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Introduction. The economic crisis has negative effects on the population's physical and mental health. Our objective has been to study the association between socioeconomic status and number of people demanding mental health services. Methods. We performed a correlation analysis of administrative morbidity data (incidence and prevalence) of mental illness (obtained from the Asturias Cumulative Psychiatric Case Register) and three economic indicators (unemployment, consumer price index and gross domestic product). Results. The increase in the unemployment rate is associated with a clear decrease in both new and prevalent mental health demand. CPI has a minor weak positive correlation with the administrative incidence of some mental disorders (Neurotic disorders, Schizophrenia and addictions). GDP does not show a significant correlation with the administrative incidence and it is strongly associated with an increased administrative prevalence that is more intense in the case of alcoholism, neurotic disorders, mental retardation and Z codes (ICD-10). Conclusion. The variation of the socioeconomic indicated observed in the economic crisis period in Asturias was not associated with increased care demand for any mental disorders. There is a negative correlation of unemployment rate with care demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to determine quality of life and satisfaction in depressed Spanish women over 40 years old in the outpatient psychiatry setting. Secondarily, the association between several characteristics of depressed patients and quality of life was assessed. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study, carried out in the Spanish psychiatry setting in 2008. A total of 365 Spanish psychiatrists participated. 1069 patients older than 18 years old signed the informed consent. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 17 Item Hamilton for Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17). The Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) scale assessed the patient's satisfaction and life enjoyment. Results: Were included a total of 942 patients with the following characteristics: mean age of 52.46 years, medical comorbidity in 62.9%, and a history of psychiatric disorders in 79.6%. HAM-D17 mean score of 21.39. According to the Q-LES-Q questionnaire, Global satisfaction mean score was of 35.2%, the highest mean scores were achieved in the treatment satisfaction and the lowest mean scores in free time activities. The quality of life was influenced by the intensity of depressive symptoms and physical comorbidity. Conclusion: The study results show an impairment of quality of life in depressed women attending outpatient psychiatric centers. This decrease in the quality of life is associated with depressive symptoms and medical comorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study examines the difference in the efficacy and tolerability of an antidepressant inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin -IRNS- on climacteric patients diagnosed of major depressive disorder, comparing the therapeutic response between perimenopausal and postmenopausal patients. Methods: Observational, prospective, open-label, multicenter study 24 weeks study. The sample consisted of women between 45 and 55 years diagnosed of major depressive disorder. The study drug was venlafaxine extended release at doses according to the investigator's clinical criteria. The efficacy was assessed using repeated measures of the scales: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index. Results: 36 depressed women were included in the study and 35 completed it. The patient's age range was 47 to 55 years old. Throughout the study, a significant clinical improvement in depressive and hormonal symptoms was seen. The comparison of the pattern of improvement, according to the menstrual status of the espatients, showed no significant different between pre and postmenopausal patients. Perimenopausal women reported a higher rate of adverse events. Conclusion: The Venlafaxine was effective in treating depressive and hormonal symptoms regardless of the menstrual status of climacteric patients with a slightly worse tolerance in perimenopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The objective of this observational study was to assess under real clinical practice conditions the effectiveness and safety of venlafaxine extended release in anxiety-depressed and hormone-related symptoms in climacteric women with anxiety or depressive disorders. Methodology. Observational, prospective, open-label, multicenter, 24-week study, carried out in Spain. A sample of 45 outpatients, adult women between 45 and 55 years of age, diagnosed with depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder were analyzed. Venlafaxine extended release was administered for 24 weeks at doses according to the researcher's clinical criteria. Results. Of the total of 45 patients who were included in the study, 43 (95.6%) completed it. The patients' age range was from 47 to 55 years old, median of 50 and mean of 50.82. The evolution of the clinical condition was assessed through evaluation of scale scores: Blatt-Kuppermann Menopausal Index, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Clinical Global Impression. During the 24-week period, a significant decrease in the different scale scores showed a clinical improvement. Conclusions. The results achieved show that treatment with venlafaxine extended release significantly improved the clinical condition of climacteric patients with anxiety or depressive disorder. If these results are confirmed with placebo-controlled clinical trials, they will support the utility of Venlafaxine extended release in this kind of patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite successful response to therapy, subsyndromal depressive symptoms appear to be the rule in unipolar depression. Residual symptoms are present in more than 30% of patients who respond to antidepressants, specifically in subjects with more severe initial illness. The most prevalent residual symptoms are affective, somatic, cognitive and sleep disturbance. It has been shown that such persistent symptoms are associated with a higher risk of relapse, chronicity and functional impairment; associated with neuroanatomical changes. It is important to consider the possibility of persistence subthreshold symptoms and look for new therapeutic strategies for improving the level of remission in the treatment of major depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Many psychiatric facilities allow patients to smoke cigarettes even though this habit is especially harmful for mental patients. Methods. We studied the untoward effects produced by the smoking ban in 40 consecutive inpatients admitted to a psychiatric ward of a general hospital. Results. A total of 52.2 % out of 40 patients were smokers; the mean Fagerstrom score was 5.9. The most frequent diagnostic groups were: schizophrenia and delusional disorders; mood disorders; and personality disorders. There were only two untoward effects related with the smoking ban during the study period. Conclusions. This study shows that the smoking ban can be successfully implemented in a general hospital psychiatric unit without causing unfavorable effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The economic crisis has negative effects on the population’s physical and mental health. Our objective has been to study the association between socioeconomic status and number of people demanding mental health services., Methods: We performed a correlation analysis of administrative morbidity data (incidence and prevalence) of mental illness (obtained from the Asturias Cumulative Psychiatric Case Register) and three economic indicators (unemployment, consumer price index and gross domestic product)., Results: The increase in the unemployment rate is associated with a clear decrease in both new and prevalent mental health demand. CPI has a minor weak positive correlation with the administrative incidence of some mental disorders (Neurotic disorders, Schizophrenia and addictions). GDP does not show a significant correlation with the administrative incidence and it is strongly associated with an increased administrative prevalence that is more intense in the case of alcoholism, neurotic disorders, mental retardation and Z codes (ICD-10)., Conclusion: The variation of the socioeconomic indicated observed in the economic crisis period in Asturias was not associated with increased care demand for any mental disorders. There is a negative correlation of unemployment rate with care demand.

