scholarly journals Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy as Support for Mental Health Concerns in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Author(s):  
Amber Jenkins ◽  
Lauren Kearney ◽  
George Kendall ◽  
Lee Kannis-Dymand

Abstract Background Perinatal mental illness is prevalent and can be associated with poorer health outcomes for mother and fetus if untreated. Mindfulness is a contemporary approach to managing mental health concerns; however, little is known about the effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Interventions during pregnancy, especially within the context of peer support. Methods A systematic review was undertaken. Randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies were included. All articles were critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist. Results Of the 2053 records initially identified, 21 studies met inclusion criteria. Studies demonstrated modest improvements in perinatal mental illness, particularly when interventions were adapted to meet the unique needs of women in the prenatal period. Comparison was difficult, due to high heterogeneity and methodological limitations. No studies explored peer support as a therapeutic mechanism and maternal-fetal bonding was not a measured in any studies. Conclusion Mindfulness-based group interventions designed to meet the needs of perinatal women require further research, with larger sample sizes, more rigorous methodology and greater demographic diversity required. Additionally, value could be afforded in exploration of how group support affects any change mechanisms within the participants and include maternal fetal bonding as a measured outcome.

2021 ◽  
pp. 025371762110345
Author(s):  
Jemimah A. Johnson ◽  
Prachi Sanghvi ◽  
Seema Mehrotra

Background: Despite the high prevalence of mental health disorders worldwide, a significant proportion of distressed individuals do not seek professional help. Digital technology can be a potential bridge to reduce the treatment gap for mental disorders. A systematic review was undertaken to examine the technology-based interventions aimed at improving help-seeking attitude, intention, or behavior for mental health concerns. Methods: The literature search was conducted in January–February 2020 through various e-databases using relevant keywords that targeted help-seeking interventions for mental health disorders via different technology modes. Results: 21 studies (15 randomized controlled trials and six non-randomized studies) were reviewed. The included studies were published between April 2006 to February 2020. Majority of the interventions led to an increase in the help-seeking variables. The crucial role of online delivery, participant involvement, and embedded links to professional services in encouraging help-seeking is highlighted. The review emphasizes the need for understanding utility of multicomponent interventions with personalized elements targeting help-seeking behavior, particularly in low-middle-income countries, and studies involving longer duration follow-ups. Conclusion: This systematic review is the first of its kind to examine technology-based interventions to improve help-seeking for mental health and suggests that such interventions play a crucial role in positively impacting help-seeking. The complex interplay between the relevant variables such as mental health literacy, stigma, help-seeking attitude, intention and behavior, and the intervention components that may have a differential bearing on these variables are issues that merit urgent attention in further research.


Author(s):  
Fabián Pavez ◽  
Erika Saura ◽  
Gemma Pérez ◽  
Pedro Marset

Introduction. In previous communications we have proposed that the analysis of cultural products related to art, and music in particular, can inform us about the social representations of psychiatry and mental illness. This topic is not irrelevant to our clinical practice, since it favors a better understanding about what are the meanings of our profession and its scope of practice for our patients and general population. In this work, we focused on portrayals of psychopathology in music and the musical genres associated. Objectives. By exploring studies addressing depictions of mental disorders or mental health concerns in music, we intend: - to assess the distribution of psychopathological themes alluded; and - to characterize the most studied musical genres that are associated to portrayals of mental disorders or mental health concerns. Methods. Starting from a previous systematic review of studies addressing depictions of mental disorders or mental health issues in music, thirty-seven articles are examined. Frequency of portrayed themes and musical genres associated are presented. Results/Conclusion. As we can expect, references to substance use in music are the most frequently studied. Studies addressing references to 'madness' in music are frequent too, but in a lesser extent. Other mental health issues depicted are: affective disorders; suicide; sexuality and gender; personality disorders; self-destructive behavior; resilience; as well as general links between music and mental illness/psychiatry. Studies addressing substance use are mostly focused on multiple genres (based in popularity rankings). With regards substance use, Rap and Rock are two genres specifically studied. Links between country music, alcohol use and suicide have been described in literature. Rock and Opera are the genres more frequently associated with references to 'madness'.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (12) ◽  
pp. 1377
Author(s):  
Cristian Lieneck ◽  
Michele Bosworth ◽  
Eric Weaver ◽  
Katharine Heinemann ◽  
Janki Patel

Background and objectives: Health care organizations continue to respond to the COVID-19 global pandemic and an ongoing array of related mental health concerns. These pandemic-related challenges continue to be experienced by both the U.S. population and those abroad. Materials and methods: This systematic review queried three research databases to identify applicable studies related to protective and non-protective factors of mental health distress experienced during the pandemic within the United States. Results: Three primary factors were identified as protective factors, potentially helping to moderate the incidence of mental distress during the pandemic: demographics, personal support/self-care resources, and income/financial concerns. Researchers also identified these same three constructs of non-protective factors of mental health distress, as well as two additional variables: health/social status and general knowledge/government mistrust. Conclusions: This systematic review has identified protective and non-protective factors of mental health distress experienced in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic (to date) that can further assist medical providers in the U.S. and beyond as the pandemic and related mental health concerns continue at a global level.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 4015
Author(s):  
Yasuhiro Kotera ◽  
Melinda Lyons ◽  
Katia Correa Vione ◽  
Briony Norton

