[Young people's conception of HIV/AIDS and the use of condoms in sexual intercourse]. / Concepção de Jovens o HIV/AIDS e o USO de preservation nas relaçôes sexuais.

The aim of this study was to gather knowledge regarding the conception of young people as for HIV/AIDS and the use of condoms in sexual intercourse. Survey conducted in May, 2012, at a public school in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, with eleven young people of both sexes. The chosen technique of investigation was a semi-structured interview. Empirical data were organized according to categorical content analysis, the following categories emerging: "AIDS: what young people think", "AIDS prevention methods" and one subcategory "Trust in the partner as a method for HIV/AIDS prevention". As observed, there is knowledge of condom use as a preventive method against HIV/AIDS; trust in the partner and faithfulness were also cited as preventive methods in both sexes. It is suggested that, when investing in national and regional proposals, not only social inequalities are to be considered but especially the local realities of different young people in different national scenarios.

Young people's conception of HIV/AIDS and the use of condoms in sexual intercourse / Diseño de la juventud sobre VIH/Sida y el uso de condones en relaciones sexuales / Concepção de jovens sobre o HIV/AIDS e o uso de preservativos nas relações sexuais

The aim of this study was to gather knowledge regarding the conception of young people as for HIV/AIDS and the use of condoms in sexual intercourse. Survey conducted in May, 2012, at a public school in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, with eleven young people of both sexes. The chosen technique of investigation was a semi-structured interview. Empirical data were organized according to categorical content analysis, the following categories emerging: "AIDS: what young people think", "AIDS prevention methods" and one subcategory "Trust in the partner as a method for HIV/AIDS prevention". As observed, there is knowledge of condom use as a preventive method against HIV/AIDS; trust in the partner and faithfulness were also cited as preventive methods in both sexes. It is suggested that, when investing in national and regional proposals, not only social inequalities are to be considered, but especially the local realities of different young people in different national scenarios.

Dirigido para satisfacer el concepto de la juventud sobre el VIH/SIDA y el uso de preservativos durante las relaciones sexuales. Encuesta realizada en mayo de 2012 en una escuela pública en la ciudad de João Pessoa/Paraíba, con once jóvenes de ambos sexos. Fue elegido como una técnica de investigación para las entrevistas semiestructuradas. Los datos empíricos fueron organizados de acuerdo al análisis de contenido categorial, emergiendo las categorías siguientes: SIDA: ¿qué piensan los jóvenes?", " Formas de prevención del SIDA " y una subcategoría " la confianza en el(la) compañero(a) como un método para prevenir el VIH/SIDA". Se encontró que hay un conocimiento del uso del preservativo como método preventivo contra el VIH/SIDA, la confianza en el compañero(a ) y la lealtad también fueron citados como los métodos de prevención en los dos sexos. Se sugiere que al invertir en las propuestas nacionales y regionales las desigualdades sociales no solo sean consideradas, especialmente las realidades locales de diferentes jóvenes en diferentes escenarios nacionales.

Objetivou-se conhecer a concepção de jovens sobre o HIV/AIDS e o uso de preservativos nas relações sexuais. Pesquisa realizada em maio de 2012 em uma escola pública da cidade de João Pessoa, Paraíba, com onze jovens de ambos os sexos. Elegeu-se como técnica de investigação a entrevista semiestruturada. Os dados empíricos foram organizados mediante análise de conteúdo categorial, emergindo as seguintes categorias: "AIDS: o que pensam os jovens"; "Formas de prevenção contra a AIDS", e uma subcategoria: "Confiança no(a) parceiro(a) como método de prevenção contra o HIV/AIDS". Constatou-se que há conhecimento do uso do preservativo como método preventivo contra o HIV/AIDS; que a confiança no parceiro(a) e a fidelidade também foram citadas como métodos preventivos em ambos os sexos. Sugere-se que, ao investir em propostas nacionais e regionais, sejam consideradas não somente as desigualdades sociais, mas, sobretudo, as realidades locais de distintas juventudes em diferentes cenários nacionais.

Correlates of depressive symptom severity in problem and pathological gamblers in couple relationships.

