The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic might affect mental health. Data from population-representative panel surveys with multiple waves including pre-COVID data investigating risk and protective factors are still rare.

In a stratified random sample of the German household population (n = 6684), we conducted survey-weighted multiple linear regressions to determine the association of various psychological risk and protective factors assessed between 2015 and 2020 with changes in psychological distress [(PD; measured via Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4)] from pre-pandemic (average of 2016 and 2019) to peri-pandemic (both 2020 and 2021) time points. Control analyses on PD change between two pre-pandemic time points (2016 and 2019) were conducted. Regularized regressions were computed to inform on which factors were statistically most influential in the multicollinear setting.

PHQ-4 scores in 2020 (M = 2.45) and 2021 (M = 2.21) were elevated compared to 2019 (M = 1.79). Several risk factors (catastrophizing, neuroticism, and asking for instrumental support) and protective factors (perceived stress recovery, positive reappraisal, and optimism) were identified for the peri-pandemic outcomes. Control analyses revealed that in pre-pandemic times, neuroticism and optimism were predominantly related to PD changes. Regularized regression mostly confirmed the results and highlighted perceived stress recovery as most consistent influential protective factor across peri-pandemic outcomes.

We identified several psychological risk and protective factors related to PD outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A comparison of pre-pandemic data stresses the relevance of longitudinal assessments to potentially reconcile contradictory findings. Implications and suggestions for targeted prevention and intervention programs during highly stressful times such as pandemics are discussed.

Thrombocytopenia is a risk factor for patent ductus arteriosus. Immature and mature platelets exhibit distinct haemostatic properties; however, whether platelet maturity plays a role in postnatal, ductus arteriosus closure is unknown.

In this observational study, counts of immature and mature platelets (=total platelet count − immature platelet count) were assessed on days 1, 3, and 7 of life in very low birth weight infants (<1500 g birth weight). We performed echocardiographic screening for haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus on day 7.

Counts of mature platelets did not differ on day 1 in infants with (n = 24) and without (n = 45) haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus, while infants with significant patent ductus arteriosus exhibited lower counts of mature platelet on postnatal days 3 and 7. Relative counts of immature platelets (fraction, in %) were higher in infants with patent ductus arteriosus on day 7 but not on days 1 and 3. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis unraveled associations between both lower mature platelet counts and higher immature platelet fraction (percentage) values on days 3 and 7, with haemodynamically significant ductus arteriosus. Logistic regression analysis revealed that mature platelet counts, but not immature platelet fraction values, were independent predictors of haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus.

During the first week of postnatal life, lower counts of mature platelets and higher immature platelet fraction values are associated with haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus. Lower counts of mature platelet were found to be independent predictors of haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus.

This presentation describes and analyses patient characteristics and service usage over one year of a cohort of people with a diagnosis of severe mental illness across England, including contacts with primary and secondary care and continuity- of-care.

Data were collected from primary care patient notes (n=1150) by trained nurses from 64 practices in England, covering all service contacts from 1st April 2008 to 31st March 2009.

The estimated national rate of patients seen only in primary care was 31.1% and rates of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were 56.8% and 37.9%. Patients had 7,961 consultations within primary care and 1,993 contacts with mental health services (20% of the total). Of those seen in secondary care, 61% had at most two secondary care contacts recorded in primary care notes. Median consultation rates with GPs were lower than have been reported for previous years and were only slightly above the general population. Relational continuity in primary care was poor for 21% of patients (Modified Modified Continuity Index =< 0.5), and for almost a third of new referrals to mental health services the primary care record contained no information on the referral outcome.

Primary care is centrally involved in the care of people with serious mental illness, but primary care and cross- boundary continuity is poor for a substantial proportion. Research is needed to determine the impact of poor continuity on patient outcomes, and above all, the impact of new collaborative ways of working at the primary/secondary care interface

Collaborative care is a community based intervention which typically consists of a number of components. The intervention aims to improve the physical and/or mental health and health care of people with a severe mental illness (SMI).

• To explore how collaborative care is implemented.

• To assess the effectiveness of collaborative care approaches in comparison to standard care for people with SMI who are living in the community.

A Cochrane Review: The Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Specialised register was searched in April 2011. Fifty one experts in the field of SMI and collaborative care were also contacted.

