To assess the nutritional status and depression of the elderly forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMN) in Bangladesh and determine the associated factors of geriatric depression (GD).

This was a community-based, cross-sectional study among elderly FDMN. The Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA@-SF) and Geriatric Depression Scale Short-Form (GDS-15 SF) were used to determine malnutrition and GD, respectively.

The study was conducted between November 2021 and March 2022 in Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

The study participants were elderly FDMN aged ≥ 60 years (n 430).

The mean age and BMI were 71·7(±7·8) years and 21·94(±2·6) kg/m2, respectively. There was a high prevalence of self-reported diabetes mellitus (32·1 %), hypertension (26·7 %), hypotension (20 %), skin diseases (28·4 %) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (16·5 %). The prevalence of malnutrition was 25·3 %, and another 29·1 % were at risk. The prevalence of GD was 57·9 %, and co-occurrences of GD and malnutrition were seen in 17·5 % of participants. GD was significantly higher among elderly people with malnutrition (adjusted OR, AOR = 1·71, 95 % CI: 1·01, 2·89). FDMN aged ≥ 80 years were at higher risk of GD (AOR = 1·84, 95 % CI: 1·01, 3·37), and having fewer than five members in the household was an independent predictor of GD. Diabetes mellitus (AOR = 1·95, 95 % CI: 1·24, 3·08) and hypotension (AOR = 2·17, 95 % CI: 1·25, 2·78) were also significantly associated with an increased risk of GD.

A high prevalence of GD and malnutrition was observed among elderly FDMN in Bangladesh. The agencies working in Cox’s Bazar should focus on geriatric malnutrition and GD for the improvement of the health situation of FDMN in Bangladesh.

The bi-directional relationship between mental and physical illness is well established. Therefore, in order to lower the already high mortality rates associated with psychiatric disorders, physical health issues must be closely monitored in this population [1,2]. A recent Lancet commission highlights emerging strategies and recommendations for improvement of physical health outcomes in patients with chronic mental disorders. These strategies involve better integration of physical and mental health care, combined with broader implementation of lifestyle interventions to reduce elevated cardiometabolic risk and attenuate medication side-effects [3].

To assess psychiatrists’ confidence levels in physical healthcare competencies; to explore whether confidence was related to learning opportunities.

Physical healthcare learning objectives were extracted from the Irish College of Psychiatrists’ training curriculum. An electronic questionnaire was sent to 50 psychiatrists in one Irish healthcare region with a catchment area of c. 450,000. Participants had to rate confidence levels for each competency on a five-point Likert scale and the availability of learning opportunities for attaining each competency.

66% response rate was achieved. A majority reported confidence in cardiovascular examination, interpreting blood results and evaluating comorbidities. A minority reported confidence in interpreting imaging, electrocardiograms and recognising medical emergencies. This corresponds to a relative paucity of learning opportunities.

Clinical implication Programmes for trainee doctors and CME opportunities for consultant psychiatrists would benefit from an emphasis on physical health examination and modules on interpreting investigations and the recognition of medical emergencies.

The WHO warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could have psychiatric consequences such as elevated levels depression, increased alcohol and drug use, and other behaviours that exert a strong influence on health. In Latvia a state of emergency was announced on March 12th, was extended twice and lifted on June 10th.

To estimate the prevalence of depression and distress in the general population of Latvia and association with substance use during the state of emergency.

The nationwide representative online study in the general population of Latvia was conducted in July 2020 during three week period. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to determine the presence of distress/depression. The structured questionnaire to determine psychoactive substance use was applied. Proportions of independent variables across the study groups were compared using Chi-square test.

The study sample included 2608 respondents. The prevalence of depression and distress was estimated at 5.7% (95%CI 4.92 – 6.71) and 13.5% (95%CI 6.85 – 8.91), respectively. Patients with depression (28% vs. 7.4%, p <0.001) and distress (30.9% vs. 7.4% p <0.05) smoked more tobacco compared to respondents without distress/depression. Those with depression or distress were significantly more likely to consume more alcohol during the emergency state than people without depression or distress (14.0% and 17.7% vs. 6.6%, p <0.001). The changes in the use of other psychoactive substances in those who had depression or distress were not statistically significant.

Preparing support systems to mitigate mental health consequences is needed urgently.

Fatigue syndromes (FSs) affect large numbers of individuals, yet evidence from epidemiological studies on adverse outcomes, such as premature death, is limited.

Cohort study involving 385 general practices in England that contributed to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) with linked inpatient Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and Office for National Statistics (ONS) cause of death information. A total of 10 477 patients aged 15 years and above, diagnosed with a FS during 2000–2014, were individually matched with up to 20 comparator patients without a history of having a FS. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were estimated to compare the FS and comparison cohorts on clinical characteristics. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for subsequent adverse outcomes were estimated from stratified Cox regression models.

Among patients diagnosed with FSs, we found elevated baseline prevalence of: any psychiatric illness (PR 1.77; 95% CI 1.72–1.82), anxiety disorders (PR 1.92; 1.85–1.99), depression (PR 1.89; 1.83–1.96), psychotropic prescriptions (PR 1.68; 1.64–1.72) and comorbid physical illness (PR 1.28; 1.23–1.32). We found no significant differences in risks for: all-cause mortality (HR 0.99; 0.91–1.09), natural death (HR 0.99; 0.90–1.09), unnatural death (HR 1.00; 0.59–1.72) or suicide (HR 1.68; 0.78–3.63). We did, however, observe a significantly elevated non-fatal self-harm risk: HR 1.83; 1.56–2.15.

The absence of elevated premature mortality risk is reassuring. The raised prevalence of mental illness and increased non-fatal self-harm risk indicate a need for enhanced assessment and management of psychopathology associated with fatigue syndromes.