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The article discusses the challenges and potential solutions for reducing the treatment gap for common perinatal mental disorders (PMDs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). PMDs, such as depression and anxiety, have a significant impact on parents' daily functioning and can lead to adverse obstetric and infant outcomes. However, these disorders often go undiagnosed and untreated in LMICs due to a lack of evidence-based interventions and service models. The article suggests that brief interventions and technology-based interventions, such as mobile applications and chatbots, can help address this treatment gap by improving access to healthcare services and providing digital psycho-social interventions. However, there are challenges to implementing these interventions, including limited training resources and regulatory issues. It is important to consider these limitations and regulatory challenges before implementing technology-based interventions in LMICs. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Understanding the diversity and multiplicity of identities experienced by youth in Aotearoa (Te reo Māori name of the country) New Zealand (NZ) is vital to promoting their wellbeing. Ethnic minority youth (EMY) in NZ (defined as those identifying with Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and African ethnic origins) have been historically under-studied and under-counted, despite reporting high levels of discrimination, a major determinant of mental health and wellbeing and potentially a proxy for other inequities. In this paper, we describe the protocol for a multi-year study that examines, using an intersectional approach, how multiple marginalised identities impact mental and emotional wellbeing of EMY. Methods: This is a multiphase, multi-method study designed to capture the diversity of lived realities of EMY who self-identify with one or more additional marginalised intersecting identity (the population referred here as EMYi). Phase 1 (Descriptive study) will involve secondary analyses of national surveys to examine the prevalence and relationships between discrimination and wellbeing of EMYi. Phase 2 (Study on public discourse) will analyse data from media narratives, complemented by interviews with stakeholders to explore discourses around EMYi. Phase 3 (Study on lived experience) will examine lived experiences of EMYi to discuss challenges and sources of resilience, and how these are influenced by public discourse. Phase 4 (Co-design phase) will use a creative approach that is youth-centered and participatory, and will involve EMYi, creative mentors and health service, policy and community stakeholders as research partners and advisors. It will employ participatory generative creative methods to explore strengths-based solutions to discriminatory experiences. Discussion: This study will explore the implications of public discourse, racism and multiple forms of marginalisation on the wellbeing of EMYi. It is expected to provide evidence on the impacts of marginalisation on their mental and emotional wellbeing and inform responsive health practice and policy. Using established research tools and innovative creative means, it will enable EMYi to propose their own strength-based solutions. Further, population-based empirical research on intersectionality and health is still nascent, and even more scarce in relation to youth. This study will present the possibility of expanding its applicability in public health research focused on under-served communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As mental health issues continue to rise in Latin America, the need for research in this field becomes increasingly pressing. This study aimed to explore the perceived barriers and resources for research and publications among psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees from nine Spanishspeaking countries in South America. Data was collected through an anonymous online survey and analyzed using descriptive methods and the SPSS Statistical package. In total, 214 responses were analyzed. Among the participating psychiatrists, 61.8% reported having led a research project and 74.7% of them reported having led an academic publication. As for the psychiatry trainees, 26% reported having conducted research and 41.5% reported having published or attempted to publish an academic paper. When available, having access to research training, protected research time and mentorship opportunities were significant resources for research. Further support is needed in terms of funding, training, protected research time and mentorship opportunities. However, despite their efforts to participate in the global mental health discussion, Latin American psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees remain largely underrepresented in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early diagnosis is essential for the appropriate management of acute kidney injury (AKI). We evaluated the impact of an electronic AKI alert together with a care bundle on the progression and mortality of AKI. This was a single-center prospective study that included AKI patients aged ≥ 18 years, whereas those in palliative care, nephrology, and transplantation departments were excluded. An AKI alert was issued in electronic medical records and a care bundle was suggested. A series of classes were administered to the multidisciplinary teams by nephrologists, and a clinical pharmacist audited prescriptions. Patients were categorized into pre-alert and post-alert groups. