Acute-Stage Mental Health Symptoms by Natural Disaster Type: Consultations of Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPATs) in Japan

This study analyzed the support activities that the Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team (DPAT) in Japan provided following four previous disasters (a volcanic eruption, a mudslide, a flood, and an earthquake) to identify links between the disaster type and the characteristics of acute stage mental disorders observed. Using Disaster Mental Health Information Support System database records of consultations with patients supported by the DPAT during the survey period from 2013 (when DPAT was launched) to 2016, we performed cross-tabulations and investigated significant differences using chi-squared tests. For expected values less than 5, Fisher’s exact test was performed. Frequently occurring acute-stage symptoms after a disaster include anxiety, sleep problems, mood and affect, and physical symptoms. The affected population characteristics, victim attributes, severity of damage sustained, and evacuation status were the chief factors that influenced acute-stage mental health symptoms. The psychiatric symptoms detected in our study together with the results of diagnoses are important for determining the types of early interventions needed during the acute stage of a disaster. By sharing baseline mental health information, together with disaster-related characteristics highlighted in this study, mental health providers are better able to predict future possible mental disorders and symptoms.

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Prevalence and Risk Factors of COVID-19 Symptoms among U.S. Adults with Allergies

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052231 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2231

Author(s):

Marlene Camacho-Rivera ◽

Jessica Yasmine Islam ◽

Denise Christina Vidot ◽

Sunit Jariwala

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Dynamics ◽

Adult Population ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Economic Security ◽

Self Report ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Physician Diagnosis

Background: This study sought to evaluate COVID-19 associated physical and mental health symptoms among adults with allergies compared to the general U.S. adult population. Methods: Data for these analyses were obtained from the publicly available COVID-19 Household Impact Survey, which provides national and regional statistics about physical health, mental health, economic security, and social dynamics among U.S. adults (ages 18 and older). Data from 20–26 April 2020; 4–10 May 2020; and 30 May–8 June 2020 were included. Our primary outcomes for this analysis were physical and mental health symptoms experienced in the last seven days. The primary predictor was participants’ self-report of a physician diagnosis of an allergy. Results/Discussion: This study included 10,760 participants, of whom 44% self-reported having allergies. Adults with allergies were more likely to report physical symptoms compared to adults without allergies including fever (aOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.44–1.99), cough (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.60–2.26), shortness of breath (aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.71–2.43), and loss of taste or sense of smell (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.58–2.28). Adults with allergies were more likely to report feeling nervous (cOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.13, 1.60), depressed (cOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11–1.57), lonely (cOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04–1.47), hopeless (cOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.21–1.72), or having physical reactions when thinking about COVID-19 pandemic (cOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.44–2.82), compared to those without allergies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, adults with allergies are more likely to report physical and mental health symptoms compared to individuals without allergies. These findings have important implications for diagnostic and treatment challenges for allergy physicians.

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Correction: Mental disorders and mental health symptoms during imprisonment: A three-year follow-up study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0231593 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. e0231593

Author(s):

Caroline Gabrysch ◽

Rosemarie Fritsch ◽

Stefan Priebe ◽

Adrian P. Mundt

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Follow Up Study

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Mental health symptoms and inflammatory markers among HIV infected patients in Tanzania

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11064-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Peter Memiah ◽

Lillian Nkinda ◽

Mtebe Majigo ◽

Felix Humwa ◽

Zelalaem Haile ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Inflammatory Markers ◽

Tumour Necrosis ◽

Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptor ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Hiv Patients ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Stepwise Approach ◽

Necrosis Factor

Abstract Background HIV and mental disorders are predicted to be the leading causes of illness worldwide by the year 2030. HIV-infected patients are at increased risk of developing mental disorders which are significantly associated with negative clinical outcomes and propagation of new HIV infections. There is little evidence that links inflammation to development of mental disorders among HIV patients. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate if mental health symptoms were associated with biomarkers of inflammation in HIV infected subjects. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dar es Salam, Tanzania from March to May 2018. Standardized tools were used to collect data based on the World Health Organisation's (WHO) stepwise approach for non-communicable diseases (NCD) surveillance. A total of 407 HIV+ patients on antiretroviral therapy were recruited. The WHO stepwise approach for NCD surveillance was used to collect data together with anthropometric measurements. Mental health symptoms were determined based on self-reported thoughts of helplessness, suicide ideation, depression, despair, discouragement, and feelings of isolation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test for inflammatory markers:- C-reactive protein (CRP), Iinterleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-I (sTNFR-I), and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-II (sTNFR-II). Bivariate and multi-variate analysis was conducted to examine the association between biomarkers and mental health symptoms. Results The prevalence of self-reported mental health symptoms was 42% (n = 169). Participants with self-reported symptoms of mental health had elevated CRP, were less likely to walk or use a bicycle for at least 10 minutes, were less likely to participate in moderate-intensity sports or fitness activities, and had poor adherence to HIV treatment (p < 0.005). CRP remained significant in the sex adjusted, age-sex adjusted, and age-sex-moderate exercise adjusted models. In the fully adjusted logistic regression model, self-reported mental health symptoms were significantly associated with a higher quartile of elevated CRP (OR 4.4; 95% CI 1.3–5.9) and sTNFR-II (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.4–6.6) and the third quartile of IL-18 (OR 5.1;95% CI 1.5–17.5) as compared with those reporting no mental health symptoms. The significance of sTNFR-II and IL-18 in the fully adjusted model is confounded by viral load suppression rates at the sixth month. Conclusion High CRP and sTNFR II were important contributors to the prevalence of mental health symptoms. This study is among the minimal studies that have examined mental health issues in HIV, and therefore, the findings may offer significant knowledge despite the potential reverse causality. Regardless of the nature of these associations, efforts should be directed toward screening, referral, and follow-up of HIV patients who are at-risk for mental health disorders.

