Psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric healthcare
workers

Introduction: Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) exposed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at risk of psychological distress. This study evaluates the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HCWs in a national paediatric referral centre. Methods: This was a survey-based study that collected demographic, work environment and mental health data from paediatric HCWs in the emergency, intensive care and infectious disease units. Psychological impact was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with psychological distress. Results: The survey achieved a response rate of 93.9% (430 of 458). Of the 430 respondents, symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were reported in 168 (39.1%), 205 (47.7%) and 106 (24.7%), respectively. Depression was reported in the mild (47, 10.9%), moderate (76, 17.7%), severe (23, 5.3%) and extremely severe (22, 5.1%) categories. Anxiety (205, 47.7%) and stress (106, 24.7%) were reported in the mild category only. Collectively, regression analysis identified female sex, a perceived lack of choice in work scope/environment, lack of protection from COVID-19, lack of access to physical activities and rest, the need to perform additional tasks, and the experience of stigma from the community as risk factors for poor psychological outcome. Conclusion: A high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was reported among frontline paediatric HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal psychoneuroimmunity and organisational prevention measures can be implemented to lessen psychiatric symptoms. At the national level, involving mental health professionals to plan and coordinate psychological intervention for the country should be considered.

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Investigating Psychological Differences between Nurses and Other Healthcare Workers from Asia-Pacific Region during the Early Phase of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Machine Learning Approach (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.32647 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

YanHong Dong ◽

Mei Chun Yeo ◽

Rivan Danuaji ◽

Thang H Nguyen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Asia Pacific ◽

Pacific Region ◽

Asia Pacific Region ◽

Psychological Outcome ◽

Psychological Differences ◽

Medical Healthcare

BACKGROUND As the pandemic evolves, frontline work challenges continue to impose significant psychological impact on nurses. However, there is a lack of data how nurses fared compared to other healthcare workers in Asia-Pacific region. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate 1) psychological differences between nurses, doctor and non-medical healthcare workers, and 2) psychological outcome characteristics of nurses from different Asia-Pacific countries. METHODS Decision-tree type machine learning models (LIghtGBM, Gradientboost, and RandomForest) were adopted to predict psychological impact on nurses. The SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) values of these models were extracted to identify the distinctive psychological distress characteristic. RESULTS Nurses had relatively higher percentages of normal or no-change in psychological distress symptoms relative to other healthcare workers (86.3% - 96.8% vs 80.7% - 92.3%). Among those without psychological symptoms, nurses constituted a higher proportion than doctors and non-medical healthcare workers (40.8%, 25.8%, and 33.4%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Different contexts, cultures, and points in pandemic curve may have contributed to differing patterns of psychological outcomes amongst nurses in various Asia-Pacific countries. It is important that all healthcare workers practise self-care and render peer support to bolster psychological resilience for effective coping. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable

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Psychological Aspects of Hysterectomy

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.154.4.516 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 154 (4) ◽

pp. 516-522 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Margaret M. Ryan ◽

Lorraine Dennerstein ◽

Roger Pepperell

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Research Process ◽

Physical Factors ◽

Social Psychological ◽

Psychological Outcome ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Health Measures ◽

High Prevalence

Sixty women aged between 30 and 55 years, having hysterectomy for benign conditions, were prospectively studied to investigate psychological adjustment to operation, and to explore social, psychological and physical factors associated with psychological outcome. A further 30 women were included for prospective research on psychological outcome. Investigations took place within two weeks of operation and after four months and 14 months. The findings indicated a high prevalence of pre-operative psychological morbidity (55%), which reduced to 31.7% afterwards. There was no evidence that hysterectomy led to a greater psychological distress. The principal risk factors of poor psychological outcome were the previous scores on the mental health measures and personality inventory. Involvement in the research process did not appear to affect psychological outcome.

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The Silent Pandemic: The Psychological Burden on Frontline Healthcare Workers during COVID-19

Psychiatry Journal ◽

10.1155/2021/2906785 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Luise J. Froessl ◽

Yazan Abdeen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

High Stress ◽

Psychological Burden ◽

Additional Risk ◽

Frontline Workers ◽

Preventative Measures ◽

Frontline Healthcare Workers

This narrative review explores the full scope of harmful psychological effects of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease of 2019) pandemic on FLHCWs (Frontline healthcare workers). Additionally, we highlight the risk factors for worse outcomes. A literature review identified 24 relevant papers included in this synthesis. The majority of studies reported a high number of mental health conditions in HCWs (Healthcare workers) overall. Working in the frontline setting was repeatedly identified as an independent risk factor for poorer mental health. Additional risk factors, such as gender, occupational pressure, and low level of support from hospital administration, family, and the community, were also commonly identified. In the past, defined interventions have been shown to mitigate the psychological impact of high-stress situations on frontline workers. This review is aimed at identifying individuals at higher risk to help effectively target preventative measures in future stress situations in our healthcare system.

