Alcohol Use and Peer Mentorship in Veterans

2020 ◽  
pp. 002216782090595
Author(s):  
Samuel Hall ◽  
Mark Flower ◽  
Lisa Rein ◽  
Zeno Franco
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorders ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Mentorship Program ◽  
Peer Mentorship ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Identification Test ◽  
Before And After

Veterans are at an increased risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other comorbid psychiatric disorders, yet they often underutilize professional mental health services. Peer mentorship programs offer an alternative option for those seeking help for mental health problems. The purpose of this study was to examine alcohol use in veterans enrolled in a peer mentorship program, determine the effects of peer mentorship on alcohol use and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and assess the interaction between AUD risk and PTSD symptoms over time. Veterans were enrolled in a 12-week peer mentorship program at Dryhootch in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Measures of AUD risk (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) were collected before and after 12 weeks. Additionally, the participants reported their total drinks consumed each week throughout the program. Results showed that veterans were at an increased risk for AUD compared with civilian populations. The risk of developing AUD was associated with more PTSD symptoms. While PTSD symptoms were significantly lower after 12 weeks in the program, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores and the average number of weekly drinks were not significantly different. Further community work should address alcohol use in veterans to achieve better mental health outcomes in the program.

Occupational stress in Remotely Piloted Aircraft System operators

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 244-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Phillips ◽  
D Sherwood ◽  
N Greenberg ◽  
N Jones
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Occupational Functioning ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Remotely Piloted Aircraft ◽  
Remotely Piloted Aircraft System ◽  
Aircraft System

Abstract Background Although there is currently little research data to support the contention, concerns have been raised about possible traumatic stressors inherent to Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) operator roles. Factors such as exposure to visually traumatic events compounded by long working hours and blurred boundaries between military and civilian life have been cited as potential stressors. Robust research into the well-being of RPAS operators is scarce and mostly samples US personnel. Aims To provide mental health and well-being data relating to UK RPAS operators. Methods UK RPAS operators completed mental health questionnaires to assess levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression symptoms, alcohol use and occupational functioning. Respondents were also asked about work patterns. Results Forty-one per cent of the sample reported potentially hazardous alcohol use. Ten per cent met psychiatric symptom criteria for moderate or severe anxiety, and 20% for moderate depressive symptoms. While there were no cases of probable PTSD, 30% of the sample reported sub-clinical PTSD symptoms likely to impair occupational functioning. Overall, 70% of the sample reported that psychological symptoms significantly impaired their functioning. Conclusions Compared to UK military sub-groups, RPAS operators were not at increased risk of mental health problems. However, a high proportion of the sample reported significant functional impairment, which has not been explored in other comparable studies. The most frequently highlighted work-related stressors were timing of RPAS work and operator shift patterns.

scholarly journals Drug Use in Night Owls May Increase the Risk for Mental Health Problems

2022 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeevan Fernando ◽  
Jan Stochl ◽  
Karen D. Ersche
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Drug Consumption ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Identification Test ◽  
Disorder Identification

Drugs of abuse are widely known to worsen mental health problems, but this relationship may not be a simple causational one. Whether or not a person is susceptible to the negative effects of drugs of abuse may not only be determined by their addictive properties, but also the users’ chronotype, which determines their daily activity patterns. The present study investigates the relationship between chronotype, drug use and mental health problems in a cross-sectional community sample. Participants (n = 209) completed a selection of questionnaires online, including the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence. We conducted multiple regression models to determine relationships between participants’ chronotype and their reported mental health symptoms and then estimated mediation models to investigate the extent to which their drug consumption accounted for the identified associations. Chronotype was significantly associated with participants’ overall mental health (β = 0.16, p = 0.022) and their anxiety levels (β = 0.18, p = 0.009) but not with levels of depression or stress. However, both relationships were fully mediated by participants’ overall drug consumption. Thus, late chronotypes, so-called “night owls”, not only use more drugs but consequently have an increased risk for developing anxiety and deteriorating mental health status. This group may be particularly vulnerable to the negative psychological effects of drugs. Our results point toward the importance of considering chronotype in designing preventative and therapeutic innovations, specifically for anxiety, which at present has been largely neglected.

