1.Trazodone Add-on in COVID-19-related Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor-resistant Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Healthcare Workers: Two Case Reports
Domenico De BERARDIS ; Michele FORNARO ; Antonio VENTRIGLIO ; Alessandro VALCHERA ; Federica VELLANTE ; Mauro PETTORRUSO ; Giovanni MARTINOTTI ; Silvia FRATICELLI ; Massimo Di GIANNANTONIO
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience 2021;19(4):780-785
COVID-19 represents a significant stress factor for all people worldwide due to several factors, including quarantine, lockdowns, fear of contagion, deaths, and other traumatic events. However, the healthcare workers (HCWs) have paid the higher price of this pandemic in terms of fatalities, contagions, and psychological well-being. Studies suggest that this particular population is at increased risk of developing a severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The early diagnosis and timely treatment of PTSD in HCWs may restore well-being and significantly impact health services functioning, reducing burnout, days spent far from work, disrupted personal and team empowerment, and worse job performances. In the present article, we reported on two cases of HCWs directly involved in the treatment of COVID-19patients who showed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-resistant PTSD, which was successfully treated with extended-release trazodone TRZ ContramidⓇ add-on.
2.The Burden of Agoraphobia in Worsening Quality of Life in a Community Survey in Italy
Antonio PRETI ; Martina PIRAS ; Giulia COSSU ; Elisa PINTUS ; Mirra PINTUS ; Goce KALCEV ; Federico CABRAS ; Maria Francesca MORO ; Ferdinando ROMANO ; Matteo BALESTRIERI ; Filippo CARACI ; Liliana DELL’OSSO ; Guido Di SCIASCIO ; Filippo DRAGO ; Maria Carolina HARDOY ; Rita RONCONE ; Carlo FARAVELLI ; Mario MUSU ; Gabriele FINCO ; Antonio Egidio NARDI ; Mauro Giovanni CARTA
Psychiatry Investigation 2021;18(4):277-283
Objective:
Current nosology redefined agoraphobia as an autonomous diagnosis distinct from panic disorder. We investigated the lifetime prevalence of agoraphobia, its association with other mental disorders, and its impact on the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL).
Methods:
Community survey in 2,338 randomly selected adult subjects. Participants were interviewed with the Advanced Neuropsychiatric Tools and Assessment Schedule (ANTAS), administered by clinicians. The diagnoses were based on the ICD-10 criteria. The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) was used to quantify HR-QoL.
Results:
In the sample, 35 subjects met the criteria for agoraphobia (1.5%), with greater prevalence among women (2.0%) than men (0.9%): odds ratio (OR) 2.23; 95% CI: 1.0-5–2. Agoraphobia was more often seen among those with (n=26; 1.1%) than without (n=9; 0.4%) panic disorder: OR=8.3; 2.9–24.4. Co-morbidity with other mental disorders was substantial. The mean score of SF-12 in people with agoraphobia was 35.2±7.8, with similar levels of HR-QoL in people with (35.3±7.9) or without (34.8±7.3) panic disorder: ANOVA: F(1;33)=0.0; p=1.00.
Conclusion
One out of seventy people may suffer from agoraphobia in their lifetime. The attributable burden in terms of HR-QoL is substantial and comparable to the one observed for chronic mental disorders such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
3.The Burden of Agoraphobia in Worsening Quality of Life in a Community Survey in Italy
Antonio PRETI ; Martina PIRAS ; Giulia COSSU ; Elisa PINTUS ; Mirra PINTUS ; Goce KALCEV ; Federico CABRAS ; Maria Francesca MORO ; Ferdinando ROMANO ; Matteo BALESTRIERI ; Filippo CARACI ; Liliana DELL’OSSO ; Guido Di SCIASCIO ; Filippo DRAGO ; Maria Carolina HARDOY ; Rita RONCONE ; Carlo FARAVELLI ; Mario MUSU ; Gabriele FINCO ; Antonio Egidio NARDI ; Mauro Giovanni CARTA
Psychiatry Investigation 2021;18(4):277-283
Objective:
Current nosology redefined agoraphobia as an autonomous diagnosis distinct from panic disorder. We investigated the lifetime prevalence of agoraphobia, its association with other mental disorders, and its impact on the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL).
Methods:
Community survey in 2,338 randomly selected adult subjects. Participants were interviewed with the Advanced Neuropsychiatric Tools and Assessment Schedule (ANTAS), administered by clinicians. The diagnoses were based on the ICD-10 criteria. The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) was used to quantify HR-QoL.
Results:
In the sample, 35 subjects met the criteria for agoraphobia (1.5%), with greater prevalence among women (2.0%) than men (0.9%): odds ratio (OR) 2.23; 95% CI: 1.0-5–2. Agoraphobia was more often seen among those with (n=26; 1.1%) than without (n=9; 0.4%) panic disorder: OR=8.3; 2.9–24.4. Co-morbidity with other mental disorders was substantial. The mean score of SF-12 in people with agoraphobia was 35.2±7.8, with similar levels of HR-QoL in people with (35.3±7.9) or without (34.8±7.3) panic disorder: ANOVA: F(1;33)=0.0; p=1.00.
