Clinical Research Directory

Validation of the French Version of the Perinatal Assessment of Paternal Affectivity (PAPA)

The transition to parenthood is a critical period for both the woman and her partner, and this can affect the mental health of the parents. Like mothers, fathers are at risk of stress, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder during the perinatal period. Existing screening or diagnostic tools have been developed on the basis of traditional depressive symptoms expressed by women. However, the manifestations of perinatal mental disorders appear to be different in men. It is therefore essential to develop tools that are sensitive and specific to both gender and the perinatal period in order to increase the sensitivity and specificity of screening for fathers. In France, to the best of the knowledge of the investigators, there is no validated tool in French to assess paternal psychological disorders, either prenatally or postnatally. Baldoni et al. had validated a brief self-report questionnaire, the " Perinatal Assessment of Paternal Affectivity " (PAPA), to screen for perinatal signs and symptoms of paternal affective disorder, using a gender-sensitive approach. The aim of this study is to cross-cultural adapt the PAPA in French and to evaluate its psychometric properties. This validation of the French-PAPA would provide a simple tool, easy to use in everyday practice, to detect any signs or symptoms of paternal psychopathological distress in the pre- and postnatal period.

Value of Gym-based Exercise Training for Young Adults Receiving Antipsychotic Medication: The Vega Trial

This is a multicentre, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial to estimate the effect of a 4-month gym-based exercise training program on 1) patient-rated personal recovery (primary outcome), 2) Health-related quality of life, behavioral and functional symptoms, and cardiometabolic risk factors (secondary outcomes) in young adults with psychotic disorders. Four-hundred antipsychotic-treated young adults (between the age of 18 and 35), who are capable to undertake an exercise program (potentially with a friend or family member where possible) will be recruited from outpatient treatment units and mental health services. Participants will be randomised to treatment as usual or exercise at a 2:1 ratio in favor of exercise. Outcomes will be measured at baseline and at 4, 6 and 12 months after randomisation, by researchers masked to participant allocation.

Better Sleep in Psychiatric Care - Depression, Anxiety and PTSD

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is treatment of choice for insomnia. Many patients in psychiatric care have sleep problems including insomnia, but are rarely given the choice to participate in CBT to improve their sleep. Patients with PTSD, Anxiety disorders and Depression display high levels of sleep difficulties. Sleep problems are often general, such as insomnia and sleep phase problems. In a previous pilot study, the investigators of the current study developed a CBT protocol that would target sleep problems in this mixed psychiatric population. The basis was CBT for insomnia (CBT-i), but also including techniques that would alleviate sleep phase problems (e.g. the systematic use of light and darkness), and techniques to target more general sleep related problems (e.g. difficulties waking up in the morning), that are also common in psychiatric patients. This treatment was well tolerated and gave large withing-group effects on insomnia severity in the pilot study. In a naturalistic randomized controlled trial, the investigators now evaluate the effects of this psychological treatment on sleep and anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients at the units for Anxiety and Affective disorders and Trauma, Southwest Psychiatry and Northern Stockholm Psychiatry, Stockholm County Council, Sweden.