Circumstances of substance use by street youth in Egypt support the case for intervening to prevent adverse childhood experiences

Background: Egyptian street youth use substances including tobacco, illicit drugs, and pharmaceutical drugs. To understand the circumstances, including adverse childhood experiences, that place adolescents at risk for engaging in substance use, we conducted in-depth interviews among a sample of Egyptian street children. Methods: From youth residing at or attending Caritas, a non-profit organization, which provides shelter and education to street youth, seven girls and twelve boys, aged 12–18 years, participated in open-ended, in-depth interviews. Results: Eight out of the 19 participants reported family history (early exposure) to substance use; and seven of them were initiated by either a family member (sibling), friend or coworker. Most of the participants reported a history of conflict with or abuse (verbal or physical) by their parents or siblings, or stressful situations at home; they used substance(s) to alleviate their stress. Few attended school, and some were forced to work and help their family. Conclusions: Among Egyptian youth, adverse childhood experiences, such as poverty, child abuse, and family substance use, challenge somewhat susceptible youths and lead them to the path of substance use and addiction. Prevention intervention should be multifaceted, culturally adaptable, and primarily targeting the social environment during childhood.     

Respondent and informant accounts of psychiatric symptoms in a sample of patients with learning disability

This paper investigates differences in the nature and frequency of psychiatric symptoms reported by patients with learning disability and by key informants. The study involved psychiatric assessment of 100 patients with learning disabilities and key informants using the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with a Developmental Disability (PAS-ADD), a semi-structured psychiatric interview developed specifically for people who have a learning disability. There was considerable disagreement between respondent and informant interviews; only 40.7% of cases were detected by both interviews. Respondents were more likely to report on autonomic symptoms and certain psychotic phenomena. Other anxiety and depression symptoms were more frequently reported by infcrnnants. The results indicate that it is crucial for sensitive case detection to complete both interviews where possible. If the respondent cannot be interviewed, panic disorder or phobias may be particularly difficult to detect.     

Interviewing skills: self-evaluation by medical students

In an independent learning project, 52 third-year medical students carried out a structured self-assessment of two videotaped psycho-social interviews they had conducted with volunteer clients 1 year earlier, as part of a previous course. The interviews had been conducted in small tutorials with feedback from their clients, fellow students and tutors, facilitated by videotape playback. During the sequence of 16 tutorials each student had carried out an early and a late interview and had observed and participated in the discussion of the interviews of 14 peers. Students were asked to tally the frequencies of various interview behaviours, to evaluate the quality of their behaviours, and to establish priorities for future learning. The videotapes were also reliably rated by an independent observer. Students' overall self-assessments correlated 0.46 with those of the independent observer. This correlation was higher than is typically reported in studies of the validity of self-assessment. In absolute terms, the students' mean rating of interviewing performance was 3.2 (adequate plus) which was significantly lower than the observer's mean of 3.6 (adequate to good). Results are discussed in terms of Gordon's (1992) two recommendations for improving the validity of self-assessments and two further suggestions, for paired comparisons and low-threat learning environments, are added.     

Methacholine reactivity and asthma

Methacholine tests were used in an epidemiologic study of the prevalence of asthma and chronic bronchitis in northern Sweden. Of 6610 subjects in three age groups from eight representative geographic areas in the northernmost province of Sweden, 5698 (86%) completed a postal questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, and 1506 underwent a structured interview and a lung function test. A total of 292 (5%) were diagnosed as having asthma. A subsample of 284 subjects (of 320 invited) classified at the interview as having asthma ( n = 98) or as having respiratory symptoms that might be due to asthma but not fulfilling the interview criteria for the diagnosis of asthma ( n = 186) underwent a methacholine test. Subjects who, before the interview study, already had a well-defined asthma diagnosis were not invited to the methacholine testing. Of those 98 subjects classified as having asthma, 61 % reacted to methacholine doses ≤ 4 mg/ml and 79% to doses ≤ 8 mg/ml, while the corresponding figures in the symptomatic but nonasthma group were 20% and 34%, respectively. The results show that a carefully performed structured interview accurately diagnoses asthma in epidemiologic studies. The methacholine tests provide important diagnostic information primarily in subjects in whom the medical history is equivocal.     

