Psychoeducational Intervention Research Articles

Effect of Psychoeducation on Reducing Burden Among Primary Caregivers of People with Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious psychological illness that needs long-term treatment. Family members, especially those who care for a patient at home, experience the burden of providing long-term care. Psychoeducational intervention may enhance the caregiver’s outcomes. The major goal of the study was to explore the effect of psychoeducation on reducing the burden among primary carers of people with schizophrenia. In this study, thirty-two participants (32 caregivers) were purposefully selected based on the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). A personal information form and the Bangla version of the Zarit Burden Interview scale were administered. Total participants were divided by simple randomization into two groups (i.e., experimental and control groups). Following the baseline evaluation by questionnaire, the experimental group of 16 caregivers received two sessions of psychoeducation, but the control group of the same number of caregivers did not. The effectiveness of psychoeducation was evaluated using a pretest-posttest control group design. Findings suggested that psychoeducation decreased the level of burden, and after the intervention, the mean score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. These findings found that the psychoeducation intervention had a positive outcome in reducing the burden on caregivers of patients who deal with schizophrenia. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(1): 81–94, 2023 (June)

Efficacy of the residential care transition module: A telehealth intervention for dementia family caregivers of relatives living in residential long-term care settings.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Residential Care Transition Module, a six-session, psychosocial, and psychoeducational telehealth intervention for family caregivers of cognitively impaired relatives living in a residential long-term care setting. Eligible participants (including care recipients, regardless of time since admission) were randomized to treatment or usual care control conditions. Survey data were collected at baseline, 4 months, 8 months, and 12 months (N = 240). Primary analytic outcomes included caregiver subjective stress (a stress process mechanism) and depressive symptoms (a measure of global well-being). Secondary analytic outcomes included secondary role strains, residential care stress, caregiver sense of competence, and self-efficacy (additional mechanisms of action). General linear models tested for the main effects of the intervention at 4 months, and longitudinal mixed models examined the 12-month effects of the intervention. Post hoc analyses also examined the influence of moderators. No significant differences between the treatment and control groups for any primary analytic outcome were apparent. Caregivers in the treatment group whose relatives were admitted to residential long-term care in the prior 3 months were more likely to indicate reductions in depressive symptoms over the first 4 months of participation. Over the 12-month study period, caregivers in the treatment group who were employed reported increased self-efficacy over time. The heterogeneity of dementia care requires a broader consideration of key contextual factors that may influence the efficacy of nonpharmacological interventions. Aligning measures with the preferences, goals, and values of dementia caregivers may further demonstrate the direct benefits of interventions such as the Residential Care Transition Module. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

CARDIAC REHABILITATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT: CONTRASTS IN ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND ILLNESS PERCEPTION LEVELS

Abstract Background Investigating the relationship between psychological factors and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has long been a focal point of previous research. Researchers have primarily focused on identifying possible predictive factors for CVD’s development and examining patients’ responses during acute or chronic phases, but less is known about the role of cardiac rehabilitation and the types of psychological treatments on patients’ psychological status. Aims The aim of this study is to compare anxiety, depression, and illness perception levels of patients affected by different cardiovascular diseases at the beginning (t0), at the end (t1), and three months after a cardiac rehabilitation program (t2) in which patients were involved in three different types of psychological treatments: psychoeducational intervention group, progressive muscle relaxation training integrated with Jacobson‘s technique and imaginative stabilization techniques, individual counseling. Methods In this study were involved patients with recent episodes of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), heart failure (HF) or cardiac surgery undergoing cardiac rehabilitation between January 2023 and August 2023 at ASST Bergamo Est. To assess anxiety, depression and illness perception levels of participants we used self–report questionnaires that included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief–IPQ). Patients could be assigned to different psychological treatments based on their clinical condition. Results The study involved 181 participants, namely N=36 ACS cases (19.9%), N=25 CHF (13.8%), and N=120 cardiac surgery (66.3%). As shown in Table 1, males were 71.3% (N=129) and the average age was 65.96 years old (SD=11.904). One hundred–sixty einght patients participated in psychoeducational intervention group, 120 in relaxation training, and 35 in individual counseling. Statistically significant differences in anxiety, depression, and illness perception levels were observed at the program‘s initiation (t0) and upon completion (t1 and t2) in relation to the psychological treatments: individual counseling had a better impact on levels of anxiety and depression and on the development of a more adequate perception of illness. Conclusions The type of psychological treatment during cardiac rehabilitation appears to give different results in terms of psychological status, self–care and disease management of patients.

