Experience Of Depression Research Articles

Association between emotional intelligence and mental health status based on sex differences among undergraduates in Vietnam

Public health concerns about mental health problems have recently received attention, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Emotional intelligence (EI) is a significant factor linked to mental health status, including depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS), with sex playing a significant role in both DAS and EI status. This study aimed to describe DAS and EI status and assess sex differences in the associations between EI and DAS among undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study was conducted across three educational institutions in Dong Thap province, southern Vietnam, using the validated Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify correlations between DAS and EI, and the sex differences in the associations between DAS and the four SSEIT constructs - emotion perception (EP), utilizing emotion (UE), managing self-relevant emotion (MSE), and managing others' emotion (MOE) - were examined using linear regression models. Among the 674 participants, 51.6% experienced mental health problems (64.1% for females, 35.9% for males), 47.0% experienced anxiety, 32.5% experienced depression, and 27.4% experienced stress. The average EI score was 119.3 ± 18.9 (120.0 ± 19.1 for females, 118.0 ± 18.5 for males), with 58.9% of participants having normal EI, while 29.2% and 11.9% had low and high EI, respectively. Negative correlations were observed between EI scores and depression (R=-0.16, p<0.001) and anxiety (R=-0.09, p=0.020), especially among females. Findings indicated that MSE showed significant associations with DAS, especially in females (all β<-0.318, all p<0.001). Our study highlights the importance of considering sex in mental health prevention programs targeting EI skills to manage students' self-relevant emotions better.

Psychopathology in asthma patients: analysis of demographic and clinical associations.

Asthma, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the airways, significantly impacts both respiratory function and quality of life. Recent studies have highlighted the psychological dimensions of chronic diseases like asthma. Despite growing evidence linking asthma with various psychopathological conditions, comprehensive data remains scarce. This study aims to explore the psychopathological status of asthma patients and identify demographic and clinical factors associated with higher levels of psychopathological symptoms. Data were collected from 42 asthma patients attending the Asthma Outpatient Clinic at the University of Thessaly, Greece. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire on demographics and clinical parameters, along with the Symptoms Checklist-90 (SCL-90) to assess psychological symptoms. The sample included patients with varying asthma severity: 38% with severe asthma and 62% with mild-moderate asthma, with a mean age of 60.8 ± 15.6 years. Results indicated that 23.8% exhibited somatization symptoms, 23.8% showed compulsive behaviors, 33.8% reported interpersonal sensitivity, and 38.1% experienced depression and 38.1% aggressiveness. Additionally, 45.2% struggled with fearful anxiety, 4.8% showed paranoid ideation, and 11.9% had traits of psychoticism. Women had significantly higher psychopathology scores than men. Factors such as longer disease duration, uncontrolled asthma, severe asthma, and comorbid conditions like atopy and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were linked to higher psychopathological scores. The study found a high prevalence of psychopathological symptoms among asthma patients. Female gender, prolonged asthma duration, persistent symptoms, comorbid diseases (GERD, atopy) and greater disease severity were significantly associated with higher psychopathology, underscoring the need for integrated mental health care in asthma management.

Self-stigmatization and treatment preferences: Measuring the impact of treatment labels on choices for depression medications.

To collect evidence on the possibility that patients with depression experience self-stigmatization based on label information for medications. We developed a discrete-choice experiment (DCE) survey instrument that asked respondents to make choices between hypothetical treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD). We also included treatment type (antidepressants versus antipsychotics) and approved indications for the medication. The choice questions mimicked the information presented in product inserts and required systematic tradeoffs between treatment efficacy, treatment type, and indication. We calculated how many patients were willing to forgo efficacy to avoid treatments with information associated with self-stigmatization, and how much efficacy they were willing to forgo. We also evaluated the impact of contextualizing the treatment information to reduce self-stigmatization by randomizing respondents who received additional context. A total of 501 patients with MDD were recruited to complete the DCE survey. Respondents had well-defined preferences for treatment outcomes. Over 60% (63.4%) of respondents were found to be significantly affected by treatment indication. These respondents were willing to forgo about 2.5 percentage points in the chance of treatment efficacy to avoid treatments indicated for schizophrenia. We also find that some level of contextualization of the treatment details could help reduce the negative impact of treatment type and indications. Product-label treatment indication can potentially lead to patient self-stigmatization as shown by patients' avoidance of treatments that are also used to treat schizophrenia. While the effect appears to be relatively small, results suggests that the issue is likely pervasive.

