Mental Health Evaluation Research Articles

Optimal sexual frequency may exist and help mitigate depression odds in young and middle-aged U.S. citizens: A cross-sectional study.

While sexual activity is known to benefit physical health, its connection to psychological well-being is less studied. We hypothesized that lower self-reported sexual frequency would be independently associated with higher odds of depression, as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We included 15,794 U.S. adults aged 20-59, reporting sexual frequency and complete PHQ-9 scores, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2016). Logistic regression models evaluated the independent association between sexual frequency and depression, while restricted cubic spline models explored potential non-linear associations. The analysis revealed a significant negative association between sexual frequency and the odds of depression. Compared to those engaging in sexual activity less than once per month, participants reporting sexual activity once per month but less than once per week (OR: 0.58; 95 % CI: 0.48-0.70) and at least once per week (OR: 0.6; 95 % CI: 0.51-0.69) had lower odds of depressive symptoms. The restricted cubic spline model indicated a saturation effect (P for nonlinearity = 0.002), suggesting an optimal sexual frequency of 52 to 103 times per year (1-2 times per week) to reduce depression odds. We revealed a significant negative association between self-reported sexual frequency and the odds of depression. A sexual frequency of 1-2 times per week showed the greatest protective effects on psychological well-being and may serve as a reference standard for mental health evaluation and monitoring during depression treatment. Further research is needed to determine directionality, causality, and potential modifiers of this association.

Comprehensive evaluation of humanistic qualities and mental health of computer science teachers based on biomechanical algorithms

Comprehensive evaluation of humanistic qualities and mental health of computer science teachers based on biomechanical algorithms

Evaluation of Physical and Mental Health by University Students as an Indicator of the Quality of Health-Related Academic and Professional Life

Background. Physical health and mental well-being of university students are among the quality indicators of academic and professional life.Purpose. To evaluate the physical and mental health of university students as the quality indicators of academic and professional life.Methods and materials. 582 interested adult students of Moscow universities voluntarily took part in the study. The authors evaluated their self-reports of physical and mental health as the quality indicators of academic and professional life using the J.E. Ware’s 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Chaddock scale.Results. The evaluation of physical and mental health of students revealed the following: a high-moderate level of Role-Physical Functioning, Vitality, Physical Health total score, General Health, and Mental Health; a moderate level of Role-Mental Functioning, Health-Related Quality of Life, Mental Health total score, Social Functioning, and Physical Functioning; a low-moderate level of Bodily Pain under the symptoms of COVID-19 or a psychosomatic disorder. The study demonstrated a high correlation of Role-Physical Functioning with General Health, Vitality, Mental Health, and Mental Health total score; a high correlation of General Health with Vitality and Mental Health.

The Impact of Ideological and Political Education on Students' Mental Health: Insights into Educational Management and Policy Development

This study explores the critical role of Ideological and Political Education (IPE) in promoting students' mental health, focusing on the interplay between educational management and policy development. By integrating Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Social Constructivism, the study provides a theoretical framework to examine how IPE influences psychological well-being through enhanced value recognition, emotional regulation, and social adaptability. Empirical analysis based on diverse student groups demonstrates both the direct and indirect impacts of IPE on reducing anxiety and depression while fostering positive emotions and psychological resilience. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing policy support, including curriculum enhancement, participatory learning opportunities, and expanded mental health resources. However, the study acknowledges limitations such as the regional focus of the sample and the lack of longitudinal data. Future research should address cross-cultural applicability and leverage big data and AI technologies to refine mental health evaluation and intervention frameworks, thereby advancing the global understanding of the synergy between education and psychological well-being.

Diagnostic effectiveness of the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 supplemented with a brief clinical intake interview in a cohort of Polish elite Olympic athletes

ObjectiveSeveral studies have used the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1) among athletes but none have combined SMHAT-1 with a subsequent clinical intake interview. The aim of this study...

An attempt to integrate information from young children into parent/teacher-based mental health evaluation of child internalizing disorders in epidemiological surveys.

