Sex differences in mental health symptoms and substance use and their association with moral injury in veterans.

Adults presenting with substance use and mental health disorders in the criminal justice system is well documented. While studies have examined drug courts and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), few have examined social and behavioral health indicators, and even fewer have multiple study periods. This study employed a comprehensive approach to studying the MAT contribution to drug court success; reduce substance use, mental health symptoms, and risky behaviors; and the role that violence or trauma plays in mental health symptomatology. Using three time points, our findings indicated that MAT did not play a significant role in the reduction of substance use, risky behaviors, or mental health symptoms or increasing the odds of successful court graduation. However, there was an overall improvement from intake to termination in reduction of substance use, risky behaviors, and mental health symptomatology. Other factors, including social support, may play a role in drug court graduation. Policy implications are discussed.

Download Full-text

Daily Substance Use and Mental Health Symptoms among a Cohort of Homeless Adults in Vancouver, British Columbia

Journal of Urban Health ◽

10.1007/s11524-012-9775-6 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 90 (4) ◽

pp. 740-746 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Anita Palepu ◽

Michelle Patterson ◽

Verena Strehlau ◽

Akm Moniruzzamen ◽

Jason Tan de Bibiana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

British Columbia ◽

Substance Use ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Homeless Adults ◽

Health Symptoms

Download Full-text

Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation Among Unpaid Caregivers in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Relationships to Age, Race/Ethnicity, Employment, and Caregiver Intensity

10.1101/2021.02.02.21251042 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mark É Czeisler ◽

Alexandra Drane ◽

Sarah S Winnay ◽

Emily R Capodilupo ◽

Charles A Czeisler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Substance Use ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

The United States ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Hispanic White

AbstractObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of unpaid caregiving during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to identify factors associated with adverse mental health symptoms, substance use, and suicidal ideation in this population, which provides critical support in health care systems by providing care to older adults and those with chronic conditions.MethodsIn June 2020, Internet-based surveys with questions about demographics, caregiving responsibilities, and mental health were administered to US adults aged ≥18 years. Demographic quota sampling and survey weighting to improve cross-sectional sample representativeness of age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Prevalence ratios for adverse mental health symptoms were estimated using multivariable Poisson regressions.ResultsOf 9,896 eligible invited adults, 5,412 (54.7%) completed surveys; 5,011 (92.6%) respondents met screening criteria and were analysed, including 1,362 (27.2%) caregivers. Caregivers had higher prevalences of adverse mental health symptoms than non-caregivers, including anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms (57.6% vs 21.5%, respectively, p<0.0001) having recently seriously considered suicide (33.4% vs 3.7%, p<0.0001). Symptoms were more common among caregivers who were young vs older adults (e.g., aged 18–24 vs ≥65 years, aPR 2.75, 95% CI 1.95–3.88, p<0.0001), Hispanic or Latino vs non-Hispanic White (1.14, 1.04–1.25, p=0.0044), living with vs without disabilities (1.18, 1.10–1.26, p<0.0001), and with moderate and high vs low Caregiver Intensity Index scores (2.31, 1.65–3.23; 2.81, 2.00–3.94; both p<0.0001). Suicidal ideation was more prevalent among non-Hispanic Black vs non-Hispanic White caregivers (1.48, 1.15–1.90, p=0.0022).ConclusionsCaregivers, who accounted for one in four US adult respondents in this nationally representative sample, more commonly reported adverse mental health symptoms than non-caregivers. Increased visibility of and access to mental health care resources are urgently needed to address mental health challenges of caregiving.

Download Full-text

The association between substance use and mental health symptoms among incarcerated males in Spain

Journal of Offender Rehabilitation ◽

10.1080/10509674.2019.1706689 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 138-155

Author(s):

Francisco Caravaca Sánchez ◽

Nancy Wolff

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Incarcerated Males

Download Full-text

Mental health symptoms in Public Safety Personnel: Examining the effects of adverse childhood experiences and moral injury

Child Abuse & Neglect ◽

10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105394 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 123 ◽

pp. 105394

Author(s):

Sophia L. Roth ◽

Krysta Andrews ◽

Alina Protopopescu ◽

Chantelle Lloyd ◽

Charlene O'Connor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Public Safety ◽

Moral Injury ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Public Safety Personnel ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Safety Personnel

Download Full-text

Trauma exposure, social functioning, and common mental health disorders in Somali refugee male and female youth: An SEM analysis

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/00207640211037726 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002076402110377

Author(s):

Hyojin Im ◽

Laura ET Swan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Social Functioning ◽

Functional Impairment ◽

Trauma Exposure ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Refugee Youth ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Somali Refugee ◽

Mixed Gender

Background: Refugee youth often face numerous adversities before and during forced migration. Although experiences vary across settings and subpopulations, common mental disorders are prevalent among refugee youth who are displaced in low- and middle-income countries. It is important to examine how risk factors are intricately linked and contribute to common mental health issues to inform clinical practice and social policy. Aims: This study aims to test the pathways from risk factors previously identified as determinants of Somali refugee youth mental health (i.e. trauma exposure, substance use, social functioning, aggression) to symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and somatic pains. Method: We collected survey data in 2013, using snowball sampling to recruit Somali refugee youth (15–35 years old) living in Eastleigh, Kenya. We ran three structural equation models to assess paths from trauma exposure to mental health symptoms, through psychosocial factors including substance use, aggression, and functional impairment. We first conducted this analysis with a mixed-gender sample ( N = 305) and then assessed gender differences by running one model for male participants ( n = 124) and another for female participants ( n = 181). Results: In the mixed-gender sample, trauma exposure directly predicted substance use and both directly and indirectly predicted aggression, functional impairment, and mental health symptoms. Substance use directly predicted aggression and functional impairment, and substance use both directly and indirectly predicted mental health symptoms. The split-gender models revealed gender differences, with only functional impairment directly predicting mental health symptoms in the male sample and with many significant direct and indirect pathways in the female sample. Conclusions: This study shows the role of trauma exposure, substance use, aggression, and social functioning in determining mental health outcomes among refugee youth and how CMD symptoms are differently manifested across genders in this population.

Download Full-text