Functional gastrointestinal disorders, lifestyle habits, and smartphone addiction in adolescents

Trends and Influencing Factors in Problematic Smartphone Use Prevalence (2012-2022): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Given that problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been researched for a long time, it becomes necessary to assess how the trends of PSU prevalence have evolved over time. In total, 106 articles from 2012 to 2022 with 109 studies covering 97,748 individuals were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The estimation of the global pooled PSU prevalence was 37.1% (95% confidence interval, 33.5 - 40.8%) and the PSU prevalence is growing over time in total. Although the PSU prevalence exhibited wide variation between regions and measurement scales, the increasing trend remained. In addition, the regression slope of the PSU prevalence trend in males was higher than that in females. Males initially had a lower prevalence of PSU than females, but this steadily changed over time until it was greater in males than in females. Moreover, the prevalence of PSU showed an increasing trend across all age groups, with a faster growth rate in the older age group. Considering the aforementioned results, it's necessary to implement proper interventions to do with this phenomenon. In addition, considering the differences in prevalence brought by regions, and measurement scales, in practice and research, we should not only take into account the disparities of PSU between countries or cultures, but also to concern about establishing unified standard and measurement tools to confirm it.

Role of social media in the presentation of disorders of gut-brain interaction: Review and recommendations

As clinicians involved in the care of patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs), we-and many colleagues-have the impression that social media are adversely shaping the nature, presentation, and ability to manage these disorders, especially at the severe end of the DGBI clinical spectrum. We turned to the research literature to see if these clinical impressions were corroborated but found it virtually nonexistent. Social media have rapidly become a ubiquitous, pervasive part of the lives of most people on the planet. Although they bring many benefits, they are also replete with health misinformation, reinforcement of abnormal sick-role behavior, and undermining of the legitimacy of psychological care. We first set out four reasons for concern about social media and DGBIs, particularly severe DGBIs. These reasons stem from phenomena described in medical fields outside DGBIs, but there is no reason to think DGBIs should be exempt from such phenomena. We then present the results of a literature search, which yielded only eight disparate recent empirical studies. We review these studies, which, although not uninformative, reveal a field in its infancy. We set out implications, most urgently multidisciplinary research directly addressing the role of social media and evaluation of interventions to mitigate its ill effects. Gastroenterological clinicians involved in DGBI care and research need to collaborate with experts in social media research, which is a very rapidly evolving, specialized field. Although knowledge is at an early stage, there are implications for specialist practice, education and training, and DGBI service delivery.

The prevalence of rumination syndrome and rumination disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Rumination is characterized by the repeated regurgitation of food. Rumination syndrome is a disorder of gut-brain interaction diagnosed by Rome criteria, whereas rumination disorder is a feeding and eating disorder diagnosed by DSM-5 criteria. We aimed to determine the global prevalence of rumination according to these criteria across all age groups.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting the prevalence of rumination syndrome according to Rome III and Rome IV and rumination disorder according to the following validated DSM-5 assessments: PARDI, EDA-5, EDY-Q, STEP, and STEP-CHILD. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsychINFO (from January 1, 2006, to June 1, 2023) to identify studies reporting the prevalence of rumination in community settings in participants of any age. We did a meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence and odds ratio (OR) of rumination according to diagnostic criteria, country, and characteristics such as age and sex.

KEY RESULTS

The search strategy generated 1243 studies, of which 147 studies appeared to be relevant. Thirty studies were included, with a total of 114,228 participants, of whom 61,534 of these were adults and 52,694 were children. The pooled prevalence of rumination syndrome in children of all ages according to Rome III criteria was 1.0% (95% CI 0.3-1.6; I2 91.1%), but no data were available for adults. According to Rome IV criteria, the pooled prevalence of rumination syndrome in children of all ages was 0.4% (95% CI 0.2-0.6; I2 56.4%) and 3.7% in adults (95% CI 2.3-5.1; I2 91.4%). The pooled prevalence of rumination disorder in children of all ages according to EDY-Q was 2.1% (95% CI 0.9-3.4; I2 = 78.1%), but only one study utilizing EDY-Q in adults was included (0.7% [95% CI 0.4-1.0]). No data were available for children or adults using any other validated DSM-5 assessments for rumination disorder. Irrespective of diagnostic criteria, the pooled prevalence of rumination was higher in adults compared to children and adolescents (3.0% [95% CI 1.4-4.7; I2 = 98.1%] vs. 0.8% [95% CI 0.4-1.3; I2 = 90.8%]), but higher in adolescents than in children (1.1% [95% CI 0.3-2.0; I2 = 92.8%] vs. 0.1% [95% CI 0.0-0.2; I2 = 24.5%]). In adults, factors independently associated with rumination were female gender (OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.0-2.0]), anxiety (OR 2.3 [95% CI 2.1-2.6]), and depression (OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.2-2.9]). No association between gender and rumination was seen in children.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES

The prevalence of rumination is more common in adults than in children. In adults, rumination is associated with female gender, anxiety, and depression. Future population studies should aim to better understand why this behavior is more common in adults and also compare validated DSM-5 assessments for rumination disorder with Rome criteria for rumination syndrome as prevalence may differ.

