1,720,980 research outputs found
Seasonal variation in suicides and in deaths by unintentional illicit acute drug intoxications
No full textIn order to assess whether substance-abusing people show a higher risk of dying from unintentional acute intoxication in specific periods of the year, and whether this unevenly distributed risk is subject to the same seasonal influences observed in suicide cases, we studied a total of 15,792 drug-related deaths (males=14,259; females=1533) and 20,332 deaths by suicide (males=15,571; females=4761), ascertained in Italy among 15-44-year-old people from 1984 to 2000. Distribution of deaths by month was studied with circular statistic techniques, based on the maximization of mean vector length method and the Rayleigh test. The monthly distribution of deaths over the study period followed an uneven trend that clearly differed, however, between the two time-series characterizing suicides and drug-related deaths. A clear seasonal variation was found for suicides in both genders, recurring on a significant circannual cycle. No circannual cycle was observed in the monthly distribution of drug-related deaths, which seem to be influenced by non-casual oscillations following a thrice-yearly cycle, linked to a significantly more evident 6-month recurrence. Some periods of the year, however, are clearly and consistently linked to an enhanced risk of dying by unintentional, acute intoxication by illicit drugs
Seasonality of suicide: relationship with the reason for suicide
No full textAIMS:
This study set out to test the hypothesis that the suicides that can be attributed to a psychiatric illness show a higher seasonality than the suicides due to any other reason.
METHODS:
All the suicides registered in Italy from 1984 to 2000 (57,796 deaths by suicide: males = 41,741, yearly rate = 11.3 per 100,000; females = 16,055, yearly rate = 4.0 per 100,000) were analyzed with circular statistic techniques, based on the maximization of mean vector length method and on the Rayleigh test.
RESULTS:
The suicides clearly attributed to a psychiatric illness were 35.0% among males and 51.3% among females. An economic reason for suicide was more frequently found among males; somatic illness or sentimental reasons were equally distributed in both sexes. The suicides attributable to a psychiatric illness showed a significantly higher seasonal unevenness than the suicides attributable to somatic illness and to sentimental or economic reasons.
CONCLUSIONS:
The main drawback of this study is that psychiatric diagnoses were not formally assessed by a forensic specialist. However, it succeeded in showing that the dynamics of suicidal behaviour are not unilineal: suicides due to psychiatric or somatic illness mainly happen in spring/summer and those due to economic difficulties mainly in December. Patients with psychiatric and/or somatic illness should be more carefully followed in spring/summer
Delusional profiles among young adults: a latent class analysis of delusion proneness
No full textDelusional beliefs and experiences can predict the development of mental disorders within the spectrum of psychosis. The nature, content and prevalence of delusional experiences in the general population are still disputed topics. This study investigates the latent structure of delusion proneness in the non-clinical population. Eight hundred young adults (400 from Italy and 400 from the United Kingdom) completed the Peters et al. delusions inventory, a general population measure of delusional proneness. Latent class analysis was used to explore the latent structure of delusion proneness. Four classes were identified: low delusion proneness (including 28% of the sample), grandiosity (13%), paranoid thinking (41%) and positive psychotic beliefs (18%). Latent structures of sub-clinical symptoms can be observed also in non-clinical population; paranoid thinking is the most common delusional theme
Ultrastructural characterisation of periinsular pancreatic acinar cells in the hibernating dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius
No full textIn a previous study we analysed the exocrine pancreas of the hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius, demonstrating several structural modifications of teleinsular acinar cells (located at a distance from the Langerhans islets) during the hibernating cycle. In the present study, we investigated the periinsular acinar cells (closely surrounding the Langerhans islets) of the same dormouse. by combining morphological, morphometrical, and immunocytochemical analyses. Our observations demonstrate that, during hibernation, several cytoplasmic organelles undergo structural modifications: cells, nuclei and zymogen granules decrease in size. and alpha -amylase content falls: however, upon arousal, ail euthermic features are restored. All these data are consistent with a marked reduction in metabolic activities (especially protein synthesis and secretion) during hibernation, and their resumption upon arousal. Moreover, when changes of periinsular cells are compared with those of teleinsular cells, it is evident that periinsular cell structural constituents are more affected by the functional rest during hibernation. This is probably related to the paracrine action of the islet hormones on the surrounding acinar cells
