Psychological Impact Research Articles

Psychological Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Health Care Workers of a Field Hospital in UN Peacekeeping Mission

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected the healthcare system worldwide as well as the psychological state of all. The objective of the current study was to assess the psychological conditions of the healthcare workers in Enhanced Level 1+ Hospital, Bouar, Central African Republic (CAR). This assessment can help in the guideline development and implication psychological interventions which in turn can improve the quality of life, working environment and decision-making capabilities of health care workers during widespread pandemic. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 40 medical personnel working in Enhanced Level 1+ Hospital, Bouar, Central African Republic. The study was performed from June 2022 to August 2022. Assessment of psychological status of military healthcare providers was done by analyzing the results derived from the Mental health survey, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Hospital records were analyzed to assess the changes in workload. Results: The working hour increased significantly from Pre Covid to Post Covid period (1920±34.1 hours/week to 2120±67.3 hours/week) although the number of weekly patients in OPD and Emergency decreased slightly from 51.9 to 40.6. Elevated mental stress was observed during outbreak (average PSS-10 score in June 22 was 20.4 which reduced to 9.7 in August). The same pattern was observed in case of GAD-7 score (15.6 to 10.8) and PHQ-9 score (12.4 to 6.1). The percentage of concerns regarding Covid19 was high during the outbreak, 37/40 (92.5%), which decreased after wards to 18/40 (45%). Conclusion: The UN field hospitals are inadequate to support mass outbreak like COVID 19 in the context of both staff and medical supplies. During Covid 19 outbreak, sharp rise of workload and difficulties in restocking of essential medical items played a vital role in the mental state of the medical professionals. The field hospitals in UN peacekeeping missions require intensive effort especially on disaster and epidemic management during pre-deployment training. Moreover, reconsidering distribution of human resources in field hospitals is also required. Bangladesh Armed Forces Med J Vol 57 No (1) June 2024, pp 35-42

Siblings of Persons with Disabilities: A Systematic Integrative Review of the Empirical Literature.

The systematic review aimed to systematize the empirical literature on the psychological impact of disability on the siblings of persons with disabilities, to inform research and provide clinical recommendations. Two research questions addressed the review: (1) What are the main psychological constructs investigated in siblings of persons with disability? (2) What is the main role of each psychological construct in siblings of persons with disability experience? The electronic search was conducted in 7 databases and the PRISMA diagram was used. The inclusion criteria were: Papers published in English and in peer-reviewed journals; papers published between January 2014 and June 2024; qualitative, quantitative, and mixed studies; and papers on the psychological impact of disabilities and/or chronic illnesses on the experience of siblings of persons with disabilities. The standardized Mixed Method Appraisal Tool protocol was used to appraise the methodological quality of the studies. To summarize the findings, a narrative approach was adopted. A total of 60 studies have been reviewed. According to the methodological quality appraisal of studies, most of them reported a high (n = 45) and medium (n = 15) quality. They involved 10,146 participants. Findings revealed that sibling relationships, sibling-focused parentification, and emotional/behavioral adjustment are the main psychological constructs investigated by existing literature. Few studies focused on siblings' well-being. Studies exploring more than a psychological construct were included as a hybrid. Only one study examined the siblings' psychological experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The quality of the sibling relationship ranged from good to poor; the caregiver is the main role played by siblings of persons with disabilities; anxiety, depression, and aggressive behaviors are the main emotional/behavioral symptoms revealed. Most studies (n = 39) recruited participants with brothers or sisters with mental disorders. The findings of this systematic review may play a role in the clinical field, as they might help to design gender- and age-specific intervention programs.

