Place-Based Differences in the Association Between Greenspace and Suicide-Related Outcomes Among Young People.

PURPOSE: This study investigated place-based differences in the association between greenspace and suicide-related outcomes (SROs) among young people, guided by the following two objectives: (1) Contextualize place-based differences in the association between greenspace and SRO prevalence among young people at the community level in five different urbanities (urban, suburban, micropolitan, small towns, and rural/isolated communities) and (2) identify which greenspace metrics (quantity, quality, or accessibility) are most protective for SROs at the community level. METHODS: Publicly available greenspace datasets were used to derive greenspace quantity, quality, and accessibility metrics. SRO emergency department visits for young people were identified from 2016-2019 in North Carolina, USA. Generalized linear models investigated the association between greenspace metrics and community-level drivers of SRO prevalence. Shapely additive explanations confirmed the most important greenspace variables in accurately predicting community-level SRO prevalence. RESULTS: The prevalence of SROs was highest in communities with the least amount of public greenspace; this association was most pronounced in suburban communities, with SROs 27% higher in suburban communities with low quantities of greenspace (PRRUrban: 1.11, confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.13; PRRSuburban: 1.27, CI: 1.10-1.46; PRRSmallTowns: 1.21, CI: 1.05-1.39), and in communities with the worst greenspace accessibility (i.e., furthest distance to nearest greenspace) (PRRUrban: 1.07, CI: 1.04-1.10; PRRRural&Isolated: 1.95, CI: 1.54-2.49). DISCUSSION: Our analysis provides place-based, community-specific findings to guide targeted greenspace interventions aimed at addressing the rising prevalence of SROs among young people. Our findings suggest that greenspace quantity interventions may be most effective in urban, suburban, and small-town communities, and greenspace accessibility interventions may be most useful in urban and rural/isolated communities.

Short-term changes in mental health help-seeking behaviors following exposure to multiple social stressors and a natural disaster.

In 2020, unprecedented circumstances led to significant mental health consequences. Individuals faced mental health stressors that extended beyond the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including widespread social unrest following the murder of George Floyd, an intense hurricane season in the Atlantic, and the politically divisive 2020 election. The objective of this analysis was to consider changes in help-seeking behavior following exposure to multiple social stressors and a natural disaster. Data from Crisis Text Line (CTL), a national text-based mental health crisis counseling service, was used to determine how help-seeking behavior changed in the wake of each event. Wilcoxon rank sum tests assessed changes in help-seeking behavior for each event in 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019. AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models examined if changes in crisis conversation volumes following each event differed. Higher median conversation volumes noted for the COVID-19 pandemic (+1 to +5 conversations), Hurricane Laura (+1 to +7 conversations) and the 2020 Election (+1 to +26 conversations). ARIMA models show substantial increases in help-seeking behavior following the declaration of a national emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic (+4.3 to +38.2%) and following the 2020 election (+3 to +24.44%). Our analysis found that the mental health response following social stressors may be distinct from natural events, especially when natural disasters occur in the context of multiple social stressors. This analysis adds to the growing body of literature considering the mental health impact of exposure to multiple co-occurring societal stressors, like police violence and a global pandemic.

Advancing Understanding on Greenspace and Mental Health in Young People.

Mental distress among young people has increased in recent years. Research suggests that greenspace may benefit mental health. The objective of this exploratory study is to further understanding of place-based differences (i.e., urbanity) in the greenspace-mental health association. We leverage publicly available greenspace data sets to operationalize greenspace quantity, quality, and accessibility metrics at the community-level. Emergency department visits for young people (ages 24 and under) were coded for: anxiety, depression, mood disorders, mental and behavioral disorders, and substance use disorders. Generalized linear models investigated the association between greenspace metrics and community-level mental health burden; results are reported as prevalence rate ratios (PRR). Urban and suburban communities with the lowest quantities of greenspace had the highest prevalence of poor mental health outcomes, particularly for mood disorders in urban areas (PRR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.16-1.21), and substance use disorders in suburban areas (PRR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.28-1.43). In urban, micropolitan, and rural/isolated areas further distance to greenspace was associated with a higher prevalence of poor mental health outcomes; this association was most pronounced for substance use disorders (PRRUrban: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.29-1.32; PRRMicropolitan: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.43-1.51; PRRRural 2.38: 95% CI: 2.19-2.58). In small towns and rural/isolated communities, poor mental health outcomes were more prevalent in communities with the worst greenspace quality; this association was most pronounced for mental and behavioral disorders in small towns (PRR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.24-1.35), and for anxiety disorders in rural/isolated communities (PRR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.43-1.82). The association between greenspace metrics and mental health outcomes among young people is place-based with variations across the rural-urban continuum.

