Forms Of Psychological Distress Research Articles

Psychological well-being among government pharmacy staff in Sarawak and the associating factors

Objectives. Studies have highlighted that healthcare workers are exposed to various forms of psychological distress. This study aimed to assess the psychological well-being of pharmacy staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and the associating factors. Methods. The cross-sectional study explored the psychological well-being of pharmacy staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. An adopted questionnaire was employed to collect quantitative data from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021. Results. A total of 515 respondents were recruited. Those who perceived good health status were 1.9 times more likely to have normal depression scores (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.53; B = −0.64), and 2.4 times (RRR = 0.41; B = −0.88) more likely to have normal stress scores. Those who were greatly affected by COVID-19 in their work were found to be 1.2 times (RRR = 1.20; B = 0.18) more likely to have moderate anxiety scores and 1.44 times (RRR = 1.44; B = 0.36) more likely to have severe depression scores. Respondents with higher work characteristic scores were more likely to have normal depression, stress and anxiety scores. Conclusions. Good health status perception and work characteristics appeared to be the factors affecting respondents’ scores in all dimensions of psychological well-being. Hence, improving both domains will be key in improving overall psychological well-being.

Psychedelic Therapy as Form of Life

In the historical context of a crisis in biological psychiatry, psychedelic drugs paired with psychotherapy are globally re-emerging in research clinics as a potential transdiagnostic therapy for treating mood disorders, addictions, and other forms of psychological distress. The treatments are poised to soon shift from clinical trials to widespread service delivery in places like Australia, North America, and Europe, which has prompted ethical questions by social scientists and bioethicists. Taking a broader view, we argue that the ethics of psychedelic therapy concerns not simply how psychotherapies are different when paired with psychedelic drugs, but how psychedelic therapies shape and are shaped by different values, norms, and metaphysical commitments. Drawing from the published literature and interviews with seven psychedelic therapists working in clinical trials in the United States, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia, this article opens the black box of the treatments to consider the values and informal debates currently animating the therapies. Considering questions of patient autonomy, mechanisms of therapeutic action, and which therapies are best suited to pair with psychedelic substances, we examine the ethics of psychedelic therapy as an emergent form of life. To bring this form of life out in fuller relief, we conclude by comparing and contrasting it with ayahuasca use in Amazonian shamanism.

Optimizing smartphone psychotherapy for depressive symptoms in patients with cancer: Multiphase optimization strategy using a decentralized multicenter randomized clinical trial (J-SUPPORT 2001 Study).

Patients with cancer experience various forms of psychological distress, including depressive symptoms, which can impact quality of life, elevate morbidity risk, and increase medical costs. Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are effective for reducing depressive symptoms among patients with cancer, but most patients prefer psychotherapy. This study aimed to develop an efficient and effective smartphone psychotherapy component to address depressive symptom. This was a decentralized, parallel-group, multicenter, open, individually randomized, fully factorial trial. Patients aged ≥20 years with cancer were randomized by the presence/absence of three cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) skills (behavioral activation [BA], assertiveness training [AT], and problem-solving [PS]) on a smartphone app. All participants received psychoeducation (PE). The primary outcome was change in the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) total score between baseline and week 8. Secondary outcomes included anxiety. In total, 359 participants were randomized. Primary outcome data at week 8 were obtained for 355 participants (99%). The week 8 PHQ-9 total score was significantly reduced from baseline for all participants by -1.41 points (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.89, -0.92), but between-group differences in change scores were not significant (BA: -0.04, 95% CI -0.75, 0.67; AT: -0.16, 95% CI -0.87, 0.55; PS: -0.19, 95% CI -0.90, 0.52). As the presence of any of the three intervention components did not contribute to a significant additive reduction of depressive symptoms, we cannot make evidence-based recommendations regarding the use of specific smartphone psychotherapy.

