Mental Health Status Of People Research Articles

Obesity is associated with lower levels of negative emotions in polycystic ovary syndrome in clinical and animal studies

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine and metabolic disorders in women of reproductive age. It is frequently comorbid with obesity and negative emotions. Currently, there are few reports on the relationship between obesity and negative emotions in patients with PCOS. Here we performed both basic and clinical studies to study the relationship between obesity and negative emotions in PCOS. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study including 608 patients with PCOS and 184 healthy participants to assess the mental health status of people with different body mass indices (BMI). Self-rated anxiety, depression, and perceived stress scales were used for subjective mood evaluations. Rat PCOS models fed 45 and 60% high-fat diets were used to confirm the results of the clinical study. Elevated plus maze and open field tests were used to assess anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats. Results We observed overweight/obesity, increased depression, anxiety, and perceived stress in women with PCOS, and found that anxiety and depression were negatively correlated with BMI in patients with severe obesity and PCOS. Similar results were confirmed in the animal study; the elevated plus maze test and open field test demonstrated that only 60% of high fat diet-induced obesity partly reversed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in PCOS rats. A high-fat diet also modulated rat hypothalamic and hippocampal luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels. Conclusion These results reveal a potential relationship between obesity and negative emotions in PCOS and prompt further investigation. The interactions between various symptoms of PCOS may be targeted to improve the overall well-being of patients.

Impact of discontinuing non-pharmacological interventions on cognitive impairment in dementia patients by COVID-19 lockdown. A pilot observational, longitudinal, retrospective study carried out in an adult day center in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lockdown imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic led to social isolation and prevented patients with dementia from receiving a suite of non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) that prevent cognitive decline. This discontinuation of NPIs could substantially affect the mental health status of people with dementia in social care settings, such as adult day care centers (ADCs). The study aimed to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health and cognitive impairment in patients with dementia who could not attend their usual ADCs and did not receive our NPIs, based on World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines. Observational, longitudinal, retrospective study carried out in an adult day center in Spain and reported it in accordance with the Strengthening Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. Cognitive status was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in 80 patients attending the ADC of the "Leonese Association of Dementia Patients" (León, Spain), who had been evaluated with this instrument before the COVID-19 lockdown. We observed a 0.4-point decrease in MMSE score/month (IQR = 1.4) during lockdown versus a 0.1-point decrease/month (IQR = 0.3) before this period (p = 0.038). Notably, this translated to >10-point decreases in MMSE score/year in 33.8% of participants during lockdown versus 5.5% earlier (p < 0.001). No statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) were found between the individual characteristics of the caregivers and the occurrence of the event. The reported declines in MMSE scores reveal a significant acceleration of cognitive decline during the period of inactivity. This could suggest that our NPIs, focused on slowing cognitive decline, are beneficial and, therefore, necessary in patients with dementia.

#4016 MENTAL HEALTH OF PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY DISEASE AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS BEFORE AND AFTER THE COVID-19 VACCINE PROGRAMME

