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In this study, we investigated the prevalence of mental disorders and the use of psychopharmacologic drugs among individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). We studied how the association between CP and mental illness develops over the life course (between ages 5 and 65 years), and how it varies across disability specific factors (intellectual disability, gross motor function and communicative ability). We used logistic regression models on a longitudinal matched case-control data material on all persons with CP in Sweden linked to several administrative registers including, the national patient registers and the pharmaceutical registers. Our results showed that the probability of being diagnosed with mental disorders and being dispensed psychopharmacologic drug was significantly higher among persons with CP compared to persons without CP across the different outcomes [OR = 1.52-4.7]. For some mental and neurodevelopmental disorders including sleep disorders, autism, and ADHD, and for the use of anxiolytics and sedatives, there was a sizeable gap already in childhood. However, the excess burden of mental illness appeared to grow over the life course, indicating that adults with CP may be a particularly disadvantaged group. Diagnosis for mental disorders and dispensation for psychopharmacologic drugs were not consistent with respect to disability specific factors, especially communicative and intellectual function, which indicates the need for systematic approaches in the mental health care of individuals with CP., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no known conflicts or interests or details of conflicts of interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Mental illness is increasing among young people and likewise the request for health care services. At the same time, somatic comorbidity is common in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. There is a lack of studies on health care use in children and adolescents, and the hypothesis was that children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders use more primary-, and specialized somatic health care compared to children without psychiatric disorders., Methods: In this retrospective population-based register study, all individuals aged 3-17 years living in Västra Götaland region in Sweden in 2017 were included (n = 298,877). Linear and Poisson regression were used to compare health care use during 2016-2018 between children with and without psychiatric diagnoses, controlling for age and gender. The results were reported as unstandardised beta coefficient (ß) and adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) respectively., Results: Having a psychiatric diagnosis was associated with more primary care visits (ß 2.35, 95% CI 2.30-2.40). This applied to most diagnoses investigated. Girls had more primary care visits than boys. Likewise, individuals with psychiatric diagnoses had more specialized somatic outpatient care (ß 1.70, 95% CI 1.67-1.73), both planned and unplanned (ß 1.23, 95% CI 1.21-1.25; ß 0.18, 95% CI 0.17-0.19). Somatic inpatient care was more common in those having a psychiatric diagnosis (aPR 1.65, 95% CI 1.58-1.72), with the diagnoses of psychosis and substance use exerting the greatest risk., Conclusions: Psychiatric diagnoses were associated with increased primary-, somatic outpatient- as well as somatic inpatient care. Increased awareness of comorbidity and easy access to relevant health care could be beneficial for patients and caregivers. The results call for a review of current health care systems with distinct division between medical disciplines and levels of health care., (© 2023 The Authors. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Previous research has shown that Common Mental Disorders (CMD) are unequally distributed between population subgroups, but we know less about how labour outcomes following such disorders are distributed. Our aim is to investigate how the labour outcomes following a CMD diagnosis differ over sex, age, schooling and country of birth., Methods: We use a population sample from southern Sweden of patients diagnosed with CMD during calendar years 2009-2011, and a matched general population control group, to study labour market outcomes three years following diagnosis. Logistic regression is used to study the associations between a CMD diagnosis and outcomes in employment, sick leave, and disability pension. Interaction analysis is used to study heterogeneity in these associations., Results: CMD diagnosis is associated with reduced employment and increased odds of sick leave and disability pension. Following a CMD diagnosis, men and higher educated individuals have higher odds of non-employment and sick leave compared to women and the lower educated. Foreign-born individuals have higher odds of non-employment and lower odds of sick leave, compared to individuals born in Sweden. Heterogeneity appears to be present also based on age. Younger age is associated with higher odds of non-employment and disability pension and lower odds of sick leave, following a CMD diagnosis., Conclusions: Heterogeneity in labour outcomes following a CMD diagnosis sometimes contributes to and sometimes mitigates inequalities in employment, sick leave and disability pension between population subgroups. When developing new strategies to tackle mental ill-health in the population, it may therefore be motivated to consider not only inequalities in the prevalence of mental disorders but also heterogeneity in associated adverse labour outcomes.

