scholarly journals The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Comparison between Caregivers of Autistic and Non-Autistic Individuals in Italy

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Laura Fusar-Poli ◽  
Miriam Martinez ◽  
Teresa Surace ◽  
Valeria Meo ◽  
Federica Patania ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted the daily routine of the population worldwide, including autistic people and their caregivers, with severe consequences on mental health. On one hand, the reduced social contacts and the interruption of outpatient and daycare services during the lockdown have represented a real challenge for autistic people and their caregivers. On the other hand, confinement has allowed individuals to spend more time pursuing their interests and stay home with their family members without feeling the pressure of social expectations. The present study aimed to compare the levels of personal wellbeing, family distress, insomnia, and resilience between caregivers of autistic people and caregivers of people with other neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, or relational disabilities. A web survey was completed by 383 participants, of which 141 were primary caregivers of autistic people. We did not find any significant difference between caregivers of autistic and non-autistic people in any of the considered psychological variables. Lower age of the autistic family member and lower resilience levels were significantly associated with higher individual distress in the group of caregivers of autistic people. Our findings do not corroborate the hypothesis that caregivers of autistic individuals have had more severe consequences than other caregivers during the lockdown. However, they confirm the importance of promoting resilient coping strategies in autistic people and their caregivers.

Author(s):  
Adrianos Golemis ◽  
Panteleimon Voitsidis ◽  
Eleni Parlapani ◽  
Vasiliki A Nikopoulou ◽  
Virginia Tsipropoulou ◽  
...  

Summary COVID-19 and the related quarantine disrupted young adults’ academic and professional life, daily routine and socio-emotional well-being. This cross-sectional study focused on the emotional and behavioural responses of a young adult population during the COVID-19-related quarantine in April 2020, in Greece. The study was conducted through an online survey. A total of 1559 young adults, aged 18−30 years, completed Steele’s Social Responsibility Motivation Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and answered questions about compliance with instructions, quarantine-related behaviours and coping strategies. According to the results, participants displayed a relatively high sense of social responsibility (M = 16.09, SD = 2.13) and a trend towards moderate feeling of loneliness (M = 2.65, SD = 1.62); young women reported significantly higher levels of loneliness than men. The majority complied with instructions often (46.4%) or always (44.8%). Significantly more women created a new social media account and used the social media longer than 5 h/day, compared with men. Resorting to religion, practicing sports and sharing thoughts and feelings about COVID-19 with others predicted higher levels of social responsibility; humour, practicing sports and sharing thoughts and feelings about COVID-19 with others predicted lower levels of loneliness. Conclusively, COVID-19 is expected to have a significant psychological impact on young adults. Currently, Greece is going through the second quarantine period. This study raises awareness about loneliness in young adults during the COVID-19-related quarantine and highlights the importance of developing online programmes, attractive to younger people, to nurture adaptive coping strategies against loneliness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1833.2-1833
Author(s):  
B. C. Detlef ◽  
S. El-Nawab-Becker ◽  
M. Toellner ◽  
A. Kleinheinz ◽  
T. Witte

