Treatment Of Mental Health Problems Research Articles

“So, Do Not Fear”: Religion and the prevalence, persistence, and severity of anxiety disorders among Black Americans

BackgroundThere is a dearth of scholarship that explicates the effects of religious participation on anxiety disorders among Black Americans. A better understanding of the links between religious participation, a coping resource, and anxiety disorders among Black Americans remains essential, given Black Americans are less likely than their white counterparts to seek professional treatment for mental health problems, leading to greater unmet mental health needs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether religious participation is associated with the prevalence, persistence, and severity of anxiety disorders among Black adults. MethodsWe used a national sample of Black adults (N = 4999) from the National Survey of American Life, a cross-sectional study conducted from 2001 to 2003. Five anxiety disorders were assessed: posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and agoraphobia. Three dimensions of religious participation were assessed: organizational, non-organizational, and subjective religious participation. Weighted logistic and linear regressions were estimated to examine the associations between religious participation and anxiety disorders. ResultsFindings indicate that organizational religious participation and subjective religiosity were associated with lower odds of anxiety disorders and decreased severity. Findings for non-organizational religious participation in relation to the prevalence, persistence, and severity of anxiety disorders were mixed. LimitationsThe study limitations include the utilization of self-reported measures, cross-sectional study design, and age of the data set. ConclusionsDifferent dimensions of religious participation have differing effects on anxiety disorders. Religious participation may be an important resource for Black Americans in coping and preventing anxiety disorders.

Levels of depression, anxiety and subjective happiness among health sciences students in Croatia: a multi-centric cross-sectional study

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that symptoms of depression and anxiety were highly prevalent among health sciences students. This may lead to other professional and personal difficulties and a decrease in individuals’ well-being. This study aimed to analyze levels of depression, anxiety and subjective happiness among health sciences students in Croatia.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in 10 higher education institutions in Croatia during March 2023. Eligible participants were health sciences students. Participants filled out an online survey consisting of sociodemographic questions and validated scales for determining the levels of depression (9-question Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, GAD-7), and happiness (Subjective Happiness Scale, SHS).ResultsOf 7460 invited students, 2137 students participated in the study (29% response rate). There were 41.4% of students that exhibited at least mild depressive symptoms, with 8% of students exhibiting moderately severe symptoms and 1.8% severe depressive symptoms. Mild anxiety was found in 36.8%, moderate anxiety in 23.9% and severe anxiety in 15.8% of students. The median SHS score was 19 (15.25–22).Women students had significantly higher levels of depression (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p < 0.001) than their men peers. Students in earlier study years showed higher levels of depression, anxiety and lower levels of subjective happiness compared to those in later study years. Students with lower self-assessed financial status had higher levels of depression (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p < 0.001). Students that failed an academic year had higher levels of depression (p < 0.001), but lower levels of anxiety (p = 0.005).ConclusionIn this study, we have shown that health sciences students exhibit high levels of depression and anxiety, at rates exceeding those in the general population reported in other studies. Our results may help educational institutions to put greater effort into the battle against mental health stigma, foster acceptance of mental health issues and encourage students to seek help when needed. Adequate mental health services are needed at universities to promote timely diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems.

Psychosocial Interventions for Mental Health Problems of In-patients in Non-psychiatry Units of Selected Tertiary Hospitals in the Philippines: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Psychosocial Interventions for Mental Health Problems of In-patients in Non-psychiatry Units of Selected Tertiary Hospitals in the Philippines: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Monitoring and Intervention of Mental Health of the Elderly under Big Data Technology

How to solve the mental health problems of the elderly? In smart cities, big data technology provides new opportunities for the monitoring and intervention of the elderly's mental health. This study aims to explore monitoring and intervention methods based on big data to improve the mental health of the elderly. This study used a variety of data collection methods, including elderly health record data, mobile device data, social media data, etc. Through data mining and machine learning technology, factors related to the mental health of the elderly are analyzed and modeled. At the same time, this article designs and implements personalized intervention strategies for the elderly, including online psychological consultation, social support network construction, etc. Research results show that by analyzing mobile device data and social media data, the social activities, emotional states and daily behavior patterns of the elderly can be identified, providing a basis for prediction and intervention of mental health problems.

Real-time personalized feedback in mHealth for adolescents.

