Prevalence of Mental Health Symptoms in Dutch Military Personnel Returning from Deployment to Afghanistan: A 2-year Longitudinal Analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Reijnen ◽  
A.R. Rademaker ◽  
E. Vermetten ◽  
E. Geuze
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Multiple Time ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Sleeping Problems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Multiple Time Points

AbstractObjective:Recent studies in troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have shown that combat exposure and exposure to deployment-related stressors increase the risk for the development of mental health symptoms. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of mental health symptoms in a cohort of Dutch military personnel prior to and at multiple time-points after deployment.Methods:Military personnel (n= 994) completed various questionnaires at 5 time-points; starting prior to deployment and following the same cohort at 1 and 6 months and 1 and 2 years after their return from Afghanistan.Results:The prevalence of symptoms of fatigue, PTSD, hostility, depression and anxiety was found to significantly increase after deployment compared with pre-deployment rates. As opposed to depressive symptoms and fatigue, the prevalence of PTSD was found to decrease after the 6-month assessment. The prevalence of sleeping problems and hostility remained relatively stable.Conclusions:The prevalence of mental health symptoms in military personnel increases after deployment, however, symptoms progression over time appears to be specific for various mental health symptoms. Comprehensive screening and monitoring for a wide range of mental health symptoms at multiple time-points after deployment is essential for early detection and to provide opportunities for intervention.Declaration of interest:This project was funded by the Dutch Ministry of Defence.

scholarly journals Targeting the Gut Microbiome in Prader-Willi Syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (22) ◽  
pp. 5328
Author(s):  
Marta Ramon-Krauel ◽  
Montse Amat-Bou ◽  
Mercedes Serrano ◽  
Antonio F. Martinez-Monseny ◽  
Carles Lerin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Prader Willi Syndrome ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Probiotic Supplementation ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Overwhelming Evidence ◽  
Wide Range

Overwhelming evidence demonstrates an important role of the gut microbiome in the development of a wide range of diseases, including obesity, metabolic disorders, and mental health symptoms. Indeed, interventions targeting the gut microbiome are being actively investigated as a therapeutic strategy to tackle these diseases. Given that obesity and mental health symptoms are both hallmarks of Prader-Willi syndrome, targeting the gut microbiome may be a promising therapeutical strategy. Only a few studies have investigated the gut microbiome in the context of Prader-Willi syndrome and assessed the efficacy of probiotic supplementation as a therapeutic strategy for this disease. Here, we review the knowledge obtained to this date regarding the gut microbiome in individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome. The limited evidence available indicate that probiotic supplementation improves some metabolic and mental health aspects, however further studies are warranted to determine whether targeting the gut microbiome may constitute a safe and efficient strategy to treat individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Dyadic perceptions of depression and anxiety in romantic relationships

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 432-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline E. Schnapp ◽  
Danielle N. O’Neal ◽  
Allison A. Vaughn
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Causal Attributions ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Actor Partner Interdependence Model ◽  
Dating Couples

This study investigated dyadic perceptions of the causes of mental health symptoms within dating couples. We tested the extent to which a participant’s beliefs about their romantic partner’s attributions about mental health were accurate and/or biased and the extent to which causal attributions about mental health predicted relationship quality. Ninety-four dyads ( N = 188) reported on biological and psychological causes of mental health symptoms and relationship conflict and support. Consistent with hypotheses, the actor–partner interdependence model revealed more bias than accuracy in perceptions of the causes of mental health symptoms. Results also showed more effects of causal attributions on relationship quality for the romantic partner than for the participant with symptoms and more effects of controllable psychological causes on relationship quality relative to uncontrollable psychological or any biological causes. While relationship quality was generally positive, endorsement of most causes of mental health symptoms predicted higher conflict and lower support. These accuracy and bias effects as well as the effects on the romantic partner affirm the importance of studying both members of the romantic relationship because they would have been missed completely if only studying the participant with mental health symptoms. In terms of clinical practice, working with couples whose attributions align might look differently than working with couples who are not so aligned.

scholarly journals Neighbour noise annoyance is associated with various mental and physical health symptoms: results from a nationwide study among individuals living in multi-storey housing

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi A. R. Jensen ◽  
Birgit Rasmussen ◽  
Ola Ekholm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Response Options ◽  
Noise Annoyance ◽  
Sleeping Problems

