Salud Mental

Introduction. Suicide represents a major public health problem worldwide, and cancer patients might have vulnerability factors which increase suicide risk. There are multiple factors associated with this tragic outcome, including those stemming from the disease itself, mental illness and social, personal and spiritual factors. Although previous reports have identified a suicide rate which ranges from .03-7% among cancer patients undergoing palliative care, this has not been studied in Mexico. Objective. This study sought to report the cases of suicide in patients with cancer undergoing palliative care at a large cancer reference center. Method. A retrospective review of records was performed between 2018-2019 for patients treated at the Palliative Care Service of the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Mexico City. Records for patients who committed suicide were reviewed to describe factors associated with this outcome. Results. Among all deaths identified during the record review, two were due to suicide (.09%). The patients were one female and one male, 60 and 42 years of age, diagnosed with breast cancer and gastroesophageal junction cancer, respectively, associated with tobacco and alcohol consumption, as well as several economic, social, and familial stress factors. One of the patients was identified as likely having major depressive disorder. Discussion and conclusion. Deaths might be underreported in our population. A systematic evaluation is required in order to establish and detect suicidal behavior risk factors, and a follow-up plan for all these patients.

Background. Front-of-package food labeling is a public health strategy implemented to reduce the consumption of processed food to decrease the incidence of obesity in Mexico. Although there is an increasing focus among public health officials on implementing policies designed to address obesity, much less attention has been paid to how these policies could impact those with disordered eating, despite the fact that millions suffer from such illnesses. Objective. The aim of this article is to present scientific literature related to front-of-package labeling and its impact on obesity and eating disorders. Method. Papers related to nutrition labels and obesity and eating disorders were reviewed. Results. The papers reviewed found no significant improvement regarding the consumption of processed food. Other measurements, including nutritional education, availability, physical education, and body-image acceptance, have a better impact on nutritional health. Discussion and conclusion. Front-of-package labeling is regarded as an important measure in the attempt to reduce obesity levels. However, there is insufficient scientific evidence to suggest that this type of labeling reduces the consumption of processed foods in patients with obesity.

Introduction. There is little information in Mexico about the transition to injecting drugs among drug users in cities other than Tijuana. Objective. We compare characteristics of the onset of drug use and first injection among people who inject drugs (PWID) from Ciudad Juárez and Hermosillo, two cities of Northern Mexico and identify factors associated with faster rates of transition from first drug use to the first injection. Method. 841 PWID were interviewed in 2012 in Ciudad Juárez (n = 445) and Hermosillo (n = 396). Using lifetables, we describe timing at the onset of drug use and first injection. Cox regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with the transition hazard to first injection. Results. Median age at onset of drug use was 15.5 years old (standard deviation [SD] = 5.73). The median age at first injection was 21.30 (SD = 7.22). The median duration-time between first drug use and transition to injection was 4.8 years (SD = 5.6). Controlling for sociodemographics, factors that increase the hazard of transitioning to injection are age at onset of drug use (adjusted-hazard-rate [AHR] = 1.04, 95% confidence-interval CI [1.03, 1.05], pp = .01), and having received assistance at first injection (AHR = 1.25, 95% CI [1.17, 1.33], pDiscussion and conclusion. Results show the need to enhance harm reduction programs among non-injecting drug users so as to prevent the spread of injecting drugs in Mexico.

Introduction. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that people may experience during early life, including physical, psychological, and sexual abuse; neglect; and household dysfunction. Objective. To evaluate the frequency of ACEs and their relationship with the mental and physical health of Mexican adults. Method. 389 people between 18 and 65 years old were included in a cross-sectional study with an incidental sample and voluntary participation. Subjects responded to the ACEs questionnaire, the PHQ-9, the GAD-7, and the PHQ-15. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between ACEs and adult health conditions. Results. 75% reported at least one type of adversity, and 31.4% reported three or more. Reporting three or more ACEs was associated with an increased odds ratio for depression (OR = 5.04, 95% CI [2.38, 10.68]), anxiety (OR = 3.33, 95% CI [1.09, 6.99]), psychosomatic severity (OR = 4.58, 95% CI [2.53, 8.29]), obesity (OR = 2.08, 95% CI [1.21, 3.59]), and limitations due to physical or emotional discomfort (OR = 5.90, 95% CI [2.88, 12.09]). Higher anxiety was associated with sexual abuse (OR = 2.12 95% CI [.92, 4.85]) and witnessing violence (OR = 5.09, 95% CI [1.04, 24.77]). The probability of psychosomatic severity was higher if reported sexual abuse increased (OR = 1.94 95% CI [.06, 3.54]) and emotional neglect (OR = 1.84, 95% CI [1.02, 3.32]). Discussion and conclusion. ACEs are associated to mental health difficulties and psychosomatic symptoms. The relationship between different types of adversity and health is confirmed.

Introduction. Suicide attempts are the most predictive risk factor for suicide deaths. Most people who attempt suicide receive care from out-of-hospital Emergency Services (OES), where these requests are managed and classified. Objective. Validate the Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) classification for the detection of suicidal behavior requests. Method. A descriptive, cross-sectional study of requests to the ECC of Málaga (Spain) during 2013 and 2014 was conducted. To classify the requests, the authors considered the ECC categorization when answering the call and the clinical assessment of the healthcare professional when attending the person who had made the call at the scene, which was considered the reference standard. To analyze the validity of the ECC classification system, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) were calculated. Results. The total number of requests for medical assistance analyzed was 112,599. The validity indicators of the classification system for suicidal behavior were sensitivity = 44.78%, specificity = 99.34%, PPV = 46.91% and NPV = 99.28%. Discussion and conclusion. The ECC classification system has a lower capacity to detect the presence of suicidal behavior and a higher capacity to identify its absence in the requests received. OES provide key information on suicidal behavior requests as they can be one of the first places people with this problem go to. It would therefore be extremely useful to improve the classification systems for requests related to suicidal behavior.