The Mental Health of Caregivers and Their Patients With Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a worldwide public health concern. It continues to spread rapidly throughout the world causing multiple physical and psychological consequences in the population. Especially, people affected by severe psychiatric or neurological diseases are highly susceptible to serious health complications not only due to the direct effect of the infection but also to the indirect effect of COVID-19 following social distancing during lockdowns and its general social consequences. Indeed, lockdown and difficulties in using the care services produced psychological consequences in caregivers such as depression, anxiety, and worsening of the quality of life which in turn affected the ability to manage patients. Our aim was to systematically review the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown in caregivers of patients with cognitive impairment and dementia and the impact on the health of their patients.Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted by searching in MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science by two independent researchers following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. Data extraction and quality assessment were also performed. Papers were screened for eligibility by abstract and then those which met inclusion criteria were included in this review.Results: The initial search returned 410 records. After the abstract screening and the inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, 315 were excluded because they were irrelevant, 30 because they were reviews, meta-analyses, letters to editors, editorials, guidelines, or case reports, and 10 because they were duplicates. Then, 38 out of 55 abstracts/full-text articles were excluded because they did not simultaneously assess mental health of patients and caregivers. In the end, 17 papers were deemed eligible and included in the present review.Conclusion: Based on current literature, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown caused severe psychological consequences for caregivers of patients with dementia, worsening their mental health, and increasing the psychological and physical burden, independently from the severity of the disease of their relatives, which resulted also independently globally worsened.

Download Full-text

Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health Outcomes in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17228479 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (22) ◽

pp. 8479

Author(s):

Finiki Nearchou ◽

Clodagh Flinn ◽

Rachel Niland ◽

Sheena Siva Subramaniam ◽

Eilis Hennessy

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Selection Procedure ◽

Youth Mental Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Impact

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been widely discussed during the past few months, with scholars expressing concern about its potential debilitating consequences on youth mental health. Hence, this research aimed to provide a systematic review of the evidence on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on youth mental health. We conducted a mixed methods integrated review to identify any empirical study that focused on young people ≤ 18 years old. Eight databases were systematically searched to identify studies of any type of research design. The selection procedure followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The protocol of this systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (protocol ID: CRD4202019375). Twelve studies deemed eligible for data extraction (n = 12,262). The findings show that COVID-19 has an impact on youth mental health and is particularly associated with depression and anxiety in adolescent cohorts. The quality appraisal indicated that all studies were of low or moderate methodological quality. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting young people’s lives, and thus generating robust research evidence to inform policy decisions is essential. Hence, the methodological quality of future research should be drastically improved.

Download Full-text

Timely Revisit of Proprioceptive Deficits in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1177/21925682211066824 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 219256822110668

Author(s):

Kenney K. L. Lau ◽

Karlen K. P. Law ◽

Kenny Y. H. Kwan ◽

Jason P. Y. Cheung ◽

Kenneth M. C. Cheung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis ◽

Idiopathic Scoliosis ◽

Case Reports ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Detection Threshold ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Case Control Studies ◽

Meta Analyses

Study Design Systematic review and meta-analysis Objectives The present review aimed to summarize the evidence regarding differences in proprioception between children with and without adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods Seven electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 10, 2021. Articles were included if they involved: (1) AIS patients aged between 10 and 18 years, (2) measurements of proprioceptive abilities, and (3) comparisons with non-AIS controls. Animal studies, case reports, commentaries, conference proceedings, research protocols, and reviews were excluded. Two reviewers independently conducted literature screening, data extraction, risks of bias assessments, and quality of evidence evaluations. Relevant information was pooled for meta-analyses. Results From 432 identified citations, 11 case-control studies comprising 1121 participants were included. The meta-analyses showed that AIS participants displayed proprioceptive deficits as compared to non-AIS controls. Moderate evidence supported that AIS participants showed significantly larger repositioning errors than healthy controls (pooled mean difference = 1.27 degrees, P < .01). Low evidence substantiated that AIS participants had significantly greater motion detection threshold (pooled mean difference = 1.60 degrees, P < .01) and abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials (pooled mean difference = .36 milliseconds, P = .01) than non-AIS counterparts. Conclusions Consistent findings revealed that proprioceptive deficits occurred in AIS patients. Further investigations on the causal relationship between AIS and proprioception, and the identification of the subgroup of AIS patients with proprioceptive deficit are needed.

