1,720,979 research outputs found
The ‘virtual emptiness’: The interplay role of boredom and loneliness in youth problematic smartphone use
No full textProblematic smartphone use (PSU) among youths has emerged as a significant public health concern. PSU is defined as a pattern of smartphone use characterized by loss of control, preoccupation, and continued use despite negative consequences, often resembling behavioral addiction in its impact on daily functioning and well-being. A nationwide case-control study explored the prevalence and predictive role of boredom and loneliness in a cohort of Italian university students aged 18-24 years, as assessed by Smartphone Addiction Scale-short version (SAS-SV) for the presence/absence of PSU. Among enrolled 1,660 participants, PSU was identified in 31.7% of the sample. Multivariate regression model (sex weighted) revealed that SAS-SV levels were positively predicted by boredom inattention (p < 0.001) and disengagement (p = 0.007), emotional loneliness (p = 0.002) and general loneliness (p < 0.001). Logistic binomial regression analysis documented that PSU is significantly predicted only by higher levels of emotional loneliness and boredom state. Our findings underline the need for early preventive strategies and tailored therapeutic interventions targeting emotional regulation and coping strategies to manage boredom state, in order to reduce the risk of PSU in youths. Both boredom and emotional loneliness seem to be essential psychopathological targets for promoting youth psychological well-being in the digital era
Practical application of digital therapeutics in people with mood disorders
Full text linkDigital therapeutics (DTx) offer evidence-based digitally-delivered high quality standards applications and/or softwares in the prevention, management and treatment of several medical conditions, including mood disorders. Nowadays, there are only three DTx officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration for mental conditions and there are still very few DTx developed in the context of mood disorders. The current comprehensive overview aims at providing a summary of currently published studies on DTx clinical applications in major depressive disorder (MDD), depressive symptomatology and bipolar disorder (BD), by using PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus databases. Fifteen studies have been selected (10 on DTx in depressive symptomatology and/or MDD; 4 on BD; 1 on MDD and BD). Literature on DTx in mood disorders is still lacking, being mostly constituted by feasibility and acceptability rather than efficacy/effectiveness outcomes, particularly in BD. More studies focused on MDD compared to BD. Most DTx on MDD have been developed based on cognitive behaviour therapy interventions while on BD are based on psychoeducation. All studies assessing symptom severity improvement pre- vs. postinterventions demonstrated a significant postintervention improvement. Therefore, despite the preliminary encouraging results of studies here retrieved, their methodology is still too heterogeneous to allow comparisons and the generalizability of their findings. Further studies are warranted, in more larger samples involving multiple sites, including measures of both specific symptom effects as well as acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness in the real-world settings
The impact of Patient Suicide on Psychiatric Trainees and Early Career Psychiatrists: a qualitative analysis of feelings and unmet needs from an Italian survey
Full text linkThe experience of patient suicide (PS) represents a challenging event that most psychiatrists may deal with during their careers. We conducted a qualitative study to evaluate the emotional impact and reactions to PS, in a small sample of psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists (n=15) in one university hospital in Italy. Psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists working at the Clinical Psychiatry Unit of Polytechnic University of Marche (Ancona, Italy) were surveyed to assess emotional impact of PS, influence on future work, perceived support, and how the PS experience should be managed. An online survey was conducted, and a qualitative approach (thematic analysis) was used to analyse the data. Fifteen professionals completed the survey. Sadness (47%) and shock (33%) were the most reported emotions, along with feelings of guilt, impotence and inadequacy, disappointment, frustration, and anger. PS seemed to have a strong influence on clinical activity, increasing attention towards the patient and commitment, although the impression of being of limited help to the patient was commonly reported. Albeit valuing the opportunity to share their emotional experience with peers, the respondents highlighted the lack of professional support and the relevant need to implement discussion and interventions to deal with PS. Overall, our findings support the importance of addressing the strong emotional effect of PS on psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists as well as the necessity for more structured support strategies in the aftermath of PS. Larger investigations on this topic are warrante