Prevalence and psychological impact of bone injuries in the hand and forearm

Prevalence and psychological impact of bone injuries in the hand and forearm

Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Taiwanese youth: soldiers and college students

Researchers have identified university students and military personnel as highly susceptible to the stress and emotional challenges imposed by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The objective of this study was to compare the psychological impact of COVID-19 on soldiers and students based on risk factors identified in self reports. We recruited 258 students (male: female = 58: 204, average age = 19.73 ± 1.52 years) and 194 active soldiers (male: female = 172: 22, average age = 24.88 ± 4.11 years) from northern Taiwan. Analysis was performed on demographic data, history of COVID-19 infection, vaccinations, and the subjective psychological impact of the pandemic, as well as their current (within one month) anxiety levels, depression level, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis models were used to compare soldier vs. student status and male vs. female. Overall, roughly 54% of the subjects had been infected by COVID-19 at least once, and the psychological impact of the pandemic was more pronounced in the infected group. The students reported more pronounced symptoms of PTSD (elevated anxiety and depression levels) than did the soldiers. All regression models other than those associated with age and sex revealed that the link between COVID-19 infection and the symptoms of PTSD was more salient among soldiers and males than among students and females. It appears that the psychological impact of COVID-19 is underreported by soldiers. These findings indirectly support previous research indicating that soldiers are less likely than students to disclose emotions related to trauma, indicating the need for psychological support for military personnel.

Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life in Laryngeal Cancer Patients across Tumor.

Background/Objectives: Laryngeal cancer significantly impacts patients' psychological well-being and quality of life (QoL). This study aims to evaluate the psychological impact and QoL in patients with laryngeal cancer, focusing on differences based on tumor stage and treatment. Methods: This longitudinal study included 75 patients diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. Participants were assessed at diagnosis and 3 months post-treatment using validated tools such as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire. This study analyzed the impact of tumor stage, treatment type, and demographic factors on psychological well-being and QoL. Results: Patients with early-stage tumors (Stage I) reported significantly better psychological well-being and QoL compared to those with more advanced tumors (Stages III and IV) both before and after treatment. The non-significant p-values in advanced stages suggest a uniformity of severe distress and poor QoL among these patients. Treatment led to significant reductions in anxiety and depression in early-stage patients, while those with advanced-stage disease showed less improvement. Conclusions: The findings highlight the critical need for early psychological intervention, particularly in advanced-stage laryngeal cancer patients who continue to experience substantial psychological distress and poor QoL despite treatment. Integrating comprehensive psychological support into standard care is essential to improve overall outcomes for these patients.

Responsible Crowdsourcing for Responsible Generative AI: Engaging Crowds in AI Auditing and Evaluation

With the rise of generative AI (GenAI), there has been an increased need for participation by large and diverse user bases in AI evaluation and auditing. GenAI developers are increasingly adopting crowdsourcing approaches to test and audit their AI products and services. However, it remains an open question how to design and deploy responsible and effective crowdsourcing pipelines for AI auditing and evaluation. This workshop aims to take a step towards bridging this gap. Our interdisciplinary team of organizers will work with workshop participants to explore several key questions, such as how to improve the output quality and workers' productivity for GenAI evaluation crowdsourcing tasks compared to discriminative AI systems, how to guide crowds in auditing problematic AI-generated content while managing their psychological impact, ensuring marginalized voices are heard, and setting up responsible and effective crowdsourcing pipelines for real-world GenAI evaluation. We hope this workshop will produce a research agenda and best practices for designing responsible crowd-based approaches to AI auditing and evaluation.

Reanimation Techniques of Peripheral Facial Paralysis: A Comprehensive Review Focusing on Surgical and Bioengineering Approaches.

Peripheral facial paralysis represents a disabling condition with serious psychological and social impact. Patients with peripheral facial paralysis have a disfigurement of the face with loss of harmony and symmetry and difficulties in everyday facial functions such as speaking, drinking, laughing, and closing their eyes, with impairment of their quality of life. This paralysis leads to impairment of facial expression, which represents one of the first means of communication, an important aspect of human interaction. This review aims to explore the reanimation techniques for managing peripheral facial paralysis. An analysis of static and dynamic techniques for facial reanimation is provided, including muscle flaps, nerve grafting techniques, and bioengineering solutions. Each technique showed its benefits and drawbacks; despite several options for facial reanimation, no technique has been detected as the gold standard. Therefore, each patient must be evaluated on an individual basis, considering their medical history, age, expectations, and treatment goals, to find the best and most fitting treatment.

