Evaluation of Mental Health Status of the Pregnant Women Working in Hospitals During Covid-19 Era

Background Women represent the majority of the healthcare workforce and many of these women are probably pregnant and working at the front-line during COVID-19 outbreak. In COVID-19 crisis healthcare workers experienced excessive issues and challenges that made them vulnerable for getting various mental health disorders. We aimed to evaluate the mental health state among pregnant health care workers in COVID-19 era. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 64 pregnant clinical residents, general physicians, nurses and other medical staff who worked in the hospitals in Iran, from August 2020 to December 2020 using an anonymous online survey available on Google Form platform. The online survey consisted of socio demographic questions, pregnancy-related questions, and some questions about medical/drug history, The Persian versions of General Health Questionnaire – 28 (GHQ-28), and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS) were also fulfilled by the participants.ResultsThe mean age and gestational age of participants were 31.3±3.9 years, and 24.5±10.1 weeks. Psychological problems were moderate (total score GHQ-28> 40) in 9.4% (n:6) of the pregnant health care workers (PHCW). The frequency of moderate/severe problems in the four subclasses, including somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression were 9(14.1%), 25(39.0%), 7(10.9%), and 10(15.6%), respectively. According to CDAS, 26.5% of participants had moderate to severe COVID-19 related anxiety. COVID-19 related anxiety and its subclasses, physical and psychological, were significantly correlated with GHQ-28 total score and its subclasses, including somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression among pregnant health care workers (P<0.01).ConclusionAccording to the results of the current study, over 25% of the pregnant health care workers have moderate to severe COVID-19 related anxiety; so it is crucial for policymakers to focus on the mental health of the pregnant health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic. This study has major implications on health care practice. Further studies are needed to draw a clear picture of mental health problems among PHCW.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Role of Coping Humor and Internal Health Locus of Control on Social Dysfunction and Anxiety & Depression

The concerns about the impact of social distancing on mental health have been widely discussed. This study aimed to know the predictive effect of coping humor and Internal Health Locus of Control (Internal HLoC) on social dysfunction and anxiety & depression during the implementation of the COVID-19 social distancing agenda. This study was also intended to assess the effect of humor content on coping humor. A quantitative approach was used as the method ofthe study with 243 online-recruited participants, and PLS-SEM analysis was applied to find out the predictive effect in this study. The results and conclusions showed that anxiety & depression predict social dysfunction (β = 0.584, t-value = 11.93, f2 = 0.563). It was found that coping humor was able to directly increase the Internal HLoC (β = 0.187, t-value = 2.60, f2 = 0.036) and indirectly decrease social dysfunction (β = -0.144, t-value = 2.85) and anxiety & depression (β = -0.070, t-value = 2.42). Humor content unrelated to the issue of COVID-19 directly increase the coping-humor level (β = 0.266, t-value = 4.13,f2= 0.076), and indirectly increase Internal HLoC (β = 0.050, t-value = 2.07), and decrease anxiety & depression level (β = -0.046, t-value = 2.20). On the other hand, Internal HLoC directly decrease levels of social dysfunction (β = -0.233, t-value = 4.126, f2 = 0.089) and anxiety & depression (β = -0.373, t-value= 7.84, f2 = 0.161).

Social Dysfunction in Psychosis Is More Than a Matter of Misperception: Advances From the Study of Metacognition

Many with psychosis experience substantial difficulties forming and maintaining social bonds leading to persistent social alienation and a lack of a sense of membership in a larger community. While it is clear that social impairments in psychosis cannot be fully explained by symptoms or other traditional features of psychosis, the antecedents of disturbances in social function remain poorly understood. One recent model has proposed that deficits in social cognition may be a root cause of social dysfunction. In this model social relationships become untenable among persons diagnosed with psychosis when deficits in social cognition result in inaccurate ideas of what others feel, think or desire. While there is evidence to support the influence of social cognition upon social function, there are substantial limitations to this point of view. Many with psychosis have social impairments but not significant deficits in social cognition. First person and clinical accounts of the phenomenology of psychosis also do not suggest that persons with psychosis commonly experience making mistakes when trying to understand others. They report instead that intersubjectivity, or the formation of an intimate shared understanding of thoughts and emotions with others, has become extraordinarily difficult. In this paper we explore how research in metacognition in psychosis can transcend these limitations and address some of the ways in which intersubjectivity and more broadly social function is compromised in psychosis. Specifically, research will be reviewed on the relationship between social cognitive abilities and social function in psychosis, including measurement strategies and limits to its explanatory power, in particular with regard to challenges to intersubjectivity. Next, we present research on the integrated model of metacognition in psychosis and its relation to social function. We then discuss how this model might go beyond social cognitive models of social dysfunction in psychosis by describing how compromises in intersubjectivity occur as metacognitive deficits leave persons without an integrated sense of others' purposes, relative positions in the world, possibilities and personal complexities. We suggest that while social cognitive deficits may leave persons with inaccurate ideas about others, metacognitive deficits leave persons ill equipped to make broader sense of the situations in which people interact and this is what leaves them without a holistic sense of the other and what makes it difficult to know others, share experiences, and sustain relationships. The potential of developing clinical interventions focused on metacognition for promoting social recovery will finally be explored.

