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J Med Internet Res 2020 Jul 6;22(7):e16228. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Background: The prevalence of mental health disorders continues to rise, with almost 4% of the world population having an anxiety disorder and almost 3.5% having depression in 2017. Despite the high prevalence, only one-third of people with depression or anxiety receive treatment. Read More

Ter Arkh 2020 Apr 27;92(2):81-84. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Practical Center.

The patient E., aged 39, was described with a severe form of the irritable bowel syndrome that developed after the stress. In addition to the clinical manifestations of IBS, the patient got the somatoform disorders, which manifested itself with a large number of extraintestinal symptoms and led to a disability. Read More

Front Psychiatry 2020 11;11:542. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.

Background: Research on the effectiveness of inpatient psychotherapy for migrant patients predominantly concludes that they have greater symptom severity at admission and benefit less from psychotherapy. This study aims to compare symptom severity and effects of psychotherapy regarding depression, somatoform disorders, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of patients with and without migratory background (MB).

Methods: Symptom severity of 263 patients (T0, pretreatment) and 256 patients (T1, posttreatment) was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire somatization module (PHQ-15), depression module (PHQ-9), and general anxiety disorder module (GAD-7), and the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5). Read More

Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak 2020 Apr;31(2):80-87

Department of Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Objectives: The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among young adults is different from that among younger or older age groups because of biological and environmental changes. The purpose of this study was to analyze the diagnostic distribution of psychiatric disorders in 19-30-year-old Koreans based on their age and gender using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).

Methods: From the 2011 medical claims sample data of NHIS of 1,375,842 people, we extracted the data of 221,038 people aged 19-30 years, including 106,232 (48. Read More

Asian J Psychiatr 2020 Jun 15;53:102228. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Medical Education, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Despite the continuing interests in political, economic, and public health issues of North Korea, little is known about mental health problems in North Korea. To gain a glimpse into this area of interest, we aimed to explore the characteristics of mental health research in North Korea and to identify the emphasis therein. In this context, four North Korean medical journals were selected from the Information Center on North Korea, with publication dates 2006-2017 (inclusive). Read More

Qual Life Res 2020 Jun 16. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.

Purpose: Life satisfaction refers to a cognitive and global evaluation of the quality of one's life as a whole. The arguably most often used measure of life satisfaction is the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Persons with mental disorders generally report lower SWLS scores than healthy controls, yet there is a lack of studies that have compared different diagnostic groups, tested measurement invariance of the SWLS across these groups, and examined effects of treatment on life satisfaction. Read More

Clin Psychol Psychother 2020 Jun 15. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK.

Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) has become an increasingly recognized and used treatment, though primarily used to target psychological and physical wellbeing in individuals with physical, medical, or neurological illnesses. To contribute to the relative lack of literature within the field of DMT for clinical mental health disorders, using a narrative synthesis, we review the scope of recent, controlled studies of DMT in samples with different psychiatric disorders including depression, schizophrenia, autism, and somatoform disorder. A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Science Direct, World of Science, and Clinicaltrials. Read More

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2020 May 30;58(225):318-323. Epub 2020 May 30.

Department of Psychiatry, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal.

Introduction: Dramatic growth of the aging population resulted in an increased number of mental disorders and such data are limited in Nepal. The objective is to find out the psychiatric morbidities of elderly out-patients attending Baglung, Kusma, Walling, and Dumre out-reach clinics in Gandaki Province of Nepal.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 392 patients attending out-reach clinics of Baglung, Kusma, Walling, and Dumre of Gandaki Province for one year with the convenient sampling method. Read More

Orv Hetil 2020 06;161(25):1050-1058

Általános Orvostudományi Kar, Klinikai Pszichológia Tanszék,Semmelweis Egyetem Budapest, Üllői út 78., 1083.

