Presidential Address: A Coevolutionary History of COVID-19; Culture, Biology, and Mental Health

2021 ◽  
pp. 000-000
Author(s):  
Edmund Russell
Author(s):  
Kristin A. Hancock ◽  
Douglas C. Haldeman

Psychology’s understanding of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people has evolved, become more refined, and impacted the lives of LGB people in profound ways. This chapter traces the history of LGB psychology from the nineteenth century to the present and focuses on major events and the intersections of theory, psychological science, politics, and activism in the history of this field. It explores various facets of cultural and psychological history that include the pathologizing of homosexuality, the rise of psychological science and the political movements in the mid-twentieth century, and the major shifts in policy that ensued. The toll of the AIDS epidemic on the field is discussed as is the impact of psychological research on national and international policy and legislation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110139
Author(s):  
Rachel Langevin ◽  
Martine Hébert ◽  
Audrey Kern

The effects of child sexual abuse (CSA) have been found to surpass generations as maternal history of CSA is associated with increased difficulties in sexually abused children. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this association. The present study aimed to test maternal mental health symptoms including psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and dissociation as mediators of the relationship between maternal CSA and children’s internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms in a large sample of sexually abused children. A total of 997 sexually abused children aged 3-14 years old and their mothers were recruited at five specialized intervention centers offering services to sexually abused children and their families. The children were divided into two groups depending on their mothers’ self-reported history of CSA. Mothers completed a series of questionnaires assessing their mental health and children’s functioning. Maternal history of CSA was associated with increased maternal psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and dissociation following children’s disclosure of CSA. In turn, maternal psychological distress and maternal dissociation were associated with increased child internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms. Maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with child internalizing symptoms. Maternal mental health difficulties mediated the association between maternal CSA and sexually abused children’s maladaptive outcomes. Clinicians should assess for possible history of CSA in mothers of sexually abused children and determine how best to support them to cope with the aftermaths of their child’s disclosure and with their own traumatic past.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110063
Author(s):  
Tingting Gao ◽  
Songli Mei ◽  
Muzi Li ◽  
Carl D’ Arcy ◽  
Xiangfei Meng

Childhood maltreatment is a major public health issue worldwide. It increases a range of health-risk behaviors, psychological and physical problems, which are associated with an increased need for mental health services in adulthood. Identification of mediating factors in the relationship between maltreatment and seeking mental health care may help attenuate the negative consequences of childhood maltreatment and promote more appropriate treatment. This study aims to examine whether the relationship between childhood maltreatment and perceived need for mental health care is mediated by psychological distress and/or moderated by social support. Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health 2012 are analyzed. A total of 8,993 participants, who had complete information on childhood maltreatment and diagnoses of mental disorders or psychological distress, are included in this study. Structural equation modeling and the PROCESS macro were used to identify relationships among childhood maltreatment, perceived needs for mental health care, and psychological distress. Hierarchical linear regression was then used to verify the moderated mediation model. We found that psychological distress partially mediated the effect of childhood maltreatment on perceived needs for mental health care in adulthood. Social support played an important role in terms of moderating the relationship between maltreatment and perceived needs for care. For those with a history of childhood maltreatment, those who perceived a low level of social support were more likely to have higher levels of psychological distress and perceived need for mental health care. This is the first study to identify the separate and combined roles of psychological distress and social support in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and perceived need for mental health care. Selective prevention strategies should focus on social support to improve mental health services among people with a history of childhood maltreatment.


