Fear Of Illness Research Articles

A Complicated Case: Presenting Neuropsychiatric Symptoms After COVID Infection

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people worldwide. Among a large number of deaths, COVID-19 has caused significant health-related sequelae involving many systems of the body. Some results include increased anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other distress symptoms. Additionally, there are reports of sudden onset of psychosis in patients with no psychiatric history following COVID-19.ObjectivesEmphasizing the importance of Covid 19 causing many psychiatric diseases, although its etiology is not yet known.MethodsReport of a clinical caseResultsWe report a 68-year-old previously healthy woman with no personal or family history of mental illness who was hospitalized due to COVID-19 and then started to have psychiatric complaints. She had complaints such as refusal to speak, eat and drink, fear of death which started after her discharge from the hospital due to COVID-19.On 14.07.2021, she applied to the psychiatry outpatient clinic of our hospital for the first time. In addition to the existing complaints, we have considered the preliminary diagnoses of dementia and psychotic depression due to the increasing fear of being alone, going out alone, confusion in the interim periods, and thoughts that someone will harm her and her family. We consulted the neurology clinic and she was admitted to the neurology service with a preliminary diagnosis of encephalitis. During her hospitalization, the patient’s EEG and MRI were taken, LP was performed, and no pathology was detected in the examinations. Her current psychiatric treatment (escitalopram 10mg/d, medazepam 2mg/d, and olanzapine 2,5mg/d) continued throughout her hospitalization in the neurology service, but her complaints did not change. She was fed formula with an NG tube, IV hydration was provided, and a urinary catheter was inserted.After ruling out neurological disease on 12.08.2021, the patient was admitted to our psychiatry service with a prediagnosis of catatonic-psychotic depression. Electroconvulsive therapy was planned because the visual hallucinations and persecutory delusions persisted. Total of 7 sessions of ECT were received. The patient’s oral intake started with the current treatment, and her fluent speech began. Olanzapine dose was increased to 7.5mg/d, and escitalopram dose was increased to 20mg/d due to persistent depressive and psychotic symptoms. The patient was discharged on 02.09.2021 with the current treatment. Her complaints had improved before she was discharged.Conclusions COVID-19 remains an emerging disease with unknown psychological sequelae. Caution should be exercised regarding psychiatric symptoms and associated risks in patients with a recent diagnosis of COVID-19. Cytokine storm may also be involved in the etiology, in addition to many psychological factors such as fear of illness, uncertainty, and isolation. Potential risk factors and underlying biological mechanisms should be investigated.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

„Amicus” – oswajanie lęku pacjenta Świętokrzyskiego Centrum Onkologii w Kielcach poprzez informacje. Działalność redaktorek Joanny Chądzyńskiej i Izabeli Opalińskiej

The paper presents the free quarterly Amicus, published from 2015 until today in 3000 copies by the Świętokrzyskie Oncology Centre in Kielce, addressed to the patients of this facility. It is edited by two persons: Joanna Chądzyńska and Izabela Opalińska. The purpose of launching this form of communication is to familiarize patients with the profile of the clinic’s operation, its departments, clinical trial prophylaxis, diagnostics, treatment methods (surgery, radio and chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy), specialist doctors, multidisciplinary therapeutic teams that develop treatment plans for patients, telepathology – i.e., information systems in medicine, healthy lifestyle and nutrition, psycho-oncology, scientific conferences and symposia, nursing care, rehabilitation, patients’ rights. It performs a role of the friend-guide to people who are often startled by the diagnosis. The magazine presents interviews with famous people from the cultural and scientific world who have been cured or who are undergoing treatment, including medical doctors, encouraging readers to conduct preventive examinations and to be optimistic about their treatment. The main goal is to familiarise patients with the fear of illness that often results from ignorance. Since March 2020, topics related to the Covid -19 pandemic concern preventive measures, such as vaccination against the virus, and possible complications after the disease.

