Adolescent and Youth Health: Development and Future Challenges

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    Drugs and the Teen Brain
    (2010-10-20) Dr. Mohammed Musmar

    Drugs do more harm to a teen‟s brain than anyone could ever imagine. Our teens are exposed to drugs i.e.Nicotine, Caffeine, amphetamines, prescription drugs--- just to mention few. Unfortunately a drug is a pleasure producing chemical.Drugs make the young feel good, but are the pleasure they get worth the price we all pay?Drugs are extremely appealing to teens “Some drugs produce extraordinary levels of pleasure “. Drugs basically activate chemical pathways in the brain that are associated with feelings of well being and euphoria, or in other words work by modifying the chemistry of pleasure.If teens get in trouble with drugs, they stop being interested in things they used to be interested in. This is an important sign.Teen brains are very easily injured by drugs and take a long time to repair. Adolescent brain is a very unique structure. Recent advances on drug addiction will be presented.

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    How to Study Adolescents
    (2010-10-20) Dr. Anwar Dudin
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    ‘Something Has Changed’. Early Intervention in Psychosis in Trieste, Italy.
    (2010-10-20) Dr. Barbara Bavdaž

    Purpose:
    To optimize a system focused on early detection and early intervention in psychosis for adolescents and young adults(16y-30y). The goal is to reduce DUP (duration of untreated psychosis) through integrated and trans disciplinary teams, also implementing knowledge and specific skills of professionals, and organizing meetings with general population, The purpose is to reduce stigma and improve accessibility to appropriate care; this should lead to a reduction in both, incidence (short term) and prevalence (long term, 10-20 years) of psychosis in the area of Trieste.

    Methods:
    To start a collaboration between Children and Adolescents Services and the Department of Mental Health in order to support the 16-30 group (prevention and early intervention in psychosis). The community based system in town has a long history and the emphasis is currently put on facilitating the access of young people to more youth friendly services and trans disciplinary teams. In the initial phase GPs and teachers are vital partners of the project; families and carers are already involved through courses and meetings.
    -To organize courses in the local schools focused on health education and detailed information in view of fighting stigma and facilitate contacts or request of help.
    -To involve the media
    -To start a help-line
    -To organize training for GPs about early detection of psychosis and set a strong referral system for young people at risk.
    -To start youth friendly services taking care of the environment and settings.

    Results/findings:
    Expected results from the second year (time zero) on:
    -in the first six months, 15% increase of referrals; in the second six months a further 20% increase.
    -50% reduction of assessments in the hospital crisis ward
    -increase of first contacts at the CMHC (Community Mental Health Centres)
    Evaluation of the new pathways of care through:
    - RCT
    -Self-evaluating questionnaires to GPs
    Formal definition and approval of procedures and pathways of the project focused on adolescents and young adults, with particular attention to carers.

    Conclusions:
    This is a pilot project in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
    The methodology is sufficiently flexible, therefore adaptable to various settings.
    If successful, it could represent a national model of an integrated multidisciplinary approach to prevention and early detection of psychosis.
    The plan is to cooperate with similar initiatives on the national level, e.g. with Rome and Milan.

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    Epidemiologic Study About Acne
    (2010-10-20) Mr. Muath Eideh

    Purpose:The aims of our study are to identify the main causes of acne, and what factors make it scare. Also to take some information about treatment, and social impact of acne.

    Methods:A cross sectional observation design easy conducted in Al-Quds University students to assess the major causes of acne, social impact of acne, effective of treatment.
    Total of 100 students at Al – Quds University completed questionnaires. The questionnaires consisted of general questions about the life style and nutrition; also consist of many questions about the causes of acne, severity, treatment, and the social impact of acne. The finding of the study was discussed with other results. Statistical package for social science (spss) version 16 was used for data entry and analysis.

    Results/findings:Acne was found in 57.8 % of the studied sample, female have more chance to develop acne then men, 69.9 % of acne people in our sample are female. Regarding the causes of acne, 96.6% of the studied sample have acne during stress, 76.3% of acne people have a family history of acne, 71.7 % of female have acne during menstrual cycle, 79.6 % of acne people their acne increase and become scare after eating fatty food, 76.8 % also their acne increase after scratching it, and after shaving acne increase in 73.2 % of the acne people.
    In addition to that, 49.2 % of the acne people their acne was concentrated in the face, only 8.5% in the back, and 42.4 % in more than one region. Most acne people 26.7 % their acne was moderately distribution, and only 8.5 % have severe acne.
    According to the treatment, 42.4 % have visited a doctor, and only few people19.2 % who have large improvement after treatment , 34.6 % of acne people say that the cost of treatment including drugs is expensive , and 42.3 % the cost of treatment was moderate .
    Acne affect people lifestyle in 56.00% of acne people, 45.7 % fell depression and upset because of acne.

    Conclusions:
    Stress, menstrual cycle, and family history are the major causes for acne, and there are many factors that increase the severity of acne, also we can conclude that acne affect people lifestyle.