Exploring and reorienting psychiatrists’ attitudes regarding smoking cessation and its potential to improve mental health outcomes: a pilot study

Objective: The aims of this study were to explore the knowledge, attitudes, confidence and practices of Australian psychiatrists and psychiatry registrars with regard to smoking cessation with their patients and to promote clinical practice reflection and re-framing. Methods: A mixed-methods questionnaire was developed. Interviews were conducted via telephone or face-to-face utilising participatory action research principles. Qualitative data were de-identified and analysed following a reflexive thematic approach. Results: The questionnaire was completed with 15 participants. The majority worked in the public health sector and agreed that smoking cessation could be used as a clinical tool across mental health services. However, nearly all of the participants reported being unfamiliar with the latest literature. Only one-third of participants reported having had received formal training in smoking cessation. Overwhelmingly, more training was reported as necessary and welcomed by participants. Conclusion: Our study has identified gaps in psychiatrists’ and psychiatry registrars’ knowledge and confidence regarding the promotion, initiation and oversight of smoking cessation strategies for patients. It’s important that psychiatrists lead the way in re-framing and engaging with this issue, and consider smoking cessation as a tool that can improve mental health outcomes. A review of existing Australian policies, guidelines and training is recommended.

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Social Connection in Times of Physical Distancing

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.132 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 36-36

Author(s):

Jeongeun Lee

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Digital Media ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Social Connection ◽

Current Effort ◽

Face To Face ◽

Key Stakeholders

Abstract COVID-19 has been especially devastating to older adults. To prevent the spread of the virus, physical distancing has become the norm. As a result, there are fewer opportunities available for face-to-face interaction and social activities, which may be particularly harmful to older adults, given their existing loneliness levels. Thus, this symposium brings together a collection of papers that exemplify the interplay of social connection, activities, and mental health outcomes among older adults facing loneliness. The first paper will discuss how activity diversity is linked to higher loneliness and depressive symptoms among heterosexual and LGBTQ older adults. The second paper will present findings on the changes in social connectedness due to physical distancing and their associated impact on the mental health outcomes among older adults. The third paper will present qualitative findings on the effect of physical distancing on older adults' social connectedness using a mixed-method study. The final paper discusses the challenges faced by older adults in their use of digital media for social connection in the present pandemic and highlights some of the population's untapped strengths, which can be leveraged to help them live prosperous online lives. All papers will address practical tips and recommendations for actions, which key stakeholders can take to support older adults during the pandemic. The discussant, Dr. Kahana, will integrate the four papers and highlight the potential and limits of the current effort to address these issues and consider future inquiry routes.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Male Strength Athletes Who Use Non-prescribed Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.636706 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Barnaby N. Zoob Carter ◽

Ian D. Boardley ◽

Katinka van de Ven

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Training Frequency ◽

Androgenic Steroids ◽

The Impact ◽

And Training

Background: One sub-population potentially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are strength athletes who use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). We examined links between disruption in AAS use and training due to the pandemic and mental health outcomes in this population, hypothesising: (a) the pandemic would be linked with reduced training and AAS use; and (b) athletes perceiving greater impact on their training and AAS use would report increases in detrimental mental health outcomes.Methods: Male strength athletes using AAS (N = 237) from 42 countries completed an online questionnaire in May 2020. A sub-sample (N = 90) from 20 countries participated again 4 months later. The questionnaire assessed pre-pandemic and current AAS use and training, alongside several mental health outcomes.Results: At Time 1, most participants perceived an impact of the pandemic on AAS use (91.1%) and/or training (57.8%). Dependent t-tests demonstrated significant reductions in training frequency (t = 7.78; p < 0.001) and AAS dose (t = 6.44; p < 0.001) compared to pre-pandemic. Linear regression showed the impact of the pandemic on training was a significant positive predictor of excessive body checking (B = 0.35) and mood swings (B = 0.26), and AAS dose was a significant positive predictor of anxiety (B = 0.67), insomnia (B = 0.52), mood swings (B = 0.37). At Time 2, fewer participants perceived an impact of the pandemic on AAS use (29.9%) and/or training (66.7%) than at Time 1. Training frequency (t = 3.02; p < 0.01) and AAS dose (t = 2.11; p < 0.05) were depressed in comparison to pre-pandemic. However, AAS dose had increased compared to Time 1 (t = 2.11; p < 0.05). Linear regression showed the impact of the pandemic on training/AAS use did not significantly predict any mental-health outcomes. However, AAS dose was a significant negative predictor of depressive thoughts (B = −0.83) and mood swings (B = −2.65).Conclusion: Our findings showed impact of the pandemic on the training and AAS use, reflected in reduced training frequency and AAS dose. However, whilst we detected some short-term consequential effects on mental health, these did not appear to be long-lasting.

