Co-occurrence of PTSD and cardiovascular disease among ethnic/racial groups in the United States

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S92-S92
Author(s):  
C. Vidal Mariño ◽  
R. Polo del Rio ◽  
M. Alegría ◽  
Y. Wang ◽  
R. Carmona
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Trauma Exposure ◽  
The United States ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Exposure To Trauma

IntroductionSome inconsistent evidence indicates experiences of trauma and the presence of symptoms of PTSD are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. This relation has rarely been explored with community samples including participants with PTSD symptoms or who fulfill criteria for PTSD disorders.ObjectivesWe identify those with a high number of PTSD symptoms and those fulfilling criteria for PTSD are more likely to have CVD than those without a PTSD syndrome or diagnosis. We examine rates of mental health access for those with PTSD and CVD.MethodsWe use Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES) to examine differences in trauma/PTSD prevalence and the association of prior trauma exposure and PTSD diagnoses with CVD (n = 13,286). CIDI was used to make psychiatric diagnoses and medical data was acquired regarding onset and severity of CVD.ResultsIndividuals with prior exposure to trauma and PTSD diagnoses had twice the likelihood of developing a cardiovascular disease as those without trauma exposure [OR = 1.77, 95% CI (1.0, 2.94)]. Having a PTSD diagnosis is a significant predictor of having a CVD for individuals who experienced a traumatic event.The probability of developing a CVD was higher when patients had prior diagnosis of substance abuse [OR = 1.36, 95% CI (1.11, 1.65)] or mental health disorders [OR = 1.43, 95% CI (1.10, 1.87) for depression; OR = 1.33, 95% CI (1.04, 1.69) for anxiety]. Men were almost twice as likely as women to be diagnosed with a CVD [OR = 1.67, 95% CI (1.37, 2.00)].ConclusionsExposure to trauma and the presence of PTSD symptoms are significantly associated with CVD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Mental Health Outcomes in the United States and Italy at Different Levels of Cumulative COVID-19 Prevalence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony D Mancini ◽  
Gabriele Prati
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
General Distress ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
Different Levels

How does the prevalence of COVID-19 impact people’s mental health? In a preregistered study (N = 857), we sought to answer this question by comparing demographically matched samples in four regions in the United States and Italy with different levels of cumulative COVID-19 prevalence. No main effect of prevalence emerged. Rather, prevalence region had opposite effects, depending on the country. New York City participants (high prevalence) reported more general distress, PTSD symptoms, and COVID-19 worry than San Francisco (low prevalence). Conversely, Campania participants (low prevalence) reported more general distress, PTSD symptoms, and COVID-19 worry than Lombardy (high prevalence). Consistent with these patterns, COVID-19 worry was more strongly linked with general distress and PTSD symptoms in New York than San Francisco, whereas COVID-19 worry was more strongly linked with PTSD in Campania than Lombardy. In exploratory analyses, media exposure predicted and mapped on to geographic variation in mental health outcomes.

scholarly journals Older Adults in the United States and COVID-19: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions, Finances, Coping, and Emotions

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Turner Goins ◽  
Elizabeth Anderson ◽  
Hannah Minick ◽  
Heather Daniels
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
News Media ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stress Appraisal ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Precautionary Measures

Introduction: Older adults have the poorest coronavirus (COVID-19) prognosis with the highest risk of death due to complications, making their COVID-19 experiences particularly important. Guided by the stress-appraisal-coping theoretical model, we sought to understand COVID-related perceptions and behaviors of older adults residing in the United States.Materials and Methods: We used convenience sampling to recruit persons with the following inclusion criteria: Aged ≥ 65 years, English fluency, and U.S. residency. Semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted remotely and audio recorded between April 25, 2020 and May 7, 2020. Interviews were professionally transcribed with a final study sample of 43. A low-inference qualitative descriptive design was used to provide a situated understanding of participants' life experiences using their naturalistic expressions.Results: The mean age of participants was 72.4 ± 6.7. Slightly over half were female (55.8%), 90.6% were White, and 18.6% lived alone. The largest percentages of participants resided in a rural area (27.9%) or small city (25.6%). We identified four themes, including (1) risk perception, (2) financial impact, (3) coping, and (4) emotions. Most participants were aware of their greater risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes but many did not believe in their increased risk. Financial circumstances because of the pandemic varied with largely no financial impacts, while others reported negative impacts and a few reported positive impacts. Coping was problem- and emotion-focused. Problem-focused coping included precautionary efforts and emotion-focused coping included creating daily structure, pursuing new and/or creative activities, connecting with others in new ways, and minimizing news media exposure. Overall, emotional health was negatively affected by the pandemic although some participants reported positive emotional experiences.Conclusions: Perceiving themselves as high risk for COVID-19 complications, older adults used precautionary measures to protect themselves from contracting the virus. The precautionary measures included social isolation, which can negatively affect mental health. Older adults will need to be resourceful and draw on existing resources to cope, such as engaging in creative activities and new strategies to connect with others. Our findings underscore the importance of the preservation of mental health during extended periods of isolation by taking advantage of low-to-no-cost existing resources.

