Is ADHD a risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Results from a large longitudinal study of referred children with and without ADHD

Objectives. Preclinical studies link prenatal nicotine exposure with the development of both ADHD-like phenotype in rodents and blockade of extinction learning in a fear conditioning paradigm, a preclinical model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While these findings suggest that either ADHD, prenatal nicotine exposure, or both could be a risk factor for PTSD, such associations have not been investigated in humans. Methods. Subjects were ascertained from family-genetic, longitudinal studies of paediatrically and psychiatrically referred children with and without ADHD of both sexes and their siblings followed for 10 years from childhood into adulthood (n = 403 probands; n = 464 siblings; mean age at follow-up of probands and siblings = 22.0 years). All subjects were comprehensively evaluated with structured diagnostic interviews that included questions regarding prenatal use of cigarettes. Results. A total of 12% (104/867) of the sample had been exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy. There was no interaction effect between maternal smoking during pregnancy and ADHD (z = 0.01, P = 0.99). Maternal smoking during pregnancy and ADHD were independent, significant risk factors for PTSD at the 10-year follow-up (odds ratio = 3.58 [1.35,9.48], z = 2.57, P = 0.01 and odds ratio = 2.23 [1.06,4.69], z = 2.11, P = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions. These results suggest that both maternal smoking during pregnancy and ADHD are significant predictors of PTSD in humans.     

Sleep Problems Associated with Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms as Well as Cognitive Functions in Alzheimer's Disease

Background and Purpose

It has been shown that sleep problems in Alzheimer''s disease (AD) are associated with cognitive impairment and behavioral problems. In fact, most of studies have founded that daytime sleepiness is significantly correlated with cognitive decline in AD. However, a few studies have also shown that nighttime sleep problems are associated with cognitive function and behavioral symptoms in AD. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nighttime sleep on cognition and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in AD.

Methods

The study population comprised 117 subjects: 63 AD patients and 54 age- and sex-matched non-demented elderly subjects. Detailed cognitive functions and behavioral symptoms were measured using the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB) and the Korean version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-K). Sleep characteristics were evaluated using the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K). The correlations between PSQI-K and SNSB scores and between PSQI-K and NPI-K scores were analyzed.

Results

In AD patients, sleep latency was found to be negatively correlated with praxis (p=0.041), Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) immediate recall (p=0.041), and RCFT recognition (p=0.008) after controlling for age and education, while sleep duration and sleep efficiency were positively correlated with praxis (p=0.034 and p=0.025, respectively). Although no significant correlation was found between PSQI-K and NPI-K scores, sleep disturbance and total PSQI-K scores were found to be significantly associated with apathy/indifference in AD.

Conclusions

Sleep problems such as prolonged sleep duration, sleep latency, and poor sleep efficiency in AD patients were correlated with cognitive dysfunction, and especially frontal executive and visuospatial functions, and BPSD. These findings suggest that treatment of nighttime sleep problems might improve cognition and behavioral symptoms in AD patients.     

Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation among Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Objective

Chronic pain frequently coexists with psychiatric symptoms in patients diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Previous studies have shown a relationship between CRPS and the risk of suicide. The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors for suicidal ideation in patients with CRPS.

Methods

Based on criteria established by the International Association for the Study of Pain, 39 patients diagnosed with CRPS Type 1 or Type 2 were enrolled in this study. Suicidal ideation was assessed using item 3 of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and symptoms of pain were evaluated using the short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Psychiatric symptoms were assessed in using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders (SCID-I, SCID-II), the HAMD, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results

Twenty-nine patients (74.4%) were at high risk and 10 (25.6%) were at low risk for suicidal ideation. Risk factors significantly associated with suicidal ideation included depression (p=0.002), severity of pain (p=0.024), and low scores on the GAF (p=0.027). No significant correlations were found between suicidal ideation and anxiety or quality of sleep.

Conclusion

Significant risk factors for suicidal ideation in patients with CRPS include severity of pain, depressive symptoms, and decreased functioning. These results suggest that psychiatric evaluation and intervention should be included in the treatment of CRPS.     

脑电图、经颅多普勒超声检查及焦虑量表与难以分类原发性头痛关系

目的探析脑电图（EEG）、经颅多普勒超声（TCD）及焦虑量表（HAMA）与难以分类原发性头痛的关系。方法入选该院2010年6月-2014年6月收治的难以分类的原发性头痛患者141例,发作时进行EEG、TCD及汉密尔顿焦虑量表（HAMA）检查,分析脑电图异常、血流速度异常及HAMA的关系。结果脑血流速度异常率为68.1%（96/141）,脑电活动异常率为32.6%（46/141）,可能焦虑和焦虑患者发生率为62.4%（88/141）;无论TCD检查脑血流速度情况如何,EEG正常和异常患者HAMA量表评分无差异（P〉0.05）;无论EEG检查脑电情况如何,TCD正常和异常患者HAMA量表评分无差异（P〉0.05）。结论难以分类原发性头痛患者中62.4%存在焦虑障碍的精神、心理疾患,故治疗时不应忽视精神和心理疾病的治疗。     