Introduction: About 25-30% of patients present themselves in general practice and specialized healthcare with medically unexplained somatic symptoms. The prevalence of these symptoms is the highest among the elderly, children and adolescents. Approximately 20% of patients in primary care and 47% of them in specialized clinics are children between the age of 7-12 who seem to have somatic symptom disorder (SSD). Read More

J Anxiety Disord 2020 06 20;73:102239. Epub 2020 May 20.

Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Experimental Psychopathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.

According to cognitive-behavioral models, traits, triggering events, cognitions, and adverse behaviors play a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of health anxiety. During virus outbreaks, anxiety is widespread. However, the role of trait health anxiety, cyberchondria, and coping in the context of virus anxiety during the current COVID-19 pandemic has not yet been studied. Read More

PLoS One 2020 3;15(6):e0233153. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Institute of Psychology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Brunswick, Germany.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), together with its subtype muscle dysmorphia (MD), has been relocated from the Somatoform Disorders category in the DSM-IV to the newly created Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders category in the DSM-5. Both categorizations have been criticized, and an empirically derived classification of BDD is lacking. A community sample of N = 736 participants completed an online survey assessing different psychopathologies. Read More

Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique 2020 May 28. Epub 2020 May 28.

Service de psychiatrie, faculté de médecine et de pharmacie, laboratoire de neurosciences, université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah. Fès, CHU Hassan II de Fès, BP. 1893, Km 2200, route de Sidi-Hrazem, Fès, Maroc.

Aim: Psychiatric disorders represent a huge burden of disease worldwide. Significant gaps in their diagnosis and treatment remain. In Morocco, an observed shortage of psychiatrists would logically call for their collaboration with family physicians. Read More

BMJ Mil Health 2020 May 30. Epub 2020 May 30.

5 Armoured Medical Regiment, British Army, Catterick Garrison, UK

Introduction: This paper presents the burden of mental health cases throughout UK military exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 (SS3), a low-tempo armoured brigade exercise in Oman from June to November 2018, and aims to discuss ways that mental health may be better managed on future large exercises.

Methods: A retrospective review of all attendances at army medical facilities and relevant computerised medical records was undertaken.

Results: 14 mental health cases were identified, which required 51 follow-up presentations throughout the duration of SS3. Read More

Asian J Psychiatr 2020 May 18;53:102163. Epub 2020 May 18.

Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.

The present study aimed to compare the symptom profile, psychological correlates, public stigma, quality of life and disability of patients with somatic symptom disorder attending the psychiatric outpatient services and those who refuse to attend the psychiatry outpatient services. For this, patients were recruited from both Psychiatry outpatient services (N = 62) and Rheumatology outpatient services (N = 41). Participants were assessed on Screening for Somatoform Disorders Instrument, Beck's Depression Inventory, Somatosensory Amplification Scale, Whitley Index, Twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale-Hindi version, Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill Scale, World Health Organization-Quality of Life Scale-BREF version (Hindi) and Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale. Read More

Praxis (Bern 1994) 2020 ;109(7):499-503

Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie und Handchirurgie, Universitätsspital Zürich.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder - Balance between Beauty Mania and Illness The body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) belongs to the somatoform disorders and is characterized by an excessive concern about a slight or not apparent defect in appearance. Typical areas of concern include the face, for example the skin texture or form and symmetry of a particular feature. Besides behavioral pecularities such as excessive checking of the defect in a mirror, the preoccupation causes clinically significant distress and impairment in social functioning. Read More

Eur Psychiatry 2020 May 20;63(1):e56. Epub 2020 May 20.

University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Interdisciplinary Center for Psychopathology of Emotion Regulation (ICPE), Groningen, The Netherlands.

Background.: Empirical studies on the clinical characteristics of older persons with medically unexplained symptoms are limited to uncontrolled pilot studies. Therefore, we aim to examine the psychiatric characteristics of older patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) compared to older patients with medically explained symptoms (MES), also across healthcare settings. Read More

Psychother Psychosom 2020 May 19:1-8. Epub 2020 May 19.

