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PubMed2026

The role of psychological resilience in the relationship between complex post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity and functioning impairment in mental health support-seeking Australian defence force veterans: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Military veterans have high rates of mental health conditions; complex post-traumatic stress disorder may be the most functionally impaired trauma diagnosis in this patient group. Psychological resilience acts as a protective factor for mental health. Still, it is unclear how this may influence relationships between the two main symptom clusters of complex post-traumatic stress disorder and functioning impairment in veterans. Therefore, we investigated the relationships between psychological resilience, trauma symptom severity, trauma exposure and work/social functional impairment among Australian Defence Force veterans. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey including 148 mental health support-seeking former-serving Australian Defence Force veterans in primary care. Relationships between variables were explored using correlations, mean difference tests and mediation analysis to examine the role of resilience in the relationship between complex post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and functional impairment. RESULTS: Resilience showed significant negative correlations with functioning impairment. The number of traumas showed weak positive correlations with disturbances in self-organisation symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and functional impairment. The complex post-traumatic stress disorder group had significantly lower resilience and functioning than those with no diagnosis. After controlling for the number of trauma exposures, resilience partially mediated the association between post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and functioning (indirect effect = 0.141, p < 0.05), and partially mediated the association between disturbances in self-organisation symptoms and functioning (indirect effect = 0.157, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological resilience was associated with better functioning in veterans regardless of trauma diagnosis. Resilience also partially mediates the relationship between disturbances in self-organisation/post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and functioning in those with International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, indicating it is an important intervention target in Australian Defence Force veterans with polytrauma.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Patient-reported outcome measures within European cohorts of severely injured patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Severe injury affects multiple health-related domains, yet comprehensive European data on patient-reported outcomes remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) use and outcomes in severely injured European cohorts. METHODS: A systematic search of four databases up to October 14, 2025, identified European studies from 2000 onward reporting PROMs in severely injured patients. Severe injury was defined as an Injury Severity Score ≥ 16, Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8, intensive care unit admission, spinal cord injury, traumatic amputations, or pelvic fractures. Two reviewers independently screened records, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Meta-analysis was performed when ≥ 3 studies reported comparable PROMs at similar follow-up timepoints. RESULTS: Of 2,479 studies, 119 were included. Most cohorts originated from the Netherlands (26%), Norway (18%), and Germany (16%). General severely injured cohorts were most frequently studied (61%), followed by traumatic brain injury (17%), and spinal cord injury (15%). In total, 94 PROMs were used across 277 follow-up timepoints. Health-related quality of life was assessed most frequently (63%), after that anxiety/depression (14%), post-traumatic stress (9%), and social functioning (6%). At one year follow-up, the pooled EuroQol-5D-3 L index score was 0.70 (95% CI 0.62-0.77) and VAS score was 68 (95% CI 60-75), indicating persistent impairment compared to population norms. CONCLUSION: Severely injured patients show persistent impairments with incomplete restoration of pre-injury functioning. Despite increased PROMs use, heterogeneity in selection and outcome reporting limits comparability, underscoring the need for standardised PROM assessment to improve outcome evaluation after severe injury.

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PubMed2026

Online-delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder due to multiple traumas: a non-concurrent multiple baseline design.

Background: No controlled studies incorporating randomization have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of online eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment, despite its use in clinical practice.Objective: This study evaluated the effect of online EMDR treatment in adults aged 18-65 years with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from multiple traumas.Method: A multiple baseline single-case experimental design (n = 21) was employed. Participants were patients with PTSD due to multiple traumas, recruited from a mental healthcare institution in the Netherlands. They were randomly assigned to baseline phases of 2, 3.5, or 5.5 weeks. After this, participants received 10 weekly online EMDR sessions. The primary outcome was the total score on an adapted version of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), which was administered twice a week during baseline and intervention phases, and once 12 weeks after the end of the intervention phase. We performed visual analysis and calculated the improvement rate difference (IRD) for each individual separately to determine whether online EMDR was effective. We also performed a paired t-test and calculated Cohen's d for pretreatment and post-treatment comparisons, and pretreatment versus follow-up to evaluate effects at the group level.Results: Visual analysis and IRD scores showed that the treatment was effective for 15 participants, with effect sizes ranging from small to very large. The mean scores on the PCL-5 at group level decreased significantly over time between pretreatment and post-treatment (Mdiff = 23.6, Cohen's d = 1.34, 95% CI 0.74-1.93), as well as between pretreatment and follow-up (Mdiff = 27.2, Cohen's d = 1.62, 95% CI 0.95-2.27).Conclusion: Most participants showed a reduction in symptoms following the start of the online EMDR. Furthermore, at the group level there was a significant and clinically relevant reduction in symptoms over time. This provides preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of online EMDR treatment.

