Changes in brain structure in people with gaming disorder. A review of neuroimaging studies. / Zmiany struktury mózgu u osób z zaburzeniem uzywania gier komputerowych. Przeglad badan neuroobrazowania.

This review aims to summarise the current knowledge on structural brain changes among people diagnosed with gaming disorder and the resulting clinical implications. The review will show the theoretical psychological and neurobiological models of computer gaming disorder in conjunction with the results of structural neuroimaging studies. Previous epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence of gaming disorder in the population may reach approx. 2%. Researchers indicate that the aetiopathogenesis of computer game use disorder is complex and includes psychological, social, as well as neurological and hormonal factors. From the perspective of psychological research exploring gaming disorder, it can be concluded that a person has certain specific psychopathological features and/or symptoms, which, through mediating factors, such as the inability to cope with stress or negative emotions, influence the formation of the symptoms of the disorder. In the context of the neurobiology of behavioural addictions, researchers point to disorders in the mesocorticolimbic reward system, which is influenced by dysfunctional neuronal mechanisms of emotion and stress regulation. When describing structural changes in the brain, researchers most often report differences in the volume of grey matter, which include areas of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, temporooccipital cortex, superior and posterior parietal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, cerebellum, insular cortex, limbic system, and basal ganglia.

Symptoms of sexuality-related disorders in the group of overweight and obese women. / Objawy zaburzen zwiazanych z seksualnoscia w grupie kobiet z nadwaga i otyloscia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the presence of symptoms of sexuality-related disorders (S-RD) in a group of overweight and obese women and the relationship of these symptoms with maladaptive attitudes and beliefs about food, the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms, alcohol consumption, difficulties in emotional regulation, and the general quality of life. METHODS: The study group (SG) consisted of 44 overweight/obese women, the control group (CG) consisted of 51 women with normal body weight, all aged 18-40 years. The following were used: Sexological Questionnaire, Eating Attitude Test, Eating Beliefs Questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Quality of Life Questionnaire. RESULTS: SG showed more severe S-RD symptoms, including sexual dysfunctions and sexual preferences disorders, as compared to CG. In the SG there were more significant correlations between S-RD and the studied variables, especially in the area of difficulties with emotional regulation. Negative and permissive dietary beliefs were significant for S-RD in SG, while positive beliefs were significant in CG. Additionally, the number of S-RD symptoms predicted the quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: e results indicate a relationship between excessive body weight and greater severity of S-RD symptoms, as well as a relationship between the symptoms of S-RD with clinical variables and with the quality of life. Further research exploring the mechanisms of the observed relationships is necessary.

Self-disgust in patients with borderline personality disorder. The associations with alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, and comorbid psychopathology.

BACKGROUND: Self-disgust is a negative self-conscious emotion, which has been linked with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, it has not yet been investigated in relation to both emotion dysregulation and alexithymia, which are recognized as crucial to BPD. Therefore, the aim of our study was to measure these variables and examine the possible mediational role of emotional alterations and comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms in shaping self-disgust in patients with BPD and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: In total, the study included 100 inpatients with BPD and 104 HCs. Participants completed: the Self-Disgust Scale (SDS), Disgust Scale - Revised (DS-R), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Emotion Dysregulation Scale short version (EDS-short), Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist (BPD Checklist), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-R). RESULTS: Inpatients with BPD showed higher self-disgust, alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, core and comorbid symptoms levels, and lower disgust sensitivity. Alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, and trait anxiety partially mediated between BPD diagnosis and self-disgust. The relationship between the severity of BPD symptoms and self-disgust was fully mediated by alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, depressive symptoms, and trait anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study may imply the contribution of emotion dysregulation, alexithymia, and comorbid psychopathology to self-referenced disgust in BPD.

Temporal and spatial trends in lead levels in the blood and down of Black Stork nestlings in central Europe.

Young birds at an intensive growth stage are especially vulnerable to the deleterious effects of contaminants such as lead (Pb). This element negatively influences organs, development and even behavior, which can consequently lead to lower survival and reproductive success of the population. There was a suspicion that these mechanisms, along with other factors, retarded population growth of the Black Stork - still a heavily understudied species in respect to pollution, especially Pb. Therefore, we undertook a study concerning Pb concentrations in the down and blood of Black Stork nestlings from breeding grounds in central and southern Poland (Europe). To investigate the effects of Pb exposure on nestling condition, scale mass index and reduced glutathione levels were also studied, but results indicated that Pb did not influence either of these parameters. The highest blood Pb concentration reached 0.247 µg/g, while the highest down Pb concentrations was significantly higher reaching 4.95 µg/g. Concentrations in blood and down were not correlated with each other. Nest location and year of sampling were not influential for blood but were influential for down Pb concentrations. Relationships between Pb concentrations, habitat characteristics and proximity to emitters were not significant. Overall Pb concentrations in Black Stork nestlings were below the toxicity threshold and did not have negative effects on specimens studied. They were probably related to maternal exposure during migration, on stopover and breeding grounds as well as with food provided by parents.

