32 research outputs found
THE SEXUALITY OF SEX WORKERS: SEXUAL AROUSABILITY AND THE SEXUAL PROFILE OF WOMEN ENGAGED IN PROSTITUTION IN SERBIA
Background: In a view of sex work being a sexual behavioural activity, the main objective of our research was to explore the
sexuality of sex workers in Serbia regarding to intensity of their sexual arousability.
Subjects and methods: The research was conducted on 30 sex workers and 30 controls of randomly selected social and
demographic characteristics, without any signs of psychiatric morbidity. For the evaluation of the intensity of sexual arousability,
SAI (Sexual Arousability Index) questionnaire was used.
Results: The analysis of the main total scores of the SAI for the sex workers and control participants showed no statistically
significant difference in the overall intensity of arousability (p>0.05). However, item by item analysis of the questionnaire showed qualitative difference in sexuality between sex workers and controls, related to certain aspects of sexuality.
Conclusions: These findings allow the space for further research in the way of identifying origins of qualitative issues in the
sexual profile of sex workers, in correlation to women who are not sex workers, i.e. whether they had been result of potential
biological, specific psychodynamic factors, or have been formed as a result of the direct influence of the sex work
THE SEXUALITY OF SEX WORKERS: SEXUAL AROUSABILITY AND THE SEXUAL PROFILE OF WOMEN ENGAGED IN PROSTITUTION IN SERBIA
Background: In a view of sex work being a sexual behavioural activity, the main objective of our research was to explore the
sexuality of sex workers in Serbia regarding to intensity of their sexual arousability.
Subjects and methods: The research was conducted on 30 sex workers and 30 controls of randomly selected social and
demographic characteristics, without any signs of psychiatric morbidity. For the evaluation of the intensity of sexual arousability,
SAI (Sexual Arousability Index) questionnaire was used.
Results: The analysis of the main total scores of the SAI for the sex workers and control participants showed no statistically
significant difference in the overall intensity of arousability (p>0.05). However, item by item analysis of the questionnaire showed qualitative difference in sexuality between sex workers and controls, related to certain aspects of sexuality.
Conclusions: These findings allow the space for further research in the way of identifying origins of qualitative issues in the
sexual profile of sex workers, in correlation to women who are not sex workers, i.e. whether they had been result of potential
biological, specific psychodynamic factors, or have been formed as a result of the direct influence of the sex work
Histamine Blood Concentration in Ischemic Heart Disease Patients
The aim of this study was to investigate histamine blood concentration in subjects suffering from different types of ischemic heart diseases during the period of eight days. Our results showed that the histamine blood level was associated with different types of ischemic heart diseases. The blood histamine level in all investigated patients was significantly higher when compared to control subjects (44.87 ± 1.09 ng mL−1), indicating the increase of histamine release in patients suffering from coronary diseases. In patients suffering from ACS-UA and ACS-STEMI, the second day peak of histamine level occurs (90.85 ± 6.34 ng mL−1 and 121.7 ± 6.34 ng mL−1, resp.) probably as the reperfusion event. Furthermore, our data suggest that histamine can be additional parameter of myocardial ischemia along with cardiac specific enzymes and may prove to be an excellent single prognostic marker for multitude of ischemic heart diseases
NUMBERS OF EARLY CAREER PSYCHIATRISTS VARY MARKEDLY AMONG EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
In the field of psychiatry the decline of recruitment and brain-drain are currently one of the most discussed topics among
stakeholders on national and European level. Even though comprehensive data on psychiatric training in Europe have been already
reported, no data are available on even the approximate number of early career psychiatrists (ECPs). With this objective in mind,
the Early Career Psychiatrists Committee of the European Psychiatric Association (EPAECPC) and the European Federation of
Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) have undertaken a survey. Based on the methodology used, the total number of ECPs in all European
countries was 46 144 with the average number of ECPs being 5.5/100 000 country inhabitants. The actual numbers in this respect
varied greatly among countries from 0.4 and 0.6 ECPs/100 000 in Azerbaijan resp. Russia; to 20.4 and 28.4 ECPs/100 000 in Norway
resp. Switzerland. An obvious East-West gradient with increasing numbers of ECPs when moving from East to West, and from South to
North were found, mirroring the economic strength of European countries. This is the first study to specifically explore the number of
ECPs across Europe which might have key implications for planning and establishing recruitment activities and for developing
strategies for prevention of brain-drain, such as improvement of educational system and enlargement of professional opportunities
SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-6 AND TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-ALPHA IN EXACERBATION AND REMISSION PHASE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
Background: The variations in proinflamatory cytokine levels have been associated with schizophrenia (SCH), duration of illness,
psychopathology and treatment. The aim of the study was to investigate serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factoralpha
(TNF-α) in schizophrenic patients during exacerbation and remission, and its association with course of illness and therapy.
