A Patient With Mental Disorder Wrongly Detained in a European Migrant Detention Centre

The admission of undocumented migrants and refugees to detention centres (DC) has been systematically associated with several poor mental health outcomes. Much less is known about people with mental health disorders, non-migrants, who might be wrongfully committed to these facilities. This article draws on Dave's case, where a German citizen was detained in a migrant DC in Porto. The patient was later treated and diagnosed with schizophrenia. In light of another case report, we conceptualize the "Cornelia's phenomenon" by which a person with full citizenship rights but with a severe mental disorder is wrongly committed to a DC. We hypothesize that this worrisome phenomenon is underestimated, and we will discuss how pre-existent psychopathology might predispose vulnerable people to this situation. We will discuss the negative impact that detention might have on these patients, proposing solutions that might amend this worrisome phenomenon.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

On the plausibility of late neuropsychiatric manifestations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

Recognition of the association between acute and subacute different neuropsychiatric manifestations with the infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is progressively being recognized.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

“Just give me pregabalin, doctor”: pregabalin use disorder in two undocumented migrants from North Africa

Abstract Introduction Pregabalin is a widely prescribed medication for various medical conditions, including neuropathic pain and anxiety disorders. Recently, several studies have shown an increase in the recreational use of pregabalin, particularly among vulnerable populations, such as the migrant population. Methods The authors aim to present two case reports of pregabalin use disorder observed among migrants residing in a temporary detention center for undocumented migrants in Portugal, and to conduct a non-systematic review of the literature on the potential abuse of pregabalin. Results A growing body of research suggests an increasing global trend toward the inappropriate use linked with gabapentinoid medications, particularly pregabalin. The occurrence of euphoria, sedation, and dissociation at higher doses appears to be related to its abuse potential. Studies show that pregabalin abuse occurs particularly in patients with substance use disorders and in vulnerable populations such as migrants. Conclusion The migrant population appears to be particularly vulnerable to pregabalin abuse. Healthcare professionals should be aware of this emerging problem, especially if they work directly with this population. Prescribing should be done with caution, and when suspected, screening for abuse should be conducted

Decreased CO2 saturation during circular breathwork supports emergence of altered states of consciousness

Altered states of consciousness (ASCs), induced e.g. during psychedelic-augmented therapy, show great potential to treat highly prevalent mental health disorders like depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, such treatment approaches are not widely accessible due to legal, medical, and financial limitations. In this study, we explore the potential of circular breathwork to serve as a non-pharmacological and hence more easily accessible alternative to engage similar therapeutic processes. Scientific studies investigating the effects of breathwork on mental health are only just emerging and the underlying physiological and psychological mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we aim to address these questions by for the first time tracking physiological and experiential dynamics throughout the time course of a breathwork session, comparing two popular forms of breathwork: Holotropic Breathwork® and Consciously-Connected breathwork. We show that a reduction in end-tidal CO2 pressure due to deliberate hyperventilation is instrumental in catalyzing ASCs during breathwork. The ASCs evoked by breathwork were comparable to those produced by psychedelics, and their depth predicted psychological and physiological follow-on effects, including improved well-being and a reduction of depressive symptoms. Further analysis showed that different breathwork traditions impacted physiological markers as well as experiential and psychological outcomes in a similar way. Our findings identify physiological boundary conditions in which ASCs can arise in a non-pharmacological context, offering insights into the functional mechanisms of breathwork as well as its potential as a psychotherapeutic tool