The moderated-mediation role of risk perception and intolerance of uncertainty in the association between residual symptoms and psychological distress: a cross-sectional study after COVID-19 policy lifted in China

BackgroundA considerable number of individuals infected with COVID-19 experience residual symptoms after the acute phase. However, the correlation between residual symptoms and psychological distress and underlying mechanisms are scarcely studied. We aim to explore the association between residual symptoms of COVID-19 and psychological distress, specifically depression, anxiety, and fear of COVID-19, and examine the role of risk perception and intolerance of uncertainty in the association.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted by online questionnaire-based approach in mid-January 2023. Self-reported demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related information, and residual symptoms were collected. Depression, anxiety, fear, risk perception and intolerance of uncertainty were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), COVID-19 Risk Perception Scale and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12 (IUS-12), respectively. Linear regression analyses were conducted to explore the associations. A moderated mediation model was then constructed to examine the role of risk perception of COVID-19 and intolerance of uncertainty in the association between residual symptoms and psychological distress.Results1735 participants effectively completed the survey. 34.9% of the patients experienced residual symptoms after acute phase of COVID-19. Psychological distress was markedly increased by COVID-19 infection, while residual symptoms had a significant impact on psychological distress (Ps < 0.001), including depression (β = 0.23), anxiety (β = 0.21), and fear of COVID-19 (β = 0.14). Risk perception served as a mediator between residual symptoms and all forms of psychological distress, while intolerance of uncertainty moderated the effect of risk perception on depression and anxiety.ConclusionA considerable proportion of patients experience residual symptoms after acute phase of COVID-19, which have a significant impact on psychological distress. Risk perception and intolerance of uncertainty play a moderated-mediation role in the association between residual symptoms and depression/anxiety. It highly suggests that effective treatment for residual symptoms, maintaining appropriate risk perception and improving intolerance of uncertainty are critical strategies to alleviate COVID-19 infection-associated psychological distress.

Exploring Relationships Between Fear of Cancer Recurrence, Psychological Distress, and Mental Health Service Use in Breast Cancer Survivors

Background: Breast cancer survivors (BCS) have an increased risk of psychological distress compared with healthy controls. Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is one of the most reported forms of distress, with approximately 50% of BCS reporting clinically significant FCR. Designed to give alternatives to avoidant coping, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has shown promise in reducing distress and FCR in BCS. The primary objective of this study was to explore relationships between psychological distress and mental health service use in BCS with FCR.&#x0D; Methods: Baseline data from 384 early-stage, post-treatment BCS with clinically significant FCR at screening enrolled in an RCT comparing 3 FCR interventions were analyzed. Prevalence of clinically significant FCR and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress was measured. Associations between each distress measure and mental health service use were assessed, in addition to the association between FCR and avoidant coping.&#x0D; Results: Clinically significant levels of at least one form of psychological distress besides FCR were reported in 226 (58.85%) BCS. Of 298 (77.60%) BCS with at least one significant distress score including FCR at baseline, only 61 (20.47%) reported using any mental health service within the 3 months before baseline. Clinically significant anxiety (p = 0.0027), depression (p = 0.0015), and post-traumatic stress symptoms (p = 0.0227) were significantly associated with mental health service use. FCR was significantly associated with fewer visits to certain mental health services. FCR was strongly correlated with increased avoidant coping (ρ = .6313, p &lt; .0001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms may be better predictors of mental health service use than FCR given the tendency for patients with fear to cope with avoidance. ACT interventions emphasizing alternatives to avoidant coping may benefit BCS with FCR. Further research is needed to identify barriers to mental health service use in BCS.

Relationship between work-family conflict and anxiety/depression among Chinese correctional officers: a moderated mediation model of burnout and resilience

BackgroundCorrectional officers tend to have high levels of work-family conflict (WFC). WFC has been found associated with various forms of psychological distress and to affect the overall well-being of correctional officers. Burnout and resilience may affect the relationship between WFC and psychological distress, however, this association still remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of burnout on the relationship between WFC and anxiety/depression and the moderating role of resilience, within the context of correctional officers.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted in China from October 2021 to January 2022. WFC, burnout, resilience, anxiety, and depression were evaluated using the Work-Family Conflict Scale (WFCS), Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). Mediation and moderation models were then tested using the PROCESS macro in SPSS, with burnout being a mediator and resilience playing a moderating role in the relationship between WFC and anxiety/depression.ResultsA total of 472 correctional officers were included. Burnout was found to mediate the relationship between WFC and anxiety (b = 0.14, 95%CI [0.10, 0.19]) and the relationship between WFC and depression (b = 0.23, 95%CI [0.18, 0.28]). Additionally, resilience played a moderating role in the direct effect of WFC on anxiety (b = − 0.02, p < 0.01) and the first half of the indirect effect of WFC on anxiety (b = − 0.007, p < 0.05). Furthermore, resilience was also found to moderate the first half of the indirect effect of WFC on depression (b = − 0.02, p < 0.01), but not the direct effect of WFC on depression (b = − 0.005, p > 0.05).ConclusionThe findings of the present study may improve our understanding by elucidating the fundamental mechanisms of the connection between WFC and psychological distress among correctional officers. The results have significant implications for policymakers and individuals, as they suggest that diverse interventions may help promote the mental well-being of correctional officers.