scholarly journals Assessment and Treatment of Patients with Comorbidity of Mental Health Problems and Alcohol Use Disorders: Experiences of Clinicians and Patients in the UK and Poland

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-286
Author(s):  
Justyna Klingemann ◽  
Marta Welbel ◽  
Pablo Nicaise ◽  
Stefan Priebe ◽  
Aleksandra Matanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorders ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
The Uk

scholarly journals The influence of hazardous drinking on psychological functioning, stress and sleep during and after treatment in patients with mental health problems: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled intervention study

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. e019128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharina Strid ◽  
Claes Andersson ◽  
Agneta Öjehagen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorders ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Hazardous Drinking ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour ◽  
Randomised Controlled

ObjectivesHazardous drinking could negatively affect health and lead to alcohol use disorders, but it is unclear how hazardous drinking affects treatment outcomes of depression and anxiety and stress-related mental health problems. The aim of this study was to examine whether hazardous drinking, measured by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), influences the outcomes of repeated assessments of psychological functioning (Outcome Questionnaire-45), stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and sleep (Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire), during and after treatment in patients with mental ill health.MethodsThe study was conducted within REGASSA, a randomised controlled trial aimed at comparing Internet-based cognitive–behaviour therapy and physical exercise with treatment as usual on primary care patients with mental ill health. The study involved 871 participants who completed the AUDIT at baseline and who were assessed repeatedly during and after treatment on psychological functioning, stress and sleep by interactive voice response, a computerised, automated telephone technology.ResultsAt baseline, hazardous drinkers were more depressed and had lower scores on psychological functioning than non-hazardous drinkers, while there were no differences on stress and sleep. During the follow-ups, hazardous drinking negatively influenced perceived stress, that is, hazardous drinkers seemed to have less treatment effect on stress, and the results remained after controlling for depression. There were no differences during the follow-ups regarding psychological functioning and sleep.ConclusionsHazardous drinking negatively influenced perceived stress. The findings of the study emphasise the importance of screening for alcohol habits in mental ill-health patients, since risky drinking may affect the outcomes of treatment.Trial registration numberDRKS00008745; Post-results.

Low Physical Activity in Adolescence is Associated with Increased Risk for Mental Health Problems

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Monshouwer ◽  
Margreet ten Have ◽  
Mireille Van Poppel ◽  
Han Kemper ◽  
Wilma Vollebergh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Increased Risk

Family Type Predicts Mental Health Problems in Young Adults: A Survey of Students at a University in Botswana

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kennedy Amone-P'Olak ◽  
Boniface Kealeboga Ramotuana
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Single Mother ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Family Type ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Intact Family ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Family Types

In Africa, the structure of the family is changing rapidly. The effects of this change on mental health remain unknown. This study investigated the extent to which different family types (intact, single-mother, and multiple) predict mental health problems in young adults in Botswana (N = 264, mean age = 21.31, SD = 2.40). In a cross-sectional design, the study sampled students registered at various faculties at the University of Botswana. The revised symptoms checklist (SCL-90-R) was used to assess symptoms of mental health problems (depression, anxiety and hostility). Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95 per cent confidence intervals (CIs) of mental health problems for mother-only and multiple family types relative to the intact family type. Compared to the intact family type, single-mother (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.21, 4.51) and multiple family types (OR = 1.56; CI: 0.88, 2.78) were associated with an increased risk of depression. For anxiety, the ORs were 2.27 (CI: 1.18, 4.38) and 1.10 (CI: 0.56, 1.82) for single-mother and multiple family types respectively. For hostility, the ORs were 2.60 (CI: 1.34, 5.04), and 0.79 (CI: 0.44, 1.42) for single-mother and multiple family types, respectively. Family types predict mental health problems in young adults and therefore the interventions to mitigate the effects should consider family backgrounds and the ramifications of family types for treatment and care.

