Need for self-medication using over-the-counter psychoactive agents: A national survey in Japan

Self-medication using over-the-counter (OTC) drugs is an option for the autonomous treatment of several health problems. However, the use of OTC drugs to treat psychiatric conditions remains controversial. To clarify opinions regarding the use of OTC drugs to treat psychiatric problems, we conducted an anonymous online survey of 3000 people in Japan. Participants were stratified into three groups according to their history of mental health problems. Few participants had engaged in self-medication using OTC drugs for psychiatric symptoms, with the exception of insomnia. Participants who had used OTC drugs reported feeling less satisfied with their experience compared with those who had consulted a specialist. Participants who had used sleeping pills were likely to hold relatively positive opinions regarding the use of OTC psychiatric drugs. In conclusion, the need for self-medication of psychiatric symptoms appears to be limited. Education and further research may be necessary to promote self-medication for proper treatment of psychiatric conditions in Japan.

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Attitude and practice of Saudi population towards self-medication with over the counter ophthalmic preparations

International Surgery Journal ◽

10.18203/2349-2902.isj20210909 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 801

Author(s):

Amjad M. Alharbi ◽

Marya A. Alsuhaibani ◽

Suraka Rumman ◽

Ahmed Mousa ◽

Ahmad Alaraj

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis ◽

Eye Drops ◽

Saudi Population ◽

Self Medication ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Over The Counter ◽

Attitude And Practice ◽

History Of ◽

The Mean

Background: This study was conducted to identify Saudi populations’ attitude and practice towards self-medication with over the counter (OTC) ophthalmic preparations.Methods: It was cross-sectional online-survey-based study using modified questionnaire from previous study targeting Saudi population (aged 15 years or above). Only who had used OTC ophthalmic preparations were included.Results: A total of 1426 participants were included and the mean age was 25.5±9.3 years. History of eye diseases were seen in n=860 (60.3%) which is include myopia n=481 (33.7%), dry eye n=296 (20.8%) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis n=180 (12.6%). Fifty four percent of the participants were familiar with OTC preparation (n=767) and n=927 (65.7%) believed that it is not safe to be used. More than one third consider antibiotics, antihistamines and decongestant eye drops as OTC. However, only n=275 (19.5%) think that lubricant eye drops are not under OTC categories. Participants who self-medicated with OTC were n=890 (62.4%), among them n=422 (47.4%) they do not know the names of medication, n=305 (34.3%) used lubricants and n=80 (9%) used antibiotics. Participants received prescription advice from n=208 (39.3%) pharmacists, n=133 (25.1%) relatives’ advice and n=26 (4.9%) from social media. Thirty eight percent use OTC because they used it before, while n=217 (27.7%) used it because of its easily accessibility.Conclusions: Saudi populations have awareness of various categories of OTC ophthalmic preparations. Despite that, those who used it tend to have poor practice.

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Met and unmet needs among adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability with and without mental health problems

10.31234/osf.io/ztrjg ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Matthias Schützwohl

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intellectual Disability ◽

Unmet Needs ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Health Problems ◽

Service Planning ◽

Support Needs ◽

Behaviour Problem ◽

Prevalence Rates

Background: People with an intellectual disability (ID) show a great number and complex constellation of support needs. With respect to the planning of services, it is important to assess needs at the population level. ID services need to know to what extent support needs of clients with mental health problems differ from support needs of clients without any mental health problem.Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence rates of needs in relevant study groups. Methods: Data was generated from the MEMENTA-Study (“Mental health care for adults with intellectual disability and a mental disorder”). The Camberwell Assessment of Need for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (CANDID) was used to assess met und unmet support needs. Data was available for n=248 adults with mild to moderate ID.Results: Mean total number of needs and unmet needs was associated with mental health status. However, in most particular areas under study, individuals without significant psychiatric symptoms or any behaviour problem needed as much as often help as individuals with such mental health problems. A higher rate of need for care among study participants with significant psychiatric symptoms or any behaviour problem was mainly found with regard to these specific areas (“minor mental health problems”, “major mental health problems”, “inappropriate behaviour”) or with regard to closely related areas (“safety of others”).Conclusions: Differences in prevalence rates mainly occurred in such areas of need that rather fall under the responsibility of mental health services than under the responsibility of ID services. This has implications for service planning.