Does Climate Change Worry Decrease during Armed Conflicts?

Abstract: Climate change stands out as an especially pressing global concern. The aim of the present study was to explore whether climate change worry decreases during armed conflicts, using two time-points: before and during an armed conflict. Guided by the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping (TTSC), we examined the interplay between risk appraisal, pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs), and climate change worry. A sample of 202 Israeli adults participated in two waves of data collection, completing self-report measures addressing climate change worry, risk appraisal, and PEBs. Results revealed a significant decline in climate change worry and risk appraisal during the armed conflict, whereas PEBs remained unchanged. Contrary to expectations, the associations between risk appraisal, PEBs, and climate change worry did not weaken during the conflict. Mediation analyses indicated that the decline in risk appraisal led to a decline in PEBs, which subsequently contributed to a decline in climate change worry. However, this mediation effect was partial, with most of the association remaining direct. These findings imply that the psychological impact of armed conflict may temporarily overshadow environmental concerns, emphasizing the need for strategies to maintain environmental awareness and behavior even during an armed conflict.

Combined fractional CO2 laser with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) 50% versus fractional CO2 Laser alone in the treatment of macular amyloidosis: clinical and histopathological assessment.

Macular amyloidosis (MA) could be of cosmetic concern with a significant psychological impact for patients, and its treatment is challenging. To compare the efficacy and safety of combined fractional CO2 laser with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) 50% versus fractional CO2 laser alone in the treatment of macular amyloidosis. Twenty patients with macular amyloidosis were treated with monthly session of fractional CO2 laser only in one side of the lesion (area A), and fractional laser followed by application of DMSO 50% solution in the other side of the lesion (area B). All patients were evaluated clinically, by dermoscope and histopathology before and 3months after the end of 4 treatment sessions. Both treatments showed significant decrease of pigmentation after treatment (p < 0.001). There was non-significant decrease in rippling on both sides (p = 0.06). The median itching score dropped significantly after treatment from 9 to 3.5 in area A (laser only) and to 2 in area B (laser and DMSO), with non-significant difference between both areas (P = 0.244). Dermoscopic features after treatment showed fading and decreasing in multiple features in both areas A and B, with non-significant difference between the 2 areas. Histopathologically, there was significant reduction in the amyloid deposition after treatment in both areas A and B without significant difference between both areas. both fractional CO2 laser combined with topical DMSO 50% and fractional CO2 laser alone are safe and effective treatment options for MA with significant clinical improvement.

The Psychosomatic Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

&lt;span lang="RO"&gt;Cardiovascular disease is estimated to be the leading cause of death worldwide (approximately one-third of all deaths). In 2024, the American Heart Association reported that approximately 128 million Americans over the age of 20 were diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure. Also, in 2020, Eurostat reported that the main cause of death was represented by cardiovascular diseases representing almost a third of all deaths. In addition, excessive alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, myocarditis, decreased cardiac contractility, arrhythmias, thrombotic events, hypoxic acute respiratory failure, and stroke. The impact of alcohol on the cardiovascular system is dependent on the amount of alcohol consumed, thus, as alcohol consumption is constant, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases increases, especially acute myocardial infarction. Cardiovascular emergencies, especially acute myocardial infarction and stroke, can significantly affect both the physical and mental health of patients. However, the psychological impact of these conditions is often neglected, even though studies show that they can lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).&lt;/span&gt;

A retrospective study on patient satisfaction and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life with fixed 4- or 6-implant supported prostheses over 3-7 years.

