Machine learning approaches to identify profiles and predictors of psychosocial discomfort among Italian college students / Enfoques de machine learning para identificar perfiles y predictores de malestar psicosocial entre estudiantes universitarios italianos

Abstract Introduction College students live a crucial period of transition from late adolescence to adulthood when they have to deal with important stressful tasks. Thus, university often represents a stressful environment, pushing students to cope with a high academic pressure. As a result, this period constitutes a sensitive age for the onset of mental disorders. Typically, students are not aware of the early signs of their own compromised mental health until symptoms aggravate to an overt disorder. Therefore, it is important to timely detect subthreshold symptoms mostly related to generic mental distress. Objective First, to assess psychophysical well-being and mental distress among college students in northern Italy, and to detect predictors, among socio-demographic and academic characteristics, and risky drug use of these two outcomes. Method The study involved 13,886 students who received an email explaining the purpose of the e-research. The questionnaires used were the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the University Stress Scale (USS), and a modified version of World Health Organization-ASSIST v3.0. Results 3,754 students completed the web-survey. Students showed poor well-being and mental distress. The strongest predictor of mental distress and compromised well-being was physical health, followed by sex, study field, risky drug use, and academic performance concerns. Discussion and conclusion This study shows that it is very important to promote in college students healthy behaviors in order to increase their physical exercise and reduce substance use. Moreover, it would be desirable to improve academic counselling facilities as an important front-line service to intercept mental health issues among young adults.

Resumen Introducción Los estudiantes universitarios pasan por un periodo crucial en su transición de la adolescencia tardía a la edad adulta, periodo en que tienen que lidiar con tareas estresantes. La universidad representa un entorno estresante, que empuja a los estudiantes a hacer frente a una alta presión académica. Como resultado, este periodo constituye una edad sensible para la aparición de trastornos mentales. En general, los estudiantes no cobran consciencia de los primeros signos de que su propia salud mental está en riesgo sino hasta que los síntomas se agravan y se convierten en un trastorno manifiesto. Por tanto, es importante detectar oportunamente los síntomas subumbrales relacionados ante todo con la angustia mental genérica. Objetivo Evaluar el bienestar psicofísico y la angustia mental entre estudiantes universitarios del norte de Italia, y en segundo lugar, detectar predictores entre las características sociodemográficas y académicas, y el uso de drogas de estos dos resultados. Método En el estudio participaron 13,886 estudiantes que recibieron un correo electrónico que explicaba el propósito de la investigación. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron el Cuestionario de Salud General (GHQ-12), la Escala de Estrés Universitario (USS) y una versión modificada de la Organización Mundial de la Salud-ASSIST v3.0. Resultados 3,754 estudiantes completaron la encuesta en línea. Los estudiantes mostraron bienestar y angustia mental. El predictor más fuerte de angustia mental y bienestar comprometido fue la salud física, seguido del sexo, el campo de estudio, el uso de drogas y el rendimiento académico. Discusión y conclusión Este estudio muestra que es muy importante promover entre los estudiantes universitarios comportamientos saludables para promover el ejercicio físico y reducir el consumo de sustancias. Además, sería deseable mejorar la orientación académica que es un importante servicio de primera línea para interceptar los problemas de salud mental en los estudiantes.

The latent structure of the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form

Objective: The current study aimed to examine the latent structure of a web-based, Brazilian Portuguese version of the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF). Method: The sample consisted of 15,557 adult participants - 4,702 men and 10,855 women - with age ranging from 18 to 60 years. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the a priori conceptual 15-factor model presumed to underlie the YSQ-SF item set. Results: Most items displayed high levels of reliability (factor loadings greater than 0.7) and low liability to random measurement error (residual variances below 0.02), indicating that the a priori YSQ-SF factor structure is adequate. Discussion: These findings offer empirical evidence supporting YSQ-SF construct validity and, consequently, its application in adults.

Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in Asia: the results of a multinational web-based survey in the 2nd Asian Organization of Crohn's and Colitis (AOCC) meeting in Seoul

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management guidelines have been released from Western countries, but no adequate data on the application of these guidelines in Asian countries and no surveys on the treatment of IBD in real practice exist. Since there is a growing need for a customized consensus for IBD treatment in Asian countries, Asian Organization of Crohn's and Colitis performed a multinational survey of medical doctors who treat IBD patients in Asian countries. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed between August 2013 and November 2013. It was composed of 4 domains: personal information, IBD diagnosis, IBD treatment, and quality of IBD care. Upon completion of the questionnaire, a web-based survey was conducted between 17 March 2014 and 12 May 2014. RESULTS: In total, 353 medical doctors treating IBD from ten Asian countries responded to the survey. This survey data suggested a difference in available medical treatments (budesonide, tacrolimus) among Asian countries. Therapeutic strategies regarding refractory IBD (acute severe ulcerative colitis [UC] refractory to intravenous steroids and refractory Crohn's disease [CD]) and active UC were coincident, however, induction therapies for mild to moderate inflammatory small bowel CD are different among Asian countries. CONCLUSIONS: This survey demonstrated that current therapeutic approaches and clinical management of IBD vary among Asian countries. Based on these results and discussions, we hope that optimal management guidelines for Asian IBD patients will be developed.