No abstract

Greater IBD knowledge appears to be associated with the use of more adaptive coping strategies in patients with IBD, suggesting that providing disease-related patient education may enhance coping in this population. Future studies should explore the utility of formal disease-related patient education in improving these and other outcomes.

The goal of this study was to test the internal reliability of a Spanish translation of the CDI, (i.e., CDI-LA), a potentially useful screening instrument for Hispanic youngsters in their native language at a primary-care level. Self-reported symptoms of depression were assessed with the CDI-LA in a school sample of 205 Hispanic students. Girls and boys ranging from 8 to 15 years (mean age 11.5 +/- 1.9 years) were tested on a designated day. The CDI-LA mean score was 9.7 +/- 7.2. Eleven percent of the subjects scored higher than the instruments' cutoff score (CDI > or = 19), and were considered at risk of clinical depression. Females scored higher than males, and children 8-12 years of age (mean CDI-LA = 8.8, SD = 6.6) had significantly (t = -2.07, 203 df, p < 0.05) lower mean CDI-LA total scores compared to those ages 13 or older (mean CDI-LA = 11.0, SD = 7.9). The internal consistency reliability of the CDI-LA was similar to that found in English speaking populations. These results suggest that the general psychometric properties of our Spanish translation of the 10 and 27 item versions of the CDI appear to be adequate according to a Cronbach's coefficient alpha estimate of internal reliability and Spearman correlation coefficient split-half reliability.

Lin and Lu 1 reported their finding that men aged 25 to 44 years who live in urban areas are the most likely individuals to use charcoal burning to die by suicide. The finding is consistent with our research, reported below, comparing the characteristics of people with suicide attempts by charcoal burning and by drug overdose in Hong Kong, China.Method. Data on all people admitted to 2 hospitals of the New Territories East Cluster (Hong Kong, China) in 2004 because of charcoal-burning suicide attempt or drug overdose suicide attempt were collected from the records of a psychiatric consultation liaison team. Thirty-eight people with a charcoalburning suicide attempt and 94 people with a drug overdose suicide attempt were identified for comparison. The consultation liaison services of the 2 hospitals were provided by the same team under the same consultant's supervision. The data were cross-checked by 2 investigators (E.L., C.-M.L.). Suicide attempts that included both charcoal burning and drug overdose were classified as charcoal-burning suicide attempts with concomitant use of other suicide methods. The reason for the suicide attempt was determined from the case record by the 2 investigators.Results. The mean ± SD ages were 37 ± 10 years for the charcoal-burning group and 33 ± 10 years for the drug overdose group (p = .054). The male-to-female ratios were 1.2:1 for the charcoal-burning group and 1:3.9 for the drug overdose group (p < .001). Eighteen people (47%) in the charcoalburning group and 2 people (2%) in the drug overdose group had concomitant use of other suicide methods (p < .001).Nine people (24%) in the charcoal-burning group and 5 people (5%) in the drug overdose group were living alone (p = .004). Financial stress was present in 11 people (29%) in the charcoal-burning group and 8 people (9%) in the drug overdose group (p = .001). There was no significant difference in marital status, employment, present psychiatric diagnosis, history of mental illness, or suicide history.

Significant improvement in GAD symptoms was found with R. rosea, with a reduction in HARS scores similar to that found in clinical trials. These preliminary findings warrant further exploration of treatment with R. rosea in clinical samples.