scholarly journals Benefits of Social Contact in Individuals With Psychotic Symptoms: Do Closeness of the Contact and Empathic Skills Make the Difference?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa J. G. Krijnen ◽  
Imke L. J. Lemmers-Jansen ◽  
Anne-Kathrin J. Fett ◽  
Lydia Krabbendam
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Treatment Success ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Positive Symptoms

Objectives: Social contact is known to be beneficial for humans’ mental health. Individuals with psychotic symptoms (PS) tend to show poorer social and interpersonal functioning. However, in this patient population, social contact may be crucial for their mental wellbeing and treatment success. Additionally, closeness of social contact (familiar versus less familiar others), rather than only the presence or absence of social contacts, may play an important role. Empathy may heighten the beneficial effects of social/close contact on mental health, facilitating interactions. We investigated the association between social contact and closeness of contact on mental health, defined as positive symptoms, positive affect and negative affect in PS and control participants, with empathy as a moderator.Methods: Participants were 16–30 years old. Information regarding social/close contact and mental health was obtained using the experience sampling method in individuals with PS (n = 29) and healthy controls (n = 28). Empathy was measured using a self-report questionnaire.Results: Social contact was associated with higher positive affect in the total sample. Contact with close as opposed to less close others was related to better mental health: It was associated with lower positive symptoms in the PS group, and with more positive affect in the total sample. Empathy moderated the association between closeness of contact and positive affect in the total sample, in which the combination of higher levels of empathy combined with the presence of close contact was associated with higher positive affect in the total sample. However, the direct association between empathy and positive affect was not significant per group of contact.Conclusion: The results suggest that social contact, but especially contact with a close other is important for mental health outcomes: Contact with close others is beneficial for positive affect in the total sample and for positive symptoms in individuals with PS.

scholarly journals T91. THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SYNDROME SCALE SUPERIOR TO A SELF-REPORT QUESTIONNAIRE IN THE PHARMACOTHERAPY MONITORING AND OUTCOME SURVEY

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S266-S266
Author(s):  
Annegien Bartels-Velthuis ◽  
Koen Ties ◽  
Ellen Visser ◽  
Johan Arends ◽  
Marieke Pijnenborg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Positive Symptoms ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Outcome Monitoring ◽  
Negative Syndrome

Abstract Background Aiming to improve the quality of care for patients with a psychotic disorder, the ongoing Pharmacotherapy Monitoring Outcome Survey (PHAMOUS) started in 2006 in four large mental health care organizations in the Northern Netherlands, by adding it to the at that time mandatory Routine Outcome Monitoring program. However, since the cuts in the financial budgets for mental health care, research nurses are increasingly experiencing time-pressure in the assessments. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), part of the assessment, is a time-consuming interview, taking approximately 30 minutes. Therefore, we developed and validated a short self-report questionnaire assessing positive psychotic symptoms, the Brief Positive Symptoms Questionnaire (BPSQ). Methods The BPSQ was added to PHAMOUS and filled in once by patients in four mental health care institutions in 2017 and 2018. The BPSQ consists of nine items and takes about 2–3 minutes to complete. It was validated against the PANSS positive scale and two items of the Health of the Nations Outcome Scale (HoNOS), with item 6 assessing the problems that patients experience due to hallucinations and delusions and item 8 assessing further mental and behavioural problems. Results BPSQ data were obtained from n=287 patients (mean age 47.1 years, 67.6% male). The PANSS was assessed in n=244 and HoNOS data were available for n=156 patients. Scores of one patient were considered unreliable and thus removed from the data set. The BPSQ had a Cronbach’s alpha of .81. Spearman’s correlation coefficient of the BPSQ and the PANSS positive scale was significant (ρ(243) = .63, p < .05). Correlations between the BPSQ and HoNOS items 6 and 8 were significant (ρ(155) = .488, p < .05 and ρ(155) = .251, p < .05 respectively). Post hoc analysis showed that the more severely psychotic the patients were, the less the BPSQ and the PANSS positive scale were corresponding. Discussion Given the medium correlation of the BPSQ with the PANSS positive scale and the low concurrent validity with the two relevant HoNOS items, we argue that the widely used and validated PANSS is indispensable in the PHAMOUS assessment of positive symptoms in a chronic population with psychotic disorders. Replication of this study in first-episode psychotic patients is recommended.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Mental Health in a Sample of Older Women Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 722-722
Author(s):  
Victoria Marshall ◽  
Robina Sandhu ◽  
Kathryn Kanzler ◽  
Sara Espinoza ◽  
Pamela Keel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Binge Eating ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Global Crisis ◽  
Two Samples