手术图谱在术前访视中的实施与效果评价

目的：探讨手术室护士术前访视时应用手术图谱对缓解手术患者焦虑的效果。方法：将39例需进行手术的癌症患者随机分为应用图谱组（19例）及常规访视组（20例）。应用图谱组患者在原有访视内容基础上由手术室护士携带手术图谱相册,向手术患者介绍手术室工作环境、手术注意事项、体位等情况时,根据相册中的相关内容给患者解释。常规访视组患者给予常规的术前访视内容。同时采用焦虑自评量表测量患者入院时、入手术室后焦虑值及患者的血压、心率、疼痛强度、首次下床时间、排气时间及拆线时间,并比较其差异。结果：入手术室后应用手术图谱组患者的焦虑值、收缩压和心率均低于常规访视组,差异有统计学意义（t=2.28,t=4.756,t=10.28;P〈0.05）;两组术后疼痛强度、首次下床时间、排气时间比较差异均有统计学意义（t=3.04,t=3.06,t=2.56;P〈0.01）。结论：应用手术图谱进行系统化、规范化术前访视是一项重要心理指导,可以降低手术患者的焦虑水平,有效提高围术期医疗质量。     

孕期体操运动对不良症状改善的效果

目的 研究孕期体操运动对不良症状的改善作用,为开展孕期体操提供理论依据。方法 选择北京市5个孕妇学校的孕25～34周孕妇为研究对象,采用专家研发的孕期体操,观察孕期不良症状的改善效果。结果 孕妇通过体操干预,便秘症状改善率为81．2％,失眠改善率为82．8％,腿抽筋症状改善率为89．3％,浮肿症状改善率为53．3％,腰背疼痛感改善率为72．5％,血糖控制改善率为50％,髋关节打开程度改善率为90．6％。结论 孕期体操运动能够有效改善孕期便秘、失眠、腿抽筋、浮肿、腰背疼痛等不良症状,孕妇养生保健体操是安全有效,值得进一步研究和推广的。     

Posttraumatic Symptomatology and Alcohol Misuse Among Black College Students: Examining the Influence of Anxiety Sensitivity

Objective: Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) have been found to be associated with alcohol (mis)use among college students. Anxiety sensitivity has been theoretically and empirically linked to both PTSS and alcohol (mis)use. The goal of the present study was to extend research by examining the relations among PTSS, anxiety sensitivity, and alcohol misuse within a sample of trauma-exposed Black college students. Methods: Participants were 121 Black undergraduate college students who endorsed exposure to a traumatic event (M age = 22.98, 77.7% female). Results: Correlational findings provide support for significant positive relations between PTSS and both anxiety sensitivity and alcohol misuse. Further, analyses revealed a significant indirect effect of anxiety sensitivity on alcohol misuse through PTSS. Specifically, greater anxiety sensitivity was associated with higher levels of PTSS, which, in turn, were associated with higher levels of alcohol misuse. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the assessment of anxiety sensitivity may be useful in identifying trauma-exposed Black individuals who are likely to experience alcohol misuse and the clinical utility of addressing PTSS in this population reporting anxiety sensitivity to possibly prevent alcohol misuse and related negative consequences.     

Corona Virus Disease 2019 patients with different disease severity or age range: A single-center study of clinical features and prognosis

This study aimed to describe clinical characteristics and prognosis of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, and to compare these features among COVID-19 patients with different disease severity or age range.Totally, 129 COVID-19 patients were retrospectively enrolled, and the information about demographics, comorbidities, medical histories, clinical symptoms, and laboratory findings at the time of hospital admission were collected. Meanwhile, their clinical outcomes were recorded. According to the fourth version of the guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19 by the National Health Commission of China, patients were divided into subgroups according to disease severity (moderate and severe/critical) or age (<40 years, 40–64 years and ≥65 years).In total patients, the most common clinical symptoms were fever and cough (all incidences over 50%). Other common clinical symptoms included tiredness/anorexia, shortness of breath, dyspnea, aching pain, expectoration, diarrhea, shivering, and nausea/vomiting. The mortality rate was 5.4%, and the median value of hospital stay was 16.0 (11.0–23.0) days. Subgroup analyses disclosed that severe/critical patients exhibited increased neutrophil count, neutrophils, C-reactive protein, calcitonin, alpha-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, creatinine, and D-dimer levels, and more deaths compared with that in moderate patients. Regarding age, it correlated with more common fever, higher levels of red blood cell, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, neutrophils, red cell volume distribution width standard deviation-coefficient of variation, calcitonin, alpha-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase, Creatine Kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and D-dimer, raised death rate and prolonged hospital stay.Our findings provide valuable evidence regarding clinical characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19 patients to help with the understanding of the disease and prognosis improvement.     

Relationship between exercise capacity and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults

BackgroundDepressive symptoms cannot be ignored when exercise intervention is performed. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between depressive symptoms and exercise capacity in community-dwelling older adults.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we analyzed 110 community-dwelling older adults (mean age [standard deviation] = 70.7 [4.0] years old; women: 55 %). Depressive symptoms were measured using a Japanese version of the Geriatric Depression Scale. We evaluated exercise capacity by measuring distance (2MWD) during a 2-minute walk test. Linear regression models were applied to analyze the association between 2MWD and depressive symptoms.ResultsThe results suggest that depressive symptoms are associated with low 2MWD (beta = −5.87, 95 % confidence interval = −11.18 to −0.57, p < 0.05) even after adjusting for age, gender, Body Mass Index, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, pain severity, and the number of comorbidities.ConclusionsThe results indicated that depressive symptoms are associated with decreased exercise capacity in older adults.