General Mental Health Problems Research Articles

Reduced multiscale complexity of daily behavioral dynamics in autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is difficult to diagnose objectively due to its heterogeneous and complex manifestations. This study aimed to objectively characterize the behavioral phenotypes of ASD children by exploring the multiscale behavioral dynamics. We applied behavioral organization (BO) and multiscale sample entropy (MSE) analyses to physical activity data collected from ASD and typically developing children, using wearable monitors in their daily life. We also examined their correlation with auditory startle response measures and clinical questionnaires, including the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). A significant decrease in MSE at timescales longer than 6 min was observed in ASD children, suggesting decreased irregularity or unpredictability, potentially linked to repetitive behaviors or stereotyped patterns commonly observed in ASD. Additionally, an increase in MSE positively correlated with prepulse inhibition levels, indicating its relationship with sensorimotor gating. Moreover, the observed significant negative correlation with the total difficulty score of SDQ substantiates MSE's potential as an objective metric for assessing general mental health problems associated with ASD. Multiscale analysis enhances the understanding of ASD's behavioral dynamics, providing valuable metrics for real-world assessments.

Evaluation of the Teaching Recovery Techniques intervention among newcomer students in Swedish schools: a randomised controlled trial turned into a feasibility study

BackgroundDuring recent years, Europe has faced the arrival of migrants whereof a considerable group of youth present mental health problems, such as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Schools offer a safe environment for mental health interventions to these groups, yet there is limited research on the impact of school-based interventions addressing mental health problems in newcomer youths, especially in the Swedish context. This cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to explore the effectiveness of the Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) intervention among newcomer students with PTSD symptoms in Swedish secondary schools.MethodsNine schools were randomly assigned to TRT or a wait list control group prior to the baseline assessment. Follow-up data were collected immediately following the intervention and three months post-intervention. In total, 531 students were approached, of which 61 gave consent and were eligible to be included in the study: 55 in TRT and 6 in the control condition. Given the low number of participants in the control condition, we merely analyzed students who had received TRT.ResultsWe report on feasibility of recruitment, data collection, intervention delivery and intervention effectiveness. In terms of intervention effectiveness, within subjects ANOVAs revealed significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and general mental health problems from baseline to the three months-follow-up (p < 0.001).ConclusionsOur results indicate that TRT is a promising school-based intervention for newcomer students with PTSD symptoms. For a successful implementation of TRT in the school context, schools need to be engaged and the implementation should be managed by a local coordinator.Trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN48178969, Retrospectively registered 20/12/2019.

Women's mental health during late pregnancy: A survey conducted in Shandong Province, China.

The study aimed to investigate the general mental health status and its associated factors in women during late pregnancy. The objective was to provide a scientific basis for developing psychological interventions tailored to this specific population. The research was conducted from May 2021 to July 2022, involving the recruitment of 200 women attending maternal and child health clinics for their late-pregnancy checkups. Data collection was carried out using a comprehensive approach, involving several validated tools. The participants completed a general demographic and sociological questionnaire along with four standardized psychological assessment scales: the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS-8), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and the 9-question Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). A total of 200 valid questionnaires were collected for analysis. The study revealed that the overall prevalence of positive detection of general mental health problems in women during late pregnancy was 11%. Significant differences were observed in the positive detection rate of general mental health status based on various factors such as the quality of relationships with husbands, pregnancy intentions, insomnia, anxiety, and depression (p<0.01). Furthermore, participants with general mental health problems displayed notably higher scores on the AIS-8, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 scales compared to those without such problems (p<0.01). Regression analysis indicated that pregnancy intention and PHQ-9 scores were influential factors affecting the general mental health of women during late pregnancy (p<0.05). The study highlights high rates of general mental health problems during late pregnancy, with unplanned pregnancy and elevated depression scores as key risk factors. Regular mental health screening and targeted interventions are essential to support women during this critical period and enhance the well-being of both mothers and babies.

