BackgroundRecent outbreaks of cutaneous leishmaniasis make the disease a public health concern in Punjab, Pakistan. The knowledge of how the population perceives the disease and its vector is essential in order to design an effective management strategy, but such studies are rare in Pakistan.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe present study was based on a cross-sectional self-administered survey comprising 250 household samples collected from five localities including Bhawalpur, Multan, Jhang, Faisalabad and Lahore. The results revealed that the respondents had a poor knowledge of the vector and disease. Few of the respondents were aware about the identification of sand flies, their breeding place, biting time, transmission of leishmaniasis and control measures. Skin infection and sandflies as the main disease symptom and vector of the disease, respectively, were known to some of the respondents. Some believed that summer was the main peak incidence of the disease and it could be transmitted from man to man via contact. However, most of the respondents believed that the disease could be cured. Admission to hospitals, cleanliness and use of bed nets were the treatment measures for the disease in suspected patients, whereas some thought that the use of bed nets could be helpful in preventing leishmaniasis infection.Conclusions/SignificancePoor knowledge of the disease and its vector in the study population emphasize the need to initiate health education and awareness campaigns to minimize the risks of cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreaks in the future.

Objectives Alexithymia is the inability of an individual to adequately recognise and describe their emotions, which directly affects mental health by precipitating psychological disorders or by causing a disturbance to interpersonal functioning, coping responses, and quality of life. The purpose of this research was to test the efficacy of alexithymia reduction treatment (ART), a pilot online group intervention specifically designed to ameliorate alexithymia in men. Methods As this was a pilot study, a small sample consisting entirely of male university students (n = 20) was selected. The participants were screened on the standardised measures at pre‐treatment and post‐treatment and were assigned to a treatment group (n = 10) or wait‐list control group (n = 10). The study utilised a quasi‐experimental design as the participants were assigned to the treatment and wait‐list control group based on their availability to attend the therapeutic sessions. The treatment group then received ART while the wait‐list control received no treatment at that time. Results The statistical analysis showed a significant reduction in the participants' alexithymia, as well as depression and anxiety, in the treatment group but not in the wait‐list control group. Conclusion ART proves to be efficacious in reducing alexithymia. In addition, the treatment modality proved to be useful in improving the participants' general psychological distress (anxiety, depressive symptoms).

No abstract

No abstract