Experience Of Depression Research Articles

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN LONGITUDINAL CURRICULUM OF MEDICAL COLLEGE

Objective: Medical education is long and stressful due to academic demands, frequent examinations, excessive workload, chronic exposure to human suffering and death and vast extensive syllabus, and increased psychological pressure due to multiple reasons, all of which can cause burnout, leading to mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate medical students of Rama Medical College, Kanpur, and its correlation with year of medical education. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by providing self-administered questionnaire containing sociodemographic datasheet and depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS 42). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and the prevalence of academic burnout using SPSS. The association of academic burnout with academic year was determined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The data were also analyzed using analysis of variance. Results: Using DASS 42, it was found that 11.8%, 16.8%, and 19% experienced mild, moderate, and severe depression, respectively. 32.5% had mild and 16.6% had moderate anxiety. 17.9%, 22.1%, 9.0%, and 2.0% of students experienced mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe stress, respectively. The percentages of students experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress increased as the academic year progressed. Conclusion: High prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was found among undergraduate medical students. One out of every three students is found to be depressed and about half of the students were reported experiencing anxiety and stress. A clear progression of depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout was observed as the academic year progressed.

Menstruation experiences and its association with psychological distress among school-going adolescent girls of Nepal: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between menstruation-related attributes and mental distress in adolescent girls. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Rangeli Municipality, Nepal, among 270 adolescent girls. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated at a 5% level of significance to identify factors associated with depression, anxiety and stress. Of 270 adolescent girls, 28.9% (95% CI: 23.5%-35.2%) experienced anxiety, 14.4% (95% CI: 10.0%-18.5%) experienced stress and 32.2% (95% CI: 26.6%-37.4%) experienced depression. Low perceived family support during menstruation (aOR: 2.87, 95% CI: 1.03-7.97), low perceived support from friends during menstruation (aOR: 4.09, 95% CI: 1.66-10.07) and experiencing moderate/severe dysmenorrhea (aOR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.105-5.08) were associated with anxiety. Those with moderate/severe dysmenorrhoea had higher odds (aOR: 5.60, 95% CI: 1.56-20.05) of experiencing stress. Low perceived family support (aOR: 3.07, 95% CI: 1.08-8.67), low perceived support from friends (aOR: 2.77, 95% CI: 1.11-6.89) and experiencing moderate to severe dysmenorrhoea (aOR: 3.56, 95% CI: 1.63-7.79) were associated with depression. The findings underscore the importance of proper management of dysmenorrhoea and need for social support from both family and friends during menstruation as these factors are associated with psychological distress among adolescent girls.

Mental health and sleep in the post-COVID-19 era among Thai undergraduate students

The purpose of this study was to examine mental health problems and sleep quality among undergraduate students in the post-COVID-19 era, as well as related factors. This cross-sectional study involved 627 undergraduate students from Chiang Mai University in northern Thailand between October and December 2022. Data were collected using a self-administered online questionnaire that included the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The study found that 57.9% of participants experienced mental health problems (95% CI: 54.0–61.8), 32.2% experienced depression (95% CI: 28.5–35.9), and 68.1% reported poor sleep quality (95% CI: 64.4–71.8). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that medical conditions, relationships with family members, relationships with friends or other people, having problems while studying at university, and self-perceived COVID-19 impact score were all associated with mental health problems and poor sleep quality (p < 0.05). Depression was associated with the field of study, relationships with family members, relationships with friends or other people, having problems while studying at university, and self-perceived COVID-19 impact score (p < 0.05). The findings highlight a significant occurrence of poor sleep and mental health issues, including depression, among undergraduate students in the post-COVID-19 era, underscoring the need for ongoing mental health monitoring and interventions to mitigate negative outcomes.

Patient experiences of treatment-resistant depression (TRD): A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) occurs when depressive symptoms persist after a patient has tried at least two antidepressants at an appropriate dose for an adequate length of time, as judged by their clinician. Understanding what it is like to live with and seek care for TRD can inform treatment planning and contribute to health technology assessments for depression-related therapies. Our objective was to systematically review this evidence through an investigation of qualitative literature about the experiences of people who have TRD. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science Core Collection. Publications eligible for inclusion were English-language primary empirical qualitative studies or the qualitative component of mixed methods studies examining adults’ experiences with TRD or with specific treatment options for TRD. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data, as well as critically appraised included studies using the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) instrument. This review was guided by integrative meta-synthesis. Data analysis consisted of a staged coding process similar to grounded theory. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO prior to the search (record ID: CRD42022356813). Sixteen studies were included from screening 18,568 results. Two studies focused on the overall experience of TRD and 14 explored experiences of specific treatments such as ketamine. Patients described the depressive symptoms they experienced, a sense of futility and desperation to find an effective treatment, and their experiences with new, sometimes experimental, therapies including deriving benefits beyond the clinical. Overall, few studies have examined the patient experience of TRD, reflecting the clinical complexity of this patient population. As most literature coalesced around experiences of specific treatments, greater examination of the overall experience of TRD is needed to inform clinical practice, and administrative and funding policy decisions for interventions that may be effective for this patient population. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022356813.

