Likelihood Of Psychological Distress Research Articles

Factors associated with psychological distress in emergency medicine residents: findings from a single-center study

Emergency medicine (EM) residents face significant levels of psychological stress from work and non-work-related factors which can impact their well-being. The objective of this study was to determine the factors that may worsen or mitigate the prevalence of psychological distress among EM residents in a university-based tertiary medical center. Over a 3-month period, after an EM block, residents completed a survey on their demographics, work-related factors, and the Kessler-10 psychological distress scale. Fisher’s exact and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to determine statistical significance. Significant variables were then analyzed using ordinal and multiple linear regression to determine predictor variables. The study enrolled 38 participants, with an average age of 27 ± 1.5 years and a male preponderance. 44.74% had varying degrees of psychological distress, with females more likely experiencing severe distress. Participants who reported curtailing their daily activities more frequently were found to have a 1.58 times higher likelihood of severe psychological distress. Participants remaining after end-of-shift to complete tasks and those experiencing more negative interactions with colleagues had significantly higher levels of distress. We found a high prevalence of varying degrees of psychological distress among emergency medicine residents with almost one fifth in our study population having a high likelihood of severe distress. Female gender and work-related problems that lead to a reduction in normal daily activities seem to correlate with the severity of psychological distress in EM residents. However, future research would need to account for a wider range of institutional, social and societal factors that may contribute to residents’ likelihood of psychological distress. Nonetheless, it is essential for residents, mentors of residents, and residency program directors and personnel to understand reasons behind these factors, i.e., negative interactions with colleagues and increased workload and to strategize early identification and mitigation techniques to promote resident wellness.

Prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among patients on warfarin at the Uganda Heart Institute, Mulago Hospital

IntroductionCardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and are significantly associated with multiple comorbid disorders including mental disorders such as psychological distress (PD). At increased risk of PD are CVD patient sub-categories that not only require chronic therapy but also need follow up with continuous blood tests and dose adjustments (like the patients on warfarin). However, not much has been done to ascertain the burden of PD among patients on warfarin in Uganda.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence and factors associated with PD among patients on anticoagulation with warfarin at the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI).MethodsIn this analytical cross-sectional study, 197 participants were sampled from adults on warfarin attending the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) out patient clinic. The Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), a tool with a total maximum score of 20 and cutoff for PD at ≥6 was used to determine the presence of PD among participants, and a socio-demographic questionnaire to document the socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects. Additional questions including the underlying CVD diagnosis, medications used (besides warfarin) and presence of chronic illnesess were also assessed. Bi-variable and multi-variabe logistic regression analysis techniques were used to examine the associations between the dependent and independent variables.ResultsThe prevalence of PD was 32%. The unemployed participants were 4.5 times more likely to have PD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]4.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–18.62, p = 0.04). Participants who had experienced social stressors were more likely to have PD (aOR: 11.38, CI: 3.60–36.04, p < 0.01). Other factors associated with a higher likelihood of having PD included: presence of other chronic comorbidities (aOR: 3.69, CI: 1.24–11.02, p = 0.02) and concomitant use of loop diuretics (aOR: 4.13, CI: 1.67–10.19,p < 0.01). A shorter length of time on warfarin (7–24 months) lowered the likelihood of PD (aOR: 0.23, CI: 0.07–0.74, p = 0.01).ConclusionThe prevalence of PD was high among patients on warfarin in this low income setting and there is a need to characterize the specific psychiatric disorders in patients with CVD. Interventions that address the high burden of PD are urgently needed in this setting.

Mental health status of informal waste workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

The deadliest coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is taking thousands of lives worldwide and presents an extraordinary challenge to mental resilience. This study assesses mental health status during the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors among informal waste workers in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in June 2020 among 176 informal waste workers selected from nine municipalities and one city corporation in Bangladesh. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to assess respondents’ mental health. The study found that 80.6% of the individuals were suffering from psychological distress; 67.6% reported anxiety and depression, 92.6% reported social dysfunction, and 19.9% reported loss of confidence. The likelihood of psychological distress (Risk ratio [RR]: 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.48) was significantly higher for female than male. Multiple COVID-19 symptoms of the family members (RR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03–1.41), unawareness about COVID-19 infected neighbor (RR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.04–1.41), income reduction (RR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.06–2.41) and daily household meal reduction (RR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.03–1.73) were also found to be associated with psychological distress. These identified factors should be considered in policy-making and support programs for the informal waste workers to manage the pandemic situation as well as combating COVID-19 related psychological challenges.

