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Background/Objectives: Being a healthcare professional often involves exposure to complex situations that can contribute to the development of psychological problems. Evidence suggests that both mental and physical health are crucial for the well-being of these professionals, which in turn influences the quality of care they provide to patients. The main aim of this study was to examine the association between adaptive and maladaptive forms of humor and psychopathological disorders among healthcare workers. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design was employed. The participants consisted of 250 healthcare professionals at a general hospital. Humor styles and the presence of psychological and psychosomatic symptoms were assessed. Data were collected using the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ), the Short Checklist of Symptoms (LSB-50), and sociodemographic information. Spearman correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were conducted. Results: Healthcare professionals were more inclined to use affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles compared to self-defeating and aggressive humor. Affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles were negatively correlated with psychological symptoms, whereas aggressive humor and, to a lesser extent, self-defeating humor styles showed a significantly positive correlation with most psychological symptoms. Regression analysis revealed that positive humor styles negatively predicted all severity indices of the LSB-50. In contrast, negative humor styles, particularly self-defeating humor, positively predicted the severity indices. Being female, working night shifts, and having temporary contracts were positive predictors of most global indices of the LSB-50. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of considering different types of humor as a potential strategy for improving the mental health of healthcare professionals, as well as the influence of other independent variables related to their personal and work environment. Positive humor styles, specifically affiliative and self-enhancing humor, are associated with a lower prevalence of psychological symptoms among healthcare professionals. Negative humor styles are correlated with a higher prevalence of these symptoms.
(2025) Leñero-Cirujano, Miriam; González-Ordi, Héctor; Torres-González, Juan Ignacio; Gómez-Higuera, Jacinto; Piñar-Rodríguez, Sergi; López-Bermejo Minaya, Elena; Alcalá-Albert, Gregorio Jesús; Carmona-Pestaña, Álvaro; Moro-Tejedor, María Nieves (2024) Sillero-Sillero, Amalia; Ayuso Margañón, Raquel; Marques-Sule, Elena; Gil Poisa, Maria
Background: Encorafenib plus binimetinib (EB) is a standard-of-care treatment for advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma. We assessed the efficacy and safety of encorafenib plus binimetinib in patients with BRAFV600-mutant melanoma and brain metastasis (BM) and explored if radiotherapy improves the duration of response. Methods: E-BRAIN/GEM1802 was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, phase II trial that enrolled patients with melanoma BRAFV600-mutant and BM. Patients received encorafenib 450 mg once daily plus binimetinib 45 mg BID, and those who achieved a partial response or stable disease at first tumor assessment were offered radiotherapy. Treatment continued until progression. Primary endpoint was intracranial response rate (icRR) after 2 months of EB, establishing a futility threshold of 60%. Results: The study included 25 patients with no BM symptoms and 23 patients with BM symptoms regardless of using corticosteroids. Among them, 31 patients (64.6%) received sequential radiotherapy. After 2 months, icRR was 70.8% (95% CI: 55.9-83.1); 10.4% complete response. Median intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were 8.5 (95% CI: 6.4-11.8) and 15.9 (95% CI: 10.7-21.4) months, respectively (8.3 months for icPFS and 13.9 months OS for patients receiving RDT). Most common grades 3-4 treatment-related adverse event was alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased (10.4%). Conclusions: Encorafenib plus binimetinib showed promising clinical benefit in terms of icRR, and tolerable safety profile with low frequency of high-grade TRAEs, in patients with BRAFV600-mutant melanoma and BM, including those with symptoms and need for steroids. Sequential radiotherapy is feasible but it does not seem to prolong response.
(2024) Márquez-Rodas, Iván; Vidal, Joana; Foro Arnalot, Palmira; Berrocal Jaime, AlfonsoIntroduction: For patients with psychosis, early, intensive therapeutic intervention is thought to improve long-term outcomes. Furthermore, patients with a first-episode psychosis (FEP) who experience a good early response to antipsychotic medication show a clinical and functional benefit over the longer term if they continue low-dose antipsychotic treatment. Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic agent which is approved in Europe for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults and adolescents (13-17 years). The efficacy and tolerability of lurasidone have been demonstrated in both antipsychotic-naïve and previously treated patients. Areas Covered: This paper provides a review and commentary regarding the use of lurasidone in patients with FEP. Case studies based on the authors¿ clinical experiences with lurasidone in real-world practice are provided. Expert Opinion: In our experience, lurasidone has shown efficacy in FEP in different patient profiles, including those with psychoses associated with substance use disorders. Lurasidone provides clinically relevant benefits, especially in patients with affective symptomatology, and has a good tolerability profile.
(2025) Bernardo, Miquel; Díaz Marsa, Marina; González-Pinto, Ana; Martín Carrasco, Manuel; Pérez Solá, Victor; Saiz, Pilar A.; Vieta, Eduard; Torrens, Marta; Arango, Celso; Crespo-Facorro, Benedicto