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PubMed2026

A profile of deaths in children at the Diepkloof Forensic Pathology Services mortuary in Gauteng, South Africa from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020.

This retrospective study was conducted to address the scarcity of knowledge regarding unnatural child deaths in South Africa. This was done by analysing cases admitted to the Diepkloof Forensic Pathology Services mortuary between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020. Data from FPS death registers and FPS case files were used to profile: (1) the incidence, causes and manner of death, circumstances of death, and ancillary investigations performed at autopsy; and (2) to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trauma-related child deaths. Of 4 704 decedents, 535 (11.4%) were children, predominantly male (55.5%) and Black (94.8%). Accidental deaths were the most common manner of death (42.6%), primarily due to road traffic accidents, burns, and aspiration. Homicides accounted for 6.5% of all deaths in children, most frequently involving sharp force or gunshot injuries. Cranio-cerebral injuries predominated in trauma-related deaths. In 2020, compared to preceding years, with the implementation of the COVID-19 restrictions, there was a decrease in trauma-related child fatalities. These findings suggest that many child deaths are potentially preventable through government implementation of improved safety interventions and community education.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Repeated scoring with the adult appendicitis score improves the sensitivity and the specificity of appendicitis diagnosis in patients with early equivocal signs of appendicitis: a secondary analysis.

PURPOSE: The utilization of computed tomography in the early stage of acute appendicitis may result in overdiagnosis and unnecessarily expose patients to ionising radiation. The Adult Appendicitis Score (AAS) can be used to select patients for imaging. Observation and re-scoring in the DIAMOND trial reduced the need for imaging. Now, we wanted to determine if the change in AAS (∆AAS) can serve as a diagnostic tool to select patients for imaging even more precisely. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with early equivocal appendicitis participated in the observation arm of the DIAMOND trial. The data for these patients were reanalysed, and ∆AAS during the observation was calculated. The baseline AAS, final AAS, and the change in C-reactive protein (∆CRP) were selected as reference standards. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients with complete data were included in the analysis. The AUROC (Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic) values are as follows: ∆AAS, 0.932 (95% CI 0.868-0.996); baseline AAS, 0.629 (95% CI 0.498-0.760); final AAS, 0.936 (95% CI 0.886-0.987); and ∆CRP, 0.796 (95% CI 0.696-0.897). Using receiver operating characteristic curves, we established the thresholds for low (AAS ≤ -2), intermediate (AAS -1 to 0), and high (AAS ≥ 1) probability of appendicitis. The negative predictive value for the low-probability group and the positive predictive value for the high-probability group concerning acute appendicitis were 97% and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients with equivocal signs of appendicitis may benefit from short observation and the calculation of ∆AAS to reduce overdiagnosis and exposure to excessive imaging. REGISTRATION: The DIAMOND trial was officially registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02742402) on April 13, 2016.

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PubMed2025

The Association Between Child Maltreatment and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The association between child maltreatment (CM) and quality of life (QoL) has been widely examined in the past decade. In this study, we estimated the association between CM and QoL using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Articles were searched up to May 15, 2024, in both English databases (Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO & PsycArticles, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Scopus) and Chinese databases (CNKI, Weipu, and Wanfang). The meta-analysis was performed by a random-effects model, using 43 studies comprising 130,884 participants. This study demonstrated that general CM had an adverse impact on QoL and its sub-dimensions, including physical, mental, psychosocial, and environmental QoL. Further analysis showed that the subtypes of CM also had negative impacts on the dimensions of QoL, except for mental QoL. Emotional maltreatment had stronger negative associations with QoL than other subtypes of CM, while neglect received relatively less attention. In addition, the association between CM and QoL was moderated by region, gender ratio, and measurement methods. The findings of this study suggest that CM is negatively associated with QoL. Future studies need to investigate the impact of neglect on QoL and develop tailored programs to improve the QoL of people who have suffered from CM.

