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Knowledge mapping of targeted therapy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A bibliometric analysis of myosin inhibitor research.2 weeks agoTargeted therapy using myosin inhibitors represents a groundbreaking advancement in the management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the research landscape indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection, identify key trends, and evaluate the scientific impact of myosin inhibitor studies from 2016 to 2025.
We systematically retrieved publications from the Web of Science Core Collection using predefined search terms related to myosin inhibitors and HCM. Utilizing VOSviewer software, CiteSpace, and R-Bibliometrix Package, we performed co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence analyses. Bibliometric indicators (e.g., publication volume, citations, h-index) were employed to assess research productivity and influence.
This bibliometric analysis encompassed 379 publications (2016-2025) on myosin inhibitors for HCM, showing exponential growth. The United States dominated research output (37% of total publications), followed by Italy (30 publications) and Germany (14 publications). Leading institutions included the University of Pennsylvania (39 publications, 1585 citations) and Bristol Myers Squibb (32 publications). Journal of the American College of Cardiology emerged as the top publishing venue (16 papers, 937 citations). Key researchers were identified: Olivotto I (most productive, 40 papers, h-index = 16), Saberi S (most cited, 1957 citations), and Sehnert AJ (highest impact, h-index = 16 with 27 papers). Three research phases were evident: mechanistic (2016-2018), clinical translation (2019-2021), and personalized therapy (2022-2025), with AI applications showing 4.2% annual growth. Citation networks showed that foundational studies (e.g., Green et al, 2016) were frequently cited by subsequent clinical research, reflecting a temporal citation pattern in which earlier mechanistic publications were frequently referenced by later clinically focused studies.
This study presents a descriptive bibliometric overview of publication patterns for myosin inhibitor research in HCM, describing the publication patterns and collaborative networks that characterize this field. While North America and Europe lead productivity, global collaboration gaps persist. Future research should prioritize real-world evidence, combination therapies, and equitable knowledge dissemination. These findings offer strategic insights for researchers, funders, and policymakers advancing targeted HCM therapies.Cardiovascular diseasesCare/Management -
The perceived impact of the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential: perspectives of individuals with eating disorder lived experience.2 weeks agoIn response to individual and systemic barriers hindering the timely and effective treatment of eating disorders (EDs), the Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) introduced an eating disorder credential for clinicians in June 2022. The Credential aims to enhance treatment access, quality, and outcomes. While the Credential has been well received by stakeholders, its effectiveness from the perspective of those with lived experience of an ED needs to be more fully understood. The current study aims to explore the experiences and perspectives of people living with an ED in relation to their treatment experiences provided by Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians (credentialed clinicians) and non-credentialed clinicians.
An exploratory mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted involving 100 participants with personal lived experience of an ED. Participants were recruited via Australian eating disorder services and organisations, including the ANZAED and National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) membership databases, with recruitment information distributed through their email and social media platforms. Participants completed a survey with open- and closed-ended questions on their attitudes towards the Credential and experiences of treatment by a credentialed clinician or non-credentialed clinician. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to examine differences in attitudes, treatment experiences, and helpfulness ratings between participants who had seen credentialed and non-credentialed clinicians, alongside inductive thematic analysis of open-ended survey responses.
Irrespective of their own clinicians' credentialing status, participants valued the Credential; almost two thirds identified that their most helpful treatment experience was with a credentialed clinician. Three themes were generated from open-ended survey responses that explored the treatment experiences of those with lived experience of an ED: (1) Expertise, Accessibility, and Continuity of Care, (2) A Collaborative Approach, and (3) Personalised and Effective Treatment Delivered with Understanding, Compassion, and Respect.