Mental Health Among Hypertensive People and its Associated Factors: Findings From RISKESDAS 2018 Data

This study aims to investigate the complex relationship between general mental health issues, specifically depression, and hypertension, and to identify associated factors among individuals affected by these conditions in Indonesia. Using data from the Indonesia National Basic Health Research (RISKESDAS) in 2018, the study included a large sample of 88,590 individuals aged 30−59 with hypertension from various provinces and districts across Indonesia. The findings show that 11.5% of hypertensive individuals in the 30−59 age range in Indonesia experience general mental health problems, including common mental disorders, while 7.0% exhibit symptoms of depression. Importantly, individuals with multiple coexisting health conditions are more susceptible to mental health issues. Furthermore, factors such as female gender, lower educational attainment, unmarried status, unemployment, physician-diagnosed hypertension, and the presence of other concurrent health conditions are identified as contributors to an increased likelihood of experiencing general mental health problems and depression. Finally, this study emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health concerns among individuals dealing with hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in Indonesia, with a particular focus on those with lower educational levels, unmarried status, and unemployment.

Childhood adversity in a youth psychiatric population: prevalence and associated mental health problems

ABSTRACT Background: Childhood adversity can have lasting negative effects on physical and mental health. This study contributes to the existing literature by describing the prevalence rates and mental health outcomes related to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among adolescents registered for mental health care. Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study were youths (aged 12–18 years) who were referred to outpatient psychiatric departments in the Netherlands. Demographic information was collected from the medical records. The Child Trauma Screening Questionnaire (CTSQ) was used to examine the presence of ACEs and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). To assess mental health problems, we used the Dutch translation of the Youth Self Report. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were used to calculate prevalence rates across the various ACEs domains. ANOVA and chi-square tests were used to explore the relationship between ACEs and mental health. Results: Of the 1373 participants, 69.1% reported having experienced at least one ACE and 17.1% indicated exposure to four or more ACEs in their lives. Although there was substantial overlap among all ACE categories, the most frequently reported were bullying (49.2%), emotional abuse (17.8%), physical abuse (12.2%), and sexual abuse (10.1%). Female adolescents (72.7%) reported significantly more ACEs than their male counterparts (27.0%). Furthermore, a higher number of ACEs was associated with significantly more self-reported general mental health problems, an elevated prevalence of both mood and post-traumatic stress disorders, and a greater presence of two or more co-existing psychiatric diagnoses (comorbid psychiatric classification). Conclusions: This cross-sectional study on childhood adversity and its association with mental health showed that ACEs are highly prevalent in youth registered for mental health care. This study provides support for a graded and cumulative relationship between childhood adversity and mental health problems.

Physical activity and psychopathology: are long-term developmental trajectories of physical activity in children and adolescents associated with trajectories of general mental health problems and of attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) symptoms?

A medium-to-high level of physical activity (PA) may have at least a short-term positive effect on psychopathology in children and adolescents. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of PA in non-adult age groups on their general mental health problems and/or ADHD symptoms, using trajectories of concurrent development over a period of 10years. This study employed data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) collected at three time points (baseline, Wave 1, Wave 2, over 10years) from 17,640 children and adolescents. Using parent-reported data from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), different developmental trajectories of general mental health problems (SDQ-total) and ADHD symptoms (SDQ-H/I) were identified with latent class mixed models (LCMM) statistics. This was also applied to parent- and self-reported data of three levels of PA. The latter was assessed according to WHO recommendations. The joint probability of class membership for SDQ-total as well as ADHD symptoms with PA was calculated to generate the concurrent developmental trajectories between variables. Results showed a 4-class trajectory model for both SDQ-total and ADHD symptoms among boys and girls. The majority of children and adolescents showed "low general difficulties" and "low ADHD symptoms" over the period of 10years. Three distinct trajectories in boys and four distinct trajectories in girls were found for PA. Most of the participants showed an "increasing-decreasing activity" trajectory. No statistically significant correlations were found between the different SDQ-total or ADHD symptom trajectories and the trajectories of PA in the two genders. Taken together, our findings did not indicate any significant relationship between waxing and waning PA course over 10 years and various classes of mental health problems for children and adolescents. In contrast to our cross-sectional findings, no steady long-term medium/high-level of PA was present, which could (at least partly) explain the non-significant findings.

