scholarly journals Prevalence, predictors and types of unpleasant and adverse effects of meditation in regular meditators: international cross-sectional study

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Pauly ◽  
Niklas Bergmann ◽  
Inge Hahne ◽  
Sarah Pux ◽  
Eric Hahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Therapies ◽  
Meditation Experience

BackgroundMeditation is commonly implemented in psychological therapies since the ‘third wave’ of cognitive–behavioural therapy has increased the focus on mindfulness-based interventions. Although extensive research literature demonstrates its benefits, little is known about potential adverse effects.AimsThe aim of this study is to report the prevalence, type and severity of particularly unpleasant meditation-related experiences in the largest cross-sectional study on this topic to date, with 1370 regular meditators.MethodThe participants were asked whether they ever encountered particularly unpleasant experiences as a result of their meditation experience. For the first time, the type and severity of those experiences were assessed and the association with several predictors, such as pre-existing mental disorders, were explored via logistic and linear regression.ResultsSimilar to previous studies, 22% of participants (95% CI 20–24) reported having encountered unpleasant meditation-related experiences, and 13% of participants (95% CI 3–5) reported experiences that were categorised as adverse. Those were mostly of affective, somatic and cognitive nature. Unpleasant meditation-related experiences were more likely to occur in participants with pre-existing mental illnesses (P = 0.000, 95% CI 1.25–2.12).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that unpleasant meditation-related experiences are prevalent among meditators and, to a relevant extent, severe enough to warrant further scientific inquiry. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine whether the unpleasant meditation-related experiences are merely negative and thus should be avoided, or are an inherent part of the contemplative path.

scholarly journals Perceived Stress and Increased Food Consumption during the ‘Third Wave’ of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2380
Author(s):  
Eduardo Sánchez-Sánchez ◽  
Jara Díaz-Jimenez ◽  
Ignacio Rosety ◽  
Maria José M. Alférez ◽  
Antonio Jesús Díaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Scale ◽  
The Third ◽  
Moderate Stress

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of people worldwide. An increase in perceived stress can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as increased food consumption. The aim of this study was to find the level of perceived stress and its relationship with increased food consumption during the “third wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. This was a cross-sectional study that employed anonline self-reported frequency of consumption questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale-10. A total of 637 subjects participated and 83.6% of respondents had moderate or high stress—more prevalent in the female and young respondents. Moreover, 36.1% of respondents reported that they had increased the frequency of consumption of some foods, mainly nuts, snacks, and jellybeans, along with coffee, tea, cocoa, and soft drinks. Eating between meals was more pronounced in those with high stress (65.1%) than in those with moderate stress (40.4%) and low stress (20.2%). Furthermore, the respondents with high stress reported greater weight gain. Thus, the results show that the level of perceived stress during the ‘third wave’ of this pandemic increased food consumption.

Cross-Sectional Study on Stigma among Care Givers of Patients with Mental Illness in Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (28) ◽  
pp. 2484-2488
Author(s):  
Umesh G ◽  
Asokan T.V. ◽  
Roselin V ◽  
Sri Santhanakrishnan V V
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Interview Schedule ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Care Center ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Family Interview

BACKGROUND Stigma experienced by caregivers of patients with mental illnesses remains unnoticed. This study was conducted to evaluate the stigma perceived by the care givers of patients with various mental illnesses and the factors associated with stigma. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted among the care givers of patients with mental illnesses who accompanied the patients to the outpatient department (OPD) of Psychiatry in Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, from January 2017 to March 2017. A total of hundred care givers were included in the study. All care givers aged between 18 - 50 years of age in both sexes were included in the study. Care givers of substance abuse cases were excluded from the study. A total of hundred care givers with fifty care givers of neurosis patients and another fifty care givers of psychosis were included in the study. Family interview schedule (FIS) stigma scale was used to assess the stigma perceived by care givers. Data was entered in Microsoft excel and data analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17. RESULTS Mean perceived stigma score was 12.27 ± 9.43. High, low and zero stigma was noted among 44 %, 36 % and 20 % of care givers, respectively. Also, it was found that care givers of psychosis patients had more stigma than the care givers of neurosis patients (P = 0.0008). Statistically significant association was found between patient’s duration of illness (P = 0.003), patient’s diagnosis (P = 0.000) and care givers burden (P = 0.000) with severity of stigma perceived by the care givers. CONCLUSIONS Proportion of stigma prevailing among the care givers is high and it depicts only the cases which were reported to the health care center, whereas a larger proportion of cases remains not seeking the health care. An early intervention by conducting routine assessments of the mental status of caregivers is necessary. KEYWORDS Stigma, Care Givers, Mental Illnesses, Family Interview Schedule

scholarly journals Analysis of knowledge and attitudes of the students of health and professional studies regarding the use of stimulative substances in sports