Implementation of the MiNDToolkit intervention for the management of behavioral symptoms in MND by healthcare professionals: a mixed-methods process evaluation

Objective MiNDToolkit is a novel psychoeducational intervention for carers to support management of behavioral symptoms in people living with motor neuron disease (PlwMND). Implementation of MiNDToolkit involves delivery of an online intervention to carers, which is reinforced by trained healthcare professionals (HCPs). Methods A mixed-methods process evaluation of the MiNDToolkit feasibility trial was conducted, focusing on reinforcement of the intervention by HCPs. Quantitative data, descriptively analyzed, were included from platform analytics, questionnaire, and 10 semi-structured interviews with HCPs. Interviews were transcribed verbatim; data were inductively analyzed using Reflective Thematic Analysis. Results The MiNDToolkit training and platform is a beneficial and acceptable resource for HCPs with potential to increase knowledge and confidence in identifying and managing behavioral symptoms in MND. Implementation barriers included HCPs’ perceptions that highlighting behavior changes would be burdensome to carers and assumptions that carers would take the initiative to ask for support from clinicians. Degree of intervention reinforcement varied, with most HCPs delegating intervention delivery solely to the online platform. Conclusions Implementation of the MiNDToolkit was viewed to be feasible and the platform thought to increase accessibility of support to carers. The flexible approach to delivery (online platform and optional HCP reinforcement) is acceptable as an intervention for supporting carers of PlwMND with behavioral symptoms. However, MiNDToolkit should not negate HCP involvement in providing medical and practical information to PlwMND and families. Future research should explore ways to incorporate support for carers in the management of PlwMND alongside standard care, alongside tools such as the MiNDToolkit.

Empathy and Coping Strategies Predict Quality of Life in Japanese Healthcare Professionals

Empathy and Coping Strategies Predict Quality of Life in Japanese Healthcare Professionals

Pelatihan Komunikasi Asertif dengan Teknik Psychoeducational Intervention untuk Mencegah Cyberbullying

The training held in the Stimulus Community Partnership Program Community Service (PKMS) is aimed at employees in the UMPR environment. Implementation of assertive communication training using psychoeducational intervention techniques to prevent cyberbullying at SMK Negeri 3 Palangka Raya as a solution to problems faced by students who are in the adolescent phase and tend to be involved in cyberbullying either as perpetrators or victims. Cases of cyberbullying in the school environment do not only involve students as bullies and victims. Incidents of cyberbullying are increasing internationally and are considered a problem both inside and outside of school. Cyberbullying has received attention because it affects many individuals of various ages in a variety of settings, especially adolescents. The training activities were implemented for one day on August 15, 2022. The training participants totaled 150 students. Based on the results of the analysis of the success of the training, 91% of students experienced increased knowledge about cyberbullying and had assertive communication skills.

Academic motivation in adolescents: the role of parental autonomy support, psychological needs satisfaction and self-control