Abstract Background Noise exposure is considered a stressor that may potentially exert negative health effects among the exposed individuals. On a population basis, the most prevalent and immediate response to noise is annoyance, which is an individually experienced phenomenon that may activate physiological stress-responses and result in both physical and mental symptoms. Health implications of traffic noise have been investigated thoroughly, but not of neighbour noise. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between neighbour noise annoyance and eight different physical and mental health symptoms. Methods Cross-sectional data from the Danish Health and Morbidity Survey 2017 were used. The present study included a random sample of 3893 adults living in multi-storey housing. Information on neighbour noise annoyance and various health symptoms (e.g. pain in various body parts, headache, sleeping problems, depression, and anxiety) during the past two weeks was obtained by self-administered questionnaires. The question on neighbour noise annoyance and health symptoms, respectively, had three possible response options: ‘Yes, very annoyed/bothered’, ‘Yes, slightly annoyed/bothered’, ‘No’. The associations between neighbour noise annoyance and very bothering physical and mental health symptoms were investigated using multiple logistic regression models. Results Being very annoyed by neighbour noise was significantly associated with higher odds of being very bothered by all eight health symptoms (adjusted OR = 1.73–3.32, all p-values < 0.05) compared to individuals not annoyed by noise from neighbours. Statistically significant interactions were observed between sex and two of the eight health symptoms. Among women, a strong association was observed between neighbour noise annoyance and being very bothered by pain or discomfort in the shoulder or neck, and in the arms, hands, legs, knees, hips or joints. Among men, no associations were observed. Conclusions Based on the findings from this study, neighbour noise annoyance is strongly associated with eight different physical and mental health symptoms. Future studies are encouraged to 1) determine the direction of causality using a longitudinal design, 2) explore the biological mechanisms explaining the sex-specific impact of neighbour noise annoyance on symptoms of musculoskeletal pain or discomfort and the other outcomes as well.

scholarly journals The Impact of Epidemics and Pandemics on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6695
Author(s):  
Ottilia Cassandra Chigwedere ◽  
Anvar Sadath ◽  
Zubair Kabir ◽  
Ella Arensman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Background: There is increasing evidence that healthcare workers (HCWs) experience significant psychological distress during an epidemic or pandemic. Considering the increase in emerging infectious diseases and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely to review and synthesize the available evidence on the psychological impact of disease outbreaks on HCWs. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to examine the impact of epidemics and pandemics on the mental health of HCWs. Method: PubMed, PsycInfo, and PsycArticles databases were systematically searched from inception to June-end 2020 for studies reporting the impact of a pandemic/epidemic on the mental health of HCWs. Results: Seventy-six studies were included in this review. Of these, 34 (45%) focused on SARS, 28 (37%) on COVID-19, seven (9%) on MERS, four (5%) on Ebola, two (3%) on H1N1, and one (1%) on H7N9. Most studies were cross-sectional (93%) and were conducted in a hospital setting (95%). Common mental health symptoms identified by this review were acute stress disorder, depression, anxiety, insomnia, burnout, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The associated risk factors were working in high-risk environments (frontline), being female, being a nurse, lack of adequate personal protective equipment, longer shifts, lack of knowledge of the virus, inadequate training, less years of experience in healthcare, lack of social support, and a history of quarantine. Conclusion: HCWs working in the frontline during epidemics and pandemics experience a wide range of mental health symptoms. It is imperative that adequate psychological support be provided to HCWs during and after these extraordinary distressful events.

scholarly journals Mental Health Status of Late-Middle-Aged Adults in China During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Bo Zheng ◽  
Le Shi ◽  
Zheng-An Lu ◽  
Jian-Yu Que ◽  
Kai Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
Acute Stress Symptoms

Background: The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related compulsory measures have triggered a wide range of psychological issues. However, the effect of COVID-19 on mental health in late-middle-aged adults remains unclear.Methods: This cross-sectional, web-based survey recruited 3,730 participants (≥ 50 years old) between February 28 and March 11 of 2020. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Insomnia Severity Index, and Acute Stress Disorder Scale were used to evaluate depression, anxiety, insomnia, and acute stress symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was fitted to explore risk factors that were associated with the selected outcomes.Results: The mean age of the participants was 54.44 ± 5.99 years, and 2,026 (54.3%) of the participants were female. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and acute stress symptoms among late-middle-aged adults in China during the COVID-19 pandemic was 20.4, 27.1, 27.5, and 21.2%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that participants who were quarantined had increased odds ratios for the four mental health symptoms, and those with a good understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic displayed a decreased risk for all mental health symptoms among late-middle-aged adults. In addition, participants with a low income and with a risk of COVID-19 exposure at work had a remarkably high risk of depression, anxiety, and acute stress symptoms.Conclusions: Mental health symptoms in late-middle-aged adults in China during the COVID-19 pandemic are prevalent. Population-specific mental health interventions should be developed to improve mental health outcomes in late-middle-aged adults during this public health emergency.