The current study adds to the ED literature by highlighting the perceived value of the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential by individuals with lived experience. Further, it supports existing research that identifies clinician's expertise, a collaborative approach to treatment, and the provision of individualised treatment as key factors contributing to positive treatment outcomes. However, barriers to accessibility, including the cost of treatment and availability of credentialed clinicians, remain and need to be addressed for individuals to receive the full benefits of the Credential.Mental HealthAccess -
Crawling into the Unknown: Unveiling Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) in the Post Pandemic Era Utilizing the NPSfinder®.2 weeks agoNovel Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) and other psychoactive or misuse-relevant compounds present a persistent global public health threat, underscoring the critical need for real-time crawling and monitoring tools to investigate and provide valuable information assisting in the management and preparedness against that dynamic and evolving threat. This study utilized the NPSfinder® web crawler to analyze NPS trends during the post-pandemic period, with data collected from selected highly trafficked psychonaut websites continuously monitored between January and September 2023. Following a comprehensive filtering process of screening, assessment, and evaluation, the dataset provided insights into the availability and characteristics of recently reported NPSs. Three hundred and sixty-eight molecules were analyzed, of which 158 were newly captured NPSs, suitable for inclusion in the NPSfinder® database. Those substances were classified based on their chemical structure, pharmacological mechanism of action, therapeutic indication, if any, and abuse liability. The main NPS classes identified were natural origin/herbal substances (25; 16%), cannabinoids (23; 15%), prescribed medications (23; 15%), synthetic opioids (20; 13%), phenethylamines (14; 9%), cathinones (11; 7%), and anabolic substances (8; 5%). The findings highlight ongoing diversification in substances identified across selected online sources during the post-pandemic period. The study benefits from a timely focus, a substantial and systematically curated dataset, and the application of a continuous web-crawling methodology enabling near real-time detection of emerging substances. The integration of pharmacological and chemical classification further enhances the interpretability and potential clinical relevance of the findings. However, results should be interpreted cautiously. The reliance on predominantly English-language, open-web sources may introduce selection bias and limit geographic generalizability, and the descriptive design does not allow inference regarding prevalence, user behavior, or causal trends. Within these constraints, web-crawling approaches may serve as valuable complementary tools to established early warning systems, supporting early signal detection and informing future toxicological and public health responses.Mental HealthAccessCare/Management
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Bullying Victimisation and Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Peer and Family Social Support.2 weeks agoAdverse childhood experiences have been consistently linked to a range of mental health related difficulties in adulthood. One such experience is bullying, which has been shown to predict psychotic symptoms. This study aimed to explore whether bullying victimisation in early adolescence is associated with certain mental health outcomes (psychosis, depression and cannabis abuse) and whether this is mediated by the individuals' perception of social support from peers and family.
This study performed secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study, the Belfast Youth Development Study (BYDS). It used longitudinal data from 2087 participants from ages 12-21 years and performed path analysis (using Mplus V8) between bullying and the above mental health outcomes and mediators.
The results showed a direct path from bullying to psychotic symptoms (estimate = 0.10; SE = 0.0; p = 0.030) as well as an indirect path mediated by peer attachment, parental attachment and depression symptoms (estimate = 0.01; bootstrapped 95% CIs 0.01, 0.02).
Being bullied in childhood is directly associated with a greater risk of having psychotic symptoms as an adult. There is also an indirect path from bullying in childhood to psychosis symptoms as an adult mediated by peer attachment, parental attachment, and depression. Interventions should be aimed at addressing bullying and strengthening social support from peers and family.Mental HealthAccessAdvocacy -
Frequency of therapeutic drug monitoring in inpatient precision depression care and duration of hospitalization.2 weeks agoIn psychiatry, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is routinely used to improve treatment safety and efficacy, yet its association with hospitalization duration and cost-effectiveness remains unclear. We hypothesized that the frequency of routinely requested TDM is associated with hospitalization duration. In this retrospective study, patients with major depressive disorder receiving TDM of antidepressants between 2015 and 2021 (N = 383) were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were a hospital stay ≥7 days and a first TDM request at admission. Regression analyses assessed associations between TDM frequency and hospitalization duration. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified a minimum effective TDM frequency of 0.66/week, which was associated with a mean reduction in hospitalization duration of 21 days (p < 2.2*10-¹⁶). The upper effective threshold was approximated at 1.3/week. Higher TDM frequency was associated with more therapy adjustments within 7 days after TDM, including dose adaptations (p = 3.07*10-¹⁶) and drug initiation/discontinuation (p = 6.70*10-6). Drug-specific analyses for amitriptyline, venlafaxine, and mirtazapine confirmed these associations. Cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated a 37% cost reduction for patients with TDM frequencies ≥0.66/week. In conclusion, frequent, clinically integrated TDM of antidepressants and timely treatment adaptations were associated with shorter hospitalization and reduced hospitalization costs. These findings suggest that at least biweekly TDM combined with subsequent treatment adaptations may represent a previously underappreciated strategy to improve clinical and economic outcomes in a tertiary referral center for severe major depression. Whether these findings are transferable to other inpatient and outpatient settings of depression care requires further studies.Mental HealthAccessCare/ManagementAdvocacy
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Long-Term Predictive Value of Locomotive Function for Multifaceted Health-Related Quality of Life: A Longitudinal Study of Community-Dwelling Older Japanese Adults.2 weeks agoWhile physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are recognized as important factors in aging, evidence regarding their long-term associations remains limited. This study investigated whether baseline physical function measures predict HRQOL after 8 years in community-dwelling adults.