The Factors Influencing High School Student’s Mental Health: An Exploratory Research in Hanoi

An exploratory research is conducted to examine the current situation and factors related to the mental health of students. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 295 students at a high school in Hanoi in 2023. This research, which employed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire 25 items toolkit with a cut-off point of 15, revealed that a significant percentage of students have general mental health problems. Emotional symptoms account for the largest percentage of students, followed by prosocial behaviour, peer problems, conduct problems, and hyperactivity. The likelihood of mental health issues among students is increased by certain personal variables, such as low self-esteem or disappointment about grades, concern or depreciation about physical appearances, refraining from participating in clubs, teams, or groups, not exercising or playing sports, and having the habit of staying up late. A few school-related factors that are associated with children's mental health problems include peer pressure, public punishments, and teachers’ reprimands.&#x0D;

Children Fleeing War-Exploring the Mental Health of Refugee Children Arriving in Israel after the Ukraine 2022 Conflict

BackgroundIn February 2022, Ukraine suffered a devastating assault by Russia, leading to destruction, casualties, and mass displacement. Among those displaced were over 1.5 million children. Forced displacement exposes children to a heightened risk of mental health issues. ObjectiveThis study investigated the prevalence of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues among child refugees shortly after their displacement from Ukraine to Israel. It aimed to identify factors influencing PTSD development and explore their associations. MethodsThe study included 59 child refugees who had arrived in Israel after fleeing the war in Ukraine. Parents completed self-report questionnaires to assess their children's mental health. ResultsOnly three children met the DSM diagnostic criteria for PTSD, with higher scores in the negative cognition and re-experiencing clusters. Over half of the children exhibited general mental health problems, with approximately 40 % showing internalizing problems, and 30 % showing externalizing problems. The study also found a significant comorbidity between PTSD symptoms and internalizing problems. Additionally, internalizing problems emerged as the sole significant predictor of PTSD levels when considering factors such as age, gender, economic status, parents' work status, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems. ConclusionsChild refugees frequently experience psychological distress, even if they do not meet the formal diagnostic criteria for PTSD. They often exhibit other distress symptoms, primarily internalizing problems, which can be challenging to detect. A deeper understanding of the challenges faced by refugee children can inform the development of targeted assistance programs and the recruitment and training of personnel in host countries.

What helps the helpers? Resilience and risk factors for general and profession-specific mental health problems in psychotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected wellbeing of at-risk groups, most research on resilience employed convenience samples. We investigated psychosocial resilience and risk factors (RFs) for the wellbeing of psychotherapists and other mental health practitioners, an under-researched population that provides essential support for other at-risk groups and was uniquely burdened by the pandemic. We examined 18 psychosocial factors for their association with resilience, of which four were chosen due to their likely relevance specifically for therapists, in a cross-sectional multi-national sample (N = 569) surveyed between June and September 2020. Resilience was operationalized dimensionally and outcome-based as lower stressor reactivity (SR), meaning fewer mental health problems than predicted given a participant's levels of stressor exposure. General SR (SRG) scores expressed reactivity in terms of general internalizing problems, while profession-specific SR (SRS) scores expressed reactivity in terms of burnout and secondary trauma, typical problems of mental health practitioners. Factors previously identified as RFs in other populations, including perceived social support, optimism and self-compassion, were almost all significant in the study population (SRG: 18/18 RFs, absolute βs = 0.16-0.40; SRS: 15/18 RFs, absolute βs = 0.19-0.39 all Ps < 0.001). Compassion satisfaction emerged as uniquely relevant for mental health practitioners in regularized regression. Our work identifies psychosocial RFs for mental health practitioners' wellbeing during crisis. Most identified factors are general, in that they are associated with resilience to a wider range of mental health problems, and global, in that they have also been observed in other populations and stressor constellations.

