Mean Impact Of Event Scale-Revised Research Articles

Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress during the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war, a comparison between populations in Poland, Ukraine, and Taiwan

Ukraine has been embroiled in an increasing war since February 2022. In addition to Ukrainians, the Russo-Ukraine war has affected Poles due to the refugee crisis and the Taiwanese, who are facing a potential crisis with China. We examined the mental health status and associated factors in Ukraine, Poland, and Taiwan. The data will be used for future reference as the war is still ongoing. From March 8 to April 26, 2022, we conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques in Ukraine, Poland, and Taiwan. Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS)-21 item scale; post-traumatic stress symptoms by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and coping strategies by the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE). We used multivariate linear regression to identify factors significantly associated with DASS-21 and IES-R scores. There were 1626 participants (Poland: 1053; Ukraine: 385; Taiwan: 188) in this study. Ukrainian participants reported significantly higher DASS-21 (p < 0.001) and IES-R (p < 0.01) scores than Poles and Taiwanese. Although Taiwanese participants were not directly involved in the war, their mean IES-R scores (40.37 ± 16.86) were only slightly lower than Ukrainian participants (41.36 ± 14.94). Taiwanese reported significantly higher avoidance scores (1.60 ± 0.47) than the Polish (0.87 ± 0.53) and Ukrainian (0.91 ± 0.5) participants (p < 0.001). More than half of the Taiwanese (54.3%) and Polish (80.3%) participants were distressed by the war scenes in the media. More than half (52.5%) of the Ukrainian participants would not seek psychological help despite a significantly higher prevalence of psychological distress. Multivariate linear regression analyses found that female gender, Ukrainian and Polish citizenship, household size, self-rating health status, past psychiatric history, and avoidance coping were significantly associated with higher DASS-21 and IES-R scores after adjustment of other variables (p < 0.05). We have identified mental health sequelae in Ukrainian, Poles, and Taiwanese with the ongoing Russo-Ukraine war. Risk factors associated with developing depression, anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress symptoms include female gender, self-rating health status, past psychiatric history, and avoidance coping. Early resolution of the conflict, online mental health interventions, delivery of psychotropic medications, and distraction techniques may help to improve the mental health of people who stay inside and outside Ukraine.

Higher anxiety and perceived trauma among COVID-19 patients: a prospective comparative study

Background and purposePsychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and traumatic stress are not rare during infectious outbreaks, as the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a great concern to the general population. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether experiencing psychiatric symptoms during COVID-19 is the result of the burden of carrying an illness or the COVID-19 itself.MethodTwo hundred ten subjects and three different groups of participants (COVID-19 patients, university staff, and orthopedic patients) were recruited. They answered a demographic questionnaire, Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) test for OCD symptoms, Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) for perceived trauma, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) for anxiety, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression assessments using phone or face-to-face interviews.ResultAt least one OCD symptom was observed in 85.7% of the subjects. However, there was no significant difference between the 3 groups (p = 0.2194). Perceived trauma was significantly higher among COVID-19 patients followed by university staff and orthopedic patients (23.73, 16.21, 11.51 mean IES-R scores respectively, p = 8.449e−14). COVID-19 patients also showed higher anxiety (mean BAI score: 17.00) than the university staff and orthopedic patients’ group (9.22 and 5.56 respectively) (p = 6.175e−08). BDI score did not show much variation for depression, the mean score was 9.66, 9.49, and 6.7 for the COVID-19 patients, university staff, and orthopedic patients respectively, (p = 0.2735).ConclusionPerceived trauma and anxiety symptoms are significantly higher in COVID-19 patients and the symptoms of OCD and depression do not differ between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 people, so the necessity of screening and following treatment of patients with COVID-19 should be kept in mind.Trial registrationIR.IUMS.FMD.REC.1399.761.

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&#x0D; 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.&#x0D; 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.&#x0D; 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. &#x0D; 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