Abstract Background and Aims The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in widespread psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and stress, especially in clinically vulnerable people such as those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In the UK, high rates of infection, severe illness and death, and profound changes to usual activities and healthcare delivery imposed by social distancing and isolation persisted throughout 2020 and only began to abate after the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccination programme early in 2021. We conducted a survey to assess levels of general depression, anxiety, stress and health anxiety in people with non-dialysis CKD (ND-CKD), kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), and their significant others (SOs) at two timepoints: during the Autumn of 2020 when COVID-19 levels and social restrictions were high, and in May 2021 after the majority of the population had been vaccinated. We hypothesised that the mental health status of people affected by CKD would improve after receiving the vaccine. Method 11 hospital sites in England invited local patients and their SOs to complete an online survey in Autumn 2020, and a follow-up in May 2021. The survey included two validated mental health questionnaires: the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Short Health Anxiety Index (SHAI). Higher scores are indicative of higher levels of depression, stress and anxiety, and health anxiety respectively. One-way ANOVA was used to compare questionnaire scores between the three participant groups, and paired sample t-tests were used to assess changes between the two timepoints for each group. Results 381 participants completed the Autumn 2020 survey: 123 ND-CKD (61% male, mean age 64[SD:14] years), 150 KTRs (51% male, 59[SD:12] years), and 108 SOs (39% male, 60[SD:13] years). 318 completed the May 2021 follow-up survey. 174 participants completed both surveys. In Autumn 2020, people with ND-CKD had significantly higher DASS-21 anxiety scores than SOs (p = 0.029). Both ND-CKD and KTRs had significantly higher health anxiety scores than SOs at baseline (P&amp;lt;0.001), and at follow-up (ND-CKD, P = 0.006; KTR, P = 0.010). In May 2021, 95% of participants had received the COVID-19 vaccine. There were no significant changes in DASS-21 subscale scores or SHAI scores between the Autumn 2020 and May 2021 timepoints for any of the participant groups. Conclusion Our results show that during the COVID-19 pandemic, people living with ND-CKD and KTRs had higher levels of health-related anxiety than their SOs. As the COVID-19 vaccine programme reduced health risks and allowed relaxation of social restrictions, it may be expected to result in improved population mental health. However, in May 2021, we found no improvement in depression, anxiety, stress, or health anxiety among people living with CKD or their SOs despite nearly all the participants having received the vaccine. It is likely that increased social mixing and marked reduction in public mask-wearing led to persistently high anxiety levels in clinically vulnerable people and those who live with them. Today, the majority of the public have returned to “normal” social behaviour and masks are rarely worn, but COVID-19 remains a threat to people with CKD. There is an urgent need for better mental health support among the kidney community.

Increased prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults initiating antiretroviral therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shinyanga region, Tanzania

BackgroundConcerns about the interconnected relationship between HIV and mental health were heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed whether there were temporal changes in the mental health status of people living with HIV presenting for care in Shinyanga region, Tanzania. Specifically, we compared the prevalence of depression and anxiety before and during COVID-19, with the goal of describing the changing needs, if any, to person-centered HIV services.MethodsWe analyzed baseline data from two randomized controlled trials of adults initiating ART in Shinyanga region, Tanzania between April-December 2018 (pre-COVID-19 period, n = 530) and May 2021-March 2022 (COVID-19 period, n = 542), respectively. We compared three mental health indicators that were similarly measured in both surveys: loss of interest in things, hopelessness about the future, and uncontrolled worrying. We also examined depression and anxiety which were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 in the pre-COVID-19 period and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 in the COVID-19 period, respectively, and classified as binary indicators per each scale’s threshold. We estimated prevalence differences (PD) in adverse mental health status before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, using stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting to adjust for underlying differences in the two study populations.ResultsWe found significant temporal increases in the prevalence of feeling ‘a lot’ and ‘extreme’ loss of interest in things [‘a lot’ PD: 38, CI 34,41; ‘extreme’ PD: 9, CI 8,12)], hopelessness about the future [‘ a lot’ PD: 46, CI 43,49; ‘extreme’ PD: 4, CI 3,6], and uncontrolled worrying [‘ a lot’ PD: 34, CI 31,37; ‘extreme’ PD: 2, CI 0,4] during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also found substantially higher prevalence of depression [PD: 38, CI 34,42] and anxiety [PD: 41, CI 37,45].ConclusionsAfter applying a quasi-experimental weighting approach, the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among those starting ART during COVID-19 was much higher than before the pandemic. Although depression and anxiety were measured using different, validated scales, the concurrent increases in similarly measured mental health indicators lends confidence to these findings and warrants further research to assess the possible influence of COVID-19 on mental health among adults living with HIV.Trial Registration NCT03351556, registered November 24, 2017; NCT04201353, registered December 17, 2019.