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted lives globally. Due to age-related risks, the older adult population has uniquely experienced negative changes caused by the pandemic. Research has also shown that the pandemic has disproportionately affected women. Therefore, it is important to understand how the mental health of older women has been impacted during this global crisis. This study aims to examine the differences in mental health indices in a sample of older women before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, participants include 201 women (aged 60-94) who completed an online survey of self-report measures assessing depression, anxiety, alcohol use, binge eating, positive affect, and emotional quality of life (QOL). We conducted one-way ANOVAs to compare each mental health construct in two samples of older women collected pre- and peri-pandemic. Results indicated that the peri-pandemic group reported significantly higher anxiety (F = 5.25, p = .02), with a trend for more role limitations due to emotional problems (F = 2.79, p = .09), than the pre-pandemic group. No significant differences emerged for levels of depression, alcohol consumption, binge eating, positive affect, or emotional wellbeing between groups. These findings point to the psychological resilience of older adults in the face of extreme adverse events, including this global crisis. Older women, while impacted differently during the COVID-19 pandemic, reported minimal exacerbations of mental health problems compared to older women pre-pandemic. Efforts to identify moderators that may either attenuate or promote further psychological resilience among older adults is warranted.

scholarly journals Determinants of Non-emergency Use of Control Interventions in Older Canadian Psychiatric Inpatients: Analysizing the InterRAI Mental Health Electronic Health Records

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Cheung ◽  
Tina M. Mah ◽  
Yoram Barak ◽  
John P. Hirdes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Scale Score ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatients ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Positive Symptoms ◽  
Term Care

Background: The use of control interventions (CIs; acute control medications, physical/mechanical restraint) is associated with negative physical and psychological outcomes, particularly in older adults who are physically vulnerable. The aims of this study were to: (i) report the rates of CI use in older psychiatric inpatients (age 65 – 84 and age 85+), and compare them with younger age groups (18 – 44, age 45 – 64); and (ii) identify the factors associated with non-emergency CI use in older psychiatric inpatients.Methods: Routinely collected interRAI Mental Health assessments from 2005 – 2018 in Ontario, Canada, were analyzed to determine the rates of CI use. Logistic regression models were used to examine the sociodemographic and clinical determinants of non-emergency and any CI use.Results: There were 226,119 (female: 48.6%) interRAI assessments, and 85% of those assessed were under 65 years of age. The rates of non-emergency CI use in the four age groups were: 18 – 44 = 9.4%, 45 – 64 = 8.3%, 65 – 84 = 9.9%, 85+ = 13.2%. The most significant determinants of non-emergency CI use in older adults were highest impairments in activities of daily living (ADL Short Form score 8–16: OR = 2.72, 95% CI = 2.42 – 3.06), highest levels of aggression (Aggressive Behavior Scale score 4 – 6: OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.57 – 1.98), and highest levels of positive psychotic symptoms (Positive Symptoms Scale score 9+: OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.43 – 1.90). Delirium, cognitive disorder diagnosis, cognitive impairment, and falls were also associated with increased CI use odds, as were having the reasons for admission be danger to self, danger to others or inability to care for self. Females were less likely to have non-emergency CI use (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.73 – 0.95). Patients admitted from long-term care homes had significantly greater odds of non-emergency CI use compared with community admissions (OR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.07 – 1.29).Conclusion: The higher rates of non-emergency CI use in older psychiatric inpatients is concerning. Alternative non-pharmacological and person-centered management strategies should be considered to support older psychiatric inpatients with functional impairment, positive symptoms, aggressive behavior, cognitive impairment and delirium. The use of CIs could be incorporated as a quality improvement activity to monitor changes at various service provision levels.

scholarly journals Can We Trust the Internet to Measure Psychotic Symptoms?