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Embitterment as a Specific Mental Health Reaction during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Psychopathology ◽

10.1159/000517447 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Beate Muschalla ◽

Clio Vollborn ◽

Anke Sondhof

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Affective State ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Problems ◽

Social Consequences ◽

High Rate ◽

Perceived Injustice

Introduction: Embitterment can occur as a reaction to perceived injustice. During the pandemic and restrictions in daily living due to infection risk management, a range of many smaller or severe injustices have occurred. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate what characterizes persons with high embitterment, mental illness, embitterment and mental illness, and those without embitterment or mental health problems. Methods: We conducted an online survey including persons from the general population in November 2020 and December 2020, the phase during which a second lockdown took place, with closed shops, restaurants, cultural and activity sites. 3,208 participants (mean age 47 years) gave self-ratings on their present well-being, burdens experienced during the pandemic, embitterment, wisdom, and resilience. Results: Embitterment occurred among 16% of the sample, which is a high rate in comparison with 4% during pre-pandemic times. Embitterment was weakly correlated with unspecific mental well-being. There were more persons with embitterment than those with embitterment and a mental health problem. Persons with embitterment reported less coronavirus-related anxiety than persons without embitterment. However, embittered persons reported more social and economic burdens and more frequent experiences of losses (job loss and canceling of medical treatments). Embittered persons perceive their own wisdom competencies on a similar level as persons with mental health problems or persons without mental health problems. Conclusion: Embitterment is a specific potentially alone-standing affective state, which is distinguishable from general mental health and coping capacities (here: wisdom). The economic and social consequences of pandemic management should be carefully recognized and prevented by policy.

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Is social camouflaging associated with anxiety and depression in autistic adults?

Molecular Autism ◽

10.1186/s13229-021-00421-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laura Hull ◽

Lily Levy ◽

Meng-Chuan Lai ◽

K. V. Petrides ◽

Simon Baron-Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intellectual Disability ◽

Social Anxiety ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Autistic Traits ◽

Health Problems ◽

Autistic People ◽

Autistic Adults ◽

Anxiety Depression

Abstract Background There is inconsistent evidence for a clear pattern of association between ‘camouflaging’ (strategies used to mask and/or compensate for autism characteristics during social interactions) and mental health. Methods This study explored the relationship between self-reported camouflaging and generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety in a large sample of autistic adults and, for the first time, explored the moderating effect of gender, in an online survey. Results Overall, camouflaging was associated with greater symptoms of generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety, although only to a small extent beyond the contribution of autistic traits and age. Camouflaging more strongly predicted generalised and social anxiety than depression. No interaction between camouflaging and gender was found. Limitations These results cannot be generalised to autistic people with intellectual disability, or autistic children and young people. The sample did not include sufficient numbers of non-binary people to run separate analyses; therefore, it is possible that camouflaging impacts mental health differently in this population. Conclusions The findings suggest that camouflaging is a risk factor for mental health problems in autistic adults without intellectual disability, regardless of gender. We also identified levels of camouflaging at which risk of mental health problems is highest, suggesting clinicians should be particularly aware of mental health problems in those who score at or above these levels.

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Predictors of clinical deterioration in patients with suspected COVID-19 managed in a ‘virtual hospital’ setting: a cohort study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045356 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. e045356

Author(s):

Nick A Francis ◽

Beth Stuart ◽

Matthew Knight ◽

Rama Vancheeswaran ◽

Charles Oliver ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Health Problems ◽

Clinical Deterioration ◽

Care Services ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Remote Assessment ◽

History Of

ObjectiveIdentify predictors of clinical deterioration in a virtual hospital (VH) setting for COVID-19.DesignReal-world prospective observational study.SettingVH remote assessment service in West Hertfordshire NHS Trust, UK.ParticipantsPatients with suspected COVID-19 illness enrolled directly from the community (postaccident and emergency (A&E) or medical intake assessment) or postinpatient admission.Main outcome measureDeath or (re-)admission to inpatient hospital care during VH follow-up and for 2 weeks post-VH discharge.Results900 patients with a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 (455 referred from A&E or medical intake and 445 postinpatient) were included in the analysis. 76 (8.4%) of these experienced clinical deterioration (15 deaths in admitted patients, 3 deaths in patients not admitted and 58 additional inpatient admissions). Predictors of clinical deterioration were increase in age (OR 1.04 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.06) per year of age), history of cancer (OR 2.87 (95% CI 1.41 to 5.82)), history of mental health problems (OR 1.76 (95% CI 1.02 to 3.04)), severely impaired renal function (OR for eGFR <30=9.09 (95% CI 2.01 to 41.09)) and having a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR result (OR 2.0 (95% CI 1.11 to 3.60)).ConclusionsThese predictors may help direct intensity of monitoring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 who are being remotely monitored by primary or secondary care services. Further research is needed to confirm our findings and identify the reasons for increased risk of clinical deterioration associated with cancer and mental health problems.

