249 research outputs found
Socioâemotional, cognitive, affective disorders and substance use in a sample of students in firstâ and secondâgrade high school in Italy: A comparison among students', parents', and teachers' perceptions
Abstract
The closure of schools, social hubs, and extracurricular
activities due to lockdown measures imposed to curb the
spread of SARSâCoVâ2, has increased the risk factors
for students' mental health. This crossâsectional study,
conducted from March 2020 to March 2021, aimed to
estimate socioâemotional, cognitive, and affective disorders
and substance use in a sample of firstâ and secondâgrade
high school students in Northern Italy. This study compared
data from 284 Italian students' selfâperceptions along with
the perceptions of their parents and teachers through a
webâbased survey. The differences in the perceptions of
the three groups (students, parents, and teachers) were
analyzed using an analysis of variance test, applying a
Bonferroni correction. The Ï
2 test was used to assess the
comparison between students, parents, and teachers in the
substance use questions. The results showed statistically
significant differences among the three groups. The most
important outcomes were sociality, scholastic performance,
extracurricular activity, emotional symptoms, affective
disorders (depression and anxiety), and substance use.
These findings could be interesting for the promotion of
mental health and prevention of psychopathological risks in
students
Loneliness, affective disorders, suicidal ideation, and the use of psychoactive substances in a sample of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
Abstract
Problem: The global coronavirus (COVIDâ19) pandemic has been challenging for
adolescents. Indeed, with the closure of schools and social centers and reduction of
extracurricular activities, increased social isolation has compounded difficulties in
and with school performance, loneliness, and social networking. Increased risk of
mental health problems, substance abuse, affective disorders, suicidal ideation, and
suicide has been reported in adolescents.
Methods: This crossâsectional study assesses the association between loneliness,
depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, the use of social networks, and school
achievement in a sample of Italian adolescents during the COVIDâ19 pandemic. This
study also explores emotional dysregulation through the association between
affective disorders (depression and anxiety), substance use, and social networks.
The sample comprises adolescents in the first and second grades of high school
during the pandemic; participants received an email explaining the purpose of the
eâresearch. Data were collected using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire,
the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment, and the Loneliness Scale.
Findings: A total of 505 adolescents completed the web survey. Data revealed that
students experienced difficulties with loneliness, problems with school achievement,
and extracurricular activities. The mean scores for depression and anxiety were close
to the borderline range. A total of 14.3% of adolescents intentionally harmed
themselves or attempted suicide.
Conclusions: This study raises concerns about the impacts of the pandemic on
adolescents that require the attention of adult reference figures who deal with
adolescents, such as parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals. Results indicate
the necessity of providing early interventions aimed at the prevention of psychopathol ogies and the promotion of adolescent mental health due to the pandemic
Digital health for chronic disease management: An exploratory method to investigating technology adoption potential
INTRODUCTION
The availability of consumer-facing health technologies for chronic disease management is skyrocketing, yet most are limited by low adoption rates. Improving adoption requires a better understanding of a target population's previous exposure to technology. We propose a low-resource approach of capturing and clustering technology exposure, as a mean to better understand patients and target health technologies.
METHODS
Using Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as a case study, we applied exploratory multivariate factorial analyses to survey data from the Swiss MS Registry. We calculated individual-level factor scorings, aiming to investigate possible technology adoption clusters with similar digital behavior patterns. The resulting clusters were transformed using radar and then compared across sociodemographic and health status characteristics.
RESULTS
Our analysis included data from 990 respondents, resulting in three clusters, which we defined as the (1) average users, (2) health-interested users, and (3) low frequency users. The average user uses consumer-facing technology regularly, mainly for daily, regular activities and less so for health-related purposes. The health-interested user also uses technology regularly, for daily activities as well as health-related purposes. The low-frequency user uses technology infrequently.
CONCLUSIONS
Only about 10% of our sample has been regularly using (adopting) consumer-facing technology for MS and health-related purposes. That might indicate that many of the current consumer-facing technologies for MS are only attractive to a small proportion of patients. The relatively low-resource exploratory analyses proposed here may allow for a better characterization of prospective user populations and ultimately, future patient-facing technologies that will be targeted to a broader audience
Fatigue, sleepiness and depression in multiple sclerosis: defining the overlaps for a better phenotyping.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
To define the boundaries and the overlaps between fatigue, sleepiness and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by using different tools for each dimension, including instrumental sleep analysis.