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen Moritz ◽  
Niels Van Quaquebeke ◽  
Tania M. Lincoln ◽  
Ulf Köther ◽  
Christina Andreou
Keyword(s):  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Applied Research ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Positive Symptoms ◽  
Internet Studies ◽  
Instrument Measuring ◽  
Clinical Indices ◽  
Real Patients

Online studies are increasingly utilized in applied research. However, lack of external diagnostic verification in many of these investigations is seen as a threat to the reliability of the data. The present study examined the robustness of internet studies on psychosis against simulation. We compared the psychometric properties of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences scale (CAPE), a self-report instrument measuring psychotic symptoms, across three independent samples: (1) participants with a confirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia, (2) participants with self-reported schizophrenia who were recruited over the internet, and (3) clinical experts on schizophrenia as well as students who were asked to simulate a person with schizophrenia when completing the CAPE. The CAPE was complemented by a newly developed 4-item psychosis lie scale. Results demonstrate that experts asked to simulate schizophrenia symptoms could be distinguished from real patients: simulators overreported positive symptoms and showed elevated scores on the psychosis lie scale. The present study suggests that simulated answers in online studies on psychosis can be distinguished from authentic responses. Researchers conducting clinical online studies are advised to adopt a number of methodological precautions and to compare the psychometric properties of online studies to established clinical indices to assert the validity of their results.

Fitbits for monitoring depressive tendencies in older aged persons: Qualitative outcomes of a feasibility study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiza Mughal ◽  
William Raffe ◽  
Peter Stubbs ◽  
Ian Kneebone ◽  
Jaime Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
User Data ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers

BACKGROUND Worldwide, in 2021, 929 million people use smart wearables and 31 million use Fitbit devices. While there is growing research on using smart wearables to benefit physical health, more research is required on the application and feasibility of using these devices for mental health and wellbeing. In studies focusing on emotion recognition, inference is often dependent on external cues, which may not always be representative of genuine inner emotion. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify the facilitators and barriers of utilizing consumer-grade activity trackers for applications in remote mental health monitoring of older aged persons. METHODS Participants, aged ≥65, were recruited using criterion sampling. Participants were provided an activity tracker (Fitbit Alta HR) and completed weekly online questionnaires (Geriatric Depression Scale), and self-report mood questionnaires. We conducted semi-structured pre-post qualitative interviews with participants to gain insight on the facilitators and barriers of the procedure. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a hybrid inductive-deductive thematic analysis. RESULTS Twelve participants enrolled in the study, with 9 returning for the post-procedure interviews. Participants were positive about the procedure with 77.78% (7/9) participants finding it feasible, having experienced no inconvenience through the 4-week procedure period. 66.67% (6/9) participants were interested in the full implementation of our prototype, stating that they would feel more at ease knowing that their mental wellbeing was being monitored by their carers remotely. CONCLUSIONS Fitbit-like devices are an unobtrusive tool to collect user data without being disruptive or inconvenient to the user. Future research should integrate physiological user inputs to differentiate and predict depressive tendencies in users.

scholarly journals Waterscapes for Promoting Mental Health in the General Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 11792
Author(s):  
Xindi Zhang ◽  
Yixin Zhang ◽  
Jun Zhai ◽  
Yongfa Wu ◽  
Anyuan Mao
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Therapeutic Landscapes

The WHO estimates that, with the development of urbanization, 25% of the population is suffering from psychological and mental distress. Preliminary evidence has suggested that aquatic environments and riparian areas, i.e., waterscapes, can benefit psychological and mental wellbeing. The aim of this study was to identify the processes of waterscape psychological and mental health promotion through aliterature review. We propose a design framework of waterscapes for achieving psychological and mental health in the general population that often visits waterscapes, which has the function of therapeutic landscapes through values of accessibility, versatility, habitats, and biodiversity. According to theories, waterscapes can improve psychological and mental health to divert negative emotions through mitigation (e.g., reduced urban heat island), instoration (e.g., physical activity and state of nature connectedness), and restoration (e.g., reduced anxiety/attentional fatigue). By accessing water (e.g., streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and the coast) and riparian areas, people can get in close contact with nature and spend more time in activities (e.g., walking, exploring, talking, and relaxing). Waterscapes with healing effects can enhance psychological resilience to promote people’s psychological and mental health. Future research should focus on ensuring an adequate supply of waterscapes and promoting the efficiency of waterscape ecosystem services on mental health. Moreover, fora deep understanding of the complexity of nature–human health associations, it is necessary to explore more consistent evidence for therapeutic waterscapes considering the characteristics and functional mechanisms of waterscape quality, in terms of freshness, luminescence, rippling or fluidity, and cultural value,to benefit public health and biodiversity conservation.