Mobile Health (mHealth) interventions have the potential to improve early identification, prevention, and treatment of mental health problems. Grow It! is a multiplayer smartphone app designed for youth aged 12-25, allowing them to monitor their emotions and engage in daily challenges based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles. Recently, a personalized mood profile was added to improve the app. We investigated whether real-time personalized feedback on mood enhances app engagement, user experience, and the effects on affective and cognitive well-being. Sample A (N = 1269, age = 18.60 SD = 3.39, 80.6% girls, 95.4% Dutch) played the original app without feedback on their mood, and an independent Sample B (N = 386, age = 16.04 SD = 3.21, 67.6% girls, 82.9% Dutch) received the renewed version with personalized real-time feedback on their mood. Participants who received personal feedback did not have higher app engagement (t(1750,400) = 1.39, P = .206, d = 0.07; t(692,905) = 0.36, P = .971, d = 0.0) nor higher user experience (t(177,596) = 0.21, P = .831, d = 0.02; (t(794) = 1.28, P = .202, d = 0.12; χ2 (659,141) = 2.83, P = .091). Players of the renewed version (Sample B) experienced significant improvements in affective (t(175) = 3.01, P = .003, d = 0.23) and cognitive well-being (t(175) = 3.48, P = <.001, d = 0.26) over the course of three weeks. The renewed version Grow It! has the potential to enhance youths' affective and cognitive well-being. However, adding real-time insights did not seem to affect app engagement nor user experience.

ВКЛАД СЕМЕЙНЫХ ФАКТОРОВ В ПСИХИЧЕСКОЕ ЗДОРОВЬЕ МЛАДШИХ ШКОЛЬНИКОВ ДО И ВО ВРЕМЯ ПАНДЕМИИ COVID-19

The objective of this study was to examine the contribution of distal and proximal family factors to mental health of Russian children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were primary caregivers of 1,985 children aged 6 to 12 years. The 2011-2019 sample consisted of 1403 children (53% girls; mean age 8.6; SD = 1.2); 2020-2021 sample consisted of 582 children (50% girls; mean age 8.8; SD = 1.4). The study used internationally recognized measures with established validity and reliability. Children’s mental health was measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); family factors were measured by the socio-demographic questionnaire, short Family Cohesion Scale, and the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire — Brief Form (APQ-BF). The results showed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of primary schoolchildren rated family cohesion lower than before the pandemic; they were also less likely to apply positive parenting practices, and more likely to use inconsistent discipline. High level of parental involvement maintained an existing level of children’s prosocial behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas with the average and low levels of parental involvement the expression of children’s prosocial behavior during the pandemic decreased. An increase in children’s internalizing and externalizing problems during the pandemic was observed only in families low in cohesion. Low level of parental education weakened the negative impact of child mental health problems on their everyday life, whereas high level of parental education was a risk factor of greater impact. These results can be used to develop evidencebased programs for prevention and intervention of mental health problems in primary school children and their families.

Assessment of Prenatal Depression Among Primigravida Women in Sulaimaniyah City, Iraq

Background: Mothers may experience challenges during pregnancy, especially primigravida because it is their first time giving birth is a life-changing incident. Antenatal depression can impact a woman while pregnant and, if left untreated, can be a prelude to postpartum depression.&#x0D; &#x0D; Objectives: To evaluate primigravida prenatal depression during pregnancy in Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan region of Iraq, and to ascertain the correlation between these women's depression score and their sociodemographic features.&#x0D; &#x0D; Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, antenatal depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) among 100 primigravida participants at selected healthcare centres. The study used a validated questionnaire to collect participants' data through a random sampling technique.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: In the current study, most of the primigravida women (57%) were aged 18-24 years old, housewives (73%), and had an academic degree (44%). According to the EPDS cut-off point (≥10), 46 out of 100 women were determined to be depressed (46%). Among them, those aged 18-24 had more depression possibility (23%) than other age groups (p=0.212). Also, housewives experienced more depression possibility (29%) than other groups (p=0.031). Additionally, most women who had academic degrees had more depression possibility (28%) than other groups (p=0.003).&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusions: Pregnant women frequently experience depression in this locality. Measures of prenatal depression ought to be a standard part of prenatal consultations to facilitate the early identification and treatment of mental health problems during the sensitive stage of pregnancy.

