The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Sexual Lives of Polish Young Adults.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to daily life in Poland, with restrictions affecting various sectors, including entertainment, education, and travel. The pandemic's impact extended to intimate aspects of life. This study aimed to compare the sexual functioning of young adults in Poland before and during the pandemic, using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14). Methods: The research involved an online survey with demographic questions, the CSFQ-14 for pre-pandemic sexual functioning, and modified CSFQ-14 questions for the pandemic period. Sexual dysfunction was determined using predefined cutoff scores. Results: Overall, the study found no significant difference in the sexual functioning of young Poles during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before. However, there were gender-specific trends. Women reported enhanced pleasure, satisfaction, and orgasm during lockdown, while men faced challenges with erection and ejaculation. A higher proportion of women experienced overall sexual dysfunction compared to men, both before and during the pandemic. This research provides insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual lives of young Poles. While overall sexual functioning remained relatively stable, specific aspects varied by gender. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the need to consider demographic factors, such as age and gender, when assessing the effects of external stressors like a pandemic on sexual health. Further research is essential to fully grasp these complexities and their potential long-term consequences.

Sexual Function in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Living in Stable Heterosexual Relationships: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background/Objective: The prevalence and character of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have not been precisely determined. The aim of this study was to assess FSD using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14) in women with PCOS and their partners compared to a control group, as well as correlations between five subscales, the total score of the CSFQ, and seven questions of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Methods: The study sample (N = 160) comprised two groups: (1) women with PCOS and their partners (n = 91) and (2) women without PCOS and their partners (control group; n = 69). Results: The total scores of the CSFQ did not reveal FSD in either group of women. Regarding all subscales and the total score, the analysis showed a statistically significant difference between women and their partners (in all cases: p < 0.001). The discrepancy in arousal between women and men in the PCOS group was large (the mean difference was -2.32; t = -11.29, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = -1.26). The importance (VAS1), the level (VAS7) of sexual satisfaction, and the intensity of sexual thoughts (VAS2) correlated with almost all domains of the CSFQ. Conclusions: In conclusion, normal sexual function in PCOS does not mean proper sexual functioning in a sexual relationship.

The Risk of Methylphenidate Pharmacotherapy for Adults with ADHD.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. It was once thought to be a disorder affecting only children, but in those undiagnosed in childhood, symptoms do not disappear with age. There is now a growing recognition of the late diagnosis and treatment of adults with ADHD. The first-line drug in pharmacotherapy is methylphenidate, and information about its adverse effects, when used by adults, has not been as extensively described as in children. The aim of this article was to review the literature describing the risks of methylphenidate therapy for adults with ADHD. A total of 19 articles-15 clinical trials and 4 case reports presenting rare side effects resulting from methylphenidate therapy, such as reversible ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and psychotic episodes, were analyzed. The analysis from clinical trials included 3458 adult patients with ADHD and described the most common side effects, psychiatric adverse events, effects of methylphenidate treatment on sleep, laboratory results, body mass, and cardiovascular symptoms. Methylphenidate treatment is well tolerated, with side effects described, according to severity, as mild to moderate. We conclude that pharmacotherapy is not risk-free and methylphenidate, due to its side effects, may not be the first drug of choice for every patient.

Amantadine in the Treatment of Sexual Inactivity in Schizophrenia Patients Taking Atypical Antipsychotics-The Pilot Case Series Study.

Sexual dysfunctions in people with schizophrenia are more severe than in the general population and are an important element in the treatment of schizophrenia. The mechanism of sexual dysfunction in patients treated for schizophrenia may be related to the side effects of antipsychotic drugs (hyperprolactinemia, suppression of the reward system), but it may also be related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia itself. The aim of the study was to present the possibility of using amantadine in the treatment of sexual dysfunction in schizophrenia without the concomitant hyperprolactinemia. In an open and naturalistic case series study, five men treated for schizophrenia in a stable mental state were described. All patients reported a prolonged lack of sexual desire and sexual activity prior to treatment with amantadine. After exclusion of hyperprolactinemia, patients received amantadine 100 mg in the evening. Sexual dysfunction was assessed using subscales of the 14-point Short Form of the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14). On subsequent visits after 1, 2 and 3 months of administration of amantadine, an improvement in sexual functioning was observed in all patients. Although this is only the preliminary report, amantadine may become a new indication for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in schizophrenia patients.