To date, most large surveys on the mental health of children under 11 years old have relied exclusively on data collected from parents and teachers, with no information from children themselves. However, these children are valuable informants despite their young age. To evaluate the effects of adding young children's self-evaluation of internalizing disorders to a combined teacher/parent-based algorithm using data from a European survey carried out in Italy, Bulgaria, and in the Netherlands. Comparing concordances with the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA; considered as the gold standard) of a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire's (SDQ) parent/teacher-based predictive algorithm, with and without integrating a child self-evaluation. The child self-evaluation was using the Dominic Interactive (DI), a computerized, pictorial, self-administered questionnaire for young children, which followed DSM 5 diagnoses definitions for internalized disorders. The concordance comparisons concerned 238 children, 5 to 12 years old from out-patient clinics, double evaluated, using kappa concordance test . Subsequent variations in disorder prevalence were evaluated in cross-sectional surveys in the general populations of the three study countries (n = 3,442). Adding self-evaluated child DI-based 'probable' internalizing disorder diagnoses to the SDQ parent/teacher algorithm increased concordance with gold standard: kappa increased from .25 (.14-.37) to .36 (.23-.49). In terms of population-based data, this addition increased the prevalence of 'probable' emotional disorders from 2.00 % (1.56-2.53) to 3.63 % (3.03-4.31) and revealed an expected gender difference. The inclusion of young children's self-reported data on internalizing disorders is a valuable addition to the generally used combined parent/teacher-based SDQ algorithm, and therefore better reflects the true prevalence of these disorders in these children. Further evaluation on larger validation samples is required.

Case Report: A Comprehensive Early Childhood Mental Health Evaluation for Children in the Foster Care System.

Children in the foster care system often have a host of prenatal and postnatal risk factors that can compromise development including disruptions in important attachment relationships. We argue that to effectively address this complex history and inform specific recommendations for intervention, it is important for an Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) evaluation to include both an assessment of the caregiver-child relationship status and neurodevelopment. We describe an ECMH evaluation for a 21-month-old girl who was referred to a multidisciplinary birth to three specialty clinic for difficulties separating from her preadoptive mother, indiscriminate friendliness, and emotional and behavioral dysregulation. She had a history of prenatal substance exposure and several disruptions in important attachment relationships. We gained insight into the caregiver-child relationship through behavioral observations and used standardized testing to assess neurodevelopment. This combination of assessment techniques revealed inconsistencies in secure base attachment patterns between the parent and child. She also performed lower than what would be expected for her age across several domains of development. This case highlights a comprehensive approach to an ECMH evaluation. Recommendations for intervention prioritized the parent-child relationship given the importance of attunement between caregiver and child to first optimize stress regulation and thus set the foundation for higher-order cognitive processes to develop.

Multicenter study of adolescent suicide attempts by poisoning: social, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics.

To evaluate the social, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics of patients brought to Spanish pediatric emergency departments (EDs) after suicide attempts by poisoning. A secondary objective was to identify risk factors for moderate-severe poisoning. Prospective multicenter cohort study. We included patients under the age of 18 years who were brought to 20 Spanish pediatric EDs after attempting suicide between January 2021 and June 2022. Case histories were reviewed and the patients were interviewed. A Poisoning Severity Score of 2 or more was classified as moderate-severe. A total of 592 episodes were studied; 541 of the patients (91.4%) were girls. The median (P25-P75) age was 14.6 years (13.6-15.7 years). A psychiatric diagnosis had been made in 417 (70.4%), 334 (56.4%) had attempted suicide previously, and 409 (69.1%) had been victims of bullying. Medications were ingested by 584 (98.6%). The most often used were benzodiazepines (used by 222; 37.5%) and paracetamol (by 187; 31.6%). Fifty-three poisonings were classified as moderate-severe. A mental health evaluation was carried out in 585 cases (98.8%). Odds ratios (ORs) indicated that higher risk of moderate-severe poisoning was associated with having an adjustment disorder (OR, 3.2; P25-P75, 1.1-9.0; P = .027), using opioids (OR, 6.4; P25-P75, 1.2-35.4; P = .032), and taking of antidiabetic drugs (OR, 27.6; P25-P75, 1.2-634.9; P = .038). Being a victim of bullying (OR, 0.4; P25-P75, 0.2-0.8; P = .013] and using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (OR, 0.3; P25-P75, 0.1-0.8; P = .020) decreased risk. Pediatric ED visits for suicide attempts by poisoning occur mainly in adolescent girls, and a majority have a medical history of a psychiatric diagnosis, prior suicide attempts, or self-harm behaviors. They have also often experienced bullying. Characteristics that distinguish patients with moderate-severe poisoning are the presence of an adjustment disorder and the use of opioids and antidiabetic drugs, which confer risk for greater severity.