A viewpoint on stress generation methodology.

This article provides an overview of Stress Generation Methodology. Stress generation is a phenomenon in which individuals with depression or vulnerability to depression experience greater dependent stressful life events (SLEs), defined as stressors in which individuals at least partially contributed to occurrence. The stress generation process demonstrates how depressed individuals shape their environments, contributing to depression maintenance and exacerbation. Subsequent extensions have shown that other forms of psychopathology and a variety of cognitive and personality risk factors also predict stress generation. The focus on stress generation in women is accompanied by an emphasis on interpersonal stress. In addition to emphasizing communal SLEs, stress generation studies have also focused on communal vulnerability factors. However, men do not typically exhibit communal vulnerabilities to the degree that women do. Thus, it is also important to broaden the scope of vulnerability factors examined to include vulnerabilities associated with stress generation in men. These could include impulsivity, anger and aggression, and the need for autonomy and self-definition, all of which tend to be more common in males. Lastly, studies often employ self-report measures of SLEs which could artificially accentuate gender differences in stress generation findings. As existing studies may be more sensitive to detecting stress generation in women, future research should examine this phenomenon with the following methodological refinements: (a) use male-only or adequately sized samples with equal gender representation to test gender moderation effects, (b) expand the range of SLEs to include agentic and achievement-oriented stressors and use wider assessment windows, and (c) examine vulnerability factors that may be relevant to men such as impulsivity, anger, aggression, and the need for autonomy and self-definition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Factors Influencing Depression in People with Disabilities:Individual and Interpersonal Levels

Abstract Depression is an increasingly important social problem, and this also applies to the disabled, a health-vulnerable group. Although the distribution and influencing factors of depression may be different among the disabled population (young adults vs. the elderly, older adults with disabilities vs. disabilities due to old age), only the high prevalence of depression among the disabled is generally reported. This study seeks to determine the distribution and influencing factors of depression in disabled people according to sociodemographic standards. This study employed data from the 2021 Panel Survey on People with Disabilities (National Unit Survey) to investigate the influence of individual-level factors (health behaviors, health level, environment) and interpersonal-level factors (social network) on depression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed while controlling for demographic sociological factors and disability characteristic factors. The experience of depression was among elderly disabled individuals (age 50+: 40.9%) than younger ones (age 19-49: 36.1%), and in disability with aging (49.3%) versus aging with disabilities (39.2%) (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Chronic diseases, daily living assistance, living environment, and emotional support from family and neighbors affected both young and elderly disabled individuals. Specifically, among the elderly disabled, exercise frequency (aOR=0.78; [CI]0.63-0.97), social network size (aOR=0.87; [CI]0.82-0.93), and social interaction frequency (aOR=0.68; [CI]0.51-0.91) were significant. Disability with aging was influenced by exercise frequency (aOR=0.29; [CI]0.09-0.95) and emotional support (aOR=0.37; [CI]0.17-0.77) from peers. older adults with disabilities were affected by not only individual-level factors (exercise frequency) but also both functional (emotional support) and structural (size of social network, frequency of meetings) aspects of their interpersonal social networks. Key messages • Depression experiences among older adults with disabilities are influenced by both functional and structural social networks. • Developing depression prevention strategies for people with disabilities requires a customized approach that takes into account age-specific characteristics.