Contextualising Experiences of Co-Occurring Mental Ill-Health and Substance Use Among Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Diverse Young People: Implications for Tailored Harm Reduction Approaches.

Though significant research highlights higher rates of mental ill-health and substance use among trans, non-binary and gender diverse (henceforth 'trans') young people, little research has considered patterns, contextual characteristics, and correlates of co-occurring experiences of mental ill-health and substance use among trans young people. Using data from the Trans Pathways study, we used prevalence ratios and age- and gender-adjusted logistic regression models to examine prevalence and differences of co-occurring substance use (past six-month cigarette use, alcohol use, and other drug use) and contextual characteristics of substance use (past six-month solitary alcohol and/or drug use, substance use for coping) by mental ill-health (depression disorder, anxiety disorder, past 12-month self-harm thoughtsand behaviours,suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempt/s). Age- and gender-adjusted models assessed associations between co-occurring depressive and anxiety disorders and recent cigarette, alcohol, and other drug use (six co-occurring items total) and 18 interpersonal stressors. Significantly increased odds of smoking or recentuse of cannabis or sedatives was observed among trans young people reporting depressive disorder, anxiety disorder (aORs ranging 1.8-3.1). Trans young people who reported recent smoking or use of cannabis, inhalants, or sedatives, had 40% to 80% reduced odds of past 12-month self-harm thoughts, self-harm behaviours,suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempt/s (aORs ranging 0.2-0.6). On the other hand, solitary alcohol and/or other drug use and substance use for coping was significantly associated with increased odds of all mental ill-health outcomes. Issues with school, secure housing, and intimate partner abuse were themost robust correlates of co-occurring mental ill-health and substance use. Trans young people using substances, especially cigarettes, cannabis, and sedatives, often so do with co-occurring experiences of depression and anxiety though limited substance use in more 'social' contexts may confer benefits for preventingself-harm and suicide thoughts and behaviours. Continued research in partnership with trans young people is warranted to conceptualise more nuanced and precise conceptualparameters of trans-affirming substance useharm reduction approaches.

Examining Transitions in Risk for Depression Among African Americans

ABSTRACT The Council on Social Work Education Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) (2015–2017) contributed to the development of my research agenda. This article is a product of the support I received as a minority fellow and illuminates heterogeneity in depression burden among African Americans. This study sought to identify distinct constellations of risk and protection for depression and investigate individual stability, or transitions, between risk types over time. Latent transition analysis was conducted using longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of African Americans. Results suggest that there are two risk types, and eight distinct risk paths. Transition between risk types was associated with higher depressive symptoms. The results of this study can help social work educators understand variations in the experience of depression among African Americans to inform nuanced and antiracist clinical curricula. Ultimately, this study supports the need to develop depression interventions that are aimed at a moving target and tailored to the unique needs of subpopulations of African Americans likely to experience poor depression outcomes.

Psychological Assessment of Health Care Workers in the Aftermath of the February 2023 Earthquakes in Turkey.

The goal of this study was to examine the psychological and physical effects experienced by health care workers (HCWs) participating in the response to the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and to identify any associated factors. An online survey was used to collect data from HCWs on duty in earthquake-stricken areas. The following assessment tools were utilized: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and Short Form-12. A total of 175 HCWs with a mean age of 37.27 years participated in the study. Of these, 39.4% suffered from PTSD, 30.3% experienced depression, and 31.4% experienced anxiety. Female gender, loss of significant others, and previous psychiatric treatment were found to be associated with worse mental health. Nurses tended to have higher levels of PTSD than the medical doctors; the medical doctors had significantly lower scores on the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory compared with the nurses and the other HCWs and lower mental component summary scores on the Short Form-12 compared with the other HCWs. Meeting basic needs and subjective evaluation of teamwork were also linked to mental health. The study also found that marital status, age, and length of time spent in earthquake-stricken areas were associated with scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory. After the earthquake in Turkey, HCWs experienced a significant amount of various adverse mental health outcomes related to certain demographic variables such as gender, profession, previous psychiatric treatment, loss of relatives, and evaluation of living conditions and teamwork. Since HCWs play an essential role in reducing the harmful effects of disasters, recognizing groups at risk and planning tailored interventions may help prevent mental health issues.