The Contents and Functions of the 49-Day Funeral Rites in Modern Korean Buddhism

This article explores the history and procedures of the 49-day Buddhist funeral ceremony, which functions as a ritual for the dead and a healing tool for the bereaved. The significance of this ceremony has its origins in The Treatise of the Great Commentary of the Abhidharma (아비달마대비바사론, 阿毘達磨大毘婆沙論) and The Sūtra of the Fundamental Vows of the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha (지장보살본원경, 地藏菩薩本願經). While this 49-day ceremony has been practiced in Korea for centuries, it was overshadowed by Confucian-style funerals, which were predominant during the Joseon dynasty. Since the end of the Joseon dynasty, Buddhism and Buddhist practices, including the 49-day funeral ceremony, emerged in Korea and continue to be practiced with frequency today. This article maintains that these rituals have two primary purposes. The first is to aid the departed in a successful rebirth. The second is to help the bereaved cope with their loss, which often includes various forms of psychological distress. After introducing the 49-day ceremony as it is currently practiced in Korea, this article shifts its focus to delve deeper into the ceremony’s potential for healing. We will first examine the psychological healing elements that this ceremony offers, followed by considerations related to the grieving process, both within and outside of a Buddhist context.

Optimization of smartphone psychotherapy for depression and anxiety among patients with cancer using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework and decentralized clinical trial system (SMartphone Intervention to LEssen depression/Anxiety and GAIN resilience: SMILE AGAIN project): a protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundCancer patients experience various forms of psychological distress. Their distress, mainly in the form of depression and anxiety, leads to poor quality of life, increased medical spending due to frequent visits, and decrease in treatment adherence. It is estimated that 30–50% among them would require support from mental health professionals: in reality, much less actually receive such support partly due to a shortage of qualified professionals and also due to psychological barriers in seeking such help. The purpose of the present study is to develop the easily accessible and the most efficient and effective smartphone psychotherapy package to alleviate depression and anxiety in cancer patients.MethodsBased on the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework, the SMartphone Intervention to LEssen depression/Anxiety and GAIN resilience project (SMILE-AGAIN project) is a parallel-group, multicenter, open, stratified block randomized, fully factorial trial with four experimental components: psychosocial education (PE), behavioral activation (BA), assertion training (AT), and problem-solving therapy (PS). The allocation sequences are maintained centrally. All participants receive PE and then are randomized to the presence/absence of the remaining three components. The primary outcome of this study is the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) total score, which will be administered as an electronic patient-reported outcome on the patients’ smartphones after 8 weeks. The protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Nagoya City University on July 15, 2020 (ID: 46-20-0005). The randomized trial, which commenced in March 2021, is currently enrolling participants. The estimated end date for this study is March 2023.DiscussionThe highly efficient experimental design will allow for the identification of the most effective components and the most efficient combinations among the four components of the smartphone psychotherapy package for cancer patients. Given that many cancer patients face significant psychological hurdles in seeing mental health professionals, easily accessible therapeutic interventions without hospital visits may offer benefits. If an effective combination of psychotherapy is determined in this study, it can be provided using smartphones to patients who cannot easily access hospitals or clinics.Trial registrationUMIN000041536, CTR. Registered on 1 November 2020 https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000047301.