The Role of Self-esteem and Field of Study in Predicting Mental Health of Undergraduate Health-professional Students

Background and Objectives Self-esteem is an important psychological factor affecting the health and quality of life of students. This study was an attempt to investigate the predictive role of self-esteem and field of study determinants of mental health status of undergraduate health-professional students in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Methods In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a represented sample of year 1-4 undergraduate students (N=184) were invited to participate in the study students (Nursing, Midwifery, Operating room and Emergency medical students). Psychological health was measured using a standard instrument GHQ-28. CSEI also was applied to measure the students’ self-esteem Results A bout 44% of the students had GHQ scores of 23 and above, indicating an increased likelihood of psychological distress. Depression had the lowest Mean±SD score (3.92±4.2), while social dysfunction had the highest Mean±SD score (8.06±3.9) among the subscales. There was a significantly negative correlation between GHQ score and students’ self-esteem (P= 0.000, r= -0.556). The students with higher self-esteem experienced lower level of psychological distress. According to the regression analysis, 30.9% of the variance in students’ mental health is predicted by self-esteem. Conclusion A high prevalence of emotional disturbance among health care practitioners is likely to compound the existing problems of health care provision and that counseling and other support services should be made available to them.

Associations Between Secondary Caregivers’ Supportive Behavior and Psychological Distress of Primary Spousal Caregivers of Cognitively Intact and Impaired Elders

This study examined associations between the availability and types of supportive behavior provided by secondary caregivers and the psychological distress of primary spousal caregivers of cognitively intact and impaired elders. A sample of 8,087 assessments using the validated Chinese version of the Minimum Data Set-Home Care of individuals applying for government-subsidized long-term care services from 2006 to 2009 in Hong Kong were selected based on inclusion criteria. More than 70% of primary caregivers had secondary caregivers; the rate was slightly lower for those caring for moderately or severely cognitively impaired spouses. More than half of the primary spousal caregivers had secondary caregivers who provided both emotional and instrumental support. Emotional support provided by secondary caregivers had a negative association with primary caregivers' psychological distress when their care recipients were cognitively intact. When secondary caregivers provided both instrumental and emotional support, primary caregivers had a higher likelihood of psychological distress when care recipients had greater negative mood symptoms as compared to those who had less negative mood symptoms. This is the first study that examined the association between availability and types of supportive behavior provided by secondary caregivers and the psychological distress of primary spousal caregivers of cognitively intact and impaired elders. The findings suggest a need to provide services that enhance the provision of emotional support from both secondary and primary caregivers to cognitively intact elders and support primary spousal caregivers to seek appropriate help according to the mood of care recipients.

Which Event Matters: Exploring the Relationship between Life Events, Socioeconomic Status and Psychological Distress in Mothers of Infants

Psychological distress is an important component of the overall health and wellbeing of individuals. It also represents a risk factor for illnesses such as depression. In mothers, psychological distress has been linked with poorer outcomes, both for the mother and her child. This study explored the relationship between stressful events and psychological distress in mothers of infants. Using 4,247 mothers of infants from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, it was found that certain subpopulations of Australian mothers, such as young mothers, lone mothers and unemployed mothers, were at an increased risk of reporting psychological distress. In addition, mothers with high distress were more likely than mothers with low distress to report experiencing at least one stressful event within the past 12 months. The study also found that although the number of stressful events predicted the likelihood of psychological distress, certain events were more strongly associated with high distress than others. These included relationship separation, work disappointment and financial crisis.

The Prevalence and Correlates of Psychological Distress Following Physical and Sexual Assault in a Young Adult Cohort

Among a birth cohort of New Zealand's 21-year-olds, 41% experienced physical or sexual assault in the previous 12 months. The level of psychological distress experienced by the 374 victims was determined in interviews assessing for symptoms indicative of posttraumatic stress disorder and ratings of impairment in activities of daily living. Of the 141 women victims, 32.6% were identified as experiencing psychological distress as were 9.9% of the 233 men. For men, bivariate analyses showed psychological distress was significantly associated with factors indicative of increased assault severity, and for women an increased likelihood of distress was associated with the location of assault and the relationship to the assailant. Positive indicators of social support were not significantly associated with less adverse psychological outcomes. However, for both men and women, resisting the assailant was associated with a reduced likelihood of psychological distress. Multivariate analyses revealed that for both women and men, unemployment uniquely predicted variance in distress, over and above that accounted for by characteristics of the assault.

Stressful factors and the likelihood of psychological distress among classroom teachersShort reports

(1991). Stressful factors and the likelihood of psychological distress among classroom teachersShort reports. Educational Research: Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 65-69.