Laura Restrepo-Escudero

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder among adults aged 65 and older, significantly impacting their well-being. With an aging global population, effective interventions delivered in community settings are vital to combat this issue. This review provides an overview of the characteristics of interventions addressing depression in community-dwelling older adults, identifying knowledge gaps by synthesizing current data. The search strategy entails a systematic database search across PubMed, EMBASE, Ovid, and PsycNet, without any time or language restrictions. Studies were included if they reported interventions delivered in community settings that aimed to improve depressive symptoms or reduce the prevalence of depression in older adults. A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions were grouped into four main types (discussion groups, individual contact, social engagement activities, and skills courses), often combined. Most reported short-term reductions in depressive symptoms, but evidence was limited by small samples, reliance on self-reported outcomes, and scarce long-term follow-up. Interventions delivered in community settings show promise for supporting older adults’ mental health, especially when they are adapted to local needs. Improving recruitment strategies and tackling cultural and logistical barriers could expand their reach and accessibility, and strengthen the contribution of these programs alongside specialist mental health care.

Background: Ischemic stroke in young adults poses a diagnostic challenge that requires evaluation of both conventional and non-conventional risk factors, including genetic and structural vascular diseases such as fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). Case presentation: We report the case of a 41-year-old patient with a previous ischemic stroke who presented with three days of progressive, pulsatile, holocranial headache without associated nausea or photophobia. Neurological examination revealed right lower limb monoparesis and hyperreflexia. Neuroimaging demonstrated an extensive left carotid artery dissection extending from its origin to the anterior communicating artery segment, along with irregularities in the vertebral and contralateral carotid arteries, consistent with FMD. Genetic testing identified a PHACTR1 gene mutation. Conclusions: This case highlights fibromuscular dysplasia as an important cause of ischemic stroke in young adults and illustrates an unusually extensive arterial dissection associated with a PHACTR1 genetic variant. These findings support a genetically mediated vascular susceptibility spectrum and emphasize the importance of early recognition of non-atherosclerotic arteriopathies to guide diagnostic evaluation, individualized management, and secondary prevention.

Teachers in conflict-affected regions face chronic stress and trauma exposure, compromising their mental health and professional identity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the “Conmigo, Contigo, Con Todo” (3Cs) programme in improving resilience, compassion and prosocial behaviours among Afro-Colombian teachers in Tumaco, Colombia, through a mixed-methods cluster-randomised controlled trial. Thirty-two teachers from eight schools were randomised into intervention ( n = 28) and control ( n = 4) groups. Quantitative outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and follow-up using validated scales for resilience (CD-RISC), PTSD symptoms (PCL-C), anxiety, depression, compassion (ECOM) and prosocial behaviour (PPB). Qualitative data were collected through focus groups and analysed thematically. Resilience improved from baseline to follow-up (Hedges’ g = 0.23, small effect). PTSD symptoms declined substantially post-intervention (Hedges’ g = 0.98, large effect), with partial relapse at follow-up. Anxiety decreased initially but increased over time. Compassion and prosociality remained stable. Qualitative findings revealed perceived improvements in emotion regulation and compassion, although the 94% female sample may influence results. This exploratory study provides preliminary evidence that culturally adapted, school-based interventions may improve resilience and reduce trauma-related symptoms among teachers in high-adversity settings, although findings are limited by small sample size and group imbalance. Larger-scale replication with sustained reinforcement strategies is warranted.

Background: Visual and appearance-based social media platforms like TikTok can establish unrealistic beauty standards and self-esteem issues, leading to the development of eating disorders (EDs). This study aims to evaluate the association between TikTok usage and the presence of EDs risk behaviors and body dissatisfaction among Colombian young adults aged between 18 and 25 years. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted via an online survey through snowball sampling with 171 participants. The survey assessed demographic variables, social media use, content consumption, EDs risk behaviors, and body dissatisfaction through validated tools. Non-parametric tests and regression models were used for the data analysis. Results: TikTok users showed significantly higher scores in ED risk behaviors (M = 14.91) and body dissatisfaction (M = 21.9) compared to non-users. Contributory usage, particularly collaborative content creation, was the most associated with increased risk. The multivariate regression model for ED risk explained 3% of the variance, while TikTok use accounted for 30% of the variance in the model for body dissatisfaction. Discussion: Our study found a significant association between TikTok use and the development of ED risk behaviors and body dissatisfaction. These findings align with previous research and highlight the need for interventions that encourage mindful social media consumption.

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder among adults aged 65 and older, significantly impacting their well-being. With an aging global population, effective community-based interventions are vital to combat this issue. This review provides an overview of the characteristics of community-based interventions addressing depression in the elderly, identifying knowledge gaps by synthesizing current data. The search strategy entails a systematic database search. Results show that interventions have been effective in reducing depressive symptoms and enhancing social interaction, mainly those that include physical activity, social engagement, or mental health education. Success depends on factors such as participant engagement, adherence, and the sociocultural environment. Addressing these barriers requires a comprehensive understanding of local contexts and innovative service delivery approaches. Improving recruitment by overcoming cultural and logistical challenges could expand the reach and accessibility of these programs, thereby increasing their overall impact on older adults mental health and quality of life.