Pharmacotherapy for psychiatric inpatients with alcohol use disorder or acute intoxication: results from an observational pharmacovigilance program-status and changes between 2000 and 2016.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a mental disorder with a high prevalence and is one of the most common diagnoses requiring inpatient treatment. For the pharmacological management of withdrawal and detoxification, tranquilizing and anticonvulsant drugs, as well as symptom-triggered therapy, are recommended. In this study, we investigated the use of psychotropic drugs in the inpatient treatment of patients with AUD or acute intoxication by analyzing data from the Drug Safety Program in Psychiatry (German: Arzneimittelsicherheit in der Psychiatrie; AMSP).

Changes in Documentation After Implementing Open Notes in Mental Health Care: Pre-Post Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The practice of providing patients with digital access to clinical narrative documentation by health care professionals (HCPs) is known as open notes. In mental health care, this innovation has the potential to increase transparency and foster greater trust in the treatment process. While open notes may improve the quality of care and patient engagement, some HCPs are concerned that they may change the nature of clinical documentation and compromise its quality.

Long COVID in people with mental health disorders: a scoping review.

Background: Long COVID, Post COVID Syndrome or PASC (post-acute sequelae of COVID-19), according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is defined as the continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation. The term Long COVID will be used throughout this review. Little is known about individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions experiencing Long COVID.

Pharmacotherapy of psychiatric inpatients with mental and behavioral disorders caused by sedatives or hypnotics (F13): Results from an observational pharmacovigilance program between 2000 and 2017.

Background: The treatment of choice for substance use disorder (SUD) caused by sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics (SHA) is to slowly taper the dose of the implicated substance to the point of abstinence, thereby minimizing withdrawal symptoms. Concomitant pharmacotherapy may be indicated to manage excessive withdrawal or rebound symptoms. This study investigated the use of psychotropic drugs for the treatment of SHA-dependent SUD patients in Germany.

Social media in myositis care - an exploratory mixed-methods study among myositis patients (SociMyo).

Myositis is a rare autoimmune disease primarily affecting muscles, with potential involvement of the skin, heart, and lungs. Patients often experience delays in diagnosis, lack of adequate information, and limited support for disease management. Social media has emerged as a valuable tool to address these gaps by facilitating information exchange, peer support, and community building.

Insights Into How mHealth Applications Could Be Introduced Into Standard Hypertension Care in Germany: Qualitative Study With German Cardiologists and General Practitioners.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) apps provide innovative solutions for improving treatment adherence, facilitating lifestyle modifications, and optimizing blood pressure control in patients with hypertension. Despite their potential benefits, the adoption and recommendation of mHealth apps by physicians in Germany remain limited. This reluctance may be due to a lack of understanding of the factors influencing physicians' willingness to incorporate these digital tools into routine clinical practice.

Analyzing the use of specialized palliative care in intensive care unit patients in Germany: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite rising importance of integration of palliative medicine in treating life-threatening illnesses in intensive care units (ICU), the extent remains unknown. Using billing data, we analysed the frequency of specialized palliative care use in ICU patients in Germany.

Methods: Billing data (2019 -2022) from the InEK was used in this cross-sectional study on all billed adult ICU cases.

Benefits and Barriers to mHealth in Hypertension Care: Qualitative Study With German Health Care Professionals.

Background: Digital health technologies, particularly mobile health (mHealth) apps and wearable devices, have emerged as crucial assets in the battle against hypertension. By enabling lifestyle modifications, facilitating home blood pressure monitoring, and promoting treatment adherence, these technologies have significantly enhanced hypertension treatment.

Objective: This study aims to explore the perspectives of health care professionals (HCPs) regarding the perceived benefits and barriers associated with the integration of mHealth apps into routine hypertension care.

Experiences of Older Mental Health Patients and Their Care Partners Using a Proxy Account to Access Open Notes: Qualitative Interview Study.

Background: Older patients with serious mental illnesses such as cognitive disorders often rely on family members or spouses (care partners [CPs]) to meet their health care needs. CPs frequently lack essential information to fully understand the patients' illnesses and effectively support their treatment. Open Notes provide patients with digital access to their health care professionals' clinical notes and are associated with many positive outcomes, such as increased adherence and empowerment.

Regional variations in healthcare in people living with dementia in Germany: protocol for a mixed-methods study.

Introduction: Care for people living with dementia is both important and complex, and there is evidence of large regional variations in the quality of care. This study protocol describes design, methods and objectives of an investigation of regional variations in the utilisation, the quality and the costs of care for people living with dementia in Germany.

Methods And Analysis: An exploratory, naturalistic, mixed-methods study is being conducted with three modules: A quantitative analysis of claims data of statutory health insurance will be conducted to investigate regional variations in the utilisation and costs of care.

