Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews - Volume 16, Issue 1, 2020

Background: Methamphetamine has the potential to produce more severe short and long term effects than typical amphetamines due to the drug’s increased purity. The cardiovascular consequences compromise a large proportion of the drug’s mortality. Previous reviews have not examined these complications in relation to psychiatric patients who have high rates of substance use and physical comorbidity. Methods: Ovid Medline, Embase, Emcare, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane were systematically searched in English until November 2017. Data were coded according to study design, sample size, demographics, medical and psychiatric comorbidity, electrocardiograph abnormalities, echocardiograph parameters, illness severity, treatment, and outcome on follow up. Results: The 11 included studies were predominantly case series conducted in the USA. Males were more likely to use methamphetamine and be associated with global systolic dysfunction. The mean age was lower for those with methamphetamine-related cardiovascular complications. QTc interval prolongation was the most frequent electrocardiograph abnormality. Continued methamphetamine use was associated with persistently impaired ventricular function, whilst discontinuation led to remodeling and improved ejection fraction. Only one study referenced psychiatric comorbidity or dual diagnosis. Conclusion: This review describes the range of variables related to methamphetamine associated arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies. Early detection of methamphetamine use and the subsequent cardiac complications is important, especially in a psychiatric cohort where physical illness is more commonly neglected. The monitoring of electrocardiographs in methamphetamine users is also crucial. Future research is needed to allow for appropriate recommendations in managing the harmful impacts of methamphetamine use in this population.

Background: In this technical era, undoubtedly, the internet has brought a great revolution worldwide. Smartphones and technology-mediated social networking sites have caused a drastic increase in internet usage in all age groups of people. This has caused internet captivity leading to its addiction. Objective: The paper focussed on the mediators and predictors of internet addiction in India in all age groups of people. Its long-term solutions, i.e. psychological and complementary treatments were focussed that work on personal level rather than disease level. Methods: An extensive literature review was done on the prevalence of the internet and its psychological and complementary treatment. The possible non-pharmacological treatment, specifically cognitive behaviour treatment, art and music therapy, internet fasting and cosmic medicine were focussed on its efficient improvement in one’s health. Conclusion: As evident from our study, internet addiction is one of the growing challenges of health complications in all age groups of people. The mainly discussed psychological and complementary treatments of internet addiction have ample opportunity of seeking betterment with healthy social and mental well being.

Background: Teaching is considered as one of the most stressful professions that can lead to repercussions on physical and mental health, as well as on professional performance. Among the most common psychiatric conditions in teachers, there is Burnout Syndrome (BS) that is considered a disease of physical and mental exhaustion. One of the measures to mitigate this condition is to change eating habits, seeking an improvement in the quality of life and mental health. Therefore, the objective of this integrative review was to evaluate the relationship between the promotion of healthy eating habits and BS in teachers. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to include articles published using Medline / Pubmed, Lilacs / Bireme and Google Scholar, and the descriptors: burnout syndrome, nutrition and food education, depression and quality of life, teacher, and mental health, with an emphasis in the last ten years. Results: Thirty-seven studies were included. These studies suggest that approaches on health nutrition habits may improve BS and mental health. Furthermore, deficient intake of magnesium, zinc, vitamins D, C, E and of the B complex, tryptophan, calcium, iron, omega 3, probiotics, and polyphenols may contribute to arousal or worsening of BS symptoms. However, no experimental studies that evaluated the association between eating patterns and BS in teachers were found. Conclusion: Although there were no experimental studies on teachers, other studies suggested a positive association between healthy nutrition habits and improvement of mental health and BS prevention and/or treatment. The behavioral approach to change eating habits can contribute to more effective outcomes.

The current paradigm of pharmaceutical formulations is focused on the controlled & sustained delivery of a drug for the management of chronic impairments. Since these diseases need daily and multiple intakes of the drug (i.e., twice or thrice a day) and missing a single dose, leads to the poor therapeutic window which governs unpleasant pharmacological response and ultimately patient in-compliance. All over the world, millions of patients are suffering from life-threatening diseases; one of which is “psychosis”, which immensely requires prolong and sustain release of the drug. Moreover, mainstay lacuna with antipsychotic medication is the reoccurrence of the symptoms, and patient adherence on the therapy has been observed. These issues attract scientists to formulate the Controlled Parenteral Antipsychotic (CPA). As per the literature search, significant work has been performed on the development of Novel Controlled Parenteral Formulations (CPFs) for the treatment of psychosis and especially focus has been given to microsphere, esterification, nanoformulation, and salt-based formulation. Reports revealed that all of the above-mentioned formulations have shown enormous potential to enhance the duration of a drug in the body for a longer period in a controlled manner. The development of a drug in any form has shown a great impact on the patient’s life, with tremendous productivity in the Pharma Market. As well as, this has raised the hope to get more efficacious results of both the categories i.e., typical & atypical antipsychotics and limiting the drawbacks of conventional antipsychotic drug delivery. Controlled formulations have also shown the prominent solutions to handle one of the major obstacles that arises due to the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS). Drugs belonging to any of the BCS class can be utilized now with the idea of CPF. In this context, the current paper relies on CPA’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges followed by a compilation of attempt made by scientists on its formulations (microspheres, salt-based, and nanoformulation) which will be one-stop-shop for the researchers working globally in this field to make better improvement on the existing options for psychosis. In summary, this review explains the concept of CPA as a promising option to treat psychosis.

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent and most functionally impairing psychiatric problems experienced by the population. Both pharmacological and psychological evidencebased treatments exist for a number of specific disorders, but may fail to fully relieve symptoms, pointing to the need for additional treatment options. Often considered to be part of the “third wave” of cognitive-behavioral therapies, treatments incorporating mindfulness have emerged in the past two decades as increasingly popular with clinicians and frequently sought out by consumers. The present article reviews the extant literature regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of mindfulnessbased treatments for anxiety, worry, and related problems. Although they have not attained the solid empirical status of CBT or certain pharmacological treatments, the extant research shows mindfulness- based interventions appear to be a promising and useful treatment for people suffering from anxiety and worry. Further work should be done, levels 3-5 of the NIH stage model to determine whether or not they should be further implemented.

Background: The most common psychological problem in hemodialysis patients is low hope. Hope is an important source of adaptation for the survival of the patients with a chronic disease. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of spiritual care on hope in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial conducted in Iran in 2017, 60 hemodialysis patients with ending-stage of renal disease under hemodialysis treatment were randomly assigned into two experimental (n=30) and control (n=30) groups. The spiritual care program consisting of protectionist care, supporting the patient's rituals and using support systems was administered in four sessions of 60 minutes individually, twice a week, morning or evening in hemodialysis ward. Snyder’s Hope Questionnaire was completed before and after the intervention in both groups. Data were analyzed in SPSS software version 16. Results: Prior to the intervention, there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups (p=0.262); however, following the intervention, the difference was statistically significant with regard to the mean scores of hope in the experimental (36.43 ± 3.37) and control (35.20 ± 7.00) groups (p=0.04). Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, spiritual care promotes hope in Muslim patients undergoing hemodialysis; therefore, nurses can adopt the spiritual care to this end.