Subjects and methods: We measured serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in 43 schizophrenic patients in exacerbation and remission
and compared them to 29 healthy controls, matched by sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and smoking habits. The severity of
psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
Results: There was no difference in levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in exacerbation compared to remission in schizophrenic patients.
IL-6 was higher and TNF-α was lower in schizophrenic patients in both exacerbation and remission in comparison with healthy
controls. TNF-α in exacerbation was in negative correlation with IL-6 in remission. No statistical significance was found between
levels of cytokines and sex, age, BMI, smoking habits, antipsychotic medication, duration of treatment and duration of illness. IL-6
levels were in positive correlation with the age of onset and the duration of untreated psychosis. In schizophrenic patients on
adjunctive treatment with mood stabilizers, TNF-α levels increased in remission.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that the connection between schizophrenia, cytokines and medication is multifaceted, and not
necessarily linear. Adjunct mood stabilizers not only ameliorate psychopathology, but might convey immunomodulatory effects as
well. Further longitudinal studies could elucidate potential beneficial effect of combined therapy in treatment of SCH
Barriers and facilitators to conducting research by early career psychiatrists: a literature review
n/
Variations in seasonal solar insolation are associated with a history of suicide attempts in bipolar I disorder
Background: Bipolar disorder is associated with circadian disruption and a high risk of suicidal behavior. In a previous exploratory study of patients with bipolar I disorder, we found that a history of suicide attempts was associated with differences between winter and summer levels of solar insolation. The purpose of this study was to confirm this finding using international data from 42% more collection sites and 25% more countries. Methods: Data analyzed were from 71 prior and new collection sites in 40 countries at a wide range of latitudes. The analysis included 4876 patients with bipolar I disorder, 45% more data than previously analyzed. Of the patients, 1496 (30.7%) had a history of suicide attempt. Solar insolation data, the amount of the sun’s electromagnetic energy striking the surface of the earth, was obtained for each onset location (479 locations in 64 countries). Results: This analysis confirmed the results of the exploratory study with the same best model and slightly better statistical significance. There was a significant inverse association between a history of suicide attempts and the ratio of mean winter insolation to mean summer insolation (mean winter insolation/mean summer insolation). This ratio is largest near the equator which has little change in solar insolation over the year, and smallest near the poles where the winter insolation is very small compared to the summer insolation. Other variables in the model associated with an increased risk of suicide attempts were a history of alcohol or substance abuse, female gender, and younger birth cohort. The winter/summer insolation ratio was also replaced with the ratio of minimum mean monthly insolation to the maximum mean monthly insolation to accommodate insolation patterns in the tropics, and nearly identical results were found. All estimated coefficients were significant at p < 0.01. Conclusion: A large change in solar insolation, both between winter and summer and between the minimum and maximum monthly values, may increase the risk of suicide attempts in bipolar I disorder. With frequent circadian rhythm dysfunction and suicidal behavior in bipolar disorder, greater understanding of the optimal roles of daylight and electric lighting in circadian entrainment is needed