Dear colleagues,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the second issue of 2018.
In our first article, Brakoulias and colleagues examine the psychometric characteristics of the Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). The NBS shows excellent inter-rater reliability and convergent validity and may prove useful as a shorter alternative to current instruments measuring belief.
Reich et al. assessed patterns of prescriber communication behaviours as they relate to consumer satisfaction in subjects with psychiatric disorders. They found that the frequency did not predict consumer satisfaction. Antipsychotic medication consumers were more satisfied with their encounters when their prescriber did not dominate the conversation.
Akkaya-Kalayci and colleagues investigated the psychosocial factors that may trigger suicidal behaviour in youth. It emerged that intra-familial problems were the most frequently reported triggers of suicide attempts while sex differences was the second most common trigger, the authors conclude that preventive measures should focus on these triggers.
Desai and associates explored the prevalence and pattern of movement disorders in patients receiving antipsychotic medication. Higher proportions of movement disorders were detected in extreme of age group, females, patients treated with conventional antipsychotics and more. Higher usage of atypical antipsychotics had reduced the occurrence of movement disorders.
Golubchik et al. assessed the effect of methylphenidate (MPH) on the level of suspiciousness in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with or without comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Reductions in suspiciousness scores were found in both groups following MPH treatment. Further studies are needed for confirmation.
Mielau and co-workers explored the impact of coercive interventions on patients’ evaluations of psychiatric hospitals as adversaries versus allies. Their results revealed that subjective experience of coercive intervention of fairness and effectiveness during the treatment predicts patients’ attitudes toward psychiatry. Patients with a higher level of self-reflectiveness are likelier to perceive psychiatric institutions as allies.
Aragão and colleagues examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms among medical students taught using problem-based learning (PBL) versus traditional methods. It emerged that depressive symptoms were highly prevalent among students taught both with PBL and traditional methods with higher prevalence among females.
Yang and associates investigated clinical characteristics and associations of polydrug abuse among heroin-dependent patients. They found polydrug abuse to be associated with severe heroin use patterns and with antisocial and depressive personality disorders. In conclusion, the prevalence of polydrug abuse and its correlates points to an urgent need of promoting treatment policies and strategies.
Fan et al. examined the association of insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE) with depression in Chinese youth that experienced the Wenchuan earthquake. They found the D allele carriers to have lower depression prevalence than homozygotes in females only. The authors conclude that the D allele may be associated with lower depression prevalence and severity in females during early stage of depression rehabilitation during the follow-up.
Lertxundi and colleagues assessed the burden of constipation by measuring laxative consumption data and hospital admissions potentially associated with complications of chronic constipation. Around half of the admitted patients had at least one laxative prescribed. Their study underlines the important burden constipation represents in psychiatric inpatients which can lead to serious adverse clinical consequences.
Özdin and associates aimed to investigate early maladaptive schemas in order to determine the difference between bipolar disorder and unipolar disorder. They found that patients with bipolar disorder suffered greater childhood trauma compared to unipolar depression patients and healthy controls.
Karadag et al. examined the demographic characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses and treatments for Syrian refugee patients. Around half of the patients had special educational needs. The authors conclude that the role of primary healthcare services in reaching psychiatric treatment should be investigated more efficiently for child refugees and that special educational need of Syrian refugee patients needs urgent attention.