Mental Health Status Of Individuals Research Articles

Prevalence of Mental Disorders Among Patients with Multimorbidity Visiting Primary Care Settings in Slums of Karachi, Pakistan.

Anxiety and depression often exacerbate multimorbidity conditions, leading to increased disability rates among affected individuals. The study aimed to assess the mental health status of individuals with multimorbidity belonging to the marginalized population of Karachi, Pakistan. Specifically, the prevalence of anxiety and depression was investigated. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2022 and June 2023 in 10 primary healthcare clinics located in 4 peri-urban areas of Karachi. A total of 9331 participants were included in the study. The Patient Health Questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) were used to assess symptoms of anxiety and depression. The data collected were analyzed using the statistical analysis system (SAS) version 9.4. Among the study participants, 2894 (31%) were men and 5534 (59.3%) were women. The prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety was 31% among men and 59.3% among women. The age group between 41 and 60 years exhibited the highest rates of moderate to severe anxiety, 19.3% as evaluated by GAD-7 and 34.6% by PHQ-9. The Pathan ethnic group had the highest prevalence of anxiety (11%) and depression (28.3%) in the neighborhoods. Unemployed participants showed moderate to severe anxiety in 21.3% of the cases and moderate to severe depression in 25.5% of the cases. The study revealed a significant cooccurrence of anxiety and depression among individuals with multimorbidity in the marginalized population of Karachi, Pakistan. Furthermore, the presence of anxiety symptoms in multimorbidity patients with depression indicates a more unfavorable health state. It is essential to explore the implementation of screening measures and therapeutic interventions for comorbid anxiety and depression in this population to improve clinical outcomes.

Mental health status of individuals with diabetes in Korea before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison of data from the Korean national health and nutrition examination surveys of 2018–2019 and 2020–2021

ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the mental health status of patients with diabetes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the effect of COVID-19 on their mental health...

Influence of Nutrition on Mental Health: Scoping Review.

The aim of this article was to carry out a scoping review of existing research on the influence of food on mental health: (1) Background: nutrition, nutrient levels or an adequate body weight seem to influence the mental health status of individuals. The consumption of psychotropic drugs also seems to contribute to overweight; (2) Methods: fifteen previous research articles were used in the review, which were read in their entirety, following PRISMA methodology and using SPIDER and GRADE tools; (3) Results: there is a relationship between diet and mental health status. Low levels of magnesium, together with high levels of calcium, provoke anxious states, and supplementation with Melissa Officinalis attenuates them. Healthy nutritional habits generally reduce depressive symptoms; while vitamin D supplementation improves mental health status; (4) Conclusion: in general, healthy and appropriate nutrition, such as the Mediterranean diet, improves mental health status. Levels of magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin B6 also seem to have an influence. As limitations of the present review, "food" was considered any form of nutrient administered as an independent variable, and it may include linguistic and publication bias.

Heterogeneity Influence of Financial Digitalization and Inclusion on Employees' Psychological States.

Digital inclusive finance (DIF) has the power to spawn a new system of Internet finance and realize financial inclusion. However, the role of DIF in improving the health status of individuals is largely unknown. This study aims to demonstrate whether and how the development of DIF impacts the mental health of Chinese employees. This paper performs an empirical study based on the city-level data of the digital inclusive financial index with the China family panel studies. Ordinary least squares (OLS), probit models and mediation techniques are employed with appropriate instruments to alleviate endogeneity concerns. The results show that DIF can help employees improve their mental health. The results were robust to a variety of checks. Moreover, increasing income is the main pathway in which DIF improves individual mental health. Finally, it also reveals the heterogeneous effects of DIF on individual mental health. That is, the use depth of DIF has a significant positive effect on mental health status, but not on other sub-indicators, such as coverage breadth and degree of digital service provision; on those vulnerable groups containing females and employees with low education, its decisive role is larger than their counterparts who are males and have high levels of education. These results highlight the vital role of DIF in improving the mental health status of individuals. Consequently, there is a need to strengthen the construction of financial infrastructure and achieve a deeper integration of the financial system with digital technologies.