Self-perceived problems of Afghan asylum seekers and refugees and their experiences with a short psychological intervention

BackgroundThe present study examined Afghan asylum seekers’ and refugees’ self-perceived problems, and their experiences of treatment with an adapted version of the brief transdiagnostic psychological intervention “Problem Management Plus” (aPM+). Specifically, the study explored which problems trouble them most and how these problems influence their daily functioning. Further, it examined how various standardized outcome measures correlate with these subjectively perceived problems.MethodThis study is part of a larger RCT study (PIAAS study) in which 88 Afghan asylum seekers and refugees were randomly allocated either to aPM + in addition to treatment as usual (aPM+/TAU) or TAU alone. The presented study uses a multi-method approach consisting of two parts: First, we investigated participants’ self-identified problems and subjective functional impairment using quantitative and qualitative assessment in both the aPM+/TAU and TAU group (n = 88). Second, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with a subsample of the aPM+/TAU group (n = 24) to gain a deeper understanding of participants’ personal experiences with aPM + and to obtain suggestions for improvement. Spearman correlations were applied for quantitative data, and deductive and inductive approaches of thematic analysis were used for qualitative data.ResultsWe identified six main themes of self-perceived problems (primary post-migration living difficulties, general mental health problems, interpersonal stressors, secondary post-migration living difficulties, mental health problems specifically associated with stress, and somatic problems) and their consequences, as well as subjective functional impairment. Standardized measures of general mental health, posttraumatic psychopathology, and quality of life did not correlate with the intensity of self-perceived problems. aPM + was mostly perceived positively, and few participants had recommendations for its improvement.ConclusionThe study aimed at giving a voice to Afghan trauma survivors to inform service providers and policy makers about their needs. Based on their expertise, future interventions can be tailored to their actual needs and optimized in terms of practical use. aPM + proved to be a positively perceived intervention that reduces subjective symptom burden and facilitates daily functioning. Culture-sensitive treatments within (mental) health services should increase service utilization and improve (mental) health in the long term.

Self-rated personality disorder symptoms do not predict treatment outcome for posttraumatic stress disorder in routine clinical care.

To test the hypothesis that self-rated personality disorder (PD) symptoms are a significant and clinically relevant predictor of treatment outcomes in a naturalistic treatment setting specialized in trauma-focused treatment using a single-group pretest-posttest design. Treatment-seeking patients reporting clinical levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms filled out questionnaires at intake and after treatment. The primary outcome was change in PTSD severity after treatment, measured by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). PD symptoms were measured with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Screening Personality Questionnaire (SCID-5-SPQ). Secondary outcomes were general mental health problems, treatment response, number of sessions and dropout. N =1174 patients (59% female, baseline PCL-5 score M [SD] = 53.0 [10.8]) were included for the primary analysis. Regression analysis revealed that PD symptoms explained 0.4% of variance in PTSD symptom change (p = .066). After controlling for baseline PTSD symptoms, PD symptoms explained 0.0% of variance (p = .311). The fully adjusted model including baseline PTSD symptom severity, age, gender, cumulative exposure to potentially traumatic experiences, PD symptoms, and number of sessions together explained 5% of the observed variance in PTSD symptom change. Baseline PTSD severity was the only significant predictor and negatively predicted outcome. Sensitivity analyses with imputed data from N = 2694 cases yielded comparable results. Finally, secondary analyses showed that PD symptoms did not predict significant or clinically relevant changes in treatment response status, general mental health problems, dropout rates or number of sessions. The findings provide no evidence that self-rated PD symptoms predict treatment outcomes for patients suffering from clinical levels of PTSD symptoms in a naturalistic treatment setting specializing in trauma-focused treatment. Self-report screening for these symptoms to inform clinicians about expected effects of PTSD treatment is not supported by the evidence.

