Iván Barrios

Subjective psychological wellbeing in medical students: a pilot study from Paraguay

ABSTRACT Psychological wellbeing is associated with variables of living among all human beings and has important implications for college students. Their coping strategies will vary as will their responses, depending upon their self-esteem and self-efficacy, personality patterns, mental health, financial development and lifestyle. There is little research on subjective psychological wellbeing among college students. This study describes 560 self-report completed questionnaires from 10 medical students. Subjective psychological wellbeing was analyzed employing the questionnaire Versión Adaptada del Método de Muestreo de Experiencia (Adapted Version of the Experience Sampling Method). The assessed conditions were ‘flow’ (perceived skills and challenges are higher and balanced), ‘boredom’ (perceived skills higher than challenges), ‘anxiety’ (perceived challenges higher than skills) and ‘apathy’ (perceived skills and challenges both lower and balanced). We found that the mean score of the perceived challenges was 4.23±2.42, whereas the mean score of perceived skills was higher, at 5.73±2.08. The fact that the ‘perceived skills’ score was higher than ‘perceived challenges’ score meets criteria for a ‘boredom’ condition. It is known that boredom may be associated to drug abuse, delinquency and academic failure among young subjects. Further studies are needed in order to establish strategies to improve motivation and spirit of challenge.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients referred to the psychiatry unit of the emergency department at the National University of Asunción’s General Hospital, Paraguay

ABSTRACT All psychiatric consultations carried out over one year at the Psychiatry Unit of the Emergency Department at the National University of Asunción’s Clinical Hospital, Paraguay were analysed with the aim of quantifying the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients presenting to our facilities in order to learn the most common diagnosis, patient characteristics and treatment approaches. We recruited patients admitted to the emergency department between 1 May 2015 and 1 May 2016 for whom a psychiatric consultation was required. Only the first consultation of each patient was taken into consideration. Our study sample included 800 patients. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. For comparing the means, we used the Students t-test or ANOVA, as appropriate. For analyzing the association between categorical variables, we performed Pearson’s chi-squared test. We considered test results with p < 0.05 as significant. Statistical analyses were performed using the Epi Info software. The sample’s mean age was of 37±20 years. The patients came mostly from the city of San Lorenzo and nearby towns. The most frequent DSM 5 psychiatric diagnoses were disorders of the ‘Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders’ group in 20.13% of patients, and disorders of the ‘Depressive Disorders’ group in 16.75% of patients. We found statistical association between the diagnoses and age (F = 2.804; p < 0.001) and also between diagnoses and gender (2 = 1742.1 [39]; p < 0.001). Of the sample, 85% had received at least one type of psychotropic drug. Psychotherapy and/or counselling techniques were prescribed in only 10% of cases. The emergency department may represent the place where the first psychiatric visit occurs and a point of reference for chronic patients. The social relevance and clinical challenges of mental disorders are the main contributors to the need for more studies on the quality of medical care for this population, especially in emergency settings.

Body satisfaction in female dancers and non- dancers

Body image is the set of perceptions and attitudes about oneself. It includes thoughts, feelings and behaviors towards ones own body. High levels of dissatisfaction have been reported to result in eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, especially in the female population. It has been reported that dancers, especially ballet dancers, are more exposed to these disorders taking into account their body dissatisfaction. The objective of this study was to determine if there was an association between the presence of body dissatisfaction and the fact of being a dancer. The present was an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study, with a sampling of consecutive cases. A total of 49 female dancers and 59 female non-dancers, who voluntarily accepted to participate in the research and previously signed an informed consent, were included. The frequency of body dissatisfaction in dancers was 38.8%. The results showed that the dancers had a significantly (p=0.011) higher probability of having dissatisfaction with their body image than the non-dancers. One of the possible explanations why dancers feel more dissatisfied with their body image, compared to the general population, are the demands of dance practice, as well as the judgment to which they are subjected by the public.

Physiotherapy in the treatment of anxiety disorders

Physiotherapy in the treatment of anxiety disorders Julio Torales, Iván Barrios, Marcos Almirón and Roberto De la Cueva Department of Psychopathology, School of Kinesiology and Physiotherapy, National University of Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay; School of Medicine, National University of Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay; School of Kinesiology and Physiotherapy, National University of Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay

Excoriation (skin picking) disorder: a skin-centred addiction?

Excoriation (skin picking) disorder is characterized by the need or urge to pick, scratch, pinch or touch the skin. Patients affected by this disorder feel bound to perform those actions compulsively until typical lesions appear. The patient is aware of his/her self-destructive behaviour but feels unable to give up this habit, despite repeated attempts to decrease or cease it. Excoriation (skin picking) disorder can cause significant clinical distress or social, occupational and other impairments. The symptoms are not better explained by other mental or medical disorders (Torales, 2014) Three elements are found in patients with excoriation (skin picking) disorder (Torales, 2014):