Doświadczenie pandemii COVID-19 w narracjach studentek pedagogiki

The article attempts to analyze the experiences of female pedagogy students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The topic is extremely important and currently gaining attention. The main objective of the study was to analyze narrative texts and to select risk factors as well as protective factors of female students’ mental health during the pandemic. The study included two groups of full-time (10 persons) and part-time (10 persons) female students of pedagogy at Carpathian State University in Krosno. The analysis of the subjects’ narrative texts revealed that enforced social isolation leads to a disruption of relational needs and negative emotional states (including anxiety, fear of illness, and anger) characteristic of the group of female students in early and middle adulthood. The article is addressed to those who are interested in and analyze the impact on an individual of life experiences resulting from social changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Understanding Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Hesitancy in Racial and Ethnic Minority Caregivers.

(1) Background: We compared influenza and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy levels in Black, Hispanic, and White parents/caregivers and identified barriers and facilitators to vaccine acceptance. (2) Methods: This was a mixed methods study. A cross-sectional survey of ED caregivers presenting with children 6mo−18yo compared vaccine hesitancy levels among diverse caregivers. Six focus groups of survey participants, stratified by caregiver race/ethnicity and caregiver intent to receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, assessed facilitators and barriers of vaccination, with thematic coding using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). (3) Results: Surveys (n = 589) revealed Black caregivers had significantly higher vaccine hesitancy rates than White caregivers for pediatric influenza (42% versus 21%) and SARS-CoV-2 (63% versus 36%; both p < 0.05). Hispanic caregivers were more hesitant than White caregivers (37% flu and 58% SARS-CoV-2), but this was not significant. Qualitative analysis (n = 23 caregivers) identified barriers including vaccine side effects, lack of necessity, inadequate data/science, and distrust. Facilitators included vaccine convenience, fear of illness, and desire to protect others. (4) Conclusions: Minority caregivers reported higher levels of vaccine hesitancy for influenza and SARS-CoV-2. We identified vaccine facilitators and barriers inclusive of Black and Hispanic caregivers, which may guide interventions designed to equitably improve acceptance of pediatric vaccines.

Parental attitudes in the pediatric emergency department about the COVID-19 vaccine

BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccinations are now recommended in the United States (U.S.) for children ≥ 6 months old. However, pediatric vaccination rates remain low, particularly in the Hispanic/Latinx population. ObjectiveUsing the 4C vaccine hesitancy framework (calculation, complacency, confidence, convenience), we examined parental attitudes in the emergency department (ED) towards COVID-19 vaccination, identified dimensions of parental vaccine hesitancy, and assessed parental willingness to have their child receive the COVID-19 vaccine. MethodsAs part of a larger multi-methods study examining influenza vaccine hesitancy, we conducted interviews that included questions about COVID-19 vaccine authorization for children. We used directed content analysis to extract qualitative themes from 3 groups of parents in the ED: Hispanic/Latinx Spanish speaking (HS), Hispanic/Latinx English speaking (HE), non-Hispanic/non-Latinx White English speaking (WE). Themes were triangulated with the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) survey, where higher scores indicate increased vaccine hesitancy. ResultsFactors influencing vaccine hesitancy were mapped to the 4C framework from 58 sets of interviews and PACVs. HE and HS parents, compared to WE parents, had less knowledge about COVID-19 and its vaccine, and more beliefs in COVID-19 vaccine myths. However, both HS and HE parent groups were more inclined to endorse COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness as a reason to have their children vaccinated. HS parents felt that COVID-19 increased their fear of illnesses in general and were worried about confusing COVID-19 with other infections. Median PACV scores of HS (Mdn = 20) and HE (Mdn = 20) parent groups were higher than of WE parents (Mdn = 10), but parental willingness to have their child receive COVID-19 vaccination was similar across groups. ConclusionsHigher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among HS and HE parents compared to WE parents may be attributed to insufficient knowledge about COVID-19, its vaccine, along with COVID-19 vaccine myths. Efforts to provide targeted vaccine education to different populations is warranted.