Evaluation of Mental Health of Polytechnic Students through Correlation Analysis in SPSS

Evaluation of Mental Health of Polytechnic Students through Correlation Analysis in SPSS

Research on the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Literacy Service for Middle School Students

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is applied to improve the mental health literacy of middle school students. It can effectively improve the efficiency, effectiveness and feasibility of this service. Through the current big data analysis and machine autonomous learning technology, AI can analyze the characteristics of students' behavior patterns and physiological data by training the model used. This paper examines how artificial intelligence can improve the mental health literacy of middle school students. It begins by analyzing and interpreting three key factors that influence their understanding of mental health. Firstly, it analyzes and interprets the three factors that affect the mental health literacy of middle school students. Then from these three factors, the author discusses how artificial intelligence can be applied to enhance the mental health literacy of middle school students. That is to say, it puts forward the new application of artificial intelligence technology in mental health counseling, emotional recognition, mental health assessment, media publicity and education. For example, the use of artificial intelligence to develop virtual psychological teachers, through language processing analysis and emotional recognition to provide online counseling services; It develops emotion recognition function through video and speech analysis of artificial intelligence, and uses digital signal processing means. Through the comprehensive analysis of a large number of data, the mental health evaluation system is gradually intellectualized, so that the evaluation model standard is more targeted.

ANALYSIS STUDENT EMOTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH ON CUMULATIVE GPA USING MACHINE LEARNING AND SMOTE

This research investigates the impact of emotions and mental health on students' cumulative grade point average (CGPA) using machine learning classification algorithms while addressing data imbalances with the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE). Emotional well-being and mental health are acknowledged as vital determinants of academic achievement. Data imbalance, particularly in mental health metrics such as anxiety and depression, frequently compromises forecast accuracy. This study improves the accuracy of CGPA prediction based on emotional and mental health factors by utilizing SMOTE in machine learning models such as logistic regression and random forest. A dataset including 226 university students, including academic records and self-reported mental health evaluations, was evaluated. The random forest model attained an accuracy of 87.63%, exceeding the logistic regression model's accuracy of 86.56%. These findings emphasize the significant role of emotions and mental health in academic outcomes and validate SMOTE’s efficacy in addressing class imbalance. This work offers a fresh technique in educational data mining by revealing the possibility for improved academic achievement forecasts based on psychological characteristics, helping to the development of targeted therapies for students experiencing emotional issues. Implications for educational policy emphasize the significance of mental health support systems in promoting academic achievement. Subsequent research should investigate supplementary psychological variables and comprehensible models to improve predictive accuracy and facilitate evidence-based policymaking.

Forensic Neuropsychological Foundations in Competency to Stand Trial Evaluations.

Neuropsychological assessment can play a vital role in competency to stand trial (CST) evaluations. This article provides an overview of the brain and behavior-based conditions that may impact an individual's ability to participate in their legal proceedings, as well as the relevant legal parameters that guide these types of forensic mental health evaluations. Circumstances that may warrant the involvement of a neuropsychologist in these evaluations are reviewed. For example, neuropsychologists' expertise with validity testing, as well as their specialized knowledge of cognition, is useful from the onset of the evaluation through the end, where involved parties often want to know about restoration interventions and feasibility. Select neuropsychological testing measures and cultural considerations are also addressed. The article concludes with illustrative case examples that demonstrate the real-world application of neuropsychological involvement in this specific forensic context. Given the expanding opportunities for neuropsychologists to assist triers of fact, this work contributes to the necessary and developing education base for neuropsychologists who wish to provide informed, effective, and culturally sensitive CST evaluations or related consultation to the legal system.