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PubMed2026

Comprehensive analysis of mRNA-microRNA-lncRNA expression profiles in post-traumatic elbow heterotopic ossification using RNA sequencing and experimental validation.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to profile the molecular signatures of post-traumatic elbow heterotopic ossification (HO) to identify key regulators and potential therapeutic targets. METHODS: Total RNA from post-traumatic elbow HO tissues (n=4) and normal bone tissues (n=6) was subjected to high-throughput sequencing to identify differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs), microRNAs (DEMs), and lncRNAs (DELs). Bioinformatics analyses included Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, protein-protein interaction network construction, and transcription factor (TF)-microRNA-mRNA network analysis. The expression trends of four most upregulated and four most downregulated DEGs were validated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: We identified 2,138 DEGs, 40 DEMs, and 905 DELs. DEGs were significantly enriched in biological process "bone mineralization," cellular component "plasma membrane," molecular function "integrin binding," and pathways including PI3K-Akt, NF-κB, JAK-STAT, and TNF signaling pathways. Hub genes with high connectivity included MMP9, IL6, MMP3, CTSK, and BGLAP. Integrated network analysis highlighted the transcription factor JUN and key microRNAs (hsa-miR-124-3p, hsa-miR-548c-3p, and hsa-miR-135b). The qRT-PCR results confirmed the expression trends of selected DEGs. CONCLUSIONS: This study, for the first time, profiled the differentially expressed mRNAs, microRNAs, and lncRNAs in post-traumatic elbow HO using high-throughput RNA sequencing. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of HO following elbow trauma. The identified hub genes (MMP9, IL6, MMP3, CTSK, and BGLAP), key TF (JUN), and key microRNAs (hsa-miR-124-3p, hsa-miR-548c-3p, and hsa-miR-135b) may serve as potential therapeutic targets for preventing and treating post-traumatic elbow HO.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Online Risk Behavior in Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

Identifying and categorizing online risk behaviors is crucial for assessing their impact on adolescents. Despite extensive research, previous studies have not provided a clear classification of these behaviors. This systematic review synthesizes the quantitative literature on adolescent online risk behaviors from the inception of research to September 2023, aiming to: (a) offer a comprehensive overview of the types of online risk behaviors and the specific actions encompassed within each category among adolescents; (b) summarize the adverse outcomes associated with these behaviors; and (c) discuss the implications and future research directions. Utilizing key terms, this study sourced studies from four electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE), ultimately including 22 English-language quantitative studies. The review reveals that online risk behaviors are primarily categorized into content risk behaviors, contact risk behaviors, and conduct risk behaviors. Adolescents engaging in these behaviors are at an increased risk of experiencing physical health issues, mental health problems, externalizing behaviors, and even self-harm and suicidal thoughts or actions. Further research is needed to develop and validate an online risk behavior scale and conduct longitudinal and experimental studies to establish causal relationships and examine the long-term effects of these behaviors on adolescent well-being. The review concludes with implications for future research and potential prevention, intervention, and policy strategies to mitigate online risk behaviors in adolescents.

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PubMed2026

Fractional laser therapy versus microneedling for non-acne scars and scar-like dermal fibrotic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Scarring caused by trauma, burns, surgery, and other dermal fibrotic conditions can lead to functional limitation and cosmetic distress. The comparative effectiveness of fractional laser therapy and microneedling for non-acne scars remains uncertain. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing fractional laser therapy with microneedling for non-acne scars and scar-like dermal fibrotic lesions. Following a PROSPERO-registered protocol and PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CNKI from inception to May 2026 without language restrictions. Parallel-group and split-body randomized trials were eligible. Random-effects models were used to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs) for continuous outcomes and odds ratios (ORs) for dichotomous outcomes. RESULTS: Nine randomized controlled trials were included. Fractional laser therapy showed a statistically significant advantage over microneedling in scar scores (SMD = -0.99, 95% CI [-1.83, -0.15], P = 0.02) and collagen fiber regeneration (SMD = -2.14, 95% CI [-3.57, -0.72], P = 0.03). No statistically significant differences were found between the two interventions for elastic fiber improvement, epidermal thickness, or adverse events. Subgroup analyses did not show clear or consistent significant differences according to laser type, including comparisons between traditional and non-traditional fractional lasers and between CO₂ and non-CO₂ fractional laser systems. Substantial heterogeneity was observed across several outcomes, indicating considerable between-study variability. CONCLUSION: Based on currently available randomized evidence, fractional laser therapy may provide superior improvement in overall scar severity and collagen fiber regeneration compared with microneedling for non-acne scars and scar-like dermal fibrotic lesions. However, no clear differences were observed for elastic fiber improvement, epidermal thickness, or adverse-event incidence. Given the substantial heterogeneity, limited sample sizes, and possible reporting bias, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Further large, standardized trials with longer follow-up are needed.