To compare patients' satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in edentulous patients treated by All-on-4 and All-on-6 implant-supported fixed prostheses rehabilitation over 3-7 years. All patients (n = 125) were divided into short-term (3-5 years, n = 71) and long-term (5-7 years, n = 54) follow-up groups. Patients' satisfaction was examined in a cross-sectional survey. OHRQoL and psychological impact were evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). Comparison of All-on-4 and All-on-6, including OHIP values, satisfaction scores, treatment duration and complications, were analyzed using the Chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Potential influence of patient-related factors on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were analyzed via the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test and multiple regression analyses. Power calculation was conducted in R Studio. Both All-on-4 and All-on-6 follow-up groups showed high scores in total satisfaction and PROMs, including chewing comfort, aesthetics, cleanability, and stability, with no significant difference (p > 0.05). Meanwhile, no significant differences were observed in the OHIP scores between two groups in both follow-up durations (p > 0.05). However, in patients with 3-5 years follow-up, All-on-4 group had significantly lower phonetic satisfaction scores than All-on-6 group (p < 0.05). Additionally, during both follow-up periods, All-on-4 patients exhibited notably superior psychological effect in contrast to All-on-6 patients (p < 0.05). Edentulous patients treated by four or six implant-supported fixed prostheses showed same high satisfaction in oral health-related quality of life in both 3-5 years and 5-7 years follow-ups.

Does Meaning-Making Mediate COVID-19 Restrictions' Impact on Grief and Psychological Symptoms?

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed substantial restrictions on funeral ceremonies, profoundly affecting grief experiences. This study investigated the mediating role of meaning-making in the relationship between these restrictions and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms, anxiety, depression, and trauma. A longitudinal study involving 141 bereaved individuals was conducted, with assessments at two time points: 3-6months (T1) and 9-12months (T2) post-loss. Structural equation modeling revealed that the psychological impact of restrictions on death and funeral ceremonies had indirect effects on anxiety and prolonged grief symptoms through meaning-making, particularly the footing in the world subscale. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the complex interplay between pandemic-related restrictions and grief experiences, emphasizing the pivotal role of meaning-making in adapting to loss during those challenging times.

Psychological Impact of Acne and Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation Among Sudanese Women

&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Introduction: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin which often causes a negative impact on a woman&amp;apos;s psychological state and quality of life. This study seeks to provide basic data and information about the psychological impact of acne on Sudanese women. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Methodology: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted during the period from June 2022 to January 2023. A total of 400 females aged 15 years and above were included in this study. These are Sudanese women who had suffered from acne in their lives, and who responded to the online study questionnaire. Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) was used to assess the psychological effect of acne.&amp;lt;i&amp;gt; Results: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;Seventy one percent of respondents had active acne. Acne scars were observed in (74.8%) of participants, while post-acne hyperpigmentation was observed in (71.3%). Facial acne was the most common, as it was observed in (75.8%) of the respondents. The mean age at acne onset was 15.66 years and ranged between 10 and 36 years. Mild and moderate acne were the most common types, accounting for (37.0%) and (41.5%) of cases, respectively. Acne was found to affect the psychological state of the vast majority of the respondents (89%). Cosmetics or makeup were used by (42.3%) of the respondents to conceal acne and scars. Late onset of acne treatment was reported in (42%) of the cases. Most respondents (72.5%) visited doctors to treat acne. The mean Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) score was 4.55, which reflects mild effects of acne on the quality of life of most of the respondents. The adverse psychological impact was found to be significantly associated with increased acne severity, scarring, and hyperpigmentation as well as with university educated respondents. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Conclusion: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;It was found that acne has mild effects on the quality of life of Sudanese women. Late onset of acne treatment resulted in widespread scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in most participants, which was associated with the psychological impact of acne. There is an urgent need to encourage early treatment of acne to reduce the physical sequalae of acne to reduce the psychosocial consequences associated with the disease and the risk of scarring and hyperpigmentation on Sudanese women. Sudanese health authorities and Sudanese doctors can address this issue through education and awareness programs.

Emotional future simulations: neural and cognitive perspectives.