Determinants of the decision to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as exemplified by employees of a long-term health care centre.

INTRODUCTION: Health care professionals cover the front line in the battle against infectious diseases. Vaccination of healthcare workers represents a vital element of the strategy for enhancing epidemic safety and improving the quality of health care, inter alia, by limiting microorganism transmission, and reducing patient morbidity and mortality. METHOD: The study group consisted of all employees of the long-term health care centre in Lublin, Poland. Participants were requested to complete a questionnaire prepared for the purpose of the study, along with a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination interview questionnaire. RESULTS: The vaccination coverage rate for the group of medical workers was 77.3% and of non-medical 86%. The most frequently indicated sources of information on vaccination were the mass media. Males more often than females used the press as a source of information on vaccination. Scientific articles were the most common source of information for both people with higher education and medical professionals. The most common motive for vaccination for females is concern for the health of one's family, and for HCWs and people with at least secondary education-concern for the health of patients. CONCLUSION: At least one assessed factor influences the decision to be vaccinated. The mass media are of the greatest importance in obtaining information about vaccination.

Emotion Dynamics and Emotion Regulation in Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review of Ecological Momentary Assessment Studies.

Altered emotion dynamics and emotion regulation (ER) have been indicated in theoretical descriptions of abnormal emotional functioning, which contributes to the development and maintenance of anorexia nervosa (AN). Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) has recently become popular in research on eating disorders. It is a source of new insights into the psychopathology of AN as it enables intensive long-term tracking of everyday experiences and behaviours of individuals through repeated self-reports. The following systematic review aims to synthesize research on the use of EMA when evaluating emotion dynamics and ER in AN. Specific studies were identified with the use of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases. A supplemental search was performed in reference lists of the relevant publications. As a result, 27 publications were identified and included in the systematic review. The findings from the reviewed studies point to various disturbed components of emotion dynamics as well as to unique associations of maladaptive ER strategies with specific abnormalities in emotion dynamics in AN. Limitations of the studies were discussed as well. An outlook for further research in the field was provided in the last section of the paper.

Spatial, temporal and environmental differences in concentrations of lead in the blood of Mute swans from summer and winter sites in Poland.

Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic pollutant and represents a serious threat to wildlife, affecting various systems in animal bodies. Especially prone to Pb poisoning are waterbirds, which may inadvertently ingest spent gunshot, fishing sinkers and contaminated sediments. This research thus focused on evaluating Pb concentrations in the blood of 170 Mute swans (Cygnus olor; a widespread species of waterbirds) at their summer (urban locations in Malopolskie and rural locations in Swietokrzyskie regions) and winter (the urban section of Wisla River in Krakow) sites in Poland (Europe). The study concentrated on comparing blood Pb concentrations according to sites and locations, verifying the influence of sex and age factors, examining the impact on hematocrit (Ht), glutathione (GSH) levels and body condition. Mean blood Pb concentrations (measured with ICP-OES) differed significantly between summer and winter sites (Regression by Maximum Likelihood Estimation (RML), p < 0.001) reaching higher values at winter sites. Concentrations did not differ from year to year (RML, p = 0.028). At summer sites, concentrations differed from location to location: swans from urban locations in Malopolskie had higher blood Pb concentrations (0.055 µg/g) than from rural Swietokrzyskie (0.008 µg/g; RML, p < 0.001). In summer and winter birds, neither sex nor age groups differed significantly the concentrations (RML, p > 0.231). Pb concentrations correlated weakly with Ht and GSH levels (Spearman test) and had no influence on body condition (proxied by scaled mass index; GLM, p = 0.246). We concluded that differences between summer and winter sites were dictated mainly by the type of habitat (rural vs. urban) that birds occupied in different seasons.

Distorted Body Image and Mental Pain in Anorexia Nervosa.