The Association between Internet Use and Depression Risk among Chinese Adults, Middle-Aged and Older, with Disabilities

Background: Globally, nearly 15% of people suffer from various kinds of disabilities, and China has the largest disabled population in the world. The poor mental health status of people with disabilities has become an essential issue in most countries. The main aim of this study was to explore the potential impact of internet use on depression risk among middle-aged and older adults with different types of disabilities. Methods: The data used in this study were obtained from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) collected by Peking University. A binary logit model was used to analyze the impact of internet use on the depression risk among adults with disabilities, and the substitute variable method and the propensity score matching method were used to examine the robustness of the results. Results: (1) Internet use was negatively associated with depression risk among disabled people, and the higher the frequency of their internet use, the lower the probability of their depression risk. (2) Different social activities related to the internet had different impacts on the depression risk, and the decline in depression risk was mainly related to watching videos, watching news, and chatting via the internet. (3) Internet use reduced the depression risk of adults with physical disabilities, but had no impact on those with other types of disabilities. Conclusions: Our study suggests that internet use may have a positive spillover effect on decreasing the depression risk of disabled people, but the reduction effect is significantly affected by the social activities related to the internet and the types of disabilities.

Stress and Anxiety Among Bank Staffs Facing COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: The prevalence of coronavirus has become one of the most important challenges and concerns, and awareness of the mental health status of people in the workplace has become an important issue. Bank staff, like other workers, maybe under severe physical and psychological stress. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the degree of anxiety among bank staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among the bank staff by participating 199 employees. The corona disease anxiety scale (CDAS) questionnaire was used to gather data. For analyzing data, the t-test and chi-square test was applied. Results: 160 males (80.4%) and 39 females (19.6%) participated in the study. 55.6% of the participants reported that when they think about COVID-19, it leads to anxiety, and 38.3% said that they feel sad when they think about the danger of corona often. The results showed that an underlying disease increases the chance of being infected with COVID-19 (OR = 3.786, 95% CI: 1.227 - 8.708 and P = 0.018). Also, the results revealed a significant relationship between increasing physical symptoms and psychological symptoms in participants and the probability of being infected with COVID-19. Conclusions: The results showed that stress and anxiety among bank employees increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, making the necessary arrangements to reduce stress and anxiety among employees through proper politicization and more managers' attention to this phenomenon in this period is essential.

The impact of climate change and natural disasters on the development of post traumatic stress disorder in child and adolescent population