scholarly journals PTSD prevalence among resident mothers and their offspring in Rwanda 25 years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Celestin Mutuyimana ◽  
Vincent Sezibera ◽  
Epaphrodite Nsabimana ◽  
Lambert Mugabo ◽  
Cindi Cassady ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
General Adult Population ◽  
Exposure To Trauma ◽  
Ptsd Prevalence

Abstract Background The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was a major traumatic event affecting nearly all Rwandans. Significant psychological sequels continue to occur in the population 25 years after, with a high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found in women. Three groups are typically designated with regard to the Genocide against the Tutsi: those who were targeted and categorized as genocide “survivors,” those who were in the country during the genocide and were the “non-targeted” group, and those who were outside of the country, referred to as the “1959 returnees.” Each group experienced various traumatic events during and in the aftermath of the genocide. Offspring of the designated groups, currently exhibit symptoms of PTSD disregarding of being born in the years following the genocide. A number of studies have described the prevalence of PTSD in the general adult population. There is a lack of research comparing the prevalence of PTSD in women and their offspring among these three target groups, therefore, this study aimed to bridge the gap. Methods We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study with a sample of 432 mothers and 432 children in three categories: genocide survivors, in country non-targeted and 1959 returnees. Participant ages for children were between 14 to 22 years and for mothers, between the ages of 32 to 87 years. The UCLA-PTSD DSM-5, PTSD Check list-5 and Life events Checklist-5 were translated from English to Kinyarwanda and were used to assess exposure to trauma and the prevalence of PTSD symptoms in Rwandan mothers and their offspring. Results Key Results yield a PTSD rate of 18.8, 6.2, 5.2% within survivors, in country non-targeted, and returnees respectively with an average PTSD rate of 43.8% for parents, and 16.5% for offspring. Conclusion PTSD among the mothers’ groups and their offspring have been found, specifically in the offspring of genocide survivors. Considering these adolescents were not born at the time of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the results suggest future studies should explore the precipitating factors contributing to the PTSD symptoms within this specific group.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity Is Associated With Cardiovascular and All‐Cause Mortality Among Adults in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangbo Sun ◽  
Buyun Liu ◽  
Shuang Rong ◽  
Yang Du ◽  
Guifeng Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sampling Weights ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Mortality ◽  
Disease Mortality ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Us

Background Food insecurity is a global leading public health challenge that affects not only developing countries but also developed countries, including the United States. About 50 million Americans are food insecure. In this study we examined the associations of the adult food insecurity with all‐cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in a nationally representative sample of US adults. Methods and Results We included 27 188 US adults (age ≥40 years of age) who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2014. Food insecurity status was assessed using the Food Security Survey Module developed by the US Department of Agriculture. Mortality from all causes and cardovascular disease was ascertained through data linkage to the National Death Index through December 31, 2015. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression with sampling weights to estimate hazard ratios ( HR s) and 95% CIs of all‐cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, according to food security status. During 205 389 person‐years of the period, 5039 deaths occurred, including 1084 cardiovascular disease deaths. After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and dietary and lifestyle factors, participants with very low food security had higher risk of all‐cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, with multivariable‐adjusted HR s of 1.32 (95% CI , 1.07–1.62), and 1.53 (95% CI, 1.04–2.26), respectively, compared with those with high food security. Conclusions Food insecurity is significantly associated with increased risk of excess death from cardiovascular disease and all causes in US adults.

