Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · Aug 2021
Multicenter StudyConsequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on admissions to general hospital psychiatric wards in Italy: Reduced psychiatric hospitalizations and increased suicidality.
The present investigation aimed at evaluating differences in psychiatric hospitalizations in Italy during and after the lockdown due to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), compared to the same periods in 2018 and 2019. ⋯ The COVID-19 lockdown was associated with changes in the number of psychiatric admissions, particularly for older patients and long-stay hospitalizations. Increased admission of patients reporting suicidal ideation in the post-lockdown period merits special attention. Further studies are required to gain insight into the observed phenomena.
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · Aug 2021
Psychological distress and sleep problems in healthcare workers in a developing context during COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for workplace wellbeing.
Emotional wellbeing of healthcare workers is critical to the quality of patient care, and effective function of health services. The corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exerted unique physical and emotional demands on healthcare workers, however little is known about the emotional wellbeing of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in resource-restricted settings. This study investigated the prevalence of psychological distress, and sleep problems in healthcare workers in a COVID-19 referral hospital in Nigeria. ⋯ The prevalence rates of psychological distress and sleep problems during the COVID-19 pandemic were several folds the rates previously reported in similar contexts. Preventative psychosocial support services for healthcare workers are indicated. The creation of a culturally-sensitive interdisciplinary blueprint for locally-viable actions model are strongly suggested ahead of future emergency situations.
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · Jul 2021
ReviewLarge-scale network dysfunction in youths with Internet gaming disorder: a meta-analysis of resting-state functional connectivity studies.
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been defined as a specific behavioral disorder, associated with abnormal interactions among large-scale brain networks. Researchers have sought to identify the network dysfunction in IGD using resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC). However, results across studies have not reached an agreement yet and the mechanism remains unclear. ⋯ The results suggest that individuals with IGD show large-scale functional network alteration which underpins their core symptoms including poor emotional competence, cue-reactivity and craving, habitual addictive behaviors and impaired executive control. Whether the compensation mechanism exists in IGD is discussed, and further research is needed. The findings provide a neurocognitive network model of IGD, which may serve as functional biomarkers for IGD and have potentials for development of effective diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · Jul 2021
Younger people are more vulnerable to stress, anxiety and depression during COVID-19 pandemic: A global cross-sectional survey.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-ranging consequences for general physical and mental health. Country-specific research reveals a general reduction in mental and physical well-being, due to measures undertaken to stop the spread of COVID-19 disease. However, research is yet to examine the impact of the pandemic on global psychological distress and its effects upon vulnerable groups. ⋯ Age-based differences revealed that younger age-groups were more vulnerable to stress, depression and anxiety symptoms. Results show that these vulnerable individuals need more support. Age-specific interventions for modifiable factors that mediate the psychological distress need to urgently deployed to address the global mental health pandemic.
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · Jun 2021
The functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and supplementary motor area moderates the relationship between internet gaming disorder and loneliness.
Individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD) usually report a higher sense of loneliness. Although studies have suggested a key role of the prefrontal cortex-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in both IGD and loneliness, the potential mechanism between IGD and loneliness remains unclear. ⋯ The current study confirmed the role of the DLPFC in reward control (game craving) and emotion regulation (loneliness). Additionally, the rsFC of the prefrontal cortex-supplementary motor area moderates IGD and loneliness. These findings provide valuable understanding of the two-way relationship between IGD and loneliness.