Analysis of psychiatric consultations in the department of neurology and stroke unit: diagnosis and therapy. / Analiza konsultacji psychiatrycznych w oddziale neurologii i oddziale udarowym: rozpoznania i terapia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze psychiatric consultations of patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit (DN/SU) of University Clinical Center in Katowice from 2017 to 2018. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of psychiatric consultations, psychiatric diagnoses (according to the ICD-10) and treatment recommendations was done. RESULTS: 719 psychiatric consultations were performed in all hospital departments in the analyzed period. 488 (67.87%) consultations were conducted in the Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit. Most patients who required psychiatric consultations were diagnosed with Huntington's disease (n = 25; 37.31%), Parkinson's disease (n = 60; 23.9%) and epilepsy (n=40; 22.73%). The most commonpsychiatric diagnoses included organic mental disorders (n=229; 55.85%), particularly organic mood disorders (n =73; 14.96%) and organic anxiety disorders (n =32;6.56%) whereas in thecase of vascular diseases themost common diagnoses included disturbances of consciousness associated with delirium (n =30; 40.54%). The majority of consultations (n = 388; 79.51%) resulted in the onset or modification of pharmacological treatment. The most frequently prescribed drugs were: neuroleptics (n =174; 35.66%), mostly atypical (n = 152; 87,36%), and antidepressants (n = 230; 47.13%), mostly SSRIs (n = 216; 93.91%). In patients > 60 years of age organic disorders were more prevalent (n =179; 66.30% vs. n = 49; 35.0%) and neuroleptics were more frequently prescribed (n = 131; 42.12% vs. n= 44; 24.86%) compared to patients < 60 years. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in the department of neurology and stroke unit underwent a psychiatric consultation most frequently. Optimizing the care of aneurological patient is related to close cooperation of a neurologist and a psychiatrist, as well as developing and updating common positions for the management of selected disease entities.

Anxiety and depression in patients with acute leukaemia treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Acute leukemia and hospitalization for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) are the great psychological stressors. The aim of this study was to assess anxiety and depression associated with such conditions and their psychophysical predictors before and after HCT. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal study using self-descriptive tools. The questionnaires: LOT-R, AIS, Mini-Mac, CECS, RSCL and HADS were filled by 60 patients with acute leukaemia before and after HCT. RESULTS: Anxiety and depressive symptoms correlated positively with psychological symptom distress. The correlation with depressive symptoms was weak, however, with anxious symptoms was moderate. In both cases, the higher was a level of psychological symptom distress, the higher level of anxiety and depression was observed in patients. The results indicated the weak, positive correlation between onerousness of physical symptoms and a level of anxiety. The greater was the severity of physical symptoms, the higher was the level of anxiety. The negative predictor of anxious symptoms was control of anxiety but it was weakly associated with a lower level of the explained variable. The negative predictor of anxious symptoms was also dispositional optimism whose high level accompanied the lower severity of the explained variable. However, the positive predictor of anxious symptoms was the variable of onerousness of symptoms whose high level accompanied the higher severity of anxious symptoms in the examined group CONCLUSION: Patients with acute leukemia who are hospitalized for HCT require detailed monitoring of their psychological distress to introduce the proper psychological and pharmacological interventions that reduce anxiety as well as boost "dispositional optimism" and mechanisms of control.

