Optimizing suicide prevention programs and their implementation in Europe (OSPI Europe): an evidence-based multi-level approach

Background Suicide and non-fatal suicidal behaviour are significant public health issues in Europe requiring effective preventive interventions. However, the evidence for effective preventive strategies is scarce. The protocol of a European research project to develop an optimized evidence based program for suicide prevention is presented. Method The groundwork for this research has been established by a regional community based intervention for suicide prevention that focuses on improving awareness and care for depression performed within the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD). The EAAD intervention consists of (1) training sessions and practice support for primary care physicians,(2) public relations activities and mass media campaigns, (3) training sessions for community facilitators who serve as gatekeepers for depressed and suicidal persons in the community and treatment and (4) outreach and support for high risk and self-help groups (e.g. helplines). The intervention has been shown to be effective in reducing suicidal behaviour in an earlier study, the Nuremberg Alliance Against Depression. In the context of the current research project described in this paper (OSPI-Europe) the EAAD model is enhanced by other evidence based interventions and implemented simultaneously and in standardised way in four regions in Ireland, Portugal, Hungary and Germany. The enhanced intervention will be evaluated using a prospective controlled design with the primary outcomes being composite suicidal acts (fatal and non-fatal), and with intermediate outcomes being the effect of training programs, changes in public attitudes, guideline-consistent media reporting. In addition an analysis of the economic costs and consequences will be undertaken, while a process evaluation will monitor implementation of the interventions within the different regions with varying organisational and healthcare contexts. Discussion This multi-centre research seeks to overcome major challenges of field research in suicide prevention. It pools data from four European regions, considerably increasing the study sample, which will be close to one million. In addition, the study will gather important information concerning the potential to transfer this multilevel program to other health care systems. The results of this research will provide a basis for developing an evidence-based, efficient concept for suicide prevention for EU-member states

Increase of condylar displacement between centric relation and maximal habitual intercuspation after occlusal splint therapy Aumento do deslocamento condilar entre relação central e máxima intercuspidação habitual após terapia com placa oclusal

The present study assessed condylar displacement between initial maximal habitual intercuspation (MHI) and centric relation (CR), recorded after using a deprogramming occlusal splint for an average period of 7.8 ± 2.1 months prior to any orthodontic treatment. The sample consisted of 22 subjects, 11 male and 11 female, with an average age of 14.2 ± 1.4 years, with Class II malocclusion² and with no apparent signs or symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Condylar displacement was measured using a Panadent axis position indicator in decimal fractions of a millimeter. The original mean vertical displacements and the corresponding standard deviations were 4.24 ± 2.53 mm and 3.86 ± 2.72 mm, respectively, for the right and left sides. Because a significant negative correlation was observed between original condylar displacements and age factors, the displacement values were statistically adjusted to 2.74 ± 2.00 mm and 2.44 ± 1.93 mm. On the horizontal plane, the mean displacements measured were -0.72 ± 1.53 mm on the right side and -0.51 ± 1.98 mm on the left. The mean displacement on the transversal plane was 0.03 ± 0.87 mm. A comparison between these values and those observed in non-deprogrammed groups, as well as those published in the related literature, indicates that use of occlusal splints results in greater mean condylar displacement values, especially vertically, between CR and MHI positions, which contributed to a more accurate orthodontic diagnosis.<br>O presente estudo avaliou os deslocamentos condilares entre a máxima intercuspidação habitual (MIH) inicial e a relação central (RC), registrada após o uso de placa oclusal desprogramadora por período médio de 7,8 ± 2,1 meses antes do tratamento ortodôntico. A amostra consistiu de 22 indivíduos, 11 do gênero masculino e 11 do feminino, com média de idade de 14,2 ± 1,4 anos, com maloclusão de Classe II², sem sinais e sintomas aparentes de disfunção temporomandibular (DTM). Os deslocamentos condilares foram medidos com aproximação de décimos de milímetro, por meio do indicador de posição axial Panadent. As médias originais dos deslocamentos verticais dos lados direito e esquerdo e correspondentes desvios padrões mediram 4,24 ± 2,53 e 3,86 ± 2,72 mm, respectivamente. Devido à correlação negativa significante observada entre esses deslocamentos e os fatores relativos à idade da amostra, os mesmos foram corrigidos estatisticamente para 2,74 ± 2,00 e 2,44 ± 1,93 mm. No plano horizontal, os deslocamentos médios foram de -0,72 ± 1,53 mm no lado direito e -0,51 ± 1,98 no esquerdo. A média no plano transversal foi de 0,03 ± 0,87 mm. A comparação destes valores com aqueles observados em grupos não desprogramados e publicados na literatura indica que o uso das referidas placas resulta em deslocamentos condilares médios maiores, especialmente no sentido vertical, entre as posições de RC e de MIH, o que contribuiu para um diagnóstico ortodôntico mais preciso

Managing tooth surface loss

This chapter will emphasise the need to:Be aware that most patients diagnosed with tooth surface loss (TSL) do not need to be restored, at least in the short term, but need to be advised how best to control causative factors (e.g. extrinsic erosion, intrinsic erosion, and bruxism)Liaise with the patient's doctor to manage intrinsic erosion, e.g. gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) or bulimia. The patient must accept the risk of early failure if restorations are provided before the medical condition is controlledRecord baseline study models to monitor TSL longitudinallyImplement restorative treatment where there are major aesthetic concerns and uncontrolled dentine sensitivity or where further TSL would compromise restorabilityConsider restoring anterior teeth using composite. A large composite can later have its buccal surface covered with a ceramic veneer (sandwich technique)Be realistic about restoring posterior teeth and choose an appropriate material to cope with higher occlusal forces, particularly in bruxists. If teeth are to be crowned, patients need to be aware of the risk of pulp damage and its consequencesPlan reconstructions according to whether TSL is localised or generalised. Generalised wear is more difficult; space is created by increasing the occlusal vertical dimension