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PubMed2025

Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Against Politically Active Women: A Systematic Review of Psychological and Political Consequences and Women's Coping Behaviors.

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence presents critical challenges for politically active women, whose professional roles often expose them to elevated levels of online abuse with far-reaching impacts on their emotional well-being, professional engagement, and participation in public life. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 48 studies employing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research to examine the psychological and political consequences and coping mechanisms associated with online harassment. Eighty-one percent of the included studies (39/48) report psychological distress, anxiety, and fear among targeted women, with 31% of the studies (15/48) identifying online harassment as a trigger for (re-) traumatization. The political consequences are equally significant, with 62% of the studies (30/48) documenting modifications in political messaging, 39% (19/48) noting reduced engagement with online platforms, and 29% (14/48) showing that women abandon their online presence altogether. Additionally, 20% (10/48) of the studies report cases of women withdrawing from their political roles. In terms of coping strategies, 66% (32/48) report women blocking or muting harassers, while 37% (18/48) document women reporting abuse to authorities or platforms. This study highlights the pervasive impact of technology-facilitated violence on women's emotional well-being, and their political participation and underscores its broader implications for democratic discourse and social equity.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Defining Gaslighting in Gender-Based Violence: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review.

In both public and academic discourse, gaslighting has gained increased attention, especially regarding psychological abuse, power imbalance, and gender-based violence (GBV). However, the term gaslighting is often inconsistently defined and conflated with broader forms of manipulation. It is also largely examined in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV), which ignores its occurrence in other forms of GBV. The present study presents a systematic review that synthesizes interdisciplinary academic literature to create a comprehensive framework of gaslighting. This framework includes the specific tactics that are used by perpetrators of gaslighting, the social-psychological outcomes experienced by survivors, and the role of systemic inequalities and social power dynamics. A search across multiple databases identified 96 records that discussed gaslighting in relation to GBV. Thematic analysis revealed a two-part framework for understanding gaslighting: (a) gaslighting tactics, which were categorized into cognitive and perceptual manipulation, emotional and psychological abuse, power dynamics and control, and additional forms of manipulation and (b) survivor outcomes, including disruptions to perception and memory, emotional distress, social isolation, and resistance strategies. The findings show that gaslighting is more than just an interpersonal act; it is sustained within social structures, where perpetrators use identity factors and forms of marginalization to exploit survivors. Overall, this review presents a comprehensive definition of gaslighting that illustrates its epistemic nature and its intersection with systemic oppression. It is suggested that future research studies gaslighting in GBV contexts beyond IPV, while practice and policy efforts should seek to enhance recognition and support for survivors.

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PubMed2025

Understanding Dynamics: A Systematic Review of the Attitudes, Knowledge, and Competencies of European Frontline Professionals Toward Domestic Abuse.

There remains a paucity of European research on attitudes and responses to domestic abuse from frontline workers and professionals who regularly encounter domestic abuse or engage with domestic abuse legislation. This systematic review synthesized qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method peer-reviewed studies that explored professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and competencies related to domestic abuse. The professionals included medical staff (doctors, nurses, midwives), social care professionals, police officers, and criminal justice practitioners. The review was conducted on current European studies published between 2014 and 2025 and was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Databases consulted included APA PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Sociological Abstracts, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Social Services Abstracts, and Google Scholar. Full-text review was performed on 273 articles, of which 36 were deemed appropriate for inclusion. The review included 8 multi-country studies spanning the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, and Wales), and 28 single-country studies conducted in England, Sweden, Turkey, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Wales, Bosnia, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, and Hungary. A narrative and thematic synthesis categorized professional attitudes toward domestic abuse into four emergent themes: attitudes toward engagement and responsibility, attitudes toward victims, knowledge and understanding of domestic abuse, and attitudes as predictors of professional practice. This review addresses a dearth of research and provides recommendations for promoting proactive practice among professionals most likely to receive disclosures of abuse.

