Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by behavioral and cognitive aspects that result in a significant impairment of an individual’s well-being. COVID-19 pandemic consequences negatively impacted healthcare services and people’s mental health. Particularly, in developmental ages, difficulties in coping with the situation could have had an impact on eating behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess EDs’ hospitalization trend before, during and after the pandemic peak to evaluate whether it has been influenced. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on the hospital discharge forms of patients from 5 to 19 years old in Piedmont, which is a region in northern Italy. Overall, hospitalization, age, and gender-specific rates due to EDs that occurred in 2020 and 2021 were compared to those that occurred in 2018–2019. Since 2020, there has been a 55% reduction in overall hospitalizations, while the total proportion of EDs admissions has doubled from 2020 to 2021 (from 13.9‰ to 22.2‰). Significant hospitalization rate increases were observed both in 15–19 and in 10–14 females’ age groups in 2021. Non-significant increases were observed in all males’ age groups. The increase in hospitalizations for EDs should be further investigated, as it might be the tip of an iceberg not yet acknowledged.

Objectives: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) poses a threat in developmental ages, yet there is a scarcity of studies on NSSI trends, especially those in emergency departments (ED).Methods: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to describe trends in ED visits for NSSI among young people aged between 5 and 19 years in Italy from 2011 to 2021 in Piedmont. From the ministerial ED discharge information system, all occurring NSSIs were identified by medical report and/or ICD9CM code and reported as a population rate and a visit rate on all ED requests.Results: The general rate of ED visits remained stable, with around 210,000 (55% males) visits each year, along the whole period from 2011 to 2019, then halved during 2020 and 2021. The NSSI population and visits rates increased from 2013, peaking in 2019 at a rate of around 25 and 23 NSSI visits (girls) and 76 and 69 NSSI (boys) per 100,000 ED visits. In 2020 and 2021, the rate of NSSI visits increased, particularly in girls and among older adolescents.Conclusion: The gradual increase of NSSI over the last decade is a rising public health issue, which deserves wider attention to ensure early detection and prevention.

Psychological complications of chronic diseases are often underestimated because they may be interpreted as normal consequences of the underlying illness. Additionally, chronic patients may find several obstacles to healthcare access, including physical, socioeconomic, geographical and psychological barriers. Social media may be potential tools to provide psychological care extending the possibility of treatment where the offer is limited. This review aimed to explore the use of social media in administering psychological interventions to patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo (from 2004 to 2021). Randomized controlled trials outlining the social media use in administering psychological assistance to patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases were considered eligible. Out of 9838 records identified, 75 papers were included. Peer-to-peer interaction was the most used (n = 22), mainly via chat rooms and forums. Interventions were mostly administered to patients with psychiatric (n = 41) or oncologic disorders (n = 12). This work highlighted a lack of tailored interventions based on disease, age or gender, and a use of a limited range of relatively old platforms such as emails, blogs and forums. To administer efficient interventions, it would be advisable to continuously analyze the evolving use of these tools. Psychological symptoms are common among patients with chronic non-infectious diseases. Seldom treated properly, they are a major reason for a low quality of life. Chronic patients, like those who suffer from oncologic, psychiatric or heart diseases, could have difficulties in finding the right psychological support. One way to potentially reach anyone is using social media, which are often used by chronic patients for educational purposes about their diseases, or for finding psychological support from others with similar conditions. We wanted to study whether social media have been used in clinical research for administering psychological support to patients with chronic diseases. We studied the existing scientific literature doing a systematic review, finding that often social media were not used at their full potential. Peer-to-peer interactions were the most common interactions, chats rooms and forums the most common social media platforms. Participants were most commonly psychiatric and oncological patients. It is very important not to overlook powerful instruments like social media: they could be easily used by patients to empower themselves in managing their conditions. Social media could be an efficient way to easily provide chronic patients with psychological support either administered by health professionals, like psychotherapists, or by peers.

Negative trends of trust in governments have been described around the world. This study aimed to describe the distrust level in the National Health Service (NHS) and in governmental management of the pandemic, one year after the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. A survey was distributed in February 2022 among a convenience sample. Outcomes were measured through validated tools: Revised Health Care System Distrust Scale, and the COVID-SCORE-10 questionnaire. Associations were assessed using multiple linear regression models. A total of 2111 questionnaires were collected (54.8% female, median age 43 years [IQR = 34-50]). Distrust in the NHS had a median level of 12 [IQR = 10-14], while trust in the government had a level of 47 [IQR = 35-60]. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, high educational attainment, worse economic status, low conventional and digital health literacy, as well as the presence of conspiracy thoughts and distrust in the NHS were significantly associated with lower trust in government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lack of trust in governmental actions, along with low education and health literacy, as well as the presence of conspiracy thoughts and worse perceptions of one’s own health, were associated with greater distrust in the NHS. Overall, low levels of trust in both the government and the NHS have emerged. Since the determinants of reduced trust in institutions can be very diverse and that such levels of distrust after a pandemic can last for an entire generation, tailored interventions are needed to rebuild adequate levels of trust in institutions among the population.

Background and Objectives: Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (sitb) can be divided in suicidal and non-suicidal self-injuries (nssis). In italy, there is a lack of longitudinal epidemiological data on trends in admissions of adolescents to eds for nssis. This study aims to describe the...