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Risk and Protective Factors for Psychological Distress in Families Following a Diagnosis of Cleft Lip and/or Palate

The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal ◽

10.1177/1055665619862457 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 57 (1) ◽

pp. 88-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nicola Marie Stock ◽

Bruna Costa ◽

Paul White ◽

Nichola Rumsey

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Large Scale ◽

Cleft Lip ◽

Psychological Intervention ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Birth Cohort Study

Objectives: Despite the potential psychological impact of a diagnosis of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) on parents, few large-scale studies currently exist. Utilizing data extracted from The Cleft Collective Birth Cohort Study, the current study aimed to examine the psychological impact of the diagnosis on parent and family functioning and to identify risk and/or protective factors contributing to parental adjustment in order to inform future psychological intervention. Methods: Parent-reported questionnaire data were extracted for 1163 parents (644 mothers and 519 fathers). Outcome measures included the PedsQL-Family Impact Module, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and a condition-specific tool designed by the Psychology Clinical Excellence Network. Results: Overall, findings suggest that parents adjust well to the diagnosis. Factors found to be protective against psychological distress for both mothers and fathers included a positive life orientation, satisfaction with health care, and relationship satisfaction. Close friendships were also protective against depression in mothers. Risk factors for mothers included the presence of a prior mental health condition, and stressful life events during pregnancy. Risk factors for fathers included being older at the time of conception, and recently being absent from work. Conclusions: Findings suggest a need for appropriate psychological screening of both parents following a diagnosis of CL/P and emphasize the importance of coordinated multidisciplinary care for psychological health. Preventative models of intervention to strengthen familial relationships and build resilience require further investigation.

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Psychological distress among Italians during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-020-03027-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maurizio Bonati ◽

Rita Campi ◽

Michele Zanetti ◽

Massimo Cartabia ◽

Francesca Scarpellini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Responder Rate ◽

Preventive Action ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Background Quarantine as a preventive action to reduce people’s exposure to a contagious disease has substantial psychological impact. We aimed to collect information on psychologically distressing experiences of Italians living in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods From 6 to 20 April 2020 participants filled out an online questionnaire. Demographic and physical symptoms data from the prior 14 days of quarantine were collected. Psychological impact of quarantine was assessed by the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI). Results In all, 20,158 participants completed the online survey. Of these, 11,910 (59.1%) were from Lombardy, the region with 37.7% of positive cases identified during the survey period. 30.1% of responders were male. About half (55.9%) of responders were 18–50 years old, 54.3% had a tertiary level of education, 69.5% were workers, 84.1% were living in houses with ≥3 rooms, and 13.7% were living alone. 9.7% had had contact with COVID-19 positive people. Of all responders, 9978 (48.6%) reported a psychological impact, 8897 (43.4%) of whom reported mild or moderate and 1081 (5.2%) severe psychological impact. The multivariate analysis, after adjustments, showed that an increasing CPDI score was associated with gender (female), first-second educational level, being unemployed, living in a ≤2 room house, having had new health problems during the previous 14 days, and not having been out of the house in the previous week. Concerning the type of psychological distress, 2003 responders (9.9%) reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms, 1131 (5.5%) moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, and 802 (3.9%) moderate to severe physical symptoms. A positive correlation was found between responder rate (per 10.000 residents) and positive COVID-19 cases (per 10.000 residents) by region (rs = + 0.83, p = < 0.0001), and between responder rate and region latitude (rs = + 0.91, p = < 0.0001), with a greater response rate in the north. Considering Lombardy Region responders, a negative correlation between CPDI score and distance from place of residence to the red zone (Nembro-Alzano) was found. Higher prevalence of psychological distress was found up to 25 km away from the red zone and, in particular, severe distress up to 15 km. Conclusions Policy makers and mental health professionals should be aware of quarantine’s adverse mental health consequences. Factors influencing the success of quarantine and infection control practices for both disease containment and community recovery should be identified and additional support to vulnerable persons at increased risk of adverse psychological and social consequences of quarantine should be guaranteed.

