scholarly journals Toxoplasmosis, but not borreliosis, is associated with psychiatric disorders: A cross-sectional survey on 46 thousand of subjects

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Flegr ◽  
Jiří Horáček
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
World Population ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Substantial Role ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Health Disorders

ABSTRACTInfection by the parasite Toxoplasma, which affects about 33% of world population, is associated with increased risk of several mental health disorders, the most strongly with schizophrenia. It is unknown whether toxoplasmosis really plays a substantial role in the etiopathogenesis of these disorders and whether schizophrenia is associated with this infection the most strongly, or whether this association has just been the most intensively studied for historical reasons. We used the data from 3,440 and 7,800 subjects tested for toxoplasmosis and borreliosis, respectively, who took part in an internet survey, for searching in the associations of these infections with 22 mental health disorders and other indices of impaired mental health. The typical symptom associated with toxoplasmosis was anxiety, and the typical toxoplasmosis-associated disorders were autism (OR=4.86), schizophrenia (OR=3.34), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (OR=3.02), Asperger syndrome (OR=2.49), antisocial personality disorder (OR=1.81), OCD (OR=1.69), and anxiety disorder (OR=1.57). Borreliosis was associated only with symptoms of depression and with major depression (OR=1.65). The negative effects of borreliosis were detectable only in the Toxoplasma-infected subjects. Toxoplasmosis could play a substantial role in the etiopathogenesis of mental health disorders and its association with schizophrenia is the second strongest association, after autism.

scholarly journals Cerebral malaria is associated with long-term mental health disorders: a cross sectional survey of a long-term cohort

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Idro ◽  
Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige ◽  
Benjamin Asea ◽  
Keron Ssebyala ◽  
Paul Bangirana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cerebral Malaria ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Disorders

scholarly journals The mental health of staff working on Intensive Care Units over the COVID-19 winter surge of 2020 in England: a cross sectional survey.

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Elizabeth Hall ◽  
Joanna Milward ◽  
Cristina Spoiala ◽  
Jaskiran Kaur Bhogal ◽  
Dale Weston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Threshold Criteria

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic generated a surge of critically ill patients greater than the NHS capacity. Additionally there have been multiple well-documented impacts associated with the national COVID-19 pandemic surge on ICU workers including an increased prevalence of mental health disorders on a scale potentially sufficient to impair high-quality care delivery. Aim: To identify prevalence of probable mental health disorders, functional impairment and establish demographic and professional predictors of probable mental health disorders, and functional impairment, in ICU staff between November 2020 to April 2021. Methods: English ICU staff were surveyed before, during and after the winter 2020/2021 surge using a survey which comprised of validated measures of mental health. Results: 6080 surveys were completed, by nurses (57.5%), doctors (27.9%), and other healthcare staff (14.5%). Reporting probable mental health disorders increased from 51% (prior to), to 64% (during) and then dropped to 46% (after) the peak. Younger, less experienced and nursing staff were most likely to report probable mental health disorders. Additionally, during and after the winter, over 50% of participants met threshold criteria for functional impairment. Staff who reported probable post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression were more likely to meet threshold criteria for functional impairment. Conclusions: The winter of 2020/2021 was associated with an increase in poor mental health outcomes and functional impairment during a period of peak caseload. These effects are likely to impact on patient care outcomes and the longer-term resilience of the healthcare workforce.

scholarly journals Mental health stigma in Ukraine: cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor Quirke ◽  
Vitalii Klymchuk ◽  
Orest Suvalo ◽  
Ioannis Bakolis ◽  
Graham Thornicroft
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Knowledge ◽  
Intended Behaviour

Abstract Background and study objectives This study aimed to assess among Ukrainian adults: (1) knowledge of mental disorders; (2) attitudes towards people with mental health disorders, and to the delivery of mental health treatment within the community; and (3) behaviours towards people with mental disorders. Methodology A cross-sectional survey of Ukrainian adults aged 18–60 was conducted. Stigma-related mental health knowledge was measured using the mental health knowledge schedule. Attitude towards people with mental health disorders was assessed using the Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness scale. The Reported and Intended Behaviour scale was used to assess past and future intended behaviour towards people with mental health disorders. Results Associations between gender, age, and educational level and the knowledge and attitudes measures were identified. There was evidence of a positive association between being male and positive intended behaviours towards people with mental health disorders [mean difference (MD) = 0.509, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.021–0.998]. Older age was negatively associated with positive intended behaviours towards people with mental health disorders (MD = −0.017, 95% CI 0.0733 to −0.001). Higher education was positively associated with stigma-related mental health knowledge (MD = 0.438, 95% CI 0.090–0.786), and negatively associated with authoritarian (MD = 0.755, 95% CI 0.295–1.215) attitudes towards people with mental health problems. Conclusion Overall, the findings indicate a degree of awareness of, and compassion towards, people with mental illness among Ukrainian adults, although this differed according to gender, region, and education level. Results indicate a need for the adoption and scaling-up of anti-stigma interventions that have been demonstrated to be effective.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Comorbidity of Depression and Anxiety among Medical Students in Babcock University, Ogun State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
pp. 46-55
Author(s):  
Naomi A. Dike-Israel ◽  
Dora O. Akinboye
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Ogun State ◽  
Health Disorders

