Lifestyles and Quality of Life of People with Mental Illness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2023

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the quality of life (QoL), daily lifestyle, and mental health of people suffering from a mental disorder. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the prolongation of the COVID-19 emergency on QoL and lifestyles in a sample of 100 outpatients at the Psychiatry Unit in Palermo University Hospital, Italy. QoL was measured through the 12-item Short Form Survey and the COV19-Impact on Quality of Life. Lifestyle changes during the pandemic were measured through the lifestyle change questionnaire. The majority of participants reported a great impact of COVID-19 on the QoL, and almost half reported worsened lifestyles. Worsened li…

Association Between Low Education and Higher Global Cardiovascular Risk

2014

This study was designed to evaluate the impact of educational status on global cardiovascular risk in a southern Italian urban population. The study population consisted of 488 consecutive outpatients aged 18 years and older. Educational status was categorized according to the number of years of formal education as follows: (1) low education group (10 years) and (2) medium-high education group (10-15 years). In both groups, cardiometabolic comorbidities (obesity, visceral obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, microalbuminuria, left ventricular hypertrophy) and global cardiovascular risk, according to international guidelines, were analyzed. Left ventricular mass index and eje…

Circulating adiponectin: a cardiometabolic marker associated with global cardiovascular risk

2015

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to evaluate the relationship among circulating adiponectin (ADPN), left ventricular mass (LVM) and cardiometabolic comorbidities in subjects at higher global cardiovascular risk (score of “ Cuore Project “) METHODS. 115 consecutive subjects were grouped according to normal or low ADPN levels. Left ventricular internal diameter (LVID/h), total LV mass (LVM), LVM index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), LV ejection fraction by echocardiography and diastolic parameters, by pulsed-wave Doppler were calculated. RESULTS Low-ADPN subjects were characterized by a significant higher prevalence of some cardiometabolic comorbidities (obesity, visceral obesity, dia…

Evaluating the feasibility of the Italian version of the computerized interactive remediation of cognition training for schizophrenia (circuits)

2020

Background: Circuits is a computerized cognitive remediation program for individuals with schizophrenia. this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the italian version of circuits. MethODs: Feasibility was measured through ad-hoc questionnaires in a non-clinical sample (N.=30; target-score 70%; study 1); in patients with schizophrenia (N.=5; target-score 60%; study 2) and cr therapists (N.=3; target-score 60%; study 2). study 3 was a pilot study investigating: 1) enrolment, compliance, and retention rates; 2) satisfaction; 3) potential post-treatment and follow-up improvements in patients with schizophrenia (N.=20). these results were used to estimate sample size and feasibility for a …

Education and hypertension: impact on global cardiovascular risk

2017

Background: Improving cardiovascular risk prediction continues to be a major challenge and effective prevention of cardiovascular disease. Accordingly, several studies have recently reported on the role of cardiovascular risk education. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of education on global cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients.Subjects and methods: The study population consisted of 223 consecutive hypertensive outpatients. Their educational status was categorized according to the number of years of formal education as follows: (1) low education (less than 10 years) and (2) medium-high education (10-15 years).Results: In both groups, cardiometabolic comorbidities, glob…

Hypoadiponectinemia, cardiometabolic comorbidities and left ventricular hypertrophy

2014

This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of cardiometabolic comorbidities and the changes in left ventricular geometry and function in 135 subjects subgrouped according to low or normal total adiponectin plasma (ADPN) levels. Left ventricular (LV) internal diameter/height, total LV mass (LVM) and LVM index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), LV ejection fraction by echocardiography and diastolic parameters by pulsed-wave Doppler were calculated. Body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.0001), waist-to-hip ratio (p < 0.03), triglycerides (p < 0,001), prevalence of obesity (p < 0.005), visceral obesity (p < 0.003), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (p < 0.001), metabolic syndrome (p < 0.000…

The efficacy of a functional therapy program for gambling disorder: A Pilot study

2018

Background: Despite the great progress achieved by treatment approaches for Gambling Disorder (GD) the relevance of studying efficacious therapies still remains high. This pilot study aims at the evaluation of the efficacy of a standardized protocol based on Functional theory for GD. Functional Therapy (FT) is an integrated body-mind therapy.Methods: Twenty-eight pathological gamblers completed the FT protocol consisted in 16 sessions, two times a week for a total duration of two months, in an individual setting. No one of the patients was taking any psychopharmacological therapy. Psychological assessment both at baseline (T0) and at the end of the treament (T1) includes the South Oaks Gamb…

VALUTAZIONE DELLA FATTIBILITA', ACCETTABILITA', COMPRENSIBILITA' E ATTRATTIVITA', DELLA VERSIONE ITALIANA DEL "COMPUTERISED INTERACTIVE REMEDIATION O…

Background: le persone con schizofrenia hanno difficoltà cognitive e nel funzionamento sociale. La Cognitive Remediation Theraphy (CRT) è una terapia psicologica mirata a ridurre tali deficit. CIRCuiTS è una versione computerizzata di CRT, che promuove l'uso di strategie e della metacognizione. CIRCuiTS è risultato efficace e accettabile nei suoi studi originali condotti nel Regno Unito. Obiettivi: valutare la fattibilità, l'accettabilità, la comprensibilità e l'attrattiva della versione italiana di CIRCuiTS per le persone con psicosi. Metodi: sono stati condotti tre studi per valutare la versione italiana di CIRCuiTS. Studio 1, sono state valutate l'aderenza e la soddisfazione in 20 sogget…