(1) Background: Body image is being defined as the picture of our own body in our mind with its size and shape, and with a perceptive and attitudinal evaluation of this body. It appears to be a complex clinical construct predisposing an individual to developing and maintaining anorexia nervosa (AN), as well as having considerable impact on prolonging the duration of this illness and its relapse risk. The aim of the research work was to assess whether the symptomatology of eating disorders, level of depression, and mental pain are associated with body image, and examine the influence of a distorted body image as well as eating disorders and depression symptoms on mental pain in AN; (2) Methods: A total of 36 women diagnosed with AN and 69 healthy controls (HC) participated in this study. All participants completed a battery of the following scales: EAT-26, BSQ-34, BIDQ, BDD-YBOCS, CESDR, and the Mental Pain Scale; (3) Results: Results show statistically significantly greater body image disturbances and higher level of depression and mental pain intensity in the AN compared to the HC group. Regression analysis indicates a greater impact of distorted body image, eating disorders, and depression symptoms on mental pain in AN; (4) Conclusions: As assumed, distorted body image and mental pain are central components of AN that should be especially emphasized in the therapeutical process of treating AN. Future research should focus on the etiopathogenesis of distorted body image in relation to the chronicity of mental pain and depression in AN, and address these outcomes in clinical practice to minimize suicide risk in this high-risk group of patients.

Examining emotion regulation in binge-eating disorder.

BACKGROUND: Inefficient mechanisms of emotional regulation appear essential in understanding the development and maintenance of binge-eating disorder (BED). Previous research focused mainly on a very limited emotion regulation strategies in BED, such as rumination, suppression, and positive reappraisal. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess a wider range of emotional regulation strategies (i.e. acceptance, refocusing on planning, positive refocusing, positive reappraisal, putting into perspective, self-blame, other-blame, rumination, and catastrophizing), as well as associations between those strategies and binge-eating-related beliefs (negative, positive, and permissive), and clinical variables (eating disorders symptoms, both anxiety, depressive symptoms, and alexithymia). METHODS: Women diagnosed with BED (n = 35) according to the DSM-5 criteria and healthy women (n = 41) aged 22-60 years were assessed using: the Eating Attitudes Test-26, the Eating Beliefs Questionnaire-18, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Statistical analyses included: Student t - tests or Mann-Whitney U tests for testing group differences between BED and HC group, and Pearson's r coefficient or Spearman's rho for exploring associations between the emotion regulation difficulties and strategies, and clinical variables and binge-eating-related beliefs in both groups. RESULTS: The BED group presented with a significantly higher level of emotion regulation difficulties such as: nonacceptance of emotional responses, lack of emotional clarity, difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior, impulse control difficulties, and limited access to emotion regulation strategies compared to the healthy controls. Moreover, patients with BED were significantly more likely to use maladaptive strategies (rumination and self-blame) and less likely to use adaptive strategies (positive refocusing and putting into perspective). In the clinical group, various difficulties in emotion regulation difficulties occurred to be positively correlated with the level of alexithymia, and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Regarding emotion regulation strategies, self-blame and catastrophizing were positively related to anxiety symptoms, but solely catastrophizing was related to the severity of eating disorder psychopathology. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate an essential and still insufficiently understood role of emotional dysregulation in BED. An especially important construct in this context seems to be alexithymia, which was strongly related to the majority of emotion regulation difficulties. Therefore, it might be beneficial to pay special attention to this construct when planning therapeutic interventions, as well as to the maladaptive emotion regulation strategies self-blame and catastrophizing, which were significantly related to BED psychopathology.

Self-disgust and disgust sensitivity are increased in anorexia nervosa inpatients, but only self-disgust mediates between comorbid and core psychopathology.

OBJECTIVE: The possible role of abnormal disgust processing in the development and course of anorexia nervosa (AN) has been emphasized in theoretical models and research. However, disgust toward external stimuli and self-disgust have not yet been investigated together in a clinical sample of AN patients. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to measure these constructs and examine their role in shaping eating pathology in AN patients and healthy controls (HCs), considering comorbid depressive and anxiety psychopathology. The study also aimed at testing the possible mediational roles of both disgust types in the associations between comorbid psychopathology and eating disorders (EDs) characteristics. METHOD: Altogether, 63 inpatients with AN and 57 HCs partook in the study. Participants completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-3, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Disgust Scale-Revised and Self-Disgust Scale. RESULTS: AN patients manifested higher self-disgust and disgust sensitivity than HCs. In addition, self-disgust predicted the severity of EDs characteristics and mediated the links of depressive symptoms and trait anxiety with EDs characteristics in both groups. DISCUSSION: Our findings imply the putative role of self-disgust in the development of EDs psychopathology in HCs and in its maintenance in AN patients.

