Mean Impact Of Event Scale-Revised Score Research Articles

TRAUMATIC STRESS AND HEALTH ANXIETY IN INTENSIVECARE WORKERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Aims: Intensive care professionals are the individuals who are most exposed to the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
 The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the, traumatic stress symptoms and health anxiety in intensive care unit (ICU) workers and non-ICU workers who have been playing an active role in caring for COVID-19 patients.
 Method: The sociodemographic characteristics of all the healthcare professionals working in the ICU and other units, were recorded. In addition, their history of COVID-19 infection, living with an elderly person, intensive care hospitalization history of relatives, and death status of relatives due to COVID-19 were recorded. The participants were divided into two groups, namely ICU workers and non-ICU workers. The Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI)and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) scales were applied to all the participants.
 Results: Of the 150 healthcare workers initially identified, 116 agreed to participate in this study. Sixty-nine (59.5%) of them were working in the ICU, while 47 (40.5%) were in non-ICU. 
 The mean IES-R score of all participants was 40.19 ± 15.73. When the IES-R scores and ICU results with non-ICUs were compared, the healthcare workers who work in ICU had significantly higher total IES-R scores (42.83 ± 14.65, p

Living with Type 2 Diabetes in COVID-19

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have influenced lifestyle behaviors and diabetes self-management practices. The aim of the present study is to determine the impact of psychological stress on various lifestyle behaviors, diabetes self-management practices, and glycemic control among Indian adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. The data pertaining to psychological stress, lifestyle behaviors, diabetes self-management practices, and glycemic control were collected at two time-points (before and after lockdown). Results: A total of 252 T2D patients (145 males, 57.5%) with mean age 51.2 ± 9.8 years and mean diabetes duration of 8.5 ± 6.3 years participated in the study. A statistically significant decrease in body mass index (27.68 vs. 27.22 kg/m2; P < 0.0001) and an increase in HbA1c was noted in the post-lockdown period (8.31% vs. 8.70%; P < 0.0001). The mean Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) score was 19.3 ± 11.6. No significant correlation of mean IES-R score was observed with the age of the participants (r =−0.077, P = 0.224) and diabetes duration (r = 0.002, P = 0.970). Female gender (mean rank 140.4; P = 0.007) and co-existing hypertension (mean rank 132.18; P = 0.016) were associated with significantly higher IES-R score. No impact of total IES-R score was seen on the various lifestyle behaviors, diabetes self-management practices, and glycemic control. Conclusion: Psychological stress was higher among female gender and those with co-existing hypertension. Further, glycemic control worsened despite preserved diabetes self-management practices.

Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) Lockdown on Mental Health and Well-Being in the United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken unprecedented precautionary measures including complete lockdowns against COVID-19 to control its spread and ensure the well-being of individuals. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 and societal lockdown measures on the mental health of adults in the UAE. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an English and Arabic online questionnaire between May and June 2020. The psychological impact was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the social and family support impact was evaluated using questions from the Perceived Support Scale (PSS). A total of 4,426 participants (3,325 females and 1,101 males) completed the questionnaire. The mean IES-R score was 28.0 ± 14.6, reflecting a mild stressful impact with 27.3% reporting severe psychological impact. Over 36% reported increased stress from work, home and financial matters. Also, 43–63% of the participants felt horrified, apprehensive or helpless due to COVID-19. Females, younger participants, part-timers, and college or University graduates were more likely to have a high IES-R score (p < 0.05). The majority of participants reported receiving increased support from family members, paying more attention to their mental health, and spending more time to rest and relax. The results of this study demonstrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among the UAE residents and highlight the need to adopt culturally appropriate interventions for the general population and vulnerable groups, such as females and younger adults.

Mental health of healthcare professionals during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic causes healthcare professionals to suffer mental health problems such as psychological distress, anxiety, depression, denial and fear. However, studies are lacking related to Ethiopia and to Africa in general. To study the mental health of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Jimma University Medical Center among 249 healthcare professionals. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires between 22 and 28 March 2020. The psychological impact was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) and symptoms of insomnia were measured using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Social support was evaluated using the three-item Oslo Social Support Scale. Data were analysed using logistic regression to examine mutually adjusted associations, expressed as adjusted odds ratios. The psychosocial status of the healthcare professionals was predicted using a classification tree model supported by the genetic search method. The prevalence of psychological distress among healthcare professionals was 78.3%. The mean IES-R score was 34.2 (s.d. = 19.4). The ISI score indicated that the prevalence of insomnia was 50.2%. Higher psychological distress was associated with younger age, having insomnia, not having a daily update on COVID-19, and feeling stigmatised and rejected in the neighbourhood because of hospital work. This study indicates that, in Ethiopia, the prevalence of psychological distress among healthcare professionals is high and associated with specific sociodemographic risks.

Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological status of infertile couples

Objective(s)to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infertile couples’ emotions, anxiety and future plans. Study designAn observational study was perfomed by Italian ART centers and online forums. In this study, infertile couples candidate to ART and whose treatment was blocked due to the COVID-19 lockdown were enrolled through an online survey. The psychological impact of COVID-19 was measured by Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and by a short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); Self-perceived anxiety related either to pregnancy safety and to economic crisis measured by VAS scale. Results627 patients completed the survey. The COVID-19 lock-down had a moderate/severe psychological impact on infertile patients (mean IES-R score 36.4 ± 16.6). The mean STAI score was 49.8 ± 15.3, with an overall incidence of STAI > 36 of 71 %. The mean VAS scale for anxiety perception was 45.3 ± 15.3. Women were more emotionally distressed, anxious and depressed than men (36.8 ± 16.4 vs 31.0 ± 18.4 for IES-R, respectively; p = 0.03). Notwithstanding the uncertainty about pregnancy safety, 64.6 % of respondents chose to maintain their reproductive programme. Economic crisis induced 11.5 % of the surveyed patients to give up their ART program. Respondents who had at least one relative affected by COVID-19 had a significantly higher IES-R score and anxiety VAS, but not higher STAI scores, than patients belonging to unaffected families. Conclusion(s)COVID-19 pandemic itself and the recommendation to stop ART program generated higher distress levels in infertile couples. The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in infertility patients should not be underestimated, and a specific psychological support should be planned.

Post-traumatic stress disorder in critical illness survivors and its relation to memories of ICU.

Stressors in intensive care units (ICUs) are sometimes so severe that they result in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in ICU survivors. The memories that survivors have from the ICU may play a role in developing PTSD. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PTSD-related symptoms in ICU survivors in Southeast Iran and its relationship with their memories of the ICU. In this descriptive correlational study, 100 people discharged from ICUs in southeastern Iran completed the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and ICU memory tool (ICU-MT). Findings indicated that, from 100 participants who, on average, were assessed 3.19 ± 5.37 months after discharge, 13% were suffering from PTSD. The total mean IES-R score and the scores of "Intrusion," "Avoidance," and "Hyperarousal" subscales in patients with delusional memories were higher compared with the patients who did not have such memories. In the patients who were mechanically ventilated at the time of their stay in the ICU, the total mean IES-R score was 6.86 times higher (P = .03). This research provided further evidence of the relationship between delusional memories and PTSD in patients who had been discharged from the ICU. In the care of patients admitted to the ICU, preventive strategies should be used to minimize delusional memories and PTSD. It is necessary to detect post-ICU psychiatric morbidities and provide early psychological intervention in post-discharge follow-up programmes to improve psychological outcomes after critical illness.

A longitudinal study on the mental health of general population during the COVID-19 epidemic in China

In addition to being a public physical health emergency, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected global mental health, as evidenced by panic-buying worldwide as cases soared. Little is known about changes in levels of psychological impact, stress, anxiety and depression during this pandemic. This longitudinal study surveyed the general population twice - during the initial outbreak, and the epidemic's peak four weeks later, surveying demographics, symptoms, knowledge, concerns, and precautionary measures against COVID-19. There were 1738 respondents from 190 Chinese cities (1210 first-survey respondents, 861 s-survey respondents; 333 respondents participated in both). Psychological impact and mental health status were assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), respectively. IES-R measures PTSD symptoms in survivorship after an event. DASS -21 is based on tripartite model of psychopathology that comprise a general distress construct with distinct characteristics. This study found that there was a statistically significant longitudinal reduction in mean IES-R scores (from 32.98 to 30.76, p < 0.01) after 4 weeks. Nevertheless, the mean IES-R score of the first- and second-survey respondents were above the cut-off scores (>24) for PTSD symptoms, suggesting that the reduction in scores was not clinically significant. During the initial evaluation, moderate-to-severe stress, anxiety and depression were noted in 8.1%, 28.8% and 16.5%, respectively and there were no significant longitudinal changes in stress, anxiety and depression levels (p > 0.05). Protective factors included high level of confidence in doctors, perceived survival likelihood and low risk of contracting COVID-19, satisfaction with health information, personal precautionary measures. As countries around the world brace for an escalation in cases, Governments should focus on effective methods of disseminating unbiased COVID-19 knowledge, teaching correct containment methods, ensuring availability of essential services/commodities, and providing sufficient financial support.

