An Italian survey of opioids misuse: Epidemiological and psychopathological aspects

© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for the Study of Emerging Drugs. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Objective Opioid abuse is a worrying reality especially in the US. The increase in the prescription of opioids in Europe poses the risk of a possible increase in the number of abusers also in Italy. The aim of the study is to evaluate the abuse of opioids in the youth population and to evaluate possible correlations with some psychopathological aspects. Methods A survey, conducted from July 2019 to March 2020, about the use of opioids was spread to a group of subjects aged between 18 and 40 years. A socio-demographical investigation and psychometric scales evaluating internet game addiction, gaming online, quality of life and general psychometric features were administrated. Results Nine-hundred and thirteen subjects completed the survey. Seventeen-five subjects (8.21%) have used one opioid at least once in their lifetime. Weak correlations were found between codeine and morphine intensity of use and sleep disturbance, cigarette smoked per day, while codeine correlates with the number of coffees taken per day and somatization. Conclusion Although the data of this survey do not show high percentages of use in Italy (8.21% of the sample have used one of the listed opioids at least once in their lifetime), the correlations founded confirm the literature data already present highlighting the need for constant monitoring of this phenomenon.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Characterizing the building blocks of Problematic Use of the Internet (PUI): The role of obsessional impulses and impulsivity traits among Italian young adults

BACKGROUND: Problematic Use of the Internet (PUI) is a considerable issue of the modern era, but its risk factors are still poorly understood. Impulsivity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms have been associated with PUI, but this relationship is still debated. In this article we focus on the relationships of PUI with obsessive-compulsive and impulsive symptoms in a cohort of Italian young adults, in order to identify possible vulnerability factors for PUI.METHODS: A sample of 772 Italian individuals aged 18-30 (mean age 23.3±3.3years old; 38% males and 62% females) was assessed via online survey using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) Screen, the Padua Inventory-Washington State University Revision (PI-WSUR) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11).RESULTS: Ninety-seven subjects (12.6% of the sample) reported IAT scores at risk for PUI. PUI participants reported higher levels of impulsivity, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and a higher burden of co-occurrent psychiatric symptoms. In a logistic regression model, obsessional impulses to harm (OR =1.108, p<0.001), attentional impulsivity (OR=1.155, p<0.001) and depressive symptomatology (OR=1.246, p=0.012) had significant association with PUI. Finally, higher severity of PUI has been associated with manic/psychotic symptoms and with attentional impulsivity.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirmed the role of impulsivity in PUI, while also underling the association of obsessional impulses with this pathological behavior. We could hypothesize a trigger role of obsessive impulses for the engagement in PUI, together with factors as negative affective states. Further research is needed with respect to more severe forms of PUI, also for establishing tailored interventions

Autobiographical memory in contact tracing: evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionThe recent COVID-19 pandemic has compelled various governments to trace all contacts of a confirmed case, as well as to identify the locations visited by infected individuals. This task, that requires the activation of our autobiographical memories, can make a difference in the spread of the contagion and was based primarily on telephone interviews with infected people. In this study, we examined whether participants were able to provide contact tracing information and whether their memories were influenced by salient events occurring during the initial phases of the pandemic.MethodsParticipants were asked to fill in an online standardized form in which they recounted every day of the 2 weeks before, reporting as much information as possible. The time period selected included, among other things, the day on which the Italian government issued the decree initiating the COVID-19 lockdown. The task was completed twice, the first time relying solely on their memory, and the second time using external aids (diaries, mobile phones etc.). Reports were then coded using a scheme that segmented accounts into informational details, divided into two broad categories, internal and external.ResultsOur findings showed that (i) the use of external aids was effective only when participants had to recall the day furthest away or if to-be-recalled events have low distinctiveness, and (ii) memories of internal details were recalled better than memories of external details. Participants were overall accurate and reported a large amount of information about people and places. However, because of the connection with key pandemic-related events, the effect was somewhat stronger on specific days (e.g., the day in which the lockdown was announced).DiscussionThe results of this work could provide a useful tool for improving the design of contact tracing procedures in the event of an unwanted future public health crisis caused by a highly infectious agent

Variability in genes regulating vitamin D metabolism is associated with vitamin D levels in type 2 diabetes

