Psychological Symptomology Research Articles

Adapting Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention Interventions to Victims of Child Sexual Abuse.

Considering the increased risk of revictimization, adolescents who have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA) are a priority subpopulation for the prevention of dating violence. Yet, intervention programs often focus on psychological symptomology associated with CSA; few tackle issues specific to relational violence. Addressing the relational traumatization of adolescents with a history of CSA is essential to prevent their revictimization. Given specific CSA sequelae related to intimacy and engagement in sexual behaviors, there is a need for tailoring interventions to boy and girl survivors. A case study of a group intervention designed for adolescent girls with a history of CSA was conducted. The context adaptation, based on intervention mapping proposed by Bartholomew and colleagues, served as a theoretical framework. Four steps were taken to ensure that the intervention addressed CSA youth needs: (a) needs assessment, (b) analysis of the conceptual framework of the original program, (c) selection of interventions and developing new interventions, and (d) validation with a committee of practitioners. This approach provided an understanding of risk factors and intervention priorities using the problem logic model. The original program was enhanced by adding four interventions addressing the prevention of dating violence. These interventions were then validated by practitioners before implementation in the setting. The approach underscores the relevance of understanding the needs of the clientele and of adopting a collaborative approach to ensure the proposed interventions are relevant.

Improving sleep in a population at high risk of trauma: A pilot study examining self-reported sleep, psychological symptomology and actigraphy measured night-time sleep

IntroductionSleep disturbances (SDs), such as insomnia or regular nightmares, are associated with multiple mental health disorders, most notably PTSD, where SDs are reported in up to 92% of cases. Examining the effect of changing sleep on psychological symptomology is essential to develop the evidence base on the contribution of sleep to mental resilience.ObjectivesTo examine the effect a short skills-based sleep intervention on psychological symptomology and actigraphy measured sleep.Methods A 4-session sleep skills training programme was used to treat active SDs in participants likely to have experienced occupation-associated trauma, namely military and first responders.ResultsNineteen participants were included in the study. Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) measured; difficulty sleeping, difficulty staying asleep, waking too early, sleep satisfaction, sleep interference on quality of life and total ISI insomnia score improved significantly post-treatment (M = 9.44, SE = 7.35, p <0.001). No significant difference was identified post-treatment for actigraphy-measured sleep. The severity of depression (M = 5.27, SE = 1.41, p = 0.002), anxiety (M = 5.07, SE = 1.66, p = 0.008), and PTSD symptoms among participants with likely PTSD, were significantly lower following treatment (M = 29.4, SE = 4.19, p = 0.002).ConclusionsA short sleep skills intervention based on CBT-I was effective at reducing self-report insomnia symptoms and severity of psychological symptomology but failed to improve actigraphy sleep metrics. These findings highlight a differing contribution of night-time sleep and current insomnia symptoms to the severity of self-reported psychological symptomology.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Improving mental health care outcomes: the agile psychological medicine clinic

ABSTRACT Objective We hypothesised that providing evidence-based care to people presenting in crisis to three Emergency Departments and the 24/7 phone Psychiatric Triage Service in Victoria, Australia, would improve their clinical outcomes over time and experience of the adult mental health system. We tested this through a service prototype, the agile Psychological Medicine clinic. Method Descriptive statistics were used to understand the characteristics of people who presented in crisis. Patient journey maps were used to understand the impact of the system on the patient and assess whether they received the best clinical care over time. Insights from these analyses, and the evidence base, led to the development of the prototype. Using an open trial design, 194 patients received specialist treatment and effectiveness was measured through patient-reported outcome measures administered at initial and final appointments. Service utilisation was measured 12-months pre and post treatment. Results The agile Psychological Medicine clinic delivered value; outcomes significantly improved across psychological symptomology and behaviours. Reductions in emergency department presentations, phone triage calls and service costs resulted. Conclusions This innovative clinic demonstrated that access to front-end mental health treatment improves clinical outcomes, mitigates later complications and increases the prospects of keeping patients well over the longer term. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic (1) Hospital emergency departments (EDs) can often be the initial point of care for people seeking immediate help for mental health crises. (2) Demand has increased, patient satisfaction has decreased and patients increasingly re-present in crisis. (3) Therapeutic alliance has been shown to be a robust predictor of treatment outcome. What this paper adds (1) Mental health care could be improved for those presenting in situational crises by bringing evidence-based treatment with a consistent clinician with whom they could form a therapeutic alliance (2) The agile Psychological Medicine clinic demonstrated that bringing specialist treatment to the front end of the system of care, improves clinical outcomes, mitigates later complications and increases the prospects of keeping patients well over the longer term. (3) Patients who engaged in treatment had a 37% reduction in ED presentations 12 months after therapeutic intervention resulting in significant cost savings. Abbreviations: aPM: agile Psychological Medicine; CATT: Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team; CBT: Cognitive behaviour therapy; CCT: Continuing Care Team; ECATT: Emergency Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team; ED: Emergency Department; PTS: Psychiatric Triage Service; SECASA: South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault

Task-based functional connectivity patterns: Links to adolescent emotion regulation and psychopathology

Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by heightened emotional reactivity, neurobiological changes, and increased rates of anxiety and depression. Emotion regulation (ER) difficulties—or the inability to effectively regulate one's emotions—have been theoretically and empirically conceptualized as a transdiagnostic factor implicated in virtually all forms of psychopathology among youth. The current fMRI study investigates how young adolescents’ ER abilities longitudinally mediate the relationship between their task-based (n=67) limbic-prefrontal functional connectivity values and subsequent levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Findings revealed that adolescents with stronger limbic-prefrontal connectivity when viewing negative emotional images reported more ER difficulties one year later which, in turn, predicted higher levels of adolescent-reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms (with the exception of ADHD) two years later. This is the only study to date that provides compelling—albeit preliminary—evidence that ER problems longitudinally mediate the association between task-based functional connectivity patterns and future psychological symptoms among adolescents. Of note, participants were only scanned at baseline, limiting our ability to assess change in adolescents’ task-based functional connectivity patterns as a function of developing ER abilities or burgeoning psychological symptomology. In sum, rather than conferring risk for any particular disorder, our results suggest that functional connectivity and subsequent ER abilities may serve a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. These findings may inform future emotion-focused prevention and intervention efforts aimed at youth susceptible to future internalizing and externalizing problems.

Prevalence and factors related to psychological distress among ethnic minority adults in a semi-modern village in rural Vietnam: an evolutionary mismatch framework.

Background and objectivesPsychological distress is one of the greatest health threats facing humanity and has been hypothesized to represent an evolutionary mismatch. This hypothesis can be tested in semi-traditional societies that are undergoing transitions to modern lifestyles. This study used an evolutionary medicine framework to examine the predictors of psychological distress symptomology in a semi-modern ethnic minority village in rural Vietnam that is transitioning into a developing economy.MethodologyA cross-sectional survey was conducted in Chieng Sai Village among White Thai ethnic minority adults aged 18–75. The DASS-21 scale was used to measure the prevalence of psychological distress symptoms (depression and stress), and a closed format questionnaire was used to collect data on independent variables within an evolutionary mismatch framework. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine associated factors of psychological distress symptomology.ResultsThe prevalence of psychological distress symptoms was 22% (depression = 16.9%, stress = 16.3%). Common features of modernity, such as low levels of exercise, boredom, and low income, showed positive associations with psychological distress, while lifestyle features that were more similar to those expected in the evolutionary past and that fulfill evolutionary adaptations, such as getting enough sleep, adequate physical exertion, and access to resources (earning a sufficient income), showed negative associations with psychological distress.Conclusions and implicationsThis study suggests that modern lifestyles might have generated evolutionary mismatches that are negatively impacting mental health in Chieng Sai Village. Further investigations on mental health in rural Vietnam are warrented. Future research should focus on determining the causal relationship between psychological distress and evolutionary mismatches. Evolutionary medicine approaches to understanding and preventing psychological distress are potential forces of insight to be considered in public health and educational policy.Lay summaryApproximately 22% of White Thai ethnic minority adults in the village of Cheing Sai reported psychological distress symptoms. I found that lifestyle factors prevalent in modern society had positive associations with psychological distress symptomology, while lifestyle factors that mimic aspects of the human evolutionary past, such as adequate physical exertion, had negative associations with psychological distress symptoms.