Toward a Phenomenological Assessment of Values in Alcohol Misuse

Introduction: Alcohol misuse emerges from a complex range of psychopathological experiences and personal and cultural values. For this reason, understanding the reasons why a person seeks treatment is crucial to effective care. This study aimed to identify the values which guide the decision-making process of persons seeking voluntary hospitalization for treatment for alcohol misuse, as well as the values of significant others. Methods: A phenomenological investigation was conducted through interviews with 25 individuals (and family members) who had voluntarily admitted themselves to a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, with the objective of maintaining abstinence from alcohol dependence. Results: The main factors that determined the treatment-seeking decision were damage to social relationships and fear of illness and deterioration of the physical condition; the factors related to treatment expectations were restoring personality and awareness of morbidity; and the single factor considered most important to the success of the treatment was willpower. Conclusions: The results of this study contribute to developing strategies for bringing care closer to the patient’s perspective of the disease and encourage their active participation in the formulation of care.

Seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic

The time of the pandemic was a time of crisis for the whole world. Young people lost their jobs, they were prevented from implementing their plans, and their social contacts were drastically limited. The article, however, focuses on seniors, for whom it was a period during which they feared for their lives. Many of them died, many lost their health, and many lost their loved ones. The study described in the article was conducted using the interview technique and analysed the situation of seniors during the pandemic. The analysis was based on several main problems occurring during the pandemic, which were chosen on the basis of the findings reported in the subject literature, namely: treatment, shopping opportunities, loneliness, social isolation, inactivity, information chaos exacerbated by seniors’ reduced ability to access electronic sources, fear of illness and fear of death. The interviews were conducted with 12 seniors and one nursing assistant who worked in a nursing home. They revealed that the main and most painful problems the respondents faced during the pandemic were: loneliness, inactivity, lack of access to religious practices in places of worship, as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders they experienced in response to the situation.

Evolution of Mood Symptomatology Through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the CovidSense Longitudinal Study.

BackgroundThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 global pandemic, with its associated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness, has led to significant mental, physical, social, and economic hardships. Physical distancing, isolation, and fear of illness have significantly affected the mental health of people worldwide. Several studies have documented the cross-sectional elevated prevalence of mental anguish, but due to the sudden nature of the pandemic, very few longitudinal studies have been reported, especially covering the first phase of the pandemic. CovidSense, a longitudinal adaptive study, was initiated to answer some key questions: how did the pandemic and related social and economic conditions affect depression, which groups showed more vulnerability, and what protective factors emerged as the pandemic unfolded?MethodologyCovidSense was deployed from April to December 2020. The adaptive design enabled adaption to fluctuating demographics/health status. Participants were regularly queried via SMS messages about their mental health, physical health, and life circumstances. The study included 1,190 participants who answered a total of 18,783 survey panels. This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study following adult participants in the general population through the COVID-19 pandemic. The participant cohort reported self-assessed measures ranging from subjective mood ratings and substance use to validated questionnaires, such as the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS) and Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R).ResultsParticipants with pre-existing physical (especially pulmonary) or mental conditions had overall higher levels of depression, as measured by the QIDS and self-reported mood. Participants with pre-existing conditions also showed increased vulnerability to the stress caused by watching the news and the increase in COVID-19 cases. Younger participants (aged 18-25 years) were more affected than older groups. People with severe levels of depression had the most variation in QIDS scores, whereas individuals with none to low depressive scores had the most variability in self-reported mood fluctuations.ConclusionsThe effects of pandemic-related chronic stress were predominant in young adults and individuals with pre-existing mental and medical conditions regardless of whether they had acquired COVID-19 or not. These results point to the possibility of allocating preventive as well as treatment resources based on vulnerability.