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Study Protocol for Implementation of An Internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Promoting Mental Health Among Migrant Live-in Caregivers in Canada (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.31211 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kenneth Po-Lun Fung ◽

Mandana Vahabi ◽

Masoomeh Moosapoor ◽

Abdolreza Akbarian ◽

Josephine Pui-Hing Wong

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽

Psychological Intervention ◽

Self Care ◽

Well Being ◽

Virtual Space ◽

Commitment Therapy ◽

Acceptance And Commitment

BACKGROUND Psychological distress, isolation, feeling of powerlessness, and limited social support are realities faced by temporary migrant live–in caregivers in Canada. Furthermore, they experience multiple barriers in accessing mental health services due to their long work hours, limited knowledge about health resources, precarious employment, and immigration status. OBJECTIVE Women Empowerment - Caregiver Acceptance & Resilience E-Learning (WE2CARE) project is a pilot intervention research project that aims to promote mental well being and resiliency of migrant live-in caregivers. The objectives include exploring the effectiveness of this program in: (1) reducing psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress); (2) promoting committed actions of self-care; and (3) building mutual support social networks. Further, participants’ satisfaction with the intervention and their perceived barriers and facilitators to practicing the self-care strategies embedded in WE2CARE will be examined. METHODS Thirty-six live- in caregivers residing in Great Toronto Area (GTA) will be recruited and randomly assigned to intervention and waitlist control groups. The intervention group will receive a 6-week web-based psychosocial intervention that will be based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Standardized self-reported surveys will be administered online pre-, post-, and 6-week post-intervention to assess mental distress (DASS 21), psychological flexibility (AAQ-2), mindfulness (CAMS-R) and Multi-System Model of Resilience (MSMR-I). Two focus groups will be held with a subset of participants to explore their feedback on the utility of the WE2CARE program. RESULTS WE2CARE was funded in January 2019 for a year. The protocol was approved by the research ethics boards of Ryerson University (REB 2019-036) in February 2019, and University of Toronto (RIS37623) in May 2019. Data collection started upon ethics approval and was completed by May 2020. A total of 29 caregivers completed the study and 20 participated in the focus groups. Data analyses are in progress and results will be published in 2021. CONCLUSIONS WE2CARE can be a promising approach in reducing stress, promoting resilience, and providing a virtual space for peer emotional support and collaborative learning among socially isolated and marginalized women. The results of this pilot study will inform the adaptation and utility of online delivery of ACT based psychological intervention in promoting mental health among disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. CLINICALTRIAL None

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Palliative Care Gaps in Providing Psychological Treatment: A Review of the Current State of Research in Multidisciplinary Palliative Care

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® ◽

10.1177/1049909117723860 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 505-510 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Elissa Kozlov ◽

Bahar Niknejad ◽

M. C. Reid

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Intervention Studies ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Psychological Intervention ◽

Psychological Treatment ◽

Future Research ◽

Psychological Outcome ◽

Current State ◽

Care Intervention

Background: Patients with advanced illness often have high rates of psychological symptoms. Many multicomponent palliative care intervention studies have investigated the efficacy of overall symptom reduction; however, little research has focused explicitly on how interventions address psychological symptoms associated with serious illness. Methods: The current study reviewed 59 multicomponent palliative care intervention articles and analyzed the mental health components of palliative care interventions and their outcomes in order to better understand the current state of psychological care in palliative care. Results: The majority of articles (69.5%) did not provide any details regarding the psychological component delivered as part of the palliative care intervention. Most (54.2%) studies did not specify which provider on the team was responsible for providing the psychological intervention. Studies varied regarding the type of outcome measure utilized; multi-symptom assessment scales were used in 54.2% of studies, mental health scales were employed in 25.4%, quality of life and distress scales were used in 16.9%, and no psychological scales were reported in 28.8%. Fewer than half the studies (42.4%) documented a change in a psychological outcome. Discussion and Conclusion: The majority of analyzed studies failed to describe how psychological symptoms were identified and treated, which discipline on the team provided the treatment, and whether psychological symptoms improved as a result of the intervention. Future research evaluating the effects of palliative care interventions on psychological symptoms will benefit from using reliable and valid psychological outcome measures and providing specificity regarding the psychological components of the intervention and who provides it.