Early life climate and adulthood mental health: how birth seasonality influences depressive symptoms in adults

BackgroundEarly life in-utero can have long-term influence on the mental health status of individuals in adulthood, such as depression. Age, gender, socio-economic status, education, and geography are demographic factors shown to be particularly vulnerable towards the development of depressive symptoms. In addition, climate risks on depression include sunlight, rain, and temperature. However, whether climate factors in early life have a long-term influence on depression related to demographic vulnerability remains unknown. Here, the present study explored the association between birth seasonality and adulthood depressive symptoms.MethodsWe employed data from the project of Chinese Labour-forces Dynamic Survey (CLDS) 2016, containing the epidemiological data of depressive symptoms with a probability proportional to size cluster and random cluster sampling method in 29 provinces of China. A final sample size of 16,185 participants was included. Birth seasonality included spring (March, April, and May), summer (June, July, and August), autumn (September, October, and November), and winter (December, January, and February).ResultsWe found that born in Autumn peaked lowest rate of having depressive symptoms (16.8%) and born in Summer (vs. Autumn) had a significant higher ratio (OR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.02, 1.29) when controlling for demographic variables. In addition, demographic odds ratio of having depressive symptoms differed between people born in different seasons, particular for age and geography.ConclusionOur findings suggest that birth seasonality influences the sensitive link of depressive symptoms with age and geography. It implicates early life climate environment may play a role in the development of adulthood depressive symptoms.

POS1530-HPR RHEUMATIC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES (RMDs) DURING THE FIRST WAVE OF THE COVID19 PANDEMIC: PATIENTS’ POINT OF VIEW ON THE ROLE OF TELEMEDICINE

BackgroundThe COVID19 pandemic has caused health problems in people’s daily lives with a significant psychological impact. In fact, patients with RMDs have experienced diseases’ flare and also psychological problems. The lockdown and the “social quality changes” have impacted the life and the well-being of RMDs patients, influencing directly the implementation of telemedicine during daily practice.ObjectivesA descriptive observational study was designed to analyse the short-term effect of the first wave on RMDs patients on social quality changes and the usefulness of telemedicine.MethodsThe survey was carried out by administering a questionnaire consisting of 30 questions, developed ad hoc using Likert scales. Items such as family and work environment, access to healthcare facilities, healthcare provided to the patient, disease activity and the mental health status of individuals (anxiety / depressive symptoms) were investigated. Preliminary data on the first wave were collected between September and November 2021 through patient associations and social networks.Results40 RMDs patients (Rheumatoid Arthritis 57.5%, Psoriatic Arthritis 35%, Fibromyalgia and others 7.5%) prevalently women (97.5%) were included in the survey. During the pandemic, 72% of respondents reported cancellation or delays in scheduled appointments and 50% did not have alternative contacts (telephone consultations, e-mail prescriptions, telematics training) with the hospital. 40.5% of patients reported difficulty in finding DMARDs and material for the treatment of ulcers, 28.2% reported difficulties in accessing the health facilities. In particular, 34.2% reported the total closure of the hospital facilities.Moreover, our data show a worsening of health status due to an increased anxiety concerning the management of their RMDs, an increased stress within the family, a reduced access to care facilities due to their closure or travel restrictions. In 57% of patients, a worsening of health status was reported, while in 90% stress and a feeling of abandonment was developed since the beginning of the pandemic. In this context, telemedicine was considered useful by 97.5% of patients, although patients felt that an improvement was necessary with an integration with the regular follow up.ConclusionPatients with RMDs reported that the significant delays or cancellation of the outpatient visits provoked an increase of stress, worry and anxiety for their health. The majority was very concerned about the overall management of their RMDs. The worsening of symptoms in more than half of the patients was the most worrisome observation. Almost all patients agreed that Telemedicine might help the clinical evaluation of their RMDs, also providing a significant support to their psychological condition because of the direct contact with the caring physician and health professionals.