Download Full-text

Reproductive and Mental Health during Natural Disaster

Advances in Human Services and Public Health - Transforming Public Health in Developing Nations ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-8702-8.ch012 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 265-291

Author(s):

Jasim Anwar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Natural Disasters ◽

Psychological Trauma ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

The Impact

With the ever-increasing number of natural disasters, it is important to understand the impact on the health and wellbeing of survivors, especially women. The reproductive and mental health of women contributes significantly to their overall wellbeing. The Chapter gives an overview of natural disasters with an emphasis on consequences of earthquakes of health and wellbeing of the survivors. It includes a critical review of published studies on psychological trauma and reproductive health following earthquake disasters. Among the psychological consequences of earthquakes, this chapter describes post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. The last section of this chapter reviewed reproductive health in relation to the mental health consequences following natural disasters.

Download Full-text

Using simulation to educate police about mental illness: A collaborative initiative

Gateways International Journal of Community Research and Engagement ◽

10.5130/ijcre.v7i1.3394 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wendy Stanyon ◽

Bill Goodman ◽

Marjory Whitehouse

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Police Officers ◽

Real Life ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

World Health ◽

Health Concern ◽

Face To Face ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

The Impact

Mental illness is a major public health concern in Canada and also globally. According to the World Health Organization, five of the top ten disabilities worldwide are mental health disorders. Within Canada, one in five individuals is living with mental illness each year. Currently, there are 6.7 million Canadians living with mental illness and over 1 million Canadian youth living with mental illness. Police are frequently the first responders to situations in the community involving people with mental illness, and police services are increasingly aware of the need to provide officers with additional training and strategies for effectively interacting with these citizens.This study examined the effectiveness of four online, interactive video-based simulations designed to educate police officers about mental illness and strategies for interacting with people with mental illness. The simulations were created through the efforts of a unique partnership involving a police service, a mental health facility and two postsecondary institutions. Frontline police officers from Ontario were divided into one of three groups (simulation, face to face, control). Using a pre- and post-test questionnaire, the groups were compared on their level of knowledge and understanding of mental illness. In addition, focus groups explored the impact of the simulations on officers’ level of confidence in engaging with individuals with mental illness and officers’ perceptions of the simulations’ ease of use and level of realism. The study’s findings determined that the simulations were just as effective as face-to-face learning, and the officers reported the simulations were easy to use and reflected real-life scenarios they had encountered on the job. As mental health continues to be a major public concern, not only in Canada but also globally, interactive simulations may provide an effective and affordable education resource not only for police officers but for other professionals seeking increased knowledge and skills in interacting with citizens with mental illness.Keywords: policing, mental illness, education, computer-based simulation

Download Full-text

Client Contact in Self-Help Therapy for Anxiety and Depression: Necessary But Can Take a Variety of Forms Beside Therapist Contact

Behaviour Change ◽

10.1017/bec.2012.4 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 63-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

France Talbot

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Service Delivery ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Mental Health Service Delivery ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Cognitive Behavioural ◽

Multiple Trials ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Cost ◽

The Impact

Self-administered therapies (SATs) have been promoted as a way to increase access to evidence-based mental health services. Recent meta-analyses and literature reviews suggest that SATs with clinical guidance are more effective than SATs with no contact for the treatment of anxiety and depression. However, little attention has been paid to the role of nonguidance contact, contact that does not involve the provision of assistance in the application of specific therapy techniques such as emails to encourage treatment adherence. The present article examines the impact of nonguidance contact on the outcomes of SATs for anxiety and depression. Electronic databases were searched to identify studies conducted over the past two decades by independent research teams that have tested cognitive-behavioural SATs over multiple trials. Findings suggest that the involvement or guidance of a therapist is not essential for SATs to produce significant benefits as long as nonguidance contact is provided. It is suggested that even very minimal levels of nonguidance contact increase SAT's outcomes by motivating treatment engagement and improving adherence. The benefit of SATs that can be accessed directly by large numbers of individuals and that do not require therapist involvement to ensure efficacy can potentially significantly increase the cost effectiveness and quality of mental health service delivery.