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Prescribing Prevalence, Effectiveness, and Mental Health Safety of Smoking Cessation Medicines in Patients With Mental Disorders

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntz072 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 48-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Gemma M J Taylor ◽

Taha Itani ◽

Kyla H Thomas ◽

Dheeraj Rai ◽

Tim Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Bipolar Depression ◽

Mood Stabilizers ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Practice Research ◽

Research Database ◽

Neurotic Disorder

Abstract Objective We conducted a prospective cohort study of the Clinical Practice Research Database to estimate rates of varenicline and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) prescribing and the relative effects on smoking cessation, and mental health. Methods We used multivariable logistic regression, propensity score matched regression, and instrumental variable analysis. Exposure was varenicline or NRT prescription. Mental disorders were bipolar, depression, neurotic disorder, schizophrenia, or prescriptions of antidepressants, antipsychotics, hypnotics/anxiolytics, mood stabilizers. Outcomes were smoking cessation, and incidence of neurotic disorder, depression, prescription of antidepressants, or hypnotics/anxiolytics. Follow-ups were 3, 6, and 9 months, and at 1, 2, and 4 years. Results In all patients, NRT and varenicline prescribing declined during the study period. Seventy-eight thousand four hundred fifty-seven smokers with mental disorders aged ≥18 years were prescribed NRT (N = 59 340) or varenicline (N = 19 117) from September 1, 2006 to December 31, 2015. Compared with smokers without mental disorders, smokers with mental disorders had 31% (95% CI: 29% to 33%) lower odds of being prescribed varenicline relative to NRT, but had 19% (95% CI: 15% to 24%) greater odds of quitting at 2 years when prescribed varenicline relative to NRT. Overall, varenicline was associated with decreased or similar odds of worse mental health outcomes than NRT in patients both with and without mental disorders, although there was some variation when analyses were stratified by mental disorder subgroup. Conclusions Smoking cessation medication prescribing may be declining in primary care. Varenicline was more effective than NRT for smoking cessation in patients with mental disorders and there is not clear consistent evidence that varenicline is adversely associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Implications Patients with mental disorders were less likely to be prescribed varenicline than NRT. We triangulated results from three analytical techniques. We found that varenicline was more effective than NRT for smoking cessation in patients with mental disorders. Varenicline was generally associated with similar or decreased odds of poorer mental health outcomes (ie, improvements in mental health) when compared with NRT. We report these findings cautiously as our data are observational and are at risk of confounding.

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Smoking Cessation and Improvement in Mental Health Outcomes: Do People Who Quit Smoking by Switching to Electronic Cigarettes Experience Improvement in Mental Health?

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0706743720917775 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (7) ◽

pp. 512-514 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rudra Dahal ◽

Kamala Adhikari ◽

Scott B. Patten

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Quit Smoking

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Listening to the autistic voice: Mental health priorities to guide research and practice in autism from a stakeholder-driven project

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361320908410 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 822-833 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Teal W Benevides ◽

Stephen M Shore ◽

Kate Palmer ◽

Patricia Duncan ◽

Alex Plank ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Health Research ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Research ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Research And Practice ◽

Face To Face ◽

Autistic Adults

Autistic adults are significantly more likely to experience co-occurring mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Although intervention studies are beginning to be implemented with autistic adults to address mental health outcomes, little is known about what research autistic adults feel is needed, or what mental health outcomes are of value to them. The purpose of this article is to describe a project that involved more than 350 autistic adults and other stakeholders as coproducers of research priorities on mental health. Through a variety of methods including a large online survey, two large stakeholder meetings, and three face-to-face focus groups, the project team identified five top priorities for mental health research which should be incorporated by researchers and practitioners in their work with autistic adults. These included research to inform trauma-informed care approaches; societal approaches for inclusion and acceptance of autistic individuals; community-available approaches for self-management of mental health; evaluation of adverse mental health outcomes of existing interventions; and improvements in measurement of quality of life, social well-being, and other preferred outcomes in autistic adults. Lay Abstract Autistic adults commonly experience mental health conditions. However, research rarely involves autistic adults in deciding priorities for research on mental healthcare approaches that might work for them. The purpose of this article is to describe a stakeholder-driven project that involved autistic adults in co-leading and designing research about priorities to address mental health needs. Through a large online survey, two large meetings, and three face-to-face focus group discussions involving over 350 stakeholders, we identified five priorities for mental health research desired by autistic adults. These priorities and preferred outcomes should be used to guide research and practice for autistic adults.

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Mental Health Among Adolescents from Returned Portuguese Immigrant Families

Swiss Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1024/1421-0185/a000015 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 69 (3) ◽

pp. 131-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Félix Neto

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Immigrant Families ◽

Health Problems ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Control Group ◽

Older Adolescents ◽

The Mean ◽

Portuguese Adolescents

This study investigated mental health problems and their predictors among adolescents from returned immigrant families. The sample consisted of 360 returned adolescents (mean age = 16.8 years; SD = 1.9). The mean duration of a sojourn in Portugal for the sample was 8.2 years (SD = 4.5). A control group of 217 Portuguese youths were also included in the study. Adolescents from immigrant families reported mental health levels similar to those of Portuguese adolescents who have never migrated. Girls showed more mental health problems than boys. Younger adolescents showed fewer mental health problems than older adolescents. Adaptation variables contributed to mental health outcomes even after acculturation variables were accounted for. Implications of the study for counselors are discussed.

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