Gender Differences in Mental Health Expectancies in Early- and Midlife in Six European Countries.
Gender differences in mental health expectancies in early- and midlife in six European countries.
Br J Psychiatry. 2013 Mar 7;
Brugha TS, Matthews R, Alonso J, Vilagut G, Fouweather T, Bruffaerts R, de Girolamo G, de Graaf R, Haro JM, Kovess V, Jagger C
BACKGROUND: Health expectancies, taking into account both quality and quantity of life, have generally been based on disability and physical functioning. AIMS: To compare mental health expectancies at age 25 and 55 based on common mental disorders both across countries and between males and females. METHOD: Mental health expectancies were calculated by combining mortality data from population life tables and the age-specific prevalence of selected common mental disorders obtained from the European Study of the Epidemiology of Mental Disorders (ESEMeD). RESULTS: For the male population aged 25 (all countries combined) life expectancy was 52 years and life expectancy spent with a common mental disorder was 1.8 years (95% CI 0.7-2.9), 3.4% of overall life expectancy. In comparison, for the female population life expectancy at age 25 was higher (57.9 years) as was life expectancy spent with a common mental disorder (5.1 years, 95% CI 3.6-6.6) and as a proportion of overall life expectancy, 8.8%. By age 55 life expectancy spent with a common mental disorder had reduced to 0.7 years (males) and 2.3 years (females). CONCLUSIONS: Age and gender differences underpin our understanding of years spent with common mental disorders in adulthood. Greater age does not mean living relatively more years with common mental disorder. However, the female population spends more years with common mental disorders and a greater proportion of their longer life expectancy with them (and with each studied separate mental disorder). HubMed – addiction
Substance use disorders: a theory-driven approach to the integration of genetics and neuroimaging.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2013 Mar 7;
Karoly HC, Harlaar N, Hutchison KE
The etiology of substance use disorders is related to changes in neuronal systems involved in reward anticipation, negative affect, and withdrawal, as well as to alterations in inhibition and executive control. Genetic and epigenetic variation associated with individual differences in these mechanisms may be important for predicting the effectiveness of current treatments and informing future pharmacogenomic investigations. Genetic research efforts have increasingly involved the use of approaches that leverage neurobiological phenotypes to link changes at the molecular level (e.g., genetic and epigenetic variation) to changes in intermediate neuroimaging phenotypes, and ultimately to clinical outcomes. The current review summarizes recent efforts that utilize neuroimaging and genetic approaches in the context of a three-stage model of addiction. In addition, this review explores how these approaches have been used to study the progression from impulsive, recreational substance use to the compulsive, addicted state. Finally, this review describes future ways that research may incorporate these approaches to examine important stage-specific mechanisms of addiction. HubMed – addiction
Older women living and coping with domestic violence.
Community Pract. 2013 Feb; 86(2): 28-32
Lazenbatt A, Devaney J, Gildea A
Although domestic violence is seen as a serious public health issue for women worldwide, international evidence suggests that women aged over 50 who are victims are suffering in silence because the problem is often ignored by health professionals. More U.K. research is needed to identify the extent of the problem, and services to meet the needs of older women. This study aims to bridge this gap by gaining a deeper understanding of how ‘older women’ cope with domestic violence and how it affects their wellbeing. Eighteen older women who were currently, or had been in an abusive relationship were recruited. Semi-structured interview schedules were used to discuss the personal nature of DV and its effects on wellbeing, ways of coping and sources of support. Findings suggest that living in a domestically violent context has extremely negative effects on older women’s wellbeing leading to severe anxiety and depression. Three-quarters of the women defined themselves as in ‘very poor’ mental and physical health and were using pathogenic coping mechanisms, such as excessive and long-term use of alcohol, prescription and non-prescription drugs and cigarettes. This negative coping increased the likelihood of these women experiencing addiction to drugs and alcohol dependence and endangered their health in the longer term. Our findings suggest that health professionals must receive appropriate education to gain knowledge and skills in order to deal effectively and support older women experiencing domestic violence. HubMed – addiction
[Design and implementation of virtual reality software with psychological treatment for drug-dependent patients].
Sheng Wu Yi Xue Gong Cheng Xue Za Zhi. 2012 Dec; 29(6): 1174-7
Yang B, Zhao X, Ou Y, Zhang J, Li Q, Liu Z
High relapse rate of drug-dependent patients is a serious problem in the current situation. The present article describes how to design and implement virtual reality technology for drug-dependent patients with psychological treatment, with the aim at the addiction withdrawal. The software was developed based on open-source game engine for 2D models. The form of a game simulates the actual style in the day-to-day living environment of drug-dependent patients and the temptation of using drugs. The software helps the patients deal with different scenarios and different event handling, cause their own thinking, and response to the temptation from high-risk environment and from other drug-dependent patients. The function of the software is close to the real life of drug-dependent patients, and has a prospect to become a new treatment to reduce the relapse rate of drug-dependence. HubMed – addiction
Alcohol Drug Rehab Prince William County Call Now for Appointment (540) 427-6618 – Alcohol Drug Rehab Manasas offer the best drug rehab, alcohol rehab facilities and drug detox programs. Alcohol Drug Rehab Prince William County 9532 Liberia…