Work characteristics play a crucial role in the mental well-being of physicians. However, limited research in Bangladesh has explored the association between these characteristics and specific mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety and stress among physicians, particularly in relation to gender differences.

This study aimed to explore the link between various work characteristics and mental health outcomes among male and female physicians in Bangladesh.

We conducted a cross-sectional study among physicians working in various healthcare settings in Bangladesh. The data were collected online between November 2023 and January 2024 using a convenience sampling technique. Work characteristics, including job characteristics, social characteristics and organisational characteristics, were assessed using previously validated scales. Mental health, on the other hand, was measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). We performed logistic regression analyses adjusted for the covariates, and further stratified by gender, to explore potential differences in work characteristics and mental health outcomes between male and female physicians.

In our study, social characteristics were significantly inversely associated with depression (adjusted odds ratio 0.37 (0.20–0.71)), anxiety (adjusted odds ratio 0.53 (0.30–0.92)) and stress (adjusted odds ratio 0.45 (0.26–0.81)). Organisational characteristics showed a significant inverse association only with stress (adjusted odds ratio 0.42 (0.24–0.74)). Among male physicians, organisational characteristics were significantly inversely associated with depression (adjusted odds ratio 0.42 (0.19–0.90)), anxiety (adjusted odds ratio 0.44 (0.21–0.91)) and stress (adjusted odds ratio 0.42 (0.20–0.89)), while social characteristics were significantly inversely linked only to stress (adjusted odds ratio 0.43 (0.19–0.97)). By contrast, among female physicians, only social characteristics demonstrated a significant inverse association with depression (adjusted odds ratio 0.30 (0.12–0.78)).

This study highlights the importance of social characteristics as a protective factor for psychological well-being in the healthcare context. Therefore, fostering a work culture that prioritises peer support and strong interpersonal relationships can be crucial in alleviating mental health challenges among physicians.

The Collaborative Care Pathway (CCP-9) is a recovery orientated approach to mental health assessment, case formulation and care planning in a community mental health service. The CCP-9 has been in use for over ten years and a multi-stakeholder evaluation was timely. This study evaluates the satisfaction of service users, families/supporters and Mental Health Professionals with the operation of the CCP-9.

Surveys were circulated by post to 169 service users, 105 family members (FMs) and 33 mental health practitioners.

Response rates were 21% for service users, 24% for FMs and 39% for mental health practitioners. Approximately three-quarters of services users and FMs were satisfied with their involvement in the CCP-9 process. Two thirds of service users and three-quarters of FMs found the feedback on the case formulation and the care plan helpful. However, only a minority of both groups felt that the service user had received adequate support to prepare for discharge. Mental Health Practitioners were unanimous in recognising the CCP-9 process as important to all stakeholders, and as a useful approach to case formulation and care planning.

Those surveyed recognised the value of the collaborative approach although they did voice some key concerns. More support is required to prepare service users for discharge and to assist service users to access community supports. In addition, adequate resourcing is key to the success and feasibility of the CCP-9.

This study is the first study in Middle Eastern population that aimed to investigate the association between global diet quality Score(GDQS) and risk of hypertension(HTN) in Iranian adults.

This population-based cohort study was conducted on 5,718 individuals aged≥18 years from the third and fourth TLGS surveys, who were followed until the sixth survey(mean follow-up:7.8 years). Dietary data were collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire to calculate GDQS as a novel food-based metric designed to assess diet quality across diverse populations. It evaluates the adequacy of healthy food groups(e.g., fruits, vegetables, whole grains) while monitoring the moderation of unhealthy or excessive intake(e.g., refined grains, processed meats, sugary foods).

Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

Iranian men and women.

Participants had a mean±SD age of 37.7±12.8 years, BMI of 26.6±4.7 kg/m2, and GDQS of 25.3±4.4. During the 7.8-year follow-up, 1302(18%) new cases of HTN were identified. Higher GDQS and its healthy components were associated with reduced HTN risk(HR:0.83;95%CI:0.70-0.98;Ptrend=0.034 and HR:0.78;95%CI:0.65-0.92;Ptrend=0.005, respectively), while unhealthy components of GDQS showed no association with HTN risk (HR:1.14;95%CI:0.98-1.33;Ptrend=0.059). These protective associations were observed across all weight categories and both genders, with stronger effects among obese individuals(for GDQS:HR:0.75;95%CI:0.58-0.98;P=0.041; for healthy components:HR:0.75;95%CI:0.57-0.99;P=0.044) and females(for GDQS:HR:0.77;95%CI:0.62-0.97;P=0.028; for healthy components:HR:0.76;95%CI:0.60-0.96;P=0.023).