Mechanisms Underlying the Use of Abusive and Neglectful Behaviors in Dementia Caregiving: The Role of Caregiver Mental Health.

In dementia family caregiving, caregiver psychopathology has been frequently identified as a possible risk factor for the use of physically abusive, psychologically abusive, and neglectful behaviors toward care recipients. Yet, the mechanistic role of psychopathology in the use of these behaviors is not understood. The purpose of the current study is to determine the role of caregiver mental health in their daily risk of engaging in physically and psychologically aggressive and neglectful behaviors toward their care recipient with dementia. We used an intensive longitudinal design to survey family caregivers daily over 21 days. Using generalized linear mixed models, we evaluated the differential impact of caregivers' (N = 453) experience of major depression and generalized anxiety disorders measured at baseline versus 9,513 daily ratings of depressive and anxiety symptom severity, and interactions across levels, on the daily odds of engaging in physically abusive, psychologically abusive, and neglectful behaviors. Caregivers with clinically significant depression or anxiety at baseline had higher daily odds of engaging in each type of abusive and neglectful behavior. Worsened depressive symptoms (compared to individuals' average across all days) on a given day were associated with increased odds of engaging in psychologically and physically aggressive behaviors on the same day. Worsened anxiety symptoms on a given day were associated with increased odds of psychologically aggressive and neglectful behaviors. A key finding was lack of a significant interaction effect between depression and anxiety disorders and mental health symptomology on the daily odds of engaging in abusive and neglectful behaviors. This finding indicates that daily depressive and anxiety symptoms are generalizable intervention targets across the family caregiver population and do not only increase risk among family caregivers with depressive and anxiety disorders. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 17(5), 227-236.].

Rate and sociodemographic correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress among domestic and overseas medical students: A cross-sectional observation from a private medical college in Bangladesh.

Depression, anxiety, and stress are the commonly encountered mental health conditions among medical students. Overseas environment may add additional burden to the existing environment. However, comparison of the rate and associated factors of depression, anxiety, stress among domestic and overseas students has not been attempted in Bangladesh. We aimed to assess the rate and associated factors of depression, anxiety, stress among domestic and overseas medical students in the country. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 undergraduate medical students in 2021. Data were collected by self-reporting instruments by a stratified random sampling method by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 scale. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were done by computing crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval to identify the associated factors. Among the 360 undergraduate medical students, 181 were domestic and 179 overseas ones. 44.8% of domestic students reported depressive symptoms, 45.3% reported anxiety symptoms, and 33.1% reported stress. On the other hand, half of overseas students experienced depression (50.3%) and anxiety (52.5%), and 41.3% experienced stress. Female medical students were found vulnerable for developing depression, anxiety, and stress than males. The study revealed higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among overseas undergraduate medical students enrolled in a private medical school of Bangladesh. Private medical college authorities could consider special services for overseas students to ensure adequate psychosocial support.

Association Between Source of Social Support and Depression Among Nursing Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Nursing students have a higher risk of depression due to their already high academic burden, social isolation, pandemic loneliness, abrupt online learning, and financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Although the disruption of social network patterns during the pandemic has been observed in previous studies, it is still not fully understood which source of social support is associated with depression among nursing students. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the correlations between sources of social support and depression among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted between May-September 2021. Nursing students (n=734) from seven universities across four provinces in Indonesia were recruited as participants using convenience sampling methods. Data were obtained through online questionnaires consisting of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to assess social support, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depression. Spearman-Rank correlation tests were used to examine the correlations between sources of social support and depression. Results: Most of the nursing students (85.1%) were female with a mean age of 19.94 years (SD=1.42). Many nursing students (n=313; 42.6%) experienced depression. Most of the students (n=465; 63.4%) perceived high family support, moderate friends (n=415; 56.5%) and significant others' support (n=437; 59.5%). Of the three sources of social support (family, friends, and significant others), only family support had a significant inverse correlation with depression (Rho=-0.492, p<0.001).Conclusion: Family support had a significant inverse and moderate correlation with depression among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings provided information to nursing educators to incorporate a strategy to maintain robust family support and regular depression assessments as part of the online learning curriculum. Therefore, it can be used to ameliorate depression among nursing students.

