The Association between Social Integration, Coping Mechanisms and Anxiety in Patients with Non-Communicable Diseases

Recently, mental health issue and chronic physical condition are substantially linked and this comorbidity is likely to increase.Patient focusing in the self-care activities is an important component in the mechanism of coping with chronic disease with a significant impact on clinical and psychological outcomes. In this context, the current study is conducted to assess the impact of self-care and social integration mechanisms on anxiety levels among patients with chronic non-communicable diseases.This observational study of cross-sectional design was performed in the pathology service of Fier city hospital, in Albania during August-September 2020. To assess the level of anxiety, we used the scale of 7 items of General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) with a score of ≥10 indicating GAD. Subscales of the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) were used in order to evaluate social integration and self-care mechanism. The data were entered into the statistical program SPSS, version 23. The regression analysis is performedto examine the relationship between variables. The findings revealed that 56% of participants had GAD, 47% of participants were unable to self-monitor the disease, while 89% of them didnot performe any type of physical activity. The scale of anxiety was significantly associated with variables of Self–monitoring (p=0.000<0.05; OR=0.10) and Social integration (p=0.000<0.05; OR=21.4). These findings address the need to support peoplewho struggle with chronic non-communicable diseases developing adaptive ways to deal with their chronic condition and improve their lifestyle for better overall health.

Lifetime use of MDMA/ecstasy and psilocybin is associated with reduced odds of major depressive episodes

Background: Depression is a major mental health issue worldwide, with high rates of chronicity and non-recovery associated with the condition. Existing treatments such as antidepressant medication and psychological treatments have modest effectiveness, suggesting the need for alternative interventions. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine)/ecstasy and psilocybin use and major depressive episodes (MDEs). Methods: This observational study used data from a large ( N = 213,437) nationally representative sample of US adults to test the association of lifetime use of MDMA/ecstasy, psilocybin and other classic psychedelics (lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), peyote, mescaline), other illegal substances (e.g. cocaine, phencyclidine (PCP)), and legal/medicinal substances of misuse (e.g. pain relievers, tranquilizers) with lifetime, past year, and past year severe MDEs. Results: Results revealed that lifetime MDMA/ecstasy use was associated with significantly lowered odds of a lifetime MDE (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.84; p < 0.001), past year MDE (aOR = 0.84; p < 0.001), and past year severe MDE (aOR = 0.82; p < 0.001). Psilocybin was associated with significantly lowered odds of a past year MDE (aOR = 0.90; p < 0.05) and past year severe MDE (aOR = 0.87; p < 0.05). All other substances either shared no relationship with a MDE or conferred increased odds of an MDE. Conclusions: These results suggest that MDMA/ecstasy and psilocybin use is associated with lower risk of depression. Experimental studies are needed to test whether there is a causal association between use of these compounds and the alleviation of depressive symptoms.

Association of Diabetes Complications With Depression and Suicidality in Hospitalized Patients: a Multicenter Cross-sectional Study

Background: Diabetes mellitus and depression are both considered the most prevalent diseases of the recent century. On the other hand, it is estimated that the rate of depression is nearly doubled in diabetic patients compared with the general population.Method: A total of 89 patients, who were admitted to the hospital because of the complications of the disease, were voluntarily and conveniently participated in the study. The participants were given the questionnaires of Beck Depression Inventory-2nd-edition and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. They were divided into two age groups: 18-50 years old and 50-75 years old. Control group, consisting of 89 individuals without any underlying disease, were randomly selected from the patients’ visitors, matched with the participants according to the age group and gender. Statistical analysis was performed between the two groups based on scores obtained. Results: Beck Depression Inventory Scale score was significantly higher, regardless of age, in the patient group compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the scores of Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation between the patient group and the control group. In the patient group, it was found that among the variables, female gender, and diabetic foot were associated with higher severity of depression symptoms. Conclusion: It is vitally essential for diabetic patients to undergo periodic psychiatric evaluation. Early diagnosis of depression could help them to better cope with their mental health issue, and as a result, it will decrease risk of suicidal ideation and other consequences.