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The Relationship between Mental Health, Educational Burnout and Strategies for Coping with Stress among Students. A Cross-Sectional Study of Poland

10.20944/preprints202106.0267.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Piotr Długosz

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Mental Health Disorders ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Coping With Stress ◽

Hierarchical Regression Analysis ◽

Health Disorders

Objective The study aims to investigate the risk factors of bad psychosomatic health among students in quarantine during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method:The survey was conducted on-line, on a sample of 1,978 respondents in Poland. The study was carried out by the end of the summer semester. The questionnaire was designed in a way which allows for the observation of main risk factors which have impact on the students’ mental health. The variance analysis and the hierarchical regression analysis were used to determine the predictors of mental health. Results:The results indicate that average and high levels of psychosomatic disorders were observed among 61% of respondents. The hierarchical regression analysis has revealed that the main factors influencing the level of mental health disorders were educational burnout, satisfaction with life, strategies for coping with stress and gender. As indicated by the respondents, mental health disorders increase in tandem with educational burnout, the application of emotion-focused coping strategies and the lack of satisfaction with one’s life. Moreover, it was observed that female respondents scored higher on the scale of disorders in comparison to males. Conclusions:The results of research indicate that distance education and negative coping strategies are the main risk factors of mental health disorders among students during the pandemic.

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The Psychological Impact of Covid-19 on University Students: Their Expectations of Mental Health Professionals

International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies ◽

10.52380/ijpes.2021.8.4.461 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 1-20

Author(s):

M.Siyabend KAYA ◽

Yavuz KOŞAN

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Psychosocial Support ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Main Effects

The current study focused on exploring the psychological impact of the COVID -19 outbreak on university students and participants' expectations of mental health professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 80 university students aged 18 to 33 years from 19 cities in Turkey. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify important aspects of the students' experiences. According to the results, the main effects of the epidemic COVID -19 on the participants were depression and anxiety. We found that participants used various ways to cope with COVID -19 such as reading books and paying attention to hygiene. Participants also indicated that they perceived some positive situations, such as the value of nature and humanity, the importance of family, and various negative situations, such as mental exhaustion. Finally, participants stressed that they had different expectations regarding psychosocial support and the planning of individual activities by mental health professionals

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Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers in different regions of the world

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.689 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (S1) ◽

pp. S258-S258

Author(s):

Mahfuja Islam ◽

Philip George ◽

Sindhu Sankaran ◽

Janet Leu Su Hui ◽

Tzun Kit

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Assessment ◽

Survey Tool ◽

Frontline Workers ◽

The World ◽

The Impact

AimsThe global health system is facing a serious challenge after the recent outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus infection which was first identified in Wuhan, China in November 2019 and declared as a pandemic in March 2020 by WHO. There is a wide consensus that this pandemic has negative psychosocial consequences as well as unforeseeable provision of mental health care services and just not on physical health alone. The aim of this research study is to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and to identify the sociodemographic variables with the main attributable factors associated with the psychological distress among healthcare workers and suggestions on how to reduce the impact on the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in different regions of the world.MethodWe performed a cross-sectional study from September-November 2020. We used a self-administered survey tool which was distributed electronically to healthcare workers across the globe. The data were stored on an online database with password protected devices where survey responses were restricted to investigators exclusively.Data collected were: 1) Socio-demographic data (age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, religion, role in the healthcare, region of practice); 2) Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) questionnaire which contains 22 standardized items. This is a subjective assessment to score the degree of psychological well-being by focusing on 6 domains: depression; anxiety; positive-well-being; self-control; vitality and general health; 3) Subjective assessment from respondents of the main attributable factors causing psychological distress and suggested methods to help reduce the impact on mental health on health care workers.ResultMajority out of the 217 respondents were from a younger age group; females and married/domestic partnership, mainly from Western Pacific Region, South East Asian and the African Region. More than half the respondents were moderate-severely psychologically distressed and the three main attributable factors causing psychological distress were: fear of family/friends contracting COVID-19 followed by lack of PPE and discomfort caused by wearing PPE for long hours. Respondents suggested that the distress would be reduced if: more resources were provided in hospital; protocols and guidelines were implemented and counselling facilities with recreational activities were available to frontline workers.ConclusionThis study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of healthcare workers and more support or strategies need to come in place to protect frontline workers at the time of crises.

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