Psychosomatic symptoms in patients suffering from morphea

Objective. To study the features of psychosomatic pathology in patients with morphea.Materials and methods. We used the Symptom Check List-90 Revised (SCL-90-R) to assess patterns of phychological signs in 95 patients suffering from morphea. The control group included 30 respondents without the skin pathology.Results. The patients with morphea revealed higher values in the Global Severity Index (GSI), Positive Symptom Distress Index (PSDI), Positive Symptoms Total (PST). The group of the patients with morphea showed higher distress levels according to the somatization, obsessive and compulsive disorders, depression, anxiety scales.Conclusion. Patients with morphea have a wider range of psychosomatic symptoms. The prevalent characteristics of psychosomatic changes are somatization, obsessive and compulsive disorders, depression, anxiety.

Emotional intelligence and anger in adolescents with obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Poor perception, understanding and regulation of emotions often play a key role in the development and maintenance of psychopathological disorders. The aim of this study was to analyze differences in attention, compression, regulation of emotion and anger, taking into account some variables that may influence results (age, anxiety and depression). Participants were 315 adolescents (213 boys and 102 girls) aged between 12 and 18 years old (M= 14.92, SD= 1.98), high (≥ 90th percentile) and low (< percentile 21) ratings in obsessive-compulsive dimension in The Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R; Derogatis, 1975). Statistically significant differences between groups were observed in emotions and anger variables except internal expression of anger and physical expression of anger. Age, anxiety and depression influenced some variables. These findings are relevant for treatment.

Pain, cognition and disability in advanced multiple sclerosis

Objectives In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a relationship between physical disability and pain has been observed. In addition a relationship between physical disability and cognition in MS has been suggested. However, cognitive functions and pain appear not to be correlated in MS patients. Therefore, we examined whether a possible relationship between pain and cognitive functioning may exist, and if so, if such a relationship is mediated by physical disability. Methods Forty-five MS patients with chronic pain, and in an advanced stage of the disease were included. Physical disabilities were assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Episodic memory was assessed by means of the Eight Words test, and Face and Picture Recognition. Executive functions (EF) were examined by Digit Span Backward for working memory, and the Rule Shift Cards and Category Fluency test for cognitive flexibility. Pain Intensity and Pain Affect were assessed by means of visual analogue scales and one verbal pain scale and mood (depression, anxiety) by the Beck Depression Inventory and the Symptom Check List (SCL-90). The research questions were analyzed by means of regression analyses and the Sobel test for mediation. Results A significant relationship was found between Pain Affect and EF, but that relationship was not mediated by physical disabilities (EDSS). In addition, Pain Intensity and EF showed a significant relationship but only in combination with physical disabilities (EDSS). Finally, mood was related to pain affect. Discussion The findings suggest that the lower the EF, exclusively or in combination with more physical disabilities, the more the patient may suffer from pain. Implications The more one is cognitively and physically impaired, the more one might suffer from pain, and, the less one is able to communicate pain. The latter could put MS patients at risk for underdiagnosing and undertreatment of pain.

Kesehatan mental mahasiswa ditinjau dari two continua model: Pengujian multiple analysis of variance

University student’s mental health has to get more attention because they are more vulnerable in suffering psychological problems compared to general population. The aim of this study is to figure out the prevalence of mental health status of students using the two continua model. Mental health symptoms were measured by the MHC-LF that comprised emotional well-being (?= 0,843), psychological well-being (?= 0,807), and social well-being (?= 0,831); whereas psychological distress was identified using the HSCL-25 that measured anxiety (?= 0,910) and depression (?= 0,890). A total of 514 undergraduate students was involved using convenience sampling. The descriptive statistics showed that students are categorised as flourishing 32,10%, moderate mentally healthy 65,95%, and languishing 1,95%. Moreover, the MANOVA test statistics found that there is a significant difference in levels of depression and anxiety between flourishing, moderate mentally healthy and languishing. This study implies that the university should provide the mental health intervention to help students in dealing with psychological distress, and to increase their mental health into flourishing.Keywords: Mental health; Psychological distress; Two continua model; University student. AbstrakIsu kesehatan mental di kalangan mahasiswa perlu mendapat perhatian karena mahasiswa merupakan kelompok populasi yang rentan mengalami masalah psikologis. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan two continua model, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui prevalensi tipe kesehatan mental mahasiswa. Indikator sehat mental diukur melalui kuesioner Mental Health Continuum-Long Form yang terdiri dari 3 skala: emotional well-being (?= 0,843), psychological well-being (?= 0,807), dan social well-being (?= 0,831). Indikator psikopatologis diukur menggunakan skala Hopkins Symptom Check List-25 yang terdiri dari skala kecemasan (?= 0,910) dan skala depresi (?= 0,890). Sebanyak 514 mahasiswa menjadi responden dalam penelitian ini menggunakan teknik sampling convenience. Dengan analisis statistik deskriptif diketahui 32.10% mahasiswa termasuk dalam kategori sehat mental flourishing, 66,95% moderate mentally healthy dan 1,95% languishing. Uji statistik MANOVA menemukan perbedaan tingkat kecemasan dan depresi antara kelompok sehat mental yang berbeda. Implikasi hasil penelitian ini terkait dengan program intervensi kesehatan mental mahasiswa yang bersifat kuratif, protektif, maupun promotif untuk meningkatkan keberfungsian psikologis secara lebih optimal. Kata kunci: Distres psikologis; Mahasiswa; Sehat mental; Two Continua Model