We conducted a longitudinal analysis of data from community health checkups in rural Japan. Of 678 baseline participants (2012-2014), 130 adults (mean age 62.1 ± 7.7 years, 52.3% female) with complete follow-up data were analyzed. Physical function was assessed using the Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), 10-m gait time, grip strength, and back muscle strength. HRQOL was measured using the SF-36 questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression analyses examined associations between baseline physical function and 8-year follow-up HRQOL, adjusting for baseline HRQOL and covariates.
Cross-sectional associations at baseline were limited. However, longitudinal analyses revealed robust associations. After adjustment, TUG was significantly associated with follow-up Physical Functioning (B = -3.53, p = 0.021), Role-Physical (B = -11.40, p < 0.001), Social Functioning (B = -6.20, p < 0.001), Role-Emotional (B = -7.69, p < 0.001), and Mental Health (B = -6.28, p < 0.001). The 10-m gait time showed similar associations. Muscle strength measures were primarily associated with Bodily Pain outcomes.
Baseline locomotive measures, particularly TUG and gait speed, independently predict multiple HRQOL domains after 8 years. These simple assessments during routine checkups may identify individuals at risk for long-term HRQOL decline, supporting early preventive interventions.Mental HealthAccessAdvocacy -
Religiosity and Engagement in Early Intervention Programme for First-Episode Psychosis.2 weeks agoWhile religious beliefs are known to affect help-seeking pathways, little is known about how they shape engagement in first-episode psychosis (FEP) care. The purpose of the present study is to explore how religious belief, religious identity and cultural norms shape engagement with FEP care.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 NAVIGATE participants in Israel. The sample comprised 11 Ultra-Orthodox (UO) and 12 non-observant (Non-Obs) Jewish FEP participants. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes related to religious factors in FEP care engagement and the therapeutic alliance.
Two main themes emerged. The first focused on how faith contributed to participation in NAVIGATE by framing FEP care as God's will and viewing therapy as a spiritual experience. The second focused on trust issues, emphasising autonomy and collaborative decision-making. Across both themes, the therapeutic relationship emerged as a critical independent source of NAVIGATE engagement.
Findings indicate that religiosity shapes day-to-day engagement throughout FEP care, extending beyond initial help-seeking. Implications are discussed with a focus on dialogue, psychoeducation and communication and on combining religious responsiveness with a strong therapeutic alliance.Mental HealthAccessCare/Management -
Use of Coercion or Persuasion in Prehospital Treatment in the Region of Southern Denmark: A Retrospective Study.2 weeks agoThe use of coercion or persuasion raises ethical challenges but may be justified when prehospital patients require immediate treatment and are unable to consent. This study aims to describe the characteristics of coerced or persuaded adult pre-hospital patients in the Region of Southern Denmark.
A descriptive analysis of ambulance contacts in the Region of Southern Denmark from January through June 2022. We identified all cases meeting the predefined inclusion criteria for coercion or persuasion, with or without police involvement. We classified cases into four categories: coercion (forced admission with police involvement), necessity or urgent need for treatment, persuasion with police involvement, and persuasion without police involvement. Additionally, we describe the study population's substance use, instances of self-harm, and the overall police involvement in managing these patients.
Within 39,021 prehospital patient contacts, 6743 cases indicated that coercion or persuasion could have occurred. In 416 cases (1.1% of all prehospital contacts), coercion or persuasion was confirmed. Of these, 65 patients were forcibly admitted to the hospital. Forty-six patients received non-patient-sanctioned treatment justified by necessity or an urgent need. Fifty patients were persuaded with police involvement, and 255 were persuaded through paternalistic means without police involvement. The median age of the coerced patients was 56 years; 54.8% being men. 26.9% of patients subjected to coercion were under the influence of substances. 17.8% of all coerced patients exhibited self-harming behaviours, such as attempting suicide, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts. The police were involved in 31.5% of cases of coercion.