Background:Nail psoriasis is an extreme diagnostic and therapeutic challenge and represents an enormous physical and psychological burden for affected patients.50% of patients with psoriasis vulgaris develop nail involvement (NailPso)during the course of their disease. NailPso is the strongest predictor of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Through the synovio-enthesial concept we have learned that there is an anatomical-pathophysiological relationship between DIP joint, extensor tendon and nail matrix. We have observed in daily practice that hypervascularization (HV) in ultrasound Power Doppler (US-PD)the nail matrix may be a pathognomonic element in its own right. There are no data on this in the literature.Objectives:Is there a difference in the ultrasound PD examination of the DIP joint and nail area and in the capillary microscopy of the corresponding nail fold in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and nail psoriasis versus patients with psoriasis vulgaris without nail psoriasis.Methods:Monocentric prospective study of all consecutive patients with psoriasis vulgaris who have come to a rheumatic practice to clarify a PsA. Inaddition to demographic data, assessments (PASI,DLQI,CASPAR,GEPARD, DAS28, SJ,TJ,FFBH), clinical examination, a standardized ultrasound PD examination and capillary microscopy of the affected fingertips in PsO patients suffering from nail psoriasis was performed as well as corresponding examinations of the 2nd and 3rd finger right in PsO patients without nail involvement.Results:79 patients could be included during the study period. Thereof 25 PsO patients without nail involvement and 44 PsO patients with nail involvement. Since the patients were examined consecutively, the difference results. There was no difference in age, BMI and sex in both groups (Pso and NailPso). The Caspar criteria as classification criteria for a PsA were positive in 65% of the NailPso patients and positive in 50% of all PsO patients without nail infestation. Hypervascularization in the US-PD examination in the area of the nail matrix could be seen significantly more frequently in NailPso compared to non-NagelPso patients. Such a difference did not exist in the HV of the extensor tendons.Capillary microscopy showed a significant difference in the number of torsions/twist capillaries in NailPso compared to Pso patients without NailPso.Hypervascularization of the nail matrix is seen significantly more frequently in patients with psoriasis of the nail than in patients without psoriasis of the nail. Such a difference does not exist in DIP joint -extensor tendon- enthesitis. At the same time, torsions are significantly more frequently seen in capillary microscopy in NailPso than in patients without NailPso.Conclusion:The US-PD examination is a simple and non-invasive procedure which can be performed routinely in daily practice. The hypervascularization of the nail matrix should also make one think of nail psoriasis in the early stage of PsO, in order to be able to start early an appropriate therapy for this very stigmatizing and therapeutically extremely difficult manifestation of PsO. It seems to occur independently of extensor tendon synovitis as an independent manifestation phenomenon.The occurrence of torsions in capillary microscopy >50 % also seems to be groundbreaking for a NagelPso, whereby capillary microscopy is a temporal challenge in daily routine.References:§ The present study (7734-BO-S2018 Ethics Commission of the MHH, Medical School Hannover, Germany) contains parts of the PhD thesis of M.TöllnerDisclosure of Interests:Becker-Capeller Detlef Grant/research support from: Novartis, Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Soham El-Nawab-Becker: None declared, Malo Toellner: None declared, Andreas Kleinheinz: None declared, Torsten Witte: None declared


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D’Ippolito ◽  
M. Aloisi ◽  
E. Azicnuda ◽  
D. Silvestro ◽  
M. Giustini ◽  
...  

Introduction. Severe acquired brain injury (sABI) is considered the most common cause of death and disability worldwide. sABI patients are supported by their caregivers who often exhibit high rates of psychological distress, mood disorders, and changes in relationship dynamics and family roles.Objectives. To explore lifestyle changes of caregivers of sABI patients during the postacute rehabilitation, by investigating possible differences between primary and secondary caregivers. Primary caregivers spend most of the time with the patient, providing daily care and taking most responsibility for the day-to-day decisions, while secondary caregivers are those who provide additional support.Methods. Three hundred forty-seven caregivers of sABI patients were asked to fill in an unpublished self-report questionnaire to explore their possible lifestyles changes.Results. A statistically significant difference was found between primary and secondary caregivers in time spent in informal caregiving (p<0.001). The primary caregivers reduced all leisure activities compared to secondary carers (p<0.05).Conclusions. By comparing the percentage of leisure activities performed by caregiversbeforeandafterthe patient’s sABI onset, all caregivers showed high percentages of changes in lifestyle and habits, even though primary caregivers reported more negative lifestyle changes than secondary caregivers. Further studies are needed to investigate needs and burden experienced by caregivers of sABI patients during the postacute rehabilitation phase, also in relation to the patients’ outcome, to address support interventions for them and improve their quality of life.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tulika Sharma ◽  
Paramjeet Singh ◽  
Himanshu Phulwari