Mortality rate is increased in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Low vitamin D levels are associated with increased mortality risk in T2D. In the general population, genetic variants affecting vitamin D metabolism (DHCR7 rs12785878, CYP2R1 rs10741657, GC rs4588) have been associated with serum vitamin D. We studied the association of these variants with serum vitamin D in 2163 patients with T2D from the "Sapienza University Mortality and Morbidity Event Rate (SUMMER) study in diabetes". Measurements of serum vitamin D were centralised. Genotypes were obtained by Eco™ Real-Time PCR. Data were adjusted for gender, age, BMI, HbA1c, T2D therapy and sampling season. DHCR7 rs12785878 (p = 1 x 10-4) and GC rs4588 (p = 1 x 10-6) but not CYP2R1 rs10741657 (p = 0.31) were significantly associated with vitamin D levels. One unit of a weighted genotype risk score (GRS) was strongly associated with vitamin D levels (p = 1.1 x 10-11) and insufficiency (<30 ng/ml) (OR, 95%CI = 1.28, 1.16-1.41, p = 1.1 x 10-7). In conclusion, DHCR7 rs12785878 and GC rs4588, but not CYP2R1 rs10741657, are significantly associated with vitamin D levels. When the 3 variants were considered together as GRS, a strong association with vitamin D levels and vitamin D insufficiency was observed, thus providing robust evidence that genes involved in vitamin D metabolism modulate serum vitamin D in T2D

Tolerability and efficacy of vortioxetine versus SSRIs in elderly with major depression. Study protocol of the VESPA study: a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, parallel-group, superiority, randomized trial

Depression is a highly prevalent condition in the elderly, with a vast impact on quality of life, life expectancy, and medical outcomes. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed agents in this condition and, although generally safe, tolerability issues cannot be overlooked. Vortioxetine is an antidepressant with a novel mechanism of action. Based on studies to date, it may have a promising tolerability profile in the elderly, as it does not adversely affect psychomotor or cognitive performance and does not alter cardiovascular and endocrine parameters. The present study aims to assess the tolerability profile of vortioxetine in comparison with the SSRIs considered as a single group in elderly participants with depression. The rate of participants withdrawing from treatment due to adverse events after 6 months of follow up will be the primary outcome

Slégami Open Access - Manuale d'uso per ricercatori

Il seguente documento nasce nell’ambito delle attività svolte dal Gruppo di Lavoro (GdL) APRE dedicato al tema dell’Open Science e si sviluppa come un manuale d’uso per i ricercatori, con specifico riguardo all’Open Access e all’Open Data. La sua redazione ha coinvolto attivamente tutti i membri del GdL, i cui membri sono rappresentanti delle biblioteche e degli uffici di supporto alla ricerca di diverse università e centri di ricerca italiani (è possibile consultare la lista dei partecipanti nell’ultima pagina di questo documento). Il lavoro è un aggiornamento del manuale originariamente pubblicato nel 2019 e la cui prima edizione era il risultato di un lavoro svolto in 3 fasi: 1) un’iniziale raccolta delle domande più comuni poste dai ricercatori presso le strutture di supporto (siano esse biblioteche o uffici di supporto alla ricerca) degli enti partecipanti in materia di Open Access e Open Data; 2) una fase di consolidamento e classificazione delle domande raccolte in 6 categorie; 3) un’ultima fase di redazione, da parte di alcuni membri del GdL, delle risposte alle domande poste e successivamente emendate a più riprese dall’intero gruppo. Nel 2021 il GdL si è riunito nuovamente per lavorare ad un aggiornamento del manuale in ottica Horizon Europe. Seguendo lo stesso schema di lavoro in 3 fasi (raccolta, classificazione ed elaborazione), il gruppo ha identificato 76 domande aggiuntive rispetto al documento originale, le quali a loro volta sono state successivamente raggruppate e classificate in 10 categorie

Evolution of forensic psychiatry in Italy over the past 40 years (1978-2018)

In Italy, following the closure of psychiatric hospitals in 1978 and the release of psychiatric patients into community care, there was a mismatch between common psychiatric patients and the convicted mentally ill who were sentenced to serve in state forensic psychiatric hospitals. The recent closure of such structures following the Prime Minister's Decree of April 1, 2008, fostered the need to create new structures. These are called “REMS,” and they are based in the community and led by psychiatrists and healthcare staff who may rely on the collaboration of public security staff. This act completed a course of progressive deinstitutionalization of all psychiatric patients. However, some problems remain, and persons regarded as “partially mentally disabled” at the time of crime perpetration must serve part of their sentence in prison and the rest in the aforementioned structures or in psychiatric rehabilitation communities, depending on their claimed “social dangerousness.” Psychiatric services now face the ambiguity of treating persons who are considered dangerous by court orders, while the civil law criteria for involuntary hospitalization is based only on the need of care. The complete closure of forensic hospitals may be considered a decisive step forward in the humanization of society, but there are still some issues to address to make it work better. The implementation of multidisciplinary teams and effective psychotherapy, psychoeducational, and rehabilitation interventions can help