The Association Between Electronic and In-Person Dating Violence Victimization, Anxiety, and Depression Among College Students in Hawai’i

Partner Abuse ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Weingarten ◽  
Ashley Wu ◽  
Kalani Gates ◽  
Patricia Carreño ◽  
Charlene Baker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Dating Violence ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Dating Relationships ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Violence Victimization ◽  
College Age ◽  
Emotional Aggression

Among the college-age population, social media and other forms of electronic communication have become commonplace. This population is also considered at high risk for dating violence experiences; however, the intersection of electronic use and dating violence has only begun to be explored with this age group. This study sought to add to the understanding of technology use in dating relationships by examining electronic dating violence (EDV), as well as in-person dating violence and mental health symptoms. For the study, 330 students were asked to report their experiences of EDV and in-person dating violence victimization as well as any symptoms of depression and anxiety. An exploratory factor analysis was used to better understand the measurement of EDV, and three subscales were determined: indirect, direct, and physical/sexual electronic victimization. For women, indirect and direct EDV victimization predicted depression, while only direct EDV predicted anxiety. For men, indirect EDV predicted depression. With in-person victimization, emotional aggression predicted depression and anxiety for men and women. Findings indicate a connection between EDV and mental health symptoms, and that these relationships vary by gender. Results highlight the importance of further EDV research as well as the development of intervention and prevention programming for this population.

Functional Outcome and Mental Health Symptoms in Military Personnel and Veterans Pursuing Postsecondary Education After Traumatic Brain Injury: A VA TBI Model Systems Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-55
Author(s):  
Marc A. Silva ◽  
Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga ◽  
Nitin Patel ◽  
Jeffrey S. Garofano ◽  
Kristina M. Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Community Reintegration ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Severe Tbi

BackgroundTBI is a leading cause of disability among veterans and active duty military personnel, and presents an obstacle to community reintegration. Prior studies examining adult survivors of TBI pursuing postsecondary education have methodological flaws that limit the understanding the scope and severity of sequelae experienced by persons with TBI who attend college.ObjectiveTo describe (a) physical and cognitive functioning, and (b) postconcussion and mental health symptoms in veterans and military personnel (V/M) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) enrolled in postsecondary education programs after discharge from rehabilitation.MethodCross-sectional study. Participants were recruited from five Veterans Affairs (VA) Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers, enrolled in the VA TBI Model Systems parent study, and attending school during follow-up (N= 155). Outcome measures included the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C), Patient Health Questionnaire-Depression (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7).FindingsParticipants were mostly male (92.9%) and White (81.4%), with mild (40.0%), moderate (11.5%), severe (34.5%), or very severe TBI (23.0%). Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and postconcussion symptoms were lowest in participants with very severe TBI and highest in those with mild TBI. There were no significant differences in FIM across TBI severity levels.ConclusionThis study supports the need for rehabilitation counselors, educators, and administrators to prepare future practitioners to deliver tailored services to student V/M with TBI. These services can facilitate successful community reintegration and transition into civilian school settings. Symptom profiling may inform personalized cognitive interventions to enhance these students’ academic success.

scholarly journals Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis Subsp. lactis (BPL1) Supplementation in Children and Adolescents with Prader–Willi Syndrome: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3123
Author(s):  
Montse Amat-Bou ◽  
Sonika Garcia-Ribera ◽  
Eric Climent ◽  
Irene Piquer-Garcia ◽  
Raquel Corripio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Crossover Trial ◽  
Genetic Disorder ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Prader Willi Syndrome ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Bifidobacterium Animalis ◽  
Randomized Crossover Trial ◽  
Wide Range