A cross-sectional investigation of the mental health and wellbeing among individuals who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 international border closure in Australia

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the Australian government implementing strict international border closures. However, research has not yet investigated the mental health status of individuals impacted negatively by these international border closures.MethodsThe present study was a cross-sectional online survey of 3968 adults who reported being negatively affected by the border closure during June and July 2021. Psychological distress was measured with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), stress with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and wellbeing with the Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF).ResultsIn total, 3968 participants reported being negatively affected by the current restrictions (63.4% in Australia, 36.6% overseas). The vast majority of respondents (83.6%) reported high or very high levels of psychological distress (mean K10 score > 22), and 74.8% reported poor mental wellbeing, with similar risk profiles for participants in Australia or overseas. The most common scenarios of affected individuals included 1) wanting to enter Australia (30.8%), 2) wanting to leave Australia (29.6%) and 3) wanting someone to enter Australia (25.6%). Reasons included wanting to be with partners, family and friends (81.1%), for employment/economic reasons (4.9%), study (4.1%), personal safety/health (2.6%) or holiday (1.4%). While psychological distress was extremely high across all groups, separated partners and those with interrupted study experienced the highest distress (mean K10 = 35.7, n = 155).ConclusionThe data suggests a highly elevated mental health risk profile among individuals who report being negatively affected by current Australian international border closures. The results provide valuable data to inform future policy decisions and have clear implications regarding effective service provision for this vulnerable group.

Prenatal alcohol exposure and mental health at midlife: A preliminary report on two longitudinal cohorts.

Although the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) have been studied extensively, there is relatively little information available on adult mental health functioning among exposed individuals. The current study compares the self-reported midlife mental health status of individuals who were prenatally exposed to alcohol and diagnosed in childhood with the effects of this exposure with that of unexposed individuals. Participants (N=292) were recruited from two longitudinal cohorts in Atlanta and Seattle and asked to complete an Adult Health Questionnaire that surveyed their current health and mental health status. The questionnaire was completed either in-person or remotely and included questions about current symptoms of depression and anxiety and mental health disorder diagnoses. The analysis compared a Nonexposed Contrast group to those in two exposure groups: (1) Alcohol Exposed with Fetal Alcohol Effect but not meeting criteria for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and (2) Alcohol Affected and meeting criteria for FAS. Both alcohol-exposed groups reported higher levels of current depressive symptoms and a higher prevalence of diagnoses of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and/or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. No differences were noted for psychotic disorders. PAE was also associated with greater environmental stressors, including higher levels of adverse childhood events and lower current socioeconomic status. Path analyses suggested that PAE was indirectly related to mood disorders with its effects being mediated by other environmental factors. PAE is associated with greater rates of mental health disorders in middle adulthood. These outcomes appear to result from multiple stressors that affect individuals made vulnerable by their early alcohol exposure. Clinical outcomes could be improved by prevention efforts directed at preventing prenatal alcohol use and reducing environmental stressors later in life, and by the early identification of PAE and its effects.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study From Pakistan.

Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly increased the rate of mortality and morbidity worldwide due to its rapid transmission rate. The mental health status of individuals could have a negative impact attributed to this global situation. Therefore, this study was intended to explore the symptoms of depression and anxiety among healthcare workers (HCWs) of Pakistan during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken by administering a web-based questionnaire between May and June 2020. Two tools, including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), were employed to measure anxiety and depression symptoms among HCWs. The data analyses were carried out using descriptive statistics, Man Whitney, and Kruskal Wallis tests.Results: Of 1094 HCWs who participated in this online survey, 742 (67.8%) were physicians, followed by nurses (n = 277, 25.3%) and pharmacists (n = 75, 6.9%). The survey respondents had a median depression and anxiety score of 5.00 (7.00–3.00) and 8.00 (11.00–5.00), respectively. A considerable number of HCWs (82.2%) utilized online psychological resources to deal with their psychological distress. Female HCWs, nurses, frontline HCWs, and HCWs aged 30–49 years were more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety (p < 0.05).Conclusion: During the recent ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, there is a mild level of symptoms of depression and anxiety among HCWs. Our findings call for urgent psychological interventions for vulnerable groups of Pakistani HCWs.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh: A Survey-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background:Feelings of isolation, insecurity, and instability triggered by COVID-19 could have a long-term impact on the mental health status of individuals.Objectives:The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of mental health symptoms (anxiety, depression, and stress) in Bangladesh and the factors associated with these symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods:From 1 to 30 April 2020, we used a validated self-administered questionnaire to conduct a cross-sectional study on 10,609 participants through an online survey platform. We assessed mental health status using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The total depression, anxiety, and stress subscale scores were divided into normal, mild, moderate, severe, and multinomial logistic regression was used to examine associated factors.Findings:The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 15%, 34%, and 15% for mild, moderate, and severe depressive symptoms, respectively. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 59% for severe anxiety symptoms, 14% for moderate anxiety symptoms, and 14% for mild anxiety symptoms, while the prevalence for stress levels were 16% for severe stress level, 22% for moderate stress level, and 13% for mild stress level. Multivariate analyses revealed that the most consistent factors associated with mild, moderate, and severe of the three mental health subscales (depression, anxiety, and stress) were respondents who lived in Dhaka and Rangpur division, females, those who self-quarantined in the previous seven days before the survey, and those respondents who experienced chills, breathing difficulty, dizziness, and sore throat.Conclusion:Our results showed that about 64%, 87%, and 61% of the respondents in Bangladesh reported high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. There is a need for mental health support targeting women and those who self-quarantined or lived in Dhaka and Rangpur during the pandemic.

How Does Reciprocal Exchange of Social Support Alleviate Individuals' Depression in an Earthquake-Damaged Community?

There is ample evidence to indicate the direct effects of receiving social support on mental health during and after a disaster. However, the importance of reciprocal exchanges of social support (i.e., balanced receipt and provision of social support) in maintaining the mental health status of individuals is not widely recognized. Using equity theory and reciprocity norms as a conceptual base, we distinguished two types of social support, namely, emotional support and instrumental support, and examined the effects of reciprocal exchanges of types of support on depression in survivors of an earthquake-damaged community. To collect data, in 2019, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 295 survivors of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake in a rural village in Nepal. Our results showed that the relationship between reciprocal exchange of support and depression varied depending on the types of support. The amount of emotional support received by the individual alleviated his/her depression only when accompanied by giving emotional support. By contrast, the net amount of instrumental support given by the individual increased his/her depression. The practical implications of the study are discussed.

Predicting the Physical and Mental Health Status of Individuals With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain From a Biopsychosocial Perspective: A Multivariate Approach.

Chronic pain is theoretically conceptualized from a biopsychosocial perspective. However, research into chronic pain still tends to focus on isolated, biological, psychological, or social variables. Simultaneous examination of these variables in the prediction of outcomes is important because communalities between predictors exist. Examination of unique contributions might help guide research and interventions in a more effective way. The participants were 114 individuals with chronic pain (mean age=58.81, SD=11.85; 58.8% women and 41.2% men) who responded to demographics (age and sex), pain characteristics (duration and sensory qualities), psychological (catastrophizing and perceived injustice), and social (marital adjustment) measures. Multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate their unique contributions to pain-related health variables pain severity, pain interference, disability, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Bivariate analyses evidenced significant associations between pain sensory qualities, catastrophizing, perceived injustice, and all health variables. In multivariate analyses, pain sensory qualities were associated with pain severity (β=0.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.05, 0.14; t=4.28, P<0.001), while perceived injustice was associated with pain interference (β=0.08; 95% CI=0.03, 0.12; t=3.59, P<0.001), disability (β=0.25; 95% CI=0.08, 0.42; t=2.92, P=0.004), anxiety (β=0.18; 95% CI=0.08, 0.27; t=3.65, P<0.001), and depressive symptoms (β=0.14; 95% CI=0.05, 0.23; t=2.92, P=0.004). Age, sex, pain duration, and marital adjustment were not associated with health variables either in bivariate or in multivariate analyses (all P>0.010). As expected, communalities between biopsychosocial variables exist, which resulted in a reduced number of unique contributions in multivariate analyses. Perceived injustice emerged as a unique contributor to variables, which points to this psychological construct as a potentially important therapeutic target in multidisciplinary treatment of pain.

