Use of pramipexole in neuropsychiatry

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious psychological consequences for healthcare providers at a higher risk of exposure to heavy workloads and a high-risk environment. Healthcare providers on the front lines, involved in diagnosing, treating, and caring for patients with COVID-19, were particularly vulnerable to developing psychological distress and other mental health symptoms, including emotional disturbance. Objective: In response to this critical situation, this study aims to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 and associated factors on healthcare providers at Chainama Hills College Hospital (CHCH) in Lusaka, Zambia. The findings of this study may inform interventions and support programs to mitigate the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare providers and improve their overall well-being. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted in a hospital setting using a self-administered questionnaire survey between August 1st and 10th, 2021. A total of 194 healthcare providers were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The survey used the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess the psychological well-being of the participants. Results: Our study findings indicate that healthcare providers are experiencing a high level of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a Stress score of 92.0, which is considered significant under the circumstances. Additionally, the healthcare providers exhibited mild levels of depression and anxiety, with DASS-21 scores of 13.0 and 12, respectively. These findings were at a 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of prioritizing the well-being of healthcare providers. With the heightened demands and stressors associated with caring for patients during a pandemic, we must prioritize the mental and physical health needs of healthcare providers. Providing adequate support, resources, and attention to the well-being of healthcare providers can help to prevent burnout, reduce turnover, and improve patient outcomes. By recognizing the importance of caring for our healthcare providers, we can help to ensure the delivery of high-quality healthcare services during such challenging times.

Section: Introduction and The Rationale Of The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Psychological Impact and Associated Factors of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Care Providers at Chainama Psychiatry Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

Musonda,

Petlovanyi,

Tsarkov

et al. 2023

Why Neurologists Should Remember About Antidepressants

Konyushok

2020

The importance of neurological diseases and mood disorders for human health and life, as well as for health care and society as a whole, cannot be overestimated. Nervous system pathologies such as stroke, neurodegenerative and demyelinating diseases, are one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world, and up to 60% of suicides are associated with depression. Antidepressants are used not only in psychiatric practice, but also in the practice of neurologists. Neurologists prescribe antidepressants to treat depression in neurological patients, chronic pain syndromes and neuropathic pain, panic attacks, eating disorders, premenstrual syndrome and for migraine prevention. The most difficult task for neurologists is to identify depressive disorders that often comorbid neurological diseases. The main property of antidepressants is the ability to increase depressed mood without increasing normal mood and without showing a stimulating effect. Antidepressants also have anti-anxiety, sedative, anti-phobic, anti-panic and somatic effects. When depression is detected in patients with neurological pathology, the prescription of antidepressants is justified not only from the psychiatric (relieving depression and reducing the risk of suicide), but also from the neurological point of view (reducing the risk of complications of neurological pathology and premature mortality from it).

Optimization of Early Diagnosis of Glucose Metabolism Impairment for Patients Receiving Antipsychotic Medications at the Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic of the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

Pandu

Tsarkov

Petlovanyi

et al. 2022

Introduction: Patients using antipsychotic drugs are more likely than the general population to suffer glucose metabolism dysfunctions. Patients who take antipsychotic drugs, particularly second-generation antipsychotics, are four times more likely to develop overweight, obesity, and diabetes type 2. Failing to recognize these metabolic issues puts an individual at risk of developing cardio-metabolic and others disorders that potentially worsen psychiatric problems. For controlling and enhancing potential psychiatric treatment outcomes, early diagnosis and treatment of glucose metabolism dysfunction are crucial. Objective: To optimize the early diagnosis of glucose metabolism impairments in patients with psychiatric disorders treated with antipsychotic medications. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted at the outpatient psychiatric clinic of the University Teaching Hospital (Lusaka, Zambia). A systematic sampling method was applied to all patients who were receiving antipsychotic drugs. All participants were checked for their weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, random, and fasting blood glucose levels respectively. The results were analyzed by using SPSS software (version 20), while Fisher’s exact test was used to determine the relationship between categorical variables. Results: The proportion of individuals with impaired fasting blood glucose levels found in this study was 11.1% and that of individuals with diabetes was 10.0% respectively which is higher compared to the general population. Patients who were receiving second-generation antipsychotics showed a slightly higher proportion of impaired fasting blood glucose levels compared to those on conventional antipsychotic medications. Conclusion: The glucose metabolism deficit in patients with psychotic disorders was found to be high. Patients of both sexes had an equal chance of developing the problem, though females had a higher proportion as compared to males, and it is not time-dependent. Older patients showed a higher proportion of impaired fasting blood glucose levels compared to younger ones. It is recommended that basic screening measures of glucose metabolism parameters that are simple and cost-effective, like checking weight, BMI, waist circumferences, and regular checking of blood glucose levels, be routine practice in all psychiatric settings before starting antipsychotic medications.