Introduction: This study examines the difference in the efficacy and tolerability of an antidepressant inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin--IRNS--on climacteric patients diagnosed of major depressive disorder, comparing the therapeutic response between perimenopausal and postmenopausal patients., Methods: Observational, prospective, open-label, multicenter study 24 weeks study. The sample consisted of women between 45 and 55 years diagnosed of major depressive disorder. The study drug was venlafaxine extended release at doses according to the investigator's clinical criteria. The efficacy was assessed using repeated measures of the scales: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index., Results: 36 depressed women were included in the study and 35 completed it. The patient's age range was 47 to 55 years old. Throughout the study, a significant clinical improvement in depressive and hormonal symptoms was seen. The comparison of the pattern of improvement, according to the menstrual status of the patients, showed no significant different between pre and postmenopausal patients. Perimenopausal women reported a higher rate of adverse events., Conclusion: The Venlafaxine was effective in treating depressive and hormonal symptoms regardless of the menstrual status of climacteric patients with a slightly worse tolerance in perimenopause.

Introduction: The objective of this observational study was to assess under real clinical practice conditions the effectiveness and safety of venlafaxine extended release in anxiety-depressed and hormone-related symptoms in climacteric women with anxiety or depressive disorders., Methodology: Observational, prospective, open-label, multicenter, 24-week study, carried out in Spain. A sample of 45 outpatients, adult women between 45 and 55 years of age, diagnosed of depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder were analyzed. Venlafaxine extended release was administered for 24 weeks at doses according to the investigator's clinical criteria., Results: Of the total of 45 patients who were included in the study, 43 (95.6%) completed it. The patients' age range was of 47 to 55 years old, median of 50 and mean of 50.82. The clinical condition evolution was assessed with the evaluation scales scores: Blatt-Kuppermann Menopausal Index, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Clinical Global Impression. During the 24-week period, a significant decrease in the different scales scores showed a clinical improvement., Conclusions: The results achieved show that treatment with venlafaxine extended release significantly improved the clinical condition of climacteric patients with anxiety or depressive disorder. If these results are confirmed with placebo-controlled clinical trials, they will support the utility of Venlafaxine extended release in this kind of patients.