Abstract MP58: A Plasma Metabolite Score Related to Psychological Distress and Future Diabetes Risk: A Nested Case-Control Study in US Women

Introduction: Various forms of psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, have been identified as risk factors for diabetes. However, there is limited evidence from population-based, epidemiologic studies investigating potential molecular mechanisms (e.g., metabolic dysregulation) linking psychological distress and diabetes development. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that a metabolite score reflecting psychological distress-related metabolic dysregulation is predictive of future diabetes risk in women. Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study of plasma metabolomics and diabetes risk in the Nurses’ Health Study, including 728 women (mean age: 55.2 years) with incident diabetes and 728 controls matched on age, race, fasting status, and time/date of blood collection. Blood samples were collected between 1989-1990 and incident diabetes was diagnosed between 1990-2012. Based on the metabolomic signature of chronic psychological distress we previously identified and validated in women (including coefficient estimates for individual metabolite associations), we calculated a weighted plasma metabolomic score of psychological distress comprised of 19 metabolites (e.g., serotonin, threonine, hippurate, biliverdin, glutamine, etc.). We used conditional logistic regression accounting for matching factors and other diabetes risk factors to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI for diabetes risk across quintiles of the distress-related metabolite score. Results: After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, family history of diabetes and health behaviors, the OR (95% CI) for diabetes risk across quintiles of the distress-related metabolite score was 1.00 (reference) for Q1, 1.11 (0.77, 1.61) for Q2, 1.64 (1.14, 2.35) for Q3, 2.07 (1.42, 3.01) for Q4, and 2.35 (1.60, 3.47) for Q5. Each 1-unit increase in the score was associated with 26% higher diabetes risk (95% CI: 1.15, 1.38; p-trend&lt;0.0001). This association was moderately attenuated after additional adjustment for baseline body mass index (OR per 1-unit increase: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.25; p-trend=0.02). Further, psychological distress assessed via self-report (defined as presence of depression or anxiety) was associated with modestly increased diabetes risk in the same sample (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.55). The metabolite score mediated 20.7% (95% CI: 5.1, 56.1) of the association between psychological distress and diabetes risk (p=0.0065). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the distress-related metabolite score was significantly associated with diabetes risk in women and partly mediated the association between self-reported psychological distress and diabetes risk. These findings provide supporting evidence that metabolic dysregulation may be an important mechanism underlying the observed association between psychological distress and diabetes risk.

Adolescents Mental Health During Covid-19 Pandemic

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Since the end of 2019, people in various countries, including Indonesia has experience the Covid-19 pandemic. The measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 from the government limited people’s physical activity. In education, the policies leads to the implementation of Online Distance Learning for students ranging from elementary school to higher education levels. The purpose of this study was to obtain an overview of the mental health of adolescents during the Covid-19 pandemic and to identify sociodemographic factors that influence adolescent mental health. The study involved 205 participants aged 15-18 years. The data were collected using a validated General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) self-assessment measurement tool in Indonesian language adapted version. The results showed that 59.5% of adolescents experienced psychological problems in the form of psychological distress and social dysfunction. Girls and adolescents who experience changes in sleep hours have a greater tendency to experience psychological problems. So that during the pandemic, teenage girls need more attention than boys. In addition, sleep patterns also need to be considered to reduce impact on psychological distress and social dysfunction during the pandemic.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Online Racial Discrimination, Critical Consciousness, and Psychosocial Distress Among Black and Latino Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model.

Past research has found that stressful events such as racial discrimination can spur social development in racially marginalized youth. Critical consciousness has been identified as one such developmental task. Yet, there is still much to learn regarding the role of racial discrimination in developing critical consciousness, particularly as it relates to the mechanism linking racial discrimination to critical consciousness. We examine whether stress, in the form of psychological distress, may explain the link between online racial discrimination and critical consciousness. Online racial discrimination is a type of racial discrimination and is a growing risk to safe internet use for ethnically and racially marginalized youth. The current study employed a moderated mediation model to examine the associations between online racial discrimination and critical consciousness (critical agency and critical action). Data were from 356 Black and Latino adolescents, 50% each (Mage = 15.97, SD = 1.61), and 78.92% female. The model included psychological distress as a mediator between online racial discrimination and critical consciousness and self-esteem as a moderator of psychological distress and two critical consciousness dimensions. Psychological distress was a successful mediator, and self-esteem moderated the link between psychological distress and critical consciousness dimensions. The present findings suggest that psychological distress may be one mechanism through which online racial discrimination may impact the development of critical consciousness in Black and Latino adolescents.