Trauma-informed interventions versus control for cancer-risk behaviours among adults: rationale and design for a randomized trial

BackgroundTobacco use, alcohol use, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption are each associated with increased cancer-risk. Psychological trauma is a common experience and a key driver of these behaviours among adults. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of trauma-informed yoga, drumming, and psychoeducation compared to control on tobacco use, alcohol use, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among community-based adults. Secondary aims are to evaluate the effect of these interventions compared to control on psychological and physiological stress symptomology, social connection, and coping behaviour.MethodsRecruitment for this single-blinded randomized trial began in April 2019 in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. Adults who consumed tobacco, alcohol, or sugar-sweetened beverages in the past month and live in Lethbridge, Alberta are being recruited using ads placed in public spaces. Participants are randomly allocated to a 12-session group yoga class, 12-session group drumming class, a 12-session psychoeducation class, or control. Participants attend an appointment in-person to fill out an online questionnaire package, provide a saliva sample, and complete physical measures pre-intervention, and 1-month and 6-months post-intervention.DiscussionThis study provides a unique opportunity to compare the impacts of two trauma-informed body-based interventions to psychoeducation and control for cancer-risk behaviour among community-based adults. The findings can be used to develop trauma-informed group interventions to reduce cancer-risk behaviour in general populations. Results are expected in 2022.Trial registrationThis trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.govISRCTN15583681 on 22 August 2019 (retrospectively registered).

Non-pharmacological pain management in the neonatal intensive care unit: Managing neonatal pain without drugs

Premature infants hospitalized after birth are exposed to repeated painful procedures as part of their routine medical care. Early neonatal exposure to unmanaged pain has been linked to numerous negative long-term outcomes, such as the development of pain hypersensitivity, detrimental psychological symptomology, and altered neurodevelopment. These findings emphasize the crucial role of pain management in neonatal care. The aim of this article is to give an overview of evidence-based non-pharmacological pain management techniques for hospitalized neonates. Research supporting the effectiveness of various proximal, distal, and procedural pain management methods in neonates will be presented. Additionally, understanding the larger biopsychosocial context of the infant that underpins the mechanisms of these pain management methods is essential. Therefore, two important models that inform non-pharmacological approaches to infant pain management (DIAPR-R [The Development of Infant Acute Pain Responding-Revised], Attachment Theory) will be discussed.

A Latent Class Typology of Justice-Involved Youth Victims and Exploration of Trauma-Related Psychological Symptoms

Justice-involved youth witness and experience disproportionately high levels of violence and abuse, yet our understanding of trauma-related symptoms and exposure to violence (ETV) in this group remains largely underdeveloped. Using data from a sample of 1,354 youth, this study uses latent class analysis to construct a typology of justice-involved trauma victims based on ETV items. Second, we test whether membership in different ETV classes is associated with more extensive and earlier system involvement and psychological symptomology. We identified with four classes of justice-involved trauma victims: minimally exposed youth, youth with high levels of witnessed violence, youth with high levels of witnessed and experienced non-lethal violence and youth with high levels of witnessed and experienced non-lethal and lethal gun violence. Membership in the latter class was strongly associated with higher number of arrests and younger age at first arrests. Significant differences in trauma-related symptoms were found across the various ETV classes. Implications for policy and practitioners are discussed.

The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support in the Relationships Between General Causality Orientations and Locus of Control With Psychopathological Symptoms.

The main aim of this study is to investigate the mediator role of perceived social support in the relationship between general causality orientations and locus of control with psychopathological symptoms. Total 751 participants were consisted of 558 female ages between 17 and 36 (Female M = 19.03, SD = 0.09) (74.3%), 192 male ages between 17 and 37 (Male M = 20.71, SD = 0.17) (25.6%) and a participant who did not provide any gender information. We used the General Causality Orientations Scale (GCOS) and Locus of Control Scale (LOCS) in order to understand the basic motivation for the emergence of behavior. Beck depression Inventory (BDI) used to evaluate the psychological symptoms for depression, Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) for obsessive-compulsive symptomology and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) for overall psychological distress and finally to evaluate mediating role of social support used the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). According to the results, having internal locus of control and autonomy orientation have shown positive effect to statistically significant predictors for psychological symptomology, having external locus of control and impersonal orientation have shown negative effect. Perceived social support was found to be suited for the role of partial mediator, and social support from friends was found to have more positive roles than social support from family. In conclusion, exceedingly considerable to conduct further research in order to contribute to the understanding of the mediating role of general causality orientations and locus of control with psychopathology symptomology.