노인의 성별에 따른 골관절염 유병 관련 영향요인

This study aims to identify the factors influencing the prevalence of osteoarthritis among the elderly aged 65 and older, and to provide fundamental data for developing intervention measures for osteoarthritis management. The subjects of this study were 8,175 elderly individuals (3,521 men and 4,654 women) aged 65 and older, drawn from the 2016-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. The analysis was performed using the SPSS/WIN 25 program, applying complex sample analysis methods. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and gender comparisons were analyzed using chi-square tests for cross-tabulations, and logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors influencing the prevalence of osteoarthritis. The results revealed significant differences in age, education level, cohabitation with a spouse, home ownership, smoking, drinking, aerobic physical activity, walking, BMI, depression experience, and presence of arthritis between male and female elderly subjects. The estimated prevalence of osteoarthritis among the Korean elderly aged 65 and older, based on the sample, was 25.0% (10.3% for men and 35.9% for women). When examining the differences in osteoarthritis prevalence according to sociodemographic and health-related characteristics, it was found that among elderly men, there were statistically significant differences in osteoarthritis prevalence related to education level, drinking, walking, and obesity. Among elderly women, significant differences were observed in education level, presence of a spouse, walking, obesity, and depression. Furthermore, the factors influencing the prevalence of osteoarthritis among elderly men were education level, while for elderly women, the influencing factors were education level, residential area, and BMI. Based on these results, it is necessary to develop multifaceted and individualized nursing intervention programs tailored to gender.

Examining bystander intervention for peer depression and sociodemographic correlates among university students in Singapore.

The Advancing Research To Eliminate Mental Illness Stigma (ARTEMIS) study evaluated the impact of an intervention developed and implemented in Singapore on attitudes towards depression in university students. We aimed to assess the likelihood of university students intervening when their peers suffer from depression, before and after the ARTEMIS intervention. 390 students were recruited from a university in Singapore. The ARTEMIS intervention comprised a lecture by a trained mental health professional, a sharing session by a person with lived experience of depression, and a question-and-answer segment with a panel. The Bystander Intervention Scale for Depression (BISD) was administered at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. BISD assessed four factors: acceptance of responsibility to intervene, knowledge on how to intervene, awareness of depression among peers, and vigilance towards possible symptoms of depression. Linear mixed models were conducted to investigate associations. Sociodemographic correlates were also examined. A favourable shift in all factors was observed at post-intervention, which weakened at 3-month follow-up. Having past experience in the mental health field (β=1.50) and older age (β=0.18) were significantly associated with knowledge on how to intervene. Having social contact with mental illness (SCMI) and past experience in the mental health field (PEMHF) were significantly associated with awareness of depression among peers (SCMI β=0.89, PEMHF β=0.43) and vigilance towards possible symptoms of depression (SCMI β=0.39, PEMHF β=0.61). The short-term results of the intervention appeared promising across all BISD factors; however, these results were not sustained after 3 months. Future research should include the impact of 'booster' interventions over time. Sociodemographic factors that were identified to be significant correlates should also be considered when planning for future interventions.

When the Self is Blue: A Journey through the Bhagavad Gita to Spiritual Healing

This paper examines how feelings of depression, characterized by a sense of inferiority and dejection, can be transformed into joy and contentment. The author proposes that by aligning oneself with the inherent cheerfulness of human nature, one can transition from despair to happiness. Drawing upon the metaphor of water's resilience, the paper contends that misery is a temporary state that can be overcome through devotion to the divine. This is exemplified by the natural joyousness exhibited by children. The ancient Indian text, the Bhagavad Gita, is explored as a profound source of wisdom that can guide individuals on the path to mental wellbeing. Depression is an increasingly prevalent mental health concern, characterized by feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and lack of purpose (Bhatia et al.). While modern psychotherapy has developed various techniques to address depression, the application of ancient spiritual wisdom can offer a complementary approach (Bhatia et al) (Dhillon). The Bhagavad Gita, a revered Hindu scripture, presents a comprehensive philosophy for navigating the challenges of the human condition, including the experience of depression (Bhatia et al) (Dhillon). The Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse Hindu scripture, is a part of the epic Mahabharata and depicts a dialogue between Prince Arjun and the Lord Krishna, who serves as his charioteer. The text explores the moral and philosophical challenges faced by Arjun as he prepares for battle. Arjun's depression stems from the anticipated loss of life and moral degradation, leading him to question the justification of the war.