Psychological distress among Vietnamese adults attending Vietnamese-speaking general practices in South Western Sydney: prevalence and associations

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Nguyen ◽  
Sarah Dennis ◽  
Huy An ◽  
Sanjyot Vagholkar ◽  
Siaw Teng Liaw
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Past History ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Exposure To Trauma

Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of psychological distress among Vietnamese adults attending Vietnamese-speaking general practices and explore possible risk factors in this population. Methods A cross-sectional survey of Vietnamese adult patients was conducted at 25 general practices with Vietnamese-speaking general practitioners (GPs) in south-western Sydney between October 2012 and February 2013. Patients completed the Kessler (K10) scale and a demographic questionnaire, available in Vietnamese or English. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Results Of the 350 patients invited to participate, 247 completed surveys (response rate 71%). One-quarter (25%) of participants had a very high K10 score for psychological distress, nearly twice that reported in the NSW Health Survey. Participants with high exposure to trauma were at increased risk of psychological distress (odds ratio 5.9, 95% confidence interval 2.4–14.4; P < 0.0001) compared with those with mild or no trauma exposure. Similarly, risk was increased if there was a past history of mental health problems and a lack of personal and social support. Conclusion The high prevalence of mental health problems in adult Vietnamese people attending Vietnamese-speaking general practices is associated with exposure to trauma. This highlights the importance of personal, social and professional support in effective management. Vietnamese-speaking GPs who see Vietnamese or similar refugee groups should actively seek out a history of exposure to trauma, a past history of mental illness and the existence of support systems.

Physician suicide

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s886-s886
Author(s):  
M.A. Dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Major Health Problem ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Primary Care Patients ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Related Stress

IntroductionPhysician Suicide is a potential health risks resulting from strains and burden associated with medical education and profession. Suicide is an occupational hazard. Each year in the United States, 300 to 400 physicians take their own lives.ObjectiveTo provide a summary about physician suicide and its risk factors and mental health issues associated.MethodsThe search was conducted using PubMed with terms: “suicide in physicians”, “physician suicide”, “suicide in doctors”, “physician depression”, by using a review of literature with documents in English.DiscussionSuicide is a major health problem. Suicide death is a self-inflicted with evidence that the person aims die. Mental disorders represent a large burden of disease worldwide and can also damage to physical health. The most common psychiatric diagnoses among physicians who complete suicide are affective disorders, alcoholism, and substance use disorders. In physicians, the female suicide rates are higher than that in males. The most common means of suicide by physicians are lethal medication overdoses and firearms. There are common risk factors, such as work-related stress, depression, negative life events, alcohol and isolation. In addition, there is a physicians’ tendency not to recognize depression in themselves and not to seek help.ConclusionsPrioritize to physician mental health, change professional attitudes and institutional policies, learn to recognize depression and suicidality, educate medical students, residents, routinely screen all primary care patients for depression that can help physicians recognize depression in themselves and to seek treatment for depression and suicidality because there is “no health without mental health”.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

Glucocorticoid-based therapeutic options for PTSD

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S215-S215
Author(s):  
S. Ouanes
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Glucocorticoid Receptor ◽  
Glucocorticoid Receptors ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Therapeutic Options ◽  
Curative Treatment ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Preventive Interventions ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Receptor Modulators

IntroductionPTSD has been associated with HPA axis alterations, mainly consisting of reduced cortisol levels, elevated CRH and enhanced glucocorticoid receptor responsiveness. These findings led to the emergence of glucocorticoid-based therapeutic options for PTSD.ObjectiveTo outline the different glucocorticoid-based interventions for PTSD either for prophylactic or for curative treatment.MethodsA systematic review was performed. The Medline database was searched using the following keywords: ‘PTSD’, ‘treatment’, ‘Glucocorticoids’, ‘hydrocortisone’.ResultsGlucocorticoid-based therapeutic for PTSD comprise preventive and curative interventions. Preventive interventions mainly consist of administering one single bolus of hydrocortisone shortly following the exposure to a traumatic event. Evidence comes from six published trials, all positive. Curative interventions include: prescribing hydrocortisone over short periods of time to treat PTSD symptoms, using Glucocorticoids to augment psychotherapy (in particular exposure therapy) for PTSD and using Mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. Moreover, novel glucocorticoid receptor modulators are currently being developed and tested on animal models as a potential curative treatment for PTSD.ConclusionsUse of hydrocortisone in preventing PTSD might be tempting, as is the use of hydrocortisone or Glucocorticoid receptors antagonists/modulators in treating PTSD. Yet, it should be emphasized that these interventions are not mainstream yet. They rather reflect a revolutionary new direction.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals A Population-Based Study of Familial and Individual-Specific Environmental Contributions to Traumatic Event Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in a Norwegian Twin Sample

