The prevalence of sleep paralysis (SP) is estimated at approximately 7.6% of the world’s general population. One of the strongest factors in the onset of SP is PTSD, which is often found among professional firefighters. Our study aimed to assess in the professional firefighter population (n = 831) (1) the prevalence of SP, (2) the relationship between SP and PTSD and (3) the relationship between SP and other factors: the severity of the stress felt, individual tendency to feel anxious and worried and lifestyle variables. The incidence of SP in the study group was 8.7%. The high probability of PTSD was found in 15.04% of subjects and its presence was associated with 1.86 times the odds of developing SP [OR = 1.86 (95% CI: 1.04–3.33); p = 0.04]. Officers who experienced at least 1 SP during their lifetime had significantly higher results in the scales: PCL-5, STAI-T, PSWQ. The number of SP episodes was positively correlated with the severity of symptoms measured by the PCL-5, PSS-10, STAI and PSWQ questionnaires. Further research is needed to assess the importance of SP among the firefighter population in the context of mental and somatic health and to specify methods of preventing SP episodes.

Background: The aim of the cross-sectional study was to conduct an exploratory analysis of identifying factors related to mood, metacognitive beliefs, and limitation on individual freedom associated with lockdown restrictions during COVID-19, and to determine whether they may be relevant to the deteriorating well-being of adolescents. Methods: A total of 387 adolescents (M = 15.37; SD = 1.62): 85 with depression (DG) and 302 without any psychiatric diagnosis group (WPDG) were examined using the health survey and the CDI-2 questionnaire to assess the symptoms and severity of depression and MCQ-A to measure the intensity of dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs. Results: The feeling of restriction of freedom had an influence on worsened well-being in the whole group of responders OR = 4.15; p < 0.001 but was more in the DG than the WPDG (OR = 20.00; p < 0.001 vs. OR = 4.77; p < 0.001). Positive metacognitive beliefs were related to well-being (DG), but no effect was observed in the WPDG (OR = 0.88; p < 0.05 vs. OR = 1.05; p = 0.136). The lower age of the WPDG negatively impacted well-being (OR = 1.20; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and the feeling of restriction of freedom are important in the deterioration of adolescents’ well-being, but these factors have a stronger impact on well-being in the DG.

Introduction: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation with considerable potential as a treatment for many CNS disorders. Individuals suffering from eating disorders have elevated rates of lifetime depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, also affecting specific brain regions. More studies assess the effect of brain modulation in anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aimed to evaluate the effect, tolerability and safety of tDCS stimulation in the patient with an AN diagnosis. Material and method: The therapy was implemented in an 18-year-old female hospitalized at the I Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention Medical University of Lublin. The simulation was performed twice daily for 25 minutes for two weeks, 20 sessions. To assess a. anthropometric measures, bioelectrical impedance analysis was conducted; b. biological factors fasting venous blood was drawn; c. psychological aspects: Eating Attitudes Test, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Body Esteem Scale, Perceived Stress Scale were used. Results: The patient responded well to stimulation - apart from a mild headache. After tDCS sessions, improvement in anthropometric measurements, mood, and body self-esteem was observed. No severe changes in blood parameters were observed after the intervention. Conclusions: Described study case offer preliminary support for achieving meaningful clinical outcomes using transcranial stimulation. However, future clinical studies compared to the placebo group are necessary for proposing a new type of AN therapy.

Background/Objectives: Anorexia nervosa (AN) remains difficult to treat, and evidence for biological adjunctive interventions is limited. This study assessed the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as an adjunctive intervention in hospitalized patients with AN. Methods: In this double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial, 40 female inpatients with AN were allocated 1:1 to active tDCS or sham stimulation. Participants received 30 sessions over 3 weeks (2 mA, 25 min, twice daily on weekdays; anode F3, cathode F4), alongside standard inpatient treatment. Assessments were performed at baseline, post-intervention, and 2-week follow-up. Outcomes included eating disorder (ED) symptoms (EAT-26), depressive symptoms (BDI), perceived stress (PSS-10), self-esteem (SES), body mass index (BMI), and selected biological markers. Results: EAT-26 scores improved significantly from baseline to post-intervention in both groups; at the 2-week follow-up, scores remained significantly lower than baseline only in the active tDCS group. BMI and leptin increased significantly in both groups, while NT-3 decreased only in the active group. In multivariate analyses, higher leptin levels and greater perceived stress, adjusted for longer illness duration, were associated with greater improvement in ED symptoms; perceived stress predicted symptom improvement only in the active group. Conclusions: Active tDCS did not produce significantly greater short-term symptom reduction than sham in hospitalized patients with AN. However, findings observed at the 2-week follow-up and associations involving stress-related and metabolic measures require confirmation in studies with longer follow-up periods.