Features of depressive disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis

Depressive disorders are the most common manifestations of multiple sclerosis. The severity of depressive symptoms depends on many factors: fear of a disabling disease, dependence on loved ones, the frequency of exacerbations. Early diagnosis of affective conditions helps to prescribe therapy in a timely manner, thereby improving the quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the features and manifestations of depressive disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis. Patients and methods: The study involved patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were diagnosed with depressive disorders — the study group, and patients with depressive disorders — the comparison group. At the time of examination, the age of the patients in the study group (113 participants) ranged from 15 to 60 years, with the mean age of 39.7±10.91 years. The duration of the disease was 9.84±0.73 years, while the disability rate by the EDSS was 2.89±0.16 points. The comparison group was represented by patients with disorders of the depressive spectrum (70 patients). The mean age of the patients was 32.81±13.57 years. The age of onset of the disease in patients with depressive disorders was within 22.09±2.09 years, and the duration of the disease with depression was 4.6±3.86 years. Results and discussion: In the study group patients with depressive disorders, the initial manifestations are not pronounced and are within the limits of the average degree of depression. The analysis revealed the dynamics of symptoms depending on the level of depression: with mild depression p<0.001, «loss of appetite» appears more often, with moderate depression p<0.001, the symptoms of «dissatisfaction», «feelings of guilt», and «preoccupation with bodily sensations» appeared, and with severe depression p<0.001, «ideas of self-blame», increased «tearfulness», and changes in «body image» became significant. Meanwhile, in the patients in the comparison group, symptoms of low mood and dissatisfaction, which were often accompanied by feelings of guilt and ideas of self-blame, came to the fore. Conclusion: The symptoms of depressive manifestations in patients with multiple sclerosis differ from those in patients with depressive disorders. When selecting the basic therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis with disease modifying drugs, it is necessary to take into account the emotional background of patients, since interferons affect the emotional sphere of multiple sclerosis patients and can cause or intensify depressive experiences.

Using hybrid qualitative analysis to explore lived experience of motherhood and postnatal depression: A thematic-dialogical approach

This paper illustrates a novel hybrid approach to analysis which offers unique insights into the experience of postnatal depression in British Pakistani-Muslim women, through the prioritising of voice. To do so, we combine thematic and dialogical analysis, using data from a study on motherhood and postnatal depression. Participants were part of the birth cohort ‘Born in Bradford's Better Start’. The rationale for developing a hybridised approach is discussed. The ensuing analyses highlight the role of internal voices and chronotope, which give a detailed insight into women's meaning making of psychological distress and motherhood during the postnatal period. We go onto discuss the strength and limitations of hybridising thematic-dialogical analysis in the context of health research.

Эмоциональное состояние матерей недоношенных новорожденных детей с внутрижелудочковыми мозговыми кровоизлияниями, находящихся на отделении реанимации и интенсивной терапии

<p>This article presents the results of a study of the emotional state and stress of mothers attending their premature infants with structural intracranial changes at the stage of their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, sociodemographic characteristics of the family, and the relationship between the studied indicators. <strong>Sample.</strong> The study included 77 mothers (age M±SD=32,1±4,7 years) of prematurely born children (gestational age 28,3±3,1 weeks; birth weight 1186±499 g; 40 boys). <strong>Methods.</strong> To assess the emotional state and stress of the mothers, the methods of assessing depressive experiences (BDI-II; Beck et al., 1996), anxiety (Spielberger et al., 1983), the Parental Stress Scale (Miles, 1987), and the Heidelberg Family Stress Scale (Sidor et al., 2007) were used. <strong>The results</strong> of the study indicate that 69,2% of the mothers show a strong level of depressive experiences, 29,3% show a moderate level, and 1,5% show a weak level. 63,5% of mothers are found to have high and 33% have moderate values of reactive anxiety, 42% have high and 52% have moderate values of personality anxiety. About 88% of mothers cite a feeling of helplessness from not being able to protect their child from painful procedures or from not knowing how to help their child during this period of his or her life as a source of stress. Characteristics of emotional state and different types of maternal family stress were shown to be associated with socio-demographic characteristics of the family, but were not significantly associated with indicators of newborn health status and type of treatment.</p>

