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In this study, several factors (social status, age, gender, education, knowledge about healthy eating, and attitude to food) affecting consumer food choices (FC), including the relationship between the taste of food, FC, and depression, were analysed by using sensory traits and face reading technology. The first stage of the experimental scheme was the analysis of factors affecting consumer food preferences by using a questionnaire, while the second stage was evaluation of emotional expressions evoked by different food tastes in individuals with and without depressive disorders (DD), using the FaceReader 6 software. We show that gender is a significant factor for most emotional motivations, with a higher effect in females where there was an indication of increased cravings for sweets when feeling depressed. Age was a significant factor in the motivation to eat for positive feelings, while education had a significant influence on perceptions regarding healthy eating. Face reading technology was found to be sufficiently accurate to detect differences in facial expressions induced by different tastes of food, for groups with and without DD. In conclusion, many factors are of high importance in the analysis of food choices, and the results obtained using the FaceReader 6 technique are very promising for food-mood relation analysis. We suggest that mood has a strong link with the choice of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Alcohol consumption is a well-established risk factor in suicidal behaviour, but there is still discussion about which factor might imply greater suicide risk—acute alcohol intoxication or being a problems drinkers. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between a suicide attempt and the drinking pattern and to evaluate the risk factors for suicide attempt among problem drinkers versus non-problem drinkers. Short summary We found that problem drinking (CAGE ≥2) is an important issue in suicide attempts. Factors predicting suicide attempt among problem drinkers were male gender, younger age, being married or in a partnership status, low education and acute alcohol intoxication prior a suicide attempt. Methods A cohort study was performed including all cases of patients (n = 425) hospitalized in the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences after a suicide attempt. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, the nature of the suicide attempt, the question of alcohol consumption prior to the suicide attempt and a CAGE questionnaire screening for problem drinking (CAGE ≥ 2). Results Two-thirds (70.9%) of male and 43.2% of female suicide attempters were problem drinkers. Problem drinking versus non-problem drinking increased the risk of suicide attempt especially according to gender (3.2 times for male), age (1.08 times for younger age), marital status (among married or in a partnership—1.58 times), education level (among < 12 years—2.04 times) and acute alcohol intoxication prior a suicide attempt (8.15 times—among intoxicated). Conclusions Our results highlight that being a problem drinker as well as the use of alcohol at the time of the event is an important issue in suicide attempt,. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]