Normal Depression Scores Research Articles

Depression, anxiety and stress among flight crews in Tunisia

IntroductionThe mental health of flight crews is of paramount importance. Due to the demanding nature of their work, crew members are subject to various stress factors such as irregular working hours, time differences, operational demands and high passenger safety responsibilities.ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the mental health of Tunisian flight crews working for a private airline.MethodsThis is an exhaustive cross-sectional study which included all flight crews working for a private airline in Tunisia who consulted the occupational medicine and pathology department at the Farhad Hached University Hospital in Sousse as part of their periodic check-up. Data collection was based on a pre-established questionnaire which included socio-demographic data, lifestyle habits and professional data. The DASS21 questionnaire was used to assess depression, anxiety and stress.ResultsOur study included 160 participants. The median age was 42 years with a female predominance. More than half were smokers (58.8%). Alcohol was consumed by 41.3% of flight crews. The vast majority drank coffee (84.4%). With regard to professional data, 71.3% were flight attendants. The median length of service was 15 years. The majority of participants had operated a medium-haul flight (< 5 hours) during the last month (65%). The majority of participants (85.6%) had a normal depression score. Almost a third of the participants (28.5%) had anxiety scores ranging from mild in 24 to extremely severe in one patient. The majority of flight crews had a normal stress score (90%). After multivariate analysis, unmarried marital status, working more than 2 days a week and stress were factors independently associated with anxiety.ConclusionsWork-related psychosocial risks can have a major impact on workers’ mental health. It is therefore essential to take these risks into account and put in place preventive measures to protect workers’ mental health and promote their well-being at work.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Psychological well-being among government pharmacy staff in Sarawak and the associating factors

Objectives. Studies have highlighted that healthcare workers are exposed to various forms of psychological distress. This study aimed to assess the psychological well-being of pharmacy staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and the associating factors. Methods. The cross-sectional study explored the psychological well-being of pharmacy staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. An adopted questionnaire was employed to collect quantitative data from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021. Results. A total of 515 respondents were recruited. Those who perceived good health status were 1.9 times more likely to have normal depression scores (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.53; B = −0.64), and 2.4 times (RRR = 0.41; B = −0.88) more likely to have normal stress scores. Those who were greatly affected by COVID-19 in their work were found to be 1.2 times (RRR = 1.20; B = 0.18) more likely to have moderate anxiety scores and 1.44 times (RRR = 1.44; B = 0.36) more likely to have severe depression scores. Respondents with higher work characteristic scores were more likely to have normal depression, stress and anxiety scores. Conclusions. Good health status perception and work characteristics appeared to be the factors affecting respondents’ scores in all dimensions of psychological well-being. Hence, improving both domains will be key in improving overall psychological well-being.

The effect of anxiety, depression, and stress on the immune response of Covid-19 patients treated in a special isolation room of dr. Soetomo Hospital Surabaya

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection causes anxiety, depression, and stress that affect the immune response. Objective: This study aims to analyze the effect of anxiety, depression, and stress on the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1?) of Covid-19 patients. Method: Analytical observational research with consecutive sampling technique. The inclusion criteria were new patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, treated at Dr. Soetomo Hospital Surabaya, aged 21 ? 60 years, does not have a severe mental disorder, can communicate verbally and is able to answer questionnaires. Measurements of anxiety, depression and stress (DASS-21), NLR, IL-1? were performed while the patient was admitted on days 0th, 6th, and 12th. Spearman correlation test analysis to assess the relationship between DASS-21 scores and NLR and IL-1? scores, Mc Nemar's test comparison to assess differences in depression and stress on days 0th and 6th, Wilcoxon's signed rank test for differences in anxiety and IL-1? on days 0th and 6th, and paired t-test to assess differences in NLR on days 0th and 6th. As well as multivariate analysis to assess the effect of anxiety, depression, and stress on NLR and IL-1?. Results: From 38 research subjects, there were 29 subjects who dropped out after the 6th day, 28 subjects experienced clinical improvement and underwent self-isolation at home, and 1 subject experienced worsening of symptoms so that it was difficult to conduct interviews. Most of the subjects (95%) had anxiety scores ranging from mild to very severe on day 0th of treatment, but most had normal depression scores (86.8%), and normal stress scores (92.1%). There were differences in anxiety scores (0.016), and IL-1? levels (p=0.001) on the 6th day. There were no differences in depression, stress, and NLR scores during the observation period 0th and 6th. In the multivariate analysis, there was no significant effect of anxiety, depression, and stress on NLR. Anxiety had an effect on IL-1? on the 6th day of observation, with p=0.030; OR(95%CI) = 0.853 (0.738 ? 0.985). Conclusion: Anxiety affected IL-1? levels in mild-moderate COVID-19 patients on day 6th, but had no effect on NLR on days 0th and 6th. Depression and stress had no effect on NLR or IL-1? of mild-moderate COVID-19 patients on days 0th and 6th.

