Ten-year course of treated bipolar I disorder: The role of polarity at onset

Introduction: Early-stage predictors of illness course are needed in bipolar disorder (BD). Differences among patients with a first depressive versus maniac/hypomanic episode have been stated, although in most studies, memory bias and time from onset to start of specialized treatment might interfere. The aim was to compare the first 10 years of illness course according to polarity at onset. Methods: 49 type I BD patients admitted for treatment for a first-time affective episode and a following 10-year attendance to the institution were included. A retrospective year by year comparison according to polarity at onset (depressive (DPO) or maniac (MPO)) was performed. Cramer's V and Cohen d were computed to determine effect size. Results: 59.2% (n = 29) started with MPO. Both groups were similar in demographic and social outcome characteristics, clinical features, and treatment variables. Patients with DPO reported more depressive episodes than MPO patients (U = 149.0 p < .001, Cohen's d = 0.87); both groups had a similar number of manic episodes. Only during the first year of follow-up, suicide attempts (SA) were more frequent in patients with DPO while the presence of a psychotic episode and psychiatric hospitalizations were more frequent in the MPO group. Conclusion: According to these findings, it can be concluded that illness onset is only indicative of depressive predominant polarity but is not related to other poor prognostic variables after the first year of illness onset, in treated BD. SA in the first year of an affective disorder could represent a marker of BD

A better way of life: The role of leisure activities on self-perceived health, perceived stress, confidence in stress management, and satisfaction with social support in psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees in Mexico

BackgroundPsychiatrists are at high risk of developing burnout and mental health problems mainly due to their emotionally demanding jobs, difficult working conditions, long working hours, and poor work-life balance. As leisure activities are associated with better physical and mental health, engaging in these activities has been recommended as a measure to improve the wellbeing of healthcare workers. However, it is unclear the extent of which psychiatrists and trainees are involved in leisure activities, what type of activities they prefer, or how these impact their self-perceived health, stress, confidence in stress management, and satisfaction with their social support.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify differences in self-perceived health, perceived stress, confidence in stress management, and satisfaction with social support, between psychiatrists and trainees who engage in different leisure activities, compared with those who do not.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study, including Mexican psychiatrists (n = 355) and trainees (n = 330) who agreed to participate through an online survey.Results73.1% of participants engaged in some leisure activity, being solitary-passive activities the most reported. Those who have a leisure activity reported lower stress, greater confidence in stress management, and more satisfaction with their social support. Passive-solitary activities were associated with less perceived stress and better confidence in stress management, while active-solitary and social activities were associated with better satisfaction with social support.ConclusionPsychiatrists' and trainees' wellbeing benefits from engagement in leisure activities, which should be part of their daily schedules to reduce stress, and potentially improve their mental health

Efecto del pramipexol sobre la cognición en pacientes con esquizofrenia tratados con haloperidol :un ensayo clínico controlado

Ciencias Médica

Table_1_A better way of life: The role of leisure activities on self-perceived health, perceived stress, confidence in stress management, and satisfaction with social support in psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees in Mexico.PDF

BackgroundPsychiatrists are at high risk of developing burnout and mental health problems mainly due to their emotionally demanding jobs, difficult working conditions, long working hours, and poor work-life balance. As leisure activities are associated with better physical and mental health, engaging in these activities has been recommended as a measure to improve the wellbeing of healthcare workers. However, it is unclear the extent of which psychiatrists and trainees are involved in leisure activities, what type of activities they prefer, or how these impact their self-perceived health, stress, confidence in stress management, and satisfaction with their social support.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify differences in self-perceived health, perceived stress, confidence in stress management, and satisfaction with social support, between psychiatrists and trainees who engage in different leisure activities, compared with those who do not.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study, including Mexican psychiatrists (n = 355) and trainees (n = 330) who agreed to participate through an online survey.Results73.1% of participants engaged in some leisure activity, being solitary-passive activities the most reported. Those who have a leisure activity reported lower stress, greater confidence in stress management, and more satisfaction with their social support. Passive-solitary activities were associated with less perceived stress and better confidence in stress management, while active-solitary and social activities were associated with better satisfaction with social support.ConclusionPsychiatrists' and trainees' wellbeing benefits from engagement in leisure activities, which should be part of their daily schedules to reduce stress, and potentially improve their mental health.</p