scholarly journals Understanding the relationship between schematic beliefs, bullying, and unusual experiences in 8–14 year olds

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 920-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.V. Anilmis ◽  
C.S. Stewart ◽  
S. Roddy ◽  
N. Hassanali ◽  
F. Muccio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Adverse Experiences ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractBackgroundCognitive models of adult psychosis propose that negative schematic beliefs (NSBs) mediate the established association between victimisation and psychotic symptoms. In childhood, unusual, or psychotic-like, experiences are associated with bullying (a common form of victimisation) and NSBs. This study tests the mediating role of NSBs in the relationship between bullying and distressing unusual experiences (UEDs) in childhood.MethodNinety-four 8–14 year olds referred to community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services completed self-report assessments of UEDs, bullying, and NSBs about the self (NS) and others (NO).ResultsBoth NS and NO were associated with bullying (NS: r = .40, P < .001; NO: r = .33, P = .002), and with UEDs (NS: r = .51, P < .001; NO: r = .43, P < .001). Both NS and NO significantly mediated the relationship between bullying and UEDs (NS: z = 3.15, P = .002; NO: z = 2.35, P = .019).ConclusionsChildren's NSBs may mediate the adverse psychological impact of victimisation, and are appropriate treatment targets for young people with UEDs. Early educational intervention to reduce negative appraisals of the self and others may increase resilience to future adverse experiences and reduce later mental health risk.

Prevalence of Self-Reported Depression Symptoms and Perceived Anxiety Among Community-Dwelling U.S. Adults Reporting Tinnitus

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 959-970
Author(s):  
Kelly M. Reavis ◽  
James A. Henry ◽  
Lynn M. Marshall ◽  
Kathleen F. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Health Distress ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Mental Health Distress

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between tinnitus and self-reported mental health distress, namely, depression symptoms and perceived anxiety, in adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examinations Survey between 2009 and 2012. A secondary aim was to determine if a history of serving in the military modified the associations between tinnitus and mental health distress. Method This was a cross-sectional study design of a national data set that included 5,550 U.S. community-dwelling adults ages 20 years and older, 12.7% of whom were military Veterans. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between tinnitus and mental health distress. All measures were based on self-report. Tinnitus and perceived anxiety were each assessed using a single question. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, a validated questionnaire. Multivariable regression models were adjusted for key demographic and health factors, including self-reported hearing ability. Results Prevalence of tinnitus was 15%. Compared to adults without tinnitus, adults with tinnitus had a 1.8-fold increase in depression symptoms and a 1.5-fold increase in perceived anxiety after adjusting for potential confounders. Military Veteran status did not modify these observed associations. Conclusions Findings revealed an association between tinnitus and both depression symptoms and perceived anxiety, independent of potential confounders, among both Veterans and non-Veterans. These results suggest, on a population level, that individuals with tinnitus have a greater burden of perceived mental health distress and may benefit from interdisciplinary health care, self-help, and community-based interventions. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12568475

Rorschach-CS Scores of Six Groups of Patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caspar C. Berghout ◽  
Jolien Zevalkink ◽  
Abraham N. J. Pieters ◽  
Gregory J. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Organizations ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Treatment Type ◽  
Psychotherapy Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

In this study we used a quasiexperimental, cross-sectional design with six cohorts differing in phase of treatment (pretreatment, posttreatment, 2-year posttreatment) and treatment type (psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy) and investigated scores on 39 Rorschach-CS variables. The total sample consisted of 176 participants from four mental health care organizations in The Netherlands. We first examined pretreatment differences between patients entering psychoanalysis and patients entering psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The two treatment groups did not seem to differ substantially before treatment, with the exception of the level of ideational problems. Next, we studied the outcome of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy by comparing the Rorschach-CS scores of the six groups of patients. In general, we found significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment on a relatively small number of Rorschach-CS variables. More pre/post differences were found between the psychoanalytic psychotherapy groups than between the psychoanalysis groups. More research is needed to examine whether analyzing clusters of variables might reveal other results.

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