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Cocaine Use and Post Partum Psychiatric Symptoms

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1992.70.1.51 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 51-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Daniel R. Neuspiel ◽

Sara C. Hamel

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychiatric Symptom ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Post Partum ◽

Index Score ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Symptom Index ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Cocaine Use ◽

Cognitive Disturbance

The association of mental health symptoms with cocaine use was studied among post partum women. Gestational cocaine use was determined by confidential interview or urine assay. A structured Psychiatric Symptom Index was used to measure mental health symptoms. Among 155 women, 24 (15%) used cocaine. Cocaine-using women had less education, higher parity, less weight gain during pregnancy, and used more cigarettes, marijuana, and opiates in pregnancy than nonusers. High frequency of symptoms (standardized Psychiatric Symptom Index score ≥20) was found in 71% of women for the Total Index score, 81% on depression, 61% on anxiety, 36% on cognitive disturbance, and 75% on anger. No differences in Psychiatric Symptom Index Total or factor scores were associated with cocaine use.

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Stakeholder informed development of the Emotion Awareness and Skills Enhancement team–based program (EASE-Teams)

Autism ◽

10.1177/13623613211061936 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 136236132110619

Author(s):

Kelly B Beck ◽

Jessie B Northrup ◽

Kaitlyn E Breitenfeldt ◽

Shannon Porton ◽

Taylor N Day ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intellectual Disability ◽

Emotion Dysregulation ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Caregiver Support ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Elementary Aged Children ◽

Adolescents And Adults ◽

Autistic Adults

Emotion dysregulation (ED) underlies psychiatric symptoms and impedes adaptive responses in autistic individuals. The Emotion Awareness and Skills Enhancement (EASE) program was the first mindfulness-based intervention designed to target emotion dysregulation in autistic adolescents (12–17 years old). This project partnered with stakeholders to adapt EASE for autistic adolescents and adults with co-occurring intellectual disability and autistic elementary-aged children, groups who often benefit from caregiver support in treatment. Over three adaptation phases, we: (1) elicited stakeholder and expert feedback to adapt the original EASE program for autistic individuals with intellectual disability; (2) redesigned the adapted manual and expanded the target age range following a small “micro-trial” with a sample of autistic adolescents and adults with intellectual disability ( n = 6); and (3) demonstrated feasibility and acceptability of a caregiver-client team-based approach (EASE-Teams) in a sample of 10 autistic individuals with and without intellectual disability (ages 7–25) and their caregivers. EASE-Teams was both acceptable and helpful to families. Significant improvements were noted in participant emotion dysregulation, psychiatric symptoms, and caregiver stress from their child’s dysregulation. Findings suggest that EASE-Teams may be appropriate for heterogeneous developmental and cognitive needs. Future research to establish efficacy and refine EASE-Teams with community providers is warranted. Lay abstract Emotion dysregulation (ED) impacts mental health symptoms and well-being in autistic individuals. In prior work, we developed the Emotion Awareness and Skills Enhancement (EASE) to improve emotion dysregulation with autistic adolescents (aged 12–17). The study team partnered with autistic individuals, their caregivers, and expert clinicians to adapt EASE for autistic adolescents and adults with co-occurring intellectual disability and autistic elementary-aged children, groups that often benefit from caregiver support in treatment. In three phases, we (1) gathered caregiver and expert feedback to adapt the original EASE program for autistic adults with intellectual disability, (2) revised the treatment after using it with six autistic adults with intellectual disability, and (3) tested the newly developed caregiver–client team-based treatment, called EASE-Teams, in a small group of 10 autistic individuals with and without intellectual disability (aged 7–25). Families found EASE-Teams to be acceptable and helpful. We found improvements in emotion dysregulation and mental health symptoms for autistic participants. Caregivers reported less stress from their child’s dysregulation after participating. These results show that EASE-Teams can be appropriate for different developmental and cognitive needs. Future studies will need to test the benefits of the treatment in community clinics.

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The physical symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome exacerbate the mental health symptoms of borderline personality disorder

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/00048674211062533 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000486742110625

Author(s):

Tia Tsinanis ◽

Eveline Mu ◽

Jayashri Kulkarni

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Borderline Personality Disorder ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Borderline Personality ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Ovarian Syndrome

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Physical and Mental Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic among US Adults with Chronic Respiratory Conditions

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10173981 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (17) ◽

pp. 3981

Author(s):

Lulu Wei ◽

Jessica Y. Islam ◽

Eduardo A. Mascareno ◽

Argelis Rivera ◽

Denise C. Vidot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Health Concern ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Respiratory Conditions ◽

Stuffy Nose

Adults living with chronic respiratory diseases are at higher risk of death due to COVID-19. Our objective was to evaluate the physical and mental health symptoms among US adults living with chronic respiratory conditions. We used data of 10,760 US adults from the nationally representative COVID-19 Impact Survey. Chronic respiratory conditions were self-reported and included asthma (14.7%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD (4.7%), and bronchitis/emphysema (11.6%). We used multivariable Poisson regression to evaluate physical health symptoms. We estimated associations of mental health symptoms using multinomial logistic regression. In multivariable models, adults with asthma were more likely to report physical symptoms including runny or stuffy nose, chest congestion, fever, and chills. In addition, adults with COPD were more likely to report several physical symptoms including fever (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]: 1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–1.72), chills (aPR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.67–2.64), runny or stuffy nose (aPR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.39–2.27), chest congestion (aPR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.74–2.61), sneezing (aPR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.23–2.05), and muscle or body aches (aPR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.06–1.81). Adults with chronic respiratory conditions are more likely to report physical and mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to others. Providers should prioritize discussing mental health symptom management as the pandemic continues to be a public health concern in the US.

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