Transgender Resiliency: A Comparison of Transgender and Cisgender Therapy Clients’ Family Functioning and Psychological Symptomology

Existing literature often suggests transgender people face increased vulnerabilities in comparison to cisgender people and poorer mental and physical health outcomes. However, studies are increasingly exploring resilience of transgender people and factors contributing to positive coping. The current study compared transgender to cisgender clients at a University-based couple and family therapy center on self-reported psychological symptomology and family functioning. Transgender individuals did not differ significantly from cisgender individuals on family functioning, however transgender individuals reported significantly fewer symptoms on all twelve subscales of psychological symptomology, despite lower income and lower levels of education. Results suggest transgender individuals may develop unique traits or processes allowing them to more effectively cope with stressors, supporting the presence of resiliency in this population.

Orthorexia Nervosa: An Examination of the Prevalence, Correlates, and Associated Impairment in a University Sample.

Orthorexia nervosa is characterized by an obsession with eating "pure" or "healthy" foods. Despite emergent interest, few studies have been published about orthorexia to date. This study examined the phenomenology, correlates, and associated impairment of orthorexia in 404 undergraduate students. A battery of self-report questionnaires assessed orthorexia symptoms, related functional impairment, disordered eating, perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, appearance anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. In total, 35.4% of participants endorsed elevated orthorexia symptoms, with primary concerns related to guilt associated with dietary transgressions and experiencing control when eating in a desired manner. Orthorexia symptoms demonstrated small to medium correlations with associated impairment variables, perfectionism, disordered eating, appearance anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Mean differences were observed across all variables (except depressive symptoms) between individuals elevated and not elevated on orthorexia symptoms. Collectively, this study suggests a relatively high frequency of orthorexia symptoms using current methods (which have significant limitations) and demonstrate fairly modest associations with psychological symptomology.

Sunk costs, psychological symptomology, and help seeking.

Individuals often allow prior investments of time, money or effort to influence their current behavior. A tendency to allow previous investments to impact further investment, referred to as the sunk-cost fallacy, may be related to adverse psychological health. Unfortunately, little is known about the relation between the sunk-cost fallacy and psychological symptoms or help seeking. The current study used a relatively novel approach (i.e., Amazon.com’s Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing [AMT] service) to examine various aspects of psychological health in internet users (n = 1053) that did and did not commit the sunk-cost fallacy. In this observational study, individuals logged on to AMT, selected the “decision making survey” amongst the array of currently available tasks, and completed the approximately 200-question survey (which included a two-trial sunk cost task, the brief symptom inventory 18, the Binge Eating Scale, portions of the SF-8 health survey, and other questions about treatment utilization). Individuals that committed the fallacy reported a greater number of symptoms related to Binge Eating Disorder and Depression, being bothered more by emotional problems, yet waited longer to seek assistance when feeling ill. The current findings are discussed in relation to promoting help-seeking behavior amongst individuals that commit this logical fallacy.

Pilot Investigation of PTSD, Autonomic Reactivity, and Cardiovascular Health in Physically Healthy Combat Veterans.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and combat-related PTSD in particular, has been associated with increased rates of cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular-related death. However, less research has examined possible factors that may link PTSD to poorer cardiovascular health in combat veteran populations. The current pilot study investigated whether psychological symptomology and autonomic reactivity to emotional scripts would relate to poorer cardiovascular health in combat veterans without a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Male veterans (N = 24), who served in combat since Operation Iraqi Freedom, completed a semi-structured interview and self-report measures to assess psychological symptomology. Autonomic reactivity, measured using heart rate variability (HRV; low to high frequency ratio), was obtained during script-driven imagery of emotional memories. Cardiovascular health was assessed using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. Correlational analyses and discriminant analysis were used to assess the relationship between psychological symptoms (PTSD, depression, anger, as measured via self-report), autonomic reactivity to emotional scripts (HRV), and FMD. Overall, veterans in the current study showed poor cardiovascular health despite their relatively young age and lack of behavioral risk factors, with 15/24 exhibiting impaired FMD (FMD < 5%). Psychological symptomology was not associated with FMD; whereas autonomic reactivity to emotional (compared to neutral) scripts was found to relate to FMD. Autonomic reactivity to negative scripts correctly classified 76.5% of veterans as having impaired versus normative FMD. Results from this pilot study highlight the importance of cardiovascular screening with combat veterans despite psychological diagnosis. Results also support the need for longitudinal research assessing the use of autonomic reactivity to emotionally valenced stimuli as a potential risk factor for poorer cardiovascular health.

