Improving the physical health of the mentally ill: recent advances
Purpose of review
This review of the literature examines the most recent advances in the battle to improve the physical health of people with severe mental illness. Covering the 2018/2019 time period, the article offers a glance of future healthcare models and research directions.
Recent findings
A systematic search of the PubMed and Cochrane databases, along with additional journal articles available online but not yet allocated to a journal edition, produced a total of 24 journal articles suitable for review. The review period was from January 2018 to December 2019. The four main themes of investigation, interventio...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - August 2, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PSYCHIATRY, MEDICINE AND THE BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES: Edited by Mohan Isaac and Igor Filipcic Source Type: research
Evolution of bodily distress disorders
Purpose of review
The nomenclature and classification of somatoform disorders have undergone revisions in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM 5) and the upcoming eleventh edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The present review describes the changes that have evolved and highlight the possible challenges.
Recent findings
Bodily distress disorders replace the term somatoform disorders. The emphasis on the symptoms to be medically unexplained has been removed. The need to have a certain number of symptoms associated with different organ systems has made way to the ...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - August 2, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PSYCHIATRY, MEDICINE AND THE BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES: Edited by Mohan Isaac and Igor Filipcic Source Type: research
Developments in diagnosis and treatment of people with borderline personality disorder
Purpose of review
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) attracts significant attention from clinicians and researchers alike. Despite increased recognition and willingness to diagnose BPD, most effective treatment approaches remain inaccessible to most. We consider recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of BPD.
Recent findings
A literature search of EMBASE and PsychINFO, using the search terms ‘borderline personality disorder,’ ‘diagnosis’ and ‘treatment’ for publications since October 2018, yielded over 300 articles and reviews. The literature highlights the increasing awareness of the diagnos...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - August 2, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PSYCHIATRY, MEDICINE AND THE BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES: Edited by Mohan Isaac and Igor Filipcic Source Type: research
Editorial
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry)
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - August 2, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PSYCHIATRY, MEDICINE AND THE BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES: Edited by Mohan Isaac and Igor Filipcic Source Type: research
Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry)
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - August 2, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research
The role of diet in preventing and reducing cognitive decline
Purpose of review
This review summarises the most recent evidence regarding the effects of diet in preventing and reducing age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
Recent findings
Recent evidence indicates that nutraceuticals and whole diet approaches may protect against the development of age-related cognitive decline and pathological neurodegeneration. The neuroprotective effects are diverse depending on the nutrient employed and may involve a reduction of neuroinflammation, an activation of the endogenous antioxidant defence system and a modulation of the gut microbiota structure and function.
...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY Source Type: research
Digital interventions in adult mental healthcare settings: recent evidence and future directions
Purpose of review
Internet and mobile-based interventions (IMI) can be used as online delivered forms of psychotherapeutic mental health treatments. These interventions can be an effective as well as time and cost-efficient treatment with the potential to scale up mental healthcare. In this review, we map implementation possibilities into routine mental healthcare settings and provide the most recent evidence.
Recent findings
Fourteen articles on digital mental healthcare approaches published in the last 18 months were included. Despite the limited number, the studies provide evidence for the effectiveness of IMI in t...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PROVISION OF SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES: Edited by Giovanni de Girolamo and Thomas Becker Source Type: research
Psychosocial therapies in severe mental illness: update on evidence and recommendations
Purpose of review
To provide an overview of the update of the evidence-based and consensus-based German S3 guideline on psychosocial therapies for severe mental illnesses (SMI), with particular attention to current developments and future research tasks.
Recent findings
There has been a significant increase in studies on the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in treatment of people with SMI. In the guideline a distinction is made between system-level interventions (e.g. multidisciplinary team-based psychiatric community care) and single-handed (nonteam-based) interventions (e.g. psychoeducation). Furthermore,...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PROVISION OF SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES: Edited by Giovanni de Girolamo and Thomas Becker Source Type: research
Technostress at work and mental health: concepts and research results
This article describes the concept of technostress and discusses possible risks and opportunities of digital technologies at work and their effect on mental health.