Problem and pathological gamblers (PPG) often suffer from depressive symptoms. Gambling problems have negative consequences on multiple aspects of gamblers' lives, including family and marital relationships. The objectives of the current study were to (1) replicate the results of studies that have suggested a stronger and more significant relationship between gambling and depression in PPG than in non-problem gamblers (NPG) and (2) explore specific correlates of depressive symptom severity in PPG in couple relationships. Variables demonstrated to be significantly correlated with depressive symptoms in the general population were selected. It was hypothesized that gender, age, gambler's mean annual income, perceived poverty, employment status, clinical status (i.e., problem or pathological gambler versus non-problem gambler), trait anxiety, alcoholism, problem-solving skills, and dyadic adjustment would be significant predictors of depressive symptoms. Sixty-seven PPG were recruited, primarily from an addiction treatment center; 40 NPG were recruited, primarily through the media. Results revealed that PPG reported significantly greater depressive symptoms than did NPG. Further, elevated trait anxiety and poor dyadic adjustment were demonstrated to be significant and specific correlates of depressive symptom severity in PPG. These findings contribute to the literature on depressive symptomatology in PPG in relationships, and highlight the importance of the influence of the couple relationship on PPG.

Psychological impact of surveillance in patients with a defibrillator lead under advisory: a prospective evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads are subject to technical failures and the impact of the resulting public advisories on patient welfare is unclear. The psychological status of patients who received an advisory for their Medtronic Fidelis ICD lead (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) and followed either by self-surveillance for alarm or home monitoring with CareLink was evaluated prospectively and compared to patients with ICDs not under advisory. METHODS: One hundred sixty consecutive consenting patients (90 alarms, 24 Carelinks, 46 controls) were recruited within 1.5 years of advisory notification. Advisory patients were seen immediately before being told that the automatic lead surveillance utilized since the advisory had been inadequate in warning of impending fracture, as well as 1 and 6 months after programming was optimized. Depression, anxiety, quality of life (QoL), and ICD-related concerns were assessed. RESULTS: Symptoms of depression and state anxiety were experienced by 31% and 48% of patients, respectively. QoL was impaired on all subscales. No significant group differences in distress and ICD-related concerns emerged at baseline or at follow-up. At baseline, alarm patients reported greater limitations because of body pain compared to controls (P < 0.05). All patients showed a significant reduction in body pain-related QoL at the final versus first two evaluations (P < 0.001). Advisory patients were significantly less satisfied with surveillance at follow-up than at baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was limited evidence for worse psychosocial functioning in those at risk for ICD lead fracture, irrespective of surveillance method. However, many control and advisory patients experienced chronic distress for which counseling may prove beneficial.

The epidemiology of specific phobia and subthreshold fear subtypes in a community-based sample of older adults.

BACKGROUND: Specific phobias have received little attention among older adults. This study is aimed at determining the 12-month prevalence rates of fear subtypes in older adults with a full or subthreshold DSM diagnosis of specific phobia as well as to examine differences among these conditions according to health and health behavior characteristics potentially associated with the severity of anxious symptoms. METHODS: Data came from a representative sample of community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older (N = 2784). Diagnoses were established by in-home semi-structured interviews. DSM-IV criteria for specific phobia were slightly modified in line with recommendations for DSM-V. RESULTS: The 12-month prevalence rates of specific phobias and subthreshold fears were, respectively, 2.0 and 8.7%. More than half of the respondents with a specific phobia did not recognize the "excessiveness" of their fears. Situational and natural environment fears were the most frequent subtypes. Compared to respondents with no symptoms of anxiety, older adults with a full- or subthreshold-specific phobia reported more chronic physical health problems, more comorbid depressive disorders and a higher use of benzodiazepines. However, older adults with specific phobia reported more comorbid anxiety disorders than respondents with subthreshold fears. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides evidence for the fact that subthreshold fears have a high prevalence among older adults. Since several older people with specific phobia do not recognize the "excessiveness" of their fears, it is recommended that DSM-V criteria allow clinicians to rely on their own judgment to assess whether the perceived danger is out of proportion.

Use of health services for psychological distress symptoms among community-dwelling older adults.

ABSTRACTTo document the use of health services for psychological distress symptoms, we collected data from a cross-section of adults aged 65 years and over. Nearly 13 per cent met DSM-IV criteria for mood or anxiety disorders. In addition, 42.4 per cent of those having at least one DSM-IV diagnosis reported having used health services. Results show a direct association between the presence of a probable DSM-IV diagnosis and health service use. However, our results show no significant association between gender and health service use, and do not support the hypothesis that minimal social support increases the probability of older adults using health services for psychological distress. The analysis suggests unmarried elders are more likely than married elders to use health services. Furthermore, this study shows that older adults having a high level of daily hassles reported using health services for psychological distress than those reporting a low stress level. We conclude that a large proportion of elderly mental health needs in Quebec are potentially not being met.