How Right Now/Qué Hacer Ahora: Findings from an evaluation of a national mental health and coping campaign amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond its physical health impact, the COVID-19 pandemic also resulted in grief from loss of loved ones, isolation due to social distancing, stress, fear, and economic distress-all of which impacted mental health. How Right Now/Qué Hacer Ahora (HRN) is an award-winning, national campaign that provides emotional support to people disproportionately affected by COVID-19. We conducted a theory-based, culturally responsive evaluation to assess the campaign's effect on coping behaviors and resiliency between summer 2020 and spring 2021. We surveyed HRN's priority audiences (older adults/caregivers and those with preexisting health conditions, experiencing violence, or economic distress) in English and Spanish using NORC's national probability panel, AmeriSpeak, over three waves. We also analyzed social media data and monitored HRN website traffic and triangulated these data to understand the campaign's full impact. Campaign exposure was associated with people who were experiencing higher levels of stress and were more likely to seek information to support their emotional well-being. Campaign exposure was also positively associated with increased feelings of resilience and confidence in using coping strategies, especially for people experiencing violence or economic distress and people from racial and ethnic groups. Findings demonstrate the campaign's success in reaching its intended audiences with the mental health support they needed. Additionally, the HRN evaluation's design illustrates how the use of multiple data sources can elucidate a deeper understanding of campaign impact. Findings underscore that culturally responsive health communication interventions-like HRN-can provide needed mental health support and resources to disproportionately affected communities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychiatric Comorbidities of Childhood-onset Atopic Dermatitis in Relation to Eczema Severity: A Register-based Study among 28,000 Subjects in Finland.

Data on the severity of childhood-onset atopic dermatitis (AD) in relation to psychiatric comorbidities is scarce, even though AD predisposes to psychiatric comorbidities and the commonness of childhood-onset AD and its significance in disease progression are recognized. The purpose of this nationwide, register-based study of child patients diagnosed with AD in Finland between 1987 and 2017 was to determine how psychiatric comorbidities of AD patients differ depending on the disease severity of childhood-onset AD. AD severity was assessed by purchased AD treatment and risk of comorbidities was analyzed by the age of 18 and 30 years. The main finding of our study is that risk of several psychiatric disorders, i.e., depression, anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder, increased by the AD severity in childhood-onset AD already at young age. No difference was found for behavioral disorders, including hyperkinetic disorder, depending on AD severity. Childhood-onset AD is associated with different psychiatric comorbidities depending on AD severity, which supports the importance of mental health evaluation in AD patients.