IntroductionMajor traumatic natural disasters have occurred worldwide. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been the most common psychiatric disorder discussed by the studies addressing the psychological sequelae of adolescents after traumatic natural disasters. In this study we have studied the impacts of natural disaster yash cyclone that took place in West Bengal on the development of PTSD; factors related to the development of PTSD; predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors related to the development of PTSD.ObjectivesTo assess the incidence and prevalence of ptsd amongst survivors of natural disaster yash cyclone in a rural hamlet of West Bengal.MethodsIn this study ,200 survivors from Yash cyclone who belonged to Child and Adolescent age group were randomly selected .PCL 5 Scale was used to collect data and assess the incidence and prevalence of PTSD , standardized Bengali versions of the questionnaire was used in our study.ResultsThere is statistical correlation between post traumatic stress disorder and subjects exposed to climate change events such as cyclone Yash.Initial research suggests that a PCL-5 cut-off score between 31-33 is indicative of probable PTSD across samples.In our study the mean pcl 5 value from the data assessment is 70.67 with standard deviation of 4.61.Further assessment by linear regression analyses shows that female subjects are more prone to post traumatic stress disorder and higher income groups are more susceptible to ptsd.As shown by higher values as per the pcl 5 scale.ConclusionsOur study clearly demonstrates the impact of climate change and natural disasters on the mental health status of people living in disaster prone areas especially the child and adolescent population. Our study group was child and adolescent population between 10 to 15 years.The psychologist and volunteers had to collect data in disaster affected zone , yet they collected data which gave a clear cut findings and a very clear statement on climate change and mental health. The values are very high and consistent in most subjects across all twenty domains.It is our opinion that Mental health support should be provided for all victims of climate change and natural disaster calamities such as cyclone and earthquake.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Anti-stigma initiatives for mental health professionals-A systematic literature review.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Negative attitudes towards mental illness lead to the formation of stigma. Stigma prevents the recovery of people diagnosed with mental illness. There is evidence of stigmatic attitudes towards mental ill health among mental health professionals. Anti-stigma initiatives, such as education and training, may be effective in enhancing or maintaining positive attitudes towards mental illness among mental health professionals. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Education and training that is designed and delivered around a specific mental health diagnosis or condition appears an appropriate strategy that could benefit mental health professionals to develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of mental ill health and its impacts on individuals. Consumer involvement in the education and training of mental health professionals regarding the stigma of mental illness is recommended; however, this is an under-explored area of investigation. There is a weak evidence base regarding the long-term sustainability of effects from anti-stigma education and training. This should be addressed via further research in future. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICES?: Anti-stigma initiatives can support mental health professionals to develop stigma-free, recovery-oriented practices in their work. Further, such initiatives can improve the provision of evidence-based quality care for the consumers, facilitating their recovery. ABSTRACT: Introduction Despite an increasing focus on stigma, evidence shows prejudicial attitudes towards mental illness among mental health professionals still exist. It is suggested that anti-stigma initiatives can aid in enhancing the attitudes of mental health professionals. However, research on initiatives targeting stigma of mental illness among mental health professionals is limited. Aim To identify and analyse scientific literature pertaining to the effectiveness of anti-stigma initiatives regarding mental ill health among mental health professionals. Method A systematic literature review was performed using the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Google Search engine and Google Scholar. The papers were limited to English language, published in peer-reviewed journals with full-text articles available and published between the years 2008 and 2020 to understand the most recent trends in the attitudes of mental health professionals including nurses. The Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome (PICO) strategy was used to identify papers meeting the inclusion criteria. Results A total of 439 papers were identified. However, papers not meeting the inclusion criteria were excluded from selection. Three appraisers reviewed the selected papers individually using the Joanna Briggs Institute [JBI] critical appraisal tool. Finally, eight unanimously accepted papers were included in the systematic review. Several effective anti-stigma initiatives were identified through the review, and these had positive impacts on mental health professionals' attitudes towards mental illness, for at least a short period. It was identified that contact-based interventions are relevant and effective although the involvement of consumers and caregivers in the design and delivery of interventions was not explicitly addressed in detail in studies included in the review. Education strategies tailored for specific mental illness may be more appropriate, rather than approaches that refer to mental illness in general. Conclusions This review shows the evidence of pessimistic attitudes towards mental illness persists among mental health professionals. Anti-stigma initiatives identified in the selected papers were effective in changing these attitudes. Future research should be focused on the effectiveness of contact-based interventions and understanding the longer-term effects of the interventions among homogeneous groups. Full consideration of the varying level of clinical experience and expertise in mental health should guide the development and implementation of anti-stigma initiatives in this context. Implications for practice Anti-stigma interventions can have a positive impact on mental health professionals' knowledge, attitudes and supportive caring for people diagnosed with mental illness. Such anti-stigma interventions may meaningfully support stakeholders to address the impact of negative attitudes on the physical and mental health status of people diagnosed with mental illness. With sustained leadership, effort and reinforcement, it is possible to create workplace cultures that prioritize stigma-free and recovery-oriented behaviours and practices within mental health services.

Psychiatric hospitalisations for people who are incarcerated, 2009–2019: An 11-year retrospective longitudinal study in France

SummaryBackgroundDespite the poor mental health status of people who are incarcerated, few studies have examined the number of psychiatric hospitalisations in this population. Since 2010, France has progressively opened nine full-time inpatient psychiatric wards exclusively for people who are incarcerated, called “specially adapted hospital units” (unités hospitalières spécialement aménagées, UHSAs, 440 beds). This study aimed to present the annual rates of psychiatric hospitalisations and primary psychiatric diagnoses among people who are incarcerated in France from 2009 to 2019.MethodsWe used discharge reports from the French national hospital database to describe longitudinal retrospective administrative data of psychiatric hospitalisations for people in jail and prison between 2009 and 2019, the age, sex, and principal diagnoses of these patients, the proportion of voluntary versus involuntary care, and the interactions between UHSAs and other facilities.FindingsBetween Jan 1, 2009, and Dec 31, 2019, 32,228 (92.2% men, n = 29,721; 7.8% women, n = 2 507) incarcerated people were hospitalised for psychiatric care (64,481 stays). The main diagnoses were psychotic disorders (27.4%), personality disorders (23.2%), and stress-related disorders (20.2%). The annual number of incarcerated people hospitalised in psychiatric care increased from 3263 in 2009 to 4914 in 2019. The gradual increase in the activity of UHSAs (300 hospitalisations in 2010 versus 3252 in 2019) was not associated with a reduction in the rate of hospitalisation of incarcerated people in local psychiatric hospitals.InterpretationThe creation of psychiatric hospitals specifically dedicated to the prison population has not stopped the hospitalisation of people who are incarcerated at psychiatric hospitals. These findings suggest that access to psychiatric hospitalisation remains problematic for people who are incarcerated in France.FundingThere was no funding source for this study.