The role of ‘modern-type depression” in youth depression: sex-based differences and associated affective temperaments
No full textThe emergence of new psychopathological constructs, e.g. “modern-type depression” (MTD), arose concerns in diagnosis and treatment of youth depression. Our study explored the role of MTD within an Italian youth sample (n = 273; aged 14–25) with major depressive disorder (MDD), through MINI 7.0.0, BDI-II, TACS-22 and TEMPS-M. Around 49.8% of MTD depression was found, specifically among females (p < 0.001). Only depressive and cyclothymic temperaments together with TACS-22 “complaint” subscale were found positive predictors of depressive severity (F(4,170)=55.872, p < 0.001, R2=0.568). Binomial logistic regression analyses found sex differences in the explanatory effects of affective temperamental profiles on the likelihood of developing MTD depression. In males, both depressive and cyclothymic temperaments (both, p = 0.004) are risky factors, while hyperthymic temperament is a protective factor (p = 0.010). In females, only cyclothymic temperament was found to be a positive predictor (p = 0.018). According to our findings, MTD may have a clinical relevance in youth MDD. There is the need to routinely include MTD assessment in clinical practice for a better MDD characterization and for offering tailored therapeutic approaches to MTD depression, based on sex differences and affective temperamental profile
Mental Health and the Role of New Communication Technologies
No full textThe development of digital communication technologies recently led to a progressive change in the way we perform daily activities, rapidly transforming society into a global digital eco-system. Although digitalization determined an improvement in some aspects of life, it also led to the emergence of new technology-based psychopathologies, including problematic use of digital tools and new technological addictions (i.e., Internet addiction, smartphone addiction, social media addiction, internet gaming disorder). Furthermore, new digital technologies and tools determined significant modifications of the characteristics of several existing mental disorders. For example, several social media, forums/blogs, and dedicated websites may reinforce psychological dynamics underpinning eating disorders or provide means to enact them and facilitate their expression. Some social media ‘game challenges’ recently contributed to the spread of non-suicidal self-harm behaviours, particularly among teens. The rise of Internet clearly promoted the onset and perpetration of techno-assisted sexual violence and cyberbullying. Despite the pathoplastic potential associated to new communication technologies, digital tools should not be demonised at all, given the abundant evidence concerning their efficacy in the management and treatment of several mental disorders. Nowadays, digital psychiatry has a great potential to integrate and implement several diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, to support and make more effective psychiatric clinical practice. Therefore, a more balanced approach to digital communication technologies should be taken by mental health professionals, in order to increase awareness of their risks but also to gain knowledge about the benefits of such new communication tools
An expert opinion on the pharmacological interventions for Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
No full textIntroduction: Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) was officially introduced as a new diagnostic entity in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), under the category of depressive disorders. Areas covered: A comprehensive overview and a critical commentary on the currently investigated psychopharmacological approaches for the treatment of DMDD have been here provided. Expert opinion: Behavioral and psychosocial interventions should be considered as first-line treatment strategies. When ineffective or partially effective, psychopharmacological strategy is recommended. Overall, pharmacological strategy should be preferred in those individuals with psychiatric comorbidities (e.g. ADHD). Indeed, so far published studies on pharmacological strategies in DMDD are scant and heterogeneous (i.e. age, assessment tools, symptomatology profile, comorbidity, and so forth). Therefore, DMDD psychopharmacological guidelines are needed, particularly to guide clinicians toward the patient's typical symptom profile who could benefit from psychopharmacological strategy
Digital therapeutics in depression and bipolar disorder: a comprehensive systematic review