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the pre-alert (n = 1613) and post-alert (n = 1561) groups. The 30-day mortality rate was 33.6% in the entire cohort and was lower in the post-alert group (30.5% vs. 36.7%; p < 0.001). Age, pulmonary disease, malignancy, and ICU admission were associated with an increase in 30-day mortality. The electronic AKI alert together with a care bundle and a multidisciplinary education program was associated with a reduction in 30-day mortality in patients with AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Most tobacco smokers have attempted to quit smoking, but they find it challenging to succeed in these attempts. Still, some people do manage to stop. The present study was set to explore the nature of a successful quit attempt and what differentiates it from failed attempts. Methods: We used a constructivist grounded theory methodology. The constructed theory was developed from the accounts of participants' first-hand experiences of becoming a nonsmoker. Results: The theory developed in this paper uncouples the process of giving up smoking from the one of becoming a nonsmoker and it focuses on the latter. The theory also introduces the concept of 'nonsmoking' as a contextually framed and relational practice. The theory proposes that it is the practice and naturalization of nonsmoking, and not giving up smoking per se, that leads smokers to become nonsmokers. The naturalization of 'nonsmoking' is facilitated by interacting with what is here called a nonsmoking milieu, a context where nonsmoking is a normal social practice. This interaction enables processes different from giving up smoking, which in turn advance the naturalization of nonsmoking. Conclusion: The theory explains the process of becoming a nonsmoker as a relational and contextually sensitive one. It moves beyond an individual-focused understanding of the process, and underscores the benefits of reexamining assumptions embedded in how smoking cessation is commonly approached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podocytes are specialized cells with a limited capacity for cell division that do not regenerate in response to injury and loss. Insults that compromise the integrity of podocytes promote proteinuria and progressive renal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential renoprotective and regenerative effects of mesenchymal stromal cells (mSC) in a severe form of the podocyte injury model induced by intraperitoneal administration of puromycin, aggravated by unilateral nephrectomy. Bone derived mSC were isolated and characterized according to flow cytometry analyses and to their capacity to differentiate into mesenchymal lineages. Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Control, PAN, and PAN+ mSC, consisting of PAN rats treated with 2 × 105 mSC. PAN rats developed heavy proteinuria, hypertension, glomerulosclerosis and significant effacement of the foot process. After 60 days, PAN rats treated with mSC presented a significant amelioration of all these abnormalities. In addition, mSC treatment recovered WT1 expression, improved nephrin, podocin, synaptopodin, podocalyxin, and VEGF expression, and downregulated proinflammatory Th1 cytokines in the kidney with a shift towards regulatory Th2 cytokines. In conclusion, mSC administration induced protection of podocytes in this experimental PAN model, providing new perspectives for the treatment of renal diseases associated with podocyte damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To summarise publications reporting on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in a narrative review.Methods: ProQuest, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for articles published in 2020. This search used two terms: 'alcohol' and 'COVID'. Reference lists of articles were reviewed to identify additional articles.Results: There is growing concern around an increase in alcohol intake and alcohol-related harms. These concerns are related to the impact of excessive alcohol consumption in a person with COVID-19 and/or with alcohol use disorder, as well as with a potential increase in the prevalence of harmful drinking, alcohol use disorder, withdrawal symptoms, intimate partner violence, harm to children, suicide, mental health problems and non-communicable diseases. The need for assessing alcohol use and providing adequate advice during the pandemic have been highlighted.Conclusion: The time for action is now, and all necessary measures to prevent an increase in alcohol-related problems should be adopted. At the same time, healthcare services should also prepare for such potential increase, while adapting to the exceptional circumstances presented by the pandemic, such as physical distancing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated for the first time the genomewide DNA methylation changes of noncoding RNA genes in the temporal cortex samples from individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The methylome of 10 AD individuals and 10 age-matched controls were obtained using Illumina 450 K methylation array. A total of 2,095 among the 15,258 interrogated noncoding RNA CpG sites presented differential methylation, 161 of which