The benefits of nature for our health have been an increasing research focus in recent years. In the context of a global increase in mental health diagnoses, the potential health benefits of nature have attracted attention. One practical nature treatment is to walk in nature. However, evidence for this practice on mental health has not been comprehensively appraised to date. This systematic review synthesized the effects of nature walks for depression and anxiety, and evaluated the methodological rigor of studies. Academic databases including ProQuest, PsycINFO, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were utilized to identify eligible articles, which were examined using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Of 385 articles initially retrieved, 12 studies met all the eligibility criteria (nine pre-post within-subject studies, two quasi-experimental studies, and one experimental between-subjects study). These studies demonstrated that nature walks were effective for state anxiety but not generalized anxiety and the effects for depression were inconsistent. Findings indicate that nature walks may be effective for mental health, especially for reducing state anxiety. However, the quality of the included studies varied, and sample sizes were small, suggesting a need for more rigorous and large-scale research.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galia Sharon Moran ◽  
Jasmine Kalha ◽  
Annabel Mueller-Stierlin ◽  
Reinhold Kilian ◽  
Silvia Krumm ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Peer support is an established intervention involving a person recovering from mental illness to support others with mental illness.. Peers are an under-used resource in global mental health. Building upon comprehensive formative research, this study will rigorously evaluate the impact of peer support at multiple levels, including: service user outcomes (psychosocial and clinical); peer support worker outcomes (work role, empowerment); service outcomes (cost-effectiveness, return on investment); and implementation outcomes (adoption, sustainability, organisational change). Methods: UPSIDES-RCT is a pragmatic parallel-group multi-centre randomised controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of UPSIDES at four measurement points over one year (baseline, 4-, 8-, and 12-month follow-up), with embedded process evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis. Research will take place in a range of high-, middle- and low-income countries (Germany, United Kingdom, Israel, India, Uganda, Tanzania). The primary outcome is social inclusion of service users with severe mental illness (N= 558; N = 93 per site) at 8-month follow-up, measured with the Social Inclusion Scale. Secondary outcomes include empowerment (Empowerment Scale), hope (HOPE scale), recovery (Stages of Recovery), and health and social functioning (Health of the Nations Outcome Scales). Mixed-methods process evaluation will investigate mediators and moderators of effect, and implementation experiences of four UPSIDES stakeholder groups (service users, peer support workers, mental health workers, policy makers). A cost-effectiveness analysis examining cost-utility and health budget impact will estimate the value for money of UPSIDES peer support. Discussion: The UPSIDES-RCT will explore the essential components necessary to create a peer support model in mental health care, while providing the evidence required to sustain and eventually scale-up the intervention in different cultural, organisational and resource settings. By actively involving and empowering service users, UPSIDES will move mental health systems toward a recovery orientation, emphasising user-centeredness, community participation, and the realisation of mental health as a human right.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galia Sharon Moran ◽  
Jasmine Kalha ◽  
Annabel Mueller-Stierlin ◽  
Reinhold Kilian ◽  
Silvia Krumm ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Peer support is an established intervention involving a person in recovery from mental illness being engaged to offering support to others with mental illness. Peers are an under-used resource in global mental health. Building upon comprehensive formative research, this study will rigorously evaluate the impact of peer support at the levels of service users (psychosocial and clinical outcomes), peer support workers (work role, empowerment), services (cost-effectiveness, return on investment), and implementation (adoption, sustainability, organisational change). Methods: UPSIDES-RCT is a pragmatic parallel-group multi-centre randomised controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of UPSIDES at four measurement points over one year (baseline, 4-, 8-, and 12-month follow-up), and embedded process evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis. Research will take place in a range of high-, middle- and low-income countries (Germany, United Kingdom, Israel, Uganda, Tanzania, India). The primary outcome is social inclusion of service users with severe mental illness (N= 558; N = 93 per site) at 8-month follow-up, measured with the Social Inclusion Scale. Secondary outcomes include empowerment (Empowerment Scale), hope (HOPE scale), recovery (Stages of Recovery), and health and social functioning (Health of the Nations Outcome Scales). Mixed-methods process evaluation will investigate mediators and moderators of effect, and implementation experiences of four UPSIDES stakeholder groups (service users, peer support workers, mental health workers, and policy makers). A cost-effectiveness analysis examining cost-utility and health budget impact will estimate the value for money of UPSIDES peer support. Discussion: By implementing and evaluating a manualized peer support intervention for people with severe mental illness across low-, middle-, and high-income countries, this study will contribute to harmonising core elements of peer support across different cultural and organisational dimensions. The UPSIDES-RCT will explore the essential components necessary to create a peer support model in mental health care, while providing the evidence required to sustain and eventually scale-up the intervention. Performance of mental health services will be maximised by actively involving and empowering service users, generating system changes towards user-centeredness, recovery orientation, community participation, and realising mental health as a human right. Trail registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN26008944. Registered 30 October 2019, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN26008944.


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