Rates Of Mental Health Disorders Research Articles

Happy Hookers: findings from an international study exploring the effects of crochet on wellbeing.

With rising rates of mental health disorders being reported globally, it is imperative that we investigate economical and accessible ways to increase relaxation and reduce stress. While there is a plethora of anecdotal evidence as to the positive effects of domestic crafts on mental wellbeing, there is little empirical research in this area. As such, we aimed to explore perceived links between crochet and wellbeing. An online survey was developed and piloted, based on an existing tool that explored knitting and wellbeing. The final survey was promoted through social media, over a 6-week period, resulting in valid responses from 8391 individuals. Most respondents were female (99.1%), aged between 41 and 60 years (49.5%) and living in 87 different countries. Many respondents reported crocheting for between 1 and 5 years (42.6%). The three most frequent reasons reported for crocheting were: to be creative (82.1%), to relax (78.5%) and for a sense of accomplishment (75.2%). Respondents reported that crochet made them feel calmer (89.5%), happier (82%) and more useful (74.7%). There was a significant improvement in reported scores for mood before crocheting (M = 4.19, SD = 1.07) and mood after crocheting (M = 5.78, SD = 0.82); z = -69.86, p < .001, r = -0.56. Content analysis of free-text responses identified five major themes: (1) health benefits, (2) process of crochet, (3) personal connection, (4) crochet as contribution and (5) online crochet communities. The data suggests that crochet offers positive benefits for personal wellbeing with many respondents actively using crochet to manage mental health conditions and life events such as grief, chronic illness and pain. Crochet is a relatively low-cost, portable activity that can be easily learnt and seems to convey all of the positive benefits provided by knitting. This research suggests that crochet can play a role in promoting positive wellbeing in the general population, adding to the social prescribing evidence base.

Facing Stigma and Discrimination as Both a Racial and a Sexual Minority Member of the LGBTQ+ Community

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) sexual minority people who are also racial minorities (people of color) face significantly more complex life stressors than their white counterparts, likely due to more stigma and discrimination. This article outlines some of the disparities in this double-minority population that contribute to trends in (1) higher rates of mental health disorders; (2) higher percentages of medical illnesses in general, including higher rates of HIV; (3) higher rates of substance use disorders; and (4) increased rates of violence. Much of the existing research literature pertains to either LGBTQ+ populations or racial/ethnic minority populations, and there has been little research addressing this double-minority population to date. Further research is warranted to better understand the effect of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination in double-minority populations and how to better address their social, health, and mental health disparities. [ Psychiatr Ann. 2019;49(10):441–445.]

What is the Role of the Community? Examining Minority Stress Processes among Gay and Bisexual Men.

Gay and bisexual men suffer from higher rates of mental health disorders than their heterosexual counterparts. Minority stress theory provides the framework for much research that seeks to explain this discrepancy. Recently, several studies have also examined the role of connection with the gay community with mixed results. Operationalizing gay community connectedness in terms of two separate constructs-community involvement and community identification-this study sought to examine and compare the role that each of these factors plays in affecting gay and bisexual men's mental health. We analyzed data from 371 gay and bisexual men in New York City, focusing on measures of minority stress factors, gay community connectedness, and mental health outcomes. As hypothesized, factor analysis showed that the community connectedness scale loaded onto two sub-factors corresponding to the theorized constructs of identification and involvement. Linear regression models adjusting for potential confounding factors showed that community involvement was significantly associated with better mental health outcomes. Community involvement also significantly moderated the impact of internalized homonegativity on mental health. This factor was not a significant moderator of the impact of sexual orientation discrimination on mental health, and community identification was not significantly associated with mental health outcomes. It also did not significantly moderate the effect of either minority stress factor. Future research would benefit from developing an updated and highly reliable measure of community involvement.

Changing Rates of Mental Health Disorders Among Veterans Treated in the VHA During Troop Drawdown, 2007-2013.

