The Impact of an Online Psychiatric Assessment on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Participants Presenting with Depressive Symptoms: Longitudinal Observational Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Online assessments of mental health concerns hold great potential for earlier, more cost-effective and more accurate diagnosis of psychiatric conditions compared to traditional interview-based methods. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of a comprehensive online mental health assessment on mental health and wellbeing in over 2000 individuals presenting with symptoms of depression. METHODS Participants presenting with depressive symptoms at baseline completed an online assessment which screened for mood and other psychiatric conditions. After completing the assessment, participants received a report containing their assessment results and personalised psychoeducation. After 6 and 12 months, participants were asked to rate the usefulness of the online assessment on different mental health-related outcomes, as well as to self-report on their recent help-seeking behaviour, diagnosis, medication and lifestyle changes. Additionally, general mental wellbeing was assessed at baseline and both follow-ups using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). RESULTS Data from all participants who completed either the 6-months or the 12-months follow-up (N=2064) were analysed. The majority of study participants rated the study as useful for their subjective mental wellbeing. This included talking more openly (68%) and understanding one’s mental health problems better (56%). While most participants (76%) found their assessment results useful, only a small proportion (15%) subsequently discussed them with a mental health professional, leading to only a small number of study participants receiving a new diagnosis (5%). Among those who were reviewed, new mood disorder diagnoses were predicted by the digital algorithm with high sensitivity (above 70%), and nearly half of the newly-diagnosed participants also had a corresponding change in medication. Furthermore, participants’ subjective wellbeing significantly improved over 12 months (baseline WEMWBS score: M=35.24, SD=8.11; 12-months WEMWBS score: M=41.19, SD=10.59). Significant positive predictors of follow-up subjective wellbeing included talking more openly, exercising more and having been reviewed by a psychiatrist. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that completing an online mental health assessment and receiving personalised psychoeducation is associated with subjective mental health improvements, facilitated by increased self-awareness and subsequent utilisation of self-help interventions. Integrating online mental health assessments within primary and/or secondary care services could benefit patients further and expedite earlier diagnosis and effective treatment. CLINICALTRIAL INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/18453

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The Importance of Assessing and Treating Mental Health in Transition-Aged Adolescents with Epilepsy: A 1-Year Follow-up

Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1716867 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 09 (04) ◽

pp. 186-192

Author(s):

Sarah A. Healy ◽

Tadeu A. Fantaneanu ◽

Sharon Whiting

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Health Impact ◽

Health Issues ◽

Adult Care ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Transition Clinic ◽

The Impact

AbstractMental health issues become especially problematic when adolescents with epilepsy are preparing to transition from pediatric to adult care. Consistent with guidelines, a transition clinic with ongoing mental health assessment was created, providing treatment to patients scoring in the moderate severity range or higher. In order to examine the effectiveness of our epilepsy transition clinic and the impact of mental health in transition-aged adolescents, baseline and one-year follow-up data were compared in 36 participants (M = 15.82 years, 24 males). Results showed that the majority of participants had improved or comparable mental health scores at follow-up. Furthermore, participants who met threshold for mental health treatment had significantly improved mental health (t = 3.19, p = 0.015), while those who did not showed worsened mental health (t = − 2.50, p = 0.019). Looking specifically at mental health impact, those with worsened mental health showed significantly worsened quality of life (t = 3.35, p = 0.012). Furthermore, those without mental health issues showed improved transition skills (t = − 3.86, p = 0.002), while those with mental health issues did not. Results suggest that the transition clinic is effective in helping transition-aged adolescents with their mental health. Additionally, findings suggest that addressing these mental health issues are essential to ensuring successful transitions and the best outcomes in these patients.

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Depression and anxiety among hyperthyroid female patients and impact of treatment

Middle East Current Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s43045-021-00107-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sheikh Shoib ◽

Javid Ahmad ◽

Manzoor Ahmed Wani ◽

Irfan Ullah ◽

Shah Faisal Ahmad Tarfarosh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Panic Attacks ◽

Mental Health Assessment ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale ◽

Study Participants

Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to compare the presence of psychiatric disorders in people with hyperthyroidism and euthyroid patients attending the Endocrinology Outpatient Department at the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital in Kashmir, India. Seventy-five patients with hyperthyroidism and an equal number of euthyroid patients participated in the study. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. All patients were female. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic features. Hormonal screening was performed by immunoassay and haemagglutination method. For the mental health assessment, the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HAM-D], and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale [HAM-A] were used. Results There was a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders among the hyperthyroidism group (60% versus 34.7%). In particular, there was a higher prevalence of major depressive disorder, suicidality, generalised anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and agoraphobia. In some cases, the prevalence of a psychiatric disorder diminished after endocrinological treatment. Conclusions Screening patients with hyperthyroid disorders for psychiatric symptoms and disorders, and providing timely care when necessary, can go a long way in improving the quality of life of this population. It is imperative to establish routine screening and timely care of mental health symptoms and disorders in patients with hyperthyroidism.