Evaluating co-occurring space-time clusters of depression and suicide-related outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rapidly emerging research on the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic shows increasing patterns of psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, and self-harming behaviors, particularly during the early months of the pandemic. Yet, few studies have investigated the spatial and temporal changes in depressive disorders and suicidal behavior during the pandemic. The objective of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate geographic patterns of emergency department admissions for depression and suicidal behavior in North Carolina before (March 2017-February 2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 - December 2021). Univariate cluster detection examined each outcome separately and multivariate cluster detection was used to examine the co-occurrence of depression and suicide-related outcomes in SatScan; the Rand index evaluated cluster overlap. Cluster analyses were adjusted for age, race, and sex. Findings suggest that the mental health burden of depression and suicide-related outcomes remained high in many communities throughout the pandemic. Rural communities exhibited a larger increase in the co-occurrence of depression and suicide-related ED visits during the pandemic period. Results showed the exacerbation of depression and suicide-related outcomes in select communities and emphasize the need for targeted and sustained mental health interventions throughout the many phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association between urban greenspace, tree canopy cover and intentional deaths: An exploratory geospatial analysis.

Greenspaces can provide restorative experiences, offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, and reduce mental fatigue; all of which may improve community health and safety. Yet few studies have examined the neighborhood-level benefits of greenspace in reducing violent deaths. This study explored the association between three distinct greenspace metrics: public greenspace quantity, public greenspace accessibility, neighborhood tree canopy cover, and intentional deaths (i.e., homicides and suicides). Generalized linear models and spatial error models investigated the association between greenspace, tree canopy and intentional deaths in three geographically distinct cities in North Carolina. Results revealed that increased neighborhood greenspace accessibility and tree canopy cover were associated with reduced intentional deaths in all three urban areas. Neighborhood greenspace accessibility was the most protective factor across all study areas. The relationship between neighborhood greenspace accessibility and intentional deaths was more significant for non-firearm deaths as compared to firearm deaths, indicating that weapon type may be an important consideration for neighborhood greenspace interventions. Compared to predominantly White neighborhoods, predominantly Black neighborhoods had higher rates of homicide in Asheville and Durham and higher rates of suicide in Charlotte. Future policy and research should focus on improving equitable access to existing and future greenspaces, especially in primarily Black neighborhoods.

Long-Term Sustainability and Adaptation of I-PASS Handovers.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate communication during transitions of care is a major health care quality and safety vulnerability. In 2013 Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) embarked on a comprehensive training program using a standardized handover system (I-PASS) that had been shown to reduce adverse events by 30% even when not completely executed on each patient. In this cross-sectional study, the authors sought to characterize handover practices six years later. METHODS: Using a standardized interview tool, the researchers evaluated handovers between responding clinicians in 10 departments and then validated these findings through direct observations, allowing for flexibility and customization in the I-PASS elements. The study qualitatively compared I-PASS element use in verbal handovers to MGH early postintervention data, as well as verbal and written handovers with the I-PASS Study Group's postintervention results. RESULTS: The authors observed 156 verbal and reviewed 182 written patient handovers. Ninety percent of departments adhered at least partially to the I-PASS system. Average handover duration ranged from 0.6 to 2.1 minutes per established patient. The service with best I-PASS adherence also consistently included the most information per unit of time. Acknowledging substantial differences in study technique, MGH adherence was, on average, comparable or better on all I-PASS elements in verbal handovers and on three of four elements of written handovers compared with the I-PASS Study Group's postintervention results. CONCLUSION: Although uptake has varied across services, six years after hospitalwide implementation of I-PASS, the majority of services are performing structured and sequenced handovers, most of which include some elements of the I-PASS system. Those services with the best I-PASS adherence conducted the most efficient handovers.

