Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has dramatically improved the neurocognitive outcomes for newborns with a confirmed positive screening test result. However, screening yields a small number of false positive and false negative results. This report describes the first known case of familial dysalbuminaemic hyperthyroxinaemia presenting with a positive newborn thyroid stimulating hormone screen. This condition is characterized by artefactually elevated free tetraiodothyronine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels due to increased albumin binding and subsequent dissociation during laboratory assays but normal true free thyroid hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in a clinically euthyroid subject. This highlights the need to take care when attributing clinical significance to discordant results.
Background: Psychological stress is ubiquitous in young adults, but traditional relaxation strategies such as mindfulness or meditation are not consistently utilised. Immersive virtual reality (VR) is being increasingly used in mental health contexts with improved clinical outcomes. However, there is limited research exploring the perceived usefulness of VR for individuals without a mental health diagnosis. Aim: To identify if an immersive VR experience was effective in reducing stress for young adults and to explore the experience of the participants. Methods: Twenty-one young adults aged 18–25 years participated in an immersive VR experience. Heart rate was measured pre- and post-test to objectively establish the efficacy of VR to facilitate relaxation. Participants were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview ( n = 18) to gain a rich understanding of their experience. Results: Four themes emerged from analysis of the interviews: I felt relaxed and calm, It was time-efficient and easy to use, It took me to another place and It was different than I thought it would be. Heart rate reduced during the immersive VR experience. Conclusion: These findings suggest that immersive VR can reduce psychological stress, and it is perceived by young adults as a useful and time-effective strategy to reduce psychological stress.
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