were associated with miRNA genes. In particular, 10 miRNA CpG sites that were found to be hypermethylated in AD compared to control brains represent transcripts that have been previously associated with the disease. This miRNA set is predicted to target 33 coding genes from the neuregulin receptor complex (ErbB) signaling pathway, which is required for the neurons myelination process. For 6 of these miRNA genes (MIR9-1, MIR9-3, MIR181C, MIR124-1, MIR146B, and MIR451), the hypermethylation pattern is in agreement with previous results from literature that shows downregulation of miR-9, miR-181c, miR-124, miR-146b, and miR-451 in the AD brain. Our data implicate dysregulation of miRNA methylation as contributor to the pathogenesis of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite evidence that at the interspecific scale, exonic splicing silencers (ESSs) are under negative selection in constitutive exons, little is known about the effects of slightly deleterious polymorphisms on these splicing regulators. Through the application of a modified version of the McDonald-Kreitman test, we compared the normalized proportions of human polymorphisms and human/rhesus substitutions affecting exonic splicing regulators (ESRs) on sequences of constitutive and alternative exons. Our results show a depletion of substitutions and an enrichment of SNPs associated with ESS gain in constitutive exons. Moreover, we show that this evolutionary pattern is also present in a set of ESRs previously involved in the transition from constitutive to skipped exons in the mammalian lineage. The similarity between these two sets of ESRs suggests that the transition from constitutive to skipped exons in mammals is more frequently associated with the inhibition than with the promotion of splicing signals. This is in accordance with the hypothesis of a constitutive origin of exon skipping and corroborates previous findings about the antagonistic role of certain exonic splicing enhancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The 5′ cis-regulatory region of the CCR5 gene exhibits a strong signature of balancing selection in several human populations. Here we analyze the polymorphism of this region in Amerindians from Amazonia, who have a complex demographic history, including recent bottlenecks that are known to reduce genetic variability. Amerindians show high nucleotide diversity (π = 0.27%) and significantly positive Tajima''s D, and carry haplotypes associated with weak and strong gene expression. To evaluate whether these signatures of balancing selection could be explained by demography, we perform neutrality tests based on empiric and simulated data. The observed Tajima''s D was higher than that of other world populations; higher than that found for 18 noncoding regions of South Amerindians, and higher than 99.6% of simulated genealogies, which assume nonequilibrium conditions. Moreover, comparing Amerindians and Asians, the Fst for CCR5 cis-regulatory region was unusually low, in relation to neutral markers. These findings indicate that, despite their complex demographic history, South Amerindians carry a detectable signature of selection on the CCR5 cis-regulatory region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been controversial. Although Oral Glucose Tolerant Test (OGTT) is generally proposed, it requires an extensive preparation, is uncomfortable and lacks reproducibility. In contrast, Glycated Hemoglobin test (A1C) is more convenient and accurate, however, its use for GDM diagnosis has not been recommended yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a first trimester A1C predicts an abnormal second trimester OGTT. Methods: This was an observational retrospective study that included Brazilian women screened with A1C until 14 weeks of gestation between January 2009 and March 2019. Data were collected from a laboratory center. A1C was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Exclusion criteria were first trimester glycemia ≥ 92 mg/dL or A1C ≥ 6.5% and use of antidiabetic drugs or insulin. Primary outcome was association between A1C value and diagnosis of GDM, according to 75g or 100g OGTT, as defined by American Diabetes Association (ADA). Results: a total of 373 women were included, 106 were diagnosed with GDM by OGTT. General characteristics of the groups with and without GDM were, respectively: mean age 35.1 ±3.5 and 34.1 ± 3.5 years, mean Body Mass Index (BMI) 24.2 ± 4.8 and 25.4 ± 3.7 Kg/m², mean first trimester glycemia 81.8 ± 5.1 and 81.2 ± 5.2 mg/dL and mean A1C 5.1 ± 0.3 and 5.0 ± 0.3%. OGTT values in the GDM group were: fasting 80.1 ± 6.6, 1st hour 171.6 ± 25.7 and 2nd hour 152 ± 27.1. For women without GDM, the results were: fasting 78.1 ± 5.7, 1st h 143.4 ± 29.5 and 2nd h 123.1 ± 28.3. There was no significant statistical difference of A1C values between groups with or without GDM (P=0.26, Wilcoxon test). Conclusion: A1C could not predict women who would develop GDM in this population. Ethnicity and different criteria for OGTT interpretation may have contributed for these findings. The limitations of this study were lack of data about previous history of GDM, family history of diabetes and weight gain during pregnancy. Disclosure: F. Faro: None. R.F. Ramalho: None. W.H. Prieto: None. M. Pereira: None. J.E. Salles: Board Member; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk Inc. P.S. Rosa: None. M.G. Teles: None. P. de Sá Tavares Russo: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: first trimester glycemia ≥ 92 mg/dL is a valid criterion for diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), excluding the requirement of Oral Glucose Tolerant Test (OGTT) later in pregnancy. Glycated Hemoglobin (A1C), is well stablished for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, however its utility in the screening of GDM is not certain. The aim of this study was to associate A1C and glycemia values in the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods: this was an observational retrospective study that included Brazilian women screened with A1C until 20 weeks of gestation between January 2009 and March 2019. Data were collected from a laboratory center. A1C was estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Exclusion criteria were hemoglobin < 11.0 and use of antidiabetic drugs or insulin. Women were divided into groups according to first trimester glycemia: <70; 70-85; 85-92; 92-126; ≥ 126 mg/dL. Primary outcome was association between A1C and glycemia values. Results: a total of 17.764 women were included. The majority was in the 70-85 mg/dL group (9.689), followed by 85-92 mg/dL (5.420), 92-126 mg/dL (2.178), < 70 mg/dL (436) and ≥ 126 mg/dL (41). Means' age were: 32.5 ± 4.79 (<70 mg/dL); 33.8 ± 4.14 (70-85 mg/dL); 34.2 ± 3.9 (85-92 mg/dL); 34.7 ± 4.03 (92-126 mg/dL) and 31.4 ± 3.46 years (≥ 126 mg/dL). Means' Body Mass Index (BMI): 24.5 ± 2.68 (<70 mg/dL); 25.2 ± 3.88 (70-85 mg/dL); 25.8 ± 4.5 (85-92 mg/dL); 27.6 ± 4.83 (92-126 mg/dL) and 27.3 ± 2.59 years (≥ 126 mg/dL). A1C means were very similar in the first four groups: 4.92% ± 0.41 (<70 mg/dL); 5.01% ± 0.32 (70-85 mg/dL); 5.15% ± 0.32 (85-92 mg/dL) and 5.33% ± 0.42 (92-126 mg/dL). The group with glycemia ≥ 126 mg/dL presented A1C mean of 7.08% ± 1.49, significantly higher than all the other groups (p < 0.01 by Kruskal-Wallis test). Conclusion: in this study, A1C values were not accurate to the screening of GDM in the first trimester of pregnancy. The main difference was in the group with glycemia ≥ 126 mg/dL, already defined as overt diabetes. Disclosure: F. Faro: None. R.F. Ramalho: None. M. Pereira: None. J.E. Salles: Board Member; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk Inc. P.S. Rosa: None. M.G. Teles: None. P. de Sá Tavares Russo: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Indigenous peoples, and racial and ethnic minorities around the world experience significant mental health inequities. Telepsychiatry can contribute to addressing these inequities among these populations. However, it is first crucial to ensure the cultural safety of this tool as a critical step toward health equity. This review aimed to collate evidence regarding cultural adaptations, barriers, opportunities, and facilitators for telepsychiatry services supporting minority groups. Method: Using the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guideline, we conducted a systematic scoping review and thematic analysis. Six databases were searched using the PICO framework, i.e., population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes.. Additional literature was identified through reference lists screening. We developed a table for data extraction, and the extracted data were further analyzed following Braun and Clarke's approach for thematic analysis. Results: A total of 1514 citations were screened with a final total of 58 articles included in the review. The themes related to telepsychiatry cultural adaptations emphasize the crucial role of community involvement and quality service delivery. Identified barriers were associated with service and infrastructure, and service users' socioeconomic and cultural contexts. Opportunities and facilitators for telepsychiatry were enhanced access and rapport, and multi-organizational collaborations and partnerships. Discussion: This review identified factors that can guide the adaptation of telepsychiatry evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of Indigenous peoples and racial and ethnic minorities. Telepsychiatry programs must be specifically designed for the population they seek to serve, and this review offers emerging insights into critical factors to consider in their development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Whilst positive ethnic identity is associated with higher self-esteem, prosocial tendencies and peer acceptance, it is inversely associated with depressive symptoms and drug use among ethnic minority individuals. Negotiating ethnic identity is particularly challenging for 1.5-and second-generation migrant populations, finding themselves positioned between host culture and culture of origin. To inform positive youth development policies and practices, this systematic literature review aimed to identify factors influencing the negotiation of ethnic identity for 1.5-and second-generation Asian migrants living in high-income countries.Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted of peer-reviewed literature in four databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo and Scopus. Articles were screened by title, abstract and full text to ascertain whether they met the inclusion criteria. Quality of studies were assessed using MMAT Version 2011. Mixed-method thematic analysis was used to synthesis the data according to Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model.Results: Forty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The review findings confirm a wide range of factors influencing the negotiation of ethnic identity from three systems in Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model, most commonly from the macrosystem (e.g stereotyping), followed by microsystem (e.g family) and individual factors (e.g heritage language use).Conclusions: Results indicate negotiating ethnic identity can be challenging and difficult, where the culture/norms of country of origin and host country play a significant role. Positive youth development policies and practices need to reflect these wide range of factors. More research is needed in countries where data is not available to facilitate greater response to needs of this increasing population group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the stigma associated with mental health in movies and urges the film industry to take action. It discusses how, despite its popularity and influence, cinema can unintentionally perpetuate stigmatizing portrayals of mental health issues through inaccurate and discriminatory representations, and it highlights factors that contribute to this problem, such as misinformation, stereotypes, fear of change, and sensationalism.

Recruitment in Health Research Linguistic differences could also result in barriers to effective participant recruitment in health research, SP sp [14] SP sp an issue often underreported in the health research literature. SP sp [15] SP sp This could negatively impact the ability to generalize research findings to populations who speak minor languages, populations often affected by health inequities. Researchers who speak languages other than English and that have a greater impact, such as Spanish, French, or German, are still overrepresented in high-income countries. SP sp [9] SP sp The result is an omission of most researchers, mainly from LMICs where these languages are often not an additional language or the researchers are not fluent in English. As of 2021, there are 7,139 spoken languages recorded, with more than half having no written form. SP sp [1] SP sp Of these, only 23 are spoken by more than half of the world's population and claim disproportionate dominance. SP sp [1] SP sp Furthermore, health research, including mental health research, is disproportionately dominated by English, followed by other dominant languages such as Spanish and Russian. SP sp [2] SP sp The issue, however, is broader than the establishment of English as the lingua franca of academia. Still, it could be helpful for governments to develop language translation services for health research and the dissemination of health-related and other information. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: To report the development and feedback on a newly created mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) informed virtual wellbeing programme for psychiatry trainees. Methods: Thirteen of the 14 trainees participated in the programme provided feedback via an online questionnaire. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Thematic analysis revealed three main themes: timing of the intervention in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic; trainees were connected to the facilitator, their peers and within oneself; and trainees were going through a transformative experience. Discussion: Our findings support including an optional MBCT informed wellbeing programme in psychiatry training programmes. Future research could measure efficacy of this online programme by utilising pre- and post-outcome measures of dispositional mindfulness and stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To collect mental health and addiction service providers' opinions about priorities for an e-Mental Health (eMH) research agenda focused on delivering culturally safe eMH in Aotearoa New Zealand. Method: Service providers were recruited to participate in an anonymous online survey, which asked participants to rate the importance of potential research domains and items on a continuous scale from 1 to 10. The mean values of each item were normalised to develop a priority index. Results: 48 participants rated at least one of the listed research items. The highest-rated items were (i) identifying strategies to improve access; co-developing eMH with the community (ii) a set of competencies required for delivering culturally safe care, (iii) a set of meaningful clinical outcomes that can be achieved via eMH, (iv) guidelines for the delivery of eMH services and (v) investigating the extent to which eMH could meet the mental health needs of these communities. 