BackgroundVarious perspectives on the existence and degree of motivation, which is a crucial factor influencing human behavior, have been studied for many years. Especially in adolescence, a phase marked by rapid change, motivation plays a crucial role in supporting young people to achieve their goals, fulfill their responsibilities, and experience healthy development.AimsThe present study aims to investigate the structural relationships among perceived parental autonomy support, satisfaction of psychological needs, self-control, and academic motivation.SampleThe study was conducted with a total of 427 high school students, including 230 females and 197 males, aged between 14 and 19 (M = 15.82; SD = 1.02).MethodParticipants completed self-report measures of academic motivation, parental autonomy support, psychological needs satisfaction, and self-control. Structural equation modeling was performed to explore complex relationships between variables of interest.ResultsThe study revealed that psychological needs satisfaction increased as parental autonomy support increased, and self-control also increased with the satisfaction of psychological needs. It was also found that satisfaction of psychological needs was positively related to both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Additionally, self-control was associated with increased intrinsic motivation and decreased amotivation. In addition, it was found that parental autonomy support has an indirect relationship with academic motivation through the satisfaction of psychological needs and self-control.ConclusionIt is believed that these connections will lead to a deeper understanding of the significant processes in adolescence and serve as a foundation for developing and implementing psycho-educational interventions related to these variables.

Efficacy of the iJobs Web-Based Psychoeducational Intervention to Improve Job Search Behavior and Promote Mental Health Among Unemployed People: Protocol for a Waitlist Randomized Controlled Trial.

Unemployment affects millions of people worldwide and, beyond its economic impact, has severe implications for people's well-being and mental health. Different programs have been developed in response to this phenomenon, but to date, job-search interventions have proved to be most effective, especially the JOBS II program. The JOBS II program proved not only to be effective for re-employment but also has a positive impact on beneficiaries' mental health (ie, reduces anxiety or depression). However, by now, this evidence-based program has been delivered only on site in the various countries where it was implemented. In the digital era, web-based alternatives to such programs are highly needed because they have the advantages of scalability and cost-effectiveness. In this context, we aim to investigate the efficacy of iJobs, the web-based adaptation of the JOBS II program, on job-search intensity and effort, the quality of job-search behaviors, and job-search self-efficacy. Further, 1 month after the intervention, we will also assess the employment status and the satisfaction with the job (if applicable). This study will also investigate the effect of iJobs on well-being and mental health (ie, anxiety and depression). This study is a 2-arm randomized controlled trial. The 2 independent groups (intervention vs waiting list control group) will be crossed with 3 measurement times (ie, baseline, the postintervention time point, and 1-month follow-up). The design will be a 2 (intervention vs control) × 3 (baseline, the postintervention time point, and 1-month follow-up) factorial design. iJobs is a 2-week intervention consisting of 6 modules: an introductive module and 5 modules adapted from the original JOBS II program to the web-based setting and Romanian population. The web-based intervention also has a human component, as beneficiaries receive personalized written feedback after each module on the platform from a team of psychologists involved in the project. The enrollment of study participants started in June 2023 and is expected to end in May 2024. The data collection is expected to be completed by July 2024. The results are expected to be submitted for publication in the summer of 2024. This study is the first large-scale randomized controlled trial aiming to test the efficacy of a web-based adaptation of the JOBS II program. If our results support the efficacy of iJobs, they will offer the premise for it to become an evidence-based, accessible alternative for unemployed people in Romania and might be implemented in other countries. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05962554; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05962554. PRR1-10.2196/55374.

A narrative review of the effects of psychoeducation on children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

AbstractAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adolescents (CAA) and its treatment plan includes a multimodal approach. Psychoeducation is a potential therapeutic modality in the multimodal treatment of ADHD. Psychoeducation intervention generally consists of single or multiple sessions providing education to the recipient regarding ADHD with the aim to facilitate an informed, self‐responsible management of the disorder and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Previous reviews have highlighted the positive effects of parental psychoeducation on ADHD symptoms, behavioral problems and social skills of CAA with ADHD. However, the effects of child only and combined parental and CAA psychoeducation interventions are unclear and under investigated. In the current paper, for the first time, we review, individually, the outcomes of parent only psychoeducation, child only psychoeducation and combined parental and CAA psychoeducation across a range of domains in CAA with ADHD. The findings reveal that including psychoeducation in the treatment of ADHD may improve clinical symptoms, social skills, functioning and family relationships in CAA with ADHD.