Impact of cable lock distribution on firearm securement after emergent mental health evaluation: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSuicide-related presentations to pediatric emergency departments (PED) have increased in recent years. PED providers have the opportunity to reduce suicide risk by counseling on restricting access to lethal means. Supplementing lethal means counseling (LMC) with safety device distribution is effective in improving home safety practices. Data on PED-based LMC in high-risk patient populations is limited. The objective of this study was to determine if caregivers of children presenting to PED for mental health evaluation were more likely to secure all household firearms if given cable-style gun locks in addition to LMC.MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, caregivers completed a survey regarding storage practices of firearms and medication in the home. Participants were randomized to receive LMC (control) or LMC plus 2 cable-style gun locks (intervention). Follow-up survey was distributed 1 month after encounter. Primary outcome was proportion of households reporting all household firearms secured at follow-up. Secondary outcomes included: removal of lethal means from the home, purchase of additional safety devices, use of PED-provided locks (intervention only), and acceptability of PED-based LMC.ResultsTwo hundred participants were enrolled and randomized. Comparable portions of study groups completed follow-up surveys. Control and intervention arms had similar proportions of households reporting all firearms secured at baseline (89.9% vs. 82.2%, p = 0.209) and follow-up (97.1% vs. 98.5%, p = 0.96), respectively. Other safety behaviors such as removal of firearms (17.6% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.732), removal of medication (19.1% vs. 13.2%, p = 0.361), and purchase of additional safety devices (66.2% vs. 61.8%, p = 0.721) were also alike between the two groups. Both groups held favorable views of PED-based counseling. Within the intervention group, 70% reported use of provided locks. Preference for a different style of securement device was the most cited reason among those not using PED-provided locks.ConclusionsPED-based LMC is a favorably-viewed, effective tool for improving home safety practices in families of high-risk children. Provision of cable-style gun locks did not improve rate of firearm securement compared LMC alone—likely due to high baseline rates of firearm securement and preference for different style of lock among non-utilizers.Clinical Trial RegistrationID: NCT05568901. Clinicaltrials.gov. https://clinicaltrials.gov/. Retrospectively registered October 6, 2022. First participant enrollment: June 28, 2021.

Applied Learning in Advanced Asylum Medicine: Piloting Experiential Learning in Forensic Medical Evaluations.

Asylum medicine clinics that train clinicians to conduct forensic medical and mental health evaluations (FME) have proliferated in the United States, but there is still significant unmet need in training. We created a 12-week curriculum to develop the core skills needed to conduct effective, trauma-informed FME. Our course used a "flipped classroom" model; participants reviewed didactics in advance from a national, peer-reviewed training program, the Asylum Medicine Training Initiative, and used in-class time for case-based practice as experiential learning. Participants completed feedback surveys after each session in addition to pre-and post-course assessments. Sixteen clinicians with diverse geographic, professional, and demographic backgrounds participated in the course from January-March 2023. The three key themes that emerged from qualitative feedback were high participant satisfaction with the course model; participant desire for additional opportunities for practice; and participant desire for community-building. Post-course surveys showed that most participants felt only "somewhat comfortable" with the core skills emphasized in the course. Taken together, these findings suggest that curricula in asylum medicine should focus on experiential learning, skills practice, and building longitudinal mentorship. This curriculum is an innovative educational model that differs from the traditional didactic training that has been the mainstay in asylum medicine education. The curriculum is replicable and can be tailored to local environments or broad virtual communities.

Correlational study on the sense of humor and positive mental health in mental health professionals.

Mental health professionals require exceptional communication skills and the ability to maintain an empathetic and authentic attitude within the therapeutic relationship. It is crucial that they achieve an optimal balance of physical, mental, and social wellbeing to enhance their performance in this context. This necessity has sparked a growing interest in promoting mental health among these professionals by focusing on the evaluation of both Positive Mental Health and the Sense of Humor. To assess the level of sense of humor and positive mental health, and to analyse the relationships between the sense of humor construct, the positive mental health construct, and the sociodemographic, occupational, and educational characteristics of mental health professionals who care for patients in hospital and community settings. An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional with a non-experimental quantitative approach study has been carried out. The study was conducted involving 130 mental health care professionals. Levels of sense of humor and positive mental health were evaluated using authenticated questionnaires, while the relationship between these two constructs and the sociodemographic, occupational, and training characteristics of health workers were analyzed following STROBE guidelines. The study involved 130 professionals, predominantly women (71.5%), with an average age of 41.4 years. The majority were nurses (45.4%) with varied work experience and educational levels. Regarding the PMHQ questionnaire, an average score of 102.6 was achieved in the general evaluation, showing an insignificant relationship with sociodemographic and occupational variables. However, a significant trend regarding age and autonomy was noted. On the other hand, the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Questionnaire produced an average score of 67.3, also without significant correlations with the variables under scrutiny. Although no positive relationships were found between the general scores of Positive Mental Health Questionnaire and Multidimensional Sense of Humor Questionnaire, a positive correlation emerged between the use of humor and situational control. In summary, the findings suggest that the level of autonomy and the use of humor may be associated with specific sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, although the precise relationship remains complex and requires further research.