LeDoux's work on the emotional brain has had broad impact in neuroscience and psychology. Here, we discuss an aspect of the emotional brain that we have examined in our laboratory during the past two decades: emotional future simulations or constructed mental representations of positive and negative future experiences. Specifically, we consider research concerning (i) neural correlates of emotional future simulations, (ii) how emotional future simulations impact subsequent cognition and memory, (iii) the role of emotional future simulations in worry and anxiety, and (iv) individual differences in emotional future simulation related to narcissistic grandiosity. The intersection of emotion and future simulation is closely linked to some of LeDoux's primary scientific concerns.

The Crisis of the 1930s and American Antisemitism

Abstract This article explores the economic and psychological impact of the Great Depression on the American population, emphasizing the rise of antisemitism during the 1930s. We begin with a historical overview of the economic downturn following the Wall Street Crash of 1929, with an emphasis on the ensuing unemployment and social despair. We argue that the representation of the Great Depression diverged from reality, with public discourse constructing an ‘imagined crisis’ that amplified fears and uncertainties. This crisis rhetoric led to the scapegoating of the Jewish community, which was unjustly blamed for the nation’s hardships. The article provides an in-depth analysis of how Henry Ford’s dissemination of “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” and Father Charles E. Coughlin’s radio broadcasts contributed to spreading antisemitic sentiments by exploiting economic anxieties and promoting a narrative of Jewish conspiracy. Furthermore, the article discusses the historical context of American antisemitism, identifying it as a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors, including religious, economic, and political antisemitism. Despite efforts to combat antisemitic rhetoric, figures like Ford and Coughlin played a significant role in shaping public perceptions and directing blame towards the Jewish community during times of crisis. We conclude that the crisis of the 1930s, marked by unprecedented economic hardship and social unrest, was exacerbated by ideological discourses that targeted Jews as scapegoats, reflecting a disturbing pattern of prejudice and discrimination that has echoed into contemporary times.

Anxiety among Medical Students Regarding Generative Artificial Intelligence Models: A Pilot Descriptive Study

Despite the potential benefits of generative artificial intelligence (genAI), concerns about its psychological impact on medical students, especially about job displacement, are apparent. This pilot study, conducted in Jordan during July–August 2024, aimed to examine the specific fears, anxieties, mistrust, and ethical concerns medical students harbor towards genAI. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 164 medical students studying in Jordan across various academic years, employing a structured self-administered questionnaire with an internally consistent FAME scale—representing Fear, Anxiety, Mistrust, and Ethics—comprising 12 items, with 3 items for each construct. Exploratory and confirmatory factors analyses were conducted to assess the construct validity of the FAME scale. The results indicated variable levels of anxiety towards genAI among the participating medical students: 34.1% reported no anxiety about genAI‘s role in their future careers (n = 56), while 41.5% were slightly anxious (n = 61), 22.0% were somewhat anxious (n = 36), and 2.4% were extremely anxious (n = 4). Among the FAME constructs, Mistrust was the most agreed upon (mean: 12.35 ± 2.78), followed by the Ethics construct (mean: 10.86 ± 2.90), Fear (mean: 9.49 ± 3.53), and Anxiety (mean: 8.91 ± 3.68). Their sex, academic level, and Grade Point Average (GPA) did not significantly affect the students’ perceptions of genAI. However, there was a notable direct association between the students’ general anxiety about genAI and elevated scores on the Fear, Anxiety, and Ethics constructs of the FAME scale. Prior exposure to genAI and its previous use did not significantly modify the scores on the FAME scale. These findings highlight the critical need for refined educational strategies to address the integration of genAI into medical training. The results demonstrate notable anxiety, fear, mistrust, and ethical concerns among medical students regarding the deployment of genAI in healthcare, indicating the necessity of curriculum modifications that focus specifically on these areas. Interventions should be tailored to increase familiarity and competency with genAI, which would alleviate apprehensions and equip future physicians to engage with this inevitable technology effectively. This study also highlights the importance of incorporating ethical discussions into medical courses to address mistrust and concerns about the human-centered aspects of genAI. In conclusion, this study calls for the proactive evolution of medical education to prepare students for new AI-driven healthcare practices to ensure that physicians are well prepared, confident, and ethically informed in their professional interactions with genAI technologies.