Coercive measures or persuasion to consent were identified in a small proportion of prehospital contacts. When they occur, the most common form is persuasion without police involvement, but other forms of coercion are also observed. The study emphasises the need for greater attention to this issue to ensure the appropriate use of coercion and persuasion during emergencies.
This study presents experience from one region of Denmark with ambulance missions where the patient was uncooperative but needed acute medical care. Different approaches were commonly implemented in this circumstance, to try to minimise harm related to administering urgent or emergent care.Mental HealthAccessCare/ManagementAdvocacy -
Are female athlete concerns being considered in preparticipation examinations? A needs assessment in Canadian University Sport (U SPORTS).2 weeks agoPreparticipation examinations (PPEs) are commonly used to gather athletes' baseline health information. However, they often lack content specific to the health needs of female athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to: 1) identify which female-specific health questions athletes recall being asked during PPEs; 2) determine what questions athletes believe are missing; and 3) explore female athletes' comfort with disclosing health concerns.
Cross-sectional survey.
The survey was distributed to Canadian varsity female athletes during their 2023-2024 season. It included multiple-choice and open-ended questions spanning five domains: pelvic health, menstrual health, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), musculoskeletal (MSK) health, and mental health. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize quantitative data, while inductive content analysis was used for open responses.
Ninety-three athletes (mean age 21 ± 2.2 years) completed the survey. Sixty percent reported completing a PPE, and 84% indicated that there was no follow-up after completion. Fewer than half of athletes recalled being asked about mental health (42%), REDs (37%), menstrual health (33%), or pelvic health (2%). Athletes ranked inclusion of mental, MSK, REDs, menstrual, and pelvic health questions in descending order of importance. Athletes who felt comfortable disclosing health concerns recognized the performance and well-being benefits of doing so. Those who were uncomfortable cited not understanding the relevance of certain questions and/or mistrust regarding who would access their information.
PPEs in Canadian varsity sport are often lacking female-specific questions. Clarifying PPE purpose, benefits and data sharing may improve trust, disclosure, and athlete health outcomes.Mental HealthAccess -
Absence of digital intervention: exploring the motivations behind self-harm adolescents' avoidance of psychological support techniques.2 weeks agoFrom the perspective of behavioural psychology and adolescent psychopathology, non-suicidal self-harm (NSSI) among adolescents is a multidetermined behaviour shaped by biological, psychological and social factors. Digital mental health interventions are vital for adolescent self-harm support, yet their acceptance among self-harming adolescents is low with significant avoidance tendencies. Existing research focuses on technical attributes of these tools but rarely explores the psychological motivations and contextual factors driving avoidance in this group, and few studies interpret such avoidance behaviour under a unified biopsychosocial framework.
A grounded theory approach was adopted, complying with the COREQ criteria. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 emotionally stable adolescents aged 12-18 years who had engaged in NSSI in the past year, recruited from a tertiary hospital emergency department. Data were analysed via open, axial and selective coding with ethical approval obtained.
Guided by the biopsychosocial behavioural framework, this study identified that adolescents' avoidance of digital psychological interventions is a comprehensive outcome of interactions among biological traits, psychological mechanisms and social contextual factors. Three core psychological pathways driving avoidance were extracted: emotional avoidance, trust deficit and feelings of ineffectiveness and frustration. Physiological stress responses linked to shame and anxiety (biological dimension) amplified these psychological barriers, while situational social factors moderated the entire behavioural process.
Adolescents' avoidance of digital interventions is a layered, dynamic, multidetermined behavioural phenomenon embedded in the Chinese cultural context, which can be systematically interpreted via the biopsychosocial behavioural framework covering biological traits, individual psychology, interpersonal and ecological social factors. Future digital tools require trauma-informed, context-adaptive design to reduce emotional triggers, enhance user control, strengthen privacy protection and rebuild trust, thereby improving acceptability and effectiveness.Mental HealthAccessCare/ManagementAdvocacyEducation