Background: Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children of all ages. Prevention strategies require knowledge of risk factors, and behavior and psychiatric disorders have been suggested to influence the risk of injury during childhood. While externalizing disorders have been found to increase the risk for injuries, results are mixed regarding internalizing disorders, such as affective and anxiety conditions, and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). There is a need for large scale studies relying on robust data sources. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between psychiatric disorders and injuries requiring medical attention, in a large population-based cohort of 350,000 children and adolescents in Sweden., Methods: Data were obtained from the regional health care database Vega. Psychiatric diagnoses and injury diagnoses obtained during 2014-2018 for individuals aged 0-17 years in 2016 were extracted. Descriptive statistics were used to examine differences in 5-year injury prevalence between children with and without different psychiatric diagnoses. Logistic regression was used in age-stratified models to test the association between psychiatric diagnoses and injuries requiring medical attention., Results: The results show an increased risk for concurrent injuries in general, but the patterns vary by age and psychiatric disorder. Externalizing disorders and anxiety conditions were associated with concurrent injuries, while individuals with ASD had a lower risk for most injuries included. Affective disorders were associated with an increased risk for wounds, concussion, complications and poisoning, while the risk for fractures was decreased. Self-inflicted injury was more common in all psychiatric conditions investigated during adolescence, except for ASD. Children and adolescents with many types of psychiatric disorders were also at increased risk for a concurrent maltreatment diagnosis., Conclusions: A general pattern of increased risk for concurrent injuries in children and adolescents with most psychiatric diagnoses was found, but the associations vary by age and type of psychiatric disorder. The results add to the literature on risk factors for injuries in children and adolescents, supporting diagnosis specific patterns. Several psychiatric diagnoses were associated with a marked increase in injury risk, indicating a high burden of disease for affected individuals.

In the adult population, psychiatric disorders are associated with somatic illness. Explanatory life style factors have been found, but also a failure to recognize somatic illness in this group. Another factor is side effects from long-term use of antipsychotic drugs. Given the psychiatric-somatic comorbidity in the adult population, it is of interest to investigate whether an association exists already during childhood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of somatic illness in children and adolescents with a psychiatric diagnose. Data were obtained from the regional health care database Vega, Sweden. Psychiatric and somatic diagnoses obtained during 2011-2013 for individuals aged 3-18 years were extracted. Descriptive statistics were used to examine difference in somatic morbidity between children with and without psychiatric diagnoses. Logistic regression was used in age-stratified models to test the association between psychiatric and somatic diagnoses. Anxiety and behavioral disorders were associated with all somatic conditions investigated at nearly all ages. The same applied to substance use, investigated at age 9-18 years. Affective disorders were associated with all somatic conditions at age 12-18 years. Psychotic conditions were associated with asthma, bowel disorders and myalgia in adolescents. Children with psychiatric disorders are at remarkably high risk for concurrent somatic illness. The associations span across many types of conditions and across all ages. The results support the need for awareness of somatic morbidity in child and adolescent psychiatric clinical settings, and the need for coordinated health care for children with comorbid states.

Patients with severe mental illness suffer an increased somatic mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Furthermore, they are less likely to have adequate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for somatic disorders. Life style issues, side effects of pharmacotherapy, cognitive impairment and suboptimal organization of the health care system all contribute. In total, a challenging situation that has to be addressed by the health care system. In Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, new medical routines for psychiatric patients are currently implemented. All patients should be offered an annual medical somatic checkup, including blood tests and ECG, and be advised about their life style, i.e. diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol. At the Department of psychosis, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden, a new permanent position as senior consultant in internal medicine/liaison physician has been established.