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Behavior of Medical Students toward Over-the-Counter Drugs in Comparison to Students from Other Faculties, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International ◽

10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i35b31911 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 129-135

Author(s):

Amar Fathi Mohamed Khalifa ◽

Yasser Nabil AlKhudairy ◽

Adel Ahmed Algahtani ◽

Bandar Mohammed Abduljabbar ◽

Fahad Majed Aldawsari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Medical Students ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

P Value ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Self Medication ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Over The Counter ◽

Otc Drugs ◽

Professional Guidance

Background: Over-the-counter-drugs (OTC) are drugs that can be obtained by patients without a prescription from a physician. In Saudi Arabia, it has been reported that more than half of university students practiced self-medication and used OTC drugs. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study, among medical and non-medical students in Riyadh. The sample size was 421, by systemic random sampling. A pre-coded pre-tested online questionnaire was used. Data was analyzed using SPSS V 23. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There was no significant relationship between what the participants were majoring in and the usage of OTC drugs (p value= 0.373). Gender also had no relation with the use of OTC (p value= 0.168). Panadol appeared as the most commonly used OTC drug 62.9% for the relief of the most commonly mentioned factor which is headache 50.12%. Conclusion: Medical education didn’t have much of an effect on the use of OTC drugs. Moreover, professional guidance or advice was not considered most of the time for taking OTC, but the majority of respondents portrayed good behavior towards usage of OTC.

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Evaluate use of over the counter drugs among medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital

International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology ◽

10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20191586 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 973

Author(s):

Megha Sood ◽

Jagminder Kaur Bajaj ◽

Nipunjot Grewal

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Drug Use ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Easy Access ◽

Self Medication ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Over The Counter ◽

Care Teaching ◽

Otc Drugs ◽

Abdominal Symptoms

Background: In our country there is easy availability of drugs over the counter leading to their unintentional misuse and abuse. Over the counter availability of drugs does offer the benefit of easy access to medicines and allows individuals to become in charge of their own health. It is important to understand that medical education can impact the OTC drug use amongst medical students. In order to observe the pattern of OTC drug use among the first and second professional MBBS students we planned this study. The aim of the study was to evaluate use of over the counter (OTC) drugs among medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: Our study was a cross sectional study conducted on first and second professional MBBS students. Authors administered a self structured, prevalidated questionnaire to the students. The data obtained was tabulated, analyzed and the results calculated in percentages.Results: The use of OTC drugs is common amongst undergraduate students. All (100%) the students who participated in the study had used OTC drugs at some point in their life. The common conditions prompting use of OTC drugs include head ache, body aches (74%), fever (72%), respiratory conditions such as: cold (60%), cough (28.5%), abdominal symptoms such as: abdominal pain (14%), gastritis (7.5%), diarrhea (6%), vomiting (5%) and allergies (10%). Very few students reported adverse drug reactions with these drugs.Conclusions: From our study we have concluded that OTC drugs are commonly used amongst medical students. So, periodic training and talks on self medication are necessary for them. Student knowledge in this aspect will help them in future counseling of their patients.