Nationally representative data on mental health disorder prevalence are critical to set informed mental health priorities and policies. Data indicating mental health diagnoses within our nation's veteran population treated at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) are available, but have yet to be examined for changing trends to inform both VHA and community care. We use VHA national program evaluation data from a time of increasing military enrollment (2007) to troop draw down (2013) to examine changes over time in the number of diagnoses in veterans receiving VHA services. The number of veterans in all diagnostic categories increased during our study period with the smallest increase in psychotic disorders (8%) and the largest in posttraumatic stress disorder (71%). Trends in behavioral health diagnoses among veterans have important implications for policy and clinician competencies within VHA and community providers as veteran mental health care needs change.

Family History: An Opportunity to Disrupt Transmission of Behavioral Health Problems.

Family history is a traditional clinical approach to identify potential genetic-related disorders within families. Research on brain development and life course health has raised awareness of the impact of childhood social experiences related to parenting behavior leading to subsequent health and mental health problems of children.1 The high and rising rates of mental health disorders, half of which have an onset by age 14 years,2 are now known to be due to genetic and social factors. Family history provides a special opportunity to identify risk and develop strategies to mitigate adverse social factors and experiences associated with parental mental health problems and promote resilience in children. Because some adverse parenting behaviors are related to adverse childhood experience, family history can be a clinical approach to identify such experiences because screening for them lacks reliability and validity.3 The family history is conventionally used to identify risk for genetically loaded physical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease. Yet, too often, behavioral and mental health problems that frequently run in families4–6 are not given comparable attention. Beyond genetic vulnerabilities for mental health problems, parents and grandparents convey multigenerational risk through role modeling and dysfunctional parenting behaviors, including harsh discipline, stress, abuse, and … Address correspondence to Barry Zuckerman, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E Concord St, Room 324L, Boston, MA 02118. E-mail: barry.zuckerman{at}bmc.org

Pervasive refusal syndrome in asylum-seeking children: Review of the current evidence.

This study reviews the current evidence in pervasive refusal syndrome (PRS) in asylum-seeking children. Refugees can experience a variety of traumas throughout the process of migration. Children can be exposed to multiple traumas such as experienced or witnessed physical or sexual violence, loss and bereavement, parental separation and the threat of persecution and/or kidnapping. The third stage of the migration journey can add further stress; children and families may experience multiple rejections of asylum application effectively living in limbo with the constant threat of deportation. High rates of mental health disorder are well documented in young asylum seekers, particularly depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PRS is less frequently described but nonetheless a severe and life-threatening condition affecting young asylum seekers. Traumatisation, cultural factors and hostile asylum processes are specific moderating factors seen in asylum-seeking children. Asylum-seeking children normally make a full recovery from PRS. This study suggests a link between prolonged asylum processes and hostile foreign policy in developing and maintaining illness; similar cases are now being reported in other countries with hostile foreign policies. These findings are therefore relevant to clinicians and politicians working with this vulnerable group.

Psychology across cultures: Challenges and opportunities.

Large variations of inequalities in rates of mental health disorders and access to mental health care exist within and between countries. Globally, disparities range from countries where there is little provision to those where, despite the availability of evidence-based mental health care, service access and outcomes are mediated by social factors such as socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, and culture. This is salient because increasingly diverse populations are inevitably created with globalization. We posit that in multicultural contexts, effective therapeutic engagement requires therapists who are competent and confident to work with diversity and difference, utilizing insights into their own as well as their clients' internal and external worlds. Although there are many reasons why psychotherapies can be insensitive and harmful, for example, the inherent power imbalance in therapeutic relationships, a lack of awareness of cultural and ethnic variation and needs are among them. Acquisition of 'cultural competence' and increasing availability of culturally-adapted interventions should, in theory, enable practitioners to work with a range of individuals with whom they might have little in common. However, whilst cultural adaptation appears promising, there are concerns regarding its viability as a strategy for tackling disparities in access to psychological care. Evidence for cultural competency is patchy at best. We show how and why delivering effective psychotherapy in the twenty-first century requires a paradigm shift from current approaches to truly integrated models, developed in collaboration with recipients of care. Coproducing interventions, training, and means of evaluating them with clients necessitates taking into consideration social contexts, alternative conceptualizations of mental health and disorders and difficulties, and what constitutes appropriate helpful interventions for psychological distress. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Upskilling therapists to work with diversity and difference is essential for effective delivery of psychological treatments. Increasing the availability of culturally-adapted interventions together with therapists who are sufficiently competent and confident to deliver them should enable practitioners to work with a range of individuals with whom they might have little in common. Coproducing culturally appropriate means of responding to mental health difficulties, staff training and development, and service evaluation methods with clients necessitates taking into consideration social contexts, alternative explanatory models of mental health and 'illness', and what constitutes helpful interventions for psychological distress.