Immediate psychological responses during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic among Bangladeshi medical students

BackgroundThe most recent global pandemic of COVID-19 has been creating multidimensional damages, including a detrimental impact on the mental health status of individuals. Medical students, a vulnerable cross-section of the population, may have perceived a myriad of psychological stressors during this crisis in the background of their prevailing stressful academic pressure and preexisting higher psychological and mental health issue. ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and to elucidate the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Bangladeshi medical students. MethodA cross-sectional study design was utilized to conduct this survey. The online survey including demographic questions, COVID-19 related questions, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS; higher scores on the subscales indicate higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms), was completed by 425 Bangladeshi medical students. Collected data were statistically analyzed by using SPSS (version 25.0) software. ResultThe HADS anxiety subscale revealed that 65.9% of the medical students had different levels of anxiety, ranging from mild (27.3%), moderate (26.8%), and severe (11.8%). As per HADS depression subscale, 49.9% of the medical students had varying degrees of depressive symptoms, with 3.3% of the participants had suffered from severe depressive symptoms. Female students had a relatively more anxiety and depressive symptoms when compared with males. The students, who were severely tensed of getting infected by the virus, were at higher risk of suffering from anxiety (3.5-fold) and depressive (2.7-fold) symptoms, when compared with no/minimally stressed students. Besides, fear of getting assaulted or humiliated on the way to hospital or home, not to be able to give maximum concentration on study after COVID-19 pandemic, students’ present emotional status (agitation), had statistically significant higher risk of anxiety. ConclusionA substantial proportion of Bangladeshi medical students are experiencing pandemic-related adverse psychological impact. Poor mental health conditions of these vulnerable medical students pose important threat to their potential contribution in future health care. Thus, medical colleges and health authorities should focus on addressing their psychological needs and formulate effective strategies to ameliorate medical students’ mental health status, particularly during any infectious disease outbreak.

Measuring COVID-19 Related Anxiety in Parents: Psychometric Comparison of Four Different Inventories.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 outbreak and the measures to contain the global pandemic can have an impact on the well-being and mental health status of individuals. Parents of young children are particularly at risk for high levels of parental stress due to the current public health crisis, which can impact parenting behaviors and children’s well-being. Although different initial scales have been developed to measure COVID-19–related anxiety, they have not yet been tested sufficiently in parent samples. A brief measure of COVID-19–related anxiety is necessary for both quick assessment in practice and in larger epidemiological studies of parents.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to compare the distributions, validities, and reliabilities of four different COVID-19 anxiety scales: Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, Pandemic Anxiety Scale, and one subscale of the COVID Stress Scales. Based on the psychometric properties of these scales, we aim to provide recommendations for a brief unidimensional inventory to assess COVID-19–related anxiety among parents.MethodsA cross-sectional web-based survey of 515 German-speaking parents (465 mothers, 90.3%) with at least one child aged 0-6 years was conducted during a 6-week period (June 29 to August 9, 2020). Half of the parents were recruited via Facebook parenting groups, while the other half were recruited through childcare centers. We psychometrically tested 25 items on COVID-19–related anxiety using the framework of classical test theory, including item analysis, correlational analysis of family variables, and exploratory factor analysis. Moreover, an item response theory approach was applied to estimate item discriminations and item difficulties.ResultsBased on the psychometric properties, three items of the Pandemic Anxiety Scale were identified as a single unidimensional factor. The adapted scale demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α=.79), moderate to high item discrimination, strong positive intercorrelation with two other COVID-19 anxiety scales, and a small positive association with parenting stress. Mothers and fathers did not differ in total scores (t513=−0.79, P=.42).ConclusionsFactor analysis suggests that existing COVID-19–related anxiety scales measure different latent constructs of anxiety. Furthermore, all scales showed only small to moderate correlations with trait health anxiety, suggesting that COVID-19–related anxiety is distinct from general health anxiety. The adapted “disease anxiety” subscale of the Pandemic Anxiety Scale is an economical measure for assessing COVID-19–related anxiety in parents. Directions for future research are outlined.