In a recent large-scale prevalence study of interpersonal violence (IV) against child athletes in the Netherlands and Belgium we found that 9% of adult respondents who participated in organized sports before the age of 18 had experienced severe psychological violence, 8% severe physical violence, and 6% severe sexual violence in various sport settings. While the general literature has repeatedly shown that exposure to IV during childhood is associated with mental health problems in adulthood and to a lesser extent with reduced quality of life (QOL), these relationships have not been demonstrated in (former) athletes. Thus, the current study aims to assess the association of severe childhood IV in sport and adult wellbeing. Depression, anxiety, and somatization were assessed in the same general population sample (N = 4043) using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) and QOL with the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-Brèf). The association between severe IV in sport and adult wellbeing was investigated using multiple linear regression while controlling for demographics, recent life events, and relatives' psychological problems. We found severe sexual, physical, and psychological childhood IV in sport to be associated with more adult psychological distress and reduced QOL. Polyvictimization shows the strongest correlation with poorer wellbeing and QOL. Recent life events, relatives' psychological problems, marital status, and level of education were significant covariates in the psychological symptoms and QOL assessed. We hope that these new insights prompt sport administrators to implement broad spectrum child protection measures and raise the awareness of mental health professionals about the necessity to also screen for adverse childhood experiences in the sport context., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Persons with severe mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) have a high prevalence of somatic conditions compared to the general population. Mortality data in the Nordic countries reveal that these persons die 15-20 years earlier than the general population. Some factors explaining this high prevalence may be related to the individuals in question; others arise from the health care system's difficulty in offering somatic health care to these patient groups. The aim of the present study was therefore to explore the experiences and views of patients, relatives and clinicians regarding individual and organizational factors which facilitate or hinder access to somatic health care for persons with severe mental illness., Methods: Flexible qualitative design. Data was collected by means of semi-structured individual interviews with patients with severe mental illness, relatives and clinicians representing primary and specialized health care. In all, 50 participants participated., Results: The main barrier to accessing somatic care is the gap between the organization of the health care system and the patients' individual health care needs. This is observed at both individual and organizational level. The health care system seems unable to support patients with severe mental illness and their psychiatric-somatic comorbidity. The main facilitators are the links between severe mental illness patients and medical departments. These links take the form of functions (i.e. systems which ensure that patients receive regular reminders), or persons (i.e. professional contacts who facilitate patients' access the health care)., Conclusions: Health care services for patients with severe mental illness need reorganization. Organizational structures and systems that facilitate cooperation between different departments must be put in place, along with training for health care professionals about somatic disease among psychiatric patients. The links between individual and organizational levels could be strengthened by introducing professional contacts, such as liaison physicians and case managers. This is also important to reduce stress and responsibility among relatives.

Using flat shoes with no heels results in stronger eccentric contractions of plantar flexors, which stimulate the rostral parts of the cerebellar vermis. The stimulation inhibits the limbic structures and increase neurogenesis. Physical activity often involves walking. Eccentric contractions during dorsal flexion of the plantar flexors in the stance phase of walking give rise to tension signals from Golgi tendon organs. The signals from the eccentric contractions are brought to the rostral parts of the cerebellar vermis. Electrical stimulation of the vermis inhibits the limbic structures and increases neurogenesis, and so do the signals from eccentric contractions. The use of heeled shoes results in less eccentric contractions with decreased neurogenesis. People in the Western World wore heeled shoes from the beginning of the 17th century, and, because of the decreased neurogenesis, the prevalence of diseases such as depression, epilepsia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, diabetes, and myopia increased. Use of flat shoes produces stronger eccentric contractions and increases neurogenesis. This would lead to better protection from a range of diseases. Even therapy is possible.

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the relation between symptoms of interictal depression, anxiety, personality traits, and psychological dissociation with the localization and lateralization of the epileptogenic zone in patients with partial epilepsy., Methods: All patients were diagnosed according to the localization-related concept of the 1989 International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Classification of Epilepsies and Epileptic Syndromes, and the localization and lateralization of the epileptogenic zone was established by using the clinical criteria for noninvasive presurgical evaluation. This resulted in 67 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and 64 patients with extra-TLE. All patients were assessed on the various aspects of psychopathology by using a comprehensive battery of standardized diagnostic instruments., Results: We did not find the hypothesized excess of psychiatric symptoms in patients with (mesial) TLE in comparison with patients with extra-TLE. We also found no differences between patients with the lateralization of epilepsy in the left versus the right hemisphere., Conclusions: TLE per se cannot be considered a risk factor in developing more or more severe symptoms of psychopathology in patients with partial epilepsy. Concomitant factors, such as the duration of epilepsy, seizure frequency, and frontal lobe dysfunction may play an additional role. Our findings support the hypothesis of a multifactorial explanation for the psychiatric symptoms in patients with epilepsy.

Since the advent of video-EEG telemetry studies (V-EEG) neurologists have become increasingly aware of psychogenic pseudoseizures (PPS) given the relatively high prevalence of these events among patients seen in epilepsy centers. The use of V-EEG has been accepted as the gold standard study in establishing this diagnosis; some clinicians, however, have suggested that the clinical phenomena of PPS are so obvious in many patients that V-EEG may not be necessary. This is one of many controversial points that clinicians face when evaluating patients suspected of having PPS. In this article, we review some of these controversies, specifically the need for a video-EEG monitoring study in all patients suspected of having PPS and the role of induction protocols in the evaluation of PPS, the question of whether patients have any control over their events, and finally some of the therapeutic strategies for PPS including the need to limit these patients' driving privileges.