Utilization and costs of health care and early support services in Germany and the influence of mental health burden during the postnatal period

Limited evidence is available about health care utilization and its determinants in the vulnerable postnatal period for mothers and their children. Thus, the aim of our analyses was to assess determinants of health care and early support services utilization regarding mothers and their children and associated costs in the postnatal period in Germany. Moreover, we aimed to investigate the impact of noticeable mental health and psychosocial burdens on health care and early support services utilization and costs. Using a two-step assessment process of parents from a randomly selected sample of 30,000 recently born children in the multicenter observational population-based cohort study of the SKKIPPI project, we firstly identified mothers who were potentially at risk of mental health and psychosocial burden. These mothers were then invited to participate in an in-depth assessment, including a detailed self-developed questionnaire focusing on early support and health care services utilization. A follow-up after 6 months was conducted. Potential determinants of early support services utilization were analyzed using logistic regression. General linear models with gamma distribution and log link functions were applied to analyze potential determinants of health care costs and to estimate mean adjusted costs. Mothers with a noticeable mental health or psychosocial burden and their children caused mean early support services costs of €1073 and caused total costs of €10,849 in the postnatal period from a payer’s perspective compared to €349 (early support services) and €9136 (total costs) for mothers without a noticeable mental health or psychosocial burden and their children. The main determinants of total costs were facing a chronic disease (child), preterm delivery, bad experiences with doctors and midwives, and single parenthood. The majority of participants (69 %) utilized some kind of early support services. The most important determinants of early support service utilization in the postnatal period with respect to the children were facing a chronic disease, being the first child, and being born as a twin. Our findings highlight the importance of sufficient appreciation and treatment of mental health problems in the postnatal period from both a societal and payer’s perspective. Future research should investigate whether these and more specific interventions could be a cost-effective way to support mothers with mental health or psychosocial burden and their children.

“Hermes” - Hemophilia Related Mental Illness: A Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study in Switzerland

Background: The availability of clotting factor concentrates and prophylactic home treatment for patients with hemophilia (PWH) A and B in developed countries greatly improved clinical outcomes. As the life expectancy of affected patients has increased, the management of comorbidities has become a greater focus within the comprehensive care setting. However, most studies focus on somatic complications. The past two decades revealed a growing body of work reporting increased prevalence of mental health problems in PWH. Given the severity and chronicity of the disease, internalizing disorders (i.e. anxiety, depression) as well as externalizing disorders (i.e. substance dependency, irritability and aggression) seem to go hand in hand with hemophilia. We aimed to assess the prevalence of comorbid mental health problems among PWH in Switzerland. We investigated age effects on this relationship as well as potentially influencing factors (illness factors and environmental factors) that may account for these. We also aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and age dependency in this setting. We are heading to identify targets of prevention/early intervention of mental health problems and foster improvement of evidence-based interdisciplinary treatment in PWH. Methods:This multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted within six hemophilia treatment centers in Switzerland. Study participants were aged 6-99 years with congenital hemophilia of any severity. All participants or their legal guardians provided written informed consent, and the study was approved by the cantonal medical ethics committee of the responsible states. Participants aged 12 or older underwent a detailed personal psychological assessment followed by completing an online survey utilizing validated psychological measures (HRQoL, psychosocial functioning, somatic comorbidities/parental factors). Participants younger than 12 years underwent a detailed personal psychological assessment with one parent/legal guardian followed by an online survey to be completed by their parent/guardian. In all participants younger than 18 years, we assessed one parent/legal guardian additionally. Results:A total of n=164 PWH participated in the study (133 adult and 31 pediatric participants). Data analyses showed a median age of 39.26 years (SD 20.41). The majority of participants had hemophilia A (n=134, 82%), while hemophilia B was diagnosed in n=30 (18%) of participants. A severe hemophilia was reported in n=85 (52%), a moderate in n=31 (19%) and a mild hemophilia in n=48 (29%). Prophylactic treatment regimen was used in n=97 (59%). Out of n=156 participants with completed neuropsychiatric diagnostic interview, n=38 (24%) participants showed a psychiatric disorder over lifetime. This was significantly associated with disease severity, being more prevalent in moderate and severe hemophilia. We could not detect an association with age, so age does not moderate this association. In n=153 participants with available data on HRQoL, we found a lower HRQoL also to be associated with disease severity (moderate and severe). Moderation analyses could not confirm an association with age. Conclusion:Our data show an association of (lifetime) psychiatric diagnoses and a lower health-related quality of life in hemophilia depending on disease severity. This association is evident in moderate and severe hemophilia and is independent of age despite recent progress in development and use of new therapies going along with suggested lower hemophilia disease burden. Further analyses including somatic and treatment factors as well as parenting are ongoing and will be presented.