A higher GDQS was associated with a reduced risk of incident HTN among Iranian adults. Adherence to a high-quality diet, particularly focusing on the healthy dietary components of GDQS, may serve as an effective strategy for preventing HTN, especially among obese individuals and women.

Impaired muscle function, aerobic capacity, and fatigue are common in individuals with Fontan circulation. Knowledge regarding the effects of strength training in this population is limited. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the effects of strength training on dynamic muscle function, aerobic capacity, and fatigue in adults with Fontan circulation compared to matched controls.

In this pilot non-randomised controlled trial, nine patients with Fontan circulation (median age 28.9 years [IQR: 23.4–35.0], 44.4% women) and nine age- and sex-matched controls completed a 10-week strength training intervention. Dynamic muscle function was assessed through shoulder flexion, heel rise, elbow flexion, and knee extension tests. Aerobic capacity was evaluated using cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and fatigue using the questionnaire Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. All assessments were conducted pre- and post-intervention. Within-group changes were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and between-group differences using the Mann–Whitney U test.

Patients showed improvements in all muscle function tests post-intervention (shoulder flexions 39.3% [IQR: 18.9–69.7], p = 0.008; heel rise 26.7% [IQR:17.5–58.1], p = 0.008; elbow flexions 57.1% [IQR: 50.0–173.8], p = 0.007; knee extensions 66.7% [24.3–92.9], p = 0.008). The improvements were at comparable levels to controls. Only controls reported reduced fatigue (–19.4% [IQR: –28.7, –10.5], p = 0.01), while patients showed no change (–5.9% [IQR: −25.5, 3.2], p = 0.1). Aerobic capacity remained unchanged. No severe adverse events occurred.

Strength training is safe and improves dynamic muscle function in patients with Fontan circulation, with changes comparable to those of healthy controls. However, the effect of strength training on fatigue and aerobic capacity requires further investigation.

ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT05454254, https://clinicaltrials.gov.

Research on gender-based violence has shown the influence of Dark Tetrad personality traits (i.e. Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy and sadism) on the development and perpetuation of sexist attitudes and cognitions that justify or condone harmful behaviours.

This study explored the potential mediating role of empathy in the relationship between the Dark Tetrad personality traits and support for vindictive rape, as a form of revenge for the perceived violation of traditional sexual norms.

A sample of 1548 adult individuals from the general community (67.3% female, age range 18–83 years) completed the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen, the Short Sadistic Impulse Scale, the Basic Empathy Scale and the Vindictive Rape Attitude Questionnaire.

The results showed that empathy partially mediated the relationship between sadism and attitudes supportive of vindictive rape, while a full mediation of empathy was found in the association between Machiavellianism, psychopathy and attitudes supportive of vindictive rape. Conversely, no significant association between empathy or vindictive rape and narcissism was observed.

Empathy plays an important role in mitigating the effects of Dark Tetrad personality traits on support for vindictive rape. Given the global prevalence of violence against women, these findings are discussed in the context of a social climate that may reinforce the perpetuation of gender inequalities and sex-based stereotypes that are at the root of the acceptance of violence.

The Maudsley 3-item visual analogue scale (M3VAS) was developed as a novel and intuitive patient-reported measure for depression, focusing on core symptoms and suicidality.

To evaluate the longitudinal validity of M3VAS for capturing symptom change over time.

Both M3VAS and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, as reference standard) were administered in an observational study (RHAPSODY, no. NCT04939818) at weeks 0, 2 and 4 to both depressed patients (n = 50) and matched controls (n = 24). We serially tested factor structure, internal consistency and convergence (correlation) over time, assessing responsiveness by both correlation of change in score and effect of time across scales (analysis of variance and effect size).

M3VAS exhibited strong factor loadings and high item interrelatedness (Cronbach’s alpha 0.78–0.83) at all time points. Total scores correlated strongly with PHQ-9 at each time point (r > 0.8, P < 0.001). Correlation of score change over the study period (r = 0.65, P < 0.001) also confirmed responsiveness. In the depressed group, an effect of time on score was seen for both M3VAS (F = 4.942, P = 0.010) and PHQ-9 (F = 12.505, P < 0.001), with standard response mean (Cohen’s d) of 0.58 and 0.74, respectively. No effect of time was seen in the control group.

Following previous cross-sectional validation against the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology–Self-report, this present study demonstrated appropriate longitudinal measurement properties for M3VAS as a measure of depression, including responsiveness. Evaluating the ability of M3VAS to discern responses with a variety of treatments is a key future goal.