Browsing by Author "Ristić, Ivan (57191339222)"

The specificities of student population may lead to an increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim was to evaluate the levels of perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in medical students during COVID-19 lockdown, and the relationship of these constructs with various sociodemographic variables. The study was conducted online from April 20 to April 29, 2020, during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (using sociodemographic questionnaire and DASS-21 scale), on a sample of 420 students (female 81.7%, Mage =22.53) at the University of Kragujevac. The majority of participants (55%-58%) had no self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress, and the mean values were in-between the categories of ‘without any symptoms’ and ‘with mild symptoms’. Predictors of exhibiting depression symptoms were previous psychological problems (odds ratio [OR]=3.16), family history of mental illness (OR=2.12), and relationship status (OR=0.61). For the symptoms of anxiety, predictors were female gender (OR=2.38), reported previous psychological problems (OR=3.91), and age (OR=0.92). Predictors of the symptoms of stress were female gender (OR=2.31), previous psychological problems (OR=3.18), and age (OR=0.91). The results of our study imply that certain factors influence the development of adverse mental health outcomes during this period, which should be taken into account when planning psychological interventions and services. © 2024, Dr. Mladen Stojanovic University Hospital. All rights reserved.

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[No abstract available]

Introduction: Prescribing trends in maintenance therapy of patients with primary psychotic disorders (PSD) may vary worldwide. Present study aimed to investigate prescription patterns in a sample of outpatients with PSD from Serbia. Methods: In a sample of 73 PSD outpatients we analysed the rate of antipsychotic polypharmacy and psychotropic polypharmacy, concomitant continual benzodiazepine use, and associations between therapy, psychotic symptoms and quality of life. Results: Maintenance therapy (median daily dose 321 mg of chlorpromazine equivalents) predominantly consisted of monotherapy with second generation antipsychotics (45.2%), followed by antipsychotic polypharmacy based on first and second generation combination (25.0%). The median number of psychotropic drugs was 3. Benzodiazepines were continually prescribed to more than 60% of patients (mean daily dose 2.9 ± 2.0 mg lorazepam equivalents). Patients with benzodiazepine use had significantly more psychotropic medications and more antipsychotic polypharmacy, poorer quality of life and more severe psychopathology in comparison to another group. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated new information regarding the prescription patterns of psychotropic drugs in outpatients with PSD in Serbia, amplified with clinically relevant information. This study also revealed distinct prescription patterns concerning antipsychotic/benzodiazepine polypharmacy. Overall, such findings are likely to contribute to improving clinical practice and care for patients with PSD in general.Keypoints Present exploratory research aimed to elucidate trends of antipsychotics polypharmacy and concomitant use of psychotropic medications including benzodiazepines in the maintenance treatment of outpatients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, amplified with clinically relevant information (symptoms and quality of life). ‘Antipsychotic (AP) polypharmacy’ was defined as concurrent use of more than one AP for at least 1 month; ‘Psychotropic polypharmacy’ was defined as the combination of AP and a different class of psychotropic drugs medication for at least one month. The median number of prescribed psychotropic drugs was 3 (mean 3.1 ± 1.1) and the average AP daily dose was moderate (median 321 mg of chlorpromazine equivalents). However, the rates of AP polypharmacy (45.2%) and benzodiazepine prescription on a continual basis ('60%) found in our sample could be considered relatively high. Outpatients with higher AP daily dose and higher BPRS symptom score were receiving more benzodiazepines. For improvement of the local, as well as general clinical practice and care for patients with psychotic disorders, and for education in psychiatry, such analyses need to be done on a regular basis and on larger samples. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Objectives Pre-electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) evaluation is an essential part of ECT preparation, a standard treatment in the psychiatric field. However, no routine pre-ECT evaluation has been published so far. This preliminary study aimed to explore different practices in pre-ECT evaluation across European countries. Methods The data were collected as a snowball sample approach using an online survey from September 2019 to April 2020. The final analysis included data from 18 clinics placed in 16 European countries. Results Regulations on the pre-ECT evaluation were found in 9 countries. All clinics reported doing complete blood count, serum electrolytes, and renal function analysis as a part of regular laboratory testing, alongside with a cardiovascular assessment. Ten clinics reported using psychiatric scales. Six clinics reported doing a cognitive assessment, of which all had regulations on the pre-ECT evaluation. Not one evaluation had the same sets of procedures and diagnostics. Conclusions The differences in assessment approaches mirror high variability of the pre-ECT evaluation practice across Europe. Cognitive assessment and objectification of psychiatric symptoms should be a regular part of the pre-ECT evaluation because of the monitoring of the most common adverse effect and observing the clinical response to ECT. Standardization of the pre-ECT evaluation and ECT in general would remove criticisms and opposition to the treatment, make it based on the best of our knowledge, and provide a method respectful of patients' best interests and rights. © Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Objectives Pre-electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) evaluation is an essential part of ECT preparation, a standard treatment in the psychiatric field. However, no routine pre-ECT evaluation has been published so far. This preliminary study aimed to explore different practices in pre-ECT evaluation across European countries. Methods The data were collected as a snowball sample approach using an online survey from September 2019 to April 2020. The final analysis included data from 18 clinics placed in 16 European countries. Results Regulations on the pre-ECT evaluation were found in 9 countries. All clinics reported doing complete blood count, serum electrolytes, and renal function analysis as a part of regular laboratory testing, alongside with a cardiovascular assessment. Ten clinics reported using psychiatric scales. Six clinics reported doing a cognitive assessment, of which all had regulations on the pre-ECT evaluation. Not one evaluation had the same sets of procedures and diagnostics. Conclusions The differences in assessment approaches mirror high variability of the pre-ECT evaluation practice across Europe. Cognitive assessment and objectification of psychiatric symptoms should be a regular part of the pre-ECT evaluation because of the monitoring of the most common adverse effect and observing the clinical response to ECT. Standardization of the pre-ECT evaluation and ECT in general would remove criticisms and opposition to the treatment, make it based on the best of our knowledge, and provide a method respectful of patients' best interests and rights. © Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.