The Efficacy and Therapeutic Alliance of Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy in Treating Adults With Phobic Disorders: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Phobic disorders are characterized by excessive fear of a stimulus that can affect the quality of a patient's life. The lifetime prevalence in adults is 7.7% to 12.5%. The current literature provides evidence-based inferences about the effectiveness of in-vivo exposure therapy (IVET) in treating phobia. However, this method can put the therapist and the client in danger, with high drop out and refusal rates. A newer approach for exposure therapy using augmented reality technology is under assessment. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review investigated the novel technology's efficacy, cost-efficacy, and therapeutic alliance in treating adults with phobia. METHODS: An extensive search was conducted using 4 major databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and Scopus) using a comprehensive list of synonyms for augmented reality exposure therapy (ARET) and phobic disorders. The search targeted any randomized control trial testing ARET in adults with phobic disorders up to August 8, 2022. RESULTS: A total of 6 studies were included, with 208 participants providing results. Studies investigating the efficacy of ARET compared to no intervention showed significant results (P<.05) in the ARET group improvement. Head-to-head comparative studies comparing ARET to IVET showed no significant difference (P>.05) in the effectiveness and therapeutic alliance between both therapies. Further, the results demonstrated that the ARET group had a better long-term effect than IVET, with the ability to put the patients in more situations to face the feared object. CONCLUSIONS: The current data suggest clinically significant efficacy and a promising therapeutic alliance of ARET. However, no data are available investigating the cost-effectiveness of ARET. Further research is warranted to ascertain ARET's cost-effectiveness and examine its efficacy in other populations and anxiety conditions.

Case report: specific phobia of vaginal penetration in a pregnant patient.

Specific phobia is frequently unrecognized or untreated unless it causes significant impairment. In this report, we documented a rare case of a pregnant patient who had a specific fear related to vaginal penetration. Due to abnormal fetal cardiac development in the second trimester, the patient was admitted for termination of pregnancy. The patient's persistent request for surgical termination via cesarean delivery prompted the obstetrician to seek psychiatric consultation for tokophobia, a labor- and childbirth-related phobia. The consulting psychiatrist discovered that the patient had developed a significant fear of vaginal penetration during adolescence. Throughout the extended period of this specific phobia, the patient established a range of avoidance strategies. Had it not been for the unforeseen need for abortion, her phobia may not have been identified. Psychoeducation on specific phobias, exposure therapy, muscle relaxation techniques, and the administration of anxiolytics were implemented. The pregnancy was terminated through a vaginal labor induction procedure 2 days later. Collaboration across disciplines is necessary to support a thorough assessment of obstetric patients who express hesitancy toward vaginal delivery.

Efectividad de la hipnoterapia en escolares con trastornos de ansiedad fóbica / Effectiveness of hypnotherapy in school children with disorders of phobic anxiety: en

Introducción: La fobia es un trastorno de ansiedad caracterizado por temor o miedo intenso e irracional hacia algo. Presenta una tasa de incidencia anual de 8 % y la hipnosis es uno de los tratamientos más empleados en quienes la padecen. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad del modelo hipnoterapéutico aplicado a pacientes en edad escolar con trastornos de ansiedad fóbica. Métodos: Se realizó una intervención hipnoterapéutica cuasiexperimental en los 30 pacientes con fobia escolar que acudieron a la consulta multidisciplinaria de hipnosis en la Clínica de Hipnosis Terapéutica de Santiago de Cuba, desde octubre de 2016 hasta igual mes de 2018. A tal efecto, la intervención constó de 3 etapas y se aplicó la prueba de Mc-Nemar para dos muestras relacionadas, así como el estadígrafo de la Χ2. Resultados: En la serie predominaron los pacientes del sexo masculino (53,3 %), principalmente entre 8 y 9 años de edad (37,5 %), así como las fobias específicas. Luego de aplicada la hipnosis, se obtuvo una respuesta psicológica favorable en todos los pacientes. Conclusiones: El modelo hipnoterapéutico aplicado resultó ser efectivo, pues se logró una evolución clínica favorable y una buena respuesta al tratamiento.

Introduction: Phobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by fear or intense and irrational fear toward something. It presents an annual rate of incidence of 8 % and hypnosis is one of the most used treatments in those who suffer from this disorder. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the hypnotherapeutic pattern applied to patients in school age with phobic anxiety disorders. Methods: A quasi-experiment hypnotherapeutic intervention was carried out in the 30 patients with school phobia that attended the hypnosis multidisciplinary service at the Therapeutic Hypnosis Clinic in Santiago de Cuba, from October, 2016 to the same month in 2018. To such an effect, the intervention consisted of 3 stages and the Mc-Nemar test was applied for 2 related samples, as well as the chi-square test. Results: In the series there was a prevalence of the male sex patients (53.3 %), mainly between 8 and 9 years (37.5 %), as well as the specific phobias. After having applied the hypnosis, a favorable psychological response was obtained in all the patients. Conclusions: The hypnotherapeutic pattern applied was effective, because a favorable clinical course and a good treatment response were achieved.

