Psychological and psychopathological sequelae in cardiovascular acute disease

The burden of mental illness is profound and growing. Each year, almost one in three adults in the non-institutionalized community has a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder, and this figure climbs to approximately 40% among emergency departments patients. We described the principal cardiovascular acute disease and their emotional and behavioral consequences where psychological intervention could improve the care pathway and clinical outcome. Peer-reviewed articles from Medline, Psycinfo, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane library, about psychological and psychopathological sequelae in cardiovascular acute disease were searched. The psychological and psychopathological sequelae associated to stroke include emotional and behavioral changes and cognitive impairment. Fear, symptoms of depression, anxiety or specific post-traumatic symptoms like intrusions, hyper-arousal and/or cognitive avoidance are common in people suffering of cardiovascular acute disease treated at emergency departments. In emergency departments, health personnel must recognize psychological and psychopathological sequelae in cardiovascular acute disease in order to develop effective interventions for these patients. Identify factors that are associated with both psychological distress and physical distress and promote interventions aimed at reducing psychological distress and improving psychological health empowerment is an important element to consider in order to offer the best care to vulnerable population as that suffering of cardiovascular acute disease

Common predictors of smoking cessation in clinical practice

SummaryAlthough smoking cessation is clearly beneficial, many smokers respond poorly to smoking cessation efforts with rather disappointing overall success rate of long-term abstinence. The perceived lack of effectiveness of smoking cessation may well influence how physicians set their priorities with regard to an effective use of their consultation time. Negative beliefs and attitudes can be resolved by advancing the general understanding of the natural history of quitting, by making sensible use of smoking cessation services, and by being aware of the correct use of drugs for nicotine dependence when prescribed. In particular, a better understanding of predictors of success in smoking cessation can help physicians in id entifying smokers who stand a fair chance of quitting. The purpose of the present article is to review those predictors of smoking cessation that can be of help in routine clinical consultation

I crimini nelle sette sataniche: un’analisi “sistemica” della scena del crimine

Le fondamenta di ogni attività investigativa relativa ad un delitto si trovano nell’analisi della scena del crimine ovvero nel sopralluogo. E’ da lì che si parte con le indagini ed è lì che, eccetto casi particolari, si nascondono i dettagli che possono contribuire all’individuazione dell’autore del reato. L’obiettivo di questa trattazione è quello di porre in evidenza la necessità di adottare una prospettiva diversa nell’analisi della scena del crimine, specie per quanto riguarda i crimini di stampo occultista. Bisogna necessariamente abbandonare ogni tipo di analisi che tenda a scomporre gli eventi e gli elementi presenti sulla scena del crimine e adottare una prospettiva che unisca, che guardi al tutto per comprenderne le parti, una prospettiva, dunque, di tipo sistemico. Les bases de chaque enquête criminelle sont dans l’analyse de la scène de crime, c’est-à-dire l’inspection. L’objectif de cet article est de mettre en évidence la nécessité d’adopter une perspective différente pour analyser la scène du crime, en particulier pour des crimes liés aux sectes sataniques. Dans ces cas, il est nécessaire d’abandonner toutes les analyses qui visent à morceler les événements et les éléments de la scène de crime. En revanche, il faut adopter une perspective systémique qui examine le tout et les parties en les considérant dans leur ensemble. The first step in any background investigation related to a crime may be found in crime scene analysis, or rather in the inspection. The goal of this article is to highlight the need to adopt a different approach in crime scene analysis particularly for crimes linked to satanic cults. In these cases, we need to give up any analysis aimed at breaking up all the events and elements of the crime scene; a systemic perspective looking at all parts must be adopted in order to combine them and to understand each of these

Well-being and harm reduction, the consolidated reality of electronic cigarettes ten years later from this emerging phenomenon: A narrative review

Tobacco use is the greatest threat to public health worldwide, killing more than seven million people annually. This paper, about 10 years after the first review on electronic cigarettes, analyses the evolution that this tool has had in these years. It concludes with comments on the significance of the research and why it constitutes an original contribution. We searched PubMed (National Library of Medicine), and PsycINFO (Ovid) (2006-2020) for studies on e-cigarettes (harms and benefits, e-cigarette use, craving and smoking cessation) and smoking cessation treatment (smoking cessation treatment or varenicline or tobacco cessation or reduction or bupropion or NRT or behavioral treatment or ecigarette) and evidence suggests that they may effective as smoking cessation tool and may be less harmful alternatives to combustible cigarette smoking. Consequently, e-cigarettes could be considered as an applicable instrument for Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) and smoking cessation