The epidemiology of homicide in Italy by season, day of the week and time of day
No full textCircadian and seasonal rhythms have an impact on the risk of violent death in humans, with more evidence available in suicide than in homicide. This study set out to investigate the pattern of deaths by homicide in Italy, taking into account the month, the day of the week and the time of day when the homicidal incident happened. Data based on official statistics on deaths by homicide (n = 3894) from 2003 to 2008 were analysed by spectral analysis and circular statistics techniques based on the Rayleigh test. Homicides showed seasonal distribution with a bimodal pattern, with summer (July and August) and winter (December and January) peaks over the other seasons. Homicides also peaked on Sundays and Mondays and were at their highest at night-time (00:00 to 5:59 hours). These rhythms in homicide victimization could be accounted for by social factors - within the framework of the routine activity theory - by psychological factors, including those leading to domestic violence, and by biological factors, including those impacting on impulse dyscontrol. The identification of risk or protective factors involved in the victim's surviving or succumbing to an assault might be important for the prevention of the worst outcome of injury at large, suicides and accidents included
Seasonality and suicide in Italy: amplitude is positively related to suicide rates
No full textBACKGROUND:
Recent studies have reported changes in the time patterns of suicide, with conflicting findings regarding the direction of these changes: data from Italy were investigated to evaluate the influence of recent social and medicine-related changes on the seasonality of suicides in the country.
METHODS:
A total of 71,227 male suicides and 26,466 female suicides occurring in Italy from 1974 to 2003 were investigated with harmonic spectral analysis to extract their monthly seasonal dispersion by five-year intervals.
RESULTS:
The suicide rates of both males and females showed a rising trend, with an evident peak in the 1987-1994 period and a decrease thereafter. Seasonality of suicides, with a clear peak in spring as against the other seasons, accounted for a statistically significant proportion of total variance: around 40% among males and 39% among females. Seasonality did not change across time in a relevant way; however, an anticipation of the peak was observed in both males and females over time, with amplitude increasing or decreasing as a function of yearly suicide rates.
LIMITATIONS:
Data could not be analysed according to age or to the method of suicide, since this information was not available across the whole time interval.
CONCLUSION:
The seasonal effect on mortality by suicide is positively related to suicide rates, so much that changes in suicide rates over time correspond to changes in suicide seasonality
Changes in the seasonality of suicides over time in Slovenia, 1971 to 2002. Amplitude is only positively related to suicide rates among females
No full textBACKGROUND:
Changes in the suicide rate within one region over time had been hypothesised to correspond to changes in suicide seasonality: a recent investigation from Italy confirmed such an assumption. Data from Slovenia were investigated to further evaluate the links between suicide rates and seasonal amplitude.
METHODS:
A total of 14325 male suicides and 4350 female suicides occurring in Slovenia from 1971 to 2002 were investigated with harmonic spectral analysis to extract their monthly seasonal dispersion by eight-year intervals. Changes in rate over time were analysed with a test for trend based on regression analysis.
RESULTS:
The suicide rates of both males and females increased over time, with an evident peak in the 1987-1994 period and a decrease thereafter. Seasonality decreased across time in both sexes; however, no change of the peak was observed over time. The amplitude of the major 12-month cycle was slightly positively related to suicide rates, but the correlation was only statistically significant among females (P=0.0053; males: P=0.22).
LIMITATIONS:
Data could not be analysed according to age, the method of suicide, or the diagnosis attributable to the deceased, since this information was not available.
CONCLUSION:
The study confirmed that the seasonal effect on mortality by suicide is positively related to suicide rates, so much so that changes in suicide rates over time correspond to changes in suicide seasonality, but in Slovenia this effect was only evident among females, further pointing towards differences by sex in the mechanics leading to suicide
Short Communication: Precision performance at low levels and 99th percentile concentration of the Access((R)) AccuTnI((R)) assay on two different platforms.
