Depression and Suicide Risk Among Nursing Staff at a Honduran National Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Depression and suicide risk among nursing staff have become increasingly concerning, especially given the demanding nature of their profession. The World Health Organization identifies depression as a primary factor contributing to global disability and suicide deaths. METHODS: A descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional cohort study was conducted, encompassing the eligible personnel (n=82) out of a total of 102 nurses at the Mario Catarino Rivas Hospital in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, from October to November 2022. The study utilized the Okasha assessment tool to gauge the prevalence of suicidal risk and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) instrument to analyze the extent and severity of depression. In addition, the participants completed a demographic survey.  Results: The average age of participants was 34.91 years, with a majority (86.6%) being female. In terms of work assignments, 54.9% were employed in the inpatient area. Regarding the mental health of the nursing staff, 78% displayed no or minimal depression, 9.7% presented mild depression, 7.3% showed moderate depression, 4.8% displayed severe depression, and 14.6% exhibited a suicide risk. Young adults had the highest prevalence of all three levels of depression, and the emergency department and inpatient area had the most at-risk individuals for suicidal tendencies. CONCLUSION: The study offers a comprehensive insight into the demographics, work environment, and mental health of the nursing staff at the Honduran National Hospital. The results highlight the importance of specialized measures and strong support systems to safeguard the mental health of nursing staff.

Salud mental durante la pandemia por COVID-19 en el 2020 en población adulta colombiana / Mental Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020 in the Colombian Adult Population / Saúde mental durante a pandemia de COVID-19 em 2020 na população adulta colombiana

Introducción. El COVID-19 ha representado múltiples afectaciones en la salud mental, como ser objeto de violencias y el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas. El objetivo del presente estudio es describir las alteraciones en salud mental, consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y violencias en población colombiana mayor de edad, además de la resiliencia psicológica en la pandemia por COVID-19. Metodología. Estudio descriptivo correlacional de corte transversal, realizado en 2020 con personas mayores de edad, vinculadas por medio de un muestreo incidental, en donde se evaluaron riesgos de salud mental, violencias, consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y niveles de resiliencia para determinar correlaciones entre las variables. Resultados. En una muestra de 18,779 personas, con edades frecuentes entre 25 y 39 años, un 72.7% de mujeres, y una representación de todas las regiones de Colombia, se encontró que el 30.1% de las personas tiene algún riesgo asociado a la esfera mental concerniente a la presencia de síntomas de ansiedad o depresión, el 13% de las personas presentó consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, y el 5.3% presentó exposición a violencias. Se mostró que la resiliencia es menor en aquellas personas con algún problema o trastorno mental y que existen correlaciones estadísticamente significativas entre estas variables. Discusión. Múltiples estudios han señalado que los problemas mentales han aumentado en el mundo en la pandemia por COVID-19, especialmente de ansiedad, depresión y consumo de sustancias psicoactivas. Conclusión. La salud mental durante la pandemia en Colombia ha empeorado, y esto se asocia con un impacto variables de bienestar como resiliencia y búsqueda de ayuda. Palabras clave: Salud Mental; Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias; Exposición a la Violencia; COVID-19; Resiliencia Psicológica; Riesgo a la Salud; Aislamiento Social

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has represented multiple effects on mental health, including violence and substance use. The objective of this study is to describe the alterations in mental health, consumption of psychoactive substances and violence in the Colombian population of legal age, in addition to psychological resilience, in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology. Cross-sectional correlational descriptive study, carried out in 2020 with older people, linked through incidental sampling, where mental health risks, violence, consumption of psychoactive substances and levels of resilience were evaluated to determine correlations between the variables. Results. In a sample of 18,779, with the most frequent ages between 25 and 39 years, 72.7% women and a representation of all regions of Colombia, it was found that 30.1% of people have some risk associated with the mental sphere. Concerning the presence of symptoms of anxiety or depression, 13% of the people presented consumption of psychoactive substances, and 5.3% presented exposure to violence. It was shown that resilience is lower in those people with a mental issues or disorder and that there are statistically significant correlations between these variables. Discussion. Multiple studies have indicated that mental problems have increased in during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially anxiety, depression and consumption of psychoactive substances. Conclusion. Mental health during the pandemic in Colombia has worsened, and this is associated with an impact on well-being variables such as resilience and help-seeking. Keywords: Mental Health; Substance-Related Disorders; Exposure to Violence; COVID-19; Resilience, Psychological; Health Risk; Social Isolation

