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Background: Violence by patients against staff members in mental health institutions has become an important challenge. Violent attacks may not only cause bodily injuries but can also have posttraumatic consequences with high rates of stress for mental health staff. This study prospectively assessed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in employees who were severely assaulted by patients in nine German state mental health institutions.

Zürcher SJ (2021). Mental health problems in the general population during and after the first lockdown phase due to the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic: rapid review of multi-wave studies. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences 30, e27,

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Is the global prevalence rate of adult mental illness increasing? Systematic review and meta-analysis Richter D, Wall A, Bruen A, Whittington R. Is the global prevalence rate of adult mental illness increasing? Systematic review and metaanalysis Objectives: The question whether mental illness prevalence rates are increasing is a controversially debated topic. Epidemiological articles and review publications that look into this research issue are often compromised by methodological problems. The present study aimed at using a meta-analysis technique that is usually applied for the analysis of intervention studies to achieve more transparency and statistical precision. Methods: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Google Scholar and reference lists for repeated cross-sectional population studies on prevalence rates of adult mental illness based on ICD-or DSM-based diagnoses, symptom scales and distress scales that used the same methodological approach at least twice in the same geographical region. The study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018090959). Results: We included 44 samples from 42 publications, representing 1 035 697 primary observations for the first time point and 783 897 primary observations for the second and last time point. Studies were conducted between 1978 and 2015. Controlling for a hierarchical data structure, we found an overall global prevalence increase in odds ratio of 1.179 (95%-CI: 1.065-1.305). A multivariate meta-regression suggested relevant associations with methodological characteristics of included studies. Conclusions: We conclude that the prevalence increase in adult mental illness is small, and we assume that this increase is mainly related to demographic changes. Summations• The issue of potentially increasing prevalence rates of mental illness is controversial. • Using a meta-analysis, we found a small increase in prevalence rates over time.• The increase may be due to demographic changes in current societies. Limitations• There is a scarcity of data from non-Western regions.• The coverage of mental illness is unevenly distributed.• No data on prevalence changes of psychosis/schizophrenia were available.

According to the transtheoretical model of behaviour change, individuals addicted to psychotropic drugs typically cycle through a sequence of five discrete stages (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance) before achieving sustained long-term abstinence and moderation, respectively. A number of English-language questionnaires have been developed to assess client motivation in accordance with the stages of change approach. The present study aimed to expand the research on the transtheoretical model by establishing the factor structure of a German-language version of the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) in a large sample of alcohol-dependent inpatients (n = 350). Furthermore, the relation of client motivation to alcohol use, self-efficacy and treatment outcome at 3-month follow-up was examined. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three separate dimensions of readiness to change (Taking Steps, Recognition, and Ambivalence). The factorial structure of the German-language SOCRATES corresponded almost exactly to that of the original version. Readiness to change accounted for 9.4% of the variance in treatment outcome. Moreover, readiness to change was positively related to pretreatment self-efficacy.

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The halo vest seems to be the first choice for conservative treatment of unstable injuries of the upper cervical spine, although pin track problems, accurate fitting of the vest, and a lack of patient compliance lead to clinical failures.