Conclusion
One out of seventy people may suffer from agoraphobia in their lifetime. The attributable burden in terms of HR-QoL is substantial and comparable to the one observed for chronic mental disorders such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
4.Birth Weight and the Development of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Infants
Maria Elisabetta BALDASSARRE ; Antonio Di MAURO ; Silvia SALVATORE ; Silvio TAFURI ; Francesco Paolo BIANCHI ; Enzo DATTOLI ; Lucia MORANDO ; Licia PENSABENE ; Fabio MENEGHIN ; Dario DILILLO ; Valentina MANCINI ; Valentina TALARICO ; Francesco TANDOI ; Gianvincenzo ZUCCOTTI ; Massimo AGOSTI ; Nicola LAFORGIA
Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition 2020;23(4):366-376
Purpose:
To assess the association between birth weight and the development of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in the first year of life.
Methods:
This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort multicenter study including neonates, consecutively enrolled at birth, and followed up for one year. At birth all infants were classified by birth weight as extremely low (ELBW), very low, or low when <1,000, <1,500, and <2,500 g, respectively, and by birth weight for gestational age as appropriate (AGA, weight in the 10–90th percentile), small (SGA, weight <10th percentile), and large (LGA, weight >90th percentile) for gestational age. FGIDs were classified according to the Rome III criteria and assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of life.
Results:
Among 1,152 newborns enrolled, 934 (81.1%) completed the study: 302 (32.3%) were preterm, 35 (3.7%) were ELBW, 104 (11.1%) were SGA, 782 (83.7%) were AGA, and 48 (5.1%) were LGA infants. Overall, throughout the first year of life, 718 (76.9%) reported at least one FGID. The proportion of infants presenting with at least one FGID was significantly higher in ELBW (97%) compared to LBW (74%) (p=0.01) and in LGA (85.4%) and SGA (85.6%) compared to AGA (75.2%) (p=0.0001). On multivariate analysis, SGA was significantly associated with infantile colic.
Conclusion
We observed an increased risk of FGIDs in ELBW, SGA, and LGA neonates. Our results suggest that prenatal factors determining birth weight may influence the development of FGIDs in infants. Understanding the role of all potential risk factors may provide new insights and targeted approaches for FGIDs.
5.Impact of COVID-19 in gynecologic oncology: a Nationwide Italian Survey of the SIGO and MITO groups
Giorgio BOGANI ; Giovanni APOLONE ; Antonino DITTO ; Giovanni SCAMBIA ; Pierluigi Benedetti PANICI ; Roberto ANGIOLI ; Sandro PIGNATA ; Stefano GREGGI ; Paolo SCOLLO ; Mezzanzanica DELIA ; Massimo FRANCHI ; Fabio MARTINELLI ; Mauro SIGNORELLI ; Salvatore LOPEZ ; Violante Di DONATO ; Giorgio VALABREGA ; Gabriella FERRANDINA ; Innocenza PALAIA ; Alice BERGAMINI ; Luca BOCCIOLONE ; Antonella SAVARESE ; Fabio GHEZZI ; Jvan CASARIN ; Ciro PINELLI ; Vito TROJANO ; Vito CHIANTERA ; Giorgio GIORDA ; Francesco SOPRACORDEVOLE ; Mario MALZONI ; Giovanna SALERNO ; Enrico SARTORI ; Antonia TESTA ; Gianfranco ZANNONI ; Fulvio ZULLO ; Enrico VIZZA ; Giuseppe TROJANO ; Antonio CHIANTERA ; Francesco RASPAGLIESI
Journal of Gynecologic Oncology 2020;31(6):e92-
Objective:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused rapid and drastic changes in cancer management. The Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SIGO), and the Multicenter Italian Trials in Ovarian cancer and gynecologic malignancies (MITO) promoted a national survey aiming to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on clinical activity of gynecologist oncologists and to assess the implementation of containment measures against COVID-19 diffusion.
Methods:
The survey consisted of a self-administered, anonymous, online questionnaire. Thesurvey was sent via email to all the members of the SIGO, and MITO groups on April 7, 2020, and was closed on April 20, 2020.
Results:
Overall, 604 participants completed the questionnaire with a response-rate of 70%. The results of this survey suggest that gynecologic oncology units had set a proactive approach to COVID-19 outbreak. Triage methods were adopted in order to minimize in-hospital diffusion of COVID-19. Only 38% of gynecologic surgeons were concerned about COVID-19 outbreak. Although 73% of the participants stated that COVID-19 has not significantly modified their everyday practice, 21% declared a decrease of the use of laparoscopy in favor of open surgery (19%). However, less than 50% of surgeons adopted specific protection against COVID-19. Additionally, responders suggested to delay cancer treatment (10%–15%), and to perform less radical surgical procedures (20%–25%) during COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusions
National guidelines should be implemented to further promote the safety of patients and health care providers. International cooperation is of paramount importance, as heavily affected nations can serve as an example to find out ways to safely preserve clinical activity during the COVID-19 outbreak.