Instrumentos para diagnóstico e rastreamento do transtorno de ansiedade social adaptados para à realidade brasileira / Social anxiety disorder diagnostic and screening tools adapted for the brazilian reality

Objetivo: descrever perante a literatura os instrumentos para diagnóstico e rastreamento do Transtorno de Ansiedade Social (TAS) que sejam adaptados à realidade brasileira. Método: revisão de literatura exploratória e descritiva, realizado através das bases de dados: PubMED, BVS e Scielo. No mês de agosto de 2022 com recorte temporal de 2017 a 2022. Sendo inclusos, documentos que versavam a respeito dos instrumentos para diagnóstico e rastreamento do TAS, adaptados à realidade brasileira. Resultado: ao revisar a literatura foram encontrados 14 documentos dentre as escalas de reconhecimento e rastreamento do TAS com validação e adaptação transcultural para realidade brasileira, foram encontrados quatro: Questionário de Ansiedade social para Adultos; Escala de Ansiedade em Interação Social Reduzida; Escala de Ansiedade Social Reduzida e a Escala de Ansiedade Social de Liebowitz versão auto aplicada. Conclusão:há uma minoria de estudos validados e adaptados aos brasileiros dificultando assim o diagnóstico, tratamento precoce e a avaliação multidisciplinar.(AU)

Objective: to describe in the literature the instruments for diagnosis and screening of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) that are adapted to the Brazilian reality. Method: exploratory and descriptive literature review, conducted through the databases: PubMED, BVS and Scielo. In August 2022, with a time frame of 2017 to 2022. Included were documents about the instruments for diagnosis and screening of SAD, adapted to the Brazilian reality. Result: After reviewing the literature, 14 documents were found among the SAD recognition and screening scales with validation and cross-cultural adaptation for the Brazilian reality, four were found: Adult Social Anxiety Questionnaire; Reduced Social Interaction Anxiety Scale; Reduced Social Anxiety Scale, and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, self-applied version. Conclusion: there is a minority of studies validated and adapted to Brazilians thus hindering diagnosis, early treatment and multidisciplinary assessment.(AU)

Objetivo:describir através de la literatura los instrumentos para el diagnóstico y rastreodelTrastorno de Ansiedad Social (TAS) que se adaptan a la realidade brasileña. Método:revisión bibliográfica exploratoria y descriptiva, realizada a través de las bases de datos: PubMED, BVS y Scielo. En agosto de 2022 conunplazo de 2017 a 2022. Se incluyeron documentos sobre los instrumentos de diagnóstico y cribadodelTAS, adaptados ala realidade brasileña. Resultados: al revisar la literatura se encontraron 14 documentos dentro de las escalas de reconocimiento y rastreo de laTASconvalidación y adaptación transcultural a la realidade brasileña, se encontraroncuatro: Questionário de Ansiedade social para Adultos; Escala de Ansiedade em Interação Social Reduzida; Escala de Ansiedade Social Reduzida y la Escala de Ansiedade Social de Liebowitzversión auto aplicada. Conclusión:hay una minoría de estudios validados y adaptados a losbrasileños, lo que dificulta el diagnóstico, el tratamento precoz y laevaluación multidisciplinar. (AU)

Instrumentos para diagnóstico e rastreamento do transtorno de ansiedade social adaptados para à realidade brasileira / Instrumentos de diagnóstico y cribado del trastorno de ansiedad social adaptados a la realidad brasileña / Social anxiety disorder diagnostic and screening tools adapted for the brazilian reality

Objetivo: descrever perante a literatura os instrumentos para diagnóstico e rastreamento do Transtorno de Ansiedade Social (TAS) que sejam adaptados à realidade brasileira. Método: revisão de literatura exploratória e descritiva, realizado através das bases de dados: PubMED, BVS e Scielo. No mês de agosto de 2022 com recorte temporal de 2017 a 2022. Sendo inclusos, documentos que versavam a respeito dos instrumentos para diagnóstico e rastreamento do TAS, adaptados à realidade brasileira. Resultado: ao revisar a literatura foram encontrados 14 documentos dentre as escalas de reconhecimento e rastreamento do TAS com validação e adaptação transcultural para realidade brasileira, foram encontrados quatro: Questionário de Ansiedade social para Adultos; Escala de Ansiedade em Interação Social Reduzida; Escala de Ansiedade Social Reduzida e a Escala de Ansiedade Social de Liebowitz versão auto aplicada.Conclusão:há uma minoria de estudos validados e adaptados aos brasileiros dificultando assim o diagnóstico, tratamento precoce e a avaliação multidisciplinar.(AU)

Objective: to describe in the literature the instruments for diagnosis and screening of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) that are adapted to the Brazilian reality. Method: exploratory and descriptive literature review, conducted through the databases: PubMED, BVS and Scielo. In August 2022, with a time frame of 2017 to 2022. Included were documents about the instruments for diagnosis and screening of SAD, adapted to the Brazilian reality. Result: After reviewing the literature, 14 documents were found among the SAD recognition and screening scales with validation and cross-cultural adaptation for the Brazilian reality, four were found: Adult Social Anxiety Questionnaire; Reduced Social Interaction Anxiety Scale; Reduced Social Anxiety Scale, and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, self-applied version. Conclusion: there is a minority of studies validated and adapted to Brazilians thus hindering diagnosis, early treatment and multidisciplinary assessment.(AU)

Objetivo:describir através de la literatura los instrumentos para el diagnóstico y rastreodelTrastorno de Ansiedad Social (TAS) que se adaptan a la realidade brasileña. Método:revisión bibliográfica exploratoria y descriptiva, realizada a través de las bases de datos: PubMED, BVS y Scielo. En agosto de 2022 conunplazo de 2017 a 2022. Se incluyeron documentos sobre los instrumentos de diagnóstico y cribadodelTAS, adaptados ala realidade brasileña. Resultados: al revisar la literatura se encontraron 14 documentos dentro de las escalas de reconocimiento y rastreo de laTASconvalidación y adaptación transcultural a la realidade brasileña, se encontraroncuatro: Questionário de Ansiedade social para Adultos; Escala de Ansiedade em Interação Social Reduzida; Escala de Ansiedade Social Reduzida y la Escala de Ansiedade Social de Liebowitzversión auto aplicada. Conclusión:hay una minoría de estudios validados y adaptados a losbrasileños, lo que dificulta el diagnóstico, el tratamento precoz y laevaluación multidisciplinar.(AU)