scholarly journals Alkoholkonsum bei Medizinstudierenden. Eine Analyse über 7 Jahre (2011 bis 2017)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa Jacobs ◽  
Maike Linke ◽  
Ernst Peter Richter ◽  
Stephanie Drössler ◽  
Anja Zimmermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorders ◽  
Brief Symptom Inventory ◽  
Psychische Belastung ◽  
Eine Analyse ◽  
Symptom Inventory ◽  
Identification Test

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In der Literatur lassen sich Hinweise darauf finden, dass bei Medizinstudierenden häufig risikohafter Alkoholkonsum vorliegt. Ziel der Arbeit Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist, den Alkoholkonsum Medizinstudierender im Zeitverlauf zu untersuchen. Material und Methoden Von 2011 bis 2017 wurden Dresdner Medizinstudierende des zweiten Semesters mit dem „Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test“ (AUDIT) befragt. Mögliche beeinflussende Faktoren des Alkoholkonsums wie Alter, Geschlecht, psychische Belastung („Brief-Symptom Inventory-18“ [BSI-18]), Jahrgang und Abiturnote der Medizinstudierenden wurden in einer Regressionsanalyse geprüft. Ergebnisse Auffällige Scores im AUDIT wiesen 47 % der Studierenden auf. Die männlichen Studierenden zeigten verglichen mit ihren Kommilitoninnen signifikant höhere Scores (6,73 vs. 4,64; p < 0,001). Aus der Regressionsanalyse gingen das Geschlecht (p = 0,000) sowie die psychische Belastung (p = 0,041; Frauen: p = 0,000) als beeinflussende Faktoren des Alkoholkonsums hervor. Schlussfolgerung Die Medizinstudierenden des zweiten Semesters zeigen häufig problematischen Alkoholkonsum, wobei dies v. a. für die männlichen Studierenden gilt. Der Alkoholkonsum von Medizinstudierenden scheint sich von 2011 bis 2017 nicht zu verändern. Die psychische Belastung stand überwiegend bei den weiblichen Medizinstudierenden mit dem Alkoholkonsum in Zusammenhang.

Gendered experiences of unemployment, suicide and self-harm: a population-level record linkage study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
R. Cunningham ◽  
A. Milner ◽  
S. Gibb ◽  
V. Rijnberg ◽  
G. Disney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Antidepressant Medication ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Data Infrastructure ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Self Harm

Abstract Background Unemployment and being not in the labour force (NILF) are risk factors for suicide, but their association with self-harm is unclear, and there is continuing debate about the role of confounding by prior mental health conditions. We examine associations between employment status and self-harm and suicide in a prospective cohort, taking into account prior mental-health-related factors. Methods We used linked data from the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure. The outcomes were chosen to be hospital presentation for self-harm and death by suicide. The exposure was employment status, defined as employed, unemployed, or NILF, measured at the 2013 Census. Confounders included demographic factors and mental health history (use of antidepressant medication, use of mental health services, and prior self-harm). Logistic regression was used to model effects. Analyses were stratified by gender. Results For males, unemployment was associated with an increased risk of suicide [odds ratio (OR): 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–1.84] and self-harm (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.45–1.68) after full adjustment for confounders. NILF was associated with an increased risk of self-harm (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.32–1.55), but less of an association was seen with suicide (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.94–1.49). For females, unemployment was associated with an increased risk of suicide (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.93–1.80) and of self-harm (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.43–1.62), and NILF was associated with a similar increase in risk for suicide (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.98–1.75) and self-harm (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.26–1.40). Discussion Exclusion from employment is associated with a considerably heightened risk of suicide and self-harm for both men and women, even among those without prior mental health problems.

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