Mental Health Status of People with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective. This study assesses and compares the mental health status of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) in Poland during the second wave of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (November 2020) to a similar group whose mental health status was examined in November 2017. It also analyzed the psychological resources such as self-efficacy and health locus of control (HLC) and their relationship to mental health in both groups. Methods. Cross-sectional study included two groups of PwMS with 113 respondents each. The respondents completed the General Health Questionnaire-12 and questionnaires for assessing self-efficacy and HLC. The clinical and demographic data of participants were also collected. Results. No differences in mental health status were observed between the studied groups. A hierarchical regression model of the group studied in 2020 revealed that general self-efficacy (β = −0.21, p = 0.032), HLC—internal (β = −0.21, p = 0.035), and education (β = −0.18, p = 0.048) explained 18% of the variance in the mental health of PwMS, whereas according to the model of the group assessed in 2017 self-efficacy (β = –0.31, p < 0.001), HLC—chance (β = 0.45, p < 0.001), and HLC—internal (β = −0.37, p < 0.001) explained 48% of the variance. Conclusions. Study results suggest that the pandemic and the related lockdown had no effect on the mental health status of PwMS. At the same time, it was noted that well known determinants of mental health such as self-efficacy and HLC seemed to retain their prominent role for mental functioning in the pandemic.

Mental health status of COVID-19 survivors: a cross sectional study

BackgroundCoronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a communicable disease caused by a virus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemics are associated with the high level of mental stress. In many countries, general people reported the high level of depression, anxiety, psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder during recent a pandemic. This study aims to investigate the mental health status of people who survived through this alarming situation of COVID-19.MethodsIn this study, seventy individuals (either gender) between the age of 18–60 years, who contracted COVID-19 previously and then recovered as indicated by negative PCR results, were included. Data was collected by using three tools: impact of event scale (IES-R), patient health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9) and corona anxiety scale (CAS). People with other systemic/mental disorders, ongoing malignancies, upper/lower motor disorders and inability to give consent were excluded from the study.ResultsMean age of participants was 26.29 + 11.79. All the 70 responders suffered from COVID-19. Among these 23 (32.9%) were asymptomatic and 47(67.1%) had common symptoms related to COVID-19 53 (75.7%) responders also had symptoms post-recovery. Most of the people who suffered COVID-19 had mild depression. Twenty-nine participants (41.4%) reported the highest impact of this traumatic event on their mental health. After suffering from COVID-19, 74.3% reported no anxiety as measured through corona anxiety scale (CAS).ConclusionHigh level of post-traumatic stress was seen among participants who recovered from COVID-19, especially those patients who were symptomatic. Mild depression and anxiety were also noted among them.