P236 Low Social support and distinct anxiety as a crucial feature in depressive IBD patients

Abstract Background Depression is a common comorbidity of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) which leads to deterioration of the state of disease. The physician needs to know which psychiatric and temperamental characteristics have to be met in order to adapt his treatment to depressive patients. Therefore we compared patients with elevated depressive scores to those with normal scores. Methods 291 IBD patients in 3 specialized IBD clinics in Germany (Ulm, Blaubeuren, Biberach) answered an anonymous questionnaire on their disease itself, on socio-demographic parameters and 6 psychological tests (HADS, STAI-S, STAI-T, FSozU, Neo-FFI, BL-R). Results The questionnaire was completed by 139 (47,3%) male and 155 (52,7%) female patients, 185 (63,4%) with Crohn’s disease and 107 (36,6%) with ulcerative colitis. 229 patients (79,0%) had a normal depression score (=NormD) (HADS-D), 59 (21,0%) had a borderline to very severe elevated score (elevated depression score = ElevD). We characterized ElevD patients with the aid of a personality test (Neo-FFI) as more neurotic (p<0.001), but less extroverted (p<0.001), open for experience (p=0.042), agreeable (p=0.004) and conscientious (p=0.001) than patients with NormD. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) revealed them as more anxious (p<0.001). This was confirmed by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S/-T) which showed ElevD patients to be more anxious as a state (p<0.001) and as a trait (p<0.001). Moreover patients with ElevD percieve their social support as little as seen in the FSozU (p<0.001). In addition there are lower scores in the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) (p<0.001), the Complaints List (B-LR) (p<0.001) and the fact that most of the patients with ElevD had an active disease (43 (75,4%)) of the group. Conclusion IBD patients with an elevated depression score are more neurotic and less extroverted, open for experience, agreeable and conscientious than other patients. They are anxious and have little social support combined with many complaints and low quality of life. To improve their situation or to prevent it, the treating physician needs to be more sensitive to the patient’s state of mind and inquire more about their general complaints and especially their social support system so he is able to intervene and optimize the quality of life.

Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among medical students in a developing country during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to significantly affect the mental health of Medical professionals as well as Medical students, as they stand in the frontline during this hour of crisis. Aims: The aim is to assess mental health of undergraduate medical students and particularly in relation to the prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress in a Medical College of Eastern India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in a Medical College of Eastern India after taking Institutional clearance and informed consent of the subjects. Three hundred and nine-two subjects participated in the present study. A link was created with the help of a Google form with depression, anxiety and stress scale-21 and demographic variables. The students were also asked to give a feedback on the online teaching program provided by the college. Statistical Analysis: Data were tabulated into excel sheet and analysis was done. Results: Among the 392 subjects who participated in the study 278 (70.92') subjects had normal stress scores, i.e., between 0 and 14; 114 (28.97') had stress score 15 or more; 6 (1.5') had stress scores 34+ (extremely severe stress), 14 (3.5') had stress scores between 26 and 33 (severe stress), 29 (7.39') had stress scores between 19 and 25 (moderate stress), 65 (16.58') had scores between 15 and 18 (mild stress). Two hundred and sixty-three (67.091') had normal anxiety scores between 0 and 7; 129 (32.9') had anxiety scores 8 or more. 15 (3.82') had anxiety score 20+ (extremely severe anxiety); 11 (2.81') had anxiety scores between 15 and 19 (severe anxiety); 64 (16.33') had anxiety scores between 10 and 14 (moderate anxiety); 39 (9.85') had anxiety scores between 8 and 9 (mild anxiety). Two hundred and sixteen (55.11') had normal depression scores between 0 and 9; 176 (44.89') had depression scores 10 or more. 24 (6.1') had depression score 28+ (extremely severe anxiety); 23 (5.86') had depression scores between 21 and 27 (severe depression); 70 (17.85') had depression scores between 14 and 20 (moderate depression); 59 (15.05') had depression scores between 10 and 13 (mild depression). Depression and stress scores were positively correlated with r = 0.765; depression and anxiety scores were positively correlated with r = 0.63; stress and anxiety scores were positively correlated with r = 0.73.77.4' of the students felt that during the lockdown period online support, regular assessment, feedback provided by the college were satisfactory. Conclusions: High scores of depression, stress and anxiety were observed among Medical students in this pilot cross sectional study. Longitudinal follow-up is necessary to study the impact of the present crisis on medical students.