Despite successful response to therapy, subsyndromal depressive symptoms appear to be the rule in unipolar depression. Residual symptoms are present in more than 30% of patients who respond to antidepressants, specifically in subjects with more severe initial illness. The most prevalent residual symptoms are affective, somatic, cognitive and sleep disturbance. It has been shown that such persistent symptoms are associated with a higher risk of relapse, chronicity and functional impairment; associated with neuroanatomical changes. It is important to consider the possibility of persistence subthreshold symptoms and look for new therapeutic strategies for improving the level of remission in the treatment of major depressive disorder.

Introduction: Many psychiatric facilities allow patients to smoke cigarettes even though this habit is especially harmful for mental patients., Methods: We studied the untoward effects produced by the smoking ban in 40 consecutive inpatients admitted to a psychiatric ward of a general hospital., Results: A total of 52.2 % out of 40 patients were smokers; the mean Fagerstrom score was 5.9. The most frequent diagnostic groups were: schizophrenia and delusional disorders; mood disorders; and personality disorders. There were only two untoward effects related with the smoking ban during the study period., Conclusions: This study shows that the smoking ban can be successfully implemented in a general hospital psychiatric unit without causing unfavorable effects.

Important declines in the diagnosis of schizophrenia have been demonstrated in different countries and continents over the past few decades. Is still not clear if this findings reflects a true decrease in the incidence or is simply an artefact. The administrative rates are influenced by factors such as changes in the illness behavior of the patients, changes in diagnostic habits, administrative inaccuracies, changes in the organisation and delivery of psychiatric services, or changes the underlying pupulation structure.

Introduction: This paper evaluates the relationship between a dimensional method of personality assessment (five factor model) and a categorical one (DSM-IV)., Methodology: Thirty-eight consecutive outpatients without concurrent diagnosis of axis I, were assessed with the categorical instrument I.P.D.E. (International Personality Disorders Examination) and the dimensional one B.F.Q. (Big-Five Questionnaire)., Results: Extraversion differences were found among cluster and its components, Dominance and Dynamism. Extraversion, Dynamism, Cooperation and Persistence differences were found among personality disorders of cluster A. Personality disorders of cluster B were different in Mental Openness, Dynamism and Cooperation. Finally, Extraversion, Mental Openness, Dynamism, Cordiality, Openness to culture and Openness to experience differences were found among personality disorders of cluster C., Conclusions: This pilot study proposes the possibility of developing dimensional models to predict a possible personality disorder in future. Longitudinal studies with great samples are necessary to get this purpose, in where to be gathered a high percent from each personality disorder.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of eating disorders in secondary level students, as well as to determine the relationship between eating behaviour and personality traits., Subjects and Method: During the 1997-98 school year, 816 secondary level students from Langreo (Asturias) were evaluated., Evaluation: Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Adult Form (EPQ-A)., Results: The sample was made up of 415 males and 401 females [mean age (SD): 15.91 (1.37)]. Seventy-two <> of eating disorders were detected, 87.5% of which were females (p= 0.0000). The <> scored higher (p< 0.05) than their <> counterparts on all EDI subscales, except perfectionism. The <> females scored higher (p< 0.05) than the <> males on the drive for thinness and dissatisfaction with one's body subscales, whereas the <> males scored higher than the females on the perfectionism and maturity fears subscales. In both sexes, clinical features of neuroticism, introversion, and psychoticism were associated with higher scores (p< 0,05) on various EDI subscales., Conclusions: Greater prevalence of <> eating disorders in females. The <> subjects present a different eating behaviour profile based on sex. In both sexes, neuroticism, introversion, and psychoticism features favour a possible distortion of eating behaviour.