Страхи российского студенчества в ситуации социальной неопределенности (весна 2022 года)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the repertoire of Russian students’ fears in four Russian regions in the context of the spring events of 2022. The usual and new aspects of fears and anxiety are described, as well as their regional differences due to the event context and territorial proximity/remoteness from the arena of a special mili-tary operation. Empirical data were collected among students of 1-4 full-time courses of study in economic, social and humanitarian areas of training in the Sverdlovsk, Tyumen, Rostov and Belgorod regions from 03/10/2022 to 03/15/2022. The study used the method of group focused interviews (8 focus groups). In the course of quali-tative data analysis, axial and thematic coding procedures were implemented. It was revealed that the structure of the dominant elements in the repertoire of fears is pre-served in all analyzed regions (fear of illness of relatives and friends, war, one’s own illness and loss of working capacity, arbitrariness on the part of the authorities, pov-erty), however, for students of the Urals and Siberia, the fear of illness of relatives is in the first place, while in the border regions the first position is occupied by the fear of war. It was revealed that the external environmental factors of the border areas af-fect the strengthening of fears: the closer and more real the threat is, the sharper and more specific the students' fears are. Socio-psychological tension is caused by dif-fuse, natural fears for the life, health and well-being of loved ones, one's own social future, the future of the country and the world, which, under the influence of a situa-tion of uncertainty, acquire concreteness and menacing acuteness. New aspects in the palette of fears are associated with economic, political, cultural changes in the coun-try and the world, and, first of all, with manifestations of the "cancel culture". Its economic aspect is due to the total and long-term economic sanctions against the Russian Federation, which caused a surge in economic fears, the need to cope with which will require serious changes in the economic consciousness and behavior of young people. The political aspect of cancel culture is associated among students with growing fears about the external political isolation of Russia and alienation from vari-ous forms of political activity within the country. The socio-cultural aspect of the cancellation phenomenon manifested itself in new types of fears of the cultural isola-tion of Russia as a whole, reduced access to familiar social networks and services, limited student cultural, scientific, educational exchanges and educational opportuni-ties abroad.

Risk perceptions of drinking bottled vs. tap water in a low-income community on the US-Mexico Border

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that low-income Latinos generally drink bottled water over tap water and might be at increased risks for cavities from unfluoridated bottled water. In order to better design interventions, it is important to understand the risk perceptions of this unique high-risk yet historically marginalized group.MethodsWe interviewed low-income Latino households (n = 90) from Nogales, Arizona who primarily drink bottled water and asked them to evaluate potential health risks of drinking tap water compared to 16 other voluntary activities. Unpaired t-tests were used to determine if statistically significant (α = 0.05) differences occurred in perceived risk by drinking-water source and differences among demographic groups in their level of (dis)agreement with statements regarding tap or bottled water safety. To assess significant differences (α = 0.05) in perceived risks and voluntariness to engage in a number of activities, including drinking local tap water and drinking water in different geographic regions, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Scheffe’s post-hoc test (a conservative post-hoc test) with adjustment for the number of pairwise comparisons was used.ResultsParticipants viewed bottled water to be significantly safer to consume than tap water (p < 0.001). On a Likert scale from 1 (low risk) to 5 (high risk), “drinking tap water in Nogales, Arizona” received an average score of 4.7, which was significantly higher than the average perceived risk of drinking San Francisco, California tap water (µ = 3.4, p < 0.001), and as risky as drinking and driving (µ = 4.8, p = 1.00) and drinking Nogales, Sonora, Mexico tap water (µ = 4.8, p = 1.00). Ninety-eight percent of participants feared that drinking local tap water could result in illness, 79% did not drink their water because of fear of microbial and chemical contamination and 73% would drink their water if they knew it was safe regardless of taste.ConclusionsThese results suggest that fear of illness from tap-water consumption is an important contributing factor to increased bottled water use. Future efforts should focus on the development of educational and outreach efforts to assess the safety and risks associated with tap-water consumption.