The impact of patient death on the risk of developing occupational burnout in midwives a preliminary cross-sectional study

The study aimed to assess the impact of experienced emotional states on the risk of the development of occupational burnout in midwives who experienced the death of a patient while on duty. The study was conducted on 54 midwives in Warsaw, Poland. We used the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) and the author’s questionnaire. The average professional burnout level of midwives participating in the study was determined as 5.08 ± 0.67. Helplessness (57.4%) and depression (48.1%) were the most frequently experienced emotions. The number of deaths of patients experienced by the respondents did not affect the severity of burnout (Z = − 0.753; p > 0.05). However, midwives who declared that they had experienced the death of a patient more than 10 times while on duty were more likely to experience a feeling of relief (2.83 vs. 2.00; Z = − 2.30; p < 0.05) and calmness (2.97 vs. 2.24; Z = − 1.95; p < 0.05). The experienced depression positively correlated with the level of exhaustion (rho = 0.465; p < 0.001) and the overall level of occupational burnout (rho = 0.291; p < 0.05). However, it was not correlated with the level of disengagement (p > 0.05). Depression has a significant impact on the risk of developing occupational burnout, which highlights the need to develop and implement effective support methods for midwives experiencing difficult emotions related to the death of patients while on duty.

Living with COPD and its psychological effects on participating in community-based physical activity in Brazil: a qualitative study. Findings from the Breathe Well group

Physical activity (PA) improves dyspnoea, psychological wellbeing and quality of life (QoL) for people with COPD reducing their risk of exacerbation. However, engagement in PA is low especially amongst those with anxiety and depression, and PA programmes are limited in countries with limited resources such as Brazil. We explored perceptions of 21 people with COPD about the impact of their disease on taking part in community-based PA programmes in Sao Paulo, Brazil through semi-structured telephone interviews from October 2020 to April 2021. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using the Framework method. Five themes were identified: Knowledge about COPD and its management; Self-perception of life with COPD; Knowledge and experiences of depression and anxiety; Opinions on PA and repercussions of COVID-19. PA was considered to be important in bringing physical and mental health benefits but there were barriers in accessibility of formal PR programmes and therefore local community PA programmes were considered to be important. People with mental health conditions tended to view PA more negatively. COVID-19 had reduced PA opportunities, access to COPD treatment and social interaction, and was associated with more exacerbations and emotional suffering. In general, this study showed an urgent need to improve knowledge about COPD and its risk factors and management among both patients, the public and primary healthcare professionals. We provide important content for the formulation of public policies for the implementation of specific activity programmes for people with COPD in community spaces using local resources and intersectoral partnerships.

Assessment and Management of Depressive Disorder: A Case Report of an Unmarried Adult

This case study examines the psychological and social aspects impacting the mental well-being of a 32-year-old unmarried woman. Based on comprehensive clinical assessment, Client D.A. was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2), Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank College Form (RISB), Draw-a-Person (DAP), clinical interviews, and behavioral observations. A multifaceted treatment plan was developed, combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), pharmacotherapy, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques. This study provides insights into her experiences of depression, social isolation, societal expectations, and self-esteem. Over the course of the treatment, Client D.A. demonstrated significant improvement in her depressive symptoms. Her negative thought patterns were effectively restructured through CBT and her interpersonal relationships improved with IPT. Additionally, pharmacotherapy stabilized her mood, while mindfulness techniques helped manage anxiety and stress. This case study highlights the complex interplay of factors influencing mental health and underscores the importance of culturally sensitive, personalized treatment approaches, as evidenced by Client D.A.’s increased social engagement, reduced loneliness, and improved well-being, with regular evaluations confirming sustained progress and the efficacy of the integrated treatment plan in promoting recovery.

Impact of Academic Progress on the Mental Health of Young People in Nigeria: A Case Study of Undergraduate Students in South-Western Nigeria

Background: Education is important in forging a pathway to economic opportunity and social mobility. It is widely regarded as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of personal and social development. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study employs a quantitative data collection approach. Four hundred individuals were interviewed using semi-structured, interviewer-administered questions through a multi-stage sampling technique. After data analysis with SPSS version 26, a chi-square test statistic was employed to determine whether there was a significant relationship between the categorical variables, with a p-value of less than 0.05. Results: Out of 400 respondents, 211 (52.8%) male and 189 (47.2%) female were questioned. Nearly half of the respondents (49.0%) were between the ages of 19 and 21 years old. According to the survey, most of the respondents (70.0%) asserted that their current academic workload is heavy, while (18.0%) and (9.0%) described their workload as moderate and light, respectively. Additionally, (60.0%) of the respondents rated their overall academic performance as good. However, only (13.0%) acknowledged that academic pressure contributes to stress and anxiety in life and (79.0%) occasionally expressed stress related to academic demands. About (11.8%) and (8.8%) of the respondents reported having been diagnosed with a mental health disorder before and experienced symptoms of depression in the past month respectively. An additional (20.0%) of respondents reported having experienced depression, while (24.5%) and (23.5%) claimed to have experienced anxiety and stress, respectively. Moreover, (11.8%) reported experiencing panic attacks, and (5.3%) mentioned having had suicidal thoughts. More than half of the respondents used to exercise (59.0%) and engaged in hobbies or interests (56.5%) as coping mechanisms for academic stress. Additionally, (45.5%) practiced mindfulness or relaxation techniques, and (25.5%) sought social support to manage their academic stress. About (32.5%) of respondents claimed they were aware of mental health support services available at their institutions, compared to (67.5%) who were unaware of these services. Of those aware, (33.1%) had utilized mental health support services. Additionally, (44.2%) of respondents were satisfied with the mental health support services on campus, while (39.5%) were very satisfied. The study also reveals that there’s no statistically significant association between the age, gender, monthly upkeep of the respondents and utilization of mental health support services. Conclusion: There is a complex connection between academic performance, psychological well-being, and the use of coping strategies and mental health support services among university students. This underscores the importance of addressing students' mental health needs alongside providing academic assistance. Keywords: Mental health, Academic performance, Mental health support services, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Mental health coping mechanisms