Symptoms Experienced by Women at Home and Self-Care Agency after Breast-Conserving Surgery

This study was conducted to determine the symptoms experienced by women at home and self-care agency after breast-conserving surgery. The study was carried out in a public hospital in Istanbul between January and June 2018. The sample of the study consisted of 65 women. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using Patient Description Form, Symptom Check List and Self-Care Agency Scale during outpatient check-ups in the first and third weeks following discharge. The mean age of the women was 52.68 ± 13.24. Fatigue, weakness, pain and insomnia were mostly experienced symptoms in the first and third weeks after discharge while fever, discharge from the wound area and nausea-vomiting symptoms were the least experienced symptoms in these weeks. It was determined that women had moderate self-care agency in the first and third weeks of discharge. Women who were married and whose income was equal to their expenses had higher self-care agency, and those living alone had lower self-care agency than those living with their spouses and children ( p < 0.05). The self-care agency scores of those who did not have a chronic disease were higher than those with chronic diseases ( p < 0.05). It is found that women with breast-conserving surgery experience symptoms related to the operation in the first and third weeks of discharge. Women’s self care agency was moderate during the follow up period, meaning that these patients should be supported by nurses with regard to self care agency and symptoms experienced at home.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: a comparison between Germany and the UK

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to dramatic social and economic changes in daily life. First studies report an impact on mental health of the general population showing increased levels of anxiety, stress and depression. In this study, we compared the impact of the pandemic on two culturally and economically similar European countries: the UK and Germany. Methods Participants (UK = 241, German = 541) completed an online-survey assessing COVID-19 exposure, impact on financial situation and work, substance and media consumption, mental health using the Symptom-Check-List-27 (SCL-27) and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire. Results We found distinct differences between the two countries. UK responders reported a stronger direct impact on health, financial situation and families. UK responders had higher clinical scores on the SCL-27, and higher prevalence. Interestingly, German responders were less hopeful for an end of the pandemic and more concerned about their life-stability. Conclusion As 25% of both German and UK responders reported a subjective worsening of the general psychological symptoms and 20–50% of German and UK responders reached the clinical cut-off for depressive and dysthymic symptoms as well as anxieties, it specifically shows the need for tailored intervention systems to support large proportions of the general public.

Psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on doctors’ children: are we heading towards a mental health pandemic?

Background The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) may affect the behavior of children. Non infected children of doctors seem to be susceptible to psychosocial health disorders. Objective To assess the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children of doctors. Methods This questionnaire-based survey filled up by doctors was done with the Pediatric Symptom Check List-17 (PSC-17) to assess the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on doctors’ children aged 10-15 years with no clinical evidence of being infected with coronavirus and possible contributing factors to mental distress/psychosocial health disorders. A PSC -17 Score of ≥15 was considered as a significant indicator of suspected psychosocial impact. Results Children’s mean age was 12.5 (SD 1.9) years, and 53.8% of them were male. Of 357 questionnaire responses, 36.1% had a significant PSC-17 score (>15) and a small, but significant inverse correlation was observed with age (r=-0.147; P=0.005). More screen time than usual was perceived by doctors to be the most common potential contributing factor (63%) to their children’s psychosocial impact. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to leave lasting effects on children’s mental health. Parents should closely monitor children for any changes in psychosocial behavior, so that timely intervention can be considered. Psychosocial screening of children is needed and should be conducted at schools.

Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Young-Rygh Avoidance Inventory

Coping styles such as overcompensation and avoidance are attempts that developed as survival mechanisms in difficult childhood environments. The objective of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Young-Rygh Avoidance Inventory (YRAI). The sample (n = 1,555) randomly split into two groups to run principal component and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). A parallel analysis was run to determine the factor number. CFA was carried out with maximum likelihood estimation robust method. Eight factors with 30 items were the final form of the Turkish YRAI. Cronbach alpha levels of each factor and inter-correlations with the Turkish Young Schema Questionnaire, Symptom Check List-90 revised, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were calculated. Internal consistency analysis revealed acceptable coefficients. As to convergent validity, the correlational analysis showed statistically significant coefficients. Overall, the Turkish YRAI was found to have acceptable levels of reliability and validity.

Should we screen patients' relatives for psychological status, signs and symptoms in the emergency department? A cross-sectional survey using the Symptom Check List (SCL-90)

Objectives: The objectives were to investigate psychological symptoms in patients’ relatives (PR), coming into the ED with their patient and to evaluate the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and psychological symptom scores. Methods: PR in the ED of Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine aged 18 years and older were included into the study. Symptom Check List- Revised (SCL-90-R) was administered to 120 PR and sociodemographic characteristics of all were recorded. Results: The majority of the PR were female (n = 66, 55%), graduate of high school (n = 46, 38.3%) and self-employed (n = 22, 18.3%). The highest mean score on SCL-90-R was found on obsessive-compulsive disorder and the lowest scores were found on phobic anxiety. The mean score was higher than 1.0 on obsessive-compulsive disorder, somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression and paranoid ideation. There was no correlation between education level, duration of hospitalization and SCL-90 scores. Mean general, somatization, obsessive-compulsive and depression scores of females were found to be significantly higher than of males. Conclusion: High scores in psychological symptoms were observed in PR in the ED. Therefore, besides assessment of the psychological status of patients; it is recommended that PR should be evaluated carefully in this regard and given necessary psychosocial support in the emergency setting.