Between uncertainty and destiny: the patient journey in axial spondyloarthritis care from the perspectives of patients and their relatives.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease primarily affecting the sacroiliac joints and spine, leading to chronic pain, fatigue, and reduced mobility. The diagnostic delay for axSpA is often long, causing significant physical, psychological, and social burdens for patients and their relatives. This study aims to explore the patient journey of individuals with axSpA and their relatives within the German healthcare system, identifying key challenges and unmet needs from symptom onset to diagnosis and treatment.

Sexual dysfunctions associated with antipsychotic drug intake: a retrospective analysis of the FDA adverse events reporting system (FAERS).

Sexual dysfunctions (SD) are common and debilitating side effects of antipsychotics. The current study analyzes the occurrence of antipsychotic-related SD using data from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). FAERS was queried for sexual dysfunction adverse events (encoded by 35 different MedDRA preferred terms) secondary to amisulpride, aripiprazole, chlorprothixene, clozapine, haloperidol, loxapine, olanzapine, pipamperone, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone from 2000 to 2023.

Digital Transformation of Rheumatology Care in Germany: Cross-Sectional National Survey.

Background: In recent years, health care has undergone a rapid and unprecedented digital transformation. In many fields of specialty care, such as rheumatology, this shift is driven by the growing number of patients and limited resources, leading to increased use of digital health technologies (DHTs) to maintain high-quality clinical care. Previous studies examined user acceptance of individual DHTs in rheumatology, such as telemedicine, video consultations, and mHealth.

Age and sex differences in outpatient antipsychotic prescriptions for schizophrenia: a claims data study.

Most studies on antipsychotic efficacy and safety, including sex differences, focus on young schizophrenia patients. However, with an aging population, the number of older schizophrenia patients is increasing. This group faces challenges due to varying treatment responses and higher risks of adverse reactions, and guidelines often lack specific recommendations due to insufficient trials.

Back on track - digital health applications to treat back pain of rheumatic patients? Results of a qualitative interview study.

Non-specific low back pain (NLBP) is prevalent among patients with rheumatic conditions. Digital health applications (DiGAs) provide reimbursed, personalized home treatment for patients, promising to overcome limitations of traditional healthcare systems. However, the adoption and effectiveness of back pain-specific DiGAs in rheumatology are not well understood.

mHealth Apps for Hypertension Self-Management: Interview Study Among Patient-Users.

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, affecting over a billion people worldwide. Mobile health (mHealth) apps have emerged as effective tools for managing hypertension, offering capabilities for monitoring blood pressure, fostering lifestyle changes, and improving treatment adherence.

Objective: This study aimed to explore patient-users' perspectives on the hypertension care mHealth app Hypertension.

"Let's put it this way: you can't really live without it" - digital technologies in routine palliative care delivery: an explorative qualitative study with patients and their family caregivers in Germany.

Background: Despite ongoing efforts to integrate palliative care into the German healthcare system, challenges persist, particularly in areas where infrastructure does not fully support digital technologies (DT). The increasing importance of digital technology (DT) in palliative care delivery presents both opportunities and challenges.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the perspectives and preferences of palliative care patients and their family caregivers regarding the use of DT in care delivery.

[Attitudes and Expectations of Psychological and Medical Psychotherapists Towards Open Notes: Analysis of Qualitative Survey Responses].

Objective: This study explores attitudes and expectations of psychotherapists (PT) towards the introduction of digital patient access to clinical notes ("Open Notes"; ON)), including the advantages and disadvantages in psychotherapeutic practice.

Methods: As part of the PEPPPSY study, an online survey was conducted. Free text responses (n = 107) were qualitatively analysed using thematic analysis.

Evaluation of a hybrid telehealth care pathway for patients with axial spondyloarthritis including self-sampling at home: results of a longitudinal proof-of-concept mixed-methods study (TeleSpactive).

Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) require close monitoring to achieve the goal of sustained disease remission. Telehealth can facilitate continuous care while relieving scarce healthcare resources. In a mixed-methods proof-of-concept study, we investigated a hybrid telehealth care axSpA pathway in patients with stable disease over 6 months.

Acceptance of Telemedicine by Specialists and General Practitioners in Cardiology Care: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Background: In the coming years, telemedicine will play a key role in health care. Especially in rural areas with weak infrastructure, telemedicine could be crucial to providing adequate and personalized medical care.

Objective: We investigated the acceptance and preferences of telemedicine among cardiologists, internists, and general practitioners.

Edema related to treatment with psychotropic drugs.

Edema as an adverse drug reaction is a commonly underestimated yet potentially debilitating condition. This study analyzes the incidence of severe psychotropic drug-induced edema (e.g.

Reasons for Acceptance or Rejection of Online Record Access Among Patients Affected by a Severe Mental Illness: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Over the past few years, online record access (ORA) has been established through secure patient portals in various countries, allowing patients to access their health data, including clinical notes ("open notes"). Previous research indicates that ORA in mental health, particularly among patients with severe mental illness (SMI), has been rarely offered. Little is known about the expectations and motivations of patients with SMI when reading what their clinicians share via ORA.