To meta-analyse or not to meta-analyse: abortion, birth and mental health

2012 ◽  
Vol 200 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Kendall ◽  
Victoria Bird ◽  
Roch Cantwell ◽  
Clare Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Meta Analyses

SummaryTwo recent meta-analyses claim that abortion leads to a deterioration in mental health. Previous reviews concluded that the mental health outcomes following an unwanted pregnancy are much the same whether the woman gives birth or terminates the pregnancy, although there is an increased mental health risk with an unwanted pregnancy. Meta-analysis is particularly susceptible to bias in this area. The physical health outcomes for women with an unwanted pregnancy have improved greatly by making abortion legal. To further improve the mental health outcomes associated with an unwanted pregnancy we should focus practice and research on the individual needs of women with an unwanted pregnancy, rather than how the pregnancy is resolved.

scholarly journals “This Too shall Pass”: Age-Based Perceptions of Changes in Routine, Coping and Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Mamta Saxena ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Death Rate ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Medical Complications ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes

The spread of COVID-19 mandated several restrictions, mediated changes in routines, and impacted coping abilities and mental health outcomes. In terms of physical health outcomes, undoubtedly, adults 50 years and older were more severely affected by a higher death rate, medical complications and hospitalization. Nevertheless, how do older adults respond to the uncertainty and scare for life compared to other age groups within the context of COVID-19 remains partially unexplored.

A hidden pandemic? An umbrella review of global evidence on mental health in the time of COVID-19

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlee Bower ◽  
Scarlett Smout ◽  
Amarina Donohoe-Bales ◽  
Lily Teesson ◽  
Eleisha Lauria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Pooled Prevalence ◽  
Meta Review ◽  
Meta Analyses

Introduction: Vast available international evidence has investigated the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review aims to synthesise evidence, identifying populations and characteristics associated with poor mental health.Methods: A meta-review of pooled prevalence of anxiety and depression, with subgroup analyses for the general population, healthcare workers (HCW) and COVID-19 patients; and a meta-synthesis of systematic reviews to collate evidence on associated factors and further mental disorders. Databases searched included Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE dated to May 2021. Eligibility criteria included systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses, published post-November 2019, reporting data in English on mental health outcomes during the pandemic.Results: Eighty-one systematic reviews were included, 51 of which incorporated meta-analysis. Meta-review overall anxiety prevalence was 29% (95%CI: 27–31%, I2: 99.83%), with subgroup prevalence as 35% (95%CI: 23–47%, I2: 97.4%) in COVID-19 patients, 29% in HCW (95%CI: 25– 32, I2: 99.8%) and 28% in the general population (95%CI: 25–31%, I2: 99.9%). Meta-review overall depression prevalence was 28% (95%CI: 26–30%, I2: 99.7), with subgroup prevalence as 30% (95%CI: 7–60%, I2: 99.8%) in COVID-19 patients, 28% (95%CI: 25–31%, I2: 99.7%) in HCW and 27% (95%CI: 25–30, I2: 99.8%) in the general population. Meta-synthesis found many experienced psychological distress and PTSD/PTSS during COVID-19, but pooled prevalence ranged substantially. Fear of, proximity to, or confirmed COVID-19 infection; undergoing quarantine; and COVID-19-related news exposure were associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Amongst other factors, people who are younger, female, LGBTIQ, pregnant, parents or experiencing low social support, financial issues or socio-economic disadvantage, tended to have poorer mental health during the pandemic period.Conclusions: Despite high volumes of reviews, the diversity of findings and dearth of longitudinal studies within reviews means clear links between COVID-19 and mental health are not available, although existing evidence indicates probable associations.

scholarly journals Interventions to improve children's access to mental health care: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Werlen ◽  
D. Gjukaj ◽  
M. Mohler-Kuo ◽  
M.A. Puhan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
School Based ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract Aims Mental disorders in children are a significant and growing cause of morbidity worldwide. Although interventions to help overcome barriers along the pathway to accessing health care for children with mental disorders exist, there is no overview of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on these interventions as yet. This study aimed to systematically identify RCTs of interventions to improve access to mental health care for children and synthesise them using a conceptual framework of access to health care. Methods This systematic review was performed following a predefined protocol registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42018081714). We searched the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CENTRAL for RCTs up to 15 May 2019 using terms related to the concepts ‘young people,’ ‘mental disorders’ and ‘help-seeking interventions’ and scanned reference lists from relevant studies. Two reviewers independently screened all identified articles in a two-stage process, extracted results on outcomes of interest (knowledge, attitudes, intentions, help-seeking, accessing care, mental health outcomes and satisfaction), assessed the risk of bias and conducted meta-analyses where deemed appropriate. Results After screening 5641 identified articles, 34 RCTs were eligible for inclusion. Eighty per cent of universal school-based interventions measuring knowledge (n = 5) and 67% measuring attitudes (n = 6) reported significantly better results compared with controls on those outcomes, whereas 20% measuring access to care (n = 5) and none measuring mental health outcomes (n = 7) did. In contrast, 71% of interventions targeting at-risk individuals (n = 21) reported better access to care compared with controls, while just 33% (n = 6) did for mental health outcomes. For satisfaction with care, this proportion was 80% (n = 5). Meta-analyses of interventions measuring initial appointment attendance yielded combined odds ratios of 3.11 (2.07–4.67) for appointment reminder interventions and 3.51 (2.02–6.11) for treatment engagement interventions. The outcomes for universal school-based interventions were heterogeneous and could not be summarised quantitatively through meta-analysis. Conclusions To have a population-level effect on improving children's access to mental health care, two-stage interventions that identify those in need and then engage them in the health-care system may be necessary. We need more evidence on interventions to target contextual factors such as affordability and infrastructural barriers.