Affective Computing in Mental Health: The Role of Facial Expression Recognition

Affective computing has emerged as one of the leading interdisciplinary disciplines that utilize technology to detect and interpret human emotions, and so it provides critical information for the mental health monitoring process. The present study addresses the facial expression recognition as an important tool in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. By discussing the physiological and psychological implications that facial expressions may have, we analyze how FER systems can supplement the traditional approach to mental health evaluation by providing real-time feedback and timely intervention. Improved algorithms for machine learning and computer vision techniques in FER systems enhance the accuracy and efficiency of FER systems, thus increasing their applicability in teletherapy, clinical assessment, and personal well-being applications. This discussion paper shall also touch on the issues and ethical concerns of FER technology, such as privacy and the potential for misinterpretation. Our results indicate that FER can be a meaningful contributor to care for personal mental health by continuous monitoring and understanding of emotional well-being.

Psychosocial Needs of People Living With Pleural Mesothelioma and Family Carers: A Mixed Methods Study.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of growing global incidence, especially in developing countries, with unique complex psychosocial impacts on patients and their carers. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the psychosocial needs of people living with pleural mesothelioma and family carers. A mixed methods design with 61 semi-structured interviews and psychometrically validated questionnaires to assess pleural mesothelioma patients' (n=36) quality of life and frailty and carers' (n=25) caregiving experiences, quality of life, and pre-loss prolonged grief symptoms. People with mesothelioma (29 men, 7 women, aged 46-89years) indicated moderate quality of life; 18 (50%) met criteria for frailty. Current carers (21 women, 4 men; aged 41-79years) generally reported positive caregiving experiences and high quality of life; 5 (20%) scored in the range indicative of risk for prolonged grief disorder. Four themes were generated: a desire for tailored information with bespoke detail, assistance to coordinate tasks of treatment, improved social and peer support, and effective psychological services. Needs varied, with main concerns being about breaking the news to spouses/children, the impact of the disease and death on family, loss of personal future, managing psychological symptoms, and avoiding burden. These specific and unmet psychosocial needs provide a strong basis for individualised care pathways to address these needs via the integration of psychology into the multidisciplinary care team and the development and evaluation of mental health and wellbeing interventions for mesothelioma patients and carers. Doing so will reduce psychosocial distress and improve residual vitality.

Evaluation of Physical and Mental Health in Adults Who Underwent Limb-Lengthening Procedures with Circular External Fixators During Childhood or Adolescence.

Lower limb length discrepancy (LLD) in children and adolescents, often due to congenital or acquired conditions, is treated to achieve limb equality and alignment, optimizing function and minimizing cosmetic concerns for an active adulthood. This study evaluated the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and physical functioning of adults who underwent unilateral limb lengthening with circular external fixators (EFs) in childhood. Fifty patients treated at a median age of 14.9 years completed the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Stanmore Limb Reconstruction Score (SLRS) questionnaires in adulthood, with a median follow-up of 8.9 years. Among the 50 patients, 38 underwent a single limb lengthening (21 tibia, 12 femur, 5 both), while 12 required multiple cycles. The median residual LLD was 0.4 cm, with 12 patients (24%) having over 2 cm. Complications occurred in 67% of procedures, mainly due to prolonged healing. Physical and mental health scores were significantly lower than normative data. The mean Physical Component Summary was 52.2 ± 7.2 (p = 0.20). The mean Mental Component Summary was 43.9 ± 8.6 (p = 0.001), notably lower in congenital LLD cases. Many SLRS items (Pain, Social, Physical Function, Work, and Emotions) strongly correlated with SF-36 items. Adults treated with distraction osteogenesis for congenital LLD show normal physical but lower mental health scores compared to peers. Lengthening procedure characteristics did not significantly impact mental health. Routine psychological and social assessments are recommended to prevent long-term distress by providing appropriate support.