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A wide range of potential psychosocial, biological, genetic and environmental factors may interact with each other in determining suicidal behaviours. The aim of this study was to evaluate several biological parameters referred to the complete blood count values in 259 suicide attempters (SA) and 164 non-suicide attempters (control group), according to the lethality of suicidal behaviour. After attempting suicide, subjects were admitted to the emergency ward of the IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino and later to the section of Psychiatry from 1 January 2014 to 31 June 2019. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as blood cells, were collected. Individuals with high-lethality suicide attempts had a higher number of neutrophils, mean platelet volume, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and lower number of lymphocytes relative to both those with low-lethality suicide attempts and control group. After regression analysis, only the mean platelet volume and platelet to lymphocyte ratio resulted associated with a high-lethality suicide attempt (HLSA). Our findings provide potential and useful peripheral biological markers able to help clinicians in understanding the complex phenomenon of suicide. However, further studies are needed to confirm the present findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on a study on the cardiovascular disease risk in patients with restless leg syndrome (RLS). It mentions the RLS a condition characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs due to discomfort, typically occurring during rest or at night. The diagnosis of RLS including leg movement providing relief from discomfort and symptoms primarily manifesting in the evening or at night.

The article presents the discussion on severe psychiatric disorders and substance abuse alone or in comorbidity. Topics include demonstrating cognitive impairment triggered by alcohol dependence being strictly related to increased serum uric acid (UA) levels in alcohol-dependent patients; and monitoring uric acid levels during specific therapies and analysing the causes of recurrent kidney stone formation.

Background: Economic crises pose major threats to health. Research on the association between the current economic crisis and health is accumulating. Scant evidence is available on the impact of economic downturns on mental health in Italy, one of the European countries most affected by the economic crisis. Methods: We used data from the 2005 and 2013 'Health Conditions and Use of Health Services' surveys conducted by the Italian National Institute of Statistics to estimate Italian poor mental health prevalence in Italy and we applied Poisson regression analysis to explore how the risk (expressed as Prevalence Rate Ratios; PRR) of poor mental health has been impacted by the ongoing economic crisis, by gender and by different socio-economic strata. Results: Poor mental health prevalence in Italy was 21.5% in 2005 and 25.1% in 2013. The risk of poor mental health increased between 2005 and 2013 by 17% in males (PRR: 1.17; 95%CI: 1.14-1.20) and by 4% in females (PRR: 1.04; 95%CI: 1.02-1.06), the increase being highest for young males (24%). Vulnerable subgroup is at higher risk of poor mental health but not differently affected by the impact of the economic crisis. Conclusion: The economic crisis that hit Italy has posed threats to Italians' mental health and wellbeing, with a higher impact on young male populations. As further evidence from prospective studies is accumulating, our findings suggest strengthened primary and secondary prevention interventions should be planned and implemented by the Italian National Health Service so as to counter economic downturns' impact on population and individual-level health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author focuses on a study related to comorbid bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It mentions that the studies were identified by searching the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO for bipolar disorder (BD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It mentions that the symptoms would gradually gradually decrease in the adulthood.

In their article, the author opines on the treatment implications of Comorbid bipolar disorder (BD) and obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) in children and adolescents. Topics discussed include limited literature on pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic approaches especially in pediatric BD-OCD patients; combination of mood stabilizers with atypical antipsychotics and Addition of antidepressant (clomipramine) to mood stabilizers.

The article presents the discussion on the effects of COVID-19 pandemic leading to further enhancing the existing health inequalities. Topics include mental disorders being further increased during periods of social crisis and deprivation; and psychiatric patients being more vulnerable to the risks related to COVID-19 infection due to biological factors.