MDMA-Assisted Therapy as a Means to Alter Affective, Cognitive, Behavioral, and Neurological Systems Underlying Social Dysfunction in Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent and often debilitating psychiatric disorder that can assume a chronic course even when treated. Despite the identification of evidence-based pharmacological and behavioral treatments for SAD, much room for improved outcomes exists and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been proposed as a promising adjunctive treatment to psychological interventions for disorders characterized by social dysfunction. A small randomized, placebo-controlled trial of MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for social anxiety in autistic adults offered encouraging results, but more research is sorely needed to explore the potential for MDMA-AT in treating SAD. This review aims to stimulate future study by summarizing research on disruptions in neurological, perceptual, receptive, and expressive systems regulating social behavior in SAD and proposing how MDMA-AT may alter these systems across four domains. First, we review research highlighting the roles of social anhedonia and reduced social reward sensitivity in maintaining SAD, with specific attention to the reduction in positive affect in social situations, infrequent social approach behaviors, and related social skills deficits. We posit that MDMA-AT may enhance motivation to connect with others and alter perceptions of social reward for an extended period following administration, thereby potentiating extinction processes, and increasing the reinforcement value of social interactions. Second, we review evidence for the central role of heightened social evaluative threat perception in the development and maintenance of SAD and consider how MDMA-AT may enhance experiences of affiliation and safety when interacting with others. Third, we consider the influence of shame and the rigid application of shame regulation strategies as important intrapersonal processes maintaining SAD and propose the generation of self-transcendent emotions during MDMA sessions as a mechanism of shame reduction that may result in corrective emotional experiences and boost memory reconsolidation. Finally, we review research on the role of dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors in SAD that interfere with social functioning and, in particular, the development and maintenance of close and secure relationships. We discuss the hypothesized role of MDMA-AT in improving social skills to elicit positive interpersonal responses from others, creating a greater sense of belonging, acceptance, and social efficacy.

Associated Factors of Marital Satisfaction in Iranian Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population-Based Study

Objective: The increasing prevalence of COVID-19 in Iran has increased the risk for anxiety and stress in families. Due to the significance of the impact of family health on the society’s mental health and the fundamental role of marital relationships, which is an indicator of marital satisfaction, this study was conducted to investigate associated factors of marital satisfaction in Iranian women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This online cross-sectional study was carried out to assess associated factors of marital satisfaction in Iranian women during the COVID-19 pandemic from April 1 to April 20, 2020. The study sample consisted of 317 married women of childbearing age eligible to enter the study. Data were collected using a socio-demographic and obstetric questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index, the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 22. Results: A total of 317 married women participated in the study. The average age of the participants was 31.85 ± 6.94 years. Based on the multiple linear regression model, only five variables, including sexual satisfaction (B = 2.414, P < 0.001), physical symptoms (B = 0.245, P = 0.045), anxiety and insomnia (B = -0.319, P = 0.002), social dysfunction (B = 0.265, P = 0.003), and depression (B = -0.441, P < 0.001), could significantly predict marital satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Sexual satisfaction, physical symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression can significantly affect marital satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, planning to identify these factors and provide the appropriate strategy can increase marital satisfaction in times of crisis.

Does Exercise Affect Mental Health? (Study Sample: Athlete and Non-Athlete)

Aim: Promoting health and ensuring health in the community is one of the important pillars of the development of societies and it seems that important factors play a role in promoting the mental health of the community. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of exercise on mental health. Methodology: This study was a causal-comparative research that has been conducted through field method. The statistical population of this study was all students in Tarbiat Modares University that its non-athlete population was 6032 and its athlete population was 298. 680 non-athlete students and 204 athlete students were selected as Morgan’s table. The instrument of this study was included General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The collected data were analyzed by Kruskal Wallis Test and Mann-Whitney U test. Findings: The results showed that there was a significant difference between male and female athlete students and between female athlete and non-athlete students in social dysfunction subscale, so that female athlete students’ social function had a better position in both groups. On the other hand, the difference between non-athlete female and male students was not significant in any of the subscales, but the difference between male athlete and non-athlete students was significant in all subscale of mental health. Other results of this study showed that there was a significant difference between married and single students’ mental health (p <0.05), so that married students had higher mental health than single students in somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, and depression subscales. Conclusion: Therefore, the increasing of motivation should be considered through the culture building and the promotion of general knowledge about the benefits of physical activity.

Self-reported psychological problems and coping strategies: a web-based study in Peruvian population during COVID-19 pandemic

Background The Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted health systems across the world and led to major shifts in individual behavior by forcing people into isolation in home settings. Its rapid spread has overwhelmed populations in all corners of Latin-American countries resulting in individual psychological reactions that may aggravate the health crisis. This study reports on demographics, self-reported psychological disturbances and associated coping styles during the COVID-19 pandemic for the Peruvian population. Methods This cross-sectional study uses an online survey with snowball sampling that was conducted after the state of emergency was declared in Perú (on April 2nd). The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used to identify somatic symptoms, incidence of anxiety/ insomnia, social dysfunction and depression and the Coping Strategy Questionnaire (COPE-28) mapped personal strategies to address recent stress. Results 434 self-selected participants ranging in age from 18 to 68 years old (Mean age = 33.87) completed the survey. The majority of participants were women (61.30%), aged between 18 and 28 (41.70%), well-educated (> = 85.00%), Peruvian (94.20%), employed (57.40%) and single (71.20%). 40.8% reported psychological distress, expressing fear of coronavirus infection (71.43%). Regression analysis shows that men had lower somatic-related symptom (β = − 1.87, 95%, CI: − 2.75 to −.99) and anxiety/insomnia symptom (β = − 1.91, 95% CI: − 2.98 to 0.84) compared to women. The risk for depression and social dysfunction are less likely with increasing age. Educational status was protective against developing psychological conditions (p < 0.05). While active responses (acceptance and social support) are scarcely used by individuals with psychological distress; passive strategies (such as denial, self-distraction, self-blame, disconnection, and venting) are more commonly reported. Conclusion This study provides a better understanding of the psychological health impact occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic on the Peruvian population. About half of the respondents reported psychological distress and poor coping responses. This evidence informs the need for broader promotional health policies focused on strengthening individual’s active strategies aiming at improving emotional health and preventing psychiatric conditions, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.