Body Image in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Emerging Empirical Literature.

As an element of distorted self-image, body image disturbances may be relevant to borderline personality disorder (BPD). Therefore, this systematic review aims to critically discuss and summarize empirical findings in this matter. Based on the available theoretical models, three body image components were identified: (a) perception, (b) affect and cognition, and (c) general body dissatisfaction. We conducted a systematic search of the empirical literature published in English in the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases until June 2021 using a priori eligibility criteria (BPD; BPD symptoms or features in nonclinical groups; quasipsychotic or psychotic symptoms were not considered). We included k = 10 records meeting the criteria. Compared with other analyzed groups, individuals diagnosed with BPD obtained higher scores in the three components of body image disturbances. The issue of body image in BPD is relatively understudied, although current research findings clearly indicate disturbances in all of the abovementioned body image components in individuals with BPD or significant relationships of these components with BPD traits or symptoms both in clinical and nonclinical samples. Eventually, possible practical implications and future research directions are also discussed.

Influence of non-ionic, ionic and lipophilic polymers on the pH and conductivity of model ointments, creams and gels.

BACKGROUND: The pH of the skin surface is usually between 5.4 and 5.9 and functions as a barrier against bacteria and fungi; thus, the composition of the topically applied drug form may be of high importance for proper medication. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of the measurement conditions in aqueous solutions of ointments, creams, and gels, which include polymeric components, on the pH and conductivity results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The pH and electrolytic conductivity of aqueous dispersions of commercially available ointments, creams and gels were tested and compared to reference vehicles. RESULTS: The results of the dilution method measurements of the pH and electrolytic conductivity of the ointment preparations are highly diverse, ranging from 5.88 to 6.27, whereas the reference pH for Unguentum simplex was between 5.40 and 5.43. Furthermore, the measurements of the pH and electrolytic conductivity with the dilution method for creams did not provide repeatable results with a small sample size, and the pH of commercial preparations was in the range between 5.79 and 6.37, compared to the reference pH of 5.23-5.46. However, the dilution method for measurements of the pH and electrolytic conductivity was suitable for hydrogel preparations and the obtained results were repeatable in the range of 6.11-6.90, while the reference preparations were in the range of 5.19-5.62. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation methods of the electrolytic conductivity and pH of the preparations applied on the skin should be further evaluated; however, the pH of the commercial preparation seems to differ from the physiological skin pH, which covers the range of reference preparations.

Spatial and temporal trends in mercury levels in the down of black stork chicks in central Europe.

Piscivorous avian species may be affected by mercury (Hg) which tends to accumulate in aquatic environments and biomagnifies across the food webs. One of such species is the black stork, whose population increase recently slowed down due to unknown reasons. At the same time Hg contamination and its effects were almost unaudited for this species, so it may have exerted deleterious effects on the population and an evaluation is necessary. This is the first study of this species concerning Hg contamination. Thus, Hg concentrations were investigated in the down of black stork chicks (N = 90) from breeding locations in central and southern Poland (Europe) between 2015 and 2017. As well as Hg levels, morphometric parameters and age were evaluated. Mean Hg concentrations reached 0.7 µg/g d.w. and differed significantly between years, from the lowest value noted in 2017 (mean 0.5 µg/g), through 2016 (0.7 µg/g), to the highest one in 2015 (0.9 µg/g), and between nest locations where higher Hg levels were generally found in northern parts of the study area. Hg concentrations were also unrelated to morphometric parameters. Contrarily, morphometric parameters revealed high correlations between themselves, which was confirmed by the cluster analysis (revealing only two clusters) and principal component analysis (the first PC explained 96.8% of the variance). Hg levels in the down of black storks were rather low with the fluctuation between years and nest locations probably caused by parental exposure during wintering, migration, pre-breeding season and recent exposure through food provided by parents. Such low Hg concentrations seemed not to affect the population from the region studied.

