Italians’ Dietary Habits During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Results of the #PRESTOinsieme Study

Abstract Objectives To assess dietary habits and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy, one of the European countries most severely affected by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The #PRESTOinsieme project is a web-based survey open to people over 16 years of age that started on the 20th of March 2020 in Italy. Survey respondents underwent a set of validated questionnaires to assess dietary habits and psychological well-being (depression and posttraumatic stress, using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, respectively) during the lockdown. Results Survey respondents were 5008, with a median age of 38 years. The female gender was the most prevalent (63%). Dietary habits were found to be associated with psychological well-being. People suffering from moderate/severe depression symptoms and posttraumatic stress were found to have more frequently foods high in fat and sugars compared to people with no/mild depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms (P-value 0.008). Furthermore, subjects with most severe depressive symptoms ate less frequently fruits (P-value < 0.001), vegetables (P-value 0.013), dried fruits (P-value < 0.001), and milk-based products. Conclusions Present results showed a strict relationship between dietary habits and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. Such a relationship could be interpreted as emotional eating, which has been frequently reported during the lockdown, showing that depressed people are more prone to emotional eating habits. Present results claim the need to develop public programs of psychological support for the community during the lockdown and public health strategies targeting diet. Funding Sources N/A

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Family Physicians’ Standpoint and Mental Health Assessment in the Light of COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18042093 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 2093

Author(s):

Tina Vilovic ◽

Josko Bozic ◽

Marino Vilovic ◽

Doris Rusic ◽

Sanja Zuzic Furlan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Family Physicians ◽

Knowledge Score ◽

Well Being ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Event Scale ◽

The Impact

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, family physicians (FPs) are the backbone of the healthcare system with considerable impact on the general population, and their well-being is of great importance. The aim of this investigation was to assess FPs mental health, as well as knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) regarding the pandemic, and opinions on non-communicable disease (NCD) health care provided to patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 613 FPs. Anxiety and depression levels were estimated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, subjective perceived stress with the Perceived Stress Scale, while trauma-related symptoms were assessed using the Impact on Event Scale-COVID19. KAPs toward the pandemic and opinions regarding NCD patients were evaluated with questionnaires accordingly. Results have shown that age (β = −0.02, p = 0.013) and personal risk of COVID‑19 (β = 1.05, p < 0.001) were significant independent correlates of the knowledge score. A total of 87.7% FPs expressed moderate/high perceived stress, 45.2% moderate/severe trauma-related symptoms, 60.4% borderline/abnormal anxiety levels, and 52.4% borderline/abnormal depression levels. Knowledge score was an independent predictor of perceived stress (β = −0.33, p = 0.023) and anxiety (β = −0.31, p = 0.006) levels. Limited accessibility to healthcare services and decreased number of newly-diagnosed NCD cases were mostly agreed on. The pandemic puts a considerable strain on FPs mental health, as well as on public health measures, due to the decreased overall quality of NCD patient health care. Educational programs may bridge the gaps between FPs’ knowledge. Thus lowering anxiety and improving patient care.

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Psychological well-being in Italian families: An exploratory approach to the study of mental health across the adult life span in the blue zone

Europe’s Journal of Psychology ◽

10.5964/ejop.v13i3.1416 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 441-454 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Paul Kenneth Hitchcott ◽

Maria Chiara Fastame ◽

Jessica Ferrai ◽

Maria Pietronilla Penna

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Marital Status ◽

Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽

Family Members ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

Personal Satisfaction ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

The Impact ◽

Blue Zone

Self-reported measures of psychological well-being and depressive symptoms were examined across differently aged family members, while controlling for the impact of marital status and personal satisfaction about family and non-family relations. Twenty-one grandchildren (i.e., ages 21-36 years) were recruited with their parents (i.e., 48-66 years old) and grandparents (i.e., 75-101 years of age) in the ‘blue zone’ of Ogliastra, an Italian area known for the longevity of its inhabitants. Each participant was individually presented a battery of questionnaires assessing their lifestyle and several perceived mental health indices, including the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS, Tennant et al., 2007), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (i.e., CES-D, Radloff, 1977). After assessing the level of concordance among adults sharing the same context, the Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) approach was used to assess the nested dataset. It was found that family membership (i.e., grandchildren versus parents and grandparents) predicted the WEMWBS score but not the CES-D when the impact of marital status and personal satisfaction about social (i.e., family and non-family) ties was controlled for. Moreover, two separate repeated-measure Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) documented similar level of personal satisfaction about social relationships across the three family groups. In conclusions, satisfying social ties with friends and family members together with an active socially oriented life style seems to contribute to the promotion of mental health in adult span.

