[Depressive Symptomatology and Alcohol-Related Problems During the Academic Training of Medical Students].

[Depressive symptomatology and alcohol-related problems during the academic training of medical students].

Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. 2013 Mar; 30(1): 54-7
Valle R, Sánchez E, Perales A

In order to evaluate the frequency of depressive symptomatology (DS) and alcohol-related problems (ARP) during the academic training of medical students from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, a cross-sectional study was conducted among students from first to sixth year of career. The Zung Self-Rating depression scale was used to evaluate DS and the CAGE questionnaire to evaluate ARP. 23.3% of participants had DS, and 7.3% had ARP. We found that the frequency of DS and ARP was higher among students in the first years of career. We recommend it is necessary to take action in the prevention and detection of these disorders from the first years of training of medical students. HubMed – depression

Euthanasia in psychiatry can never be justified. A reply to Wijsbek.

Theor Med Bioeth. 2013 Apr 24;
Cowley C

In a recent article, Henri Wijsbek discusses the 1991 Chabot “psychiatric euthanasia” case in the Netherlands, and argues that Chabot was justified in helping his patient to die. Dutch legislation at the time permitted physician assisted suicide when the patient’s condition is severe, hopeless, and unbearable. The Dutch Supreme Court agreed with Chabot that the patient met these criteria because of her justified depression, even though she was somatically healthy. Wijsbek argues that in this case, the patient’s integrity had been undermined by recent events, and that this is the basis for taking her request seriously; it was unreasonable to expect that she could start again. In this paper, I do not challenge the Dutch euthanasia criteria in the case of somatic illness, but I argue that both Chabot and Wijsbek are wrong because we can never be sufficiently confident in cases of severe exogenous depression to assist the patient in her irreversible act. This is partly because of the essential difference between somatic and mental illness, and because of the possibility of therapy and other help. In addition, I argue that Wijsbek’s concept of integrity cannot do the work that he expects of it. Finally, I consider a 2011 position paper from the Royal Dutch Medical Association on euthanasia, and the implications it might have for Chabot-style cases in the future. HubMed – depression

Adaptation of an internet-based depression prevention intervention for Chinese adolescents: from “CATCH-IT” to “grasp the opportunity”

Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2013 Apr 2; 1-11
Sobowale K, Zhou AN, Van Voorhees BW, Stewart S, Tsang A, Ip P, Fabrizio C, Wong KL, Chim D

Abstract Background: There is a dearth of information on the compatibility of Western-developed, internet-based interventions that prevent onset and precipitation of depression in global settings. Recently, Project CATCH-IT (Competent Adulthood Transition with Cognitive-behavioral, Humanistic and Interpersonal Training), an information technology-based intervention, was adapted to prevent depression in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. This paper evaluates qualitative data from consultations to develop a revised intervention of CATCH-IT for Hong Kong youth. Methods: A theoretical thematic analysis approach was used to analyze data. Materials from three consultation trips which included focus groups (2007), an expert panel (2007), a public health campaign (2009), and a joint primary care physician-social worker review group (2010) were compiled. Authors (KS and AZ) independently reviewed the data and applied the theoretical framework of behavioral vaccines to code the data. These data were subsequently consolidated to provide a coherent narrative analysis. Results: The cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral activation (BA), and resiliency modules were maintained, while the interpersonal therapy (IPT) modules of CATCH-IT were excluded in the Hong Kong adaptation. Concurrent self-reports of drinking, smoking, illicit drug use and gambling behavior were added. Rather than primary care consultations, social worker consultations may be the best point of entry for intervention. Conclusion: Socio-cultural relevance of psychotherapeutics and delivery context of internet-based interventions will require significant adaptation for the Hong Kong setting. However, because of community engagement throughout the process of adaptation, we believe the CATCH-IT intervention can be adapted for Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong with retained fidelity. The revised intervention is called “Grasp the Opportunity”. HubMed – depression

A randomised trial of telemedicine-based treatment versus conventional hospitalisation in patients with severe COPD and exacerbation – effect on self-reported outcome.

J Telemed Telecare. 2013 Apr 23;
Schou L, Ostergaard B, Rydahl-Hansen S, Rasmussen LS, Emme C, Jakobsen AS, Phanareth K

We investigated self-reported outcome in patients with COPD and exacerbation. Consecutive patients were randomised to an intervention group with home telemedicine and a control group who had conventional hospital admission. We assessed Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) using the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, daily activity using Instrumental Activity of Daily Living, anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and self-assessed cognitive decline using Subjective Cognitive Functioning. Data were collected at 3 days, 6 weeks and 3 months after discharge. There were 22 patients in each group. Their baseline characteristics were similar: a mean age of 70 years, FEV1 42% predicted and oxygen saturation 95%. After 6 weeks, FEV1 had improved in both groups, to 1.2 L in the intervention group and 1.0 L in the control group. Oxygen saturation had improved in the intervention group from 94% to 96%. Regarding HRQoL, there was a non-significant (P = 0.05) improvement in the symptom score in favour of the control group, but the improvement was not maintained after three months. However, there were no significant differences in self-reported outcomes in COPD patients with exacerbation treated at home via telemedicine versus conventionally in hospital. HubMed – depression