Psychological distress and coping styles among baccalaureate nursing students: Promoting mental health of future nurses in COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causes significant psychological distress among nursing students. College-bound nursing students might have preferred different types of coping strategies to deal with psychological distress. This study aims to measure the psychological distress and role of coping styles to mediate the stress level among the baccalaureate nursing students amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in December 2020 at a nursing college attached to a tertiary care teaching hospital, North India. Nearly 251 baccalaureate nursing students completed the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE) scale to report their psychological distress and coping styles, respectively. Chi-square test, independent sample t-test followed by binary and multivariable regression were used to identify the factors associated with distress in students during the pandemic. Students' mean age was 22.22 ± 1.24 years. The mean IES-R was 19.59 ± 12.45 in nursing students. Psychological distress found a significant association with age (P = 0.022), academic class (P = 0.016), travel history (P = 0.034), and being positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for COVID-19 status of self (P = 0.018) and family members in the medical profession (P = 0.013). In binary logistic regression, stress level found a significant association with first-year academic level (OR: 3.250, 95% CI: 1.429-7.390, P = 0.005) and family members in the medical profession (OR: 4.44, 95% CI: 1.019-19.382, P = 0.047). Adaptive coping styles were more frequently preferred than maladaptive coping styles (54% vs 41%). Adaptive (r = 0.295, P < 0.001) and maladaptive coping (r = 0.403, P < 0.001) shows a significant positive relationship with stress in students, respectively. Coronavirus pandemic causes significant distress among nursing students. Students were able to manage stress using acceptance and religious/spiritual coping strategies. During the pandemic, stress management to support mental health is highly recommended.

P023 Parental Distress in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Prior studies have shown that parents of children with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have significantly more symptoms of depression and anxiety, compared to parents with children who do not have a chronic illness (1). The aim of this study is to investigate the occurrence of symptoms of distress, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among parents of children with IBD and associations with disease course and time from diagnosis. We conducted a cross-sectional study with parents with children (2-17 yrs) diagnosed with IBD. There were two cohorts: 1. recently diagnosed cohort (< 6 months from diagnosis); 2. established diagnosis cohort (> 1 year from diagnosis). Parents completed surveys that included demographic information and 3 widely used measures: Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R), and Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Short Form v1.0-Anxiety 8A (PROMIS-ANX). A total of 212 parents with children with IBD agreed to participate in our project. 52 parents in the recently diagnosed cohort and 103 parents in the established diagnosis cohort completed surveys. 52% of parents in the recently diagnosed cohort had clinically elevated scores on the PROMIS-ANX measure, with no significant difference in the transformed mean scores between the recently diagnosed and established diagnosis cohorts (3.77 vs 3.74, p = 0.220). Similarly, 45% of parents in the recently diagnosed cohort had clinically elevated depression scores, with no significant difference between the mean transformed scores between the recently diagnosed and the established diagnosis cohort (1.426 vs 1.346, p = 0.266). IES-R scores were significantly higher between parents of children recently diagnosed vs. established diagnosed (2.03 vs 1.62, p = 0.017). The cohort was further divided to those diagnosed within 3 months (n = 37) and those diagnosed over 5 years (n = 41) with no statically significant difference between mean transformed PROMIS-ANX (p = 0.371) or PHQ-8 scores (p = 0.605), but a significant increase in mean IES-R scores (p = 0.0478). There was no significant difference between mean transformed parental PROMIS-ANX, PHQ-8, or IES-R scores and patient's IBD phenotypes or patient medications (p > 0.05). In this cohort, we found that a majority of parents with children with IBD had clinically elevated anxiety scores with no significant decrease in mean transformed scores over time. The only measure of distress that did significantly reduce between cohorts was the mean transformed IES-R score. In conclusion, the present study suggests considerable parental distress in parents of children with IBD. Interventions to alleviate parental distress might be considered.

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 &lt; 0.0001) and an increase in HbA1c was noted in the post-lockdown period (8.31% vs. 8.70%; P &lt; 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 the General Population during the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Tale of Two Developing Countries

Background: This study aimed to compare the severity of psychological impact, anxiety and depression between people from two developing countries, Iran and China, and to correlate mental health parameters with variables relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although China and Iran are developing countries based on the World Bank’s criteria, these two countries are different in access to resources and health care systems. We hypothesized that Iranians would show higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress as compared to Chinese. Methods: This study collected information related to the COVID-19 pandemic including physical health, precautionary measures and knowledge about the pandemic. We also used validated questionnaires such as the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess the mental health status. Results: There were a total of 1411 respondents (550 from Iran; 861 from China). The mean IES-R scores of respondents from both countries were above the cut-off for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Iranians had significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression (p &lt; 0.01). Significantly more Iranians believed COVID-19 was transmitted via contact, practised hand hygiene, were unsatisfied with health information and expressed less confidence in their doctors, but were less likely to wear a facemask (p &lt; 0.001). Significantly more Iranians received health information related to COVID-19 via television while Chinese preferred the Internet (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: This cross-country study found that Iranians had significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression as compared to Chinese. The difference in reported measures between respondents from Iran and China were due to differences in access to healthcare services and governments’ responses to the pandemic.

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.

Psychopathological profile in COVID-19 patients including healthcare workers: the implications.