Depression and anxiety in mothers of children with cerebral palsy: Comparative study

The aim of this study is to examine depression in mothers of children with CP, with hypothesis to have an elevated risk of anxiety and depressive profile among mothers of children with cerebral palsy. This study is a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted at The Physical and Rehability Department of Sahloul Hospital in Tunisia. Where included 62 children with cerebral palsy with their mothers. The inclusion criteria for the study were being the mothers of a child having a CP and aged more than two years. Mothers with history of psychiatric disorder were not included. Seventy-three mothers of normal children, serving as the control group for comparing with case group, filled in the same questionnaires. This study included 62 children including 45 boys (sex ratio 2.6). An evaluation of the functional status by the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) of the children with CP was done, 27.4% were level II, 20.9% were level IV and 19.4% were level V. Moreover, 58.1% of the children were tetraplegic, and 24.2% were diplegic. Mothers of children were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Mothers had a normal depression score in 29%, a borderline score in 25.8% and an abnormal score in 45.2%. Concerning anxiety, mothers had a normal score in 12.9%, a borderline score in 27.4% and an abnormal score in 59.7%. There were significant differences in the mean depression scores ( P = 0.002) between the two groups. The results also shown that the severity of the GMFCS was not associated with the HADS ( P = 0.230). The clinical presentation of the CP was also not associated with the HADS ( P = 0.129). It seems that having a child with CP is probably associated with higher prevalence and severity of depression in mothers. Caring for children with CP (regardless to the severity of the clinical form) increases considerably the risk of emotional distress among mothers.

Psychological evaluation of patients in critical care/intensive care unit and patients admitted in wards.

Psychological assessment for depression, anxiety and stress among ICU patients and the patients admitted to ward in a hospital in India. This aspect did not get much attention in India so far. Such studies were common in developed countries. Therefore we decided in this study, to analyse the psychological status responses from the hospitalised patients in Mangalore using a validated questionnaire. To assess and compare the depression, anxiety and stress Scores from the patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and those admitted to ward. Eighty patients admitted to hospital, 40 from ICU and 40 admitted to ward were recruited. They were explained the procedure and after taking an informed consent, they were administered Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS) Questionnaire, which contains 42-item questionnaire which includes three self-report scales designed to measure the negative emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress. The responses were computed and tabulated. We analysed the responses with Student's t-test and Chi-square test, p<0.05 accepted as statistically significant. The results revealed significantly elevated stress, depression and anxiety among the ICU patients when compared to those in the ward (p<0.001). Above normal anxiety and stress levels were also seen in the ward patients, compared to the scores in normal range. 50% and 25% respectively showed mild and normal depression scores in ward patients, compared to 12% and 5% in those admitted to ICU. This trend was also true for Anxiety and stress scores. From the results we found that there were elevated depression, anxiety and stress levels among the patients and this was significantly higher in ICU patients. Various factors could influence the psychological wellbeing of the patients, including the hospital environment, care givers, presence of family members nearby apart from the seriousness of illness, apprehensions about possibility of death. Such studies were rare among Indian patients. The findings of this study could be useful in incorporating suitable psychological help to the patients in hospitals to improve their recovery and wellbeing.

Light room therapy effective in mild forms of seasonal affective disorder—A randomised controlled study

Background The most common way to provide bright light therapy to Swedish patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is treatment in a light therapy room. Since few studies have evaluated treatment provided in this setting and few have evaluated the effect of bright light in sub-clinical SAD (S-SAD), such a study including a one-month follow-up was designed. Methods Fifty adults recruited from a previous prevalence study and clinically assessed as having SAD or S-SAD, were randomised to treatment in a light room or to a three-week waiting-list control group. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-Seasonal Affective Disorders Self-rating 29-items Version (SIGH-SAD/SR) was used to measure depressive mood at baseline, directly following treatment and at the one-month follow-up. Results ANCOVA with adjustment for baseline depression score, showed a significant main effect for the light room therapy group ( p < 0.001). Fifty-four percent ( n = 13/24) improved ≥ 50% while no such improvement was seen in the control condition ( n = 0/24). After merging the two groups, repeated measures ANOVA confirmed the experimental analysis ( p < 0.001). At the one-month follow-up, 83.0% ( n = 39/47) had improved ≥ 50% and 63.8% ( n = 30/47) had normal depression scores, i.e. ≤ 8. Conclusions Light room therapy was effective in reducing depressive symptoms in subjects with winter depressive mood. Results were maintained over a period of one month.

Electrodermal Activity in Nonmedicated Hyperthyroid Patients Having No Depressive Symptoms

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the alteration in hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis function results in electrodermal abnormality without causing marked psychiatric manifestations or not. Electrodermal activity was recorded with the skin conductance unit and IBM-AT computer. Basal levels of electrodermal activity (EDA), as well as responsivity to repeated insignificant acoustic stimulation were studied in 24 nonmedicated hyperthyroid patients and 35 healthy controls. The outcome of psychiatric rating scores indicated that patients had low anxiety scores and normal depression scores. The basal levels of thyroid hormones were higher in patients, when compared with the control group. On the analysis of EDA, we found lower onset latency and duration of the skin conductance response and higher skin conductance level in nonmedicated patients than healthy controls. The results above provide supporting evidence that the change of hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis function results in abnormal EDA, without causing marked psychiatric manifestations.