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations, including obesity, hyperphagia, and behavioral problems. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BPL1 has been shown to improve central adiposity in adults with simple obesity. To evaluate BPL1′s effects in children with PWS, we performed a randomized crossover trial among 39 patients (mean age 10.4 years). Participants were randomized to placebo–BPL1 (n = 19) or BPL1–placebo (n = 20) sequences and underwent a 12-week period with placebo/BPL1 treatments, a 12-week washout period, and a 12-week period with the crossover treatment. Thirty-five subjects completed the study. The main outcome was changes in adiposity, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Secondary outcomes included lipid and glucose metabolism, hyperphagia, and mental health symptoms. Generalized linear modeling was applied to assess differences between treatments. While BPL1 did not modify total fat mass compared to placebo, BPL1 decreased abdominal adiposity in a subgroup of patients older than 4.5 years (n = 28). BPL1 improved fasting insulin concentration and insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, we observed modest improvements in some mental health symptoms. A follow-up trial with a longer treatment period is warranted to determine whether BPL1 supplementation can provide a long-term therapeutic approach for children with PWS (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03548480).

Predictors of healthcare use in community women with eating disorder symptoms: a longitudinal study

2021 ◽  
pp. 103985622110092
Author(s):  
Nicol Holtzhausen ◽  
Phillipa Hay ◽  
Nasim Foroughi ◽  
Haider Mannan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Multiple Time ◽  
Healthcare Use ◽  
Defense Style ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Multiple Time Points ◽  
Over Time

Objectives This study aimed to investigate associations between eating disorder mental health literacy (EDMHL), defense style, eating disorder (ED) symptom severity, psychological distress and mental-health-related quality of life (MHRQoL) and the likelihood of formal and informal healthcare use (HCU) across multiple time points. Methods A community sample of 445 young women with ED symptoms were followed over 7 years. Questionnaires were distributed via email and postal mail across multiple time points; this study includes data from years 2 (baseline in this study), 4 and 9. The inclusion criteria was provision of HCU data at year 2. Results ED symptom severity at baseline was significantly associated with greater HCU two and seven years later. Accurate identification of an ED by participants (i.e. EDMHL) at baseline was associated with greater HCU seven years later. Defense style, psychological distress, MHRQoL and other aspects of EDMHL were not significantly associated with HCU over time. Conclusions Individuals with more severe ED symptoms, and with greater EDMHL, may be more likely to seek help over time. However, individuals with EDs may not seek help directly for poorer MHRQoL and higher levels of psychological distress. This reinforces the importance of ED screening, particularly in primary care settings.

scholarly journals Acute COVID-19 severity and 16-month mental morbidity trajectories in patient populations of six nations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingibjorg Magnusdottir ◽  
Aniko Lovik ◽  
Anna Bara Unnarsdottir ◽  
Daniel L. McCartney ◽  
Helga Ask ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Prevalence Ratio ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression

BACKGROUND The aim of this multinational study was to assess the development of adverse mental health symptoms among individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the general population by acute infection severity up to 16 months after diagnosis. METHODS Participants consisted of 247 249 individuals from seven cohorts across six countries (Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, Scotland, and Sweden) recruited from April 2020 through August 2021. We used multivariable Poisson regression to contrast symptom-prevalence of depression, anxiety, COVID-19 related distress, and poor sleep quality among individuals with and without a diagnosis of COVID-19 at entry to respective cohorts by time (0-16 months) from diagnosis. We also applied generalised estimating equations (GEE) analysis to test differences in repeated measures of mental health symptoms before and after COVID-19 diagnosis among individuals ever diagnosed with COVID-19 over time. FINDINGS A total of 9979 individuals (4%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the study period and presented overall with a higher symptom burden of depression (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.03-1.36) and poorer sleep quality (1.13, 1.03-1.24) but not with higher levels of symptoms of anxiety or COVID-19 related distress compared with individuals without a COVID-19 diagnosis. While the prevalence of depression and COVID-19 related distress attenuated with time, the trajectories varied significantly by COVID-19 acute infection severity. Individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 but never bedridden due to their illness were consistently at lower risks of depression and anxiety (PR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.91 and 0.77, 0.63-0.94, respectively), while patients bedridden for more than 7 days were persistently at higher risks of symptoms of depression and anxiety (PR 1.61, 95% CI 1.27-2.05 and 1.43, 1.26-1.63, respectively) throughout the 16-month study period. CONCLUSION Acute infection severity is a key determinant of long-term mental morbidity among COVID-19 patients.

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