Centre for Emotions and Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Introduction: Functionalsomatic disorders (FSD) are common and costly, thereby driving the need for the development of effective brief treatment options. Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) is one candidate treatment method.

Objective: To review and meta-analyze, where possible, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of STPP for FSD. Read More

Int J Impot Res 2020 May 7. Epub 2020 May 7.

Pain Unit, Department of Health of Alicante-General Hospital, Alicante, Spain.

The prevalence of personality disorders (PDs) and sexual dysfunction in chronic pain patients is higher than in general population. Our main objective was to analyse the influence of PD in patients with erectile dysfunction and chronic non-cancer pain and their response to andrological treatment. One-hundred one patients were included along 30 months. Read More

Hautarzt 2020 Jul;71(7):506-510

Sektion für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinik für Psychische Gesundheit, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Gebäude A9, 48149, Münster, Deutschland.

Background: Pruritus is a frequent symptom in the general population and in clinics.

Objective: This article gives an overview on psychological and psychosomatic aspects of chronic pruritus and tools for their diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: This is a review. Read More

Br J Psychiatry 2020 Mar;216(3):138-143

Researcher and Lecturer, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Universitaetskliniken des Saarlandes; and Head, Division of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Universitaetskliniken des Saarlandes, Germany.

Background: Survivors of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) captivity are at high risk of developing mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Aims: This study looks at the correlation between sexual abuse, shame, somatoform or bodily distress disorders, and dissociative seizures (psychogenic non-epileptic seizures).

Method: The psychological effects of traumatic events and dissociative seizure were assessed in Yazidi women who were held captive by ISIS in Northern Iraq between 2014 and 2018. Read More

Adv Mind Body Med 2020 Winter;34(1):17-21

Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) is a common, yet neglected disease with a prevalence of around 25% in primary care setting. These patients present with multiple physical and psychological symptoms, without an underlying diagnosis, hampering their functional and mental wellbeing. The management of these undiagnosed symptoms through conventional treatment has not been encouraging. Read More

Int Orthop 2020 Jul 7;44(7):1271-1280. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.

Purpose: Up to 20% of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients remain dissatisfied, with chronic pain as the most frequently named cause. A pilot study was conducted to assess the progression of peri-operative pain intensity and the parallel development of different psychological factors and coping strategies, as well as correlations indicating potential inter-relationships.

Methods: Pain, psychological impairment [FESV BE], and coping strategies [FESV BW] were assessed before and after TKA [days - 5 to 31]. Read More

J Med Internet Res 2020 04 14;22(4):e18908. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

The Internet Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xia'men University, Xia'men City, China.

Background: During the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), internet hospitals in China were engaged with epidemic prevention and control, offering epidemic-related online services and medical support to the public.

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the role of internet hospitals during the prevention and control of the COVID-19 outbreak in China.

Methods: Online epidemic-related consultations from multicenter internet hospitals in China during the COVID-19 epidemic were collected. Read More

South Med J 2020 Apr;113(4):198-200

From the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.

Munchausen syndrome is a factitious disorder that is difficult to diagnose and treat. This article clarifies points for clinical recognition and management of patients with this condition. Patients with this condition often are dramatic and provide false and/or exaggerated symptoms or information. Read More

Rev Fac Cien Med Univ Nac Cordoba 2020 03 17;77(1):24-32. Epub 2020 Mar 17.

Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas (IIPsi), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)..

Aim: The objective of this study was to know temporal, socio-demographic and diagnostic features of psychologically assisted patients at the General Emergency Service of the major hospital in Jujuy.

Methods: The study was transversal (01/20/2018 to 09/13/2018). Temporal, socio-demographic and diagnostic variables (according to ICD-10) were analyzed in 657 cases. Read More

Can J Psychiatry 2020 May 19;65(5):301-305. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

UBC Neuropsychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Dtsch Arztebl Int 2020 02;116(8):134-135

Dtsch Arztebl Int 2020 02;116(8):134

J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2020 Sep 2;68:101565. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Experimental Psychopathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.