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Psychological well-being of older Chinese immigrants living in Australia: a comparison with older Caucasians

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610216001010 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 28 (10) ◽

pp. 1671-1679 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Xiaoping Lin ◽

Christina Bryant ◽

Jennifer Boldero ◽

Briony Dow

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Chinese Immigrants ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Older Chinese ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACTBackground:Few current studies explore psychological well-being among older Chinese immigrants in Australia. The study addressed this gap and provided preliminary data on psychological well-being among this group. Four indicators, namely depression, anxiety, loneliness, and quality of life, were used to present a comprehensive picture of psychological well-being.Methods:Participants were two groups of community-dwelling older people, specifically 59 Chinese immigrants and 60 Australian-born people (median age=77 and 73, respectively). Data were collected through standardized interviews. The Geriatric Depression Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and the WHO Quality of Life questionnaire were used to measure depression, anxiety, loneliness, and quality of life, respectively.Results:Chinese participants’ median quality of life score was higher than the scale mid-point, indicating relatively high levels of quality of life. However, 10% exhibited symptoms of depression, 6% had symptoms of anxiety, and 49% felt lonely. Compared to Australian participants, Chinese participants reported poorer quality of life and higher levels of loneliness. Importantly, the difference in quality of life remained when the impact of socio-demographic factors was controlled for.Conclusions:This study was the first to use multiple indicators to explore psychological well-being among older Chinese immigrants in Australia. Its results suggest that their psychological well-being might be worse than that of Australian-born people when using loneliness and quality of life as indicators. In particular, loneliness is a common psychological problem among this group, and there is a need for public awareness of this problem.

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An assessment of the mental health of mastectomized women in South India

Psychology Community & Health ◽

10.5964/pch.v5i3.108 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 214-228

Author(s):

Sukanya B. Menon ◽

C. Jayan

Keyword(s):

Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽

Psychological Treatment ◽

Psychiatric Morbidity ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Event Scale ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

AimThe present study is aimed at understanding the psychiatric morbidity among mastectomized women and in identifying differences in depression, anxiety, psychological impact and well-being based on psychiatric diagnosis.MethodOne hundred and sixty breast cancer patients who had undergone mastectomy and were on either on adjuvant therapies or on waiting list were interviewed. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) - Plus, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Impact of Event Scale and the Psychological General Well-Being Schedule were used.ResultsAround 68% of patients did not meet psychiatric diagnosis, while the remaining 32% patients were found to have psychiatric morbidity. Of these, 15% diagnosed with adjustment disorders, 13% patients with a major depressive disorder, while 4% patients with anxiety disorders. A significant difference in anxiety, depression, psychological impact and well-being was found among mastectomized women who were grouped on the basis of their psychiatric diagnosis.ConclusionPsychiatric morbidity is evident in patients. This study reinforces the need for identifying psychiatric disorders among women who are undergoing mastectomy, in order to provide adequate psychological treatment.

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Depression symptoms as longitudinal predictors of the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in hypertensive patients

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-96165-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marco D’Addario ◽

Francesco Zanatta ◽

Roberta Adorni ◽

Andrea Greco ◽

Francesco Fattirolli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Longitudinal Design ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Event Scale ◽

The Impact

AbstractCOVID-19 has brought considerable changes and caused critical psychological responses, especially among frail populations. So far, researchers have explored the predictive effect of diverse factors on pandemic-related psychological distress, but none have focused on the impact of prior depression and anxiety symptomatology adopting an extended (10-year) longitudinal design. 105 patients aged over 60, affected by hypertension who participated in a previous longitudinal study were assessed through a follow-up telephone structured interview. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were used for assessing depression and anxiety symptoms and the psychological impact of COVID-19, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted. At the assessment, participants did not report clinically relevant depression, anxiety, and psychological pandemic-related distress symptoms. However, significant mean differences between baseline and current follow-up evaluations for both depression and anxiety were found, reflecting a decrease in symptomatology over time (p < .001). Baseline depression symptoms (β = 1.483, p = .005) significantly predicted the psychological impact of COVID-19 after 10 years. Conversely, their decrease (β = −1.640, p < .001) and living with others (β = −7.274, p = .041) significantly contributed to lower psychological distress scores. Our findings provide insight into the predisposing influence of depressive symptoms on pandemic-related psychological distress ten years later. Preventive interventions and strategies considering these factors are needed to better pre-empt the severe mental consequences of the pandemic.