The relationship between financial strain, perceived stress, psychological symptoms, and academic and social integration in undergraduate students

ABSTRACTObjective: Financial strain may directly or indirectly (i.e., through perceived stress) impact students’ psychological symptoms and academic and social integration, yet few studies have tested these relationships. The authors explored the mediating effect of perceived stress on the relationship between financial strain and 2 important outcomes: psychological symptomology and academic and social integration. Participants: Participants were 157 undergraduate students. Data were collected from December 2013 to March 2014. Methods: Cross-sectional data collection conducted using online survey software. Results: It was found that perceived stress mediated the relationship between financial strain and (a) psychological symptomology and (b) academic and social integration. Both models included first-generation status as a covariate. Conclusions: Results suggest that perceived stress is an important intervention target for reducing psychological symptoms and improving academic and social integration for undergraduate students. Implications for university health centers and mental health professionals include incorporating a public health model to minimize stress risk.

Heterogeneity in fibromyalgia based upon cognitive and physical performance and psychological symptomology.

This study sought to investigate the existence of subgroups within a fibromyalgia (FM) sample based on physical and cognitive performance measures, as well as self-report psychological measures. A multisystem disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and co-morbid conditions, FM can lead to declines in cognitive functioning and difficulty with psychological health. Community participants (n = 57 women) recruited from support groups and university center databases provided documentation of having met the criteria for diagnosis of FM. Measures included validated performance and self-report instruments. Analysis was completed using hierarchical cluster analysis; a four cluster solution was chosen for its level of interpretability. The resulting model identified four distinct subgroups based upon patterns of performance and symptomology. Significant group differences were found on pain, fatigue, stiffness, and level of physical activity. Study results support the existence of subgroups among the FM population based on levels of cognitive and physical performance and psychological symptoms. Nurse practitioners aware of potential subgroups within FM should be better prepared to recommend treatment options for patients that target subgroup characteristics (e.g., high vs. low levels of psychological symptoms).

Explaining the frequency of alcohol consumption in a conflict zone: Jews and Palestinians in Israel

Experiencing stress and exposure to terrorism may have an adverse effect on health risk behaviors. Few studies have examined alcohol use among adults living in Israel under chronic, stressful terrorism-related conditions. In this study, we examined the relationships of demographics, past stressful events, and terrorism exposure to the frequency of alcohol use and the mediating roles of depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. We used three waves of data from a 2007–2008 nationally representative sample of Jewish and Palestinian adults in Israel. We assessed past stressful events, in addition to direct and indirect exposures to terrorism. Results indicated that past stressful events and exposure to terrorism were not directly associated with alcohol use, but were indirectly associated and mediated by depressive and PTSD symptomology. Mental health symptoms were differentially associated with alcohol use. More frequent drinking was mediated by higher levels of depression, including for women and Palestinians; however, PTSD symptom severity was related to less frequent drinking. Mental health may play a prominent role in the frequency of alcohol use among adults exposed to terrorism in Israel. Alcohol use, as a coping mechanism, may differ by demographic characteristics (gender and ethnicity) and psychological symptomology for adults living in a conflict zone in Israel.