Mental state and its psychophysical conditions in patients with acute leukaemia treated with bone marrow transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Acute leukaemia and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) as a method of its treatment are great psychological stressors, which are responsible for anxiety and depression in the group of patients. The aim of the study was to assess the patients' mental state and its psychophysical predictors before and after BMT. SUBJECT AND METHOD: The study was of a longitudinal and self-descriptive character. The questionnaires: LOT-R, AIS, Mini-Mac, CECS, RSCL and HADS were filled by 60 patients with acute leukaemia before and after BMT. RESULTS: There were no essential statistical differences between the severity of anxiety and depression before and after BMT but the pattern and the power of various mental state predictors changed in the course of the hospitalization. Anxiety before transplantation was greater when the psychological stress and the strategy of "anxious preoccupation" were stronger and the strategy of "fighting spirit" and the level of generalized optimism were weaker. The factors explained 51% variations of anxiety before transplantation. After BMT 77% variations of anxiety were explained, which were associated with a high level of distress at the end of the hospitalization, higher level of anxiety before transplantation, weaker strategy of "fighting spirit" before transplantation and stronger strategy of "anxious preoccupation" after BMT. Before transplantation 36% variations of depression were explained and estimated as weaker "fighting spirit" and worse "global life quality". The essential predictors of depressive symptoms after transplantation, explained by 81% variations of depression, were weaker "fighting spirit" before transplantation, stronger "anxious preoccupation" after transplantation, worse "global life quality" after transplantation and higher level of anxious and depressive symptoms on admission to hospital. CONCLUSION: The psychological and pharmacological interventions, which reduce anxiety, depression and "anxious preoccupation" as well as enhance "fighting spirit", should be introduced before BMT to improve the patients' mental state.

Modern indications for the use of opipramol.

Opipramol is considered as a pharmacological agent that does not fit the classification taking into account the division of antidepressants, antipsychotics and anxiolytics. It has a structure related to tricyclic antidepressants but it has a different mechanism of action, i.e. binding to sigma1 and to sigma2 sites. It has been regarded as an effective drug in general anxiety disorders together with other agents like SSRI`s, SNRI`s, buspirone and pregabalin for many years. It can however also be indicated in other conditions, e.g. it may be used as a premedication in the evening prior to surgery, positive results are also observed in psychopharmacological treatment with opipramol in somatoform disorders, symptoms of depression can be significantly reduced in the climacteric syndrome. The latest data from literature present also certain dangers and side effects, which may result due to opipramol administration. Mania may be induced not only in bipolar patients treated with opipramol, but it can be an adverse drug reaction in generalized anxiety disorder. This analysis shows however that opipramol is an important drug still very useful in different clinical conditions.

[Importance of creatine kinase psychiatry--truths and myths]. / Znaczenie kinazy kreatynowej w psychiatrii--prawda i mity.

Creatine kinase (CK) catalyzes the reversible transfer of the phosphoryl group from phosphocreatine to adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP), thus regenerating adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Creatine kinase genes are expressed in several tissues with high, fluctuating energy turnover, e.g. skeletal and cardiac muscle, brain and photoreceptor cells, and spermatozoa. Several isoenzymes of CK have been characterized: brain-type, muscle-type, and the hybrid isoenzymes, as well as the mitochondrial CK isoenzymes. Measurements of serum CK is a routine test in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and various muscle disorders. Elevation of the serum CK level in psychiatric patients is a fairly nonspecific phenomenon. Most commonly, an elevated serum CK level is due to intramuscular injections, use of restraints or other intense isometric activity. Although it is still controversial, increased CK activity is one of basic criteria of neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Despite many studies on the importance of CK in postnatal brain and pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders, its role in psychiatry remains still mysterious.

[Delusional misidentification syndrome]. / Zespoly urojeniowego blednego utozsamiania.

The term "delusional misidentification syndrome" (DMS) includes undoubtedly the Capgras syndrome, the Fregoli syndrome, intermetamorphosis and the syndrome of subjective doubles. Until the past decade DMS was regarded as very rare, but an increasing number of cases are now being reported. A range of suggestions has been put forward in order to explain etiopathogenesis of DMS. Psychological and especially psychodynamic viewpoints attributed a decisive pathogenetic role to the defense mechanisms of splitting and projection. DMS was compared with a phenomenon of prosopagnosia. An attempt of theoretical explanations of DMS was information-processing model of familiar face recognition by Bruce and Young. Nowadays event-related potentials, especially auditory P300 component, constitute a useful tool providing valuable information with regard to the brain-behaviour relations.

