Qualitative Study of the Quality of Sleep in Marginalized Individuals Living With HIV.

Qualitative study of the quality of sleep in marginalized individuals living with HIV.

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2013; 7: 499-507
Saberi P, Comfort M, Sheon N, Johnson MO

Sleep disturbances have been reported to be higher in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals compared to the general population. Despite the consequences of poor quality of sleep (QOS), research regarding sleep disturbances in HIV infection is lacking and many questions regarding correlates of poor QOS, especially in marginalized populations, remain unanswered. We conducted one-on-one qualitative interviews with 14 marginalized HIV-infected individuals who reported poor QOS to examine self-reported correlates of sleep quality and explore the relationship between QOS and antiretroviral adherence. Findings suggest a complex and multidimensional impact of mental health issues, structural factors, and physical conditions on QOS of these individuals. Those reporting poor QOS as a barrier to antiretroviral adherence reported lower adherence due to falling asleep or feeling too tired to take medications in comparison to those who did not express this adherence barrier. These interviews underscore the importance of inquiries into a patient’s QOS as an opportunity to discuss topics such as adherence, depression, suicidal ideation, and substance use. HubMed – depression

 

Screening parents of high-risk infants for emotional distress: rationale and recommendations.

J Perinatol. 2013 Jun 27;
Hynan MT, Mounts KO, Vanderbilt DL

Having a baby hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a potentially traumatic event for parents. This article summarizes research documenting heightened symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress in these parents and reviews studies of the relationship of parental distress with impaired infant and child development. We describe an array of validated screening devices for depression and post-traumatic stress, along with research on risk factors for elevated scores. In making recommendations for screening both mothers and fathers for emotional distress in the NICU, we (a) present commentary on the pros and cons of screening, (b) propose a timetable for screening and (c) describe both supportive interventions for parents in the NICU and a variety of referral possibilities for parents most at risk.Journal of Perinatology advance online publication, 27 June 2013; doi:10.1038/jp.2013.72. HubMed – depression

 

Disability and psychiatric symptoms in hyperemesis gravidarum patients.

Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2013 Jun 27;
Ezberci I, Güven ES, Ustüner I, Sahin FK, Hocao?lu C

Nausea and vomiting is an important health problem which adversely affects the daily routine and quality of life in pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to measure the level of change in the quality of life, depression and anxiety in hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) patients in relation to social-demographic data and disease variables.One hundred pregnant women hospitalized with the diagnosis of HG were included in the study. A total of 100 healthy pregnant women were also evaluated as the control group. All the patients in the study completed the socio-demographic data form, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A and D) and Brief Disability Questionnaire (BDQ).The mean HADS-D subscale score was 7.09 ±3.91 in HG patients and 5.73 ± 3.32 in controls. The depression score in the HG patients were significantly higher than that of the control group (p = 0.009). The mean HADS-A subscale score was 7.73 ± 3.86, which was significantly higher in HG patients compared to 6.70 ± 3.31 in controls (p = 0.045). The mean BDQ score was 11.2 ± 4.40 in HG patients and 8.5 ± 3.31 in the control group of pregnant women, thus, significantly higher in the HG group as compared to controls (p < 0.0001). In the HADS-D, 52 patients in the HG group and 40 patients in the control group scored above the threshold value (p = 0.089). In the HADS-A, 28 patients in the HG group and 20 in the control group scored above the threshold value (p = 0.185).In patients with HG, a significant deterioration of physical and social health was encountered. HG disease is independent of any underlying psychiatric condition and adversely affects the quality of life of the sufferer. HubMed – depression

 

Confinement effects on glass transition temperature, transition breadth, and linear expansivity: An ultraslow X-ray reflectivity study on supported ultrathin polystyrene films.

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2013 Jun; 36(6): 9879
Yang C, Onitsuka R, Takahashi I

X-ray reflectivity measurements of the glass transition in thin polystyrene films supported on Si substrates were performed at slow cooling rates ranging from 0.62 to 0.01 (°)C/min. At a cooling rate of 0.14 (°)C/min, a depression in the glass transition temperature [Formula: see text] was clearly observed with decreasing thickness. However, at a cooling rate of 0.62 (°)C/min, only a slight decrease in [Formula: see text] for a 12-nm-thick film was observed, while at an ultraslow cooling rate of 0.01 °C/min, a significant reduction in the [Formula: see text] of ultrathin films (12 and 6 nm) was observed. As the thickness decreased, a broadening in the width of the glass transition, w, was found at higher cooling rates (0.62 °C/min and 0.14 °C/min), while narrowing of w was observed at ultraslow cooling rates of 0.01 °C/min and 0.04 °C/min. A narrow distribution of relaxation time in the ultrathin films indicates that most segments are able to relax under the ultraslow cooling process, thus showing an inherent reduction in the [Formula: see text] of the confined thin polymer films. HubMed – depression

 


 

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