Prevalence of alcohol use disorder among individuals who binge eat: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Binge eating disorder (BED) is correlated with substance use. This study aimed to estimate the life-time prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) among individuals with non-compensatory binge eating and determine whether their life-time prevalence of AUD is higher than in non-bingeing controls. DESIGN: A systematic search of databases (PubMed, Embase and Web of Science) for studies of adults diagnosed with BED or a related behavior that also reported the life-time prevalence of AUD was conducted. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol was followed. The protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). SETTING: Studies originating in Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were found, representing 69 233 individuals. MEASUREMENTS: Life-time prevalence of AUD among individuals with binge eating disorder and their life-time relative risk of AUD compared with individuals without this disorder. RESULTS: The pooled life-time prevalence of AUD in individuals with binge eating disorder was 19.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 13.7-27.9]. The risk of life-time AUD incidence among individuals with binge eating disorder was more than 1.5 times higher than controls (relative risk = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.41-1.79). Life-time AUD prevalence was higher in community samples than in clinical samples (27.45 versus 14.45%, P = 0.041) and in studies with a lower proportion of women (ß = -2.2773, P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Life-time alcohol use disorder appears to be more prevalent with binge eating disorder than among those without.

Emotion regulation in binge eating disorder. / Regulacja emocji w zaburzeniu z napadami objadania sie.

A review of the literature on emotion regulation in binge eating disorder (BED) published both in English and Polish between 1990 and 2020. BED might be considered as an impulsive and compulsive disorder associated with altered reward sensitivity and food-related attentional bias. The growing body of research indicated that there were corticostriatal circuitry alterations in BED, comparable to those observed in substance abuse, including altered function of orbitofrontal, prefrontal and insular cortices with the striatum included. Negative emotions and deficits in their regulation play a significant role in BED. Processing of anger, anxiety and sadness appear to be particularly important in this disorder. Research results identified an increase in negative emotions preceding episodes of binge eating. However, there is still inconsistency when it comes to whether these episodes alleviate negative affect. Individuals with BED more often use non-adaptive emotion regulation strategies, such as rumination and suppression of negative sensations. Whereas adaptive ones, for instance, cognitive reappraisal, are used less often. Clinical implications, besides pharmacology, highlight the high effectiveness of enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E), dialectic-behavioral therapy (DBT) and psychodynamic therapy in the treatment of emotional dysregulation in BED. Further studies, including ecological momentary assessment (EMA), should focus on emotional changes related to the binge cycle and the identification of reinforcing factors of BED.

Interpreting the pathogenicity of Joubert syndrome missense variants in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Ciliopathies are inherited disorders caused by defects in motile and non-motile (primary) cilia. Ciliopathy syndromes and associated gene variants are often highly pleiotropic and represent exemplars for interrogating genotype-phenotype correlations. Towards understanding disease mechanisms in the context of ciliopathy mutations, we have used a leading model organism for cilia and ciliopathy research, Caenorhabditis elegans, together with gene editing, to characterise two missense variants (P74S and G155S) in mksr-2/B9D2 associated with Joubert syndrome (JBTS). B9D2 functions within the Meckel syndrome (MKS) module at the ciliary base transition zone (TZ) compartment and regulates the molecular composition and sensory/signalling functions of the cilium. Quantitative assays of cilium/TZ structure and function, together with knock-in reporters, confirm that both variant alleles are pathogenic in worms. G155S causes a more severe overall phenotype and disrupts endogenous MKSR-2 organisation at the TZ. Recapitulation of the patient biallelic genotype shows that compound heterozygous worms phenocopy worms homozygous for P74S. The P74S and G155S alleles also reveal evidence of a very close functional association between the B9D2-associated B9 complex and MKS-2/TMEM216. Together, these data establish C. elegans as a model for interpreting JBTS mutations and provide further insight into MKS module organisation. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Wheat phyllosphere yeasts degrade propiconazole.

BACKGROUND: Yeasts, which are ubiquitous in agroecosystems, are known to degrade various xenobiotics. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of fungicides on the abundance of natural yeast communities colonizing winter wheat leaves, to evaluate the sensitivity of yeast isolates to fungicides in vivo, and to select yeasts that degrade propiconazole. RESULTS: Fungicides applied during the growing season generally did not affect the counts of endophytic yeasts colonizing wheat leaves. Propiconazole and a commercial mixture of flusilazole and carbendazim decreased the counts of epiphytic yeasts, but the size of the yeast community was restored after 10 days. Epoxiconazole and a commercial mixture of fluoxastrobin and prothioconazole clearly stimulated epiphyte growth. The predominant species isolated from leaves were Aureobasidium pullulans and Rhodotorula glutinis. In the disk diffusion test, 14 out of 75 yeast isolates were not sensitive to any of the tested fungicides. After 48 h of incubation in an aqueous solution of propiconazole, the Rhodotorula glutinis Rg 55 isolate degraded the fungicide in 75%. Isolates Rh. glutinis Rg 92 and Rg 55 minimized the phytotoxic effects of propiconazole under greenhouse conditions. The first isolate contributed to an increase in the dry matter content of wheat seedlings, whereas the other reduced the severity of chlorosis. CONCLUSION: Not sensitivity of many yeast colonizing wheat leaves on the fungicides and the potential of isolate Rhodotorula glutinis Rg 55 to degrade of propiconazole was established. Yeast may partially eliminate the ecologically negative effect of fungicides.