METHODS
In this cross-sectional, observational study, 71 MS patients (males/females: 20/51; mean age: 48.9â±â10.5 years) filled in clinical questionnaires and performed polysomnography followed by maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT). Frequency and reciprocal overlap of sleepiness, fatigue and depression in MS were expressed by Eulero-Venn diagrams; standard multiple regression was used to assess the ability of symptoms to predict each other.
RESULTS
There was a high percentage of fatigued (70%), somnolent (45%) and depressed (27%) patients. Fatigue had the strongest overlap and correlated with both depression (beta: 0.52, pâ<â0.001) and sleepiness (beta: 0.74, pâ<â0.001). Somnolence and depression were nearly always accompanied by fatigue and were well differentiated from each other by MWT. Four MS subgroups were identified that had: (1) fatigue only; (2) fatigue and sleepiness (3) fatigue and depression; (4) fatigue, sleepiness and depression.
DISCUSSION
The subjective and objective tools are not able to clearly distinguish fatigue from sleepiness and depression, while only a test of vigilance can be helpful in separating somnolence and depression from each other
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Treatment satisfaction, adherence and behavioral assessment in patients de â escalating from natalizumab to interferon beta
Background: De-escalating natalizumab (NTZ) to interferon beta 1b (IFN B 1B) is a possible treatment option in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients interrupting NTZ because of increased risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The aim of this study was to evaluate satisfaction and adherence to treatment, behavioral and fatigue changes in patients switched to IFN B 1B compared to continued NTZ treatment. Methods: A 1 year, prospective, randomized, rater-blinded, parallel-group study. Nineteen relapsing remitting (RR) MS patients, randomly assigned to undergo either NTZ (n = 10) or IFN B 1B (n = 9) treatment, who had previously received NTZ for at least 12 months with disease stability and fearing or at risk for PML were included. Patients underwent behavioral and treatment assessments at baseline, after 24-week and 1 year follow-up. Behavioral assessment included measures of cognition, fatigue and quality of life. Treatment assessment included measures of satisfaction, persistence and adherence to treatment. Clinical-radiological disease activity and safety were also assessed. Results: Baseline characteristics of patients were similar between groups except for Euro Quality Visual Analogue Scale, being higher in the NTZ group (p = 0.04). Within-group comparisons at the three time points, as well as interaction analysis of treatment effect over time did not show any statistically significant differences in behavioral or treatment assessments, but a coherent trend favoring NTZ over IFN B 1B. Conclusions: De-escalating NTZ to IFN B 1B is feasible and associated with overall good patient related outcome and persistently stable behavioral measures
Interferon beta 1b following natalizumab discontinuation: one year, randomized, prospective, pilot trial
Background: Natalizumab (NTZ) discontinuation leads to multiple sclerosis reactivation. The objective of this study is to compare disease activity in MS patients who continued on NTZ treatment to those who were switched to subcutaneous interferon 1b (IFNB) treatment. Methods: 1-year randomized, rater-blinded, parallel-group, pilot study (ClinicalTrial.gov ID: NCT01144052). Relapsing remitting MS patients on NTZ for â„12 months who had been free of disease activity on this therapy (no relapses and disability progression for â„6 months, no gadolinium-enhancing lesions on baseline MRI) were randomized to NTZ or IFNB. Primary endpoint was time to first on-study relapse. Additional clinical, MRI and safety parameters were assessed. Analysis was based on intention to treat. Results: 19 patients (NTZ n=10; IFNB n=9) with similar baseline characteristics were included. 78% of IFNB treated patients remained relapse free (NTZ group: 100%), and 25% remained free of new T2 lesions (NTZ group: 62.5%). While time to first on-study relapse was not significantly different between groups (p=0.125), many secondary clinical and radiological endpoints (number of relapses, proportion of relapse free patients, number of new T2 lesions) showed a trend, or were significant (new T2 lesions at month 6) in favoring NTZ. Conclusions: De-escalation therapy from NTZ to IFNB over 1 year was associated with some clinical and radiological disease recurrence. Overall no major safety concerns were observed
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