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PubMed2026

Five-year outcomes in a randomised controlled trial of prolonged exposure therapy and supportive counselling for post-traumatic stress disorder in adolescents: a task-shifted intervention.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive-behavioural therapies with a trauma focus are effective in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychological distress in adolescents. Long-term follow-up data on adolescents treated for PTSD remain scarce, with few studies extending beyond 12 months after treatment completion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the maintenance of treatment gains in a comparative study of effectiveness of PE-A and SC up to 60 months post-treatment. METHOD: Sixty-three adolescents diagnosed with PTSD were randomly assigned to either treatment, provided by newly trained and supervised non-specialist health workers. The primary outcome measure was PTSD symptom severity, as independently assessed on the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS). We report on the 60-month post-treatment follow-up, building on post-treatment, 3-month, 6-month, 12-month and 24-month post-treatment data that have been published previously. RESULTS: Participants in both treatment groups maintained a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms up to 60-months post-treatment (F (7, 343) = 2.86, p < .01). Participants receiving prolonged exposure experienced greater improvement on the CPSS at all follow-up assessment timepoints, except for the 60-month FU (p = .28; g = 0.33). CONCLUSION: Adolescents with PTSD continued to maintain treatment gains up to 60-months post-treatment. These data, along with findings from the original RCT, indicate that a brief treatment protocol (averaging 9 sessions of PE-A or SC) in a LMIC, task-shifted to be delivered by nurses without prior psychotherapy experience, led to lasting improvements in PTSD and comorbid symptoms for up to five years. The sustained benefits and improved functioning over the first few years post-treatment support expanding both treatments, especially PE-A, in community settings.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions among adolescents and young adults in North America: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions are common among adolescents and young adults and represent an important clinical and public health concern in North America. Trauma exposure, psychiatric symptoms, and social adversity frequently co-occur with substance-related problems in this population. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on prevalence patterns, associated clinical and psychosocial factors, and care-related implications described in the literature on adolescents and young adults with substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions. METHODS: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42024581685). A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies examined adolescents and young adults (≤ 25 years) in North America. A combination of subject headings, keywords, and synonyms for the concepts "adolescents," "young adults," "substance use disorders," and "co-occurring mental health conditions" was used. Of 1,882 records identified, 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Given the heterogeneity of the literature, findings were synthesized narratively. RESULTS: The included studies showed heterogeneity in population, setting, denominator, and ascertainment method. Across the literature, depressive, anxiety-related, trauma-related, and externalizing mental health presentations were frequently reported alongside substance-related problems in adolescents and young adults. Trauma exposure, adverse childhood experiences, and broader social adversity were also commonly reported in association with substance-related problems across studies. Care-related implications were more limited and were largely derived as future directions mentioned across studies rather than direct evaluations of youth-specific service models. CONCLUSION: Co-occurring mental health and substance-related problems were frequently reported among adolescents and young adults in high-risk and service-engaged populations in North America. Trauma and social adversity were prominent across the reviewed literature, while direct evidence for evaluated, integrated, youth-specific care models remains limited. These findings support the relevance of developmentally appropriate, integrated, and trauma-informed approaches to care and highlight the need for further research directly evaluating improved service delivery models for this population. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

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PubMed2025

Evaluation of Prevalence of Obstetric Violence and its Associated Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Obstetric violence (OV) begins with a woman's initial contact with a health institution and can persist throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. Despite this, previous research has largely focused on the labor process. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of OV experienced by women during pregnancy, labor, or the postpartum period. We conducted systematic searches in five electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL Ultimate, MEDLINE Ultimate, and OVID) between April 27 and August 7, 2024. Studies were included if they involved women aged 18 and above who experienced mistreatment, abuse, disrespect, or OV during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period; employed quantitative cohort, descriptive, or cross-sectional designs; were written in English; reported the prevalence of OV and/or associated factors; and were published between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2023. Data synthesis involved meta-analysis, meta-regression, and narrative synthesis methods. A total of 41 studies, including 43,977 participants from 17 countries, were included. The meta-analysis revealed that the pooled prevalence of OV was 61.7% (95% CI [0.549, 0.680]; I²: 99.258%). The meta-regression analysis showed that variables such as the country of study, income level of countries, study setting, study design, and risk of bias had statistically significant effects on OV. In addition, 40 risk factors and 14 protective factors were identified through narrative synthesis. This highlights the high prevalence of OV and the need to address the associated factors.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Patient Ethnicity and Staff Use of Restraints and Restrictive Practice in Inpatient Psychiatric Services: A Systematic Review.