We included one RCT (306 participants; US veterans with bipolar disorder I or II) in this review. The trial provides data for one comparison: collaborative care versus standard care The reanalysis of data from the one included study indicated that collaborative care significantly reduced psychiatric admissions at year 2 in comparison to standard care (N= 306, 1 RCT, RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.99). Direct intervention (all-treatment) costs of collaborative care at the three year follow up did not differ significantly from standard care,mean difference -$2981.00 (N= 306, 1 RCT95% CI $16934.93 to $10972.93).

One trial at moderate risk of bias suggests that collaborative care may significantly reduce psychiatric admissions. More large, well designed, conducted and reported trials may be required to determine the effects of collaborative care and help inform healthcare professionals and policy makers about the value of collaborative care for people with SMI

The contribution of mental health to the risk of smoking is increasingly acknowledged but still insufficiently studied during the key period of student life. In particular, the simultaneous action of stress and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms on the risk of smoking remains poorly understood.

To assess the effects of stress and ADHD symptoms on tobacco smoking.

Multivariate modeling was conducted on the French i-Share study (n = 8110, median age 20.3 years, 74.8% females, 32.9% regular/occasional smokers) to evaluate the associations between stress, ADHD symptoms and tobacco smoking, adjusting for potential family/socio-demographic confounders.

Students with high levels of stress were more likely to smoke > 10 cigarettes/day (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.48, 95% CI: 1.12–1.96) than those with low levels of stress. Students with high levels of ADHD symptoms were more likely to smoke > 10 cigarettes/day (aOR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.58–2.75) than those with low levels of ADHD symptoms.

Stress and ADHD contribute independently to the risk of smoking. Interventions targeting each condition are likely to reduce the burden of tobacco use in students.

Clinical observations indicate that patients with advanced cancer and depression report higher symptom burden than nondepressed patients. This is rarely examined empirically. Study aim was to investigate the association between self-reported depression disorder (DD) and symptoms in patients with advanced cancer controlled for prognostic factors.

The sample included 935 patients, mean age 62, 52% males, from an international multicentre observational study (European Palliative Care Research Collaborative – Computerised Symptom Assessment and Classification of Pain, Depression and Physical Function). DD was assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and scored with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-5 algorithm for major depressive disorder, excluding somatic symptoms. Symptom burden was assessed by summing scores on somatic Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) symptoms, excluding depression, anxiety, and well-being. Item-by-item scores and symptom burden of those with and without DD were compared using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests. The relative importance of sociodemographic, medical, and prognostic factors and DD in predicting symptom burden was assessed by hierarchical, multiple regression analyses.

Patients with DD reported significantly higher scores on ESAS items and a twofold higher symptom burden compared with those without. Factors associated with higher symptom burden were as follows. Diagnosis: lung (β = 0.15, p < 0.001) or breast cancer (β = 0.08, p < 0.05); poorer prognosis: high C-reactive protein (β = 0.08, p < 0.05), lower Karnofsky Performance Status (β = −0.14, p < 0.001), and greater weight loss (β = −0.15, p < 0.001); taking opioids (β = 0.11, p < 0.01); and having DD (β = 0.23, p < 0.001). The full model explained 18% of the variance in symptom burden. DD explained 4.4% over and above that explained by all the other variables.

Depression in patients with advanced cancer is associated with higher symptom burden. These results encourage improved routines for identifying and treating those suffering from depression.

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors are widely applied to facilitate ductal closure in preterm infants. The mechanisms that lead to patent ductus arteriosus closure are incompletely understood. Vascular endothelial growth factor plays pivotal roles during ductal closure and remodelling.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ibuprofen and indomethacin on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in a primary rat ductus arteriosus endothelial cell culture.

Protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 and 2 was confirmed in rat ductus arteriosus and aorta by immunofluorescence staining. Fetal rat endothelial cells were isolated from ductus arteriosus and aorta using immunomagnetic cell sorting and treated with ibuprofen or indomethacin. mRNA expression levels were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis.

In ductal endothelial cells, ibuprofen significantly induced vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor 2, but not receptor 1, whereas indomethacin did not alter the expression levels of the vascular endothelial growth factor system. In contrast, ibuprofen significantly induced vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors 1 and 2 in aortic endothelial cells, whereas indomethacin only induced vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2.

Our results indicate differential effects of ibuprofen and indomethacin on the expression levels of the vascular endothelial growth factor system in ductus arteriosus endothelial cells. In addition, vessel-specific differences between ductal and aortic endothelial cells were found. Further in vivo studies are needed to elucidate the biological significance of these findings.