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Abtract Background Suicide results in over 800,000 deaths every year, making it a major public health concern worldwide. It is highly complex, with genetic and environmental influences. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, miRNA, and histone modifications, could explain the complex interplay of environmental risk factors with genetic risk factors in the emergence of suicidal behavior. Methods Here, we review the literature on suicide epigenetics over the past 10 years. Results There has been significant progress in the field of suicide epigenetics, with emerging findings in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis genes. Limitations Studying patient subgroups is needed in order to extract more comparable and reproducible epigenetic findings in suicide. Conclusions It is crucial to consider suicidal patients or suicide victims’ distal and proximal past history e.g., early-life adversity and psychiatric disorder in epigenetic studies of suicidality.

Background Given the complex nature of opioid addiction treatment and the rising number of available opioid substitution and antagonist therapies (OSAT), there is no ‘gold standard’ measure of treatment effectiveness, and each successive trial measures a different set of outcomes which reflect success in arbitrary or opportune terms. We sought to describe the variation in current outcomes employed across clinical trials for opioid addiction, as well as determine whether a discrepancy exists between the treatment targets that patients consider important and how treatment effectiveness is measured in the literature. Methods We searched nine commonly used databases (e.g., EMBASE, MEDLINE) from inception to August 1, 2015. Outcomes used across trials were extracted and categorized according to previously established domains. To evaluate patient-reported goals of treatment, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adults undergoing methadone treatment. Results We identified 60 trials eligible for inclusion. Once outcomes were categorized into eight broad domains (e.g., abstinence/substance abuse), we identified 21 specific outcomes with furthermore 53 subdomains and 118 measurements. Continued opioid use and treatment retention were the most commonly reported measures (46%, n = 28). The majority of patients agreed that abstinence from opioids was a primary goal in their treatment, although they also stressed goals under-reported in clinical trials. Conclusions There is inconsistency in the measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of OSATs. Individual and population level decision making is being guided by a standard of effect considered useful to researchers yet in direct conflict with what patients deem important. Trial registration PROSPERO, CRD42013006507.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a leading risk factor of disease burden in the world. It is also commonly comorbid with over 20% of schizophrenia patients. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) have been implicated in alcohol drinking behaviour. Previous genetic studies of the BDNF and DRD3 genes produced mixed findings; however, only one study investigated two BDNF genetic markers with alcohol dependence in schizophrenia patients. We investigated 15 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DRD3 and four SNPs in BDNF for possible association with alcohol abuse or dependence in schizophrenia patients of European ancestry (N = 195). The patients were assessed for the occurrence of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Patient Edition (SCID-I/P). We found the BDNF Val66Met to be associated with alcohol dependence (p = 0.004). We also found haplotypes across BDNF to be nominally associated with alcohol dependence. Analyses of DRD3 markers and haplotypes yielded mostly negative findings. Our findings support a role of the BDNF gene in alcohol dependence in schizophrenia patients. Larger samples are required to confirm our findings, particularly those of BDNF haplotypes.

The objective of this study was to examine the acceptability and tolerability of omega-3 fatty acids as an adjunctive treatment for children and adolescents with eating disorders (EDs). Children and adolescents with EDs received omega-3 supplements (300 mg eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and 200 mg docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]/day) in addition to standard treatment for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes were dropout rate, compliance, and side effects. Secondary outcomes included percent ideal body weight, Eating Disorders Inventory-3 (EDI-3), Children's Depression Inventory-2 (CDI-2), and Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC). There were 21 participants with mean age of 15.29 ± 2.0 years. There were no dropouts. Omega-3 was well tolerated by all participants. Compared to baseline, at week 8 there was a significant increase in mean percent ideal body weight but no significant difference in scores on the EDI-3, CDI-2, and MASC. We conclude that omega-3 supplements are acceptable and well tolerated in the pediatric ED population.

Introduction:Despite its efficacy and widespread use, methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) continues to be widely stigmatized. Reducing the stigma surrounding MMT will help improve the accessibility, retention, and treatment outcomes in MMT.Methods:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adults undergoing MMT. Thematic content analysis was used to identify overarching themes.Results:In total, 78% of participants reported having experienced stigma surrounding MMT. Common stereotypes associated with MMT patients included the following: methadone as a way to get high, incompetence, untrustworthiness, lack of willpower, and heroin junkies. Participants reported that stigma resulted in lower self-esteem; relationship conflicts; reluctance to initiate, access, or continue MMT; and distrust toward the health care system. Public awareness campaigns, education of health care workers, family therapy, and community meetings were cited as potential stigma-reduction strategies.Discussion and Conclusion:Stigma is a widespread and serious issue that adversely affects MMT patients’ quality of life and treatment. More efforts are needed to combat MMT-related stigma.

This essay uses a mixed-methods approach combining scoping review, thematic qualitative analysis, and case study methodologies to identify relationships between art and political advocacy in the context of the AIDS epidemic. Thirty-four relevant articles were found through a comprehensive literature search focused on social scientific analyses. Three key themes were identified: addressing negative stereotypes; the importance of education; and giving voice to individuals affected by HIV. The significance of iconic artist Keith Haring and two important artworks related to HIV advocacy—the Keiskamma Altarpiece and the Ribbon Project—are discussed, with lessons distilled for the role that art can play in political advocacy on global health issues more broadly., Cet essai utilise une approche à méthodes mixtes combinant un examen de la portée, une analyse qualitative thématique et des méthodologies d’études de cas pour identifier les relations entre l’art et le plaidoyer politique dans le contexte de l’épidémie de Sida. Trente-quatre articles pertinents ont été trouvés grâce à une recherche documentaire complète axée sur les analyses scientifiques sociales. Trois thèmes-clés ont été identifiés: lutter contre les stéréotypes négatifs; l’importance de l’éducation; et donner la parole aux personnes touchées par le VIH. L’importance de l’artiste emblématique Keith Haring et de deux œuvres d’art importantes liées au plaidoyer contre le VIH—le Retable de Keiskamma et le Ribbon Project—sont examinées afin d’en tirer des leçons sur le rôle que l’art peut jouer plus largement dans le plaidoyer politique sur les questions de santé mondiale.