183. Exploring the Influence of Minority Stress on the Transition From High School to College Among LGBQ Young Adults

with current psychological symptomology in a sample of YMSM aged 16-20. Methods: This study was comprised of 449 cases selected from a community-based, longitudinal sample of YMSM (N1⁄4450; aged 16-20) recruited through modified respondent-driven sampling. Participants completed computer-assisted self-interviews assessing retrospective counts of ESE incidents (trichotimized to 0, 1-4, and >5), recalled childhood gender expression (e.g., conforming vs. nonconforming), and current psychological symptom counts (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD, impulsivity, suicidality). Bivariate analyses were conducted between the measures of ESE, childhood gender expression, and mental health. Significant bivariate outcomes informed subsequent multivariable logistic regression models predicting the likelihood of psychological symptomology by ESE, and childhood gender expression. Results: Results indicated that ESE and childhood gender expression predict psychological symptoms in YMSM. The majority (53%) of the ethnically-diverse sample was African American (Latino1⁄4 20%, European American1⁄4 18%, Other1⁄4 9%), almost half the entire sample (46%) reported at least one ESE incident, and 25% of the sample reported childhood nonconformity. Compared with those not reporting ESE, YMSM reporting ESE were more likely to endorse psychological symptoms consistent with PTSD (p<.05) and depression (p<.05), impulsivity (p<.05) and a tendency to report suicidality (p<.10) (e.g., ideation, past attempt). With childhood gender expression taken into account, YMSM who recalled childhood gender nonconformity reported a past suicide attempt (p<.05) and tended to report higher ESE than YMSM without childhood gender nonconformity (p1⁄4 .08). Multivariable regression analysis indicated that, among YMSM without ESE, childhood gender nonconformity alone did not significantly predict symptoms related to PTSD, depression, or suicidality. However, YMSM with ESE and childhood gender nonconformity were more likely to report current symptoms of PTSD (OR1⁄42.83, 95% CI1⁄41.39, 5.79), depression (OR1⁄42.82, 95% CI1⁄41.52, 5.23), and suicidal attempts (OR 1⁄4 3.12, 95% CI1⁄41.46, 6.69) than gender-conforming YMSM without ESE. Among the subgroup of YMSM reporting childhood gender conformity, those with ESE were at greater odds of reporting PTSD-related hypervigilance (OR1⁄41.87; 95% CI1⁄41.17, 3.00) than those without ESE. Conclusions: YMSM with childhood gender nonconformity may be disproportionately victimized by CSA and go on to develop psychological symptoms beginning in adolescence. Early intervention addressing these factors may help reduce adolescent HIV risk behavior. Sources of Support: National Institute on Drug Abuse Award Number R01DA025548 (PIs: Garofalo, Mustanski).

Gastro oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)-related symptoms and its association with mood and anxiety disorders and psychological symptomology: a population-based study in women

BackgroundPsychopathology seems to play a role in reflux pathogenesis and vice versa, yet few population-based studies have systematically investigated the association between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and psychopathology. We thus aimed to investigate the relationship between GORD-related symptoms and psychological symptomatology, as well as clinically diagnosed mood and anxiety disorders in a randomly selected, population-based sample of adult women.MethodsThis study examined data collected from 1084 women aged 20-93 yr participating in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Mood and anxiety disorders were identified using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Research Version, Non-patient edition (SCID-I/NP), and psychological symptomatology was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). GORD-related symptoms were self-reported and confirmed by medication use where possible and lifestyle factors were documented.ResultsCurrent psychological symptomatology and mood disorder were associated with increased odds of concurrent GORD-related symptoms (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.5, and OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7-5.6, respectively). Current anxiety disorder also tended to be associated with increased odds of current GORD-related symptoms (p = 0.1). Lifetime mood disorder was associated with a 1.6-fold increased odds of lifetime GORD-related symptoms (adjusted OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.4) and lifetime anxiety disorder was associated with a 4-fold increased odds of lifetime GORD-related symptoms in obese but not non-obese participants (obese, age-adjusted OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.8-9.0).ConclusionsThese results indicate that psychological symptomatology, mood and anxiety disorders are positively associated with GORD-related symptoms. Acknowledging this common comorbidity may facilitate recognition and treatment, and opens new questions as to the pathways and mechanisms of the association.

Characteristics of college cyberbullies

Cyberbullying is a newer variation of bullying that utilizes technology to harass. This study investigated the psychological symptomology, suicidal behaviors, aggressive tendencies, and illegal behaviors of college cyberbullies. Sixty cyberbullies and 19 cyberbully/victims (participants who cyberbullied and were victims of cyberbullying) scored higher in psychological symptoms of depression, hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, paranoia, phobic anxiety, and psychoticism than participants who were uninvolved with cyberbullying. The cyberbullies also endorsed more suicidal behaviors and scored higher in aggression. The cyberbully/victims engaged in more violent and drug crimes than cyberbullies and controls. These findings indicate perpetrators of cyberbullying have more psychological distress, aggressive tendencies, and engage in more illegal behaviors than those who do not cyberbully. This is the first study to show the distress cyberbullies are experiencing.

Using Social Media to Connect College Students with Mental Heal the Services

In recent years, the severity and incidence of mental health issues in college students has increased. A significant body of research suggests that college students are presenting with more psychological distress than ever. Compared to five years ago, 82% of respondents of the American College Counseling Association’s 2013 National Survey of College Counseling Centers reported increases in the number of students with severe psychological problems [1]. The American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment (ACHANCHA) shows a considerable amount of psychological symptomology in the college population [2]. Over 123,000 students surveyed in spring 2013 report that at some point in the past 12 months, 31.3% felt so depressed that it was difficult to function and 51% felt overwhelming anxiety. This level of depression and anxiety is a serious health concern for college communities.