Mental health and service use of parents with and without borderline intellectual functioning.

People with borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) encounter greater social adversities than the general population and have an increased prevalence of mental illness. However, little is known about the socio-demographic characteristics and mental health of parents with BIF. A secondary data analysis of the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014 was conducted. Logistic regression models were fitted to compare differences in socio-demographic, mental health and service-use characteristics between parents and non-parents with and without BIF, and to investigate if the relationship between parent status and mental health outcomes was modified by BIF status, sex, and employment. Data from 6872 participants was analyzed; 69.1% were parents. BIF parents had higher odds of common mental disorder, severe mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, self-harm/suicide and were more likely to see their General Practitioner (GP) and to receive mental health treatment than non-BIF parents. BIF parents did not have a higher prevalence of mental health problems than BIF non-parents. Being a parent, after adjusting for BIF status and other confounders, was associated with increased odds of having a common mental disorder, visits to see a GP and treatment for mental health. Female parents had higher odds of treatment for mental health problems. Being a parent is associated with elevated rates of common mental disorders. There is a higher burden of mental health problems and service use in people with BIF. A greater provision of specialist support services including ascertainment is indicated for this group.

Sexuality among young Danes treated for mental health problems: Baseline findings in a nationwide cohort study

Mental health problems are common among adolescents and young adults (AYA), but although sexuality plays a central role in the transition from adolescence to adulthood, associations between such problems and sexuality have only been sparsely researched in AYA. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between mental health problems and various outcomes related to body and sexuality, romantic relationships, sexual functioning, and sexual risk behaviors among AYA. We used questionnaire data from 8696 Danish AYA aged 15–24 years who participated in the nationwide cohort study Project SEXUS at baseline in 2017–2018. Logistic regression analyses yielded demographically weighted, age-adjusted odds ratios for associations between mental health problems and sexual outcomes. Female AYA treated for mental health problems reported more active sex lives than other women. Treatment for mental health problems was associated with statistically significantly increased odds ratios for several sexual dysfunctions, and treated AYA significantly more often reported sexual debut before age 15 years, high sex partner numbers, sexual victimization, unsafe sex, sexually transmitted infections, induced abortions, discontentment with the appearance of body and genitalia, gender non-conformity, same-sex sexual experience, and non-heterosexual identity. Compared to healthy peers, AYA treated for mental health problems constitute a vulnerable group at increased risk of sexual adversities. Healthcare professionals should acknowledge these possible sexual challenges and offer relevant counselling to reduce the risk of adverse sexual outcomes in this group.

Mobile Technologies for Supporting Mental Health in Youths: Scoping Review of Effectiveness, Limitations, and Inclusivity.

Over the past decade, there has been growing support for the use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies to improve the availability of mental health interventions. While mHealth is a promising tool for improving access to interventions, research on the effectiveness and efficacy of mHealth apps for youths is limited, particularly for underrepresented populations, including youths of color and economically marginalized youths. This scoping review study sought to evaluate the following research questions: (1) What is the extent of the current literature on mHealth apps that provide intervention for mental health problems in children and adolescents? (2) What is known from the existing literature about the effectiveness or efficacy of delivering mental health services via mHealth apps? (3) What are the gaps in the knowledge base in the fields of technology and mental health? (4) Do the reviewed mHealth apps address issues of cultural sensitivity or have they been tested with underrepresented groups (ie, youths of color or economically marginalized groups)? An electronic database search was conducted using relevant search terms. Seven independent reviewers screened identified studies, including title and abstract review to determine if studies met the following inclusion criteria: (1) targeted samples with mental health symptomology or disorders, (2) studied youth participants aged 6-17 years, and (3) examined the use of a mobile app-based platform for intervention. Relevant studies were subjected to full-text review to extract and chart relevant data based on a priori research questions. The initial database search yielded 304 papers published from 2010 to 2021. After screening and selection, the final review included 10 papers on the effectiveness and efficacy of mental health intervention apps for youths aged 8 to 17 years. Identified apps targeted a broad range of mental health challenges in youths (ie, depression, self-harm, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder). Results identified only a small number of studies suggesting that current effectiveness and efficacy research in this area are limited. While some studies provided general support for the effectiveness of mHealth apps in improving mental health outcomes in youths, several notable limitations were present across the literature, reducing the generalizability of findings. Additionally, considerations around racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity were scarce across studies. Although some studies cited in this scoping review provide support for the effectiveness and efficacy of mHealth apps targeting mental health concerns in youths, the overall body of literature remains quite limited. Moreover, mHealth apps expressly developed to be culturally responsive are almost nonexistent. Further efforts are needed to recruit youths who are typically underrepresented in research and invite stakeholder participation and collaborative input in the early stages of the mHealth app development process.

