The aim of our study was to examine whether the participation in Balint group is associated with the reducing burnout syndrome among primary health care doctors. This investigation was conducted on a population of 210 doctors employed in primary health centers in Belgrade. Out of 210 doctors, 70 have completed Balint training for a period of at least 1 year, whereas 140 doctors have never attended this training (the Non-Balint group). The level of burnout among physicians was assessed with the Serbian translation of the original 22-item version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey which defines burnout in relation to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment. We found that 45.0% of the Non-Balint participants and 7.1% of the Balint-trained participants responded with symptoms of high level of emotional exhaustion, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). In relation to depersonalization, 20% of the Non-Balint subjects were highly depersonalized compared to 4.4% of the Balint-trained subjects, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Regarding the personal accomplishment, 21.4% of the Non-Balint subjects and 7.1% of the Balint-trained subjects had a perception of low personal accomplishment, with a statistical significance (p < 0.001). In the multiple ordinal logistic model, with emotional exhaustion as a dependent variable, statistically significant predictor was female gender (OR = 2.51; p = 0.021), while Balint training was obtained as a protective factor (OR = 0.12; p < 0.001). Non-specialists were detected as a risk factor for depersonalization (OR = 2.14; p = 0.026) while Balint group was found as a protective factor (OR = 0.10; p < 0.001), according to the multiple ordinal logistic regression analysis.Regarding the reduced personal accomplishment, our results indicated that nonspecialists were at risk for this subdimension (OR = 2.09; p = 0.025), whereas Balint participants were protected (OR = 0.18; p < 0.001). Participation in Balint groups is associated with the reduced burnout syndrome among primary health care doctors

Bearing in mind the influence of siblings, prevention, and intervention efforts should be focused more on family members than on the broader social environment. The results also indicate the need to develop a conscience on a healthy life style and to educate people to enhance and improve their health control.

Background/Aim. The assessment of association of depression and diabetes mellitus type 2 using the Patient Health Questionaire (PHQ-9) has not been done in Montenegro. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to identify the risk factors associated with the presence of depression. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the General Hospital in Bijelo Polje, from July to September, 2015. It included 70 patients over 35 years of age with the diagnosis of diabetes for at least six months. For the assessment of depression presence and intensity PHQ-9 was used. All variables associated with the presence of depression at a significance level of p < 0.05 were included into the final method of the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results. Comorbidities were statistically significant more frequent among patients with depression (χ 2 = 5.40; p = 0.020). Duration of diabetes over five years was significantly associated with depression (χ 2 = 12.48; p < 0.001). Depression occurred more frequently among physically inactive subjects (χ 2 = 10.74; p = 0.005). The presence of diabetic polyneuropathy (χ 2 = 6.04; p = 0.014) and cataract (χ 2 = 5.351; p = 0.021) were also significantly associated with depression. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the duration of diabetes over five years and presence of cataract were independently associated with depression. Conclusion. The risk factors for depression among the subjects with diabetes were disease duration more than five years and the presence of cataract. Since depression is a serious disease and can be a risk factor for many chronic diseases, the best way of prevention is its early detection and treatment.

There is a lot of evidence that suicide is preventable. It is known that only 28 coun tries in the world have national suicide prevention strategies and Serbia is not one of them.

Introduction. Psychiatric disorders represent an important risk factor for death by suicide. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of psychiatric disorders among the persons who committed suicide in the territory of the City of Nis in the period 2001 - 2010. Additionally, this study aimed to compare the socio-demographic characteristics between persons with and without psychiatric disorders. Material and methods. This retrospective study included 524 persons who committed suicide (330 with and 194 without psychiatric disorders) in the period 2001 - 2010. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, previous suicide attempts, and methods of suicide were obtained from medical and police records (Police Directorate for the City of Nis, and Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia). Results. We studied the incidence of suicides among the persons with psychiatric disorders compared to persons without any medical condition in the studied period. Depression (104, 31.5%) and personality disorders (103, 31.2%) were the most common psychiatric disorders among the persons who committed suicide, whereas only 21 persons (6.36%) had schizophrenia. Persons with psychiatric disorders had a higher level of education, more of them were divorced, had a private source of income and more frequently attempted suicide compared to persons without any diseases (p<0.001). The most common methods of suicide were hanging and poisoning in both investigated groups. Conclusion. Depression was the most common disorder registered among the persons with psychiatric disorders who committed suicide. It is necessary to develop a national strategy for suicide prevention for groups at high risk of suicide.