Background And Objectives: According to cognitive-behavioral models, illness-related symptom evaluations and self-concepts play a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of medically unexplained somatic symptoms (MUS). However, illness-related cognitions related to MUS have rarely been studied in children/adolescents and their parents.

Methods: Seventy-eight children and adolescents (M = 14. Read More

Psychosomatics 2020 May - Jun;61(3):268-276. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is characterized by a persistent and distressing psychological reaction to somatic symptoms. In pain disorders, the preoccupation with physical symptoms is associated with poor long-term outcomes. SSD may therefore be of use to identify and help chronic pain patients with particular needs. Read More

Health Qual Life Outcomes 2020 Mar 6;18(1):61. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64a -, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.

Background: An ageing population worldwide needs to investigate quality of life (QoL) and level of functioning (LoF) in the elderly and its associated variables. We aimed to study the relationship between Quality of Life (QoL) and Level of Functioning (LoF) in an elderly population in Europe.

Method: As part of the Ment_Dis65+ European Project, 3142 community-dwelling adults aged 65-84 years in six countries were assessed by using the adaptation for the elderly of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI65+) to provide psychiatric diagnosis according to the International Classification of Diseases (10th edition) (ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders). Read More

Urologe A 2020 Mar;59(3):326-340

Institut für Geschichte Theorie und Ethik der Medizin, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.

The significance of electricity for medicine in the modern industrial age should not be underestimated. Particularly in connection with neurasthenia, electrotherapeutic approaches also experienced a boom for domestic use. Thus, electrotherapy reached urology just as it was becoming established as a medical specialty. Read More

BMC Med 2020 Mar 3;18(1):34. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.

Background: Functional somatic symptoms and disorders are common and complex phenomena involving both bodily and brain processes. They pose major challenges across medical specialties. These disorders are common and have significant impacts on patients' quality of life and healthcare costs. Read More

Eur Psychiatry 2020 Mar 2;63(1):e30. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Department of Social Medicine and Prevention, Institute of Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.

Background.: General population data on associations between mental disorders and total mortality are rare. The aim was to analyze whether the number of mental disorders, single substance use, mood, anxiety, somatoform or eating disorders during the lifetime and whether treatment utilization may predict time to death 20 years later in the general adult population. Read More

Psychol Trauma 2020 Feb 27. Epub 2020 Feb 27.

Center for Trauma Recovery.

Objective: Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) have been associated with increased somatic symptom expression. Sleep concerns have been associated with PTSS and somatic symptoms. Previous research suggests that sleep affects multiple domains of functioning including comorbid psychological and physical health concerns. Read More

Eur J Psychotraumatol 2020 13;11(1):1705599. Epub 2020 Jan 13.

Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.

: Two aetiology models for dissociative identity disorder (DID) have been proposed, namely a childhood Trauma Model and an iatrogenic or Fantasy model. A recent study indicated that sleep disturbances underlie dissociative symptomatology. : Our current study aims to test whether this finding can be replicated in an independent sample and to investigate if this finding still holds after correcting for childhood and adult traumatization. Read More

Int J Prosthodont 2020 Mar/Apr;33(2):155-159

Purpose: To assess the correlation between RDC/TMD Axis I and Axis II diagnoses and whether pain could mediate a possible correlation between these two variables.

Materials And Methods: Data of both RDC/TMD axes were collected from 737 consecutive patients who sought TMD advice at the University of Padova, Italy. A descriptive analysis was used to report the frequencies of Axis I and II diagnoses, and Spearman test was performed to assess the correlation between the axes. Read More

Psychiatry 2020 Feb 18:1-14. Epub 2020 Feb 18.