Author(s):  
David C. Reardon ◽  
Christopher Craver

Pregnancy loss, natural or induced, is linked to higher rates of mental health problems, but little is known about its effects during the postpartum period. This study identifies the percentages of women receiving at least one postpartum psychiatric treatment (PPT), defined as any psychiatric treatment (ICD-9 290-316) within six months of their first live birth, relative to their history of pregnancy loss, history of prior mental health treatments, age, and race. The population consists of young women eligible for Medicaid in states that covered all reproductive services between 1999–2012. Of 1,939,078 Medicaid beneficiaries with a first live birth, 207,654 (10.7%) experienced at least one PPT, and 216,828 (11.2%) had at least one prior pregnancy loss. A history of prior mental health treatments (MHTs) was the strongest predictor of PPT, but a history of pregnancy loss is also another important risk factor. Overall, women with a prior pregnancy loss were 35% more likely to require a PPT. When the interactions of prior mental health and prior pregnancy loss are examined in greater detail, important effects of these combinations were revealed. About 58% of those whose first MHT was after a pregnancy loss required PPT. In addition, over 99% of women with a history of MHT one year prior to their first pregnancy loss required PPT after their first live births. These findings reveal that pregnancy loss (natural or induced) is a risk factor for PPT, and that the timing of events and the time span for considering prior mental health in research on pregnancy loss can significantly change observed effects. Clinicians should screen for a convergence of a history of MHT and prior pregnancy loss when evaluating pregnant women, in order to make appropriate referrals for counseling.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S151-S152
Author(s):  
Luis H Quiroga ◽  
Tomer Lagziel ◽  
Mohammed Asif ◽  
Raymond Fang ◽  
Grace F Rozycki ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted assessing the social determinants of health and the impact on the outcomes for burn patients. Such studies are needed considering burn injuries are associated with high costs, severe psychological impact, and a high burden placed on the healthcare systems. The burden is hypothesized to be aggravated by the increasing amount of diabetes and obesity seen in the general population which put patients at increased risk for developing chronic wounds. Studies have shown that several socioeconomic status (SES) factors are associated with increased risk of burns, but none have documented the outcomes of burn patients based on their social determinants of health. In our study, we will be comparing patients in the burn ICU (BICU) to patients in the surgical ICU (SICU). The purpose of this comparison is to evaluate whether the same social determinants of health have similar influences in both groups. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of population group data from patients admitted to the BICU and SICU from January 1, 2016, to November 18, 2019. The primary outcomes were length-of-stay (LOS), mortality, 30-day-readmission, and hospital charges. Pearson’s chi-square test for categorical variables and t-test for continuous variables were used to compare population health groups. Results We analyzed a total of 487 burn and 510 surgical patients. When comparing BICU and SICU patients, we observed significantly higher mean hospital charges and LOS in burn patients with a history of mental health (mean difference: $42,756.04, p=0.013 and 7.12 days, p=0.0085), ESRD ($57,8124.7, p=0.0047 and 78.62 days, p=0.0104), sepsis ($168,825.19, p=< 0.001 and 20.68 days, p=0.0043), and VTE ($63,9924.1, p=< 0.001 and 72.9 days, p=0.002). Also, higher mortality was observed in burn patients with ESRD, STEMI, sepsis, VTE, and diabetes mellitus. Burn patients with a history of mental health, drug dependence, heart failure, and diabetes mellitus also had greater 30-day-readmissions rates. Conclusions This study sheds new knowledge on the considerable variability that exists between the different population health groups in terms of outcomes for each cohort of critically ill patients. It demonstrates the impacts of population health group on outcomes. These population groups and social determinants have different effects on BICU versus SICU patients and this study provides supporting evidence for the need to identify and develop new strategies to decrease overspending in healthcare. Further research to develop relevant and timely interventions that can improve these outcomes.


Author(s):  
Tetsuya Akaishi ◽  
Tomomi Suzuki ◽  
Harumi Nemoto ◽  
Yusuke Utsumi ◽  
Moe Seto ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: This study aims to evaluate the long-term impact of living in post-disaster prefabricated temporary housing on social interaction activities and mental health status. Methods: A total of 917 adult residents in a coastal town, whose residences were destroyed by the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), were enrolled for the assessment held five years after the disaster. They answered questions about their experience and consequence of living in prefabricated temporary housing after the disaster. Their present scores on five types of self-reported measures regarding the psychosocial or psychiatric status and their present and recalled social interaction activities were cross-sectionally collected. Results: A total of 587 (64.0%) participants had a history of living in prefabricated temporary housing, while the other 330 (36.0%) had not. The prevalence of social interaction activities significantly decreased after the GEJE. However, the experience of living in prefabricated temporary housing did not adversely affect the subsequent social interaction activities or mental conditions of the participants five years after the disaster. Conclusions: Living in post-disaster prefabricated temporary housing may not negatively impact subsequent psychosocial conditions or social interaction activities five years later.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document