Hubungan Penggunaan Platform Instagram dengan Masalah Kesehatan Mental Remaja

The instagram platform is one of the most used social media by adolescents nowadays. The number of active Instagram users is also followed by several side effects such as addiction to cyber bullying. In this case, it certainly raises questions regarding the correlation between the use of Instagram platform and mental health issues in adolescents. Thus, this study aims to see whether there is a correlation between the use of Instagram platform and mental health issues in adolescents. The literature search used two database, Google Scholar and Springelink with eleven keywords including “mental health”, “use of instagram”, “adolescent”, “teenager”, “juvenile”, “kesehatan mental”, “penggunaan Instagram”, “Instagram”, “remaja”, “pemuda”, and “taruna”. There were 1253 articles found and selected using Prisma. The assessment of the quality of articles used Strobe checklist and assessment tool Risk of Bias Instrument for Cross-Sectional Surveys of Attitudes And Practices. The result of the assessment was that there were fourteen articles could be reviewed. The findings of this study show that there was no correlation between the use of Instagram platform and mental health issue in adolescents. However, the use of a problematic Instagram platform had a correlation with the mental health issue in adolescents. The correlation between the two could be in the form of direct relationship and indirect relationship. Abstrak: Platform Instagram merupakan salah satu sosial media yang paling banyak digunakan oleh remaja saat ini. Banyaknya pengguna Instagram yang aktif juga diikuti oleh beberapa efek samping, seperti kecanduan hingga perilaku cyber bullying yang marak terjadi. Hal ini tentu menimbulkan pertanyaan mengenai hubungan penggunaan platform Instagram dengan masalah kesehatan mental pada remaja. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat apakah terdapat hubungan antara penggunaan platform Instagram dengan masalah kesehatan mental pada remaja. Sementara pencarian literatur menggunakan dua database, yaitu Google Scholar dan Springerlink dengan menggunakan sebelas kata kunci yang meliputi “mental health”, “use of instagram”, “adolescent”, “teenager”, “juvenile”, “kesehatan mental”, “penggunaan Instagram”, “Instagram”, “remaja”, “pemuda”, dan “taruna”. Terdapat 1253 artikel yang ditemukan dan diseleksi menggunakan diagram PRISMA. Penilaian kualitas artikel menggunakan checklist Strobe dan assessment tool Risk of Bias Instrument for Cross-Sectional Surveys of Attitudes and Practices. Hingga akhirnya terdapat empat belas artikel yang ditinjau. Hasil dari studi ini menunjukkan bahwa tidak ada hubungan antara penggunaan platform Instagram oleh remaja pada masalah kesehatan mental. Namun, penggunaan platform Instagram yang bermasalah (Problematic Instagram Use) memiliki hubungan dengan masalah kesehatan mental pada remaja. Hubungan antara keduanya dapat berupa hubungan langsung dan hubungan tak langsung.

A novel mouse model of postpartum depression using emotional stress as evaluated by nesting behavior

Postpartum depression is an important mental health issue not only for the mother but also for the child’s development, other family members, and the society. An appropriate animal model is desired to elucidate the pathogenesis of postpartum depression. However, methods for stress loading during pregnancy have not been established. Behavioral experiments to investigate postpartum depression-like behaviors should be conducted without stress because behavioral tests affect rearing behaviors such as lactation. Therefore, we developed a new mouse model of postpartum depression using a psychological stress method. Mating partners were made to witness their partners experiencing social defeat stress and then listen to their cries. Emotional stress loading during pregnancy significantly increased postpartum depression-like behaviors. Postpartum depression also affected nurturing behaviors and caused disturbances in pup care. Furthermore, nesting behavior was impaired in the stressed group, suggesting that the observation of nesting behavior may be useful for assessing social dysfunction in postpartum depression. These results demonstrate the utility of this new mouse model of postpartum depression.

18-Item Version of the Short Gambling Harm Screen (SGHS-18): Validation of Screen for Assessing Gambling-Related Harm among Finnish Population

Background and aims: It is common for gambling research to focus on problem and disordered gambling. Less is known about the prevalence of gambling-related harms among people in the general population. This study aimed to develop and validate the 18-item version of the Short Gambling Harms Screen (SGHS-18). Methods: Population-representative web-based and postal surveys were conducted in the three geographical areas of Finland (n = 7186, aged 18 or older). Reliability and internal structure of SGHS-18 was assessed using coefficient omega and via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Four measurement models of SGHS-18 were compared: one-factor, six-factor, a second-ordered factor model and a bifactor model (M4). Results: The analysis revealed that only the bifactor model had adequate fit for SGHS-18 (CFI = 0.953, TLI = 0.930, GFI = 0.974, RMSEA = 0.047, SRMR = 0.027). The general factor explained most of the common variance compared to specific factors. Coefficient omega hierarchical value for global gambling harm factor (0.80) was high, which suggested that SGHS-18 assessed the combination of general harm constructs sufficiently. The correlation with the Problem and Pathological Gambling Measures (PPGM) was 0.44, potentially reflecting that gambling harms are closely—although not perfectly—aligned with the mental health issue of problem gambling. SGHS-18 scores were substantially higher for participants who gambled more often, who spent more money or who had gambling problems, demonstrating convergent validity for the screen. Discussion: The SGHS-18 comprehensively measures the domains of gambling harm, while demonstrating desirable properties of internal consistency, and criterion and convergent validity.