Anxiety Symptoms Associated With the Severity of Problematic Smartphone Use: The Mediating Role of COVID-19 Anxiety

Objectives: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is regarded as the biggest global health crisis in recent decades. The changes in major life domains due to infection control strategies resemble the functional impairment consequential to emotional distress and place many people at greater risk of psychiatric conditions. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing have widely increased the usage of smartphone to receive COVID-19-related information in the past year. However, the excessive use of smartphones has deleterious consequences. The current study investigated general anxiety symptoms and COVID-19-induced anxiety, and their impact on problematic smartphone use (PSPU) severity. Methods: Adults aged 18–75 years were recruited by stratified, probability sampling from a database representative of the population. Among 1080 Hong Kong Chinese (age 18–75 years), a cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted between July 23 and August 25, 2020 (the period of the third wave outbreak of COVID-19 in Hong Kong). Participants were assessed with the measures, including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the associations among general anxiety symptoms, COVID-19-induced anxiety, and severity of PSPU by the Amos 22.0 software. Results: Using established cut-off scores, our results found that prevalence of at least moderate anxiety level in around 22% of participants. Using SEM, both general anxiety symptoms and COVID-19-induced anxiety were associated with PSPU severity. Moreover, COVID-19 anxiety partially mediated relations between predisposing general anxiety with PSPU severity. Conclusion: This study provides initial data on the mental health status of people affected by COVID-19. It also investigated the relations between COVID-19-induced anxiety and PSPU severity as a coping mechanism.

Mental Health Problems of the People in Isolation Related to SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infection

Objectives: To define the mental health status of people in isolation, and determined the correlation between mental health variables of the respondents. Methods: The study design was descriptive cross-actional. Isolated citizens, who were transported by charter flight from different foreign countries to Mongolia from July 1, 2020, to September 1, 2020, and observed by epidemiological reference in the isolation places. Results: The majority (38.8%, n = 157) of the 405 total cases aged 17- 97 year-olds, were 25- 34 year-olds and the average age was 34.2 ± 14.6. Majority of respondents (n = 213; 52.6%) were male. When mental health variables were compared with age groups, depression, anxiety, and self-stigma were not statistically significant for age group. However, in any age group of participants, self-stigma was moderately more at 91.8% (p = 0.043), and self-stigma at 93.8% was moderate. 38.1% of the total isolated population had mild to severe depression, and 30.4% had mild to moderate anxiety. Conclusion: Respondents who were impacted by strong stressors were more likely to experience depression and anxiety than respondents who were not impacted, and increased levels of depression were caused by strong stressors and anxiety. A moderate level of self-stigma is more present in any age group.

Mental Health Status of the Population of a Hungarian Disadvantaged Region

Lifestyle and health culture significantly determines people’s health status. Several demographic studies have proved the correlation between disadvantaged social situation, unfavorable socio-economic status and health status. Deprivation and disadvantaged situation have become important, which should be treated as the root of difficulties on several fields since they have great impact on health behavior and -culture. Families living in lagging areas require special attention because of their social and economic backwardness and mental disadvantages. Childhood is an especially important period since skills learned before the age of 14 have a determining role in future life chances and adult health status: satisfactory psychosomatic development, loading capacity and the developing unfavorable habits influence adult health. As the part of the Creative Region program, our goal is to explore the mental health status of people living in the Hungarian Abaúj region by monitored data. 516 persons from 25 settlements and 7 primary schools of the region were included. We used the Beck Depression Inventory (filled under the age of 12) and the Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (filled by all participants) by the help of measuring commissioners. Among children, a significant difference could be detected between genders (p=0.007). Body image seems to be a really important factor in youngsters’ life. Body weight (p=0.022) and physical exercises (p=0.02) significantly occur in the manifestation of depression symptoms in young people. The level of adult’s depression is influenced by the education level (p=0.00012), labour market status (p=0.003), alcohol consumption (p=0.007), subjective bad financial situation (p=0.022), sedentary lifestyle (p=0.001) and obesity (p=0.002). 5.5% of youngsters and 1.3% of adults are victims of domestic violence. It is important to highlight that negative future vision, unemployment and hopelessness cause anxiety and depression increasing by age, and it will manifest in endangering health behavior (inappropriate eating, sedimentary lifestyle, addictive disorders).

The impact of podoconiosis, lymphatic filariasis, and leprosy on disability and mental well-being: A systematic review.