The Effectiveness of Dream Analysis in Reducing Idiopathic Nightmares by Hermeneutic Single Case Efficacy Design (HSCED)

Background: Nightmare is a prevalent parasomnia associated with various forms of psychological distress in both clinical and general populations. This study aimed to explain the experiences of a client regarding the effects of nightmares and effectiveness of dream analysis treatment on idiopathic nightmares. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted on a 34-year-old woman who participated in 8 sessions of dream analysis treatment. The client was diagnosed with nightmare disorder based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for nightmare. The hermeneutic method was used to collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data. This study utilized a simple method for hermeneutic analysis that requires only one person while maintaining research validity. Results: The findings of this study showed the frequency of nightmares decreased during the treatment. The client changed significantly during the treatment, and the dream analysis was responsible for this change. According to Bohart’s grid, there was 72% certainty of change in the client and 87% certainty that improvements were due to therapy. Useful therapeutic factors included analyzing the hidden meaning of nightmares, expressing emotions, self-awareness, and reducing helplessness. Conclusion: The results of the interventions showed that treatment processes made changes in the client that were unexpected and important to her and these changes would not have occurred without the treatment. This method, in addition to exposing the person to the content of the nightmare, leads to the discovery and decoding of the content of the nightmares and understanding of their message to resolve conflicts.

Validation of the Behavioral Anger Response Questionnaire for Children (BARQ-C) in a large community sample of Vietnamese middle adolescents in Hanoi

BackgroundDepression and other forms of psychological distress are common among Vietnamese adolescents and increase the risk of mental health problems in adulthood. As anger coping is a robust predictor of adolescent mental health difficulties, and there appear to be cultural variations in anger coping, a measure of adolescent anger coping styles that has been validated using a non-Western adolescent sample is required to inform and support early intervention to prevent or treat mental health difficulties in Vietnamese adolescents. This study examined the construct validity (structural and external) of the Behavioral Anger Response Questionnaire for Children in Vietnam (BARQC-V).MethodsBaseline data sourced from a recent randomised control trial conducted with Grade 10 Vietnamese adolescents aged 14 to 16 (N = 1084) were used to examine multiple aspects of construct validity: factorial structure (evaluated using factor analysis); internal consistency (tested using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient); and external aspect (assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the BARQC-V and Vietnamese translations of the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale, Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised, Mental Health Continuum Short Form, and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale).ResultsEvaluating factorial structure using confirmatory factor analysis failed to converge on a solution. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a 5-factor structure model that explained 49.32% of the BARQC-V’s total variance and was deemed to be a good fit by the final confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the 5 factors demonstrated acceptable internal reliability for the BARQC-V’s sub-scales. Concerning concurrent validity, three sub-scales predicted well-being and mental health difficulties: the maladaptive anger coping styles Rumination and Direct Anger-out were positively associated with depression and distress, and negatively associated with coping self-efficacy and mental well-being; and the adaptive anger coping style Assertion was positively associated with coping self-efficacy and mental well-being, and negatively associated with depression.ConclusionsThe BARQC-V provides a validated measure of three anger coping strategies used by adolescents in Vietnam (Rumination, Direct Anger-out, and Assertion) that can be used to improve detection and treatment of mental health difficulties in this population, and as a starting point by future research to develop a much-needed gold standard measure of anger coping for adults, adolescents and children world-wide.

The Multi-Sites Trial on the Effects of Therapeutic Gardening on Mental Health and Well-Being.

Although many people affected by COVID-19 suffer from some form of psychological distress, access to proper treatment or psychosocial interventions has been limited. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of a therapeutic gardening program conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program consisted of 30 sessions and was conducted at 10 nationwide sites in Korea from June to November 2021. Mental health and well-being were assessed using the Mental Health Screening Tool for Depressive Disorders, Mental Health Screening Tool for Anxiety Disorders, Engagement in Daily Activity Scale, brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life, and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Cohen’s d value was calculated for the effect size, and a multilevel analysis was used to determine the longitudinal effects of therapeutic gardening. The effect sizes for depression, anxiety, daily activities, quality of life, and mindfulness were 0.84, 0.72, 0.61, 0.64, and 0.40, respectively. Multilevel analyses showed that all five mental health variables improved significantly over time as the therapeutic gardening program progressed. Therapeutic gardening is promising and applicable as a nature-based intervention to improve the mental health of individuals experiencing psychological distress especially in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are pro-inflammatory markers associated with psychological distress in a cross-sectional study of healthy adolescents 15\u201317\xa0years of age? The Fit Futures study