scholarly journals Discrimination, Life Stress, and Mental Health among Muslims: A Preregistered Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ummul-Kiram Kathawalla ◽  
Moin Syed
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Life Stressors ◽  
Muslim Community ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Individual Discrimination ◽  
Meta Analyses

Stage 1 Registered Report: How is the current context of Islamophobia, anti-Muslim prejudice, and discrimination, associated with Muslim mental health in Western countries? A body of evidence suggests that experiences of discrimination and racism are associated with negative mental health outcomes for marginalized, minority populations (e.g., Paradies et al., 2015). Studies specifically with Muslim populations in Western countries have found mostly similar findings of an association between discrimination and negative mental health outcomes (Samari, Alcalá, & Sharif, 2018). The varied results in the literature calls for using statistical rigor and synthesis to provide clarity of the etiology of psychopathology in the Muslim community. In this study, we plan to conduct meta-analyses of the associations of both perceived discrimination and mental health and life stressors and mental health for Muslims living in Western countries. We aim to contribute to the literature on the experiences of Muslims and to the debate on the contribution of discrimination vs. life stressors on the development of mental health using meta-analytic methods. For added specificity, we examine both perceived individual discrimination and group discrimination and positive and negative mental health outcomes. We also plan to examine various study-related (e.g., publication bias), demographic, and identity-related moderators in these associations. In the current sociopolitical climate, this study is an important step to better serve the needs of the growing global Muslim community.

scholarly journals Potential impact of physical distancing on physical and mental health: a rapid narrative umbrella review of meta-analyses on the link between social connection and health

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e042335
Author(s):  
Nexhmedin Morina ◽  
Ahlke Kip ◽  
Thole Hilko Hoppen ◽  
Stefan Priebe ◽  
Thomas Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Meta Analyses

BackgroundThe imperative for physical distancing (mostly referred to as social distancing) during COVID-19 pandemic may deteriorate physical and mental health. We aimed at summarising the strength of evidence in the published literature on the association of physical and mental health with social connection via social isolation, living alone and loneliness.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search in April 2020 to identify meta-analyses using the Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases. The search strategy included terms of social isolation, loneliness, living alone and meta-analysis. Eligible meta-analyses needed to report any sort of association between an indicator of social connection and any physical or mental health outcome. The findings were summarised in a narrative synthesis.ResultsTwenty-five meta-analyses met our criteria, of which 10 focused on physical health and 15 on mental health outcomes. The results suggest that lack of social connection is associated with chronic physical symptoms, frailty, coronary heart disease, malnutrition, hospital readmission, reduced vaccine uptake, early mortality, depression, social anxiety, psychosis, cognitive impairment in later life and suicidal ideation.ConclusionsThe existing evidence clearly indicates that social connection is associated with a range of poor physical and mental health outcomes. A potential negative impact on these outcomes needs to be considered in future decisions on physical distancing measures.

scholarly journals Impact of Internet-Based Interventions on Caregiver Mental Health: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Sherifali ◽  
Muhammad Usman Ali ◽  
Jenny Ploeg ◽  
Maureen Markle-Reid ◽  
Ruta Valaitis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Chronic Condition ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Internet Based Intervention

BACKGROUND The health of informal caregivers of adults with chronic conditions is increasingly vital since caregivers comprise a large proportion of supportive care to family members living in the community. Due to efficiency and reach, internet-based interventions for informal caregivers have the potential to mitigate the negative mental health outcomes associated with caregiving. OBJECTIVE The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the impact of internet-based interventions on caregiver mental health outcomes and the impact of different types of internet-based intervention programs. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and AgeLine databases were searched for randomized controlled trials or controlled clinical trials published from January 1995 to April 2017 that compared internet-based intervention programs with no or minimal internet-based interventions for caregivers of adults with at least 1 chronic condition. The inclusion criteria were studies that included (1) adult informal caregivers (aged 18 years or older) of adults living in the community with a chronic condition; (2) an internet-based intervention program to deliver education, support, or monitoring to informal caregivers; and (3) outcomes of mental health. Title and abstract and full-text screening were completed in duplicate. Data were extracted by a single reviewer and verified by a second reviewer, and risk of bias assessments were completed accordingly. Where possible, data for mental health outcomes were meta-analyzed. RESULTS The search yielded 7923 unique citations of which 290 studies were screened at full-text. Of those, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria; 11 were randomized controlled trials, 1 study was a controlled clinical trial, and 1 study comprised both study designs. Beneficial effects of any internet-based intervention program resulted in a mean decrease of 0.48 points (95% CI –0.75 to –0.22) for stress and distress and a mean decrease of 0.40 points (95% CI –0.58 to –0.22) for anxiety among caregivers. For studies that examined internet-based information and education plus professional psychosocial support, the meta-analysis results showed small to medium beneficial effect sizes of the intervention for the mental health outcomes of depression (–0.34; 95% CI –0.63 to –0.05) and anxiety (–0.36; 95% CI –0.66 to –0.07). Some suggestion of a beneficial effect on overall health for the use of information and education plus combined peer and professional support was also shown (1.25; 95% CI 0.24 to 2.25). Overall, many studies were of poor quality and were rated at high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS The review found evidence for the benefit of internet-based intervention programs on mental health for caregivers of adults living with a chronic condition, particularly for the outcomes of caregiver depression, stress and distress, and anxiety. The types of interventions that predominated as efficacious included information and education with or without professional psychological support, and, to a lesser extent, with combined peer and psychological support. Further high-quality research is needed to inform the effectiveness of interactive, dynamic, and multicomponent internet-based interventions. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO CRD42017075436; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=75436 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/709M3tDvn)

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