Prevalência de transtorno de ansiedade e fatores associados em crianças durante a pandemia da covid-19: um estudo transversal / Prevalence of anxiety disorder and associated factors in children during the covid-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study / Prevalencia del trastorno de ansiedad y factores asociados en niños durante la pandemia da covid-19: un estudio transversal

O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a prevalência do transtorno de ansiedade e fatores sociodemográficos, comportamentais e aspectos de saúde associados em crianças de três a 10 anos de idade, durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Estudo de delineamento transversal, realizado na região do Triângulo Mineiro, estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Utilizou-se a Escala Spence de Ansiedade Infantil, versão para os pais, para avaliar os sintomas das principais perturbações de ansiedade em crianças. Para comparar proporções utilizou-se o teste Qui-quadrado, os fatores associados ao transtorno de ansiedade foram encontrados por Regressão de Poisson, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Participaram n=778 pais de crianças de três a 10 anos de idade. A prevalência do transtorno de ansiedade nas crianças foi de 1,7%. Crianças de pais analfabetos e com ensino fundamental II incompleto apresentaram razão de prevalência (RP) = 4,24 [(IC95%: 1,03 ­ 17,46), p=0,045] maior de transtorno de ansiedade que às crianças de pais com nível superior completo a pós-graduação, enquanto as crianças de pais com ensino fundamental a superior incompleto apresentaram uma RP = 2,64 [(IC95%: 0,72 ­ 9,72), p=0,045] em comparação às crianças de pais com nível superior completo a pós- graduação. Crianças com alterações nos padrões alimentares apresentaram uma RP = 11,10 [(IC95%: 1,59 ­ 77,42), p = 0,015] maior de transtorno de ansiedade, em relação às crianças que não possuíam alterações nos padrões alimentares. Concluiu-se que as variáveis que associaram ao transtorno de ansiedade foram o nível de escolaridade dos pais e alterações dos padrões alimentares das crianças.

The objective of the study was to verify the prevalence of anxiety disorder and sociodemographic, behavioral factors and associated health aspects in 3-10-year-old children, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional study carried out in the Triângulo Mineiro, region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The Spence Child Anxiety Scale, version for parents, was used to assess the symptoms of the anxiety disorders in children. The Chi-square test was used to compare proportions, the factors associated with the anxiety disorder were found by Regression Poisson, with a 95% confidence interval. Participated in this study 778 parents of 3-10-year-old children. The prevalence of anxiety disorder in children was 1.7%. Children of illiterate parents and with incomplete primary education had a prevalence ratio (PR) = 4.24 [(IC95%:1.03 ­ 17.46), p=0.045] higher for anxiety disorder than children of parents with complete higher education to graduate school, while children of parents with incomplete primary or higher education had a PR = 2.64 [(IC95%:0.72 ­ 9.72), p=0.045] compared to children of parents with a complete higher education at postgraduate level. Children with changes in eating patterns had a PR = 11.10 [(IC95%:1.59 ­ 77.42), p = 0.015] higher for anxiety disorder, compared to children who did not have changes in eating patterns. The study concluded that the variables associated with anxiety disorder were parents' education level and changes in children's eating patterns.

El objetivo del estudio fue verificar la prevalencia del trastorno de ansiedad y los factores sociodemográficos, conductuales y de salud asociados en niños de 3 a 10 años, durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Estudio transversal realizado en el Triângulo Mineiro, región del estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Se utilizó la Escala de Ansiedad Infantil de Spence, versión para padres, para evaluar los síntomas de los trastornos de ansiedad en los niños. Para la comparación de proporciones se utilizó la prueba de Chi- cuadrado, los factores asociados al trastorno de ansiedad fueron encontrados por Regresión de Poisson, con un intervalo de confianza del 95%. Participaron en este estudio 778 padres de niños de 3 a 10 años. La prevalencia del trastorno de ansiedad en niños fue del 1,7%. Los hijos de padres analfabetos y con educación primaria incompleta tuvieron una razón de prevalencia (RP) = 4,24 [(IC95%:1,03 ­ 17,46), p=0,045] mayor para el trastorno de ansiedad que los hijos de padres con educación superior completa a posgrado, mientras que los niños de padres con estudios primarios o superiores incompletos tuvo un PR = 2,64 [(IC95%:0,72 ­ 9,72), p=0,045] en comparación con los hijos de padres con estudios superiores completos a nivel de posgrado. Los niños con cambios en los patrones alimentarios tuvieron un PR = 11,10 [(IC95%:1,59 ­ 77,42), p = 0,015] mayor para el trastorno de ansiedad, en comparación con los niños que no tuvieron cambios en los patrones alimentarios. El estudio concluyó que las variables asociadas con el trastorno de ansiedad fueron el nivel educativo de los padres y los cambios en los patrones alimentarios de los niños.

The feasibility of needleless jet injection versus conventional needle local anesthesia during dental procedures: a systematic review.

This systematic review evaluates current evidence regarding the feasibility of using needleless jet injection instead of a conventional local anesthetic needle. EBSCO, ProQuest, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used to identify relevant literature published in English from 2005 to 2020. Ten studies were selected. Five of them were randomized clinical trials, 3 case-control studies, and 2 equivalence trials. Using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist, 6 studies scored between 67% and 100%, and 4 studies scored between 34% and 66%. According to Jadad's scale, 2 studies were considered strong, and 8 studies were considered moderate in quality. The results of the 10 studies showed differences in patient preference for needleless jet injection. Needleless injection technique has been found to be particularly useful in uncooperative patients with anxiety and needle phobia. Needleless jet injection is not technique sensitive. However, with needleless jet anesthesia, most treatments require additional anesthesia. Conventional needle anesthesia is less costly, has a longer duration of action, and has better pain control during dental extraction. Needleless jet anesthesia has been shown to be moderately accepted by patients with a fear of needles, has a faster onset of action, and is an efficient alternative to conventional infiltration anesthesia technique.