The Influence of Early-Life Health Conditions on Life Course Health

We expand on previous studies investigating the links between early health and later health by examining four distinct dimensions of early-life health and multiple life course outcomes, including the age of onset of serious cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and several job-related health outcomes. The four dimensions of childhood health are mental, physical, self-reported general health, and severe headaches or migraines. The data set we use includes men and women in 21 countries from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. We find that the different dimensions of childhood health have unique ties to later outcomes. For men, early mental health problems play a stronger role for life course job-related health outcomes, but early poor/fair general health is more strongly linked to the spike in onset of CVDs in their late 40s. For women, these links between childhood health dimensions and life course outcomes are similar but are less clear-cut than for men. The spike in onset of CVDs in women's late 40s is driven by those with severe headaches or migraines, while those with early poor/fair general health or mental health problems do worse as captured by job-related outcomes. We also delve into and control for possible mediating factors. Exploring the links between several dimensions of childhood health and multiple health-related life course outcomes will enable a better understanding of how health inequalities originate and are shaped over the course of people's lives.

Depression and insomnia among healthcare professionals during COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Healthcare professionals play a great role in the struggle against COVID-19. They are highly susceptible to COVID-19 due to their responsibilities. This susceptibility directly affects their mental health status. Comprehensive evidence on prevalence of depression and insomnia during this pandemic is vital. Thus, this study aims to provide the pooled prevalence of depression and insomnia, and their associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This systematic review and meta-analysis follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were searched from PubMed, Cochrane Library, CrossRef, African Journals Online and Google Scholar databases from the occurence of the pandemic to June 2022. Study selection, data extraction and methodological quality assessment were done by two authors independently. The I 2 statistics was used for testing heterogeneity. A random effect model was used. Stata version 16.0 was used for statistical analysis. Eight studies were incorporated for this systematic review and meta-analysis. From seven studies the pooled prevalence of depression was 40% (95% CI [0.23-0.57]; I 2=99.00%; P=0.00). From three studies the pooled prevalence of insomnia was 35% (95% CI [0.13-0.58]; I 2=98.20; P=0.00). Associated factors of depression on healthcare workers (HCWs) were being female pooled AOR: 2.09; 95% CI [1.41-2.76], been married (pooled AOR = 2.95; 95% CI [1.83-4.07]). Due to limited studies available on the factors associated with insomnia, it is impossible to pool and associated factors were presented in narrative synthesis. COVID-19 is highly associated with the prevalence of depression and insomnia among healthcare professionals in Ethiopia. The pooled prevalence of depression and insomnia were significantly higher among healthcare professionals. Appropriate psychological counseling package should be realized for healthcare workers (HCWs) in order to recover the general mental health problems. Trial registration. This review was registered PROSPERO with registration number CRD42022314865.

A Study to Assess the Stress and Coping Strategies among Women with Chronic Disease at Selected Hospital in Kelambakkam

Background: A sound mind is in a sound body’. A sound body means a healthy body with absence of diseases.A sound mind means a mind capable of doing good, positive and should have a free thinking capacity. Chronicillness poses a significant challenge to successful coping because chronic illness induces stress on an alreadyvulnerable individual. The prevalence of stress among women is 89%. 41.9% of women suffer from depressivedisorders and 33% from general mental health problems and dementia because of chronic diseases.Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the level of stress and coping strategies among women with chronicdiseases.Materials and methods: A pre-test of descriptive design will be used for the study. 30 women with chronicdisease will be selected by using Non-Probability convenient sampling. Health Education will be administratedafter the pre-test.Results: The stress, coping strategies and quality of life are interconnected. So it is necessary to know andunderstand the stress level, coping strategies and quality of life of the women. If we understand the stress levelsamong women with chronic diseases we can plan some preventive, promotive measures for them. We can helpthem to understand current situation and how she can cope with all future problems by using some copingstrategies which in turn will lead to quality life.Conclusion: The stress, coping strategies and quality of life are interconnected. So it is necessary to know andunderstand the stress level, coping strategies and quality of life of the women. If we understand the stress levelsamong women with chronic diseases we can plan some preventive, promotive measures for them. We can helpthem to understand current situation and how she can cope with all future problems by using some copingstrategies which in turn will lead to quality life.

To what extent do post-traumatic mental health and other problems reflect pre-existing problems? Findings from the prospective comparative population-based VICTIMS-study.