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Factors influencing post-ICU psychological distress in family members of critically ill patients: a linear mixed-effects model

BioPsychoSocial Medicine ◽

10.1186/s13030-021-00206-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rahel Naef ◽

Stefanie von Felten ◽

Jutta Ernst

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Family Member ◽

Family Members ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

Family Satisfaction ◽

Mixed Effects ◽

Event Scale ◽

Linear Mixed Effects

Abstract Background Adverse responses to critical illness, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety or posttraumatic stress, are relatively common among family members. The role of risk factors, however, remains insufficiently understood, but may be important to target those family members most in need for support. We therefore examined the association of patient-, family member- and care-related factors with post-ICU psychological distress in family members in a general population of critical ill patients. Methods We conducted a prospective, single-centre observational study in a twelve-bed surgical ICU in a 900-bed University Hospital in Switzerland. Participants were family members of patients treated in ICU who completed the Family Satisfaction in ICU-24 Survey, the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised-6, and a demographic form within the first 3 months after their close other’s ICU stay. Data were analysed using linear mixed-effects models, with depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress as outcome measures. Results A total of 214 family members (53% return rate) returned a completed questionnaire. We found that higher levels of satisfaction were significantly associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress. There was no statistically significant association between family member characteristics and any measure of psychological distress. Among the included patient characteristics, younger patient age was associated with higher levels of depression, and patient death was associated with higher levels of depression and posttraumatic stress. Conclusions Our results suggest that satisfaction with ICU care is strongly associated with family well-being post-ICU. Family members of younger patients and of those who die seem to be most at risk for psychological distress, requiring specific support, whereas family member characteristics may have less relevance.

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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being of students in an Italian university: a web-based cross-sectional survey

Globalization and Health ◽

10.1186/s12992-021-00680-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Leonardo Villani ◽

Roberta Pastorino ◽

Enrico Molinari ◽

Franco Anelli ◽

Walter Ricciardi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Self Rating ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Italy was the first European country to implement a national lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Worldwide, this pandemic had a huge impact on the mental health of people in many countries causing similar reaction in terms of emotions and concerns at the population level. Our study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being in a cohort of Italian university students. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in the period immediately after the first lockdown through the administration of a questionnaire on the personal websites of students attending their undergraduate courses at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. We used the Patient-Health-Engagement-Scale, Self-Rating-Anxiety-Scale, and Self-Rating-Depression-Scale to assess engagement, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms of our sample. Results The sample size was 501 subjects, of which 35.33% were classified as anxious and 72.93% as depressed. Over 90% of respondents had good understanding of the preventive measures despite over 70% suffered from the impossibility of physically seeing friends and partners. Around 55% of students would have been willing to contribute much more to face the pandemic. An increase in the occurrences of anxiety was associated with being female, being student of the Rome campus, suffering from the impossibility of attending university, being distant from colleagues, and being unable of physically seeing one’s partner. Performing physical activity reduced this likelihood. Conclusion University students are at risk of psychological distress in the case of traumatic events. The evolution of the pandemic is uncertain and may have long-term effects on mental health. Therefore, it is crucial to study the most effective interventions to identify vulnerable subgroups and to plan for acute and long-term psychological services to control and reduce the burden of psychological problems.

