Psychiatria Danubina 

About: Psychiatria Danubina is an academic journal published by Medicinska naklada, Zagreb. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Mental health. It has an ISSN identifier of 0353-5053. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 2411 publications have been published receiving 23117 citations.

Bullying, depression and suicidiality in adolescents

Abstract: Objective: To assess the association between bullying behavior and depression, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among US adolescents. Method: A self-report survey was completed by 9th-through 12th-grade students (N=2342) in six New-York State high schools from 2002 through 2004. Regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between being victimized and bullying others with depression, ideation and attempts. Results: Approximately 9% of the sample reported being victimized frequently and 13% reported bullying others frequently. Frequent exposure to victimization or bullying others was related to high risks of depression, ideation and attempts compared to adolescents not involved in bullying behavior. Infrequent involvement in bullying behavior was also related to increased risk of psychopathology, particularly among females. The findings indicate that both victims and bullies are at high risk and that the most troubled adolescents are those who are both victims and bullies. Psychopathology was associated with bullying behavior both in and away from school. Depression was found to mediate the association between bullying behaviors and suicidal ideation and attempts. Conclusion: Victimization and bullying are potential risk factors for adolescent depression and suicidiality. When evaluating students involved in bullying behavior, it is important to assess depression and suicidiality. Language: en

The oxidative stress hypothesis in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Oxidative stress may be involved in many somatic and psychiatric pathological states including dementia. The hypothesis of oxidative stress involvement in dementia is supported by much scientific data through biochemical, genetic and molecular studies. Thus, there are many reports of an increased level of the markers for oxidative damage, alterations in the specific activity of the antioxidant system, mutations in specific genes, mitochondrial disturbances and also several connections between oxidative stress and amyloid plaques. Despite these evidence and clinical approaches in using antioxidant therapy in dementia treatment, studies have failed to prove a clear benefit for antioxidant treatment in dementia. Hence, there is a need for further research regarding antioxidant therapy in very early stages of dementia.

Association between online social networking and depression in high school students: behavioral physiology viewpoint

Abstract: SUMMARY Background: Frequent use of Facebook and other social networks is thought to be associated with certain behavioral changes, and some authors have expressed concerns about its possible detrimental effect on mental health. In this work, we investigated the relationship between social networking and depression indicators in adolescent population. Subjects and methods: Total of 160 high school students were interviewed using an anonymous, structured questionnaire and Back Depression Inventory – second edition (BDI-II-II). Apart from BDI-II-II, students were asked to provide the data for height and weight, gender, average daily time spent on social networking sites, average time spent watching TV, and sleep duration in a 24hour period. Results: Average BDI-II-II score was 8.19 (SD=5.86). Average daily time spent on social networking was 1.86h (SD=2.08h), and average time spent watching TV was 2.44 h (SD=1.74h). Average body mass index of participants was 21.84 (SD=3.55) and average sleep duration was 7.37 (SD=1.82). BDI-II-II score indicated minimal depression in 104 students, mild depression in 46 students, and moderate depression in 10 students. Statistically significant positive correlation (p<0.05, R=0.15) was found between BDI-II-II score and the time spent on social networking. Conclusions: Our results indicate that online social networking is related to depression. Additional research is required to determine the possible causal nature of this relationship.

National suicide prevention strategy for England

Abstract: England's first national suicide prevention strategy was launched in September 2002 with the aim of reducing the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least 20% by the year 2010. The strategy sets out a number of specific goals and objectives based on strong, published evidence and is subject to regular review and evaluation. Recent initiatives include: - removal of non-collapsible bed or shower curtain rails from all psychiatric in-patient units. This is subject to continuous monitoring at local level through regular audits of ward areas as well as at national level through the work of the National Confidential Inquiry (NCI). - 12 points to a safer service for mental health in-patient units as recommended by the NCI. The research programme at the NCI will report on progress on all its recommendations as part of its next 5-year report in October 2006. [The NCI receives data on all suicides and extracts information on those that were in contact with mental health services in the 12 months prior to death. In such cases, questionnaires are distributed to the consultant responsible for the treatment of the individual. This information enables the NCI to determine the circumstances of the suicide and base its recommendations on such information.] - mental health promotion pilots aimed at young men developed in three sites in England. These pilots have been evaluated and a report will be published in June. [The evaluation consisted of semi structured interviews with young men involved in the project; interviews and questionnaire completed by those involved in the project training sessions, feedback from all external partners and stakeholders; number of hits on websites, enquiries received etc] - reduction in pack sizes of paracetamol and aspirin. These measures have been evaluated and the results indicating a fall in deaths from overdose have been published in journals. [Evaluation consisted of data obtained from a number of liver units and from five general hospitals and UK data on sales of analgesics obtained.] - withdrawal of the painkiller co-proxamol in the light of longstanding concerns about safety and efficacy and more recent data concerning safety in overdose. Will be subject to evaluation. An annual report is published setting out the achievements and further actions to be taken in the medium and longer term. Language: en

Neurobiology of suicidal behaviour.

Abstract: SUMMARY It is known that suicidal behaviour has multiple causes. If triggers could be mainly attributed to environmental factors, predisposition could be associated with early stressors on one side such as childhood adversities and genetic predisposition. No convincing animal model of suicide has been produced to date. The study of endophenotypes has been proposed as a good strategy to overcome the methodological difficulties. However, research in suicidal behaviours using endophenotypes entrails important methodological problems. Further, serotoninergic system was studied in patients with suicidal behaviour primary due to its involvement of serotonin in impulsive-aggressive behaviour, which has been shown to be a major risk factor in suicidal behaviour. Not only on the level of neurotransmitters but also the regulation of neurotropic factors could be impaired in suicide victims. Multiple lines of evidence including studies of levels of BDNF in blood cells and plasma of suicidal patients, postmortem brain studies in suicidal subjects with or without depression, and genetic association studies linking BDNF to suicide suggest that suicidal behaviour may be associated with a decrease in BDNF functioning. It seems that especially specific gene variants regulating the serotoninergic system and other neuronal systems involved in stress response are associated with suicidal behaviour. Most genetic studies on suicidal behaviour have considered a small set of functional polymorphisms relevant mostly to monoaminergic neurotransmission. However, genes and epigenetic mechanisms involved in regulation of other factors such as BDNF seem to be even more relevant for further research.