Poor sleep quality at baseline is associated with increased aggression over one year in forensic psychiatric patients

Objective: In forensic psychiatric patients, sleep problems as well as impulsivity and aggression are highly prevalent, yet studies on their association over time are lacking. This study investigates the association between sleep quality and changes in impulsivity and aggression in forensic psychiatric patients over one year. Methods: Data were drawn from an ongoing prospective observational study in adult forensic psychiatric patients admitted to a forensic treatment facility between October 2006 and January 2018. Validated self-reports and observational instruments were used to assess sleep quality, impulsivity and aggression upon admission to the hospital and after one year. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine the association between sleep quality, impulsivity and aggression. All models were adjusted for baseline values of outcome measures, demographic features and general psychopathology. Results: Data from 83 men (age 37.7 ± 11.7 years) with completed consecutive measurements were analyzed. Poor sleep quality was associated with increased self-reported aggression (β = 1.08; 95% CI, 0.38–1.78). This association was positively confounded by general psychopathology, indicating that sleep quality is specifically related to self-reported aggression instead of being part of general psychopathology (adjusted β = 1.18; 95% CI, 0.39–1.97). Poor sleep quality was not associated with changes in self-reported impulsivity, clinician-rated impulsivity or clinician-rated hostility in this population. Conclusion: Poor sleep quality was associated with an increase in self-reported aggression over one year in male forensic psychiatric patients. Early evaluation and treatment of sleep problems in (forensic) psychiatric patients may play an important role in reducing the risk of aggressive behavior

Sleep quality is associated with aggression in forensic psychiatric patients, independent of general psychopathology

Several studies found associations between poor sleep quality and aggression in general and (forensic) psychiatric populations. Both poor sleep and aggression have been related previously to general psychopathology, but studies rarely have addressed this possible confounding factor appropriately. The current study aimed to replicate the association between sleep quality and aggression in a forensic psychiatric sample, including adjustment for psychopathology. We used cross-sectional data from an observational study in forensic psychiatric inpatients (n = 166). Poor sleep quality was significantly associated with higher self-reported aggression, independent of general psychopathology. Poor sleep quality accounted for a substantial part of the variance in aggression. This was observed for self-reported physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility, all showing relations with poor sleep quality that were not better accounted for by general psychopathology. Poor sleep quality was related to higher clinician-rated hostility as well, however, this association was weak and the explained variance low. These results confirm and substantiate previously found associations between sleep quality and aggression in forensic psychiatric patients. They highlight the importance of targeting sleep problems as part of the treatment of psychiatric patients with disruptive behavior and encourage further research aimed at unraveling the relation between sleep and aggression

Toolkit for exploring ethical aspects of digital social and affective touch interactions

In this hands-on demonstration, people are invited to use a newly developed toolkit to scrutinize their attitude and preferences towards digital social and affective touch interactions

Targeting late diagnosis of HIV in Kent, Medway and Picardy: evaluation of interventions in the Anglo-French IMPRESS Health 2 (Interreg IVA Channel Programme) project 4282

This report outlines the results and final stakeholder evaluations for the intervention phase (phase 3) of the Interreg IVA Channel Programme 4282 IMPRESSHealth 2 study. It describes how recommendations from the phase 1 report were implemented in Kent, Medway and Picardy in Northern France, the impact which these had on the uptake and timeliness of HIV testing in these areas; and analysis of the reasons for variance between the two countries (UK and France). The report contains examples of some of the public health and social media materials developed to increase the uptake and timeliness of HIV testing, and the results of the stakeholder assessment of its success. Overall, the impact of the interventions have been successful, with widespread increases in both the number and timeliness of HIV testing in the UK though less so in France. Reasons for these differences are discussed in the report. The report also highlights the huge contribution which social and broadcasting media can make to public health campaigns of this nature, and the value of multi-sector and inter-organisational team working

Toolkit for exploring ethical aspects of digital social and affective touch interactions

In this hands-on demonstration, people are invited to use a newly developed toolkit to scrutinize their attitude and preferences towards digital social and affective touch interactions

Toolkit for exploring ethical aspects of digital social and affective touch interactions

In this hands-on demonstration, people are invited to use a newly developed toolkit to scrutinize their attitude and preferences towards digital social and affective touch interactions