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 656-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ananda B. Amstadter ◽  
Steven H. Aggen ◽  
Gun Peggy Knudsen ◽  
Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud ◽  
Kenneth S. Kendler
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Trauma Exposure ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Familial Factors ◽  
Best Fitting ◽  
Traumatic Event Exposure

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the only disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that requires an environmental exposure. The relationship between liability factors for trauma exposure and those for PTSD symptoms following exposure are unclear. Methods: Exposure to a trauma and resulting PTSD symptoms were assessed in a sample of 2,794 members of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel. Results: In the full sample, 737 twins experienced a trauma. A modified causal, contingent, common pathway model was used to examine trauma exposure and liability for PTSD. Genetic and common environmental factors could not be distinguished, so a model that included only familial and individual specific components was fit. The best-fitting model suggested that familial factors played an important role in liability for trauma exposure and for resulting PTSD symptoms, and that there was a modest transmission between trauma exposure and subsequent PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: One third of the variance in liability of PTSD symptoms is due to familial factors, and of this, approximately one fifth overlaps with the familial liability for trauma exposure while the other four fifths of the variance is specific to the risk of PTSD symptoms following exposure. The hypothesis that PTSD is etiologically similar to exposures to a traumatic event is not supported, suggesting that the factors that confer risk for trauma do not overlap completely with those that confer risk for PTSD.

scholarly journals Development of Chinese mental health first aid guidelines for assisting a person affected by a traumatic event: a Delphi expert consensus study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Wang ◽  
Wenjing Li ◽  
Shurong Lu ◽  
Anthony F. Jorm ◽  
Brian Oldenburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
English Language ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Expert Consensus ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
Chinese Translation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
English Speaking

Abstract Background People who experience traumatic events have an increased risk of developing a range of mental disorders. Appropriate early support from people in a person’s social network may help to prevent the onset of a mental disorder or minimize its severity. Mental health first aid guidelines for assisting people who have experienced traumatic events have been developed for high-income English-speaking countries. However, they may not be appropriate for use in China due to cultural and health care system differences. The aim of this study was to develop culturally appropriate guidelines for people providing mental health first aid to people affected by traumatic events in China. Methods A Delphi expert consensus study was conducted with two panels of experts in mainland China. Experts recruited to the panels included 32 professionals with expertise in the treatment of people affected by traumatic events and 31 people with lived experience of trauma or their carers. Panel members were sent a Chinese translation of the questionnaire used for developing English-language mental health first aid guidelines. This contained 168 items describing how to help people experiencing a potentially traumatic event. Panelists were asked to rate the importance of each statement for inclusion in the Chinese guidelines. They were also encouraged to suggest any additional statements that were not included in the original questionnaire. Statements were accepted for inclusion in the adapted guidelines if they were endorsed by at least 80% of each panel as very important or important. Results Consensus was achieved after three survey rounds on 134 statements for inclusion in the adapted guidelines for China, with 127 adopted from the guidelines for English-speaking countries and 7 new items from the comments of panelists. Conclusions While many of the statements are similar to the guidelines for English-speaking countries, the panelists adapted the guidelines to China’s context, including more detailed actions on how to discuss trauma and to help the person. These guidelines will be used to form the basis of a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course for China, aimed at educating the public in providing support and advice to a person who is experiencing a potentially traumatic event. Further research is needed to investigate the use of the guidelines by the Chinese public and the implementation of MHFA training in appropriate settings in China.

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