Analysis of psychiatric services provided to children and youth in 2010-2016 based on the National Health Fund data. / Analiza swiadczen psychiatrycznych udzielonych populacji rozwojowej w latach 2010­2016 na podstawie danych Narodowego Funduszu Zdrowia.

OBJECTIVES: In Poland, there is no systematic epidemiological research on mental disorders of children and adolescents in the general population, as well as a register dedicated to mental disorders. The aim of the presented study is to analyze psychiatric services reported to the National Health Fund that were provided to children and adolescents in the years 2010-2016. METHODS: The starting point of this study was report entitled Maps of health needs in mental disorders published by the Ministry of Health. The analysis concerns all mental health services provided to children and adolescents in the years 2010-2016. The analysis covers seven largest, in terms of the number of patients, groups of mental disorders according to ICD-10 in children and adolescents. RESULTS: In the years 2010-2016, both the number of psychiatric service users under the age of 18 years and the total number of healthcare services have increased in almost all of analyzed areas. Unusually high increase in the number of services provided in the ad hoc mode in A&E department was registered, with a very small share of services provided in home environment. In almost all analyzed groups of mental disorders, there was a greater number of boys, as well as residents of a town/city. Only in the group of neurotic disorders associated with stress and in the somatic form a slightly higher number of girls was noticed. CONCLUSIONS: In the years 2010-2016, an increase in the number of registered cases in the population of children and adolescents and the number of services in almost all of the analyzed areas was observed. High increase in services provided in the ad hoc mode in A&E department and a small share of services provided in the home environment indicates significant discrepancy between the needs and the availability of resources.

Organisational units providing psychiatric services for adults - an analysis based on National Health Fund data for 2010-2016. / Jednostki organizacyjne psychiatrycznej opieki zdrowotnej dla doroslych ­ analiza na podstawie danych Narodowego Funduszu Zdrowia z lat 2010­2016.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this publication is to analyze the organizational units of mental healthcare for adults based on the data on the services reported to the National Health Fund in 2010-2016. METHODS: The following organizational forms of care were analyzed: mental health outpatient clinics, general psychiatric wards, general day care psychiatric wards, community mental health teams, and psychiatric emergency rooms. These organizational units were analyzed in terms of their number, utilization and accessibility. In addition, a preliminary simulation of the expected Mental Health Centers was carried out. RESULTS: In Poland, in 2010-2016, the number of mental health service providers under contracts with the National Health Fund increased by 5%. The most robust growth was observed for community mental health teams, whose number increased by 282%. However, this organizational form was used by a marginal (1.9%) percentage of patients. The highest rate of admission to general psychiatric wards was observed in districts where a general psychiatric ward and a mental health clinic were available with no day care psychiatric wards or community mental health teams. Asmall number of entities providing comprehensive care was in operation in 2016. The preliminary simulation has shown that in 2016 a total of 156 MentalHealth Centers should have been in operation, assuming that each of them would have provided care for 200,000 inhabitants. CONCLUSIONS: It would be advisable to analyze the exact geographic distribution of units, human resources in individual organizational units, and to take financial outlays for mental healthcare in their various forms into consideration.

Structural and functional brain correlates of altered taste processing in anorexia nervosa: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: A growing body of empirical literature indicates altered taste perception in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, it remains unknown whether the observed impairments in the neural processing of taste stimuli represent etiopathogenetic factors of AN or whether they are a secondary consequence of malnutrition. METHOD: In the current systematic review, scientific studies were identified using the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases. A supplemental search was performed by searches through reference lists of the relevant publications and via Google Scholar. RESULTS: On the basis of the searches conducted, 16 publications were identified and included in this literature review. The results of those studies point to disturbances in the structure and functioning of brain regions involved in taste processing in AN. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the reviewed studies suggest that altered reward, interoceptive, and cognitive-emotional processing may contribute to abnormal taste processing in AN.