Background: Depression and anxiety are mental health disorders which both result in high negative affect and are two of the most common mental health disorders globally. Stress is one factor implicated in the cause and aggravation of such mental disorders. Medicine is among some of the most stressful courses that a student can undertake in the university. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and comorbidity of depression and anxiety among medical students in Ogun state, Nigeria. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey design Methodology: 225 medical students (MBBS) aged 15-26 (mean: 19.09±2.14), majority of whom were female (69.8%), attending a private university in Ogun state participated in the study. The levels of depression and anxiety were assessed by administering an instrument comprising of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: Findings indicated a prevalence of depression (moderate: 16.0%, severe: 9.8%) and anxiety (moderate: 11.1%, severe: 17.3%). The study revealed significant gender differences in the manifestation of depression (male: 19.1%, female: 28.7%) and anxiety (male: 13.3%, female: 35.0%) indicating that female students are more likely to be diagnosed with both disorders. The study identified a strong positive correlation between depression and anxiety in medical students (r = 0.803). Conclusion: Depression and anxiety are significantly prominent disorders among medical students. Therefore, sensitization and periodic mental health screening for medical students should be carried out to ensure optimal health.

The non-specific nature of mental health and structural brain outcomes following childhood trauma

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Theresa K. Haidl ◽  
Dennis M. Hedderich ◽  
Marlene Rosen ◽  
Nathalie Kaiser ◽  
Mauro Seves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Recent Onset ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Structural Brain

Abstract Background Childhood trauma (CT) is associated with an increased risk of mental health disorders; however, it is unknown whether this represents a diagnosis-specific risk factor for specific psychopathology mediated by structural brain changes. Our aim was to explore whether (i) a predictive CT pattern for transdiagnostic psychopathology exists, and whether (ii) CT can differentiate between distinct diagnosis-dependent psychopathology. Furthermore, we aimed to identify the association between CT, psychopathology and brain structure. Methods We used multivariate pattern analysis in data from 643 participants of the Personalised Prognostic Tools for Early Psychosis Management study (PRONIA), including healthy controls (HC), recent onset psychosis (ROP), recent onset depression (ROD), and patients clinically at high-risk for psychosis (CHR). Participants completed structured interviews and self-report measures including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, SCID diagnostic interview, BDI-II, PANSS, Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument, Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms and structural MRI, analyzed by voxel-based morphometry. Results (i) Patients and HC could be distinguished by their CT pattern with a reasonable precision [balanced accuracy of 71.2% (sensitivity = 72.1%, specificity = 70.4%, p ≤ 0.001]. (ii) Subdomains ‘emotional neglect’ and ‘emotional abuse’ were most predictive for CHR and ROP, while in ROD ‘physical abuse’ and ‘sexual abuse’ were most important. The CT pattern was significantly associated with the severity of depressive symptoms in ROD, ROP, and CHR, as well as with the PANSS total and negative domain scores in the CHR patients. No associations between group-separating CT patterns and brain structure were found. Conclusions These results indicate that CT poses a transdiagnostic risk factor for mental health disorders, possibly related to depressive symptoms. While differences in the quality of CT exposure exist, diagnostic differentiation was not possible suggesting a multi-factorial pathogenesis.

scholarly journals A repeated cross-sectional survey assessing university students' stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Debowska ◽  
Beata Horeczy ◽  
Daniel Boduszek ◽  
Dariusz Dolinski
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Adult Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Medical Psychology ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background The time of widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases can lead to elevated stress and mental health problems among all persons affected, and in particular those sub-groups of the population that are at an increased risk of mental health problems. One such vulnerable group constitutes university students. The aim of this study is to assess stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality among different groups of university students (medical, psychology, and other). Methods Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, we collected survey data among a large sample of 7228 university students from Poland (mean age = 22.78, s.d. = 4.40; 81% female). Data were collected in five waves, during the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe (March and April 2020). Results The results demonstrate a significant increase in depression levels as the pandemic was progressing. We also found that female students scored significantly higher than male students on depression, anxiety, and stress. Psychology students recorded the lowest scores on depression and anxiety. Young adult students (aged 18–24 years) had more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidality than adult students (⩾25 years). Conclusions These results provide insights into stress and mental health among university students during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings can be used for a more effective identification of students who may struggle during next stages of the pandemic and future crises.

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