Assessing Barriers to Insulin Therapy among Omani Diabetic Patients Attending Three Main Diabetes Clinics in Muscat, Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the main barriers that prevent patients with diabetes mellitus from accepting insulin therapy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to December 2019. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants from three diabetes clinics in Muscat, Oman. Eligible participants were interviewed in person based on a pre-prepared questionnaire. The questionnaire, which was administered in Arabic, includes demographic data and 19 specific items on barriers to insulin therapy. Results: A total of 201 participants (response rate: 93%) were enrolled in the study. The most common barriers were as follows: concern of frequent blood glucose checking (36.3%), long-term injections (33.8%), side-effects of insulin (29.9%) and weight gain (29.4%). Needle phobia was considered a barrier by only 9% of the participants. Overall, 125 (62.2%) participants were willing to initiate insulin therapy despite the presence of these barriers and only 20 (10%) of them were influenced by these barriers to such a degree that they rejected the insulin therapy. Conclusion: The majority of participants had no identifiable reasons to stop them from accepting insulin therapy. Effective strategies should be developed to address each of the main barriers to improve acceptance and adherence to insulin therapy.

One-session treatment compared with multisession CBT in children aged 7-16 years with specific phobias: the ASPECT non-inferiority RCT.

BACKGROUND: Up to 10% of children and young people have a specific phobia that can significantly affect their mental health, development and daily functioning. Cognitive-behavioural therapy-based interventions remain the dominant treatment, but limitations to their provision warrant investigation into low-intensity alternatives. One-session treatment is one such alternative that shares cognitive-behavioural therapy principles but has a shorter treatment period. OBJECTIVE: This research investigated the non-inferiority of one-session treatment to cognitive-behavioural therapy for treating specific phobias in children and young people. The acceptability and cost-effectiveness of one-session treatment were examined. DESIGN: A pragmatic, multicentre, non-inferiority randomised controlled trial, with embedded economic and qualitative evaluations. SETTINGS: There were 26 sites, including 12 NHS trusts. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were aged 7-16 years and had a specific phobia defined in accordance with established international clinical criteria. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomised 1 : 1 to receive one-session treatment or usual-care cognitive-behavioural therapy, and were stratified according to age and phobia severity. Outcome assessors remained blind to treatment allocation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the Behavioural Avoidance Task at 6 months' follow-up. Secondary outcomes included the Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule, Child Anxiety Impact Scale, Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale, a goal-based outcome measure, Child Health Utility 9D, EuroQol-5 Dimensions Youth version and resource usage. Treatment fidelity was assessed using the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Scale for Children and Young People and the One-Session Treatment Rating Scale. RESULTS: A total of 274 participants were recruited, with 268 participants randomised to one-session treatment (n = 134) or cognitive-behavioural therapy (n = 134). A total of 197 participants contributed some data, with 149 participants in the intention-to-treat analysis and 113 in the per-protocol analysis. Mean Behavioural Avoidance Task scores at 6 months were similar across treatment groups when both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were applied [cognitive-behavioural therapy: 7.1 (intention to treat), 7.4 (per protocol); one-session treatment: 7.4 (intention to treat), 7.6 (per protocol); on the standardised scale adjusted mean difference for cognitive-behavioural therapy compared with one-session treatment -0.123, 95% confidence interval -0.449 to 0.202 (intention to treat), mean difference -0.204, 95% confidence interval -0.579 to 0.171 (per protocol)]. These findings were wholly below the standardised non-inferiority limit of 0.4, which suggests that one-session treatment is non-inferior to cognitive-behavioural therapy. No between-group differences in secondary outcome measures were found. The health economics evaluation suggested that, compared with cognitive-behavioural therapy, one-session treatment marginally decreased the mean service use costs and maintained similar mean quality-adjusted life-year improvement. Nested qualitative evaluation found one-session treatment to be considered acceptable by those who received it, their parents/guardians and clinicians. No adverse events occurred as a result of phobia treatment. LIMITATIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic meant that 48 children and young people could not complete the primary outcome measure. Service waiting times resulted in some participants not starting therapy before follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: One-session treatment for specific phobia in UK-based child mental health treatment centres is as clinically effective as multisession cognitive-behavioural therapy and highly likely to be cost-saving. Future work could involve improving the implementation of one-session treatment through training and commissioning of improved care pathways. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered as ISRCTN19883421. FUNDING: This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 26, No. 42. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

A phobia is an intense, ongoing fear of an everyday object or situation. The phobia causes distress and the person with the phobia avoids that object or situation. Many children and young people have phobias that affect their daily lives. Cognitive­behavioural therapy helps by changing what people do or think when they have a phobia and is the most common treatment approach. However, cognitive­behavioural therapy is expensive, takes time and is not always easy to get. Different treatments are needed to help children and young people with specific phobias. One such therapy is one-session treatment, which works in similar ways to cognitive­behavioural therapy but takes place over one main 3-hour session. Our study, called ASPECT (Alleviating Specific Phobias Experienced by Children Trial), compared these two treatments to examine whether or not one-session treatment is as effective as cognitive­behavioural therapy. Overall, 274 children and young people aged 7­16 years from 26 sites nationally helped with our research, of whom 268 received either cognitive­behavioural therapy or one-session treatment. The results at 6 months found that one-session treatment and cognitive­behavioural therapy worked as well as each other for treating phobias in children and young people. We also found evidence that one-session treatment is cheaper than cognitive­behavioural therapy. We spoke with children and young people, their parents/guardians and the therapists of the single-session treatment, and we found one-session treatment to be acceptable for their needs. Future research could explore how to make one-session treatment more easily available for children and young people with specific phobias because it can save time and money, and works just as well as cognitive­behavioural therapy.