Download Full-text

Mental Health in COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Review of Prevalence Meta-Analyses

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.703838 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Geovan Menezes de Sousa ◽

Vagner Deuel de Oliveira Tavares ◽

Maria Lara Porpino de Meiroz Grilo ◽

Monique Leite Galvão Coelho ◽

Geissy Lainny de Lima-Araújo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Funnel Plot ◽

Psychophysiological Stress ◽

Population Type ◽

Meta Review ◽

Trim And Fill ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

The Impact

Background: Mental health burden has been massively reported during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Aiming to summarise these data, we present a meta-review of meta-analyses that evaluated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety, depressive and stress symptoms, psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder/symptoms (PTSD), and sleep disturbance, reporting its prevalence on general public (GP) and health care workers (HCW).Methods: A search was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science. Sleep disturbances, psychological distress, stress, and burnout were grouped as “Psychophysiological stress,” and anxiety, depression, and PTSD were grouped as “Psychopathology.” A random-effects model, calculating the pooled prevalence together with 95% confidence interval was performed for each domain. Subgroup analyses were performed for each population type (GP and HCW) and for each mental health outcome. For anxiety and depression, subgroup analysis for population type was performed. Heterogeneity is reported as I2. Publication bias was assessed through visual inspection of the funnel plot, and further tested by Egger's test and trim and fill analyses.Results: A total of 18 meta-analyses were included. The prevalence of psychophysiological stress was 31.99% (CI: 26.88–37.58, I2 = 99.9%). HCW showed a higher prevalence (37.74%, CI: 33.26–42.45, I2 = 99.7%) than the GP (20.67%, 15.07–27.66, I2 = 99.9%). The overall prevalence of insomnia, psychological distress, and stress were, respectively, 32.34% (CI: 25.65–39.84), 28.25% (CI: 18.12–41.20), and 36% (CI: 29.31–43.54). Psychopathology was present at 26.45% (CI: 24.22–28.79, I2 = 99.9%) of the sample, with similar estimates for population (HCW 26.14%, CI: 23.37–29.12, I2 = 99.9%; GP: 26.99%, CI: 23.41–30.9, I2 = 99.9%). The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and PTSD was 27.77% (CI: 24.47–31.32), 26.93% (CI: 23.92–30.17), and 20% (CI: 15.54–24.37), respectively. Similar proportions between populations were found for anxiety (HCW = 27.5%, CI: 23.78–31.55; GP = 28.33%, CI: 22.1–35.5) and depression (HCW = 27.05%, CI: 23.14–31.36; GP = 26.7%, CI: 22.32–31.59). Asymmetry in the funnel plot was found, and a slight increase in the estimate of overall psychopathology (29.08%, CI: 26.42–31.89) was found after the trim and fill analysis.Conclusions: The prevalence of mental health problems ranged from 20 to 36%. HCW presented a higher prevalence of psychophysiological stress than the general population.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=252221, identifier: CRD42021252221.

Download Full-text

The Impact of a Digital Intervention (Happify) on Loneliness During COVID-19: Qualitative Focus Group

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/26617 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. e26617

Author(s):

Eliane M Boucher ◽

Emily C McNaughton ◽

Nicole Harake ◽

Julia L Stafford ◽

Acacia C Parks

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Focus Group ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Health Intervention ◽

Health Concern ◽

Mental Health Intervention ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Self Perceptions ◽

The Impact

Background Loneliness is a growing area of concern, attracting attention as a public health concern due to its association with a variety of psychological and physical health problems. However, interventions targeting loneliness are less common than interventions for other mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, and existing interventions focus primarily on building social skills and increasing opportunities for social interaction despite research suggesting these techniques are not the most effective. Furthermore, although there is an increasing need for scalable and convenient interventions, digital interventions for loneliness are even less common. Objective Using a qualitative approach, we explore how adults (18-64 years of age) who express wanting to be more connected to others experience loneliness and react to a digital mental health intervention targeting loneliness. Methods A total of 11 participants were recruited from a pilot randomized controlled trial exploring the impact of a digital mental health intervention, Happify Health, on loneliness among adults aged 18-64 years who indicated wanting to feel more connected to others when signing up for the platform. Participants were invited to participate in a 3-day asynchronous focus group about their experiences with loneliness, with Happify Health, and with social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. All 11 participants completed the focus group in May 2020. Results Participants’ responses were coded using thematic analysis, which led to identifying five themes, each with separate subthemes, that could be applied across the 3-day focus group: loneliness, relationships, social distancing, skill acquisition, and coping. Overall, we observed variability across participants in terms of the source of their loneliness, their perceptions of their social connections, and their motivation to reduce feelings of loneliness; however, participants commonly referred to negative self-perceptions as a cause or consequence of loneliness. Participants also varied in the extent to which they felt social distancing increased or decreased feelings of loneliness. In regard to the intervention, participants showed evidence of adopting skills they used to address their loneliness, particularly mindfulness and gratitude, and then using these skills to shift toward more active coping strategies following the intervention, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions The heterogeneity in participants’ experiences with loneliness described during this focus group emphasizes the subjective and complex nature of loneliness. This highlights the importance of developing loneliness interventions that use a variety of strategies, including both direct and indirect strategies for reducing loneliness. However, based on our data, a key component to loneliness interventions is incorporating strategies for addressing underlying negative self-perceptions that stem from, but also contribute to, loneliness. This data also provides preliminary evidence that digital platforms may be an effective tool for disseminating loneliness interventions while providing the added benefit of offering a productive distraction when feeling lonely.