Recent findings
Studies report that the use of digital technologies is associated with specific psychosocial demands (e.g. higher workload, complexity, conflicts between work and other life domains) and resulting psychobiological stress reactions. It is, however, still unclear if this kind of technostress causes mental disorders because epidemiological studies are missing. Yet, an increasing number of studies suggests that well designed digital work may prom...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PROVISION OF SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES: Edited by Giovanni de Girolamo and Thomas Becker Source Type: research
Forty-five years later: the challenge of optimizing assertive community treatment
Purpose of review:
Assertive Community Treatment is an established evidenced based practice that provides intensive community treatment for individuals with severe mental illness with recurrent hospitalizations and/or homelessness. Emerging evidence indicates limitations in its implementation in terms of to the original ACT model and its current relevance.
Recent findings:
Findings from recent studies (2018–2020) reveals challenges with implementation centered around basic implementation activities, such as changes in the psychosocial context of individuals with SMI, clinicians’ abilities to demonstrate competenci...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PROVISION OF SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES: Edited by Giovanni de Girolamo and Thomas Becker Source Type: research
The effectiveness, feasibility and scalability of the school platform in adolescent mental healthcare
Purpose of review
Schools are increasingly at the forefront of mental healthcare for young people internationally. This review aims to describe recent developments in school-based mental health activities to respond to mental health needs in adolescents, with a focus on empirical studies aimed at preventing, ameliorating or treating mental disorders.
Recent findings
The field is characterized by substantial heterogeneity in program design and research methods. Evidence for effectiveness of single-faceted school-based mental health programs is equivocal. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have reported mixed f...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PROVISION OF SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES: Edited by Giovanni de Girolamo and Thomas Becker Source Type: research
The future of community psychiatry and community mental health services
Purpose of review
The aim of this article is to provide a framework and analysis of a series of critical components to inform the future design, development, sustaining, and monitoring of community mental health services.
Recent findings
Many mental health services remain too hospital-centric, often without adequate outreach services. On the basis of outcome evidence, we need to shift the balance of mental health services from hospital-centered with community outreach when convenient for staff, to community-centered and mobile, with in-reach to hospital only when necessary. Too few training programs those with emphasi...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PROVISION OF SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES: Edited by Giovanni de Girolamo and Thomas Becker Source Type: research
Can machine-learning methods really help predict suicide?
Purpose of review
In recent years there has been interest in the use of machine learning in suicide research in reaction to the failure of traditional statistical methods to produce clinically useful models of future suicide. The current review summarizes recent prediction studies in the suicide literature including those using machine learning approaches to understand what value these novel approaches add.
Recent findings
Studies using machine learning to predict suicide deaths report area under the curve that are only modestly greater than, and sensitivities that are equal to, those reported in studies using more co...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PROVISION OF SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES: Edited by Giovanni de Girolamo and Thomas Becker Source Type: research
World vaping update
Purpose of review
Although death and injury related to e-cigarette use and vaping products has decreased since the peak in 2019, concern over the popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS – a term which includes vape pens, electronic or e-cigarettes, and products that produce vapor for inhaling rather than combusting to produce smoke) continues. ENDS are used as an aid to quit smoking and for harm reduction.
Recent findings
This review covers peer-reviewed literature from January 2019 through February 2020 on vaping (the process of using ENDS). Prevalence, risk factors for use, and health risks and be...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADDICTIVE DISORDERS: Edited by John B. Saunders and Linda B. Cottler Source Type: research
Current cannabis-related situation in the Asia-Pacific region
We present information on cannabis policy, demand, and supply in the Asia-Pacific region.
Method
A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles using PubMed, MEDLINE, and reliable sources was conducted. We classified the policy implemented in each country into conducting research, legalization of medical and recreational use, decriminalization, cultivation, and others.
Recent findings
In Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand, medical use has been approved, whereas it is limited in South Korea and Singapore and illegal in other countries. Except Australia, none of the Asia-Pacific region countries allows recreational us...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADDICTIVE DISORDERS: Edited by John B. Saunders and Linda B. Cottler Source Type: research