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The History, Justification, and Purpose of Mental Health Law

Mental Health Law ◽

10.1093/oso/9780192843258.003.0002 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 34-52

Author(s):

Kay Wilson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Common Law ◽

Health Problems ◽

Systemic Reform ◽

Health Law ◽

Mental Health Law ◽

Incremental Change ◽

History Of ◽

The Common

Chapter 2 examines the historical development of mental health law in England (which is similar to the rest of the common law world, including America, Canada, and Australia) and uses that history to consider the justification, purpose, and need for mental health law from Ancient Greece to the present. Contrary to the claims of abolitionists that mental health law has essentially always stayed the same, it demonstrates a history of continuous legal and systemic reform in mental health law. Rather than an over-zealous and interfering state keen to exercise social control over persons with mental impairment, it instead depicts a state which for the most part reluctantly only became involved in the care of persons with mental health problems when informal care by family and friends failed or was non-existent, to prevent abuses by private operators, and as an incident of its administration of the criminal law. When set against the background of the fashions, cycles, and recurring themes of mental health law, the call of abolition can be conceptualized as simply the latest fad in its evolution. Further, many of the issues which arise from mental health problems will continue to exist even without mental health law. Mental health law can be positive and negative, including defining and protecting rights and allocating resources. The chapter cautions against being too optimistic about the promises of sweeping revolutionary changes which have never really delivered (deinstitutionalization or the ‘abolition’ of the asylum being the most poignant example), in favour of solid incremental change.

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A Study of Complications following Self-administration with Medical Abortion Pills

Nepal Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology ◽

10.3126/njog.v10i1.13188 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 20-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A Giri ◽

VR Srivastav ◽

A Suwal ◽

B Sharma

Keyword(s):

Medical Abortion ◽

Safe Procedure ◽

Self Administration ◽

Self Medication ◽

Missed Abortion ◽

Over The Counter ◽

Medical College ◽

Incomplete Abortion ◽

Abortion Complications ◽

History Of

Aims: The objective of this study was to find out the complications following self-administration with medical abortion pills.Methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Nepal Medical College over a period of two years from January 2013 to December 2014 among 48 women who were admitted with abortion complications and also gave history of self-administration of abortion pills.Results: During the study period, 48 women with history of self-medication with abortion pills were admitted with various abortion complications. There were 60% of women who had consumed abortion pills within approved nine weeks gestation while 19% had consumed after nine weeks and 21% after twelve weeks. Majority (60%) were admitted with incomplete abortion, 4% with missed abortion, 13% with continued live pregnancy, 6.5% with septic abortion and 6.5% with ectopic pregnancy. Anemia was present in 79% of patient. More than one third of the patient had severe anemia and blood transfusion was needed in 52%. Surgical evacuation was required in 71% of patient; medical abortion with repeat doses of mifepristone and misoprostol was done in was done 13% and 6.5% needed laparotomy for ectopic pregnancy.Conclusions: Though medical abortion is considered to be highly effective and safe procedure, unsupervised selfadministration of medical abortion pills was associated with serious maternal morbidities. There should be some policy torestrict over the counter sale of this medicine.

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Anxiety, depression, traumatic stress and COVID-19-related anxiety in the UK general population during the COVID-19 pandemic

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2020.109 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Mark Shevlin ◽

Orla McBride ◽

Jamie Murphy ◽

Jilly Gibson Miller ◽

Todd K. Hartman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Social Life ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Trauma Symptoms ◽

Income Loss ◽

Health Related ◽

The Uk ◽

Anxiety Depression

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented global crisis, necessitating drastic changes to living conditions, social life, personal freedom and economic activity. No study has yet examined the presence of psychiatric symptoms in the UK population under similar conditions. Aims We investigated the prevalence of COVID-19-related anxiety, generalised anxiety, depression and trauma symptoms in the UK population during an early phase of the pandemic, and estimated associations with variables likely to influence these symptoms. Method Between 23 and 28 March 2020, a quota sample of 2025 UK adults aged 18 years and older, stratified by age, gender and household income, was recruited by online survey company Qualtrics. Participants completed standardised measures of depression, generalised anxiety and trauma symptoms relating to the pandemic. Bivariate and multivariate associations were calculated for demographic and health-related variables. Results Higher levels of anxiety, depression and trauma symptoms were reported compared with previous population studies, but not dramatically so. Anxiety or depression and trauma symptoms were predicted by young age, presence of children in the home, and high estimates of personal risk. Anxiety and depression were also predicted by low income, loss of income and pre-existing health conditions in self and others. Specific anxiety about COVID-19 was greater in older participants. Conclusions This study showed a modest increase in the prevalence of mental health problems in the early stages of the pandemic, and these problems were predicted by several specific COVID-related variables. Further similar surveys, particularly of those with children at home, are required as the pandemic progresses.

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