Cost and effectiveness of one session treatment (OST) for children and young people with specific phobias compared to multi-session cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): results from a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In the UK, around 93,000 (0.8%) children and young people (CYP) are experiencing specific phobias that have a substantial impact on daily life. The current gold-standard treatment-multi-session cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) - is effective at reducing specific phobia severity; however, CBT is time consuming, requires specialist CBT therapists, and is often at great cost and limited availability. A briefer variant of CBT called one session treatment (OST) has been found to offer similar clinical effectiveness for specific phobia as multi-session CBT. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of OST compared to multi-session CBT for CYP with specific phobias through the Alleviating Specific Phobias Experienced by Children Trial (ASPECT), a two-arm, pragmatic, multi-centre, non-inferiority randomised controlled trial. METHODS: CYP aged seven to 16 years with specific phobias were recruited nationally via Health and Social Care pathways, remotely randomised to the intervention group (OST) or the control group (CBT-based therapies) and analysed (n = 267). Resource use based on NHS and personal social services perspective and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) measured by EQ-5D-Y were collected at baseline and at six-month follow-up. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated, and non-parametric bootstrapping was conducted to capture the uncertainty around the ICER estimates. The results were presented on a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve (CEAC). A set of sensitivity analyses (including taking a societal perspective) were conducted to assess the robustness of the primary findings. RESULTS: After adjustment and bootstrapping, on average CYP in the OST group incurred less costs (incremental cost was -£302.96 (95% CI -£598.86 to -£28.61)) and maintained similar improvement in QALYs (QALYs gained 0.002 (95% CI - 0.004 to 0.008)). The CEAC shows that the probability of OST being cost-effective was over 95% across all the WTP thresholds. Results of a set of sensitivity analyses were consistent with the primary outcomes. CONCLUSION: Compared to CBT, OST produced a reduction in costs and maintained similar improvement in QALYs. Results from both primary and sensitivity analyses suggested that OST was highly likely to be cost saving. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN19883421 (30/11/2016).

Demographic and disease characteristics associated with pain intensity, kinesiophobia, balance, and fall self-efficacy among people with osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease leading to significant pain, mobility limitation, economic burden, reduced quality of life, and disability among adults globally. Psychological factors related to pain intensity (PI), kinesiophobia, fall self-efficacy (FSE), and balance may lead to a poor OA prognosis. This study was designed to explore the association between PI, kinesiophobia, FSE, balance, and age, gender, marital status, site of OA, duration, symmetry, comorbidity, and adaptive behaviours among patients with knee or hip OA. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 70 purposively selected participants aged 59.91 ± 11.12 years. Numeric pain rating scale, Tampa scale for kinesiophobia, fall-efficacy scale, and timed up and go test were used to measure PI, kinesiophobia, FSE, and balance, respectively. Statistical analyses were completed with the Pearson correlation test, independent samples t-test, and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The participants were mainly women (n = 59, 84.3%). However, there was no gender difference in the reported PI, kinesiophobia, FSE, and balance. There was a significant correlation between FSE and balance (r = 0.422, p<0.001). Kinesiophobia was significantly associated with the presence of comorbidity (ß = 0.240, p = 0.001) and knee OA (ß = 0.208, p<0.042). There was an association between FSE and the use of a walking aid (ß = -0.442, p<0.042), stop-for-rest during walking (ß = -0.292, p = 0.002), presence of comorbidity (ß = 0.209, p = 0.014), and bilateral lower limb OA (ß = 0.167, p = 0.057). Balance was associated with the use of a walking aid (ß = -0.421, p<0.001) and stop-for-rest during walking (ß = - 0.294, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Osteoarthritis-related psychological distress affects both men and women. This study support integration of psychological outcomes in the assessment, management, and follow-up of people with lower limb osteoarthritis. Moreover, comorbidity worsened psychological distress among people with osteoarthritis. Therefore, the traditional biomedical management of osteoarthritis can be optimised by timely diagnosis and treatment of comorbidities, and the inclusion of psychotherapy.

[Efficacy and safety studies review of Teraligen usage in psychiatric practice and general medicine]. / Obzor issledovanii effektivnosti i bezopasnosti primeneniya preparata Teralidzhen v psikhiatricheskoi praktike i obshchei meditsine.

OBJECTIVE: Determination of the dose-dependent effect of the Teraligen for various nosological forms of disorders in psychiatric practice and general medicine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis of 98 publications included in the database of the RISC (2012-2021) with the identification of disorders (according to ICD-10) in which Teraligen is prescribed or can be used (in adults and children from the age of 7). RESULTS: Despite a rather long and successful history use, research work on the study drug Teraligen continues. Currently Teraligen is widely and actively used by doctors of various specialties in the psychiatry, neurology, pediatrics, gerontology, internal medicine, gastroenterology, gynecology, cardiology, endocrinology and other disciplines. The drug is presented in several release forms: Teraligen 5 mg tablets; Teraligen retard 20 mg; Teraligen solution for intravenous injections. Teraligen is characterized by the following psychotropic effects: anxiolytic (++ - a distinct, moderately pronounced effect); sedative (++); hypnotic (++); antidepressant (+ - the effect is distinct, but expressed slightly and does not determine the drug main prescriptions spectrum); antipsychotic (± - the effect is weakly expressed and clinically insignificant when using conventional (5-80 mg/day) drug dosages). CONCLUSION: According to the authors, the main effect of the «small¼ neuroleptic/antipsychotic Alimemazine (Teraligen ) is primarily aimed at pathological anxiety and affective instability. Its use is possible in various age groups, as it has a fairly high safety. In addition, like other «small¼ neuroleptics/antipsychotics with a predominantly sedative effect, the drug can be used to correct neuroleptics-prolongs side effects with dominant manifestations in the form of anxiety, irritability and insomnia.