Associations between early in-hospital medications and the development of delirium in patients with stroke.

OBJECTIVES: Patients hospitalized with stroke develop delirium at higher rates than general hospitalized patients. While several medications are associated with existing delirium, it is unknown whether early medication exposures are associated with subsequent delirium in patients with stroke. Additionally, it is unknown whether delirium identification is associated with changes in the prescription of these medications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to a comprehensive stroke center, who were assessed for delirium by trained nursing staff during clinical care. We analyzed exposures to multiple medication classes in the first 48 h of admission, and compared them between patients who developed delirium >48 hours after admission and those who never developed delirium. Statistical analysis was performed using univariate testing. Multivariable logistic regression was used further to evaluate the significance of univariately significant medications, while controlling for clinical confounders. RESULTS: 1671 unique patients were included in the cohort, of whom 464 (27.8%) developed delirium >48 hours after admission. Delirium was associated with prior exposure to antipsychotics, sedatives, opiates, and antimicrobials. Antipsychotics, sedatives, and antimicrobials remained significantly associated with delirium even after accounting for several clinical covariates. Usage of these medications decreased in the 48 hours following delirium identification, except for atypical antipsychotics, whose use increased. Other medication classes such as steroids, benzodiazepines, and sleep aids were not initially associated with subsequent delirium, but prescription patterns still changed after delirium identification. CONCLUSIONS: Early exposure to multiple medication classes is associated with the subsequent development of delirium in patients with stroke. Additionally, prescription patterns changed following delirium identification, suggesting that some of the associated medication classes may represent modifiable targets for future delirium prevention strategies, although future study is needed.

Trait and facet personality similarity and relationship and life satisfaction in romantic couples.

Previous research has shown that personality similarity plays a negligible role in explaining the life and relationship satisfaction of couples. However, similarity in more proximally measured personality (i.e., facets) might explain additional variance in partners' well-being. The current study examined if in a sample of 1294 female-male romantic couples individual and partner personality traits and facets were associated with life and relationship satisfaction in expected ways. Similarity in personality traits and facets was not robustly associated with either life or relationship satisfaction of partners. The results are discussed in the context of the predictive validity of personality facets.

Cascading disasters and mental health: The February 2021 winter storm and power crisis in Texas, USA.

In February 2021, the state of Texas and large parts of the US were affected by a severe cold air outbreak and winter weather event. This event resulted in large-scale power outages and cascading impacts, including limited access to potable water, multiple days without electricity, and large-scale infrastructure damage. Little is known about the mental health implications of these events, as most research has predominantly focused on the mental health effects of exposure to hurricanes, wildfires, or other natural disasters that are more commonly found in the summer months. This study aimed to analyze the crisis responses from the 2021 winter weather event in Texas using Crisis Text Line, a text-based messaging service that provides confidential crisis counseling nationwide. To date, Crisis Text Line is the largest national crisis text service, with over 8 million crisis conversations since its inception in 2013. We employed multiple analytic techniques, including segmented regression, interrupted time series, autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), and difference-in-difference (DID), to investigate distinct time periods of exposure for all crisis conversations. ARIMA and DID were further utilized to examine specific crisis outcomes, including depression, stress/anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. Results found increases in total crisis conversations and for thoughts of suicide after the initial winter weather event; however, crisis outcomes varied in time. Thoughts of suicide in high-impact regions were higher across multiple time periods (e.g., 4-weeks, 3-months, 6-months, 9-months and 11-months) compared to low-impact regions and were elevated compared to pre-event time periods for 6-months and 11-months from the initial event. Total crisis volume also remained elevated for high-impact regions compared to low-impact regions up to 11-months after the beginning of the winter event. Our work highlights that cascading winter weather events, like the Texas 2021 Winter storm, negatively impacted mental health. Future research is needed across different disaster types (e.g., cascading, concurrent events) and for specific crisis outcomes (e.g., depression, suicidal ideation) to understand the optimal timing of crisis intervention post-disaster.

Spatial Analysis of Greenspace and Mental Health in North Carolina: Consideration of Rural and Urban Communities.