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Exploring the impact of shielding advice on the health and wellbeing of individuals identified as extremely vulnerable and advised to shield in Southwest England amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods evaluation

10.1101/2022.01.05.21268251 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Gemma Lasseter ◽

Polly Compston ◽

Charlotte Robin ◽

Helen Lambert ◽

Matthew Hickman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Community Support ◽

Supplementary Information ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

The Impact

Objective: Explore the impact and responses to public health advice on the health and wellbeing of individuals identified as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) and advised to shield (not leave home for 12 weeks at start of the pandemic) in Southwest England during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Design: Mixed-methods study; structured survey and follow-up semi-structured interviews. Setting: Communities served by Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group. Participants: 204 people (57% female, 54% >69 years, 94% White British, 64% retired) in Southwest England identified as CEV and were advised to shield completed the survey. Thirteen survey respondents participated in follow-up interviews (53% female, 40% >69years, 100% White British, 61% retired). Results: Receipt of official communication from NHS England or General Practitioner (GP) was considered by participants as the legitimate start of shielding. 80% of survey responders felt they received all relevant advice needed to shield, yet interviewees criticised the timing of advice and often sought supplementary information. Shielding behaviours were nuanced, adapted to suit personal circumstances, and waned over time. Few interviewees received community support, although food boxes and informal social support were obtained by some. Worrying about COVID-19 was common for survey responders (90%). Since shielding had begun, physical and mental health reportedly worsened for 35% and 42% of survey responders respectively. 21% of survey responders scored 10 or more on the PHQ-9 questionnaire indicating possible depression and 15% scored 10 or more on the GAD-7 questionnaire indicating possible anxiety. Conclusions: This research highlights the difficulties in providing generic messaging that is applicable and appropriate given the diversity of individuals identified as CEV and the importance of sharing tailored and timely advice to inform shielding decisions. Providing messages that reinforce self-determined action and assistance from support services could reduce the negative impact of shielding on mental health and feelings of social isolation.

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Mental health assessment of Israeli adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

10.1101/2022.01.06.22268809 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Yonatan Bilu ◽

Natalie Flaks-Manov ◽

Maytal Bivas-Benita ◽

Pinchas Akiva ◽

Nir Kalkstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Careful Consideration ◽

Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽

Health Records ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Mental Health Assessment ◽

Health Burden

The measures used to contain the COVID-19 pandemic caused severe disruption to the lives of children and adolescents, compromising their mental health and wellbeing. In this study we assessed the incidence rates of psychiatric diagnoses and drugs in Israeli adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of health records data of over 200,000 12-17 years old adolescents identified a significant increase in all mental health diagnoses and most psychiatric drugs dispensation during the COVID-19 period compared to a corresponding pre-COVID period. A gender sub-analysis revealed that most of this increase was associated with adolescent girls. Girls exhibited increases of 68% in depression, 67% in eating disorders, 42% in anxiety and 29% in stress-related diagnoses during the COVID-19 period, which are significantly higher rates than those seen in boys and in the pre-COVID period. Sector sub-analysis showed that the increase was mainly in the general Jewish sector with almost no significant increases in the Arab and ultra-orthodox sectors. Our study highlights the mental health burden of Israeli adolescents during the pandemic and suggests that careful consideration should be given to it while deciding on measures to mitigate the pandemic.

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Mental Health and Wellbeing of 9–12-year-old Children in Northern Canada Before the COVID-19 Pandemic and After the First Lockdown

International Journal of Public Health ◽

10.3389/ijph.2021.1604219 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 66 ◽

Author(s):

Julia Dabravolskaj ◽

Mohammed K. A. Khan ◽

Paul J. Veugelers ◽

Katerina Maximova

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Children’S Mental Health ◽

Children's Mental Health ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Health Promotion Program ◽

Northern Canada ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

The Impact

Objectives: Children’s mental health and wellbeing declined during the first COVID-19 lockdown (Spring 2020), particularly among those from disadvantaged settings. We compared mental health and wellbeing of school-aged children observed pre-pandemic in 2018 and after the first lockdown was lifted and schools reopened in Fall 2020.Methods: In 2018, we surveyed 476 grade 4–6 students (9–12 years old) from 11 schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in Northern Canada that participate in a school-based health promotion program targeting healthy lifestyle behaviours and mental wellbeing. In November-December 2020, we surveyed 467 grade 4–6 students in the same schools. The 12 questions in the mental health and wellbeing domain were grouped based on correlation and examined using multivariable logistic regression.Results: There were no notable changes pre-pandemic vs. post-lockdown in responses to each of the 12 questions or any of the sub-groupings.Conclusion: Supporting schools to implement health promotion programs may help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health and wellbeing. The findings align with recent calls for schools to remain open as long as possible during the pandemic response.

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Hospital discharge: lost opportunities to promote or maintain older people’s mental health

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults ◽

10.1108/qaoa-06-2015-0029 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 189-197 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tarran Haskey Macmillan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older People ◽

Hospital Discharge ◽

Large Scale ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Discharge Process ◽

Content Type ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of hospital discharge on the wider wellbeing of older people, drawing out implications this can have on mental health. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on research from the Healthwatch England Special Inquiry into hospital discharge. The paper focuses on the experiences of 1,300 older people, with the majority of the research being undertaken by the local Healthwatch network. The 58 local Healthwatch who submitted evidence on the experiences of older people as part of the inquiry were autonomous in how they were able to carry out the research, with results being analysed through use of a qualitative framework. Findings Older people often felt they were not ready for discharge due to not feeling involved in planning of their discharge, being discharged without the information they need and having difficulties accessing aftercare support. This paper examines the impact these issues can have on the mental health and wellbeing of older people, their carers and specifically patients with dementia both during and after discharge from hospital. Through examination of these issues the discharge process can be viewed from the perspective of the individual, and start to conceptualise where the hospital discharge process could further support older people’s mental health and wellbeing. Research limitations/implications This paper examines these issues in detail through case studies collected regarding older people, and exposes the impact poor discharge can have on physical and mental wellbeing for older patients. The paper presents a number of issues which have implications for policy and practice in both health and social care, and the integration of the two services. Originality/value This is the first Special Inquiry conducted by Healthwatch England in conjunction with the local Healthwatch network and presents a large scale piece of research led by the experiences of older people.

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