Restrictive practices such as restraints, seclusion, and forced medication are only intended to be used when the threat is at a level whereby an individual is likely to inflict harm on themselves or another individual. Demographic variations, including ethnicity, may be associated with the use of these practices. However, there is no systematic review on patient ethnicity specifically. The review therefore aimed to establish whether a patient's ethnic identity was associated with staff use of restrictive practices in inpatient psychiatric services. The systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Four databases were searched (PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, and CINAHL). Methodological quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Checklists. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. A variety of ethnicities were identified within the studies. These were driven by the location of the study. Seclusion (14 studies), forced medication (4), and physical restraint (4) were explored. There were mixed findings, with ethnicity shown to predict restrictive practices in studies having larger participant numbers, longer follow-up periods and less methodological bias. It remains unclear whether ethnicity is a genuinely independent predictor of restraint and coercive practices or interacts with other risk factors. Staff working in inpatient settings should be aware of how unconscious biases might affect clinical practice. Recruiting a diverse workforce from minority ethnic groups into inpatient psychiatric services would be a positive step. However, support for these staff members is important, and all staff should be equipped to respond to ethnic diversity. Future research should explore beyond patient-level factors.

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PubMed2026

Does impulsivity predict treatment outcomes in PTSD with borderline personality disorder features? Results from a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Trauma-focused psychotherapies are first-line treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, a substantial proportion of clients do not respond adequately or drop out of therapy prematurely. This has sparked interest in identifying individual-level predictors of treatment outcomes, including improvement in PTSD severity and dropout. Impulsivity may be a predictor because it may interfere with key therapeutic processes, such as cognitive restructuring and emotional processing. Consequently, we present a hypothesis-driven secondary analysis of a 15-month randomized clinical trial comparing Dialectical Behavior Therapy for PTSD (DBT-PTSD) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in women with childhood abuse-related PTSD and borderline personality disorder features to test whether impulsivity, assessed at baseline, predicts PTSD improvement and dropout. We further explore whether the dimensions of impulsivity (non-planning, attentional impulsivity, and motor impulsivity) differentially affect the outcomes in DBT-PTSD vs. CPT. METHODS: A total of 193 cis women with PTSD related to childhood abuse and borderline personality disorder features were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-10). Separate probit models and general linear models were applied to predict dropout and pre-to-post changes in PTSD severity (ΔCAPS) from total impulsivity and subscale scores, i.e. non-planning, attentional and motor impulsivity. RESULTS: Overall, dropout rates were higher for participants with higher baseline impulsivity scores (p = 0.049), particularly for those with higher non-planning impulsivity (p = 0.012). In participants randomized to CPT improvement in PTSD symptom severity (ΔCAPS) was negatively related to baseline total impulsivity (p = 0.021). In participants randomized to DBT-PTSD this relation was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that impulsivity may predict treatment outcomes. Specifically, patients with elevated impulsivity may be less likely to respond adequately to CPT. If replicated, these findings have implications for personalization of treatment.

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PubMed2025

Instruments to Assess Bidirectional Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue that affects individuals, families, and society in profound ways. Over the years, research has often shown that such IPV is predominantly one-sided, with men as perpetrators and women as victims. However, more recent studies have revealed that IPV is frequently bidirectional, with both partners potentially being victims, perpetrators, or both. Despite this growing awareness, little is known about the tools used to assess bidirectional violence (BV). This systematic review aims to synthesize the published scientific literature on the instruments used to assess bidirectional IPV among adult men and women. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a search was conducted across databases such as PubMed, B-on, Web of Science, and Scielo. Fifty studies published between 2012 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were conducted with community samples recruited through online questionnaires. The Conflict Tactics Scale emerged as the most used instrument for evaluating BV, demonstrating robust psychometric properties. BV prevalence rates ranged from 2% to 98.4% and remained generally consistent across different instruments, except in the case of male reports. However, the limited number of studies on interpartner agreements and the reliance on single-partner self-reports pose challenges to the accuracy of these estimates. While this systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the instruments used to assess BV, it underscores the need for future research to develop more precise, context-sensitive tools, that incorporate reports from both partners to improve the accuracy of BV assessment.

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