Oral health experience of individuals with eating disorders

BackgroundEvidence on how persons with and in remission from an eating disorder experience their oral health is limited. Dental treatment in Sweden today is often postponed until medical rehabilitation has been completed, but this carries risks. For the patient, the risk is severely impaired oral health and additional suffering, and for both society and the patient, higher costs than might have been necessary.MethodsTen female informants aged 21–51 years (mean age = 36.7, standard deviation 12.7) in remission from an eating disorder with a median duration of 12.5 (range 4–25) years of illness, were questioned in semi-structured interviews about their perceptions of oral health. All participants had been referred to a specialist dental clinic and needed oral rehabilitation. 10% of the patients had been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and 90% with bulimia nervosa. All had been in remission from the eating disorder for at least one year. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed with thematic analysis using an inductive approach.ResultsOne overarching theme emerged from the analysis: dental damage persisted as a visible, lingering scar during remission of the eating disorder, reminiscent of the disease and its consequences. The three major themes identified were (1) Physical impact, (2) Psychological impact, and (3) Impact on daily living. The first major theme included erosive tooth wear and impaired oral function and aesthetics. Interviewees described the second as feelings of stigma, guilt, shame, anxiety, and worry, in particular concerning self-inflicted dental damage through self-induced vomiting. The last major theme covered avoidance strategies such as limiting smiling and laughing and minimizing social situations such as eating with others, pursuing a wanted career, and meeting a partner.ConclusionsThe participants in this study expressed a profound negative impact on daily life and a two-fold burden of stigma of having suffered from both an eating disorder and poor oral health.

The current status of nurses’ psychological experience as second victims during the reconstruction of the course of event after patient safety incident in China: a mixed study

BackgroundPatient safety incidents are unavoidable and nurses, as parties involved, become second victims due to the incident itself and the way it is handled. In China, reconstructing the course of events is a crucial step in the aftermath of the incident; however, its impact on the emotional well-being of the second victim remains unclear.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to gain insight into the psychological experiences and current conditions of nurses who act as second victims during the process of reconstructing the sequence of events. Additionally, the study aims to provide justifications for supporting these individuals.MethodsAn exploratory mixed research method was adopted to understand the emotional experience of the second victim when reconstructing the passage of the incident through qualitative research. Fourteen nurses with experience as second victims were selected for semi-structured interviews using purposive sampling according to the maximum difference sampling strategy. Through quantitative research, we explored the negative psychology and support needs of the second victims when they reverted to the incident, and a self-developed questionnaire (the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.895) was used to survey 3,394 nurses with experiences as second victims in 11 tertiary hospitals in Shanxi Province.ResultsIn the qualitative part of the study, the emotional experience of the second victim’s reconstruction of the course of events after a patient safety incident could be categorized into 3 themes: negative views as initial psychological impact, avoidance as part of psychological impact, and expectations and growth in overcoming negative psychological impact. The quantitative part of the study revealed that the emotions of guilt and self-blame accounted for the highest percentage after a patient safety incident. The second victim presented a high score of 39.58 ± 5.45 for support requirements.ConclusionThis study provides a better understanding of the true emotional experiences and the need for support of the second victim in the process of reconstructing the course of events. Following a patient safety incident, nursing administrators and healthcare institutions should consider the adverse psychological effects on the second victim, prioritize their support needs during the incident’s reconstruction, create a positive safety culture, and reduce the risk of secondary victimization for these individuals.

A Study on the Psychological Impact on Key Caregivers of Traumatic Brain Injury Versus Non-traumatic Brain Injury in Critically Ill Trauma Patients.