Nomophobia and Its Associated Factors in Peruvian Medical Students.

Nomophobia is the discomfort caused by not being in contact with a cell phone. Few studies have addressed nomophobia in university students. The study aimed to evaluate nomophobia and its associated factors in Peruvian medical students. We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study on Peruvian medical students between June 2020 and March 2021, using an online survey disseminated through social networks. We analyzed 3139 responses (females: 61.1%, median age: 22 years): 25.7% presented moderate nomophobia and 7.4% severe nomophobia. In the adjusted model, the nomophobia score was lower in students ≥24 years (ß: −4.1, 95% CI: −7.2 to −1.0) and was higher in those who had a mobile internet data plan (ß: 2.9, 0.8 to 5.0), used the cell phone >4 h (ß: 4.5, 2.3 to 6.7), used a smartphone mainly for education (ß: 2.5, 0.2 to 4.8), social networks (ß: 8.2, 5.8 to 10.6) and entertainment (ß: 3.3, 0.5 to 6.1), and those who presented possible anxious (ß: 6.6, 4.3 to 8.9) or depressive (ß: 19.5, 5.2 to 9.6) symptomatology. In conclusion, nomophobia in university students is a frequent and emerging problem, present mainly at younger ages and associated with symptoms of anxiety or depression. Implementing evaluation and early intervention strategies would favor the mental health of university students.

Pain, Stiffness and Functional Capacity Associated with Kinesiophobia in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis, Hospital Nacional Hipolito Unanue, Peru / Dolor, rigidez y capacidad funcional asociados a la kinesiofobia en pacientes con artrosis de rodilla, Hospital Nacional Hipólito Unanue (Perú) / Dor, rigidez e capacidade funcional associados à cinesiofobia em pacientes com gonartrose, Hospital Nacional Hipólito Unanue, Peru

Introduction: The progressive and chronic characteristics of knee osteoarthritis imply the presence of symptoms, such as pain, stiffness, and functional capacity difficulty to varying degrees. However, asso-ciated psychosocial phenomena, such as kinesiophobia, may also arise, impeding the patient's recov-ery. The aim of this study is to determine the association among pain, stiffness, functional capacity, and kinesiophobia in patients with knee osteoarthritis at Hospital Nacional Hipolito Unanue, Peru, in the first two months of 2020. Materials and methods: An observational, correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 88 patients with knee osteoarthritis who were selected by census sampling. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia were used to measure pain, stiffness, functional capacity and kinesiophobia, respectively. Pearson's chi-square test (p < 0.01) was used for bivariate analysis. Results: The results showed a mean age of 66.38 years and a higher frequency in the female sex (68.2 %), current occupation without physical workload (56.8 %), secondary level education (40.9 %), time of illness of 1­5 years (51.1 %), bilateral lower limb involvement (68.18 %), moderate pain (51.1 %), moderate stiffness (51.1 %), functional capacity dif-ficulties (61.4 %), and a high level of kinesiophobia (60.2 %). A relationship was found between the vari-ables of pain, stiffness, and functional capacity associated with kinesiophobia (0.000). Conclusions: Pain, stiffness, and functional capacity are associated with kinesiophobia in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The degree of symptomatology increases with the increasing level of kinesiophobia.

Introducción: la característica progresiva y crónica de la gonartrosis supone la presencia de síntomas como el dolor, la rigidez y la dificultad de la capacidad funcional en diferentes grados; sin embargo, pueden también surgir fenómenos psicosociales asociados como la kinesiofobia, que impiden la recuperación del paciente. El objetivo del estudio es determinar la asociación entre dolor, rigidez, capacidad funcional y kinesiofobia en pacientes con gonartrosis del Hospital Nacional Hipólito Unanue (Perú), en los primeros dos meses de 2020. Materiales y métodos: estudio observacional, correlacional y de corte transversal realizado en 88 pacientes con gonartrosis seleccionados por muestreo censal. Se empleó el Cuestionario womac y la Escala Tampa para Kinesiofobia (tsk-11) y se utilizó el estadístico chi cuadrado de Pearson (p < 0.01) para el análisis bivariado. Resultados: una edad media de 66.38 años y una mayor frecuencia del sexo femenino (68.2 %), ocupación actual sin carga física (56.8 %), grado de instrucción secundaria (40.9 %), tiempo de enfermedad de 1-5 años (51.1 %), afectación bilateral de miembros inferiores (68.18 %), grado moderado de dolor (51.1 %), grado moderado de rigidez (51.1 %), grado con dificultades de capacidad funcional (61.4 %) y nivel alto de kinesiofobia (60.2 %). Se halló relación entre las variables dolor, rigidez y capacidad funcional con la kinesiofobia (0.000). Conclusiones: el dolor, la rigidez y la capacidad funcional están asociadas con la kinesiofobia en pacientes con gonartrosis. A mayor grado de sintomatología, mayor kinesiofobia.