Coping style as a predictor of anxiety in relatives of patients with mental illness-a single-center study

BackgroundRelatives of patients with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression experience significant levels of anxiety. Accurately predicting their anxiety levels is crucial for the development of effective anti-anxiety interventions aimed at mitigating associated adverse outcomes.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 238 relatives of patients with mental illness were recruited, and their responses were collected using the generalised anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) and simplified coping style questionnaire (SCSQ) scales. One-way analysis of variance and t-test were used to assess the mean scores of GAD-7 and SCSQ among relatives with varying characteristics. Pearson’s correlations were used to examine the correlation between anxiety levels and coping style. Multi-level regression analyses were used to identify the impact of the independent variables on anxiety.ResultsAmong all relatives of patients with mental illness who participated in this survey, 238 completed the questionnaire. Females exhibited a higher mean GAD-7 score (9.72 ± 0.25) compared to males. Among participants aged 18–25 years, the GAD-7 (8.12 ± 0.17) score was the highest. Additionally, relatives of patients experiencing their first episode or with a disease duration of < 1 year, as well as relatives of patients with schizophrenia and depression, displayed higher GAD-7 scores. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between anxiety and SCSQ (negative coping styles) (r = 0.476, p < 0.01). Multi-level regression analyses demonstrated that demographic variables (R2 = 0.474, F = 21.402, p < 0.01) and SCSQ (R2 change = 0.638, F = 37.526, p < 0.01) were significantly and positively associated with anxiety among relatives of patients with mental illness.ConclusionsMost relatives of patients with mental illness experience varying levels of anxiety, which are influenced by their coping styles.

Vulnerability to depression and resolution in mothers of children with cerebral palsy

BackgroundThis study investigated associations between Self-Criticism and Dependency as factors of vulnerability to depression and maternal resolution. Resolution entails parental cognitive and emotional acceptance of the child's developmental disability. MethodsOur sample included 100 mothers whose children had a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. The Reaction to Diagnosis Interview, the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire and the Depression Scale were administered. ResultsThe results showed that unresolved mothers scored higher on the dimensions of Self-Criticism and Dependency compared to their resolved counterparts. The hierarchical cluster analysis yielded three maternal profiles based on the scores obtained on the dimensions of vulnerability to depression, regardless of maternal resolution status. The first profile was labeled Low Vulnerability and was characterized by low scores on Self-Criticism and Dependency. The second profile was labeled Dependent and it included mothers with higher scores on Dependency and lower scores on Self-Criticism. The third profile comprised mothers with higher scores on both Self-Criticism and Dependency. The smallest proportion of unresolved mothers belonged to the third, most vulnerable profile labeled Double Vulnerability. DiscussionWe discussed the implications of the obtained results in light of a need for psychotherapeutic interventions that would focus on individual differences when providing support to parental resolution.

Post-Partum Depression: A Case Study of the Wife of an Expatriate Pakistani

This study aims to explore the experience of post-partum depression in a woman that is the wife of an expatriate Pakistani. It probes into the psycho-social factor that boost the chances of past-partum depression among woman who gone through the c-section while giving birth to her 4th child in her husband’s absence while living in joint family system. This case study reported a woman with postpartum depression; facing psychosocial pressures while living in joint family system in rural area of Punjab. Edinburgh post-natal depression scale used to analyse her post-partum depression and DSM- V as the determinant of diagnostic criteria which revealed that psychosocial pressures, attachment issues and lack of social support made her vulnerable. Postpartum depression has varying symptoms and psycho-social factors irritating its symptoms.

