Aim The study aim was to explore the physical, mental, and social effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on Austrian nurses working in hospitals. Background The COVID‐19 pandemic required nurses to work extremely hard and over long periods, which can have physical, psychological, and social consequences. Methods This study was carried out using a qualitative descriptive design and data was collected through individual interviews using an interview guide. A qualitative content analysis was conducted taking both deductive and inductive approaches. Findings Eighteen nurses (average age of 34.7 years) participated in the study. Their general attitude and feelings regarding working during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the hospital setting were positive. Several behavioral changes in the nurses’ daily working and private daily lives were reported. Psychological impacts included the fear of infecting someone at home, insomnia, and sadness. Headaches, diarrhea, muscle tension, skin redness, and increased sweating were identified as the most common physical impacts. In terms of social impact, all nurses mentioned social isolation and the increased use of (new) media. Conclusions Working with people suffering from COVID‐19 had psychological and physical effects on caregivers. Caregivers felt socially isolated in their private environments; however, they often compensated for this isolation by using social media. Implications for nursing and implications for nursing policy Staff perceived the provision of sufficient information, regular team meetings, and the employer's positive reinforcement as supportive, enhancing their feelings of security. We recommend providing more psychological support and making structural adjustments in daily clinical practice to counteract the negative effects of working during a pandemic.

The gut–brain axis plays a role in major depressive disorder (MDD). Gut-bacterial metabolites are suspected to reduce low-grade inflammation and influence brain function. Nevertheless, randomized, placebo-controlled probiotic intervention studies investigating metabolomic changes in patients with MDD are scarce. The PROVIT study (registered at clinicaltrials.com NCT03300440) aims to close this scientific gap. PROVIT was conducted as a randomized, single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled multispecies probiotic intervention study in individuals with MDD (n = 57). In addition to clinical assessments, metabolomics analyses (1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) of stool and serum, and microbiome analyses (16S rRNA sequencing) were performed. After 4 weeks of probiotic add-on therapy, no significant changes in serum samples were observed, whereas the probiotic groups’ (n = 28) stool metabolome shifted towards significantly higher concentrations of butyrate, alanine, valine, isoleucine, sarcosine, methylamine, and lysine. Gallic acid was significantly decreased in the probiotic group. In contrast, and as expected, no significant changes resulted in the stool metabolome of the placebo group. Strong correlations between bacterial species and significantly altered stool metabolites were obtained. In summary, the treatment with multispecies probiotics affects the stool metabolomic profile in patients with MDD, which sets the foundation for further elucidation of the mechanistic impact of probiotics on depression.

BackgroundPeople with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are faced with a higher risk of developing dementia, but with a “window of opportunity” for prevention and treatment. Computerized cognitive interventions (CCIs) might constitute a beneficial non‐pharmacological treatment approach. This systematic review evaluated evidence of CCIs performed individually with a computer, tablet‐PC, game consoles, virtual reality (VR), or augmented reality (AR) on cognition in community‐dwelling people with MCI.MethodA systematic review and meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. The systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus and PsycINFO, and included an additional search for gray literature. The search was completed by backward citation tracking. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was independently assessed by two reviewers. Comparable studies were pooled using the random‐effects model.ResultA total of 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. 12 RTCs were used for conducting meta‐analyses which showed significant effects of CCIs for people with MCI in memory (SMD 1.12, CI 95% [0.08, 2.16]), working memory (SMD 0.85, CI 95% [0.32, 1.38]), attention/concentration/processing speed (SMD 0.61, CI 95% [0.21, 1.02]), executive functioning (SMD 0.96, CI 95% [0.26, 1.66]), and language (SMD 1.63, CI 95% [0.20, 3.06]), but no significant improvement in global cognition. Pooling follow‐up evaluations was not possible, but one of two studies showed continuing significant differences for the intervention group after 6 months post intervention in memory and working memory. CCIs were conducted predominantly with computers, followed by tablet‐PCs, VR, AR, and mixed reality.ConclusionThis review demonstrated beneficial effects of CCIs on domain‐specific cognition in people with MCI. Therefore, CCIs might be a valuable treatment option to maintain cognition and prevent progression to dementia. However, further research is necessary, especially on CCIs applied with emerging technologies like VR or AR. Furthermore, various outcome measurements used in the studies were challenging for the pooling of study results, which highlights the need for a predefined set of important cognitive outcomes and tools for future RCTs.

BackgroundBelieving processes represent fundamental brain functions between cognition and emotion. Shortly before the introduction of a compulsory vaccination against COVID-19 in Austria, motives and underlying believing processes regarding the vaccination were collected in individuals with affective disorder (AD) and healthy controls (HC).Methods79 individuals with AD and 173 HC were surveyed online to assess believing processes with the parameters of the credition model (narratives, certainty, emotion, mightiness) about (1) the coronavirus itself and (2) why someone is vaccinated or not. In addition, we calculated congruence scores between content of narrative and type of emotion and divided the narrative content into positive, negative, and indifferent.ResultsThere were no differences in vaccination status between AD and HC. Higher levels of certainty were observed in HC compared to AD in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. The effects were higher when asked about the motivation to vaccinate or not than about the coronavirus itself. In HC, more positive emotions and more congruence between emotions and narratives were reported during believing in their vaccination motives. No group differences were found in mightiness for both items. Independently from diagnosis, unvaccinated people had high levels of certainty and more negative emotions and narratives while believing in their motives for not getting vaccinated.ConclusionWhen believing about the COVID-19 vaccination, individuals with AD were more uncertain and experienced fewer positive emotions than HC, although both groups did not differ in vaccination status. These effects were not that strong when believing about the coronavirus in general.