Prevalence of Depression and Its Associated Factors among Adult Libyan Diabetic Patients Attending Golden Polyclinic, Al-Badri, Tripoli

Background and aims: Depression is a significant public health concern and a common comorbid condition among patients with diabetes mellitus. This study aims to assess the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among patients with diabetes in the Al-Badri polyclinic. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Badri Polyclinic from February to April 2024. The presence of depression among diabetes patients was assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale. Data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS software version 26. Results: A total of two hundred and forty-seven participants were enrolled in the study, with 142 (57.5%) being female and 168 (68.0%) aged between 41 and 60 years. The majority of participants (71.7%) were married, and 40.5% were employed. Additionally, 78% had a positive family history of diabetes mellitus. Among the participants, 43.3% were smokers. The duration of diabetes mellitus was more than 10 years for 52.2% of the patients. Approximately two-thirds of the patients (61.5%) were taking tablets for the treatment of DM. The majoring of the patients (98.8%) had an HbA1c level of 6.5 or higher. Approximately one-third of the patients had hypertension as a comorbidity with DM, and 12.1% had heart disease as a complication of diabetes. The overall prevalence of moderate depression among the diabetes patients at the clinic was 24.7%. The majority (70.4%) exhibited mild depression, and 4.9% experienced minimal depression. No cases of severe depression were identified. Factors independently associated with depression included being on age, marital status, insulin therapy, and comorbidities. Conclusion: Depression was prevalent in our diabetic patients. Factors independently associated with this included being on age, marital status, insulin therapy, and comorbidities. The study emphasizes and recommends the importance of identifying and managing depression among diabetes patients. It is also recommended to increase awareness of the benefits of early diagnosis of patients to prevent major forms of depression and cost saving for the health system. Programs for screening depression should be implemented in primary care settings.

Residents' and spouses' experiences of loneliness and depression after separation due to long-term care placement: a qualitative systematic review.

The objective of this review was to describe the experiences of loneliness and/or depression for residents and their spouses who have been separated by long-term care placement. Loneliness and depression have a pernicious influence on the overall health and well-being of older adults. Older adults' mental health is significantly affected by social relationships, including those between spouses. However, there is limited research pertaining to long-term care residents' and community-dwelling spouses' experiences of loneliness and/or depression after separation due to long-term care placement. This systematic review included studies that recruited community-dwelling spouses and long-term care residents over 50 years of age with living spouses from whom they are separated due to long-term care placement. Studies on the experiences of loneliness and/or depression due to spousal separation with one or both spouses living in long-term care were included in this review. Ovid MEDLINE(R) was used for the initial search. A full search strategy was developed for Ovid MEDLINE(R), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Embase (Ovid), and PsycINFO (Ovid). The review was conducted using the JBI methodology for reviews of qualitative research, with 2 independent reviewers performing study selection, critical appraisal, data extraction, data synthesis, and assessment of confidence in the findings. Eleven papers were included in this systematic review. Four synthesized findings were extracted from 10 categories and 42 findings: i) Loneliness and depression result from a lack of physical and social connection for separated long-term care residents and community-dwelling spouses; ii) Community-dwelling spouses feel unprepared and upset with spousal separation due to a lack of psychological support; iii) Behavioral strategies can prevent community-dwelling spouses and long-term care residents from developing loneliness and/or depression; and iv) Community-dwelling spouses have differing abilities to adapt and cope with feelings of loneliness and/or depression. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the feelings of loneliness and/or depression in spouses who are separated due to long-term care placement. This review has demonstrated that there is a lack of literature inclusive of the voices and perspectives of all spouses affected by spousal separation in long-term care. The limitations of this review include the small number of included studies and the range of quality in included studies. Recommendations include additional research on the lived experience of spousal separation from the perspectives of long-term care residents and their community-dwelling spouses. Further, additional psychological support is needed for separated spouses, guided by the suggestions and experiences of long-term care residents and their community-dwelling spouses. PROSPERO CRD42022333014.

"Little by little, I started feeling I am unable to handle my child alone" - Lived experiences of mothers with postpartum depression and anxiety.