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The hidden crisis: COVID-19 and impact on mental health of medical students in Pakistan

Middle East Current Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s43045-021-00123-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nazish Imran ◽

Imran Ijaz Haider ◽

Ali Burhan Mustafa ◽

Irum Aamer ◽

Zahid Kamal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Medical Students ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

The Impact ◽

Medical Colleges

Abstract Background Medical students have faced an enormous disruption to their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on medical student’s psychological well-being in Pakistan. Following ethical approval, an online survey developed in collaboration with World Psychiatric Association (WPA) was distributed among medical students of 5 Medical colleges in the Punjab province of Pakistan between August and September 2020. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and Risk Assessment Suicidality Scale (RASS) were used to assess psychological well-being. Data was analyzed using SPSS 26.0. Results Eleven hundred medical students responded, 756 (69%) being females. More than 2/3rd admitted that their emotional state got worse in relation to appearance of anxiety, insecurity, and sadness, compared to before the outbreak of COVID-19. Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms were 48.6% and 48.1%, respectively. Female medical students, pre-clinical students, and those with a previous psychiatric history reported experiencing more anxiety and depression symptoms (P value < 0.001). One in five medical students thought that it would be better if they were dead, and 8% admitted to often think of committing suicide during the past 2 weeks. RASS and subscales (intention, life, and history) scores were higher in females and students with previous psychiatric problems. Conclusion Our findings underscore that the impact of COVID-19 on medical students has been significant; hence, it is crucial for medical colleges to employ strategies to maintain the student’s well-being with safeguards like reassurance, support, and confidential student-centered psychiatric services. The use of virtual platforms (websites, email) to educate and screen students by staff members can create a positive impact. The limitations of this study include cross-sectional design, the possibility of selective participation being web-based survey, response bias, and the possibility of reluctance of students to report mental health problems due to stigma.

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Subjective, neuropsychological, and neural markers of memory in older adults

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610221002623 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Julia L. Sheffler ◽

Melissa A. Meynadasy ◽

Diamond T. Taylor ◽

Dimitris N. Kiosses ◽

Greg Hajcak

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Psychosocial Functioning ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

Event Related Potential ◽

P300 Amplitude ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Psychological Well Being

ABSTRACT Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the P300 event-related potential, neuropsychological measures of memory, subjective memory complaints (SMCs), and indicators of psychosocial functioning. Design, setting, and participants: In this cross-sectional study of 79 community-based older adults, aged 60–75 years, participants completed online surveys and in-person neuropsychological and electroencephalogram (EEG) assessments. Measurements: Measures included: the Change subscale of the Metamemory in Adulthood Questionnaire, NIH Toolbox Emotions battery (Perceived Stress and Psychological Well-Being), Geriatric Depression Scale, Geriatric Anxiety Scale, electrocortical measures (EEG), California Verbal Learning Test, 3rd Edition, and diagnostic ratings for mild and major neurocognitive disorders based on full neuropsychological battery, clinical interview, and two-clinician consensus. Results: P300 amplitude was associated with long-delay verbal memory recall and diagnostic rating. SMCs were not associated with objective memory or diagnostic rating. SMCs were associated with higher perceived stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms and lower psychological well-being. Conclusions: Neural indicators such as the P300 may be useful for early detection of cognitive impairment. SMCs were not a reliable indicator of early memory impairment in relation to neuropsychological or neural indicators, but may be a useful indicator of unreported stress and mood symptoms in clinical settings.

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Responses of football fans to relegation of their team from the English Premier League: PTS?

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0790966700006352 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 66-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Philip Banyard ◽

Mark Shevlin

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Well Being ◽

Sporting Events ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

Premier League ◽

Scale Scores ◽

The Impact ◽

English Premier League

AbstractObjectives: To measure the level of psychological distress caused to supporters of a football team by relegation from the English Premier League. The relationship between age, sex and psychological distress are examined.Method: Opportunity sample cross-sectional survey. Participants were approached through networks of fans and through e-mail networks. Participants were supporters (n = 65) of two relegated premiership football teams. Participants completed the Impact of Event Scale.Results: Mean total Impact of Event Scale scores indicated a clinically significant degree of psychological distress for the majority of respondents. Age or sex of the participants did not predict Impact of Event Scale scores.Conclusions: The results are discussed in terms of the magnitude of Impact of Event Scale scores in relation to other stressors. It is concluded that the impact of such sporting events is psychologically significant. The psychological literature has considered traumatic stress responses to a number of stressors such as threats to life, threats to psychological well-being, threats to physical/ psychological well-being of others, witnessing traumatic events and involvement in a human or natural disaster.

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