Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Albanian authorities declared mandatory stay-at-home measures, closing businesses, schools, and public places. This study aims to investigate the impact of these immediate changes on the mental well-being of the population. Methodology: Respondents ( N = 1678) aged 18–60 years were selected through a convenient sampling method. A questionnaire was administered online for 26 days, where respondents reported the time spent daily in the COVID-19 topic and filled in their generalities, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. Results: Findings suggest a significant negative correlation between age and anxiety scoring ( r (n = 1678) = −0.121, P ≤ 0.001) and between age and depression scoring ( r (n = 1678) = −0.232, P ≤ 0.001), shown also on the ANOVA test for age and anxiety ( F = 6.019, P ≤ 0.05), where younger populations had higher anxiety levels, as well as age and depression ( F = 20.326, P ≤ 0.05), where older populations had higher levels of depression. Differences on the level of education resulted in a lower score of anxiety and depression ( F = 3.524, P ≤ 0.05; F = 7.739, P ≤ 0.05, respectively) on respondents with higher education. Those who found themselves jobless from the pandemic scored higher on anxiety and depression ( F = 9.760, P ≤ 0.05; M = 6.21, ds = 4.686 and F = 16.051, P ≤ 0.05; M = 8.18, ds = 5.791, respectively) compared with those who are still working. Significant differences were found on the ANOVA test related to different amounts of time spent daily on the COVID-19 topic for anxiety and depression ( F = 25.736, P ≤ 0.001; F = 5.936, P ≤ 0.003, respectively), with people who spend <1 h scoring higher on depression (M = 7.57, ds = 5.849) and those who spent >3 h scoring higher on anxiety (M = 6.76, ds = 5.60). On the t -test, people on a romantic relationship scored lower levels of depression (t = −4.053, P ≤ 0.0001) compared to single individuals, and females scored higher levels of anxiety ( t = 12.344, P ≤ 0.001) compared to males. Conclusions: Younger participants score higher levels of anxiety and depression. Higher education individuals show lower levels of anx...

Aim: To assess and compare general practitioners' (GPs') views of diagnosing and treating depression in five southeastern European countries. Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, and Serbia. The sample included 467 GPs who completed a hard-copy self-administered questionnaire, consisting of self-assessment questions related to diagnosing and treating depression. Results:The most common barriers to managing depression in general practice reported by GPs were: patients' unwillingness to discuss depressive symptoms (92.3%); appointment time too short to take an adequate history (91.9%), barriers for prescribing appropriate treatment (90.6%); and patients' reluctance to be referred to a psychiatrist (89.1%). Most GPs (78.4%) agreed that recognizing depression was their responsibility, 71.7% were confident in diagnosing depression, but less than one-third (29.6%) considered that they should treat it.Conclusions: Improvements to the organization of mental healthcare in all five countries should consider better training for GPs in depression diagnosis and treatment; the availability of mental healthcare specialists at primary care level, with ensured equal and easy access for all patients; and the removal of potential legal barriers for diagnosis and treatment of depression.

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Objective: Comparing Lamotrigine versus Lithium efficacy, tolerability,safety in treatment of BPD II. Method: 30 female patients,19-60 years old,diagnosed with BPD II according to DSM IV-TR criteria,were enrolled in the study for 24 weeks. HAM-D≥18 and Y-MRS≤10 were used to diagnose depression and hypomania; CGI for severity and improvement. 28 patients analyzed for efficacy,30 patients for safety. Response to treatment was defined the reduction 50% of values from starting point measured by HAM-D,Y-MRS,CGI-I for values < 2.Remission considered HAM-D≥7,patients were evaluated on week 12 and 24. Paroxetine and lorazepam were used.Time,dose were compared between two parallel groups. Statistical analysis evaluated through Student test (X2) and Z test variable changes on week 0;12;24 Results: After statistical analysis on validity of comparison considering numbers of past episodes,type of actual episode and age,the groups were comparable without significant statistical differences. Lamotrigine and Lithium showed significant efficacy on BP-II ((p=0.001).They resulted equal efficacious in the treatment of depression and hypomania, for response and remission rate.Was not statistical significant difference between groups on week 8(p=0,787),12 (p=0,124) and 24 (p=0,348) for Y-MRS,reflecting comparable efficacy on hypomania symptoms. On week 12 six patients(21.2%) resulted in remission with lamotrigine and four (14.3%)with lithium. Statistical analysis showed no difference for dose and time for paroxetine (p=0.953);(p=0.701) and lorazepam (p=0.937);(p=0.411). Lamotrigine has higher tolerability rate.Side effects prevalence during study period was 12.5% for lamotrigine and 57.14% for lithium groups. Conclusion: Lamotrigine and lithium resulted equally efficacious for both episodes of BP-II during acute and maintenance treatment.Lamotrigine manifested less side effects, better compliance.