The purpose of the present study was to find out the attitudes of primary caregivers towards mental illness. The hypothesis was “there would be a significant difference in the attitude of primary caregivers towards mental illness by people belonging to rural and urban areas.” The sample consists of 50 subjects (25 females and 25 males out of it, 25 were from the rural population &amp; 25 were from the urban population). The age group consists of the participants was from 18 years to 65 years, and their education qualification was not an obligation. Personal data consist of demographic information was also collected. The scale “The Community Attitudes Towards Mental Illness scale (CAMI)” was developed by Taylor and Dear in 1981, was used to assess the attitude towards mental illness of the subjects. For statistical analysis, correlation and student t-test were used for the p-value and to found the differences in the attitudes of primary caregivers. The results showed variances in the primary caregivers’ attitudes between the rural area and the urban area.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 2716
Author(s):  
Agata Fiumara ◽  
Giuseppina Lanzafame ◽  
Alessia Arena ◽  
Annamaria Sapuppo ◽  
Federica Raudino ◽  
...  

Background: Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are rare, chronic, progressive multisystem diseases implying severe medical issues and psychological burden. Some of these disorders are susceptible to a treatment, which is administered weekly or every other week, in a hospital. During the COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) pandemic lockdown, patients with LSDs on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) missed their scheduled access to the Day Hospital to get their treatment. Methods: Based on the feeling that our patients were experiencing profound distress, we designed a structured telephone interview with the aim to evaluate how, and to which extent, the pandemic outbreak was changing their behavior and feelings about their chronic disease, the impact on therapies, and future expectations. The same interview was administered to an age-matched control group. Results: All interviewed people experienced an increase of anxiety, worries, and uncertainty fostered by incessant media updates. Moreover, a striking similarity emerged between the groups regarding forced home reclusion and the profound feeling to be excluded by normal life, well-known to those affected by a chronic rare disease. Conclusions: Although no statistically significant difference was found compared to controls, we felt that the reactions were qualitatively different, underlining the fragility and isolation of such patients.


1987 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janna O. De Boer ◽  
Aren J. H. Van Es ◽  
Joop E. Vogt ◽  
Joop M. A. Van Raaij ◽  
Joseph G. A. J. Hautvast

1. Ten female subjects completed two similar experimental procedures (periods 1 and 2) to obtain values of reproducibility of energy intake and 24 h energy expenditure (24hEE) measurements in a whole body indirect calorimeter. The periods consisted of consumption of a provided weight-maintenance diet for 6–8 d, faeces and urine collection during the last 4 d and occupation of the calorimeter during the last 3 d. The daily routine inside the calorimeter simulated a sedentary day in normal life with some physical activity: 8 h sleep, 75 min bicycling and the remaining time spent on sedentary activities. The metabolizable energy (ME) content of the diet (14% energy as protein, 46% energy as carbohydrate, 40% energy as fat) was calculated using food tables. The actual ME intake as well as digestibility and metabolizability of the diet were obtained later by analyses of food, faeces and urine for energy. Three consecutive 24hEE measurements were performed during the stay in the calorimeter in each period. The time interval between the two periods varied from 2 to 24 months. Reproducibility was assessed at group and individual level.2. Mean digestibility and metabolizability of the diet showed no significant difference between periods. The within-subject coefficient of variation of metabolizability between periods was 1.7%.3. Mean 24hEE (MJ) over 3 d did not differ between period 1 (8.78 (SD 0.63)) and period 2 (8.73 (SD 0.66)). The within-subject coefficient of variation in mean 24hEE over three successive days between periods was 3.1% but decreased, after deletion of values for subjects who were less adapted to the calorimeter, to 1.9%.4. The results are discussed with regard to length of trial and the number of subjects required to test a difference in energy metabolism using whole body indirect calorimeters.


2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nor Ain Rabaiee ◽  
Mohd Zahri Abdul Aziz ◽  
Rukiah Hashim ◽  
Abdul Aziz Tajuddin ◽  
Muhammad Fadhirul Izwan Abdul Malik

Water is a recognized tissue equivalent material. Due to some reason, water is not a suitable material to use as the daily routine in Quality Assurance assessment. In this paper, Rhizophora spp was treated with soy flour were applied to fabricate solid water equivalent material. Nine samples of three different particle sizes of Rhizophora spp as well as their treatment level were prepared. An innovative approach, x-ray fluorescence was used to measure the unknown attenuation coefficient while field emission scanning electron microscopy was presented to evaluate the microscopy structure of desired samples. Effective energy range between 15.7 to 26.7 keV was used to measure the mass attenuation coefficient of the fabricated particleboard. All the results were compared with the water value in XCOM database. This study showed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between mass attenuation coefficient of sample with the water value from XCOM. In addition, the morphology images were improved for post-treated compared to untreated Rhizophora spp particleboard. Based on these results, Rhizophora spp particleboard is amenable as an alternative window of purported water equivalent material.  