Caregivers of patients admitted in intensive care units may experience acute emotional and psychological stress burden that can manifest as acute psychiatric symptoms and can negatively impact interpersonal relationships and work performance. The aim of this study is to elucidate the socioeconomic burden of trauma and the effect of psychological stress on key caregivers between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and non-TBI patients. The study was conducted on 200 caregivers of critically ill trauma patients admitted to the trauma ICU for at least 48 hours and were divided into two groups: Group 1- Patients with TBI with Trauma ICU admission of more than 48 hours and Group 2- Non-TBI patients (chest trauma, abdominal trauma, etc.) with Trauma ICU admission of more than 48 hours. The key caregivers in two groups were subjected to Critical Care Family Need Inventory (CCFNI) and to National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Short Scale (NSESSS) to measure the needs and severity of acute stress symptoms respectively) at 48 hours of ICU admission, day seven, day 15, and day 30 (follow-up). The statistical analysis was performed using SPSSv23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Motor vehicle collision was the most common mode of injury among patients in both groups. The sociodemographic parameters of the caregivers were comparable in both groups. Predominantly the patients were males while key caregivers were females. In Group 1 caregivers experienced higher family burden and severe psychological distress at ICU. At the time of admission, needs of caregivers in all the domains (support, comfort, information, accessibility and reassurance) were comparable in both groups. On day seven, the needs for information, accessibility, and reassurance in the TBI group were significantly higher than in the non-TBI group (p<0.01). On day 15, the needs for support, information, accessibility, and reassurance in the TBI group were significantly higher than in the non-TBI group (p≤0.001). On day 30, the needs for support, information, accessibility, and reassurance in the TBI group were significantly higher than in the non-TBI group (p<0.001) but need for comfort was higher in the non-TBI group (p<0.05).Caregivers of patients with TBI had higher stress burden and higher NSESSS than that of non-TBI (p<0.05). We concluded that key caregivers of patients with TBI have a high stress burden, highlighting the importance of providing psychological support to this group.

A Suicide Attempt Multicomponent Intervention Treatment (SAMIT Program): study protocol for a multicentric randomised controlled trial.

Suicide has become a first-order public health concern, especially following the negative impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the general population. Few studies have analysed the effects of early psychotherapeutic interventions on subjects who have attempted suicide, and even fewer have focused on those hospitalized in non-psychiatric units after a Medically Serious Suicide Attempt (MSSA). The main aim of this study is to describe the protocol designed to evaluate the effectiveness of individual psychological treatment for patients hospitalized after an MSSA. The secondary objectives of the study are: (1) to evaluate the impact on quality of life and other psychosocial variables of patients with a recent MSSA who receive early psychological intervention; (2) to analyse the biological, psychological, and clinical impact of early psychotherapeutic treatment on subjects hospitalized after an MSSA. A longitudinal randomised controlled trial will be conducted with patients over 16 years of age admitted to two general hospitals. The case intervention group will enrol for 8-sessions of individual psychotherapy, Suicide Attempts Multi-component Intervention Treatment (SAMIT), combining Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT), and Narrative approaches, while the control group will receive a treatment-as-usual intervention (TAU). Longitudinal assessment will be conducted at baseline (before treatment), post-treatment, and 3, 6, and 12 months after. The main outcome variable will be re-attempting suicide during follow-up. Some psychotherapeutic interventions, usually implemented in outpatient, have proven to be effective in preventing suicidal behaviours. The combination of some of these may be a powerful treatment for preventing future SA in patients hospitalised after an MSSA, which is the most severely suicidal subgroup. Moreover, assessment of the biological, clinical and psychometric impact of this new intervention on patients during the first year after the attempt may help understand some of the multi-level factors associated with the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions in MSSAs. The prevalence of high suicide rates requires the design of effective psychological interventions for their prevention, and also in order to design new pharmacological and psychological treatments. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06238414. Date of registration: 1st February 2024, final update is protocol version 3.0, 19th March 2024.