Breaking Barriers: Unraveling the Connection between Mental Health Literacy, Attitudes towards Mental Illness, and Self-Stigma of Psychological Help-Seeking in University Students

Despite the high prevalence of mental health difficulties during the period of emerging adulthood and the availability of mental health resources, young adults are reluctant to seek professional psychological help. A significant contributor to this treatment gap is the inadequate levels of mental health literacy (MHL). The present study aimed to investigate the association between MHL with attitudes toward mental illness and the self-stigma of seeking psychological treatment among university students. The sample consisted of 485 university students (24.5% males, 75.5% females) with a mean age of 19.54 years (SD = 1.45) drawn from a regional university in Greece. MHL, attitudes towards severe mental illness, and self-stigma of help-seeking were assessed using the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS), the Attitudes towards Severe Mental Illness (ASMI), and the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale (SSOSH), respectively. MHLS was positively correlated with three out of four subscales of ASMI, namely stereotyping, optimism, and coping, and negatively related to SSOSH. Multivariate linear regression analysis adjusting for various confounders showed that students with higher MHL were more likely to report non-stigmatizing attitudes towards mental illness and lower self-stigma of help-seeking from mental health professionals. According to our findings, higher MHL was related to more positive views regarding mental illness and lower self-stigma of help-seeking. To lessen the self-stigma of seeking professional help, MHL must be addressed as an important component of psychoeducational interventions at universities aiming to support students’ help-seeking intentions and practices.

Need-based intervention delivery for family caregivers of older adults with dementia

Research on family caregivers of persons with dementia abounds with studies of psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral interventions to reduce stress and promote mental health. Yet, the caregiver's needs for such interventions are rarely documented. This study of 87 dementia caregivers examined their needs for dementia education and Resourcefulness Training© using baseline cut scores on validated measures of dementia knowledge and resourcefulness skills. While 66 % showed high need for dementia education, 61 % showed moderate to high need for Resourcefulness Training© and 55 % showed moderate to high need for both, prompting future research to explore advantages of delivering both interventions to dementia caregivers.

Midwife-led psycho-education intervention to reduce childbirth fear: a quasi-experimental study.

This quasi-experimental study aimed to assess the impact of a midwife-led psycho-education intervention on reducing fear of childbirth (FOC) and perceived stress (PS) in pregnant women. The present study involved 96 pregnant women. The intervention group received three 30-45 min telephone sessions using 'BELIEF' (Birth Emotion-Looking to Improve Expectant Fear) psycho-education approach. The outcomes were assessed using questionnaires on childbirth attitudes and PS. Data analysis was performed using Stata version 17. In the intervention group, the mean score for FOC decreased from 39.41 ± 7.02 to 29.91 ± 5.60 (9.5; 24.1%). The mean difference (MD) of 28.22% was statistically significant (adjusted MD: -10.51, 95% CI: -11.60, -9.41, P < 0.001). In the intervention group, mean scores for PS decreased from 22.77 ± 6.94 to 18.23 ± 5.69 (4.54; 19.93%). In the control group, scores increased from 22.68 ± 6.76 to 24.82 ± 6.58 (2.14; 9.43%). The 29.36% MD was statistically significant (aMD: -6.95, 95% CI: -8.73, -5.18, P<0.001). The findings of this study indicate that the midwife-led psycho-education intervention, utilizing the 'BELIEF' protocol over the telephone, has a significant effect on reducing FOC and PS, as well as increasing the preference for vaginal birth.

Mental health promotion and suicide prevention in emerging adulthood: importance of psychoeducational interventions in University students

AbstractEmerging adulthood is a stage that involves significant changes in emotional, social, academic, and work domains, which can often lead to high levels of stress and mental health challenges. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential benefits of an online intervention program that is based on mental health psychoeducation and suicide risk prevention for emerging adults who are studying at university. A psychoeducational intervention was conducted with 567 participants, of whom 82.2% were female, aged between 18 and 29 years (M = 20.31; SD = 2.089). The study examines the intervention’s direct impact on adaptive knowledge of suicide risk and mental health, as well as its indirect effect on mental health indicators. The results showed that after the intervention, participants exhibited reduced stigma associated with mental health and suicide, improved knowledge, and more adaptive attitudes towards suicide. Significant changes were observed in various psychological variables, including self-esteem, resilience, emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, stress, and suicide risk, in the expected direction. These findings suggest that integrating psychoeducational interventions and suicide prevention programs into university curricula could promote mental well-being and address suicide risk among emerging adult students.