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-151
Author(s):  
Goran Stojanovic ◽  
Milica Vasiljevic-Blagojevic ◽  
Zulfer Bahtijari ◽  
Bratislav Stankovic ◽  
Dragana Terzic-Markovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Competitive Sports ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Analysis Of Knowledge ◽  
Professional Studies

Backrogund/Aim. Since the beginning of competitive sports, athletes have been trying to improve their abilities by taking various substances. The problem of using prohibited substances is not strictly tied to elite athletes; it is also present in the general population. The aim of this study was to test the knowledge and attitudes of the students regarding the use of stimulative substances and dietary supplements in sports. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed among students at the College of Health and Professional Studies in Belgrade, Serbia. The data was collected by filling in an especially designed questionnaire. Results. Knowledge of prohibited substances and methods was characterized as ?good? with 24.2% of respondents, namely 8.09% of males and 16.1% of females; knowledge of the adverse effects of prohibited substances and methods on health was demonstrated by 17.7% (9.03% of male respondents and 8.72% of female respondents). Conclusion. Student population is not knowledgeable enough about the problems of prohibited substances use and their negative effects on one?s health. The comparative analysis of our and European researches on knowledge, attitudes and uses of prohibited substances show a rather uniform prevalence rate. Not being aware of the adverse effects shows the need to further educate students.

scholarly journals Attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry and mental illnesses: a cross-sectional study from Pakistan

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S303-S304
Author(s):  
Syed Muhammad Jawad Zaidi ◽  
Muhammad Hamza ◽  
Raja Adnan Ahmed ◽  
Mishal Fatima ◽  
Hassan Nadeem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis

AimsThe increasing burden of mental disorders coupled with the social stigmatization in Pakistan is an immense barrier in combating the emerging mental health crisis. The low number of qualified psychiatrists and poor intake in post-graduate psychiatry training programs in the region further complicates the problem. Thus, our study aims to assess the attitudes of Pakistani medical students towards psychiatry. Furthermore, we also aim to evaluate how experience and different levels of exposure to psychiatry among students affect their attitudes towards psychiatry as a career choice.MethodThis cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey made on Google Forms. A total of 831 medical students studying across various private and public medical institutions of Pakistan responded to the survey. The questionnaire comprised of demographical details (gender, age, institution, and academic year) exposure to psychiatry, duration of psychiatry rotation, and personal experience with mental illness. The attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry were evaluated using the English version of the 30-item Attitudes Towards Psychiatry (ATP-30) scale. Chi-square test and multiple regression with backward method were used to analyze the data.ResultThe Cronbach's alpha value of the ATP-30 scale was 0.830. The participants in our study had a mean score of 107.6 ± 12 on ATP-30. Overall, most participants had a positive attitude towards psychiatry. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant model pertaining to predictors of attitude toward psychiatry (F (df) = 11.28 (830), P < 0.001). However, the predictors included in the model accounted for only 5.8% of the variation in ATP-30 scores. According to it, those students had a more positive attitude toward psychiatry who identified as female, older and having any sort of exposure toward psychiatric specialty, direct involvement in psychiatric patient care, and reporting personal experience of mental illnesses.ConclusionOur study showed that medical students had a positive attitude towards psychiatry but female medical students, students with previous exposure to psychiatry, and students with longer psychiatry rotations tend to view psychiatry more positively. The generally positive trend towards psychiatry in Pakistan indicates the need to sustain improvements through proactive measures. We recommend longer placements for medical students in mental health settings for at least 4 weeks or longer. Medical schools should also promote research, discussions, and seminars on different psychiatric illnesses in order to enhance awareness among the students.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Usage and Co-prescription with Other Potentially Interacting Drugs in Elderly: a Cross-sectional Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuru Abdu ◽  
Samuel Teweldemedhin ◽  
Asmerom Mosazghi ◽  
Luwam Asfaha ◽  
Makda Teshale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Drug Interactions ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Protective Agents ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Abstract Introduction: Globally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) usage in the elderly with chronic pain has been reported as frequent. Though it is fundamental in maintaining their quality of life, the risk of polypharmacy, drug interactions and adverse effects is of paramount importance as the elderly usually require multiple medications for their co-morbidities. If prescriptions are not appropriately monitored and managed, they are likely to expose patients to serious drug interactions and potentially fatal adverse effects. Thus, the objective of the study was to assess the appropriateness of NSAIDs use and incidence of NSAIDs related potential interactions in elderly. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly out-patients (aged 60 and above) who visited three hospitals in Asmara between August 22 and September 29, 2018. The sampling design was two-stage random sampling and data was collected using a questionnaire, exit interview and by abstracting information from patients’ clinical cards. Descriptive and analytical statistics including chi-square test and logistic regression were employed using SPSS. Results: A total of 285 elderly respondents were enrolled in the study with similar male to female ratio. One in four of all respondents were chronic NSAIDs users, of which 74.6% were not prescribed prophylactic gastro-protective agents (GPAs). About 20% of the elderly were involved in polypharmacy and nearly all of the encountered potential NSAIDs related interactions (n=322) with prescribed drugs were moderate. Diabetes and hypertension were significantly associated with chronic NSAIDs use (OR=3, 95% CI: 1.54, 5.84; OR=9.99, 95% CI: 4.46, 22.38) and incidence of drug interactions (OR=3.95, 95%CI: 1.92, 8.13; OR=3.12, 95%CI: 1.81, 5.33) while diabetes and cardiac problem were significantly associated with incidence of polypharmacy (OR=4.33, 95% CI: 2.36, 7.96; OR=3.56, 95% CI: 1.05, 12.11). Conclusion: Though the overall reflection of prescription pattern of NSAIDs during the study period was almost satisfactory, gastro-protective agents were poorly prescribed as a prophylaxis.

scholarly journals Functional disability and associated factors among patients with severe mental illness attending psychiatry outpatient unit at Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfalem Amare ◽  
Natnael Seifu ◽  
Mirkat Shewangzaw
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Functional Disability ◽  
Social Supports ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Duration Of Illness ◽  
Functional Disabilities

Abstract Background According to the World Health Organization (WHO), functional disability associated with severe mental illnesses was pervasive, affecting everyday life, and has a significant contribution to the global functional disability. The severe mental illnesses (schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder) were among the top ten leading causes of functional disability as indicated by years lived with a functional disability. These illnesses hurt the academic, occupational, social and family functioning of the patients. Despite this fact, functional disabilities and its contributing factors among severe mental illness were not clear. Therefore this study will assess the prevalence and associated factors of functional disabilities among patients with severe mental illnesses. Methods Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from Feb 03 to March 10, 2020, with a total of 423 participants in Mekelle, Ethiopia. A stratified random sampling method was included in the study. Functional disabilities were measured by WHO functional disability assessment schedule version two (WHODAS 2.0). Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between independent and dependent variables. Results The prevalence of functional disability among severe mental ill patients was 88.1% (51.3% mild, 27.5% moderate & 9.3% sever functional disabilities). This study revealed that, being jobless [AOR=4.01, 95% CI (1.77, 12.35)], duration of illness ≥11 years [AOR=2.99, 95% CI(1.17,7.64)], those who had poor treatment adherence [AOR= 2.79, 95% CI (1.06, 7.35)], drug adverse effects [AOR= 4.61, 95% CI (1.79, 11.84)], poor social supports [AOR=6.58, 95% CI (2.01, 21.56)], and moderate social supports [AOR=4.16, 95% CI (1.88,9.20)] were significantly associated with functional disabilities. Conclusion The prevalence of functional disability was found to be high. Being jobless, duration of illness ≥11 years, medication non-adherent, having drug side effects and having poor or moderate social support were significantly associated with functional disabilities. Therefore, when treating patients with severe mental illness giving especial attention the bio-psycho-social aspect of treatment is essential.

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