Cognitive Behavioural and Art-based program (CB-ART): a pilot study in an early parenting centre

BackgroundThe period of pregnancy and early motherhood is a substantial life change associated with psychological turbulence. During this period, some women experience symptoms of anxiety and depression of sufficient severity to warrant professional psychological assistance. Psychosocial and psychological interventions are key therapeutic approaches for women at this life stage. There is growing evidence of the value of the arts in the prevention and treatment of mental health problems. Evidence suggests that women prefer psychological interventions that provide social support and shared space for reflection.Cognitive Behavioural and Art-based intervention (CB-ART) is a novel therapy for prevention and treatment of perinatal mental health problems. The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate CB-ART for acceptability, feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy among women admitted to a residential early parenting unit.MethodsThe pilot study used a single-centre, mixed-methods pre- and post-test design to evaluate CB-ART among women admitted to a 5-day residential early parenting service in Melbourne, Australia. Participants completed questionnaires before and after attendance at two 1-h CB-ART group sessions on day 2 and day 5 of admission during which field notes were taken. Evaluation interviews were conducted by telephone 1 week after discharge. The Short Profile of Emotional Competence and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used to assess emotional insight and symptoms of depression, respectively. Feasibility, acceptability and safety were assessed using an analysis of field notes, with quantitative data collected by telephone questionnaire and qualitative data by telephone interviews.ResultsNine participants enrolled in the program; eight provided complete data. Two CB-ART groups were conducted. Before and after comparisons showed that there was an improvement in symptoms of postnatal depression and a marginal improvement in emotional insight. Thematic analysis of qualitative data indicated CB-ART was a feasible and acceptable means of assisting reflection.ConclusionThe preliminary data indicate that the CB-ART program is a feasible, acceptable and safe addition to the 5-day residential program, with potentially therapeutic benefits. A larger randomised study is required to assess the effects of the CB-ART intervention on symptom measures in this and other postnatal settings.Trial registrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN126220000354785. Registered 1 January 2022—retrospectively registered.

Traditional healing in Kisii County, Kenya: a personal narrative.

This article describes the author's experiences growing up in a family of traditional healers, an account of early guidance by her grandmother, a severe illness that influenced her to become a healer and the values that are central to her own work as a traditional healer who specialises in treatment of mental health problems. The impact of colonisation on traditional healing practices in Africa is highlighted.

Suicide among men

Abstract: In the US each year, 80% of suicide deaths occur among men. As primary care is often the front door to identification and treatment of mental health problems, NPs in this setting are poised, with training in appropriate skills and tools, to recognize warning signs and risk factors in these patients as well as deliver necessary care and interventions to them. By being aware of known risk factors, identifying warning signs, communicating in a therapeutic manner, screening with standardized tools, assessing lethal means, developing safety plans, and making treatment referrals, primary care NPs can mitigate suicidal behaviors among men and save lives.

Risks and benefits of pre-delivery taper in pregnant women taking antidepressants.

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors are commonly used for treatment of mental health problems in pregnancy but may cause neonatal adaptation syndrome. It is unknown whether reduction or discontinuation of medication prior to delivery may mitigate this effect. We present a case series of 38 women who either tapered their medication prior to delivery or maintained or increased their dose. Greater reductions in maternal antidepressant dose just prior to delivery were associated with fewer admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for infants. There was a slightly greater increase in depressive symptoms across delivery for women who tapered, which was not statistically significant. NICU admissions may be less frequent among neonates whose mothers tapered their medication prior to delivery. Large prospective randomized trials are needed to further study this practice.