Psychological Distress in Quarantine Designated Facility During COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

BackgroundQuarantine is a useful measure for preventing and controlling pandemics; however, it might be stressful for quarantined individuals. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming. These emotions were reported for individuals in involuntary quarantine facilities dedicated to quarantine purposes.MethodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed the individuals in involuntary quarantine institutions (for a planned period of 14 days of quarantine) in two regions of Saudi Arabia. The mental health status of individuals was assessed using the Revised Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21).ResultsThe study surveyed 214 quarantined/isolated individuals. The stress, anxiety, and depression rates were 25.7%, 21.5%, and 32.7%, respectively. On the IES-R, 28.0% of the participants met the criteria for psychological distress. Female gender, self-reported history of psychiatric disorder, and average health status were significantly associated with negative psychological impact and depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms (p<0.05). Watching television was found to be a factor in reducing rates on the IES-R and DASS-21 scale while working out lowered rates on the IES-R alone (p<0.05).ConclusionDuring an institutional involuntary quarantine, additional attention should be paid to vulnerable groups like females and individuals with a history of psychiatric illness. More than one-fourth of our sample experienced a negative psychological impact; therefore, coping practices like working out should be encouraged. This study contributes to the ongoing discussion about the psychological aspects of being quarantined. Much work remains to be done to identify strategies that prevent and mitigate psychological distress throughout the quarantine experience and to determine whether these impacts will last for an extended period of time.

Relationships between Physical and Social Behavioural Changes and the Mental Status of Homebound Residents in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In Hong Kong, social distancing has been adopted in order to minimise the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to examine the changes in physical health, mental health, and social well-being experienced by local residents who were homebound during the pandemic. An online questionnaire in both Chinese and English versions was completed by 590 eligible participants from 24 April to 13 May 2020. The questionnaire found that individuals aged 18 to 25 years spent more time resting and relaxing but experienced more physical strain. Working status was associated with social contact, with participants working full-time jobs scoring higher in “maintaining social communication via electronic means” and “avoiding social activities outside the home”. Additionally, approximately one third of the participants (29.7%) had moderate to severe depression, and participants aged 18 to 25 were found to have higher scores in PHQ-9. Changes in physical health and social contact were significantly associated with developing depressive symptoms. From the results, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to exert a negative impact on the mental health status of individuals.

The development and validation of a marginalization index for inpatient psychiatry.

Marginalization is a multidimensional social construct that influences the mental health status of individuals and their use of psychiatric services. However, its conceptualization and measurement are challenging due to inconsistencies in definitions, and the lack of standard data sources to measure this construct. To create an index for screening marginalization based on an existing comprehensive assessment system used in inpatient psychiatry. Items anticipated to be indicative of marginalization were identified from the Resident Assessment Instrument-Mental Health (RAI-MH) that is used in all inpatient mental health beds in Ontario, Canada. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis of these items was performed on a sample of 81,232 patients admitted into psychiatric care in Ontario between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2016 to identify dimensions being measured. Various weights and scoring methods were tested to assess convergent validity on multiple outcomes of marginalization. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized to determine optimal cut-offs for the index by modeling the likelihood of different marginalization outcomes, including homelessness. Fifteen items were identified for the development of the Marginalization Index (MI). PCA and cluster analysis identified that the items measured five dimensions. ROC curve analysis among homeless individuals identified an Area Under the Curve of 0.76 and an optimal cut-off of five on the MI. Frequency analysis of the index by different characteristics identified homeless individuals, frequent mental health service users, persons with a history of violence and police intervention, and persons with addictions issues, as groups with the highest scores, confirming the convergent validity of the index. The MI is a valid measure of marginalization and is strong predictor of risk of homelessness among psychiatric inpatients. MI provides a resource that can be used for social and health policy, decision-support and evaluation.