重庆社会文化因素对MSM人群性角色和性取向认同影响的定性研究

目的 分析重庆地域社会文化因素对男男性接触人群(men who have sex with men, MSM)性取向认同和性角色的影响,进而探讨性角色与MSM人群HIV高感染风险的关联。 方法 在2020年采用定性访谈的方法,依托当地从事MSM干预的社会组织招募符合要求的30名MSM人群进行个人深入访谈。 结果 访谈发现,重庆MSM人群对其性取向有较好自我认同感,告知他人性取向时最顾虑家人感受,性角色为被插入方或兼有者相对更可能告知父母。大部分访谈对象认为重庆MSM性角色被插入方的比例较高,可能跟重庆人体型小皮肤好、女性地位高、接受多元文化等有关,也使得性角色被插入方的自我认同度增高。重庆公众对同性恋现象的包容度较强,城市的包容开放受移民文化、经济发展等因素影响,但也受一定传统文化的制约。MSM的社区亚文化,如追求性自由的享乐、道德规范较弱、新型毒品的使用使得不同性角色都面临感染HIV的高风险。 结论 重庆社会文化因素对MSM性角色的选择有一定影响,充分考虑社会文化因素无疑会有效推进艾滋病防控工作。     

Views of Dutch general practitioners about premenstrual symptoms: A qualitative interview study

BackgroundGeneral practitioners (GPs) encounter women suffering from premenstrual symptoms. Often women with premenstrual problems experience little understanding from GPs. Views of GPs will influence their approach to these women and their care. Insight into these views is lacking but could help in designing educational programmes for GPs.ObjectivesTo explore the views of Dutch GPs towards aetiology, diagnostic process, and preferred treatment of premenstrual symptoms.MethodsIn 2017, we conducted a qualitative, semi-structured, interview survey among 27 GPs, varying in age, gender, and practice setting.ResultsImportant themes emerged from the interviews: ‘no need for a symptom diary,’ ‘PMS defined as illness’ exclusively in case of disruption of normal functioning, and ‘symptomatic treatment’ as preferred approach. Most GPs considered PMS to be a physiological phenomenon, with taking history as an adequate diagnostic tool. Almost all GPs regarded a normal cyclical hormonal cycle as causal; many also mentioned the combination with personal sensitivity. Some pointed to a dividing line between physiological condition and illness if women could not function normally in daily life. Lastly, the approach GPs preferred was focussing on relieving symptoms of individual patients. In addition to explaining the hormonal cycle and lifestyle advice, all GPs advocated oral contraceptives, and if necessary psychological support. GPs expressed negative feelings about prescribing antidepressants.ConclusionGPs considered physiological changes and personal sensitivity as aetiological factors. We recommend more training to improve GPs knowledge and more insight into the burden of women with PMS. A symptom diary is an essential diagnostic tool for GPs.     

Is romantic partner betrayal a form of traumatic experience? A qualitative study

According to a growing body of research, betrayal by a romantic partner is increasingly considered as a form of interpersonal trauma. Between 30% and 60% of betrayed individuals experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety to clinically meaningful levels. From a clinical perspective, this constellation of symptoms can be conceptualized as a stressor-related adjustment disorder. Yet, no qualitative research has examined the association between romantic betrayal and traumatic stress from the perspective of betrayed individuals. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants who had completed a clinical trial for a new treatment for adjustment disorder stemming from betrayal. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Although betrayal was experienced as a shocking and destabilizing event, and participants used trauma or ‘feeling traumatized’ as a metaphor to describe their experience, few had constructed their reaction as traumatic stress. In fact, participants reported experiencing difficulties understanding the intensity of their experience. However, when exposed to external sources (e.g., books and interviews by psychologists and researchers) that used a trauma and PTSD framework to explain the effects of betrayal, participants reported feeling clarity, validation and relief. Findings are discussed in the light of theoretical and clinical implications.