Introdução: a característica progressiva e crônica da gonartrose supõe a presença de sintomas como dor, rigidez e dificuldade na capacidade funcional em diferentes graus, porém, fenômenos psicosso-ciais associados como a cinesiofobia também podem surgir, impedindo a recuperação do paciente. O objetivo do estudo é determinar a associação entre dor, rigidez, capacidade funcional e cinesiofobia em pacientes com gonartrose do Hospital Nacional Hipólito Unanue, no Peru, nos dois primeiros meses de 2020. Materiais e métodos: estudo observacional, correlacional e de corte transversal realizado em 88 pacientes com gonartrose selecionados por amostragem censitária. Foram utilizados o Questionário womac e a Escala Tampa para Cinesiofobia (tsk-11) e a estatística Qui-quadrado de Pearson (p < 0,01) para análise bivariada. Resultados: idade média de 66,38 anos e maior frequência do sexo feminino (68,2 %), ocupação atual sem carga física (56,8 %), ensino médio (40,9 %), tempo de doença de 1 a 5 anos (51,1 %), acometimento bilateral de membros inferiores (68,18 %), grau moderado de dor (51,1 %), grau moderado de rigidez (51,1 %), grau com dificuldades de capacidade funcional (61,4 %) e alto nível de cinesiofobia (60,2 %). Foi encontrada relação entre as variáveis dor, rigidez e capacidade funcional com cinesiofobia (0,000). Conclusões: dor, rigidez e capacidade funcional estão associadas à cinesiofobia em pacientes com gonartrose. Maior grau de sintomatologia, maior nível de cinesiofobia.

Acoso sexual en espacios públicos hacia adolescentes peruanas

RESUMEN Fundamento Los espacios públicos deberían ser lugares seguros para el libre tránsito de las personas, sobre todo para las mujeres, y más aún si son menores de edad. En el caso de las adolescentes, muchas veces son víctimas de acoso sexual en las calles u otros sitios, situación que podría afectar de manera significativa su desarrollo integral. Objetivo caracterizar el acoso sexual en espacios públicos hacia adolescentes peruanas. Métodos estudio descriptivo comparativo, que incluyó a 372 escolares de dos instituciones educativas (una pública y otra privada) de la provincia del Santa (Perú). Se aplicó el cuestionario de acoso sexual callejero, instrumento de 13 ítems. La estadística descriptiva fue empleada para determinar los niveles de acoso sexual; mientras que la estadística inferencial identificó diferencia estadística del acoso respecto a ambas instituciones educativas. En base a la normalidad de los datos, la prueba utilizada fue T de Student. Resultados el acoso sexual fue de nivel medio en ambas escuelas, 52,4 % en la privada y 45 % en la pública. Se evidenció diferencia estadística significativa entre las participantes de uno y otro centro educativo, con respecto a las dimensiones comportamientos de interacción social, componente verbal y componente físico; así como al acoso sexual en general. Conclusión El acoso sexual en espacios públicos fue, en la mayoría de los casos, de nivel medio. Los comportamientos de interacción social, así como el componente verbal resultaron las dimensiones más prevalentes del acoso hacia las adolescentes de ambas instituciones educativas de la provincia del Santa (Perú).

ABSTRACT Background Public spaces should be safe places for the free movement of people, especially for women, and even more so if they are minors. In the case of adolescent girls, they are often victims of sexual harassment in the streets or other places, a situation that could significantly affect their comprehensive development. Objective to characterize sexual harassment in public spaces towards Peruvian adolescents. Methods comparative descriptive study, which included 372 schoolchildren from two educational institutions (one public and one private) in the province of Santa (Peru). The street sexual harassment questionnaire, a 13-item instrument, was applied. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the levels of sexual harassment; while the inferential statistics identified a statistical difference in bullying with respect to both educational institutions. Based on the normality of the data, the Student´s t-test was used. Results sexual harassment was at a medium level in both schools, 52.4 % in the private one and 45% in the public one. A significant statistical difference was evidenced between the participants of one and another educational center, with respect to the behavioral dimensions of social interaction, verbal component and physical component; as well as sexual harassment in general. Conclusion Sexual harassment in public spaces was, in most cases, medium level. Social interaction behaviors, as well as the verbal component, were the most prevalent dimensions of bullying towards adolescents from both educational institutions in the province of Santa (Peru).

Perioperative Propranolol Against Dental Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Promising results from a trauma reactivation study on post-traumatic stress disorder suggest that propranolol is capable of attenuating symptoms of traumatically induced mental disorders by blocking memory reconsolidation. Methods: A randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled, quadruple-blind trial was designed to determine the effectiveness of perioperative propranolol during exposure to dental extractions in reducing dental anxiety in patients with dental anxiety or dental phobia. Between November 2014 and December 2018, 52 patients with high levels of fear in anticipation of dental extractions who were referred to a department of oral and maxillofacial surgery for at least two tooth and/or molar removals with 1 month in between were included. On the first visit participants received either 120 mg of perioperative oral propranolol (n = 19) or placebo (n = 17), and a core fear memory was reactivated 1 h preoperatively. The primary outcome was change in severity of dental anxiety from baseline to 1-month follow-up, as indexed by the short version of the dental anxiety inventory (S-DAI). Secondary outcome measures were change in intra-operative state anxiety and specific phobia diagnoses. Results: Linear mixed model (LMM) yielded no statistically significant difference in change of dental trait anxiety from baseline to 1-month follow-up between propranolol and placebo groups (Cohen's d = 0.23). S-DAI scores decreased in both study arms from baseline to follow-up (propranolol arm: from 32.1 [SD = 7.3] to 29.1 [SD = 8.8]; placebo arm: from 31.6 [SD = 7.5] to 27.1 [SD = 6.5]). Also, administering propranolol was not associated with a significant difference in change of intra-operative state anxiety or phobia diagnoses between groups over time. Conclusions: The results do not concur with earlier findings regarding post-traumatic stress disorder, and suggest that individuals with traumatically induced fears or phobias do not benefit from the application of perioperative propranolol.