Leprosy, podoconiosis, and lymphatic filariasis (LF) are among the priority neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Ethiopia. The disability, psychosocial, and mental health status of people affected by these NTDs are still overlooked in global NTD discourse. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the existing evidence describing the disability, psychosocial, and mental health status of people affected by leprosy, podoconiosis, and LF prior to developing a holistic physical and psychosocial care package for these individuals. We searched papers reporting on disability, psychosocial, and mental health status linked to these 3 NTDs. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with registration number CRD42019128400. Peer-reviewed articles were searched and extracted from Medline, PsycINFO, Global Health, and Embase. Articles published in English, irrespective of the year of publication, using a quantitative study methodology, were included. s and full texts were reviewed by 2 reviewers. Data were extracted and narratively summarized, as the studies were heterogeneous and used different outcome measures. Out of 1,318 titles/abstracts screened and 59 full text studies reviewed, 24 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Fourteen studies provided evidence of the disability associated with leprosy, podoconiosis, or LF. Ten studies provided evidence on the association between the 3 NTDs and mental health or psychosocial outcomes. The prevalence of grade 2 disability varied from 3.9% to 86%. The most commonly reported mental health impacts were depression and mental distress. A high burden of mental illness was reported, varying from 12.6% to 71.7%; the suicidal ideation was also high (18.5%). In conclusion, disability and poor psychosocial and mental health status are associated with leprosy, podoconiosis, and LF. For optimum management of these NTDs, holistic care including both physical and psychosocial interventions is vital.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE RELATED TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG GENERAL POPULATION

Background: Since the December 2019, a novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) first identi­fied in China, spreading around the world and infected millions of people. This pandemic has severely affected the socio-economic and mental health status of people due to lockdown and great uncertainty of elimination of the virus. This study aim to identify the depression, anxiety, stress and behavioral response related to COVID-19 pandemic among general popu­lation of Kathmandu Valley. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study carried out using convenient sampling duringCO­VID-19 Pandemic. Data was collected by using structured standard DASS 21 scale. The SPSS version 22 was used to analyze data. Results: There were total 411 general people participated, among them 25.3%, 22.9%, and 11.9% had mild to extreme severe level of depression, anxiety and stress respectively were prevalent. There is a statistical significant association between marital status, educational level and level of depression at 95% confidence level (p value&lt; 0.05). Majority of respondents had change their behavior as maintaining hand hygiene, wore a mask and had limited physical contact with people. There is a statistical significant between age, gender and level of education with recently avoiding smoking and drinking related behavior. Conclusions: This study concludes that the general population had depression, anxiety and stress because of the fear of getting infection; people were more likely change their behavior to prevent the risk of infection. This study suggests addressing the need of mental health services such as counseling, hotline services and desk by the stakeholders to promote mental wellbeing of people.

Mental health of people living with hiv and adherence to antiretroviral therapy

IntroductionAdherence to antiretroviral therapy is a key factor in predicting the success or failure of treatment. Data suggest that the status of mental health and especially depression of people living with HIV can affect adherence to antiretroviral therapy.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess the mental health status of people living with HIV, to record adherence to antiretroviral therapy and to investigate whether mental health affects adherence to antiretroviral therapy.MethodsA cross-sectional mixed observational correlation study in a sample of 112 HIV-positive individuals was conducted. The Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ) was used to assess adherence to antiretroviral therapy, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression, and the WHOQOL – BREF tool was used to assess mental health.Results The results of the study showed that 58.93% of patients were found to be non-adherent to antiretroviral therapy. Furthermore, according to the BDI scale, 10.7% of patients experienced marginal clinical depression, 10.7% experienced moderate levels of depression and 2.7% experienced severe or very severe levels of depression. Further, people living with HIV had a moderate level of mental health (M = 3.40, SD = 0.58).Conclusions Our study showed that a high percentage of people living with HIV are non-adherent to antiretroviral therapy. Factors that are possibly associated with decreased adherence are mental health and especially depression. Psychological support for people living with HIV and anti-depressant prevention programs could increase adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

Mental Health Status of the General Public, Frontline, and Non-frontline Healthcare Providers in the Early Stage of COVID-19