[The application of electroconvulsive therapy in neuroleptic malignant syndrome treatment in patient with catatonic schizophrenia]. / Zastosowanie elektrowstrzasów w leczeniu zlosliwego zespolu neuroleptycznego u chorej ze schizofrenia katatoniczna.

The above article presents a case report of a 28-year-old patient, primarily treated with a diagnosis of catatonic schizophrenia, in who in the course of hospitalization developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). The patient presented unawareness, hyperthermia, respiratory insufficiency, muscle rigidity, CK increased activity. The patient required tracheotomy and oxygen therapy and then was subjected to a series of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Since the fifth ECT treatment we noted a gradual recovery to a completely normal mental status. We did not make an attempt to introduce neuroleptic maintenance treatment.

"Saba"--application of knowledge and state-of-the-art technologies in the field of psychiatry for development of new diagnostics prevention and therapeutic tools for schizophrenia.

The aim of project is to build a European network, which will integrate the research capabilities of a group of research institutes and university departments to provide an infrastructure for the highest quality research in psychiatric disorders, particularly in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disturbances. This network will integrate original computer expert advisory system called "Saba" with modern brain imaging techniques and neurophysiological methods, which allows for the delineation of specific subtypes and particular episodes of mental disorders and their neural bases will be studied by state-of-the art (high tech) imaging techniques. This approach will lead to new investigatory, diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Together the members of this network will comprise an unmatched critical mass of human and other resources aimed at fundamental and applied research into a group of disorders, which impose a huge burden on social and material capital. The relationships and mutual responsibilities between neuroscience and the society it serves will be addressed specifically. Top brain research is performed at several locations in Europe. In particular, in the area of linking classical psychiatric and psychological assessment methods and the newest brain imaging techniques in mental disorders, major progress can only be made when various research groups join their efforts. Large-scale studies using different databases are critically required, which demands standardization of the description of mental disorders and of the applied techniques and methods of analysis. Imaging techniques, including functional MRI (fMRI), Evoked Potentials (EPs), brain mapping, and the computer gathered information will be shared, standardized and further developed within the network. Developing new information technology tools for simulation, visualization and data-mining will be required to enable effective search for links between mental disorders and brain characteristics (function, structure) in very large scale data-sets acquired and stored in various research facilities.

The integration of the computer advisory system together with neuroimaging procedures, neurophysiological markers and psychological cognitive tests in order to obtain evidence based system for the physician treating affective disturbance.

WHO has classified depression disturbances--due to widespread existence and serious medical consequences and resulting social and economic effects--as a priority health problem in all the developed countries. The significance of the depression disturbances is fully comparable to such illnesses as heart diseases, cancer and HIV infection. The research made in the USA (NIMH programmer) shows that first contact doctors are not able to detect depression in relation to 50-70% of the people ill with it. Also the research made in other countries shows that a doctor properly identifies only one out of four persons with clear indications of depression. The wrong choice of the antidepressant drug may result in inefficient therapy and in growing risk of suicide. In 1993 the analysis of 50 best selling medicines in the EU made by two Italian pharmacologists showed that in France and Italy in over 45% of the cases the medicines with doubtful efficiency are applied. The aim of our project is to build a European network, which will integrate the research capabilities of a group of research institutes and university departments to provide an infrastructure for creation of the computer advisory system for diagnostics of affective disorders. This network will integrate our original computer expert advisory system called "Salomon" with modem brain imaging techniques and neurophysiological methods, which allows for the delineation of specific subtypes and particular episodes of mental disorders and their neural bases will be studied by state-of-the art (high tech) imaging techniques. This approach will lead to new investigatory, diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.