of frequency, The Gambling Motives Questionnaire and the Fast Alcohol Screening tool. Ninety-eight of these participants completed a qualitative subsection. Structured interviews were conducted with 20 individuals from 11 service providers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for the five case studies of individuals who had previously sought help for gambling. The geographical density and distribution of Licensed Gambling Outlets was also mapped in local areas. Results: The findings provide further evidence of a continuum of gambling related harm. Twenty seven percent of survey participants demonstrate some indicators of risk of gambling harm. Social, cultural and environmental contexts play a role in initiation and maintenance of gambling behavior and the subsequent related harm. Accounts from individuals corroborated the quantitative findings. Conclusions: Findings from this Welsh sample are in line with and add support to the growing international research evidence that gambling harms are a universal issue that cross cultures. It is clear that action is needed by legislators at a policy level and that broadening the focus of intervention to a public health level is necessary to develop effective strategies for harm reduction