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in 2020 which resulted in high levels of psychological stress in both the general public and healthcare providers.Purpose: The study aimed to address the mental health status of people in China in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, and to identify differences among the general public, frontline, and non-frontline healthcare providers.Method: A cross-sectional study was used to identify the mental health status of the general public and healthcare providers between Jan 29 and Feb 11, 2020. Data were collected using an online survey from a convenience sample. The instruments used included: Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. Kruskal-Wallis H tests were performed to assess differences in measurements among the three groups; P < 0.05 (two-sided) was considered to be statistically significant.Results: Results showed that a majority of participants experienced post-traumatic stress (68.8%), depression (46.1%), anxiety (39.8%), and insomnia (31.4%). Significant changes in the mental health status of frontline providers was found as compared to those of the other groups (P < 0.001). Interestingly, the scores of the general public were significantly higher than those of the non-frontline healthcare providers (P < 0.001).Conclusion: These findings provide information to evaluate outbreak associated psychological stress for the general public and healthcare providers, and assist in providing professional support and actionable guidance to ease psychological stress and improve mental health.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Mental and Emotional Health Outcomes among Africans during the COVID-19 Lockdown Period-A Web-based Cross-Sectional Study.

Mental health and emotional responses to the effects of COVID-19 lockdown in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are of serious public health concern and may negatively affect the mental health status of people. Hence, this study assessed the prevalence of mental health symptoms as well as emotional reactions among sub-Saharan Africans (SSAs) and associated factors among SSAs during the COVID-19 lockdown period. This was a web-based cross-sectional study on mental health and emotional features from 2005 respondents in seven SSA countries. This study was conducted between 17 April and 17 May 2020 corresponding to the lockdown period in most SSA countries. Respondents aged 18 years and above and the self-reported symptoms were feeling anxious, being worried, angry, bored and frustrated. These were the main outcomes and were treated as dichotomous variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with these symptoms. We found that over half (52.2%) of the participants reported any of the mental health symptoms and the prevalence of feeling bored was 70.5% followed by feeling anxious (59.1%), being worried (57.5%), frustrated (51.5%) and angry (22.3%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multivariate analysis revealed that males, those aged >28 years, those who lived in Central and Southern Africa, those who were not married, the unemployed, those living with more than six persons in a household, had higher odds of mental health and emotional symptoms. Similarly, people who perceived low risk of contracting the infection, and those who thought the pandemic would not continue after the lockdown had higher odds of mental health and emotional symptoms. Health care workers had lower odds for feeling angry than non-healthcare workers. During the COVID-19 lockdown periods in SSA, about one in two participants reported mental health and emotional symptoms. Public health measures can be effectively used to identify target groups for prevention and treatment of mental health and emotional symptoms. Such interventions should be an integral component of SSA governments’ response and recovery strategies of any future pandemic.

Mental health of the people of northern Iran during the quarantine time of 2020 following the coronavirus epidemic.

BACKGROUND:Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious respiratory disease. Quarantine is often accompanied by unpleasant experiences for those who go through it. The aim of this study was to determine the mental health status of people during quarantine in northern Iran.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This cross-sectional study was conducted during the quarantine period of coronavirus. Conventional sampling was done from March 6 to April 6. Six hundred and forty-two individuals were included. Inclusion criteria were living in Sari and being home quarantined during the corona outbreak. Exclusion criteria included hospitalization history due to corona and unwillingness to participate in the study. In this study, the General Health Questionnaire-28 was used online to collect the required data. To analyze the data, descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation coefficient) were used.RESULTS:In this study, individuals were included in the investigation with a mean age of 38.74 ± 11.89 (ranged from 15 to 73). Most of the participants were female (72.85%) and married (71.34%). According to the results, 21.5% of the participants had poor mental health. Mean mental health scores have a statistically significant relationship with gender, marital status, education, occupation, quarantine period, patients with corona, and exposure to a patient with corona (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, a negative correlation coefficient was observed between age and mental health score (correlation coefficient = −0.31, significance >0.001).CONCLUSION:The average score of mental health has a significant relationship with gender, marital status, education, occupation, quarantine period, corona, and exposure to a patient with corona. Given the high prevalence of mental disorders in people during the COVID-19 epidemic, educating people and planning to reduce the psychological effects of the epidemic can be helpful.