Effectiveness of a training program among parents of preschool children with ASD in Tunisia: a randomized controlled trial

Raising a child with ASD can be overwhelming and challenging for parents, and it poses different needs that require support, guidance, and education. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention developed to support parents of children with ASD in Tunisia. A randomized controlled trial was carried out in three Autism socio-educational centers in Tunisia. The study was conducted among parents of children with ASD aged 3 to 8 years from November 2020 to January 2022 (N = 31) compared to a control sample of parents of children attending the same centers but received no specific parent intervention (n = 31). The “Blue Hope” program includes eight training sessions delivered through a combination of face-to-face and online sessions. Results showed that the program significantly improved communication and reduced behavior problems in preschool children with ASD, with a significant positive difference noted at the 6-month follow-up. The program also had a positive impact on parental anxiety and depression, with significant and positive differences observed in anxiety and depression scores and the total score at follow-up compared to baseline. These findings suggest that the “Blue Hope” program could be a cost-effective and valuable solution for parents of children with ASD in Tunisia and could be the first step in developing and improving training programs for parents in low-income countries.

The revision and factor analytic evaluation of the German version of the depression literacy scale (D-Lit-R German)

BackgroundDepression is a common mental health disorder and the second leading cause of disability worldwide. In people with depression, low depression literacy, which could be characterized by a poor recognition of depressive symptoms and less knowledge about the availability of treatment options, can hinder adequate therapy for depression. Nevertheless, questionnaires measuring depression literacy in Germany are rare. Consequently, for the present study, the German Depression Literacy Scale (D-Lit) has been revised and evaluated.MethodsFirst, a team of clinical psychologists revised the D-Lit German scale. Next, cognitive interviews were conducted with patients with depression to improve the comprehensibility of the scale items. Our revision of the D-Lit-R German scale was then subjected to an anonymous online study. Finally, the data went through an exploratory factor analysis, and sociodemographic subgroup analyses were performed.ResultsN = 524 individuals (age 18–80) completed the D-Lit-R German scale and a questionnaire on their sociodemographic data. Cronbach´s alpha was estimated as α = .72, and McDonald's Omega (categorical) was estimated as ω = .77. The mean Item difficulty was M = .75 (SD = .15). An EFA was performed for a unidimensional model, a 5-factor-model and at last a 3-factor-model. The 5-factorial model showed a good model fit (χ2emp,WLSMV(131) = 92.424, p > .05; CFI = 1, RMSEA = 0, SRMR = .07) but was rejected since the content of the potential 5 factors could not be determined. The 3-factor model showed an arguable model fit. The Chi2 test was significant (χ2emp,WLSMV(168) = 199.912, p < .05), but the CFI and the RMSEA met an acceptable model fit (CFI = .990, RMSEA of .019, 90% CI[.003, .029]). Substantively, the three factors were defined as (1) Distractors and other symptoms, (2) Depressive symptoms, and (3) Pharmacological and psychotherapeutic depression treatment. Furthermore, there were significant differences in sum scores regarding the subgroup's gender, treatment for mental health problems, depression treatment, experience with depression, and different career fields.ConclusionsThe D-Lit-R German scale is a time-efficient scale to assess some aspects of the depression literacy construct that can be easily applied. Since there was no perfect model fit, it is recommended to continue to revise the scale. Further evaluation studies could ask for knowledge of the etiological factors of depression. Future studies could then use this instrument to convey depression literacy. This instrument could assess the growth of knowledge after psychoeducational interventions in different settings.Trial registrationThis trial was preregistered at the platform osf.io (https://osf.io/49xdh).Registration number: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/49XDHDate of registration: 28 April 2022.