Greenspace positively impacts mental health. Previous research has focused on the greenspace-mental health relationship in urban areas. Yet, little work has looked at rural areas despite rural communities reporting similar rates of poor mental health outcomes and higher rates of suicide mortality compared with urban areas. This ecological research study examined the following research questions: (1) Do public and/or private greenspaces affect the spatial distribution of mental health outcomes in North Carolina? (2) Does this relationship change with rurality? Emergency department data for 6 mental health conditions and suicide mortality data from 2009 to 2018 were included in this analysis. Spatial error and ordinary least squares regressions were used to examine the influence of public and private greenspace quantity on mental health in rural and urban communities. Results suggest greenspace benefits mental health in rural and urban communities. The strength of this relationship varies with urbanity and between public and private greenspaces, suggesting a more complex causal relationship. Given the high case counts and often lower density of mental health care facilities in rural areas, focusing attention on low-cost mental health interventions, such as greenspace, is important when considering rural mental health care.

Crisis Response and Suicidal Behaviors of Essential Workers and Children of Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has put unprecedented stress on essential workers and their children. Limited cross-sectional research has found increases in mental health conditions from workload, reduced income, and isolation among essential workers. Less research has been conducted on children of essential workers. We examined trends in the crisis response of essential workers and their children from April 2020 through August 2021. METHODS: We investigated the impact during 3 periods of the pandemic on workers and their children using anonymized data from the Crisis Text Line on crisis help-seeking texts for thoughts of suicide or active suicidal ideation (desire, intent, capability, time frame), abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, unspecified), anxiety/stress, grief, depression, isolation, bullying, eating or body image, gender/sexual identity, self-harm, and substance use. We used generalized estimating equations to study the longitudinal change in crisis response across the later stages of the pandemic using adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for worker status and crisis outcomes. RESULTS: Results demonstrated higher odds of crisis outcomes for thoughts of suicide (aOR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00-1.12) and suicide capability (aOR = 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02-1.27) among essential workers than among nonessential workers. Children of essential workers had higher odds of substance use than children of nonessential workers (aOR = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.08-1.65), particularly for Indigenous American children (aOR = 2.76; 95% CI, 1.35-5.36). Essential workers (aOR = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.07-1.27) and their children (aOR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07-1.30) had higher odds of grief than nonessential workers and their children. CONCLUSION: Essential workers and their children had elevated crisis outcomes. Immediate and low-cost psychologically supportive interventions are needed to mitigate the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on these populations.

Spatio-Temporal Clustering of Adolescent Bereavement in the United States During the Extended Response to COVID-19: A Follow-Up Study.

PURPOSE: This follow-up study investigated the spatio-temporal clustering of adolescent bereavement during the extended response to COVID-19 from October 2020-January 2022 in the continental United States. METHODS: Deidentified and anonymized bereavement data from Crisis Text Line (CTL), a text-based crisis intervention service, and SaTScan cluster analysis were used to identify space-time clustering of bereavement among adolescents, aged 24 years and less, during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Clustering of bereavement conversations occurred during waves of high COVID-19 case and death counts, with the highest risk occurring in the Southeastern United States during the fall of 2020 (relative risk: 5.86, confidence interval: 3.48-8.24). Of the CTL texters who shared their demographic information, Indigenous American, Black, male, and female adolescents were more likely to seek help for bereavement when compared to the other CTL users. DISCUSSION: Findings show an increased need for bereavement counseling resources during periods of high COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Mapping high-risk clusters and identifying place-based risk factors of mental health burden in pregnancy.

Purpose: Despite affecting up to 20% of women and being the leading cause of preventable deaths during the perinatal and postpartum period, maternal mental health conditions are chronically understudied. This study is the first to identify spatial patterns in perinatal mental health conditions, and relate these patterns to place-based social and environmental factors that drive cluster development. Methods: We performed spatial clustering analysis of emergency department (ED) visits for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), severe mental illness (SMI), and maternal mental disorders of pregnancy (MDP) using the Poisson model in SatScan from 2016 to 2019 in North Carolina. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between patient and community-level factors and high-risk clusters. Results: The most significant spatial clustering for all three outcomes was concentrated in smaller urban areas in the western, central piedmont, and coastal plains regions of the state, with odds ratios greater than 3 for some cluster locations. Individual factors (e.g., age, race, ethnicity) and contextual factors (e.g., racial and socioeconomic segregation, urbanity) were associated with high risk clusters. Conclusions: Results provide important contextual and spatial information concerning at-risk populations with a high burden of maternal mental health disorders and can better inform targeted locations for the expansion of maternal mental health services.