Anxiety and depression during the postpartum period can have a significant impact on mothers' perceived sense of responsive caregiving, causing considerable distress. This association may be affected by mothers' perception about social support. In the context of low-and-middle-income countries where prevalence rates of maternal mental illnesses are high and access to health care services is limited, informal supports become more relevant. The study aims to understand the lived experience of mothers who had postpartum depression or anxiety and their perceived distress related to infant care giving. It also explores the role of social support in the motherhood experience. Six mothers with postpartum depression or anxiety were interviewed to understand their experience of postpartum depression and/or anxiety and their perceptions about social support. The interviews were analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. The thematic analysis revealed four themes, namely, (a) uncertainty and helplessness, (b) misattunement with the immediate family, (c) personal strength rooted in the family support system, and (d) other means of coping. Mothers with postpartum anxiety and depression can have emotional, informational, and tangible social support needs in the context of uncertainty and helplessness, which are associated with different challenges and barriers for infant care in the Indian context. Support from family members is viewed as a pillar of comfort and recovery for the mothers. At the same time, if it is not adequately attuned to the needs of the mother, it can become a major source of distress.

Spousal Age Difference and Mental Health by Sex: Korean Survey Results

Purpose: Problems in marital relationships due to age gap between a couple may lead to depression and other mental health issues. However, there is a lack of studies that investigated the association between age gap in couples and mental health. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relationship between spouse age differences and mental health.Methodology: The data of 7,454 couples from the 2008 and 2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were used. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed.Findings: Women who were ≥10 years older or younger than their husbands displayed poor mental health. Odds ratios (ORs) for women who were ≥10 years younger were 1.72, 1.77, 2.24, and 1.69 for stress perception, depression experiences, depression diagnosis, and suicidal ideation, respectively. Furthermore, in women who were older than their husbands, the ORs for cognition of stress and suicidal ideation were 1.32 and 1.41, respectively.Conclusion: These findings support the development of mental health programs and couples’ education via national promotions and projects. Managing women's mental health in couples with large age gap groups could contribute to family stability and reduce divorce rates.

An online evidence-based dictionary of common adverse events of antidepressants: a new tool to empower patients and clinicians in their shared decision-making process

BackgroundAdverse events (AEs) are commonly reported in clinical studies using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA), an international standard for drug safety monitoring. However, the technical language of MedDRA makes it challenging for patients and clinicians to share understanding and therefore to make shared decisions about medical interventions. In this project, people with lived experience of depression and antidepressant treatment worked with clinicians and researchers to co-design an online dictionary of AEs associated with antidepressants, taking into account its ease of use and applicability to real-world settings.MethodsThrough a pre-defined literature search, we identified MedDRA-coded AEs from randomised controlled trials of antidepressants used in the treatment of depression. In collaboration with the McPin Foundation, four co-design workshops with a lived experience advisory panel (LEAP) and one independent focus group (FG) were conducted to produce user-friendly translations of AE terms. Guiding principles for translation were co-designed with McPin/LEAP members and defined before the finalisation of Clinical Codes (CCs, or non-technical terms to represent specific AE concepts). FG results were thematically analysed using the Framework Method.ResultsStarting from 522 trials identified by the search, 736 MedDRA-coded AE terms were translated into 187 CCs, which balanced key factors identified as important to the LEAP and FG (namely, breadth, specificity, generalisability, patient-understandability and acceptability). Work with the LEAP showed that a user-friendly language of AEs should aim to mitigate stigma, acknowledge the multiple levels of comprehension in ‘lay’ language and balance the need for semantic accuracy with user-friendliness. Guided by these principles, an online dictionary of AEs was co-designed and made freely available (https://thesymptomglossary.com). The digital tool was perceived by the LEAP and FG as a resource which could feasibly improve antidepressant treatment by facilitating the accurate, meaningful expression of preferences about potential harms through a shared decision-making process.ConclusionsThis dictionary was developed in English around AEs from antidepressants in depression but it can be adapted to different languages and cultural contexts, and can also become a model for other interventions and disorders (i.e., antipsychotics in schizophrenia). Co-designed digital resources may improve the patient experience by helping to deliver personalised information on potential benefits and harms in an evidence-based, preference-sensitive way.