BackgroundInflammatory markers have been associated with depression and anxiety disorder in adolescents. Less is known about the association between inflammation and subclinical symptoms in the form of psychological distress. We investigated prevalence of psychological distress and examined the associations between common pro-inflammatory markers and psychological distress in an adolescent population sample.MethodsThe study was based on data from 458 girls and 473 boys aged 15–17 years from the Fit Futures Study, a large-scale study on adolescent health, conducted in Northern Norway. Psychological distress was measured with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10). Serum-levels of the following low-grade inflammatory markers were measured: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α), tumor necrosis factor alpha variant 1 (TRANCE) and tumor necrosis factor alpha variant 2 (TWEAK). Associations between quartiles of inflammatory markers and HSCL-10 were examined by logistic regression and adjusted for potential confounders in sex-stratified analyses.ResultsThe proportion of psychological distress above cutoff were 26.9% and 10.8% among girls and boys, respectively. In both girls and boys, crude analysis showed positive associations between all inflammatory markers and HSCL-10, except for TWEAK and TRANCE in boys. However, none of these associations were statistically significant. Further, there were no significant findings in the adjusted analyses.ConclusionThere was a higher prevalence of psychological distress in girls compared to boys. Pro-inflammatory markers were not significantly associated with psychological distress in data from healthy adolescents aged 15–17 years.

Psychological Impact and their Associated Factors of COVID-19 Pandemic among Nurses of a Metropolitan City of Central Nepal

Introduction: COVID-19 poses a great challenge to the global health system. The nurses worked in COVID ward and fever clinic act as gatekeepers to the health care system in the public health response to COVID-19 epidemic. The consequences of lockdown, quarantine of COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused physical sufferings but also affected the mental health of the nurses around the globe. This study aimed to assess psychological impact and associated factors of COVID 19 pandemic among nurses working in different level of hospital at Bharatpur Municipality Chitwan, Nepal.&#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 150 nurses working in different hospitals of Bharatpur Municipality. Non-probability Purposive Sampling Technique was used and Data was collected via online survey using Google Form questionnaire. COVID-19 peritraumatic distress index (CPDI) questionnaire was used to find out psychological impact. Statistical analysis of data was done using SPSS version 20.&#x0D; Results: Total of 150 nurses were involved in the study where 99.3% were female, 45.3% in the age group of 26-35 years, mean age 27.22±6.612 years, 87.2% bachelor in nursing. Mild to moderate peritraumatic distress was found in 47.33% and 16% of respondents found to have severe distress level. Chi-square test showed that respondents level of knowledge (p=0.003) and presence of chronic disease (p=0.007) was statistically significant with level of distress.&#x0D; Conclusions: Majority of the nurses had some form of psychological distress. Study highlights the need for counseling for distress and mental health during COVID-19 pandemic. A focus on improving mental wellbeing of nurses should be immediately initiated.

Acetaminophen Potentiates Fear Processing: A Comparison Between Ancestral and Modern Threats

The painkilling medication acetaminophen produces a variety of unintended psychological effects. In particular, it has been shown to diminish varied forms of psychological distress by attenuating neural activity in the cerebral cortex and enhancing the signaling of serotonin. As a result, this over-the-counter medication appears to dampen overall affective processing and has been termed “an all-purpose emotion reliever.” However, this drug may not necessarily modify all emotions in the same manner. Specifically, fear processing occurs rapidly within the amygdala and is governed by serotonin. Thus, by blunting cortical activity and facilitating serotonergic action, acetaminophen could in fact potentiate reactions to threatening stimuli. This study intersects with the fields of evolutionary psychology and psychopharmacology by investigating whether acetaminophen modulates responses to fear-inducing stimuli that vary in ancestral relevance. We hypothesized that the more subcortical and prewired mechanisms controlling responses to recurring ancestral threats (snakes and spiders) would be more affected by this drug compared to learned threats of modern environments (handguns and hypodermic needles). In a double-blind placebo-controlled design (N = 94), acetaminophen significantly enhanced participants’ evaluations and emotional reactions to threatening stimuli. In addition, ancestral threats were rated as both significantly more negative and emotionally arousing compared to modern threats. Contrary to our predictions, however, acetaminophen altered affective responses to ancestral and modern threats in a highly similar manner. We conclude that acetaminophen does not blunt overall affective processing, and call for further evolutionary-based research examining the various psychoactive effects of this commonly consumed over-the-counter painkiller.