Introdução. A COVID-19 tem representado múltiplos efeitos na saúde mental, como a sujeição à violência e o consumo de substâncias psicoativas. O objetivo do presente estudo é descrever as alterações na saúde mental, o consumo de substâncias psicoativas e a violência na população colombiana maior de idade, além da resiliência psicológica na pandemia de COVID-19. Metodologia. Estudo descritivo, correlacional e transversal, realizado em 2020 com pessoas maiores de idade, vinculadas por amostragem incidental, onde foram avaliados riscos para saúde mental, violência, consumo de substâncias psicoativas e níveis de resiliência para determinar correlações entre as variáveis. Resultados. Numa amostra de 18,779 pessoas, com idades compreendidas entre os 25 e os 39 anos, 72.7% mulheres, e com representação de todas as regiões da Colômbia, constatou-se que 30.1% das pessoas apresentam algum risco associado à esfera mental no que respeita à presença de sintomas de ansiedade ou depressão, 13% das pessoas relataram consumo de substâncias psicoativas e 5.3% relataram exposição à violência. Foi demonstrado que a resiliência é menor nas pessoas com problema ou transtorno mental e que existem correlações estatisticamente significativas entre essas variáveis. Discussão. Vários estudos têm apontado que os problemas mentais aumentaram no mundo durante a pandemia de COVID-19, especialmente ansiedade, depressão e uso de substâncias psicoativas. Conclusão. A saúde mental durante a pandemia na Colômbia piorou, e isto está associado ao impacto em variáveis de bem-estar, como a resiliência e a procura de ajuda. Palavras-chave: Saúde Mental; Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias; Exposição à Violência; COVID-19; Resiliência Psicológica; Risco à Saúde Humana; Isolamento Social

Relations between Sensorimotor Integration and Speech Disorders in Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Sensorimotor integration mechanisms can be affected by many factors, among which are those involving neuromuscular disorders. Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by well-known motor symptoms, among which lately have been included motor speech deficits. Measurement of the acoustic startle reflex (ASR) and its modulations (prepulse inhibition and prepulse facilitation, PPI and PPF respectively) represent a simple and quantifiable tool to assess sensorimotor function. However, it remains unknown whether measures of the PPI and PPF are associated with motor speech deficits in PD. METHODS: A total of 88 subjects participated in this study, 52 diagnosed with PD and 36 control subjects. After obtaining written informed consent, participants were assessed with PPI at several interstimulus intervals, and PPF at 1000 ms using the SRH-Lab system (San Diego, CA). Percentage of change in the amplitude and latency of the ASR was analyzed between groups. Voice recordings were register of a specific text given to the subjects with a professional recorder and temporal patterns of speech were analyzed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis conducted in this study showed differences in PPI and PPF in subjects with PD compared to controls. In addition, discriminative parameters of voice abnormalities were observed in PD subjects related to control subjects showing a reduction in phonation time, vowel pulses, breaks, breakage and voice speech periods. CONCLUSIONS: PD presents a disruption in sensorimotor filter mechanisms and speech disorders, and there is a relationship between these alterations. The correlation between the PPI and PPF with an alteration of the voice in PD subjects contributes toward understanding mechanism underlying the neurophysiological alterations in both processes. Overall, easy and non-invasive tests such as PPI, PPF together with voice analysis may be useful to identify early stages of PD.