The effects of COVID-19 seem to extend beyond the physical pain and is showing psychiatric implications as well. Moreover, psychopathological implications seem to last also after patients' discharge. Our goal is to investigate the psychological impact and psychopathological outcome of patients affected by COVID-19. We have engaged 34 patients with COVID-19 conditions [eight of them were healthcare workers patients (HCW)] hospitalized at "Policlinico Gemelli Foundation" of Rome, Italy. All patients were evaluated through the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R) first, during their hospitalization (baseline), and then, after 4 months from hospital discharge (follow-up), through phone interviews. At baseline, 82% of patients revealed from mild to severe psychological impact of COVID-19, according to the IES-R. At follow-up, the mean IES-R total score was significantly decreased (p<0.001) even if almost half (46.6%) of our cohort still showed it. HCW patients showed a significantly higher score than other patients at IES-R scale, both at baseline (p=0.005) and at follow-up (p<0.001). Moreover, at 4 months from discharge, they showed a significantly higher percentage of moderate and severe distress (p=0.015). In addition to this, at follow-up, our cohort of patients showed an increase of anxiety symptoms, even if not significant compared to baseline (46.7% vs. 35.3% respectively; p=1.000), and HCW patients suffered more sleep disorders (p=0.019) and anxiety symptoms (p=0.019) compared to other patients. We indicate the importance of assessing psychopathology of COVID-19 survivors, monitoring their changes over time, and providing psychological support to improve their psychological well-being.

A Multinational Study on the Protective and Risk Factors Associated with Mental Health Parameters in the General Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study in the Asia-Europe-North America Cohort

Background: The novel Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Association (WHO) in March 2020, impacting the lifestyles, economy, physical and mental health of individuals globally. Little is known about the relationship between the impact of COVID-19 and one’s mental health status, and thus research needs to be conducted to identify the factors involved and develop tailored evidence-based strategies in response to reduce the adverse psychological impact. Methods: From February to June 2020, we conducted an online Global Mental Health survey which recruited participants via a respondent-driven sampling country in 8 countries (China, Pakistan, Philippines, Iran, Poland, Spain, USA and Vietnam). The online survey collected information on demographic characteristics, physical symptoms and health service utilisation, contact history, knowledge and concerns regarding COVID-19, precautionary measures taken and additional health information variables among the countries involved. The psychological impact was measured by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) questionnaire and the mental health status was measured by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: There were 5555 participants involved in the study, 31.4% male and 68.6% female, with an age range of 12-to above 50 years of age. There were significant differences in the mean IES-R and DASS-21 scores between the 8 countries (F(7, 55477) = 71.605, η2=0.085, pInterpretation: During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of the global population was significantly affected as shown empirically by the results of our study, and each country faced their own set of unique challenges in their response to COVID-19. Our findings have identified protective and risk factors associated with mental health that can help us to develop targeted psychological interventions for those who are more vulnerable during this pandemic.Funding Statement: This study has the following funding sources: Huaibei Normal University, China, Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland under the 2019-2022 program, Regional Initiative of Excellence", project number 012 / RID / 2018/19, National University of Singapore iHeathtech Other Operating Expenses (R-722-000-004-731) and Vingroup Innovation Foundation (VINIF) COVID research grant (VINIF.2020.Covid19.DA07) in Vietnam.Declaration of Interests: None declared.Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards from each country, China (Huaibei Normal University of China, HBU-IRB2020-001/002), Philippines (University of Philippines Manila Research Ethics Board, UPMREB 2020-198-01), Poland (SWPS University, WKEB62/04/2020), Spain (Complutense University of Madrid of Spain, Pr_2019_20_027), Vietnam (Hanoi Medical University, QD 75/QD-YHDP&YHDP) and the US (East Carolina University, UMCIRB 20-000838). Approval was also obtained from the relevant Iranian and Pakistani committees. All respondents provided informed consent. The collected data were anonymous and treated as confidential.

The Association Between Physical and Mental Health and Face Mask Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison of Two Countries With Different Views and Practices.

