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Background Utilization of somatic healthcare services is highly predictive of the development of chronic physical illnesses and increased mortality risks. The objective of this study was to assess the differences in healthcare utilization among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the general population in Croatia. Methods We enrolled 566 Croatian participants from the general population, 282 with SSD, 178 with MDD, and 86 with PTSD. The primary outcome was a self-reported specialist consultation for non-psychiatric (e.g., somatic) causes within the previous 12 months. Results Although SSD patients with chronic physical illnesses were significantly more often hospitalized for physical illness than the general population, the proportion of patients who had a specialist consultation were equal in SSD and the general population. MDD and PTSD patients had significantly higher adjusted odds for specialist consultation than the general population and SSD patients (MDD compared to SSD: OR = 2.14; 95% CI 1.27–3.59; PTSD compared to SSD: OR = 2.03; 95% CI 1.00–4.10). Conclusions SSD patients’ utilization of somatic healthcare is equal to the general population, despite their increased healthcare needs. However, their utilization is lower than in MDD and PTSD patients and, therefore, probably not adequate. Trial registration The study protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT02773108 ) on May 16, 2016.

The importance of early life experiences is indisputable for the later life of an individual. Adverse life events in childhood can often be indicative of changes and difficulties which arise later in life. The aim of this paper is to examine how modern research defines adverse childhood experiences and how it relates them to later biological, psychological and social changes that are not present in people without such experiences. Adverse childhood experiences are considered to be a set of factors derived from studying persons exposed to adverse events during the first 18 years of life, who have usually experienced abuse and who have been exposed to household and family dysfunction. In order to obtain the desired findings, we have studied approximately 80 papers that deal with the topic. Research findings indicate that individuals who have been exposed to some form of adverse childhood experiences are more likely to experience various difficulties in adulthood, such as mental disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, premature death, addiction, risky health and sexual behaviours, self-destructive behaviour, committing violence and poor social functioning. These findings offer an insight into the importance of preventing adverse childhood experiences, raising awareness of their interactions, strengthening the system of family protection, as well as the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to working with vulnerable populations.

Adolescencija je period u kojem djeca postaju samostalnija te počinju eksperimentirati s novim oblicima ponašanja, što često uključuje i nepoželjna, rizična ponašanja. Takva ponašanja mogu imati posljedice poput lošijeg mentalnog zdravlja, lošijeg akademskog uspjeha, problema sa zakonom, razvojem ovisnosti i slično, što ima negativan utjecaj na zdravlje i uspješnost u kasnijem životu. U ovom radu pokušali smo dati pregled čestih rizičnih ponašanja kod adolescenata (vršnjačkog nasilja i konzumacije cigareta, alkohola i marihuane) iz javnozdravstvene perspektive, s posebnim fokusom na situaciju u Hrvatskoj, te rizičnih i zaštitnih faktora za razvoj ovih oblika ponašanja).

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