An analysis of Research Published in the Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing from 2013 to 2022 using Text Network Analysis and Topic Modeling

Purpose: This study aimed to examine research published in the &lt;i&gt;Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing&lt;/i&gt; (JKPMHN) from 2013 to 2022.Methods: Descriptive statistics, text network analysis, and topic modeling were used to analyze 368 articles.Results: The most prevalent research designs in the articles published during the past decade were cross-sectional studies (44.6%) and qualitative research (19.2%). The subjects of the included studies were people with mental illnesses (18.7%), nursing students (11.7%), and psychiatric nurses (8.7%). A text network comprised of the keywords from the research abstracts was constructed and presented. The text network analysis identified the main keywords as: “depression”, “family”, “stress”, “intervention”, “life”, “suicide”, “communication”, “alcoholics”, and “experience”. Seven topics were derived through the topic modeling: nursing intervention for mental health problems, nursing research for patients with mental illnesses, the competency of mental health nurses, the meaning derived from life experience, family in mental health, the mental health of nurses, and the mental health of students.Conclusion: This study determined the recent research trends in the JKPMHN. In psychiatric nursing research, efforts should continue to serve as the basis for practice and produce relevant evidence, and research priorities need to be established.

Conversational Agent Interventions for Mental Health Problems: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Mental health problems are a crucial global public health concern. Owing to their cost-effectiveness and accessibility, conversational agent interventions (CAIs) are promising in the field of mental health care. This study aims to present a thorough summary of the traits of CAIs available for a range of mental health problems, find evidence of efficacy, and analyze the statistically significant moderators of efficacy via a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial. Web-based databases (Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane) were systematically searched dated from the establishment of the database to October 30, 2021, and updated to May 1, 2022. Randomized controlled trials comparing CAIs with any other type of control condition in improving depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety symptoms, specific anxiety symptoms, quality of life or well-being, general distress, stress, mental disorder symptoms, psychosomatic disease symptoms, and positive and negative affect were considered eligible. This study followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers, checked by a third reviewer, and pooled using both random effect models and fixed effects models. Hedges g was chosen as the effect size. Of the 6900 identified records, a total of 32 studies were included, involving 6089 participants. CAIs showed statistically significant short-term effects compared with control conditions in improving depressive symptoms (g=0.29, 95% CI 0.20-0.38), generalized anxiety symptoms (g=0.29, 95% CI 0.21-0.36), specific anxiety symptoms (g=0.47, 95% CI 0.07-0.86), quality of life or well-being (g=0.27, 95% CI 0.16-0.39), general distress (g=0.33, 95% CI 0.20-0.45), stress (g=0.24, 95% CI 0.08-0.41), mental disorder symptoms (g=0.36, 95% CI 0.17-0.54), psychosomatic disease symptoms (g=0.62, 95% CI 0.14-1.11), and negative affect (g=0.28, 95% CI 0.05-0.51). However, the long-term effects of CAIs for the most mental health outcomes were not statistically significant (g=-0.04 to 0.39). Personalization and empathic response were 2 critical facilitators of efficacy. The longer duration of interaction with conversational agents was associated with the larger pooled effect sizes. The findings show that CAIs are research-proven interventions that ought to be implemented more widely in mental health care. CAIs are effective and easily acceptable for those with mental health problems. The clinical application of this novel digital technology will conserve human health resources and optimize the allocation of mental health services. PROSPERO CRD42022350130; https://tinyurl.com/mvhk6w9p.

Practitioner Review: Differential susceptibility theory: might it help in understanding and treating mental health problems in youth?

Diathesis-stress models conceptualise individual differences in propensity for psychopathology as an interaction between environmental risk factors and intra-individual vulnerabilities. In contrast, the differential susceptibility theory and related frameworks view intra-individual differences as variations in sensitivity to the environments rather than merely vulnerability to them. Specifically, they suggest that more sensitive individuals are more affected by the quality of their context, whether positive or negative, than others who are less sensitive. Empirical research over the last two decades has found support for this notion in that greater sensitivity is associated with a greater risk of psychopathology in adverse contexts, but also with lower risk in positive environments. However, despite growing academic and public interest in this field, it is currently unclear to what extent the differential susceptibility model is relevant, or applicable, to clinical practice. The purpose of this review is to focus on the differential susceptibility theory as an alternative explanation of individual differences in mental health and examine its relevance in the treatment of mental health problems in young people. We provide an overview of differential susceptibility and related theories, and current relevant research in the field. We identify potential implications of differential susceptibility models for understanding and treating mental health problems in young people, whilst also highlighting important gaps in research that limit their application at present. Finally, we suggest directions for future research that will assist in the translation of differential susceptibility theories into clinical practice.

Risk factors of and interventions for mental health problems in learning disabilities: a systematic review of psychological therapies for parents and children

Risk factors of and interventions for mental health problems in learning disabilities: a systematic review of psychological therapies for parents and children