: Dissociation and trauma have a well-documented relationship, and dissociation is assumed to result from trauma exposure. If trauma generates dissociative psychopathology, it should be observed after exposure to disaster and be associated with disaster-related psychopathology. Few studies have focused specifically on dissociation as an outcome of disaster trauma. Read More

J Affect Disord 2020 Apr 3;266:534-539. Epub 2020 Feb 3.

Epidemiology, IQVIA, Main Airport Center, Unterschweinstiege 2-14, 60549 Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address:

Aim: The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to analyze the incidence of and factors associated with manic episodes and bipolar disorder in the decade following a depression diagnosis in patients from Germany.

Methods: This study included adults who were diagnosed with depression for the first time in one of 199 neuropsychiatric practices in Germany between 2007 and 2017 (index date). The cumulative incidence of a manic episode or bipolar disorder was estimated for up to 10 years after the index date using Kaplan-Meier curves. Read More

Indian J Psychiatry 2020 Jan 17;62(Suppl 2):S263-S271. Epub 2020 Jan 17.

Department of Psychiatry, King George Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Int J Eat Disord 2020 May 10;53(5):532-536. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.

Objective: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms appear frequently in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), but the associations between psychopathological, GI, and eating disorder (ED) symptoms remain unclear. This study aimed to determine the relationships of GI complaints with psychopathological measures, ED symptoms, and body mass index (BMI) in patients with AN.

Method: Thirty outpatients with AN aged >16 years were included. Read More

Internist (Berl) 2020 Mar;61(3):321-325

Innere Medizin, Stiftungsklinik Weißenhorn, Klinik der Kreisspitalstiftung, Weißenhorn, Deutschland.

A 32-year-old woman with maple syrup urine disease presented with recurring episodes with hypoglycaemia and cerebral seizures. In most cases a connection to the inborn metabolic disorder is assumed, resulting in symptomatic treatment. Due to these treatments invasive procedures are required. Read More

Eur J Clin Invest 2020 Mar 12;50(3):e13208. Epub 2020 Feb 12.

First Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Background: Patients with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) exhibit differential attentional mechanisms compared to healthy subjects. The exact nature of this differentiation is unclear. To this end, EEG (electrophysiological) responses to prepulse inhibition (PPI: reflecting attentional modulation) and prepulse facilitation (PPF: indicating orienting activation) were recorded and analysed. Read More

Plast Reconstr Surg 2020 Feb;145(2):468e-469e

Division of Plastic Surgery, Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Scottsdale, Ariz. Division of Plastic Surgery, Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla.

Phytother Res 2020 Jun 27;34(6):1436-1445. Epub 2020 Jan 27.

Medical Department, Max Zeller Söhne AG, Romanshorn, Switzerland.

Stress is an increasing problem that can result in various psychiatric and somatoform symptoms. Among others, benzodiazepines and valerian preparations are used to treat stress symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the prescription of a fixed herbal extract combination of valerian, lemon balm, passionflower, and butterbur (Ze 185) changes the prescription pattern of benzodiazepines in hospitalized psychiatric patients. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 01 21;17(3). Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany.

A high prevalence of mental distress, especially posttraumatic stress disorder, has been widely confirmed among refugees. In order to establish adequate interventions in psychotherapy, however, it must first be examined whether refugees have similar ideas and concepts of stress, trauma, and healing. This study, therefore, aimed to analyze the representations of trauma, self-reported complaints, indications of somatization, and coping strategies among a refugee population. Read More

Vertex 2019 May-Jun;XXX(145):213-219

Clínica psicosomática del Hospital zum heiligen Geist, Hospital Escuela de la Universidad de Frankfurt, Alemania. Asociación psicoanalítica Internacional. Academia Germano-China de Psicoterapia.

Psychosomatic Medicine in Germany is a very sophisticated and elaborated disciplin in the health care system. The system of psychosomatic care in Germany is organized from the basic care of the general practitioner to the integrated multimodal psychosomatic inpatient treatment. This development is due to a big growth of psychosomatic need of treatment in the society. Read More