Sleep quality, latency, and sleepiness are positively correlated with depression symptoms of Brazilians facing the pandemic-associated stressors of COVID-19.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus has implicated on mental health and psychopathological sequelae through viral infection. Suggestively, the pandemic-associated stressors (e.g., isolation, fear of illness, inadequate information and supply) may affect the sleep and feedback the depression symptoms, ultimately decreasing the immune system and offering further opportunities for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection. Nevertheless, this association still requires investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to correlate the depression symptoms with sleep variables from subjects facing the restrictions of the ongoing pandemic in Brazil.One hundred sixty-two volunteers (age = 31 ± 13 years; body mass = 69.8 ± 14.9 kg; height = 168 ± 9 cm) answered the Beck Depression Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index/Epworth Sleepiness Scale for determination of depression symptoms and sleep variables, respectively.Significant and positive correlations were obtained between Beck score and sleep quality (r = 0.53; P = .000), sleep latency (r = 0.29; P = .000), and sleepiness (r = 0.22; P = .003), but not with sleep time (r = –0.10; P = .175).This report concluded that Brazilians struggling with pandemic-associated stressors with high depression symptoms may have negative impacts on sleep, mainly regarding its quality, latency, and sleepiness.

Smartphone addiction risk, technology-related behaviors and attitudes, and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic-related perceived risk of infection, illness fears, acute stress, emotional anxiety, exhaustion, and fatigue, psychological trauma and depressive symptoms, and sustained psychological distress can cause smartphone addiction risk and lead to technology-related cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disorders, thus impacting psychological well-being. Behavioral addiction of smartphone users can result in anxiety symptom severity, psychiatric symptoms, and depressive stress. We carried out a quantitative literature review of the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest throughout June 2022, with search terms including “smartphone addiction + COVID-19” + “stress,” “anxiety,” “depression,” “psychological distress,” “screen time,” and “fear.” As we analyzed only articles published between 2020 and 2022, 288 papers met the eligibility criteria. By excluding sources with similar titles, having unclear findings or unsupported by replication, or displaying inconsistent content, we selected 64, mainly empirical, sources. We used layout algorithms (VOSviewer) and bibliometric mapping (Dimensions) as data visualization tools. Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR), a systematic review and literature review software (Distiller SR), Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), and Systematic Review Data Repository (SRDR) were employed as methodological quality assessment tools. As limitations, we analyzed only articles published between 2020 and 2022 in scholarly outlets indexed in the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases. The scope of our study also does not advance the inspection of sources covering vulnerable individuals suffering from certain diseases or specific generations. Subsequent analyses should develop on smartphone use and addiction among children and adolescents. Future research should thus investigate problematic smartphone use and addiction across generations Z and Alpha. Attention should be directed to their personality traits and psychopathological symptoms.

The Forgotten Youth: Responding to Mental Health Needs Among Confined Youth in the Time of COVID-19.

As COVID-19 sweeps across the country, individuals within the carceral system face an increased risk of contracting the virus, and as a result, heightened risk for mental health symptoms. We discuss how COVID-19 appears to be exacerbating mental health inequities for children within the carceral system and the need to respond accordingly. Children within the carceral system represent a particularly vulnerable population, and the majority of detained or confined youth identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). As juvenile detention centers in multiple states report cases of COVID-19, children who are confined are experiencing higher rates of illness and fear of illness. It is crucial to consider how the mental health of children who are confined will be disproportionately affected compared with the general population. We provide recommendations to revise practices to improve and reduce mental health outcomes among confined children.

Fear of Illness and Convenient Access to Vaccines Appear to Be the Missing Keys to Successful Vaccination Campaigns: Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Decisions of Hospital Staff in Poland concerning Vaccination against Influenza and COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted for two years as of 2022, and it is common knowledge that vaccines are an essential tool to mitigate the health, economic, and social fallout. Unfortunately, vaccine hesitancy is still a serious global problem, both in the general population and among healthcare workers. The authors used an original questionnaire to conduct an anonymous survey study in the University Clinical Hospital in Wrocław, Poland, in April and May of 2021 after acquiring consent from the Medical University of Wrocław, Poland Bioethical Committee. The study results demonstrate that, to a significant extent, the decisions concerning vaccinations are based on factors that are difficult to change with rational argumentation, including people’s personal opinions or beliefs concerning vaccinations and their earlier experiences with vaccinations. The study results suggest that the impregnating effect of one’s own opinions, beliefs, and experiences can be surmounted if vaccines are dispensed free and conveniently while the pathogen is irrationally and emotionally perceived as untamed and possibly severe and life threatening. It makes a significant difference as in such cases that the percentage of participants whose decisions concerning vaccination are influenced by the risks to life or health of one’s own or others rises by about 27 and 36 percent points, respectively. Therefore, in order to succeed, campaigns for vaccinations need to include strong subjective and emotional communication, appealing to negative emotions and exploiting the public’s fear of the unknown while stressing tangible and personal threats possibly resulting from acquiring a vaccine-preventable infectious disease.