Findings from prospective studies question the assumption that mental health problems observed in traumatized adults mainly reflect the effects of potentially traumatic events. Aim of the present comparative prospective study is to clarify the extent to which victims of potentially traumatic events with mental health, social, financial, and/or legal problems, already suffered from such problems before these events. Data was extracted from three surveys of the prospective VICTIMS-study (T1 = 2018, T2 = 2019, T3 = 2020), conducted with the population-based longitudinal LISS-panel. Differences between victims (n = 340, victimized by violence, accidents, and serious threats in the 12 months before T3) and nonvictims (n = 3,872, not victimized by such events in this period), were examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses. The large majority of victims with current (at T3) anxiety and depression symptomatology (74%), general mental health problems (71%), partner/family (67%), financial (76%), and legal problems (58%), and lack of support (79%), already had these problems (at T1 and/or at T2). A similar pattern was observed among nonvictims. Of the victims with current probable PTSD (at T3), 87% already had any mental health problem. At T3, among both groups, the incidence of problems was substantially lower than their prevalence. The large majority of victims with post-event mental health, social, financial, and legal problems already suffered from these problems in the past. When victims seek help for their problems, professional care providers should be aware that in most cases, as among nonvictims, these problems are chronic/re-current rather than new problems.

Mental disorders at the beginning of adolescence: Prevalence estimates in a sample aged 11-14 years

ObjectivesThis study aims to provide a deeper insight into mental disorders in early adolescence. We report prevalence rates (mental health problems, depressive symptoms, eating disorders, NSSI, STBs) to be used in future studies and clinical ventures. We also expected to find gender differences, with girls being be more affected than boys are. Study design877 adolescents (M = 12.43, SD = 0.65) from seven German high schools completed a series of questionnaires assessing their mental health (SDQ, PHQ-9, SEED, DSHI-9, Paykel Suicide Scale, FAS III). MethodsWe calculated cut-off-based prevalence estimates for mental health issues for the whole sample and compared estimates between genders. Results12.5% of the sample reported general mental health problems. The estimated prevalence of depressive symptoms lay at of 11.5%. Additionally, 12.1% and 1.3% of the participants displayed relevant symptoms of anorexia or bulimia nervosa, respectively. A total of 10.8% reported engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) at least once in their lifetime, of whom 5.6% reported repetitive NSSI. 30.1% of the participants described suicidal thoughts, 9.9% suicide plans, and 3.5% at least one suicide attempt. Girls were generally more affected than boys, except for bulimia nervosa, suicidal behavior, and partly NSSI. ConclusionOur findings corroborate the established relevance of early adolescence for the development of mental health problems and suggest that a substantial proportion of young adolescents suffer from such problems early on. Considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and reported negative mental health consequences, the current findings underline the importance of preventive interventions to avoid the manifestation of mental disorders during adolescence.

Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of EMDR Therapy in Adults with PTSD and Mild Intellectual Disability or Borderline Intellectual Functioning and Mental Health Problems: A Multiple Baseline Study

ABSTRACT Background Little is known about the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in people with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning (MID-BIF). Aims To explore the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of EMDR therapy in adults with MID-BIF, PTSD, and comorbid mental health and psycho-social problems. Methods and procedures Data were collected from nine participants using a non-concurrent multiple baseline design. PTSD symptoms, level of daily life impairment, and possible adverse effect were measured weekly during baseline, treatment, post-treatment, and at three-month follow-up. Depressive symptoms, general psychopathology, and mental health problems were assessed once in every phase. Outcomes and results Participants displayed a significant reduction of PTSD symptoms, and the majority of participants no longer met criteria for DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis after therapy. EMDR therapy appeared to be safe, as no adverse events were reported during the study time frame. Further, participants showed a decrease in depressive symptoms as well as less severe general psychopathology and mental health problems following therapy. Conclusion EMDR therapy was found to be safe, feasible, and (potentially) efficacious in decreasing PTSD symptoms, loss of PTSD diagnoses, reduction of level of daily life impairment, and general psychopathology for adults with MID-BIF, suffering from both severe mental health and psycho-social problems.

Implementing a Perinatal Depression Screening in Clinical Routine: Exploring the Patient's Perspective.