2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Szabó ◽  
R. Romvári ◽  
Hedvig Fébel ◽  

The present study was designed to investigate whether meat-type rabbits are able to perform treadmill running as a daily routine exercise, and if so, whether the exercise induces specific proportional changes in the fatty acid composition of their muscles. After a four-week training period 8-week-old rabbits were slaughtered and the total activity of plasma lactate dehydrogenase was measured, showing a significant difference between the exercised and control groups (429 ± 126 IU/l vs. 639 ± 203 IU/l). Furthermore the fatty acid composition of m. longissimus dorsi (MLD) and m. vastus lateralis (MVL) was determined by means of gas chromatography. Exercise increased the proportions of oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) in both MLD and MVL as compared to the control group. However, the level of stearic (C18:0) and arachidonic (C20:4 n-6) acids significantly decreased in the MVL after the exercise. Changes in the fatty acid profile resulting from the physically loaded condition were of the same tendency in both muscles, adding that the MVL might have been exposed to the exercise more intensively; alterations there occurred in a more pronounced manner. Based on the inference that the composition of membrane structure was also affected, these alterations may have important consequences on meat quality.


2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. James

The current study was a measurement of whether or not females and males were equally likely to report being sport fans, and to identify whether the motives influencing the consumption of women’s college basketball were different than the motives influencing the consumption of men’s college basketball. Fans of women’s basketball and fans of men’s basketball were compared on nine sport consumption motives. Data for the project came from 318 fans attending women’s basketball games and 316 fans attending men’s basketball games. Based upon the results, men had significantly higher sport fan ratings than women. There were significant differences between females and males on two of the sport consumption motives, Aesthetics and Knowledge. Men reported a greater appreciation for the natural beauty in the game of basketball, and greater enjoyment of games because of their knowledge of basketball. There was no significant difference between the two motives rated highest by women and men, the Action in games and the opportunity to Escape from one’s daily routine. The reasons for watching and following a specific sport were similar for females and males, regardless of the sex of the athletes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mansoor N Chaudhry ◽  
Mahmood Ahmad ◽  
Abeeda Butt

Abstract Introduction The first national lockdown was imposed in Ireland from 27th March 2020, to combat the spread of Coronavirus. All non-essential travel, businesses, sporting activities and schools were closed. The elderly were advised to cocoon. The roadmap to easing the restrictions started in May. The lockdown measures resulted in people spending more time indoors, with impact on social and personal wellbeing. This had the potential to increase alcohol consumption, self inflicted injuries and neglect. The purpose of our study is to analyze the variations in orthopedic trauma presentations during the pandemic compared to similar period in 2018 and 2019. Method Retrospective data was collected from Orthopedic theatre registry of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co Louth, Ireland. Patients operated by orthopedic trauma team in three months period (March, April & May) in 2018, 2019 and 2020 were selected for analysis and comparison. Result Total number of surgeries performed in March-May 2018, 2019 and 2020 were 551, 505 and 373 showing a significant reduction in 2020 as compared to previous years. Trauma surgeries performed on children in March-May 2018,2019 and 2020 were 132,131 and 90 respectively, showing a similar downward trend. Surgeries were further categorized into Major +, Major, Intermediate and Minor according to their level of complexity. Although there was a significant reduction seen in Major, Intermediate and Minor surgeries, no significant difference was observed in Major + surgeries (73 in March-May 2020 vs. 79 in March-May 2019 and 57 in March-May 2018). Conclusion Significant reduction was seen in overall trauma surgeries which is attributable to lockdown measures. The difference in trend between Major + and other categories of surgeries can be explained by the reduction in sporting injuries and injuries in children whereas no significant difference was noted in hip fractures.


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