The importance of professional factors in the formation of stress reactions in medical workers during the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 (according to a questionnaire survey)

Introduction. In the context of the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection, crises in the field of economy, education, politics and health have intensified. Medical workers turned out to be the most vulnerable category of the population in terms of the risk of developing emotional burnout. The additional challenges faced by healthcare professionals have multiplied the workload of healthcare professionals, as well as increased susceptibility to stress and burnout. The purpose of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the phases of the burnout syndrome among medical workers and to study the factors associated with the burnout syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods. The study involved healthcare workers in COVID hospitals (n=201); medical workers of the outpatient-polyclinic level (n=186); medical workers of multidisciplinary hospitals (n=195); control group (n=190). The following research methods were used: a questionnaire survey and a questionnaire by Boyko V.V. «Diagnosis of the level of emotional burnout», which is a questionnaire of 84 questions. Results. A high level of emotional burnout was revealed in the general sample of medical workers compared to the control group. The most pronounced signs of emotional distress: tension, resistance, exhaustion are found in medical workers in COVID hospitals compared to medical workers in multidisciplinary hospitals and outpatient clinics. Potential sources of stress for medical workers include: high workload, restrictive measures being introduced, fear of illness, lack and shortage of PPE, the threat and risk of contracting a new coronavirus infection, a long period of isolation, financial instability, insufficient (in the first stage) accumulated knowledge about a new little-studied disease, a feeling of discrimination and / or stigmatization.

Use interactive process to determine if accommodations for long COVID create fundamental alterations

Although the worst of the COVID‐19 pandemic appears to be over, its impact on higher education administrators will continue through the effects of long COVID‐19 and through continued fear of illness. Recent guidance from the Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice (bit.ly/3IPSbYh) notes that long COVID, an occasional consequence of even mild COVID infections, can be a disability if it substantially limits a major life activity, and therefore can be expected to trigger requests for academic adjustments and reasonable accommodations. The guidance notes that common symptoms associated with long COVID include, but are not limited to, fatigue; difficulty thinking or concentrating, sometimes referred to as brain fog; depression; anxiety; and heart palpitations, all of which may directly interfere with the ability to think and learn.

An increase in somatization in pandemic time in association with lexical characterictic of statements about pandemic

IntroductionOne of the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic may be an increase in somatization.Objectivesidentification of implicit characteristics of texts indicating the peculiarities of the opinion about the pandemic by people with high somatization level.MethodsSurvey (03/23/2020–01/29/2021, N=1188). Used: SCL-90-R, COPE, Constructive Thinking Inventory (CTI). It was offered to express an opinion on the pandemic. The statements were divided into the two text arrays - “high somatization” and “low somatization” (based on the parameter “somatization” SCL-90R). The frequency of words in these text arrays was estimated (LIWC).ResultsThe analysis showed an increase in somatization as the pandemic developed (Std.J-T Statistic=4,327). The relationship between somatization and anxiety, sleep disturbances, and depression was revealed. Higher rates of somatization are associated with a decrease in emotional coping, «global constructive thinking» and «personal superstitious thinking», an increase in «categorical thinking». The connection between somatization and a number of non-constructive copings is shown. Texts associated with high somatization demonstrate higher number of pronouns of the first person (30.77%, 17.19%), a decrease in the tonality of words, a vocabulary (LIWC) of suffering, negative sthenic emotions (1,53%, 0,93%), a decrease in the vocabulary of motivation and resistance (0,93%, 1,49%), a decrease in vocabulary associated with the body (0,20%, 0,32%).ConclusionsThe connection between somatization and high emotional distress, which manifests itself in negative emotional vocabulary and is associated with a low level of emotional coping, is shown. The “representation” of the pandemic, presented in the text, is “divorced” from somatic manifestations, fear of illness and death.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Should “medical students` disease” be regarded as a true disease entity? Cross-sectional study among Polish students

