This study examines the degree to which perceptions of open communication between patients and staff affect patients’ mental health. Open disclosure correlated independently with lower levels of depression at baselineand a predicted significant decrease in depression over time. Other interpersonal characteristics (limited equality, respect and helpfulness) did not correlate with depression or subjective well-being at…
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This is a mediation analysis, i.e. it looks at the mechanisms that underly the known interdependence of physical and mental health. The authors investigate how social interaction and lifestyle choices mediate the effect of physical health on mental health and vice versa.
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A study published in JAMA Psychiatry in June 2020 has shown that adults with depressive symptoms experience an increased risk of mortality across the world and in different settings, especially in urban areas. In this cohort study of 145 862 participants in 21 countries, cardiovascular events and death increased by 20% in people with 4…
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This review focuses on the identification of patients with personality disorders in acute care and provides an overview of evidence-based behavioural and pharmacological interventions. (1) Personality disorders, pervasive patterns of maladaptive behaviours, thoughts, and emotions that can wreak havoc in the patient’s interpersonal life and are a major challenge in an acute care setting. Having…
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This is a study looking at the effect that psychiatric co-morbidity has on the subsequent development of physical illness, published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2016. [1] Eighteen face-to-face, cross-sectional household surveys of adults were conducted in 17 countries (47 609 individuals; 2 032 942 person-years) from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2011. Most associations…
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This is a cross-sectional survey of over 13,000 US adults. [1] The study compared self-reported chocolate consumption with depressive symptoms. Eating chocolate was associated with less risk of clinical depression. Non‐dark chocolate consumption was not significantly associated with clinically relevant depressive symptoms. People who ate dark chocolate in the past 24 hours were 70% less…
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A review published in September 2018 by the Society of Occupational Medicine and The Louise Tebboth Foundation. [1] A substantial proportion of UK doctors experience mental health problems, manifested as burnout, work-related stress and symptoms of psychiatric morbidity. The prevalence varies, however, between studies and different medical specialisations. Where comparisons have been made, the risk…
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This is a well-conducted study from Canada, published in JAMA Network Open in October 2019 [1]. In this case-control study of 964 older adults who died by suicide and 3856 matched control participants, compared with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), exposure to angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) was associated with a higher risk of suicide. Findings…
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This is an Australian study that analysed mortality in more than 42000 people with learning disability (LD) in New South Wales.over a 10 years period.[1] The results of the study showed that people with comorbidities are at increased risk of death. People with LD who had cancer were almost eight times more likely to die…
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This is French study by members of FondaMental from 2019. [1] The authors investigated the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in a cohort of French patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and looked at correlations with sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment-related factors. 205 patients were enrolled in the FondaMental Advanced Centers of Expertise…
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