Background Cognitive deficits arise with age and can increase the risk for subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which may result in dementia, leading to health problems, care dependency and institutionalization. Computer-based cognitive interventions (CCIs) have the potential to act as important counteraction functions in preserving or improving cognition concomitant to available pharmacological treatment. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of CCIs performed individually with a personal or tablet computer, game console, virtual, augmented, or mixed reality application on cognition in community-dwelling people with SCD, MCI and dementia. Methods A systematic review with meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. The systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, Web of Science, Scopus and PsycINFO. In addition, a search for gray literature and backward citation searching were carried out. To judge on the evidence, two reviewers independently used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The standardized mean difference (SDM) for pooling comparable studies using the random-effects model was applied. Results Twenty-four RCTs were identified, of which 1 RCT examined CCIs in individuals with SCD, 18 RCTs with MCI, and 6 RCTs with dementia. Most interventions were conducted with personal computers. Meta-analyses with 12 RCTs showed significant effects of computer-based cognitive interventions for people with MCI in the domains memory, working memory, attention/concentration/processing speed and executive functioning, but no significant improvements in global cognition and language. Regarding dementia a meta-analysis pooled with 4 RCTs demonstrated a tendency towards, but no significant increase of memory functions (SMD 0.33, CI 95% [-0.10, 0.77]). One RCT regarding SCD reported significant improvements in memory functions for participants conducting a cognitive training on a personal computer. Conclusions The results demonstrated that CCIs have beneficial effects on domain-specific cognition in people with MCI but no significant effects on people with dementia. In terms of SCD, one study showed significant improvements in memory functions. It seems that the beneficial effect for cognitive preservation or improvement due to CCIs occurs at the earliest intervention state. However, more research on SCD is needed. Trial registration PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CDR42020184069.

BackgroundPeople with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are faced with a higher risk of developing dementia, but with a "window of opportunity" for prevention and treatment. Computerized cognitive interventions (CCIs) might constitute a beneficial non‐pharmacological treatment approach. This systematic review evaluated evidence of CCIs performed individually with a computer, tablet‐PC, game consoles, virtual reality (VR), or augmented reality (AR) on cognition in community‐dwelling people with MCI.MethodA systematic review and meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. The systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus and PsycINFO, and included an additional search for gray literature. The search was completed by backward citation tracking. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was independently assessed by two reviewers. Comparable studies were pooled using the random‐effects model.ResultA total of 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. 12 RTCs were used for conducting meta‐analyses which showed significant effects of CCIs for people with MCI in memory (SMD 1.12, CI 95 % [0.08, 2.16]), working memory (SMD 0.85, CI 95 % [0.32, 1.38]), attention/concentration/processing speed (SMD 0.61, CI 95 % [0.21, 1.02]), executive functioning (SMD 0.96, CI 95 % [0.26, 1.66]), and language (SMD 1.63, CI 95 % [0.20, 3.06]), but no significant improvement in global cognition. Pooling follow‐up evaluations was not possible, but one of two studies showed continuing significant differences for the intervention group after 6 months post intervention in memory and working memory. CCIs were conducted predominantly with computers, followed by tablet‐PCs, VR, AR, and mixed reality.ConclusionThis review demonstrated beneficial effects of CCIs on domain‐specific cognition in people with MCI. Therefore, CCIs might be a valuable treatment option to maintain cognition and prevent progression to dementia. However, further research is necessary, especially on CCIs applied with emerging technologies like VR or AR. Furthermore, various outcome measurements used in the studies were challenging for the pooling of study results, which highlights the need for a predefined set of important cognitive outcomes and tools for future RCTs.

Background: A lack of resources in nursing homes can lead to standardized (leisure) activities for residents because of insufficient tailoring of individual interests. Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to provide enjoyable leisure activities for positive outcomes like well-being. This study explores past and possible future interests of nursing home residents with dementia for the development of VR-based (leisure) activities. Method:This cross-sectional pilot study, a first step in a mixed-methods project, used a standardized questionnaire based on the Modified Interest Checklist -Diverse Learners. In total, seven residents with mild dementia from one rural Austrian nursing home participated in the study in February 2020. Result:The residents were mainly female (57%), on average 82 years old and partially care dependent. The most-mentioned past interests were playing cards (85.7%) as well as swimming, cycling, singing, practicing arts and crafts, cooking and baking, gardening, and listening to music/the radio (71,4% each) followed by (family) visits, watching television, washing and ironing clothes with 57,1% each. Further reported interests were hiking, taking walks, dancing, and travelling/going on holidays with 42.9%. There was no interest (0%) in rowing, philosophy, playing computer games, Yoga, Zumba, American football, or baseball. Residents most-mentioned possible future interests were singing, decorating rooms, listening to music/ the radio, and driving a car with 85.7%, followed by getting a massage, ninepin bowling, gardening, cooking and baking, watching TV, taking day trips, and reading with 71.4% each. Furthermore, 57.1% of the residents would enjoy doing some laundry and ironing, repair works, barbecues, and going walking or shopping. There was no interest (0%) in sports activities such as soccer, baseball, golf, or American football. Conclusion:Surveying past and possible future interests of nursing home residents with dementia shows that especially the (leisure) activities gardening, listening to music/the radio, cooking and baking, washing and ironing clothes and taking walks are of high interest. This is the basis for the next step in the project, using qualitative interviews to obtain more detailed descriptions of residents' explored interests to then develop VR-scenarios for residents' individual (leisure) activities needs.

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