Introduction Perinatal depression (PND) is a frequently observed mental disorder, showing a prevalence of up to 20% and resulting in unfavorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. Targeted screening for PND offers the potential to identify and treat undiagnosed cases and help prevent its deleterious consequences. The aim of the present study was to evaluate participantsʼ personal attitudes and acceptance of a routine screening program for PND in pregnancy care, identify any potential underlying factors, and appraise the general perspective on perinatal mental health problems. Methods In total, 732 women in their second trimester of pregnancy took part in a PND screening program that was incorporated in routine prenatal care using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and completed a web-based survey on screening acceptance. Results Participants viewed PND screening as useful (78.7%, n = 555/705), especially in terms of devoting attention to perinatal mental health problems (90.1%, n = 630/699), easy to complete (85.4%, n = 606/710), and without feelings of discomfort (88.3%, n = 628/711). Furthermore, women with previous or current mental health issues rated the usefulness of screening significantly higher, as did women with obstetric risks (p < 0.01 – p = 0.04). The final regression model explained 48.4% of the variance for screening acceptance. Conclusion Patient acceptance for PND screening was high in our study cohort, supporting the implementation of screening programs in routine pregnancy care with the potential to identify, sensitize, and treat undiagnosed patients to reduce stigmatization and offer access to tailored dedicated PND care programs.

Factor structure and longitudinal measurement invariance of the K6 among a national representative elder sample of China

BackgroundAs the number of older people is rapidly growing, prevention, screening, and treatment of mental health problems (including anxiety and depression) in this population increasingly become a heavy burden to individuals, families, and even the whole society. The Kessler-6 screening measure (K6) is an efficient and effective instrument for general mental health problems. However, few studies have examined its measurement invariance across time, which is particularly important in longitudinal studies, such as exploring developmental trajectories of non-specific psychological distress and evaluating the effects of certain interventions.MethodsThe current study investigated the factor structure and the longitudinal measurement invariance of the K6 among a national representative elder sample of China. Longitudinal data in two survey waves (the year 2010, and the year 2014) from the China Family Panel Studies were drawn for secondary data analysis. A total of 3845 participants aged 60 years old and above (52.2% male, mean age = 66.99 years, SD = 5.93 years) responded to both waves of the survey.ResultsA comparison of four existing models with confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor solution of the K6. A series of multi-group confirmatory factor analyses further indicated that the K6 held strict longitudinal measurement invariance across time. Additionally, the internal consistency indices across time and the stability coefficients over time were acceptable.ConclusionsThe findings further confirmed the psychometric defensibility of the K6 when used in the old Chinese population. The longitudinal measurement invariance justified comparisons of psychological distress scores among different measurement time points.

Physical activity and the development of general mental health problems or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children and adolescents: A cross-lagged panel analysis of long-term follow-up epidemiological data.

Studies have shown that physical activity (PA) can provide a helpful, low-risk, and cost-effective intervention for children and adolescents suffering from mental health problems. This longitudinal study aimed to assess whether PA prevents the development of mental health problems, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Data were analyzed from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) collected from more than 15.000 children and adolescents at three different time points over a period of more than 10 years. Parents scored the PA of the study participants on three frequency levels according to WHO recommendations, and mental health problems were assessed by means of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The total problem score (SDQ-Total) and the hyperactivity/inattention symptoms sub-scale (SDQ-H/I) were used in an autoregressive cross-lagged model to examine their relationship with PA. The results showed that PA of boys and girls at preschool age was inversely associated with the occurrence of mental health problems and, in particular, ADHD symptoms about 6 years later. Higher levels of PA were associated with better general mental health and fewer ADHD symptoms at the next time point (Wave 1). These effects were not observed from preadolescence (Wave 1) to adolescence (Wave 2), neither for girls nor for boys. These findings indicate that medium-to-high PA may be a supportive factor for good mental health in children in preschool and elementary school. Future studies will have to show whether PA may be a helpful add-on for interventional programs for improving general mental health and alleviating ADHD symptoms among children and adolescents.