COVID-19: parental vaccine hesitancy and misinformation in Italy

According to the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), vaccine hesitancy can be defined as the “delayed acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite the availability of vaccination services” (MacDonald, 2015) and it is one of the top 10 global health threats (WHO, 2019). From January 2021, the Italian Government implemented a vaccination program aiming at vaccinating most of the population (Bloom et al., 2020). It is important to point out that, following a general decrease in adherence to vaccination programs in Italy, in July 2017 the Parliament issued an ad-hoc decree law (n.119/2017), introducing compulsory vaccinations for infants and recommending their exclusion from nursery schools if not vaccinated. A controversy ensued, as a no-vax movement emerged to oppose to the new law and dispute its compliance with the Italian Constitution. The movement continued to develop during the COVID-19 pandemic, and anti-vax groups proliferated, particularly in the northern regions of the country (Moscardino et al., 2022). A crucial factor influencing vaccine hesitancy is the dissemination of false, misleading information, such as the proliferation of anti-Vax groups on social media (Johnson et al., 2020). A recent study found that belief in misinformation was associated with lower intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 across 40 countries (Singh et al., Santirocchi et al., 2022). The present study investigates the factors influencing parents' hesitation to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. It aims to: 1) examine whether there are differences in the willingness to vaccinate children of different ages; 2) assess the role of exposure to fake news as a variable that could reduce the willingness to vaccinate one's children and receive the fourth dose. Method: A questionnaire assessing disinformation and vaccine availability towards children was prepared using Google Forms and disseminated to parents through different social media. All data were collected between 5th February and 5th June 2022 and is from an empirical study. We collected 100 participants. Results: We performed a one-way ANOVA with “child age” (18-15, 14-12, 11-5) as the independent variable and “availability” as the dependent variable. The results showed a significant difference between the three groups [F(2,97)=15.38, p<0.01]. Post hoc analysis revealed that the parents of the 15-18 group showed significantly lower availability compared to parents of the 12-14 group and of the 5-11 group. A negative correlation [r(98)=-0.35, p<0.001] emerged between belief of misinformation and availability to vaccinate children, showing that higher levels of misinformation are associated to higher hesitancy. Conclusions: High rates of parental hesitancy towards adolescents could be driven by a combination of low perception of infection susceptibility and higher protective behaviours aiming at exerting control (Musa et al., 2021). Furthermore, the results of our study highlight the danger of the “infodemic” the population is experiencing. In a historical period characterized by the fight against COVID-19, it is evident how fake news can undermine the population's choices on vaccines. We therefore consider it useful that strategies are developed to counteract misinformation and provide the appropriate means for the population to recognize them

Influence of body composition and fat distribution on bone mineral density in elderly Italian women

Introduction: There is now a substantial body of evidence indicating that bone mass is related to fat mass. However the relationships between body composition, fat distribution, bone mass and bone turnover markers still remain controversial. This study aimed to investigate the relative contribution of body composition and fat distribution to bone mass in a large cohort of elderly women. Methods: We studied 939 postmenopausal women (65.5 ± 11.1 years) living in the area of Siena (Italy). In all patients BMD was assessed at lumbar spine (BMD-LS), at femoral neck (BMD-FN) and at total femur (BMD-TF). Whole body mineral content (BMC), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), android fat (AF), ginoid fat (GF) and bone mineral density (BMD-WB) were assessed by using a DXA device (Lunar GE). In all we measured 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), bone alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and carboxy- terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX). Results: After adjusting for body weight GF showed inverse association with BMD-FN (P <0.01), BMD-TF (P < 0.05), BMD-LS (P = 0.06) and BMD-WB (P < 0.05). No significant correlations were found between AF and BMD. Moreover LM was significantly correlated with BMD at all skeletal sites (P < 0.05) and in particular with BMD-FN (r = 0.21 P < 0.001). PTH was positively correlated with FM (P < 0.01) and AF (P < 0.05), but not with GF and LM. Conclusion: Our results suggest that adiposity, after controlling for body weight is inversely correlated with BMD, whereas LM showed positive effects on BMD. The negative influence of fat on bone may be influenced by PTH