Full text linkINTRODUCTION: Digital therapeutics (DTx) represent a novel approach to treat mood disorders like major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). Treatment can usually be based on interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychoeducation, and they can be relatively inexpensive and more easily accessible. However, upscaling DTx in clinical practice is relatively slow due to regulatory barriers, lack of sufficient clinical evidence, and patient nonadherence. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was carried out through MEDLINE/ PubMed and Scopus. All studies exploring the use of DTx for MDD and BD were assessed. While excluding studies not presenting any clinical results or not aimed at DTx but instead at general digital mental health (DMH) interventions. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Initial search strategy produced 4598 papers, 24 of which have been selected and discussed. Most studies were conducted on MDD, rather than BD. Most frequently used approaches included CBT, psychoeducation and mindfulness. Most studies reported positive changes in mood symptoms, but only some of them provided information about the maintenance of these results in the long term. Among inhibitors in the acceptability of DTx were represented by limited real-world evidence, engagement issues and inconsistent regulatory environments. CONCLUSIONS: Using DTx for mood disorders shows great promise. Effective interventions that are accessible and modeled are feasible. However, to structurally incorporate DTx into standard clinical practice, there is the need to develop clear regulatory channels, improve user’s involvement and provide additional evidence of long-term efficacy
Study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial on the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an integrated psychoeducational intervention for transition-age youths in acute psychiatric settings
Full text linkIntroduction: Psychoeducation is a psychosocial intervention aimed at providing knowledge, cognitive and communication strategies to improve illness awareness and coping skills in patients with psychiatric disorders. Adolescence is a critical phase in psychopathological development. Integrating psychoeducational interventions among youngsters, since hospital clinical practice during mental illness onset, can significantly impact on the global functioning and long-term prognosis. This study aims to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a psychoeducational group intervention to reduce emotional dysregulation and affective symptomatology in a sample of youths hospitalized at the Transitional Psychiatry ward, Marche University Hospital, Ancona, Italy.Methods: Participants (aged 15-24) will attend weekly thematic modules led by psychiatrists, psychologists and trainees. The control group will receive the treatment as usual. The modules included in the intervention will address the following topics: emotions, anxiety, psychotic experiences, addictions, sleep, therapies, communication and social skills. Participants will be assessed at baseline, at the end of the intervention and at 3-, 6- and 12 months post-randomization.Results: We expect to observe a significant improvement in the emotional regulation and in the secondary outcomes (mental health literacy, internalized stigma, social functioning, rehospitalization, and coping strategies). Satisfaction questionnaires will also be administered at the end of each session to identify any changes to the intervention, adapting it to patient satisfaction.Conclusions: The protocol proposes a transdiagnostic and multimodal psychoeducational model aimed at a youth population with high clinical complexity, with potential benefits in terms of secondary prevention, therapeutic continuity and reduction of relapses. Intervention from the acute stages of the illness could ensure greater improvement in the subsequent period, while also establishing a stronger therapeutic alliance
“Swipe & slice”: decoding digital struggles with non-suicidal self-injuries among youngsters
Full text linkIntroduction: Nonsuicidal-self-injury (NSSI)-related content recently emerged on social networking sites (SNS), despite its relationship with NSSI conducts is still unclear.
Methods: Hence, the current population-based cross-sectional study investigated the interplay between SNS use, NSSI content engagement, risky social media challenges (RSMCs), in a sample of 404 young adults (aged 18–24), focusing on the influence of problematic social media use (PSMU) and fear of missing out (FoMO).
Results: Around 51.5% of the samplewas engaged inNSSI-related contents on SNS, being mostly females (p<0.001), younger (p=0.005), transgender people and nonbinary people (p=0.030) and those who displayed higher PSMU (p<0.001) or FoMO (p=0.031). Around 66.2% of the sample currently practice NSSIs, predominantly among females (p<0.001), those using BeReal (p=0.012), actively looking for NSSIrelated contents on SNS (p<0.001) to be part of a group (p=0.0025) or learn how to practice NSSI (p=0.025). PSMU (p<0.001) and FoMO (p<0.001) emerged as significant predictors of NSSI content engagement, particularly among active seekers. NSSI conducts were significantly predicted
by FoMO (p<0.001) and Snapchat (p=0.044), while negatively predicted by male sex (p<0.001), higher educational level (p=0.019) and age at which NSSI-related contents were firstly looked for (p=0.028).
Discussion: These findings underline the need to implement preventive policies and targeted interventions to monitor NSSI-related contents on SNS, the impact of PSMU and FoMO on NSSI, particularly among youngsters
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