Systematic review of interventions aimed at improving HIV adherence to care in low- and middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Long-term adherence to antiretroviral medication continues to present as a challenge along the continuum of the HIV care cascade. HIV interventions and support programs are significantly threatened in resource-limited settings by challenges in maintaining long-term follow-up for ART adherence. We sought to complete a systematic review to comprehensively examine ART adherence and retention in care interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa and to report on the implementation of interventions in real-world settings to inform future health investments in HIV care. Interventions were grouped according to their impact on individual, community, and health-systems levels. While a vast majority of studies evaluated a combination of interventions, those studies that incorporated the community as a resource were most successful. In addition, providing education and behavior reminders proved effective and should be accompanied by community and peer efforts for best results. Multi-level interventions, such as combining individual and community-level interventions showed promising results for long term ART adherence.

Treatment outcomes of first-ever episode of severe optic neuritis.

BACKGROUND: Severe optic neuritis (ON) is an acute inflammatory attack of the optic nerve(s) leading to severe visual loss that may occur in isolation or as part of a relapsing neuroinflammatory disease, such neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody associated disease (MOGAD), or more rarely multiple sclerosis (MS). In cases of first-ever severe ON of uncertain etiology best treatment strategies remain unclear. METHODS: We reviewed records of all patients with a documented diagnosis of ON between 2004 and 2019 at Mass General Brigham (MGB) and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) hospitals. Out of 381 patients identified, 90 (23.6%) satisfied the study criteria for severe ON with visual acuity (VA) equal to or worse than 20/200 (logMAR=1) at nadir in the affected eye and had sufficient follow-up data. Treatment strategies with corticosteroids only or treatment escalation with therapeutic plasma exchange (PLEX) after steroids were compared and evaluated for differences in visual outcomes at follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 90 patients with severe optic neuritis, 71(78.9%) received corticosteroids only, and 19 (17.0%) underwent PLEX following corticosteroids. Of the 71 patients who received steroids without escalation to PLEX, 30 patients (42.2%) achieved complete recovery (VA 20/20 on the affected eye), whereas 35 (49.3%) had a partial recovery and 6 (8.4%) had no recovery. Among the 19 corticosteroid non-responders patients who underwent escalation treatment, 13 (68.4%) made complete recovery, 6 (31.6%) had partial visual recoveries (p=0.0434). The median delta logMAR of patients who underwent escalation of care was -1.2 compared with 2.0 for the ones who did not (p=0.0208). A change of delta logmar 2.0 is equivalent of going from hand motion to light perception and the positive delta value refers to intra-attack worsening. Other than not responding to steroids, patients who underwent PLEX tended to have more severe ON with significantly worse nadir visual acuity compared with those who received corticosteroids alone (logMAR 3.12 (min 2.0 - max 5.0) vs. 2.17 (min 1.3 - max 3.0); p=0.004). CONCLUSION: In our cohort of first-ever severe optic neuritis of unknown etiology, patients that did not respond adequately to corticosteroids benefited from treatment escalation to PLEX, followed in most cases by Rituximab, regardless of final etiology. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the best treatment strategies.

Neurology Morbidity and Mortality Conferences and Quality Improvement: Single-Center Experience and National Survey.

Background: Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) conferences are widespread but vary in goals and methodology. Some focus on clinical enigmas while an increasing number utilize quality improvement (QI) tools to effect systems change. Little is known about the current state of US Neurology M&Ms. Methods: We surveyed 56 US academic neurology departments regarding their M&Ms to understand the use of QI tools and assess variability. Additionally, we reviewed the evolution of M&Ms in our department. Results: The survey was completed by 44 (80%) departments; 68% reported quarterly frequency with 61% discussing 1-2 safety events per conference. The number of written guidelines or protocols resulting from M&Ms in 2 years varied from 0 (14% of departments), 1-2 (45%), to >5 (5%). Institutional culture regarding quality and safety and conference timing were cited by 71% as important in improving participation. In our own department, the M&M format changed in 2014 based on a sentinel patient event combined with improving safety culture across the hospital: neurology M&Ms transformed into thematic quarterly conferences utilizing QI tools. Attendance increased 3-fold, and in 7 years, we have generated 26 guidelines or pathways with corresponding decision-support tools, among other improvement efforts, resulting in specific systems changes. Based on survey results and our experience, suggested M&M "best practices" include the use of just culture, peer review protection, safety event analysis with QI methodology, trainee involvement, and logistical optimization. Conclusion: Structured M&Ms incorporating suggested QI-informed "best practices" can be highly effective in driving system change within neurology.

