Women living with fibromyalgia during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.

We explored the experiences of women with fibromyalgia during the COVID-19 pandemic from a qualitative approach by interviewing eighteen women. We identified seven main themes after performing a thematic analysis: pain description, pain triggers, impact, coping strategies, treatment for pain, pain onset and general situation. In general, pain worsened during the pandemic, and activity restrictions and changes in social interactions were particularly related with that. Pain negatively impacted different life domains: mental health, physical health, cognitive status, social activities and daily activities. Coping strategies varied slightly after the pandemic outbreak, and treatment was interrupted for some women. Results reflect that the pandemic was challenging for women living with fibromyalgia, and highlight the need to develop specific interventions for them in the context of potential future health emergencies.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Measures on Spanish People with Chronic Pain: An Online Study Survey.

The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is one of the most important healthcare and societal challenges to have emerged in the last century. It may have effects on both physical and psychosocial health, but studies considering the impact on vulnerable populations, such as people with chronic pain, are needed. In this cross-sectional study, an online survey of relevant chronic pain domains, coping strategies, triggers and potential related variables was answered by 502 Spanish individuals with chronic pain. Participants were mainly women (88%) with longstanding chronic pain and moderate to high pain intensity and disability. The perception of pain aggravation and the most pain-related outcomes were observed. Contextual variables such as job insecurity, worries about the future, people cohabiting, being close to someone who had passed away, or being potentially infected with COVID-19 were related to worse outcomes. More than half the participants altered their pain management style (e.g., increased medication intake) and several changes occurred with respect to pain triggers (cognitions, feelings of insecurity and loneliness, and sleeping problems were more frequently reported as triggers during lockdown). Our preliminary results highlight the negative effects of lockdown on patients with chronic pain as well as the need to make available cost-effective and remotely accessible healthcare resources for counteracting them.

Repeated suicide attempts: a follow-up study.

INTRODUCTION: There is a strong association between those who re-attempt a suicide attempt and those who complete it. Therefore, follow-up on the interventions carried out for suicidal patients is essential. This study investigated the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of individuals admitted as psychiatric emergencies after a suicide attempt according to sex, determined the prevalence of re-attempts in a period of six months, compared the profiles of patients who engaged in repeated suicide attempts to those who did not, and evaluated predictive variables for repeated suicide attempts. METHODOLOGY: A total of 207 patients (122 women and 85 men) who went to the psychiatric emergency room for a suicide attempt (January-October 2015) were interviewed, and their clinical histories were reviewed at 6 months. RESULTS: Lethal suicidal behaviour was lower in women. Fourteen percent of the sample (n=29) repeated a suicide attempt in the following 6 months, and 2 people died by suicide; 3 died from other causes. The patients admitted to the Psychiatric Hospitalization Unit presented with more re-attempts (X2=4.1; d.f.=1; p=0.043). In the multivariate analysis, of all the variables analysed, the only one associated with repeated suicide attempts was having been in mental health treatment upon inclusion into the study (OR=3.504, p=0.009, CI95%: 1.361-9.018). In the follow-up period, the percentage of patients who engaged in mental health treatment increased 21.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of recurrence after being treated for a suicide attempt psychiatric emergency is high in the months following an attempt, and it is necessary to improve prevention and intervention programmes aimed at improving these figures.

La repetición del intento de suicidio: un estudio de seguimiento / Repeated suicide attempts: a follow-up study

Introducción. Existe una fuerte asociación entre quienes repiten un intento de suicidio (IS) y quienes lo consuman. Por ello el seguimiento de la intervención de estos pacientes es fundamental. En este estudio: se establece el perfil sociodemográfico y clínico de personas atendidas en urgencias psiquiátricas por un IS, en función del sexo; se determina la prevalencia de reintentos en un periodo de seis meses; se compara el perfil de los pacientes que repiten o no el IS; y se evalúan variables predictoras de la repetición. Metodología. Se entrevistó a 207 pacientes (122 mujeres y 85 hombres) que acudieron a urgencias psiquiátricas por un IS (enero-octubre de 2015), y se revisó su historia clínica a los 6 meses. Resultados. Las mujeres presentaron una menor letalidad en la conducta suicida. Un 14% de la muestra (n=29) repitió un IS en los 6 meses siguientes y 2 personas fallecieron por suicidio; 3 fallecieron por otras causas. Los pacientes ingresados en la Unidad de Hospitalización Psiquiátrica presentaron más reintentos (X2=4,1; g.l.=1; p=0,043). En el análisis multivariable, de todas las variables analizadas, la única asociada a la repetición del intento fue encontrarse en tratamiento en salud mental al incluirse en el estudio (OR=3,504; p=,009; I.C.95%=1,361-9,018). En el periodo de seguimiento se incrementó un 21,7% los pacientes tratados en salud mental. Conclusiones. El riesgo de repetición tras ser tratado en urgencias psiquiátricas por IS es crítico los meses posteriores, siendo necesario mejorar los programas de prevención e intervención destinados a mejorar estas cifras

Introduction. There is a strong association between those who re-attempt a suicide attempt and those who complete it. Therefore, follow-up on the interventions car-ried out for suicidal patients is essential. This study investigated the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of individuals admitted as psychiatric emergencies after a suicide attempt according to sex, determined the prevalence of re-attempts in a period of six months, compared the profiles of patients who engaged in repeated suicide attempts to those who did not, and evaluated predictive variables for repeated suicide attempts. Methodology. A total of 207 patients (122 women and 85 men) who went to the psychiatric emergency room for a suicide attempt (January-October 2015) were interviewed, and their clinical histories were reviewed at 6 months. Results. Lethal suicidal behaviour was lower in women. Fourteen percent of the sample (n=29) repeated a suicide attempt in the following 6 months, and 2 people died by suicide; 3 died from other causes. The patients admitted to the Psychiatric Hospitalization Unit presented with more re-attempts (X2=4.1; d.f.=1; p=0.043). In the multivariate analysis, of all the variables analysed, the only one associated with repeated suicide attempts was having been in mental health treatment upon inclusion into the study (OR=3.504, p=0.009, CI95%: 1.361-9.018). In the follow-up period, the percentage of patients who engaged in mental health treatment increased 21.7%.Conclusions. The risk of recurrence after being treated for a suicide attempt psychiatric emergency is high in the months following an attempt, and it is necessary to improve prevention and intervention programmes aimed at improving these figures