Psychological Effects of Disaster Relief Activities on Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Personnel Following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

Objective: Disaster relief workers are potentially exposed to severe stressors on the job, resulting in a variety of psychological responses. This study aims to clarify the psychological effects of disaster relief activities on Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) personnel following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.Method: A self-report questionnaire was administered to 606 JGSDF personnel one month after completing the disaster relief mission. Posttraumatic stress responses and general psychological distress were assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the K10 scales. Associations between outcome variables and independent variables (age, gender, military rank, length of deployment, and exposure to dead bodies) were measured with univariate analyses and subsequent multiple logistic regression analyses.Results: The mean (± SD) IES-R score was 6.2 (± 8.1), and the mean K10 score was 12.8 (± 4.4). In the univariate analyses, exposure to dead bodies and age were identified as significant factors for IES-R and K10 scores, (p < 0.01). However, the multiple logistic regression analyses did not reveal any significant factors although body handlers’ exposure approached significance for IES-R.Conclusions: The subjects reported very low psychological responses despite the severe nature of their disaster relief activities. Several factors may account for the low levels of psychological distress and posttraumatic symptoms observed in this study.

Impact of 2013 south Asian haze crisis: study of physical and psychological symptoms and perceived dangerousness of pollution level

BackgroundThe widespread forest fires in Indonesia in June 2013 led to widespread haze to neighbouring countries. This is the first study in the medical literature reporting the acute physical and psychological symptoms of the general population during a haze crisis. We evaluated the factors that are associated with psychological stress of haze exposure.MethodsThis study was conducted between June 21 to June 26, 2013. Participants were recruited by an online recruitment post and snowball sampling techniques. Participants were required to complete an online survey which was composed of demographics questionnaire, physical symptom checklist, perceived dangerous Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) value and views on the N-95 mask and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R).ResultsA total of 298 participants returned the completed study questionnaire. The respondents reported a mean number of 4.03 physical symptoms (S.D. = 2.6). The five most common physical symptoms include mouth or throat discomfort (68.8%), nose discomfort (64.1%), eye discomfort (60.7%), headache (50.3%) and breathing difficulty (40.3%). The total IES-R score was 18.47 (S.D. = 11.69) which indicated that the study population experienced mild psychological stress but not to the extent of acute stress reaction syndrome. The perceived dangerous PSI level and number of physical symptoms were significantly associated with the mean intrusion score, mean hyper-arousal score, total mean IES-R score and total IES-R score (p < 0.05).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that a haze crisis is associated with acute physical symptoms and mild psychological stress. The number of physical symptoms and the perceived dangerous PSI values are important factors associated with psychological stress.

Psychological impact on caregivers traumatized by the violent behavior of a family member with schizophrenia

BackgroundA combination of factors such as substance abuse problems, medication noncompliance, and insufficient insight are generally known to increase the risk of violent behavior. However, little is known regarding the psychological impact on caregivers who are traumatized by the violent behavior of a family member with schizophrenia. Therefore, we carried out an investigation to measure this impact. MethodA questionnaire was given to 116 caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia in family support groups in Seoul and Daegu, Korea. Their responses were then evaluated using the 22-item version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the 8-item short version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI-8), and the 15-item version of the Mental Illness and Disorder Understanding Scale (MIDUS). ResultsThe mean (SD) IES-R score was 26.69 (17.83) (range, 1–84). Multiple regression analysis showed that the psychological impact of traumatic experiences was significantly associated with the following factors: medical non-adherence (P<0.01), living without the patient (P<0.01), and caregiver burden (P<0.05). ConclusionOur results from the present study suggest that even when family caregivers live apart from the patient, they still experience the harmful psychological impact of trauma from the patient's violent behavior. The psychological impact continued as a result of the huge caregiver burden and the medication non-adherence of the family member with schizophrenia in spite of receiving long-term treatment and multiple hospitalizations. The present findings suggest the need for improved community-based service for preventive long-term care, including medication adherence, for outpatients with schizophrenia instead of multiple hospitalizations.

Posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in parents of childhood, adolescent and young adult patients with high-grade osteosarcoma

Posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) were surveyed in parents of childhood, adolescent and young adult patients with high-grade osteosarcoma. A questionnaire survey was performed in parents of patients with osteosarcoma (51 families). The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI) were employed for the evaluation of PTSS and PTG, respectively. The mean scores were compared with those in preceding studies employing the same scales. In addition, the correlation between the IES-R and PTGI scores was investigated in the parents. Fifty-eight subjects of 34 families (30 fathers and 28 mothers) replied to the questionnaire. The mean IES-R score in the parents was 18.5, which was higher than that in patients with osteosarcoma (9.7) in our previous study. The mean PTGI score in the parents was 44.9, which was higher than that in university students (33.9) reported by Taku et al. A positive correlation was noted between the IES-R and PTGI scores in the parents. The PTSS level tended to be higher in the parents rather than in patients with osteosarcoma. The PTG level increased as the PTSS level rose in the parents.