IntroductionThere is a widely known stereotype about medical majors repeated by generations of medical practitioners called ,,medical student disease”. It’s based on a belief that unexperienced students are prone to develop pathological fear of medical conditions they are studying about.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to examine two populations of students - medical and non-medical ones in order to compare their level of hypochondriacal behavior and health-related anxiety. Moreover we looked for other factors which might have had an influence on hypochondria and nosophobia among them.Methods The proprietary questionnaire was completed by 606 students (303 medical students of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice and 293 students of the 3 largest non-medical universities in Katowice).ResultsThe results show that medical students receive same scores on a nosophobia scale as students of non-medical universities (p=0,5). The analysis of hypochondriacal behavior showed significantly higher results in non-medical students group (p=0,02) .The higher medical students were at the stages of academic education, the higher the results of nosophobia they obtained. In the entire study group female received higher score in relation to the fear of illness (p = 0.001). People with mental disorders achieve significantly higher results of nosophobia (p &lt;0.001 in the entire group) and of hypochondria (p &lt;0.001 for the entire cohort).ConclusionsOur study challenges the widespread belief that medical students, compared to their peers, are overly anxious about their own health. Gender and having a mental illness are predictors of hypochondria and nosophobia.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Music Therapy for Chronically ill Patient

Chornic illness puts a person at increased risk for developing anxiety or an anxiety disorder. Most often, chronic diseases are incurable, and treatment is focused primarily on the management of symptoms. Patients with chronic diseases commonly report fears of illness or symptoms recurring or worsening. The more this illness may consume a person’s life and thoughts, the more negativity tends to take over. Music can affect a person at psychological or emotional aspect during treatment of an illness or injury.

Fear of illness & virus evaluation (FIVE) COVID-19 scales for children-parent/caregiver-report development and validation

ObjectiveCommonly-used youth anxiety measures may not comprehensively capture fears, worries, and experiences related to the pervasive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study described the development of the Fear of Illness and Virus Evaluation (FIVE) scales and validated the caregiver-report version. MethodAfter initial development, feedback was obtained from clinicians and researchers, who provided suggestions on item content/wording, reviewed edits, and provided support for the updated FIVE’s content and face validity. Factor structure, measurement invariance, and psychometric properties were analyzed using data from a multi-site, longitudinal study of COVID-19-related effects on family functioning with 1599 caregivers from the United States and Canada. ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses indicated a hierarchical five-factor structure best fit the data, resulting in a 31-item measure with four lower-order subscales: (1) Fears about Contamination and Illness; (2) Fears about Social Distancing, (3) Avoidance Behaviors, and (4) Mitigation Behaviors, and a higher-order factor, (5) Total Fears, indicated by the two fear-related lower-order subscales. Measurement invariance by country of residence, child age, and child sex was found. All subscales demonstrated strong internal consistency, appropriate item-scale discrimination, and no floor or ceiling effects. The Total Fears subscale demonstrated appropriate test-retest reliability. Concurrent validity supported by strong correlation with a youth anxiety measure. DiscussionThe FIVE provides a psychometrically-sound measure of COVID-19-related fears and behaviors in youth in a caregiver-report format. Future research is necessary to evaluate correlates and longitudinal symptom patterns captured by the FIVE caregiver-report, as well as the validity and reliability of a youth self-report version of the FIVE.