Quality of Web-based Information on Pathological Gambling

The present study aims to evaluate the quality of web-based information on gambling and to investigate potential content quality indicators. The following key words: gambling, pathological gambling, excessive gambling, gambling problem and gambling addiction were entered into two popular search engines: Google and Yahoo. Websites were assessed with a standardized proforma designed to rate sites on the basis of "accountability”, "presentation”, "interactivity”, "readability” and "content quality”. "Health on the Net” (HON) quality label, and DISCERN scale scores aiding people without content expertise to assess quality of written health publication were used to verify their efficiency as quality indicators. Of the 200 links identified, 75 websites were included. The results of the study indicate low scores on each of the measures. A composite global score appeared as a good content quality indicator. While gambling-related education websites for patients are common, their global quality is poor. There is a need for useful evidence-based information about gambling on the web. As the phenomenon has greatly increased, it could be relevant for Internet sites to improve their content by using global score as a quality indicato

Affective Response to a Loved One's Pain: Insula Activity as a Function of Individual Differences

Individual variability in emotion processing may be associated with genetic variation as well as with psychological predispositions such as dispositional affect styles. Our previous fMRI study demonstrated that amygdala reactivity was independently predicted by affective-cognitive styles (phobic prone or eating disorders prone) and genotype of the serotonin transporter in a discrimination task of fearful facial expressions. Since the insula is associated with the subjective evaluation of bodily states and is involved in human feelings, we explored whether its activity could also vary in function of individual differences. In the present fMRI study, the association between dispositional affects and insula reactivity has been examined in two groups of healthy participants categorized according to affective-cognitive styles (phobic prone or eating disorders prone). Images of the faces of partners and strangers, in both painful and neutral situations, were used as visual stimuli. Interaction analyses indicate significantly different activations in the two groups in reaction to a loved one's pain: the phobic prone group exhibited greater activation in the left posterior insula. These results demonstrate that affective-cognitive style is associated with insula activity in pain empathy processing, suggesting a greater involvement of the insula in feelings for a certain cohort of people. In the mapping of individual differences, these results shed new light on variability in neural networks of emotion

The pandemic toll and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers at a Swiss University Hospital.

Healthcare workers have potentially been among the most exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as the deleterious toll of the pandemic. This study has the objective to differentiate the pandemic toll from post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers compared to the general population. The study was conducted between April and July 2021 at the Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland. Eligible participants were all tested staff, and outpatient individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 at the same hospital. The primary outcome was the prevalence of symptoms in healthcare workers compared to the general population, with measures of COVID-related symptoms and functional impairment, using prevalence estimates and multivariable logistic regression models. Healthcare workers (n=3,083) suffered mostly from fatigue (25.5%), headache (10.0%), difficulty concentrating (7.9%), exhaustion/burnout (7.1%), insomnia (6.2%), myalgia (6.7%) and arthralgia (6.3%). Regardless of SARS-CoV-2 infection, all symptoms were significantly higher in healthcare workers than the general population (n=3,556). SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers was associated with loss or change in smell, loss or change in taste, palpitations, dyspnea, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and headache. Functional impairment was more significant in healthcare workers compared to the general population (aOR 2.28; 1.76-2.96), with a positive association with SARS-CoV-2 infection (aOR 3.81; 2.59-5.60). Symptoms and functional impairment in healthcare workers were increased compared to the general population, and potentially related to the pandemic toll as well as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings are of concern, considering the essential role of healthcare workers in caring for all patients including and beyond COVID-19

Les approches utilisant des exercices de méditation de type « mindfulness » ont-elles un rôle à jouer ?

La mindfulness (en français pleine conscience) représente le dénominateur commun qui est à la base des différents courants de pratique de méditation bouddhiste. Par pleine conscience, on entend le fait de porter son attention d’une manière particulière, délibérément, au moment présent et sans jugement de valeur. Au cours de ces dernières années, plusieurs approches thérapeutiques intégrant la pratique de la méditation (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ; Dialectical Behavior Therapy ; Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) ont été développées et évaluées. Dans cet article nous examinons les mécanismes pouvant expliquer pourquoi cette pratique peut conduire à une réduction symptomatique et/ou à un changement comportemental dans le cadre de divers troubles émotionnels et plus particulièrement dans le traitement des troubles anxieux.Mindfulness is the fundamental attentional stance underlying all streams of Buddhist meditative practice. It has been described as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” During the last years, mindfulness practice has been evaluated and introduced into several mental health treatments (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; Dialectical Behavior Therapy; Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy). In this paper, the author considers the mechanisms that may explain how mindfulness skills can lead to symptom reduction and behavior change in different emotional disorders and in anxiety disorders.La mindfulness (en español consciencia plena) representa el denominador común en la base de las diferentes corrientes de práctica de meditación budista. Por consciencia plena entendemos el hecho de concentrar la atención de una forma particular, deliberada, en el presente y sin juicios de valor. En el curso de los últimos años, se han desarrollado y evaluado varios enfoques terapéuticos que integran la práctica de la meditación (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; Dialectical Behavior Therapy; Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy). En este artículo examinamos los mecanismos que pueden explicar por qué esta práctica puede conducir a una reducción sintomática y/o a un cambio de comportamiento en el marco de diversos trastornos emocionales y, en particular, en el tratamiento de los trastornos de ansiedad.A “mindfulness” (em português “consciência plena”) representa o denominador comum que é a base de diferentes correntes de prática de meditação budista. Por consciência plena entende-se o fato de levar sua atenção de uma maneira especial, deliberadamente, ao momento presente e sem julgamento de valor. Durante os últimos anos, várias abordagens terapêuticas integrando a prática da meditação (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; Dialectical Behavior Therapy; Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) foram desenvolvidas e avaliadas. Neste artigo examinamos os mecanismos que podem explicar porque esta prática pode conduzir a uma redução sintomática e ou a uma mudança comportamental no caso de diversos transtornos emocionais e, mais especificamente, no tratamento de transtornos de ansiedade

Update of the Potential Treatments for Psychiatric and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in the Context of the Post-COVID-19 Condition: Still a Lot of Suffering and Many More Things to Learn

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined a post-COVID-19 condition. Some of these symptoms can be categorized as psychiatric long COVID-19 if they appeared in the aftermath of COVID-19, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, somatic symptoms disorders such as hyperventilation syndrome, fatigue, cognitive and sleep disorders. Psychiatric and neuropsychiatric post-COVID-19 present mental health specialists with difficult challenges because of its complexity and the multiple ways in which it integrates into a singular somatic context. Methods: We conducted a systematic research paradigm from SARS-CoV-2 using LitCOVID and Web of Science to search management strategies and potential treatments for psychiatric post-COVID-19 symptoms. Results: Management strategies must be based on a multidisciplinary approach to promote the global evaluation of psychiatric and physical symptoms, systematic detection and prevention. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors appear to be the best choice to treat post-COVID-19 depression and anxiety disorders, and tofisopam could be helpful for anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques adjusted to post-COVID-19 fatigue, functional remediation, extracorporeal apheresis, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, monoclonal antibodies, flavonoids, oxytocin or L-carnitine all represent hypothetical therapeutic avenues that remain to be evaluated in clinical trials. Conclusions: Psychiatric and neuropsychiatric post-COVID-19 symptoms occur frequently and are debilitating. Attention should be paid to this condition and studies undertaken to specify the effective treatments