clinical factors

Aim The aim of the study was to assess the level of life satisfaction of forensic psychiatry patients and to identify selected demographic and clinical factors related to life satisfaction, with particular emphasis on illness acceptance. Material and methods The study included 121 patients hospitalized in four forensic psychiatry departments. Life satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and illness acceptance using the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). The relationship between SWLS scores and age and AIS scores was analyzed, as well as differences in SWLS scores based on gender, duration of hospitalization, psychiatric diagnosis, and pharmacotherapy regimen. Spearman’s rank correlation, Student’s t-test, one-way ANOVA, and the Mann-Whitney U test were used depending on the type of variables. A nominal significance level of α = 0.05 was adopted. No p-value correction was applied due to multiple testing. Results The mean SWLS score was 19.82 ± 7.50 points. The study group showed varied levels of life satisfaction. After converting the results to the sten scale, 39.7% of participants achieved results corresponding to a low level of life satisfaction, 26.4% - an average level, and 33.9% - a high level. The mean AIS score was 28.06 ± 7.70 points; low level of illness acceptance was found in 10.7% of participants, average in 47.1%, and high in 42.1%. There were no statistically significant differences in SWLS scores depending on gender (p = 0.412), psychiatric diagnosis (p = 0.951), pharmacotherapy regimen (p = 0.930), or duration of hospitalization (p = 0.211). There was no statistically significant correlation between the SWLS score and age (rho Spearman’s ratio = -0.166; p = 0.068). However, a weak positive correlation was observed between the AIS score and the SWLS score (rho Spearman’s α = 0.215; p = 0.018), statistically significant at the nominal level of α = 0.05. Conclusions of life satisfaction were found among the patients included in the study. The largest group consisted of participants classified as low (39.7%), but the differences in numbers between categories did not indicate a clear dominance of one category over the other. In the study group, the most common levels of illness acceptance were medium (47.1%) or high (42.1%). There was no statistically significant correlation between SWLS scores and age, nor were there any statistically significant differences in SWLS scores based on gender, psychiatric diagnosis, pharmacotherapy regimen, or length of hospitalization. However, a weak positive correlation was observed between illness acceptance and life satisfaction, significant at the nominal level of α = 0.05. The cross-sectional nature of the study does not allow for conclusions about a causal relationship between these variables. The results suggest the validity of considering illness acceptance in further studies on life satisfaction in forensic psychiatric patients.

Introduction/Objective Depression is a disabling mental health disorder affecting over 300 million people worldwide. In Tunisia, population-level data on its prevalence and determinants remain limited. Our study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression in the Tunisian population and identify associated socio-demographic and clinical factors. Methods Data were drawn from the mental health component of the Tunisian Health Examination Survey (2016), a nationally representative study conducted among 9,209 individuals aged ≥15 years. Self-reported, physician-diagnosed lifetime depression was the main outcome. Associations with socio-demographic characteristics and clinical conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and menopause, were examined. Results The study population comprised 4360 men (49.2%) and 4849 women (51.8%), with a mean age of 41.4±17.4 years. The prevalence of self-reported lifetime depression was 4.7%. Multivariate analysis identified female sex (OR=1.53, 95% CI [1.11–2.10]) and age groups 30–64 years (OR=1.81, 95% CI [1.20–2.73]) and ≥65 years (OR=1.82, 95% CI [1.06–3.14]) as factors significantly associated with higher prevalence. Conversely, marriage (OR=0.59, 95% CI [0.42–0.84]) and the absence of rheumatoid arthritis (OR=0.48, 95% CI [0.38–0.60]) were associated with a lower prevalence of the disorder. Discussion The findings indicate that self-reported depression in Tunisia is significantly influenced by gender and aging, consistent with global epidemiological trends. The strong association with physical comorbidities, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, underscores the necessity of integrated mental health screening for patients with chronic illnesses. Furthermore, the protective association of marriage suggests that social and family cohesion remain vital factors in the Tunisian sociocultural context. Conclusion Depression in Tunisia is shaped by gender, aging, and physical comorbidities. Targeted prevention and integrated screening strategies are needed, especially for vulnerable demographic and clinical groups.

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 94 patients with diabetes at Itaugua Hospital, Paraguay. Most participants were women (69.2%), were aged 31–59 years (64.9%), had type 2 diabetes (88.3%), and were receiving treatment (83%). Symptoms of anxiety and depression were observed in 87.6% and 72% of patients, respectively. In the simple regression analysis, depression was positively associated with being divorced (PR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.13–1.70), whereas having type 2 diabetes was negatively associated with depression (PR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60–0.97). Anxiety was positively associated with higher education, being cohabiting or divorced, and receiving diabetes treatment, whereas negative associations were found with age 31–59 years, female sex, type 2 diabetes, and the presence of diabetes-related complications. These findings indicate a high prevalence of mental health problems among patients with diabetes, particularly anxiety and depression, highlighting the influence of sociodemographic and clinical factors.

یک مطالعه تحلیلی مقطعی در میان ۹۴ بیمار مبتلا به دیابت در بیمارستان Itaugua، پاراگوئه انجام شد. اکثر شرکت‌کنندگان زن بودند (۶۹/۲٪)، در بازه سنی ۳۱ تا ۵۹ سال قرار داشتند (۶۴/۹٪)، مبتلا به دیابت نوع ۲ بودند (۸۸/۳٪) و تحت درمان قرار داشتند (۸۳٪). علائم اضطراب و افسردگی به ترتیب در ۸۷/۶٪ و ۷۲٪ بیماران مشاهده شد. در تحلیل رگرسیون ساده، افسردگی با مطلقه بودن (PR: 1.38؛ ۹۵٪ CI: 1.13–1.70) ارتباط مثبت داشت، در حالی که ابتلا به دیابت نوع ۲ با افسردگی ارتباط منفی نشان داد (PR: 0.76؛ ۹۵٪ CI: 0.60–0.97). اضطراب با تحصیلات بالاتر، هم‌باشی یا مطلقه بودن و دریافت درمان دیابت ارتباط مثبت داشت، در حالی که ارتباط منفی با سن ۳۱ تا ۵۹ سال، جنسیت زن، دیابت نوع ۲ و وجود عوارض مرتبط با دیابت مشاهده شد. این یافته‌ها نشان‌دهنده شیوع بالای مشکلات سلامت روان در بیماران مبتلا به دیابت، به ویژه اضطراب و افسردگی است و بر تأثیر عوامل جمعیت‌شناختی و بالینی تأکید دارد.