Mental health status of individuals with a mood-disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: Initial results from the COLLATE project

BackgroundPhysical-distancing strategies during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may be particularly detrimental to the mental health of individuals with a pre-existing mood disorder. Data on the mental health status of these individuals during the current pandemic is sparse, and their current mental health needs unclear. MethodWe characterised COVID-19 related lifestyle changes, primary concerns and psychological distress in n=1292 respondents self-reporting a mood disorder (either bipolar disorder or depressive disorder) and n=3167 respondents without any reported mental disorder from the COLLATE (COvid-19 and you: mentaL heaLth in AusTralia now survEy) project; an Australian national survey launched on April 1st 2020. ResultsPsychological distress was heightened in the mood disorder group compared to the group with no mental disorder, with stress and depression further elevated in respondents with bipolar disorder compared to those with depressive disorder; and men with bipolar disorder having even higher levels of depression than women with bipolar disorder. Respondents with bipolar disorder were particularly concerned about financial issues associated with COVID-19 compared to those with depressive disorder and those with no mental disorder. Adverse changes to lifestyle behaviours were more prevalent in respondents with a mood disorder and linked to higher levels of distress. LimitationsMood disorder was self-reported and was not clinically verified. ConclusionsCurrent psychological distress levels are elevated in individuals with mood disorder and are associated with maladaptive situational and lifestyle changes occurring in response to COVID-19.

Gender, income and mental health: The Turkish case.

Gender gaps in health outcomes are frequently observed. Mental health disorders also display gender differences in various countries. This paper explores gender differences in mental health outcomes of individuals in Turkey. It aims to deliver additional evidence on associations between gender, income and mental health status by providing an empirical analysis from a developing country, Turkey. This study employs a nationally representative data set from Turkish Health Survey of 2016. It constructs an index for mental health at individual level by using polychoric principal component analysis. Conditional mixed process models are estimated for quantification of associations between gender, income and mental health measures. Empirical findings indicate that there is endogenous and positive relationship between household income level and mental health status of individuals in Turkey. Turkish females report lower mental health statuses than Turkish males. Furthermore, females are more likely to use mental health services in Turkey. Gender gaps in both mental health status and mental health service use are present in the Turkish case. Results of this study imply that mental health policies should avoid applying one-fit-all approaches.

Psychological impacts of Covid-19 outbreak on mental health status of society individuals: A narrative review

From the end of December 2019, outbreak of a novel viral disease was reported in Wuhan city of China, which caused by a novel coronavirus and was officially named as COVID-19 by World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak of COVID-19 was unique in its rapidity of transmission, which has become a global health emergency within just a few months in all countries worldwide. This disease will not only raise public health concerns but also cause several psychological distress, including anxiety, fear, depression, stigmatization, avoidance behaviors, irritability, insomnia, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this situation, the maintenance of mental health status of individuals is very important because people in different parts of society may experience additional stressors during the COVID-19 outbreak. Individuals in different parts of a society may experience the psychological symptoms to COVID-19 during the rising phase of the outbreak, including patients of COVID-19, quarantine individuals, health care workers and family members of medical staffs, children, university students, pregnant women, and families. In this regard, there is the strong evidence that the mental health status of these populations is vulnerable to exhibition of the psychological disorders symptoms. © 2020 Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.