Download Full-text

Prenatal maternal stress and risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

HRB Open Research ◽

10.12688/hrbopenres.12827.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 15

Author(s):

Nicla Manzari ◽

Karen Matvienko-Sikar ◽

Franco Baldoni ◽

Gerard W. O'Keeffe ◽

Ali S. Khashan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Prenatal Maternal Stress ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Impact

Background: Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is defined as the experience of significant levels of prenatal stress, depression or anxiety during pregnancy. PNMS has been associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in exposed offspring. However, these findings are inconsistent and other studies found no association, meaning a clear consensus on the impact of PNMS on ASD and ADHD risk is required. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize and critically review the existing literature on the effects of PNMS on ASD and ADHD risk. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE) will be searched for articles following a detailed search strategy. We will include cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies that assessed maternal exposure to psychological and/or environmental stress and had ASD or ADHD as an outcome. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles, abstracts and full articles to identify eligible studies. We will use a standardised data extraction form for extracting data and a bias classification tool for assessing study quality. This systematic review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The generic inverse variance method will be used if possible to perform meta-analyses. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required for this study because it will not involve the conduct or inclusion of any experimental or personal data that would require informed consent. The systematic review will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018084222.

Download Full-text

Effects of natural environment on mental health: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

10.31234/osf.io/4r3mh ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mahbub Hossain ◽

Abida Sultana ◽

Ping Ma ◽

Qiping Fan ◽

Rachit Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Natural Environment ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Umbrella Review ◽

Data Extraction Tool ◽

Study Characteristics ◽

Meta Analyses

Objectives: To synthesize the evidence on the effects of exposure to natural environment on mental health to inform future policymaking, practice, and research. Methods: A systematic search of nine major databases and additional sources were conducted using relevant keywords for the natural environment and mental health till November 2019. We included systematic reviews or meta-analyses reporting any measures of associations between the natural environment and mental health. The data on study characteristics and research findings were extracted using the JBI data extraction tool and synthesized narratively.Results: Twenty reviews were included in this umbrella review reporting both correlational and experimental studies. Among diverse population groups, the exposure to the natural environment was associated with improvements in depressive symptoms, anxiety, mood disorders, stress, cognitive and emotional functions, affect, happiness, and overall mental wellbeing. Conclusions: The findings of this review inform beneficial mental health outcomes associated with exposure to the natural environment. This umbrella review suggests collaborative policymaking, advanced research, and evidence-based practice protecting the natural environment and improving mental health across populations.

Download Full-text

Prenatal maternal stress and risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

HRB Open Research ◽

10.12688/hrbopenres.12827.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 15 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nicla Manzari ◽

Karen Matvienko-Sikar ◽

Franco Baldoni ◽

Gerard W. O'Keeffe ◽

Ali S. Khashan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Prenatal Maternal Stress ◽

Case Control Studies ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Impact

Background: Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is defined as the experience of significant levels of prenatal stress, depression or anxiety during pregnancy. PNMS has been associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in exposed offspring. However, these findings are inconsistent and other studies found no association, meaning a clear consensus on the impact of PNMS on ASD and ADHD risk is required. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize and critically review the existing literature on the effects of PNMS on ASD and ADHD risk. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE) will be searched for articles following a detailed search strategy. We will include cohort and case-control studies that assessed maternal exposure to psychological and/or environmental stress and had ASD or ADHD as an outcome. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles, abstracts and full articles to identify eligible studies. We will use a standardised data extraction form for extracting data and a bias classification tool for assessing study quality. This systematic review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The generic inverse variance method will be used if possible to perform meta-analyses. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required for this study because it will not involve the conduct or inclusion of any experimental or personal data that would require informed consent. The systematic review will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018084222.

Download Full-text