Association between appearance schemas and personality traits

IntroductionPersonality traits play are related to many forms of psychological distress, such as body dissatisfaction.ObjectivesTo explore the associations between appearance schemas and personality traits.Methods494 university students (80.2% females; 99.2% single), with a mean age of 20.17 years old (SD=1.77; range:18-20), filled in the Appearance Schemas Inventory-Revised, the NEO-Personality Inventory, and the Composite Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale.ResultsA significant difference was found in Self-evaluation Salience scores by sex [females (M=37.99,SD=7.82); males (M=35.36,SD=6.60);t(489)=-3.052,p=.002]. Having conducted correlations separately, by sex, Self-Evaluation Salience was correlated with Concern Over Mistakes (r=.27), Doubts about Actions (r=.35), and Socially-Prescribed Perfectionism (r=.23). For females, Self-evaluation Salience was correlated with Concern Over Mistakes (r=.34), Personal Standards (r=.25), Doubts about Actions (r=.33), Parental Expectations (r=.24), Parental Criticism (r=.24), Organization (r=.11), Socially-Prescribed Perfectionism (r=.31), Self-Oriented Perfectionism (r=.32), and Neuroticism (r=.33). Concerning Motivational Salience, in the total sample (not separately, by sex), this scale/dimension significantly correlated with Conscientiousness (r=. 18), Personal Standards (r=.23), Socially-Prescribed Perfectionism (r=. 10), and Self-Oriented Perfectionism (r=.29).ConclusionsFemales seem to value more their self-appearance and, in females, the salience of appearance in life seems to be associated with maladaptive-perfectionism, as well as with adaptive-perfectionism. In males, the salience of appearance was only related with adaptive perfectionism. Males seem more concerned with their own standards, while for females other´s standards are also relevant. In females the level of salience of appearance in life seems to relate to the experience of feelings, such as anxiety/depression (neuroticism). The motivation to improve appearance seemed to be particularly related, in both sex, to adaptive perfectionism.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Conflicted by conservatism? Exploring authoritarian values, climate politics, and alternative energy funding public opinion in the United States

Academic assessments typically conclude that right-wing authoritarian populism poses a significant political challenge to the advancement of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. Right-wing recalcitrance and hostility to climate change policy have been attributed to the authoritarian personality, rejection of science, skeptical views of government elites and corporations, and even some forms of psychological distress. Employing public opinion data collected in the U.S. during the first term of the Trump Presidency, our work confirms that persons who score high on populism, authoritarianism, anti-science indices, and those who hold ideologically conservative views tend to oppose increased public investment in alternative energy. Not explored in the environmental policy and alternative energy literature is the conflicted (or compassionate) conservative; the individual who espouses conservative values yet supports social justice-promotive public policies. As an addition to current theoretical and empirical understanding, we find that conflicted conservatives, individuals who identify as politically conservative yet favor social justice expenditures, are significantly more supportive of enhanced public investment in alternative energy.

A structured program for perinatal depression and anxiety to be adopted in the emergencies.

Quarantine, loss of routine and social support can negatively impact mothers who have just given birth and their babies, generating concerns and reactions of intense fear. Following the COVID-19 emergency, we described a structured program for screening and treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety as a medium for constant monitoring of perinatal risk factors and early screening, which can also be implemented in emergencies with remote intervention methods, to offer women an appropriate, timely and effective treatment. In this scenario, it is desirable that the monitoring of the psychological well-being of women in postpartum is maintained over time, with the participation of all the professional figures with whom the woman comes into contact, to intercept any forms of psychological distress related to the epidemic and that could occur even after some time.