A Case of Lance-Adams Syndrome with Mixed Cortical and Reticular Reflex Myoclonus.

Background: Lance Adams syndrome is a chronic post-hypoxic myoclonus. Phenomenology Shown: This video abstract illustrates Lance Adams Syndrome with mixed cortical and reticular reflex myoclonus in a 32-year-old woman following respiratory arrest in the setting of an asthma attack, as well as improvement in her exam following pharmacologic management. Educational Value: Lance Adams syndrome can include both cortical and reticular reflex myoclonus features while interdisciplinary intervention and pharmacological treatment can improve symptomatology.

Evaluation and Management of Delirium.

Delirium, sometimes referred to as encephalopathy, is an acute confusional state that is both common in hospitalized patients and associated with poor outcomes. For patients, families, and caregivers, delirium can be a traumatic experience. While delirium is one of the most common diagnoses encountered by the consulting neurologist, the majority of the time it will have been previously unrecognized as such by the care team. Neurologic syndromes such as dementia or aphasia can either be misdiagnosed as delirium or may coexist with it, necessitating careful neurologic assessment. Once the diagnosis of delirium has been established, a careful evaluation for predisposing and precipitating factors can help uncover modifiable contributors, which should be addressed as part of a multicomponent, primarily nonpharmacologic intervention. Importantly, delirium management, which begins with comprehensive prevention, should emphasize the humanity of the delirious patient and the challenges of caring for this vulnerable population. When considered, delirium represents an important opportunity for the neurologist to substantially enhance patient care.

Clinical EEG slowing correlates with delirium severity and predicts poor clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which findings on routine clinical EEGs correlate with delirium severity across various presentations and to determine whether EEG findings independently predict important clinical outcomes. METHODS: We prospectively studied a cohort of nonintubated inpatients undergoing EEG for evaluation of altered mental status. Patients were assessed for delirium within 1 hour of EEG with the 3-Minute Diagnostic Interview for Confusion Assessment Method (3D-CAM) and 3D-CAM severity score. EEGs were interpreted clinically by neurophysiologists, and reports were reviewed to identify features such as theta or delta slowing and triphasic waves. Generalized linear models were used to quantify associations among EEG findings, delirium, and clinical outcomes, including length of stay, Glasgow Outcome Scale scores, and mortality. RESULTS: We evaluated 200 patients (median age 60 years, IQR 48.5-72 years); 121 (60.5%) met delirium criteria. The EEG finding most strongly associated with delirium presence was a composite of generalized theta or delta slowing (odds ratio 10.3, 95% confidence interval 5.3-20.1). The prevalence of slowing correlated not only with overall delirium severity (R 2 = 0.907) but also with the severity of each feature assessed by CAM-based delirium algorithms. Slowing was common in delirium even with normal arousal. EEG slowing was associated with longer hospitalizations, worse functional outcomes, and increased mortality, even after adjustment for delirium presence or severity. CONCLUSIONS: Generalized slowing on routine clinical EEG strongly correlates with delirium and may be a valuable biomarker for delirium severity. In addition, generalized EEG slowing should trigger elevated concern for the prognosis of patients with altered mental status.

Connective Tissue Disorders in Pregnancy.

Connective tissue disorders are now understood to include autoimmune and genetic diseases affecting organs, blood vessels, and surrounding fascia. Many of these diseases predominantly affect women in childbearing years and are associated with neurologic complications. Pregnancy can affect disease activity (such as flares of systemic lupus erythematosus), and the diseases can affect pregnancy outcome (such as increased risk of preterm labor). We review the neurologic complications and changes with pregnancy for systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, and Marfan syndrome.