'Standards and guidelines' was the domain with the highest priority index. Conclusions: Mental health and addiction service providers in Aotearoa New Zealand prioritised an eMH research agenda that is focused on pro-equity outcomes and incorporating the voices and experiences of the communities they seek to serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grief is the physical or mental suffering experienced after a major loss, usually the death of a loved one. It is a universal experience, but sociocultural factors, such as cultural or ethnic identity and religious beliefs predict and shape the expression of grief. The circumstances under which people are experiencing grief during the coronavirus outbreak have adversely affected the grieving process. Unexpected deaths, social distancing rules and visitor restrictions in healthcare facilities have posed a heavier burden on the loss and have heightened the risk of grievers experiencing complicated or persistent grief. This concern led us, as early career psychiatrists (ECPs) from 14 different countries connected by the Early Career Psychiatrists Section of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), to share our country-specific experiences on the mourning, grief tradition, and burial rites during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we discuss our experiences, similarities and differences with relation to the: 'Effect of the pandemic on mourning', 'Restrictions and Guideline on burial rites due to the pandemic', 'Effect of the pandemic on social support' and 'Role of media and telecommunication on mourning practices and burial rites'. We conclude that while telecommunication means have attempted to bridge the gap and provide some form of social connectedness, the total and global effect of the pandemic is yet to be fully seen and understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the associations of lockdown stringency and duration with Google searches for four mental health concepts (i.e., "Anxiety," "Depression," "Suicide," "Mental Health") in nine countries (i.e., Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Paraguay, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We retrieved national-level data for each country from Google Trends and the Global Panel Database of Pandemic Policies. In our primary analysis, we used data from all countries to estimate a set of multilevel regression models examining associations of overall lockdown stringency and lockdown duration with relative search volumes for each mental health term. We repeated the models after replacing overall lockdown stringency with each of the lockdown stringency components. A negative association was found between overall lockdown stringency and "Depression." Lockdown duration and the most stringent stay-at-home requirements were negatively associated with "Anxiety." Policies that recommended or required the cancelation of public events evidenced negative associations with "Depression," whereas associations between policies that required some or all levels of schooling to close and "Depression" were positive. Policies that recommended or required workplaces to close and those that enforced quarantines on non-citizens arriving from high-risk regions or closed borders entirely were negatively associated with "Suicide." Lockdown duration and some lockdown policies during the COVID-19 pandemic were generally associated with significantly lower, rather than higher, Google searches for selected mental health terms. These findings could be used alongside other evidence to develop future lockdown strategies that are sensitive to mental health issues during public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has captured the mental health discussion worldwide. Examining countries' representation in this discussion could prove instrumental in identifying potential gaps in terms of ensuring a truly global conversation in times of global crisis. Methods: We collected mental health and COVID-19-related journal articles published in PubMed in 2020. We focused on the corresponding authors' countries of affiliation to explore countries' representation. We also examined these articles' academic impact and correlations with their corresponding authors' countries of affiliation. Additional journals and countries' indicators were collected from the Web of Science and World Bank websites, respectively. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics and the VOSviewer software. Results: In total, 3492 publications were analyzed. Based on the corresponding author, high-income countries produced 61.9% of these publications. Corresponding authors from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East combined accounted for 11.8% of the publications. Europe hosted corresponding authors with the most publications and citations, and corresponding authors from North America had the largest mean journal impact factor. Conclusions: The global scientific discussion during the COVID-19 pandemic saw an increased contribution of academics from developing countries. However, authors from high-income countries have continued to shape this discussion. It is imperative to ensure the active participation of low- and middle-income countries in setting up the global mental health research agenda, particularly in situations of global crisis, such as the ongoing pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many people, including medical students. The present study explored internet addiction and changes in sleep patterns among medical students during the pandemic and assessed the relationship between them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in seven countries, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Guyana, India, Mexico, Pakistan, and Sudan, using a convenience sampling technique, an online survey comprising demographic details, information regarding COVID-19, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Results: In total, 2749 participants completed the questionnaire. Of the total, 67.6% scored above 30 in the IAT, suggesting the presence of an Internet addiction, and 73.5% scored equal and above 5 in the PSQI, suggesting poor sleep quality. Internet addiction was found to be significant predictors of poor sleep quality, causing 13.2% of the variance in poor sleep quality. Participants who reported COVID-19 related symptoms had disturbed sleep and higher internet addiction levels when compared with those who did not. Participants who reported a diagnosis of COVID-19 reported poor sleep quality. Those living with a COVID-19 diagnosed patient reported higher internet addiction and worse sleep quality compared with those who did not have any COVID-19 patients in their surroundings. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that internet addiction and poor sleep quality are two issues that require addressing amongst medical students. Medical training institutions should do their best to minimize their negative impact, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor quality sleep and emotional disturbances are expected in times of crisis. COVID‐19 has severely impacted healthcare worldwide and with that comes the concern about its effects on healthcare workers. The purpose of the present study was to assess sleep quality and psychological distress in healthcare workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: The present work is a multi‐centric cross‐sectional study targeting healthcare workers from India, Pakistan, and Nepal. It used an online version of the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index and the General Health Questionnaire, and data were analyzed using SPSS V.24. Results: A total of 1790 participants completed the questionnaire. Of the 1790 participants, 57% reported poor sleep quality, and 10% reported a high level of psychological distress. A cross‐cultural comparison found some differences between the different groups of participants. The details of the differences were further explored in the article. Conclusion: The present study highlights that a significant proportion of healthcare workers are affected by poor sleep quality and psychological distress during the COVID‐19 pandemic. It also emphasizes the imperative to provide them with psychosocial support to avoid potential short‐ and long‐term psychological consequences of these troubling times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undergraduate psychiatric education is essential for the training of medical students and for their recruitment into psychiatry. A significant shortage of graduates choosing a career in psychiatry has been recently documented, and this trend might have many causes. When medical students have positive experiences of teaching, elective placements and exposure to psychiatric patients, their attitudes towards psychiatry are significantly better. Therefore, there is a need to improve the quality of undergraduate training courses in psychiatry. Innovative teaching strategies are suggested, including the use of movies, virtual reality, simulated patients and multiprofessional training wards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The global crisis of COVID-19 and its consequential strict public health measures placed around the world have impacted mental health. New scales and tools have been developed to measure these mental health effects. This narrative review assesses the psychometric properties of these scales and tools and methodological aspects of their development.Methods: PubMed, PubMed Central, and Google Scholar were searched for articles published from 15 May 2020 to 15 August 2020. This search used three groups of terms ("tool" OR "scale" AND "mental" OR "psychological"; AND "COVID-19" OR "coronavirus"). The identified scales were further evaluated for their psychometric properties and methodological aspects of their development.Results: Though the studies developing these scales (n = 12) have demonstrated their robust psychometric properties, some methodological concerns are noteworthy. Most of the scales were validated using internet-based surveys, and detailed descriptions of the mode of administration, sampling process, response rates, and augmentation strategies were missing.Conclusions: The heterogeneous and inadequate reporting of methods adopted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the identified scales can limit their utility in clinical and research settings. We suggest developing guidelines and checklists to improve the design and testing, and result in reporting of online-administered scales to assess the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on how stigma had hindered the control of the above-mentioned infectious disease outbreaks might also shed some light on the potential impact of stigma in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions Preventing the dissemination of stigma-related attitudes and behaviors may help decrease the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, as stigma may lead to underreporting of symptoms and decrease the use of health facilities. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents Recommendations for low‐ and middle‐income countries. Topics discussed include Low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) struggle with the highest burden of mental health disorders, along with an often unequal distribution of resources, including specialist care; and this situation can translate into unequal access to mental health care in different regions within these countries.