The Shield of Self-Esteem: Buffering against the Impact of Traumatic Experiences, Fear, Anxiety, and Depression.

Adverse life occurrences (e.g., severe accidents, violence/abuse, organic disorders such as COVID-19) can elicit traumatic responses that heighten fear, anxiety, and depression. However, scientific research has shown that certain variables, such as self-esteem, based on theories like terror management theory (TMT) and the anxiety-buffering hypothesis (ABH), can mitigate the negative effects of trauma. This study aimed to test the ABH by assessing the buffering role of self-esteem in the relationships among the impact of traumatic experiences, fear, anxiety, and depression. An observational research design was used. This study involved 321 participants who experienced COVID-19 as a traumatic experience. A sequential multiple-mediation model with observed variables (path analysis) was used to test the impact of the traumatic experience on fear, anxiety, and depression, examining the protective role of self-esteem. A path analysis revealed that fear and anxiety mediated the relationship between the impact of the traumatic experience of COVID-19 and depression. Additionally, in line with the ABH, self-esteem was found to mediate the relationship between the predictors and their adverse psychological consequences. This suggests that self-esteem played a buffering role, mitigating the negative impact of traumatic experiences on mental health outcomes. These findings underscore the central mediating role of self-esteem, as well as fear and anxiety, in the pathway from trauma-related factors to depression. These insights advocate for evidence-based interventions aimed at alleviating the psychological suffering associated with traumatic experiences, fostering adaptation, and supporting psychological health.

Wywlekanie na wierzch brzydkich uczuć i zdradliwość obietnicy szczęścia

This article is a polemic with two literary texts, I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee and Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace. From among the metafictional devices, a concrete poetics of therapeutic discourse emerges. An analysis of the ways in which the experience of depression is thematized will be facilitated by defining Sianne Ngai’s characterization of “ugly feelings” and by noting that the whole process of discursivization is driven by what Sara Ahmed calls the promise of happiness. A critical look will expose some fixed elements of these poetics and outline the frame in which they operate. Key-words: depression, happiness, ugly feelings, sadness, therapeutic discourse

Psychological changes among weight loss injection users compared with bariatric surgery patients in Saudi Arabia.

To assess and evaluate the mental health and psychological changes in weight loss injection users and bariatric surgery. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2022 to December 2022. A self-administered questionnaire was given among participants using social media platforms. The questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, weight-loss-related characteristics, General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) to measure anxiety, and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to measure depression experienced by the patients. Of the 721 patients, 73.9% were females, and 30.1% were aged between 30 to 39 years old. The prevalence of patients who underwent weight loss by surgery and injection was 47.7% and 41.2%, respectively. Overall, symptoms of anxiety and depression were detected in 19.7% and 24%, respectively. Independent risk factor of anxiety and depression was the symptom of the psychiatric disorder prior to surgery, while the independent protective factor for anxiety and depression was older age. Depression was higher in weight loss injection users. Nearly one-quarter of the study population experienced anxiety or depression following weight loss treatment. Weight loss treatment by injections increases the risk of depression. However, improved self-confidence, mood, and relationships with family and friends were some of the positive changes exhibited by the patients after undergoing weight loss treatment. Appropriate psychiatric evaluation is necessary before and after weight loss intervention.

Child health and psychosocial wellness in the context of maternal role overload and depression

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the variability of child health and psychosocial outcomes in the context of maternal role overload and maternal depression.BackgroundRole overload, characterized as time‐based role stress, is commonly linked to depression in mothers. However, it remains uncertain whether maternal role overload poses a risk for negative child health and wellness. Although maternal depression is a known risk factor for poor child health and psychosocial outcomes, the outcomes themselves often reveal variability.MethodThis study aimed to investigate the heterogeneity of child health and psychosocial outcomes using latent profile analyses. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine differences in profile membership based on the child's experiences of maternal role overload and depression. Data were from 1,172 mother–child dyads from the Family Matters study.ResultsThe analyses unveiled four distinct profiles (i.e., moderate health/psychosocial wellness, poor health/moderate psychosocial wellness, struggling health/poor psychosocial wellness, thriving health/psychosocial wellness), each associated with varying levels of health and psychosocial wellness. Both maternal role overload and depression were found to heighten the risk of poor health and psychosocial wellness in children.ConclusionChildren with struggling and poor health and psychosocial outcomes had higher odds of maternal depression and maternal role overload than children in the thriving profile. These findings suggest that maternal role overload is a potential risk to child health and psychosocial outcomes.ImplicationsThese findings emphasize the importance of continuous depression screening in mothers and the implementation of solution‐focused interventions targeting maternal role overload.