Clinical Manifestations' Spectrum of Smartphone Addiction: Moving from an Addiction toward a Clinical Syndrome

Background

Smartphone addiction is an emerging type of addiction in the digital era, characterized by smartphone dependence that negatively affects human health with a wide range of psychological and physical manifestations.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the detailed clinical manifestations of smartphone addiction as a delineated clinical syndrome.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was employed to assess smartphone addiction prevalence and its health impacts among Syrian undergraduates using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV 2013), the Kessler psychological distress scale (K-6), and a comprehensive assessment of the clinical manifestations frequently linked to smartphone addiction in the literature. Different statistical modeling techniques were applied; a P value of < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Of 1532 invited undergraduates, 1401 (91.45%) completed the assessment adequately. Most participants were females (59.7%) and below 23 years of age (73.2%). The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 67.80%; statistically significant smartphone addiction associations were revealed with psychological distress (P < .0001) with odds ratios of 3.308. Most screened physical manifestations also showed a significant association with smartphone addiction.

Conclusion

A high prevalence of smartphone addiction was observed with a broad spectrum of associated mental and physical manifestations. As smart device addiction becomes a global health concern, combining the clinical findings reported in the related literature into one clinical identity is necessary to develop a holistic management approach for the delineated clinical syndrome.

The Clinical Characteristics and Related Factors of Centrally Mediated Abdominal Pain Syndrome

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics and related factors of centrally mediated abdominal pain syndrome (CAPS).

METHODS

Our study included 73 patients with CAPS and 132 age-matched and gender-matched healthy controls. The general information of the participants was collected, and the questionnaires were completed including the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Visual Analog Scale, and Short-Form 36. Univariate and forward stepwise regression analyses were performed to explore the influencing factors of CAPS.

RESULTS

Nonexercise (adjusted odds ration [AOR] 4.53; confidence interval [CI] 1.602-12.809), mild-to-moderate depression (AOR 7.931; CI 3.236-19.438), married status (AOR 3.656; CI 1.317-10.418), and drinking coffee (AOR 0.199; CI 0.051-0.775) were found to be related with centrally mediated abdominal syndrome. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale score (7-13) was significantly related to moderate-to-severe abdominal pain (AOR 7.043; CI 1.319-37.593). Higher Hamilton Depression Scale score was related to lower mental component scale score (β = -0.726, P < 0.01) and physical component scale score (β = -0.706, P < 0.01).

DISCUSSION

Depression, married status, and nonexercise were the independent risk factors of CAPS. Conversely, coffee intake was an independent protective factor of CAPS. Anxiety was related to the severity of abdominal pain, while depression was related to low health-related quality of life.

Prevalence of smartphone addiction among Asian medical students: A meta-analysis of multinational observational studies

BACKGROUND

High prevalence of smartphone addiction among medical students may contribute to adverse physical and mental health outcomes.

AIM

To estimate the prevalence of smartphone addiction, and explore the influencing factors and related mental health symptoms of smartphone addiction among Asian medical students.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed (MEDLINE), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE were searched for relevant literature from the inception to September 10, 2021. Using Stata software 11.0, the meta-analysis of prevalence and the influencing factors of smartphone addiction were determined with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Nineteen articles, published between 2014 and 2019, were included, producing medical student studies from seven different Asian countries. The included studies were conducted in India (n = 11) and Malaysia (n = 3), with China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Nepal, and Iran each contributing one study. Among a total of 5,497 medical students, the participants included 3,214 females, of whom 2,181 were medical students with smartphone addiction. The prevalence of smartphone addiction among Asian medical students was 41.93% (95% CI [36.24%, 47.72%]). The influencing factors of smartphone addiction among medical students included gender, duration of smartphone use, smartphone function, and marital status. Ten studies (52.63%) explored related mental health symptoms of smartphone addiction among Asian medical students. Smartphone addiction was positively correlated with poor sleep quality (r = .17-.31), stress (r = .30-.40), anxiety, depression, neuroticism, and general health among Asian medical students.

CONCLUSION

Smartphone addiction is highly prevalent among Asian medical students. Smartphone addiction may adversely affect mental health, resulting in sleep disturbance, stress, anxiety, depression, and neuroticism. It is necessary to take appropriate precautionary actions and interventions to prevent smartphone overuse among medical students.