No full textBackground: Cardiac troponins currently represent the preferred biomarkers for the detection of myocardial necrosis. The objective of the present study was to compare the performance of the Access® AccuTnI ® assay (Beckman Coulter) measured on two different platforms, the UniCel® DxI 800 and the Access® 2 (Beckman Coulter). In particular, the serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration corresponding to 10% coefficient of variation (CV), the cTnI assay minimum detectable concentration (MDC), and the serum cTnI 99th percentile in healthy subjects were calculated. Methods: The Access® AccuTnI ® is a paramagnetic particle chemiluminescent immunoassay. Imprecision profiles were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute EP5-A protocol using serum pools. The MDC was calculated as mean+3 SD of 20 determinations of the zero calibrator during one run. The 99th percentile was determined analyzing serum samples from 679 healthy blood donors (523 males, 156 females; 18-71 years old). Results: cTnI concentrations are given in μg/L. 10% CV values (95% confidence interval, CI) were 0.0577 (0.0467-0.0750) (UniCel® DxI 800) and 0.0486 (0.0255-0.0596) (Access® 2). MDC values were 0.011 (UniCel® DxI 800) and 0.012 (Access® 2). The 99th percentile (95% CI) value was 0.0340 (0.0298-0.0410). Conclusions: Our data confirm the reliability of the evaluated cTnI assay and demonstrate the comparability of the cTnI values between the platforms studied. © 2009 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Creativity and affective temperaments in non-clinical professional artists: an empirical psychometric investigation
No full textOBJECTIVE:
Manic-depression/bipolar disorder was linked to creativity, with affective temperaments allegedly favoring creative expression and achievement, but a few studies only empirically tested the link.
METHODS:
152 undergraduate students attending preparatory courses for creative artistic professions and 152 students in areas expected to lead to a profession mostly requiring the application of the learned rules were invited to fill in the TEMPS-A (Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego - Autoquestionnaire), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Creative Achievement Questionnaire (CAQ). Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to investigate the links between creativity scores and measures of psychopathology.
RESULTS:
Creative participants and controls did not differ in terms of sex (males=47%), age (24.5 years, SD=3.8), or socioeconomic status. Creative people scored higher than controls on the CAQ and on the cyclothymic, hyperthymic and irritable subscales of the TEMPS-A, but not on the GHQ. Greater involvement in creative activities rather than being a creative achiever best differentiated those into the "risk for bipolar spectrum" class from the other two classes extracted by the LCA from the TEMPS-A.
LIMITATIONS:
The use of self-report measures to evaluate both creative involvement and the risk of psychopathology, and the exclusive focus on artistic creativity limit the generalizability of the findings.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study confirms that the cyclothymic dimension of the bipolar spectrum is linked to creativity, and this link is likely to result from increased involvement into pleasurable activities, including creative ones
Correlates and antecedents of hospital admission for attempted suicide: a nationwide survey in Italy
No full textThe present study examined data on symptom patterns in the week prior to admission for suicide attempt, in a nationwide representative sample of patients. Socio-demographic, clinical, and treatment data was gathered for 1,547 patients admitted over a 12-day index period during the year 2004 to 130 public and 36 private psychiatric facilities in Italy. Patients were evaluated in terms of whether they had been admitted for having attempted suicide or not. A detailed checklist was used to assess symptom pattern at admission; diagnoses were based on ICD-10 categories. Two-hundred thirty patients (14.8%) in the sample had been admitted for suicide attempt. Patients with depression or with personality disorders were more frequently observed among suicide attempters. First-contact patients were significantly more likely to have been admitted after a suicide attempt, the only exception being individuals with bipolar disorder, manic phase. No diagnosis was statistically related to admission after suicide attempt, once symptoms pattern at admission had been accounted for. Disordered eating behavior, depressive symptoms, substance abuse, and non-prescribed medication abuse were positively related to attempted suicide, as were any traumatic events in the week prior to admission; symptoms of psychosis (hallucinations/delusions) and lack of self-care were negatively associated with suicide attempt admission. Greater attention to symptoms immediately preceding or concomitant with admission after a suicide attempt can be a key factor in establishing the best treatment plan and discharge strategy, the most effective community-service referral, and targeted intervention programmes for patients hospitalized for a suicide attempt
- …