Journeys to functionality: A dimensional analysis of personal narratives of recovery from depression.

Recovery from depression constitutes a long journey that is understood as a unique and multifaceted process encompassing various dimensions. To understand what constitutes recovery from depression and to develop greater insights into the unique dimensions of the recovery journey, the study of recovery memoirs is essential. This article performs a dimensional analysis on six Indian first-hand accounts of recovery from depression collected in Amrita Tripathi and Arpita Anand's Real Stories of Dealing with Depression to examine the journeys toward healing and the uniqueness of the recovery processes. Through the dimensional analysis, four core dimensions of recovery from depression-Problems, Social Supports, Position of Recovery and Functionality-are identified. The process of recovery, consisting of understanding the problems (causes) through sensed adversities (sensed effects), making use of received social supports to transform oneself, finding out the position of recovery, and lastly, functioning peacefully for living, corresponds to the four dimensions of recovery. Drawing on Herbert Blumer's theory of social interactionism, the article examines how different individuals interpret their experiences of depression in unique ways and develop distinctive recovery strategies. The identified dimensions of recovery correspond to the need for unique approaches to recovery articulated by each of the narrators. The selected narratives reveal that the problems are unique, and for each of the unique problems, there has to be a distinctive support mechanism. The recovery narratives are centred around the unique problems wherein the individuals attempt to understand what happened to them and why it happened. The article concludes by suggesting that healthcare practitioners can utilise the dimensions and the subdimensions as a lead to understand fully how their clients conceptualise their problems and try to understand how each client defines the recovery itself.

Exploring the Impact of Cognitive Dysfunction During Recurrent Depression in a Sample of Mid-to-Older Age British South Asians: A Qualitative Study.

Depression is a major public health issue, increasing the risk of comorbidities. Some people with depression experience cognitive dysfunction, which can persist even after symptomatic recovery. British South Asians are at greater risk of developing depression and are less likely to seek treatment. It is important to understand their experience of subjective cognitive dysfunction in depression and how best to support them. This study explored subjective experience of cognitive dysfunction during recurrent depression, in a sample of 12 British South Asians aged between 45 and 60 years. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore cognitive dysfunction during recurrent depression. We analysed the data using thematic analysis. Difficulties in attention and concentration resulted in lower quality of social relationships, including not feeling present and social isolation. Learning new information was difficult, thus impacting productivity. Participants found it difficult to engage in enjoyable activities that promoted brain health. The emotional, physical and spiritual impact negatively impacted on quality of life. Cognitive strategies used in therapies could improve brain health and functional recovery in people living with depression. Mental health nurses play a pivotal role in providing culturally appropriate information and strategies for managing cognitive dysfunction in recurrent depression.

Evaluation of the prevalence and risk factors of perinatal depression among women living with HIV in the Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia

IntroductionDepressive disorder is a common mental health issue among perinatal mothers living with HIV, potentially leading to significant despair and anxiety. This condition can hinder maternal-infant bonding and undermine efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Despite its importance, little is known about the factors associated with depression in this population. Main objectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of perinatal depression among women living with HIV in the Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2022. MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 399 HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women, both with follow-up and newly diagnosed cases, who attended PMTCT services in the East Gojjam Zone Public Hospitals from May 28 to July 12, 2022. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through direct interviews and document reviews. The Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale was used to assess perinatal depression which demonstrated high internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha of 0.93). Data were cleaned and analyzed using Epi-data version 3.1 and SPSS version 25. Binary logistic regression models were used to identify variables associated with perinatal depression, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. ResultsOut of 399 eligible women, 394 participated, yielding a response rate of 98.7 %. The prevalence of perinatal depression among these women was 34.3 % (95 % CI: 29.6–39.4). Factors significantly associated with perinatal depression included intimate partner violence (AOR = 4.24, 95 % CI: 2.507–7.168), internalized stigma (AOR = 4.93, 95 % CI: 2.912–9.560), poor social support (AOR = 4.0, 95 % CI: 1.693–9.560), and poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (AOR = 3.65, 95 % CI: 1.774–7.519). ConclusionApproximately one-third of perinatal women living with HIV experienced depression. Key factors contributing to this included intimate partner violence, internalized stigma, low social support, and poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Interventions should focus on enhancing social support, empowering women, counseling on drug adherence, and screening for depression among perinatal women living with HIV.