Efficacy of smoking cessation with varenicline plus counselling for e-cigarettes users (VAREVAPE): A protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Tobacco smoking is a global pandemic that poses substantial health burdens and costs. With nearly six million deaths annually, smoking is the single most important cause of avoidable premature mortality in the world, mainly from lung cancer, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and stroke. Smoking is a very difficult addiction to break, even for those with a strong desire to quit. Electronic cigarettes are an attractive long-term alternative source of nicotine to conventional cigarettes because of their many similarities with smoking. Electronic cigarette users report buying them to reduce cigarette consumption, to relieve tobacco withdrawal symptoms, to quit, and to continue having a ‘smoking’ experience, but with reduced health risks. Actually, there aren't antismoking treatments for people who smoke only electronic cigarette (single users) or electronic cigarette and classic cigarette (dual users). There isn't any specific information on the efficacy and safety of new pharmacological support for electronic cigarette users. We propose that smoking cessation with varenicline plus counselling delivered to electronic cigarette users could be associated with similar smoking abstinence rates compared to the results obtained in the general population. Herein, we describe the methodology of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, of 24 weeks duration, that examines the efficacy of varenicline (1 mg BID - for 12 weeks) plus counselling compared to matched placebo (1 mg BID - for 12 weeks) plus counselling

Approved and emerging smoking cessation treatments for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A narrative review

This review focuses on smoking cessation treatments for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. It concludes with comments on the significance of the research and why it constitutes an original contribution. We searched PubMed (National Library of Medicine), and PsycINFO (Ovid) (2006-2020) for studies on schizophrenic disorder (schizophrenia or psychotic or psychosis or severe mental illness) and smoking cessation treatment (smoking cessation treatment or varenicline or tobacco cessation or reduction or bupropion or NRT or behavioral treatment or e-cigarette). Studies found evidence suggesting that pharmacotherapy combined with behavioural therapy for smoking cessation is effective amongst smokers with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, although more long-term research is required. This review summarised and critically reviewed also studies on vaping as a smoking cessation strategy for smokers with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and evidence suggests that they may effective as smoking cessation tool and may be less harmful alternatives to combustible cigarette smoking. Consequently, e-cigarettes could be considered as an applicable instrument for Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) and smoking cessation. Overall, there are very few studies of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation in patients with schizophrenia and these studies are very small. They have promising results, but more research is needed

Analysis of E-cigarette use in the 2014 Eurobarometer survey: calling out deficiencies in epidemiology methods

First paragraph: Smoking is a difficult addiction to break with many smokers persisting in tobacco use for numerous years, and typically cycling through multiple periods of remission and relapse. Yet, while smoking cessation may be the most desirable final outcome, substitution of conventional cigarettes by alternative non-combusted forms of nicotine delivery, such as electronic cigarettes (ECs), is now a realistic compromise that is likely to eliminate or substantially reduce exposure to tobacco smoke toxicants

Tobacco smoking, related harm and motivation to quit smoking in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

This narrative review focuses on the topic of tobacco smoking amongst people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. We searched PubMed, PsycInfo and Scopus databases for schizophrenia spectrum disorders and smoking and included articles about the epidemiology of tobacco smoking in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, examining the relationship between smoking and mental health. This narrative review describes that a higher prevalence, frequency and impact of both high nicotine dependence and its harmful effects in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders compared with those in the general population. Despite several existent theories, the reasons for high smoking rates, the high dependence on nicotine and severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms are not fully understood. The main aim of this paper is to inform mental health personnel and particularly clinical and health psychologists about the impact and role of tobacco smoking for smokers with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Training pharmacists in the stage-of-change model of smoking cessation and motivational interviewing: A randomized controlled trial

This study evaluated the effect of training pharmacists in the stage-of-change model for smoking cessation and motivational interviewing on smoking cessation outcomes. A training based on the stage-of-change model for smoking cessation and motivational interviewing was introduced to pharmacists. Pharmacists were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The control group attended a 3-hour training session, whereas the intervention group also attended a further 6-hour training session. At week 24, 12.2 percent of the smokers quit smoking in the intervention group, whereas 1.6 percent of the smokers quit smoking in the control group. The findings of this study showed that training pharmacists, in the stage-of-change model for smoking cessation and motivational interviewing, improves smoking reduction and cessation rates

Quality of life, work motivation, burn-out and stress perceptions benefits of a stress management program by autogenic training for emergency room staff: A pilot study

Emergency room have particularly stressful work situations. Emergency room personnel cope with stressors on a daily basis. These stressors can be risks factor for burn out and for reduced quality of life and work motivation. Emergency room staff of one of ASP 3 CT urban hospital in Acireale, Italy participated to stress management program by autogenic training twice a month for 16 weeks. This program were prepared based on existing research and studies, and were conducted by clinical psychologists. We found that the mean value in pre-test is significantly different from mean value in post-test for: Perceived Stress Scale PPS (t=7.72 with 27 df and