Fearful facial expressions reduce inhibition levels in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in subjects with specific phobia.

BACKGROUND: Specific phobias have the highest prevalence among anxiety disorders. Cognitive control involving the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is crucial for coping abilities in anxiety disorders. However, there is little research on the DLPFC in specific phobia. METHODS: Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we investigated the TMS-evoked potential component N100 in the DLPFC at rest and while watching emotional expressions. The TMS-evoked N100 provides a parameter for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-B-mediated cortical inhibition. Twenty-two drug-free subjects with specific phobia (21 females and 1 male) were compared with 26 control subjects (23 females and 3 males) regarding N100 in the DLPFC at rest and during an emotional 1-back task with fearful, angry, and neutral facial expressions. RESULTS: At rest, we found reduced N100 amplitudes in the specific phobia compared with the control group. Furthermore, the specific phobia group showed a further reduction in N100 amplitude when memorizing fearful compared with neutral facial expressions. CONCLUSION: There appears to be a decrease in GABA-B-mediated inhibition in the DLPFC in subjects with a specific phobia at rest. This decrease was more pronounced under emotional activation by exposure to fearful facial expressions, pointing towards additional state effects of emotional processing on inhibitory function in the DLPFC.

Neural processing of emotional facial stimuli in specific phobia: An fMRI study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with specific phobia (SP) show altered brain activation when confronted with phobia-specific stimuli. It is unclear whether this pathogenic activation pattern generalizes to other emotional stimuli. This study addresses this question by employing a well-powered sample while implementing an established paradigm using nonspecific aversive facial stimuli. METHODS: N = 111 patients with SP, spider subtype, and N = 111 healthy controls (HCs) performed a supraliminal emotional face-matching paradigm contrasting aversive faces versus shapes in a 3-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. We performed region of interest (ROI) analyses for the amygdala, the insula, and the anterior cingulate cortex using univariate as well as machine-learning-based multivariate statistics based on this data. Additionally, we investigated functional connectivity by means of psychophysiological interaction (PPI). RESULTS: Although the presentation of emotional faces showed significant activation in all three ROIs across both groups, no group differences emerged in all ROIs. Across both groups and in the HC > SP contrast, PPI analyses showed significant task-related connectivity of brain areas typically linked to higher-order emotion processing with the amygdala. The machine learning approach based on whole-brain activity patterns could significantly differentiate the groups with 73% balanced accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients suffering from SP are characterized by differences in the connectivity of the amygdala and areas typically linked to emotional processing in response to aversive facial stimuli (inferior parietal cortex, fusiform gyrus, middle cingulate, postcentral cortex, and insula). This might implicate a subtle difference in the processing of nonspecific emotional stimuli and warrants more research furthering our understanding of neurofunctional alteration in patients with SP.

The Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Treatment for Fear of Flying: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Fear of flying (FoF) is a phobia with 10-40% prevalence in the industrialized world. FoF is accompanied by severe economic, social, vocational, and emotional consequences. In recent years, virtual reality (VR)-based exposure therapy (VRET) for FoF has been introduced. Positive long-term efficacy of FoF-VRET has been reported by several studies, which, however, were limited by relatively small, non-representative samples and a lack of comparative pre/post functional efficacy outcome measures. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a VRET treatment utilizing a large-scale VR system, experienced by a representative sample of self-referred individuals. Methods: We conducted a retrospective survey. Of 274 individuals who received the treatment (over a period of 3 years), 209 met inclusion/criteria, and 98 agreed to participate. We mainly collected information regarding flight activity before and after treatment relying on evidence such as boarding passes and flight tickets. The primary outcome measures were (1) number of flights per month (FpM) and (2) number of flight hours per month (FHpM). For each participant, these outcomes were computed for the post-treatment period (≥6 months after FoF-VRET) and the corresponding pre-treatment period. Results: FpM (mean ± SD) increased from 0.04 ± 0.06 to 0.16 ± 14 flights (p < 0.0001). FHpM rose from 0.19 ± 0.35 to 0.79 ± 0.87 h per month (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: These results are indicative of FoF-VRET treatment efficacy. Future studies should evaluate long-term maintenance of the treatment effect and thus identify the optimal frequency for delivery of periodic booster treatments.

An investigation of potential coronaphobia-related factors in adults and sleep quality relations.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to investigate potential coronaphobia-related factors in adults and to assess the relationship between coronaphobia and sleep quality. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 1262 participants. The Covid-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S) and Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS) were used to measure outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were constructed to determine risk factors for coronaphobia. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between C19P-S and JSS. RESULTS: The following risk factors were found to be associated with coronaphobia: gender, marital status, presence of chronic disease, staying home, and sleep disturbances. Female gender (OR = 2.23 and OR = 2.12), being married (OR = 1.31 and OR = 1.45), chronic disease status (OR = 1.39 and OR = 1.27), staying home (OR = 1.72 and OR = 1.35) and sleep disturbances (OR = 2.63 and OR = 2.49) were found to be associated with the likelihood of having a higher coronaphobia score (p < 0.05). Weak positive correlations were found between C19P-S and its subscales and JSS scores (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Female gender, being married, having chronic diseases, staying home, and having sleep disturbances were found to be risk factors for having high coronaphobia scores. Moreover, the severity of coronaphobia was associated with sleep disturbances. These results should be considered in the management of coronaphobia.