Donor-linking provisions in New Zealand: counselling roles, concerns and needs

Donor-linking where those genetically related through donor conception (e.g. donor-conceived persons (DCP), donors and siblings), or recipient parents, search for and connect with each other, is increasingly common, both in identity-release jurisdictions where donors’ identifying information may be released to DCP, usually when they become adults - and in anonymous jurisdictions, e.g. as a result of direct-to-consumer DNA testing. In this paper, we explore New Zealand fertility clinic counsellors’ views regarding their donor-linking roles and their concerns and needs in relation to current and anticipated service provision. Counsellors believed that fertility service providers had a longer-term responsibility to offer donor-linking services to ensure the wellbeing of all parties affected by donor conception. They perceived their role as complex and multifaceted, encompassing psychoeducation, mediation, advocacy, facilitation, relationship counselling, and therapeutic intervention. They identified significant service provision challenges however, including inadequate staffing, training, time and prioritisation of donor-linking, and inadequate legislative provisions to support practice. Counsellors called for clarity in legislation addressing different contexts of donation and providing measures to ensure the recording of and access to identifying information. They expressed a need for comprehensive, funded donor-linking services, therefore facilitating choice, and services staffed by professionally trained and supported staff.

Brief online acceptance and commitment therapy for adults with type 1 diabetes: a pilot study.

Recognizing the pivotal role of psychosocial factors in triggering and maintaining Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), the integration of psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic interventions is associated with comprehensive management of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a four-week online individual Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention in mitigating diabetes-associated stress, fostering diabetes acceptance, enhancing the patient-doctor relationship, and promoting psychological flexibility in adults diagnosed with T1DM. Employing a single-arm trial design with mixed methodology, thirteen participants (Mage = 39.04, SDage =13.74) engaged in the intervention and completed self-report measures before and after the intervention. Quantitative analysis with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated a statistically significant difference in diabetes-associated stress, diabetes acceptance, and psychological flexibility pre- and post-intervention. Notably, stress levels and psychological inflexibility diminished, while psychological flexibility and diabetes acceptance improved. However, the patient-doctor relationship did not exhibit a significant change. Furthermore, narrative feedback obtained from participants reflected overall satisfaction with the intervention. These preliminary findings contribute to the expanding body of literature supporting the affirmative influence of ACT interventions on individuals with T1DM.

A Web-Based and Mobile Intervention Program Using a Spaced Education Approach for Workplace Mental Health Literacy: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Workplace mental health is an important global health concern. This unblinded, phase-III, wait-listed cluster randomized controlled trial aimed to examine the effectiveness of a mobile health (mHealth) psychoeducation program using a spaced education approach on mental health literacy (MHL) in the workplace. The main interest of this paper was the immediate and 3-month medium-term effect of the program on the MHL of workers. The purposely built mHealth platform was also evaluated as a health-related app. The mHealth platform was designed using the principle of spaced education as a psychoeducation intervention program, with various modules of web-based and mobile materials presented to the participant in a progressive manner. Short quizzes at the end of each module ensured adequate learning, and successful completion qualified the learner to progress to the next level. The trial recruited 456 employees of specific industries with high levels of work-related stress. Participants who were nested in different offices or units were allocated into the intervention and wait-listed control groups using a block randomization process, with the office or unit as the cluster. A separate sample of 70 individual raters were used for the evaluation of the mHealth platform. The Australian National MHL and Stigma Survey and the Mobile Apps Rating Scale were completed through a web-based self-reported survey to assess MHL and evaluate the app. The trial and follow-up data were analyzed by a generalized linear latent and mixed model with adjustments for the clustering effect of work sites and repeated measures. Of the 456 participants in the trial, 236 (51.8%) responded to the follow-up survey. Most MHL outcomes obtained significant results immediately after the intervention and across time. After adjusting for the clustering effect, the postintervention weighted mean scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group for correct recognition of a mental health problem, help seeking, and stigmatization by 0.2 (SE 0.1; P=.003), 0.9 (SE 0.2; P<.001), and 1.8 (SE 0.4; P<.001), respectively. After adjusting for the clustering effect, significant differences across time were found in help-seeking intention (P=.01), stigmatization (P<.001), and social distancing (P<.001). The evaluation of the mHealth program resulted in average scores of the 4 major domains ranging from 3.8 to 4.2, with engagement having the lowest score. The mHealth psychoeducation intervention program using this platform had immediate and 3-month medium-term effects of retaining and improving MHL. The platform was evaluated to have satisfactory performance in terms of functionality, aesthetics, information content, and utility in enhancing MHL. It is anticipated that ongoing development in digital health will provide great benefits in improving the mental health of the global population.