BackgroundThe physical and mental health of citizens living in a country that encouraged face masks (China) and discouraged face masks (Poland) during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic remained unknown. We conducted a cross-country study to compare the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Poles and Chinese. This study aimed to compare the levels of psychological impact of pandemic and levels of anxiety and depression between China and Poland.MethodsThe survey collected information on demographic data, physical symptoms, contact history, and precautionary measures. The psychological impact was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and mental health status was assessed by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The chi-squared test was used to analyze the differences in categorical variables between the two populations. Linear regression was used to calculate the bivariate associations between independents variables (e.g., physical symptoms and precautionary measures) and dependent variables (e.g., mental health outcomes).ResultsThis study included a total of 2,266 respondents from both countries (1,056 Poles and 1,210 Chinese). There were significantly less Polish respondents who wore face masks (Poles: 35.0%; Chinese: 96.8% p < 0.001). Significantly more Polish respondents reported physical symptoms resembling COVID-19 infection (p < 0.001), recent medical consultation (p < 0.01), recent COVID-19 testing (p < 0.001), and hospitalization (p < 0.01). Furthermore, Polish respondents had significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress (p < 0.001) than Chinese. The mean IES-R scores of Poland and China were above the cut-off for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Besides precautionary measures, unemployment, retirement, physical symptoms resembling COVID-19 infection, recent medical consultation or COVID-19 testing, and long daily duration of home confinement were risk factors for PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, or stress for Polish respondents.ConclusionUse of face masks at the community level may safeguard better physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need of health education with scientific information from Polish health authority on the proper use of face masks and reduce social stigma. This study was limited by the respondent sampling method that had compromised the representativeness of samples.

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.

Do psychiatric patients experience more psychiatric symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown? A case-control study with service and research implications for immunopsychiatry

This study aimed to assess and compare the immediate stress and psychological impact experienced by people with and without psychiatric illnesses during the peak of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic with strict lockdown measures. Seventy-six psychiatric patients and 109 healthy control subjects were recruited from Chongqing, China and completed a survey on demographic data, physical symptoms during the past 14 days and a range of psychiatric symptoms using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). 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. The mean IES-R, DASS-21 anxiety, depression and stress subscale and ISI scores were higher in psychiatric patients than healthy controls (p < 0.001). Serious worries about their physical health, anger and impulsivity and intense suicidal ideation were significantly higher in psychiatric patients than healthy controls (p < 0.05). More than one-third of psychiatric patients might fulfil the diagnostic criteria post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More than one-quarter of psychiatric patients suffered from moderately severe to severe insomnia. Respondents who reported no change, poor or worse physical health status and had a psychiatric illness were significantly more likely to have higher mean IES-R, DASS depression, anxiety and stress subscale scores and ISI scores (p < 0.05). This study confirms the severity of negative psychological impact on psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 epidemic with strict lockdown measures. Understanding the psychological impact on psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to provide insight into how to develop a new immunopsychiatry service. Further research is required to compare pro-inflammatory cytokines between psychiatric patients and healthy controls during the pandemic.

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.

Disaster Victim Identification: Psychological Distress and Posttraumatic Stress in Dentists After the 2011 Fukushima Disaster

Objective: To evaluate the correlates of psychological responses in dentists who conducted disaster victim identification (DVI) in Fukushima following the 2011 earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster. Method: Self-report questionnaires were administered to 49 male dentists six to nine months after the disaster. Psychological distress and posttraumatic stress were measured using the General Health Questionnaire–30 (GHQ-30) and Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R), respectively. Independent variables included sociodemographic characteristics, participant disaster exposures, DVI-related exposures, and fear of radiation exposure during DVI. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to examine independent-dependent variable relations. Results: Thirty-eight participants (77.6%) had examined ≥ 40 corpses, 20 (40.8%) reported ≥ 4 corpse-related exposures, and six (12.2%) reported ≥ 5 gruesome corpse exposures. Mean (SD) GHQ-30 and IES-R scores were 5.08 (5.31) and 9.90 (10.1), respectively. Higher levels of psychological distress were associated with younger age (adjusted β = −0.29), extensive property loss (β = 0.34), and anxiety for the future (β = 0.33). Higher levels of posttraumatic stress were associated with extensive property loss (adjusted R2 = 17.7%, β = 0.30). Neither outcome was associated with DVI-related exposures or fear of radiation exposure during DVI (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Dentists’ psychological burden was associated with disaster, but not DVI, exposures.

Differences in vulnerability to traumatic stress among patients with psychiatric disorders: One-year follow-up study after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in vulnerability to traumatic stress and the 1-year course of post-traumatic stress symptoms among patients with pre-existing psychiatric disorders after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used to assess post-traumatic stress symptoms in 612 patients with schizophrenic (ICD-10 F2; n = 163), mood (F3; n = 299), or neurotic disorders (F4; n = 150) at 1-4 months and again at 13-16 months after the disaster (retention rate: 68%). The mean IES-R total score for all diagnostic groups was 18.6 at index and 13.4 at follow up. The mean IES-R total score for patients with neurotic disorders (22.5) was significantly higher than that of patients with mood disorders (18.1) and schizophrenic disorders (15.9). At follow up, these scores decreased for all groups and inter-group differences were not observed. Vulnerability to traumatic stress after a disaster was most severe in patients with neurotic disorders, followed by mood disorders, and, lastly, schizophrenic disorders. This difference among the three diagnostic groups was not found 1 year after the disaster.

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.