‘Swinging the lead and working the head’ – An explanation as to why mental illness stigma is prevalent in policing

Policing can be injurious to the mental health of those delivering the service. The causes can be operational, organisational or a mixture of both. Mental health related stigma is prevalent within policing; thus, help seeking is avoided. Those who do seek help are often thought to be malingerers. Managers are considered to be ill equipped to identify and support those at risk. The processes and policies that are meant to support recovery do not meet the needs of the officers and staff living and working with mental ill health. Consequently, disclosing a mental health issue is seen as career destroying.

Medical Student Syndrome in Dental Students

Aim: To identify the presence of Medical Student Syndrome in dental students of Lahore compared to non-dental students Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore (Aug 2019 to Nov 2020). A structured questionnaire was adopted, modified and distributed amongst university going dental and non-dental students of various universities in Lahore. The sample selection was done using the cluster and consecutive sampling technique. Results: When asked about worrying too much about being seriously ill, 158(56.8%) of the respondents agreed with the statement. Similarly, when asked about being aware of the sensations occurring in the body, 211(75.8%) participants stated that they were aware of the sensations and critically analyzed them. Amongst the students, 149(53.6%) agreed with the statement that they frequently checked their bodies for signs and symptoms of disease only 62(22.3%) disagreed with the statement and the rest were neutral. Conclusion: To conclude, the Medical Student Syndrome as a separate entity amongst dental students cannot be established as a mental health issue based on the results of this study. However, the presence of hypochondriac behavior amongst the students’ needs to be further evaluated in Lahore. Keywords: Non-dental students, Dental Students, Medical Student Syndrome, Mental Health

Policymakers’ perspectives on responding to the elderly’s mental health needs in post-disaster situations

Background: Mental health issues following the occurrence of disaster remain neglected area especially for older people group. The purpose of this study was to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on post-disaster management related to the elderly’s mental health needs.Design and Methods: This qualitative case study was conducted between June and October 2020. The investigators conducted in-depth interviews with policymakers who were in charge of disaster management at national, provincial, and regional levels. The policymakers were selected through purposive sampling. A policy analysis was conducted by the investigators to answer the research question.Results: The results were presented based on actor, content, context, and process. The actors engage in intersectoral collaboration between disaster agencies, health agencies, and social agencies. The content is largely comprehensive; however, the disaster management policy should not neglect to address mental health conditions after a disaster event. The context is the vulnerability and risk of the elderly in terms of experiencing physical and mental issues after a disaster, which should be considered by policymakers in Indonesia. The process is the development of disaster management policies, which are influenced by cultural, economic, political, and international factors.Conclusion: This study reveals that stakeholders need to pay attention to the mental health issue of elderly in national and regional policy, particularly during post-disaster situations. In addition, posttraumatic stress in post-disaster situations should be highlighted in order to formulate a better aged care policy.

Assessment Of Occupational Burnout And Its Correlates Among Medical Doctors in Nepal during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: The current COVID-19 pandemic has increased emotional and physical toll on healthcare workers. The burnout among doctors could be another psychological outcome due to this. Considering the dearth of literature we planned this study with an aim to explore burnout and its correlates among medical doctors of Nepal. Material And Method: An online survey using a cross-sectional design and purposive sampling was conducted during the lock-down due to COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. The tools used were basic proforma, Copenhagen Burn out Inventory (CBI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis (bivariate analysis followed by multiple linear regression) was performed with an objective to study prevalence of burnout and its correlates among the medical doctors. Results: The average age of participants was 30.44 years with the majority being male. All the study participants reported moderate to severe level of perceived stress. Around half of them reported moderate to high burnout. The multiple linear regression analyses showed that perceived stress, and working in surgical department were significant correlates for personal and work-related burnout among medical doctors. Additionally, being front-line worker was a significant correlate for client-related burnout. Conclusion: The burden and severity of burnout and perceived stress reported by the medical doctors during COVID-19 pandemic in the present study, suggests it to be an important mental health issue in Nepal. Suitable interventions for targeting this urgent issue of effectively reducing the burnout are warranted.