Personality traits and personality problems in Korsakoff syndrome patients

ABSTRACT Personality research is of relevance because it provides insights into the psychological strengths and vulnerabilities of a person. Korsakoff’s syndrome (KS) is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder following acute thiamine deficiency, usually as a consequence of alcohol-use disorders. Research on personality traits of KS patients is currently limited. The aim of the current exploratory study was therefore to examine the personality traits and problems of KS patients. We assessed self-reported and informant-reported personality traits and problems in institutionalized KS patients (n = 30). Results indicate that the psychotic personality organization was more frequently present in KS patients compared to a psychiatric reference population, leading to increased vulnerability for the development of severe psychiatric issues. Informants observed more premorbid and current cluster B (“emotional”) and C (“anxious”) personality behavior in comparison to the general population. Also, rigid- and socially avoidant behavior in KS patients was observed to increase over the years. They also observed personality problems such as emotional-, unpredictable-, dramatic-, anxious and fearful behavior in the present and in the past. KS patients reported themselves as healthy individuals, indicating a lack of self-awareness. We recommend training programs for the medical team focussed on psycho-education and supportive interventions for patients with complex personality problems concomitant to KS.

Asthma medication adherence, control, and psychological symptoms: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNonadherence to therapies and psychological disorders are associated with poor asthma control. This study aims to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, asthma control, and adherence to inhalers and to investigate whether there is an association of anxiety and depressive symptoms with adherence to inhalers and asthma control.MethodsWe measured anxiety and depressive symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in patients with asthma. Asthma Control Test and the 10-Item Test of Adherence to Inhalers Scale were used to assess levels of asthma control adherence to inhalers, respectively. Univariate and multivariate regression models assessed the associations of anxiety and depressive symptoms with adherence to inhalers and asthma control.ResultsA total of 287 patients completed the study, of whom 72% were female. The mean ± SD age and body mass index of our study population were 44 ± 13 years and 29 ± 7.2 kg/m2, respectively. Poor adherence to inhaler use was highly prevalent (49.8%; 95% CI: 43.8 to 55.7). The prevalence of anxiety, depression and poor asthma control was 27.2% (95% CI: 22.1 to 32.7), 20.9% (95% CI: 16.3 to 26.1), and 22.7% (95% CI: 17.9 to 27.9), respectively. We found a negative relationship between asthma control and anxiety, and depressive symptoms (adjusted β: -0.25; 95% CI: -0.36 to -0.14; p < 0.001 and adjusted β: -0.29; 95% CI: -0.40 to -0.18; p < 0.001, respectively). A negative relationship was also observed between adherence to inhalers and anxiety and depressive symptoms (adjusted β: -0.34; 95% CI: -0.46 to -0.22; p < 0.001 and adjusted β: -0.36; 95% CI: − 0.48 to − 0.24; p < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsThe high prevalence of uncontrolled asthma symptoms and poor adherence to inhalers and their impact on anxiety and depression levels among patients with asthma point to the need for early screening for psychological symptoms and recognition of nonadherence as part of asthma assessment and management plan in primary care in Saudi Arabia to avoid further worsening of asthma symptoms. Further studies are needed to explore the effectiveness of specific psychoeducational interventions and investigate the long-term impact of early psychological symptom detection on asthma outcomes.