Risk-Targeted Behavioral Activation for the Management of Work-Disability Associated with Co-Morbid Pain and Depression: A Feasibility Study

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation the feasibility and impact of a risk-targeted behavioral activation intervention for work-disabled individuals with co-morbid pain and depression. Methods The design of the study was a single arm non-randomized trial. The sample consisted of 66 work-disabled individuals with co-morbid pain and depression. The treatment program consisted of a 10-week standardized behavioral activation intervention supplemented by techniques to target two psychosocial risk-factors for delayed recovery, namely, catastrophic thinking and perceptions of injustice. Measures of pain severity, depression, catastrophic thinking, perceived injustice and self-reported disability were completed pre-, mid-, and post-treatment. Satisfaction with treatment was assessed at post-treatment. Return to work was assessed at 6-month follow-up. Results The drop-out rate was 18%. At treatment termination, 91% of participants indicated that they were ‘very’ or ‘completely’ satisfied with their involvement in the treatment program. Significant reductions in pain (d = .71), depression (d = .86), catastrophic thinking (d = 1.1) and perceived injustice (d = 1.0) were observed through the course of treatment. In multivariate analyses, treatment-related reductions in depression, catastrophic thinking, perceived injustice, but not pain, contributed significant unique variance to the prediction of return-to-work outcomes. Conclusions Risk-targeted behavioral activation was found to be an acceptable and effective intervention for work-disabled individuals with co-morbid pain and depression. The findings suggest that interventions targeting psychosocial risk factors for pain and depression might contribute to more positive recovery outcomes in work-disabled individuals with co-morbid pain and depression.

NOM-035-STPS-2018

Looking at the structure of NOM-035-STPS-2018, there is an assumption that there are areas of opportunity to improve the implementation of the standard. Thus, the purpose of this research is to identify through a review whether there are areas of opportunity that can improve the implementation of NOM-035. For the review, articles addressing the psychosocial risk factors evaluation were selected and analyzed. Four topics of discussion were identified: impact of psychosocial risk factors, policy and regulations, management systems, and evaluation of psychosocial risk factors. Subsequently, a synthesis was made, and it was found that there are three areas of opportunity to improve NOM-035-STPS-2018: it does not have a risk management system, its instruments do not present evidence of statistical validity, and the instruments do not take into account indicators of consequence.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN COVID-19 PCR POSITIVE PATIENTS; ITS FREQUENCY AND PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED IN ENT AND NEUROLOGY OUTPATIENT’S CLINICS

Objective: To find out the occurrence and psychosocial risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder in COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive patients presented to ENT and neurology clinics of a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Creek General Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from Sep to Dec 2020. Methodology: Total 60 patients with positive COVID-19 PCR test were included. After taking written and informed consent, they were evaluated using a semi-structured questionnaire. Questionnaire comprises of four main parts; first part includes demographic data, second part includes information about the course of COVID-19 in patient and other members of family, third part comprised of reasons of anxiety during COVID-19 and fourth part consist of Impact of Event Scale-revised (IES-R). Data was entered and analyzed through SPSS-23. Results: Out of total 60 patients, 36 (60%) had post COVID stress disorder. Females were affected more than the males (63% vs. 57%), above 50 years of age were affected more than below 50 years of age (81% vs 52%), singles were affected more than married (72% vs 38%) and lower socio-economic status were affected more than higher (65% vs 50%). Conclusion: PTSD was observed as long-term psychiatric problem leading to significant morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Psychosocial risk factors in cardiac practice

<p>Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of death in Russia. Apart from conventional modified risk factors, population health, including CVD progression and related death, is influenced by psychosocial risk factors (PS RF). In theory, the role of PS RF can be explained by the significant changes in death rates within the Russian population during social and economic alterations. However, the significance of primary CVD RF has remained unchanged since the Soviet times. Nonetheless, PS RF does not receive much attention in our country. Thus, the current review aimed to introduce specialists focusing primarily on PS RF, such as low socioeconomic status, social isolation and low levels of social support, depressive disorders and personality traits (hostility and type D personality), which are now undoubtedly closely associated with unfavourable prognosis in patients with CVD. This summary also discusses the main pathophysiological mechanisms that may facilitate the progression of CVD, which include the activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, sympathoadrenal system with increased cardiovascular reactivity, endothelial function, inflammatory markers, platelets, coagulation factors, fibrinogen and lifestyle-associated factors. Thus, PS RF have considerable practical significance, not only for individual risk estimation but also in primary and secondary interventions for the prevention of CVD.</p><p>Received 4 May 2021. Revised 6 June 2021. Accepted 11 June 2021.</p><p><strong>Funding:</strong> The study did not have sponsorship.</p><p><strong>Conflict of interest: </strong>Authors declare no conflict of interest.</p><p><strong>Contribution of the authors: </strong>The authors contributed equally to this article.</p>

Psychosocial Risk Factors for Overuse Injuries in Competitive Athletes: A Mixed-Studies Systematic Review

Background While the psychosocial risk factors for traumatic injuries have been comprehensively investigated, less is known about psychosocial factors predisposing athletes to overuse injuries. Objective The aim of this review was to systematically identify studies and synthesise data that examined psychosocial risk factors for overuse injuries in athletes. Design Systematic review. Data Sources MEDLINE, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases, supplemented by hand searching of journals and reference lists. Eligibility Criteria for Selecting Studies Quantitative and qualitative studies involving competitive athletes, published prior to July 2021, and reporting the relationship between psychosocial variables and overuse injury as an outcome were reviewed. This was limited to academic peer-reviewed journals in Swedish, English, German, Spanish and French. An assessment of the risk of bias was performed using modified versions of the RoBANS and SBU Quality Assessment Scale for Qualitative Studies. Results Nine quantitative and five qualitative studies evaluating 1061 athletes and 27 psychosocial factors were included for review. Intra-personal factors, inter-personal factors and sociocultural factors were found to be related to the risk of overuse injury when synthesised and reported according to a narrative synthesis approach. Importantly, these psychosocial factors, and the potential mechanisms describing how they might contribute to overuse injury development, appeared to be different compared with those already known for traumatic injuries. Conclusions There is preliminary evidence that overuse injuries are likely to partially result from complex interactions between psychosocial factors. Coaches and supporting staff are encouraged to acknowledge the similarities and differences between traumatic and overuse injury aetiology.

Psychosocial Risk Factors of Quality of Life Outcomes Among Older Adults Living With HIV

Antiretroviral therapy, higher education, and HIV disclosure have been linked to improved quality of life (QoL) among people living with HIV. However, research examining psychosocial risk factors of QoL among older adults living with HIV (OALH) is lacking. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to examine the psychosocial risk factors of QoL among OALH. Data were obtained from 156 adults aged 50 and older living with HIV in South Carolina. Multivariable regression models adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics were used to determine the association between psychosocial risk factors and QoL domains among OALH. Stigma was associated with the physical (β=0.058, p=0.023), social (β=-0.149, p=0.006), and spiritual (β=0.124, p=&lt;0.001) domains. Resilience was associated with the psychological (β=0.206, p=&lt;0.001), independence (β=0.100, p=0.010), social (β=0.166, p=0.004), and environmental (β=0.312 p=&lt;0.001) domains. Depression and experiencing trauma were also associated with varying QoL domains. Findings may inform interventions geared towards improving QoL among OALH.