The Increased Vulnerability of Refugee Population to Mental Health Disorders

Around the world, the number of refugees displaced by war or violence reaches over 19 million. Rates of mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were higher among refugee populations in comparison to the general population. This increased vulnerability has been linked to experiences prior to migration, such as war exposure and trauma. Additionally, anxiety and other mental health disorders can manifest due to stressors post-migration, such as separation anxiety and the added load of resettlement in a new country. In general, increased rates of these disorders remain prevalent in refugee populations long after resettlement; however, some studies have shown otherwise.1 In the Karenni refugees along the Burmese-Thai border, depression and anxiety rates (41% and 42%, respectively) were higher than the average rates of depression and anxiety among the general US population (7% and 10%, respectively).2 These rates have been linked to traumatic events like violence, harassment, and a lack of basic needs. Moreover, the mental health of refugees is thought to be distinct from the experiences of other traumatized populations, such as veterans and sexual assault victims, due to their unique traumatic experiences as well as acculturative stress that follows the resettlement process, which features entirely new settings, practices, and a lack of familiar support systems.3 Furthermore, this population showed a correlation of depression and anxiety disorders with post-resettlement hardships in regards to finding employment and adapting to a new environment culturally and linguistically. In another population, 82.6% of Cambodian refugees residing in a refugee camp on the Thailand-Cambodia border self-reported depression. Fifty-five percent were confirmed by the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist to have experienced symptoms of major depression.2 Symptoms of depression include changes in weight, sleep pattern, exhibiting a depressed mood for much of a day, a loss of interest in activities, lack of energy, feelings of worthlessness and guilt almost daily, lack of focus, and recurrent thoughts of death and suicide, which can include attempting or creating plans for suicide. Symptoms of PTSD include intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal. PTSD typically is associated with traumatic experiences. These traumatic events can include experiencing war, being held prisoner/hostage, torture and physical violence, death of a loved one, serious accidents/explosions, sexual harassment, and serious illness. Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder include restlessness, irritability, fatigue, excessive worrying, having trouble relaxing, sleeping, and focusing.4 The current refugee demographic is a highly heterogeneous group, however, there has been an increase of refugees from Arabic speaking countries in recent years.5 Europe, in particular, has seen a large increase of asylum applicants from Arabic speaking countries, the most frequent being Syria (35.9% of applications) and Iraq (6.9% of applications). Despite the growth of Arabic speaking refugees, few studies have investigated the mental health of these populations in recent years. The large variations in results show that the refugee population is a diverse group. Complications in studies that inhibit direct comparison between refugee populations include the use of different psychometric instruments to measure mental health.5 Another factor that could promote the symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety is acculturative stress. While trauma related to war negatively impacts mental health, the effects of acculturative stress on mental health among refugees resettled in Australia and Austria demonstrated that stress which accompanies the migration process can have similar effects.6 One cause of these stressors is acculturation, the process of integrating into a new culture while also maintaining one’s origin culture and identity. This process is dependent on the attitudes of both the migrant and host groups. There are inconsistencies present in existing studies investigating the effects of acculturation on mental health; however, acculturative stress in migration has been identified as a mental health risk factor.6 The purpose of this review was to investigate the relationship between refugee populations and their increased vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. This study also examined the factors before, during, and after the migration process associated with increased vulnerability of refugees to mental health disorders.

Mental Health and Affect Regulation Impairment in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Results from the Canadian National FASD Database.

Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) frequently have challenges with regulating emotional arousal, or affect regulation (AR), and experience high rates of mental health disorders. This study examined children and adults with FASD to investigate the relationship between AR impairment and several mental health problems and diagnoses. Data from the Canadian national FASD database was used for analysis. Seven mental health diagnoses, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, conduct disorder, attachment disorder, intellectual disability, and language disorder were examined. A history of suicidality was also examined. The prevalence of these mental health problems in individuals with and without AR impairment was compared. Individuals with FASD and AR impairment were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with conduct disorder (OR 4.8), attachment disorder (OR 6.1), or post-traumatic stress disorder (OR 8.1) when compared to those without AR impairment. They were also more likely to have a history of suicidality (OR 8.6). AR impairment was most commonly found in those with greater overall neurodevelopmental impairment. Having AR impairment was associated with receiving a diagnosis of FASD at a later age, but was not related to gender, intellectual disability, or language disorder. AR impairment is strongly related to several mental health diagnoses in those with FASD and presents some promising possibilities for targeted early intervention.

Health and Mental Health Needs of Children in US Military Families.

Children in US military families share common experiences and unique challenges, including parental deployment and frequent relocation. Although some of the stressors of military life have been associated with higher rates of mental health disorders and increased health care use among family members, there are various factors and interventions that have been found to promote resilience. Military children often live on or near military installations, where they may attend Department of Defense-sponsored child care programs and schools and receive medical care through military treatment facilities. However, many families live in remote communities without access to these services. Because of this wide geographic distribution, military children are cared for in both military and civilian medical practices. This clinical report provides a background to military culture and offers practical guidance to assist civilian and military pediatricians caring for military children.

Mind It: Increasing Rate of Mental Health Disorders in Hospitalized Sickle Cell Patients

Abstract Introduction: The number of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) approaches 100,000 in US after adjusting for early mortality (Hassell Am J Prev Med 2010). Management of SCD and its complications require frequent access to healthcare system lifelong, thus impacting patients' quality of life and cost of healthcare. Chronic pain inducing illnesses are known to increase susceptibility to mental health disorders (Rayner Pain 2016). Psychosocial disorders are common in this population and impact the course of hospitalization, however we have limited published data in this area. Hence, we performed a large retrospective study utilizing the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data to evaluate the prevalence of mental health disorders in hospitalized sickle cell patients, and their influence on length of hospitalization. Methods: We identified hospitalized sickle cell patients using ICD 9 codes (282.5,282.6X -282.6X ) in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Similarly, ICD-9 codes were used to identify patients with mental health disorders of interest. The demographics and length of hospital stay of patients with and without mental health disorders were then compared. Surveyfreq was used to calculate proportions and surveymeans was used to calculate median length of stay and hospital charges. Cochran-Armitage test was used for analyzing trends. We used chi-square for categorical data frequency, P value of &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All analysis was performed using SAS 9.4. Results: We identified a total of 1,349,701 hospitalizations for sickle cell patients between 2003-2014, of which 221,279 (16%) had associated mental health disorders. Mood disorders were most common (40%), followed by substance abuse (28%) and anxiety disorder (16%) (Table 1). Over the timeline of our study, we found a longitudinal trend towards higher prevalence of mental health disorders in hospitalized sickle cell patients (Figure 1). There was higher prevalence of mental health disorders among patients aged between 21-40 years (24%). No difference in the rate of mental health disorders was noted in patients admitted with or without acute sickle cell pain episode. Median length of hospital stay (LOS) was 4 days in patients with mental health disorders (95% CI 4.04-4.12) compared to 3 days in those without (95% CI 3.17-3.20). Conclusion: The prevalence of mental health disorders in hospitalized sickle cell patients has been gradually increasing from 2003 to 2014 and approaches 16% overall. The length of hospital stay is longer for the individuals with these disorders than those without hence, increasing the cost of health care and reducing patient satisfaction. Therefore, early recognition and intervention for mental health disorders is paramount to promote quality of life and reduce health care costs. This demands for a multidisciplinary approach to provide better access to mental health resources to this population in the outpatient setting. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Systematic review of fertility-related psychological distress in cancer patients: Informing on an improved model of care.

Cancer patients experience reproductive concerns from diagnosis through to survivorship. However, research has yet to investigate the degree of fertility-related psychological distress at different treatment time points: diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Currently, cancer patients are offered fertility counselling at the time of diagnosis, to assist fertility preservation decision making. A systematic review of the short-term and long-term psychological impact of infertility in cancer patients would inform on an improved, longitudinal model of psychological care. A systematic review of the literature was conducted in January 2018 utilising electronic databases Medline, EMBASE, PSYCH Info, Web of Science, and SCOPUS. An initial search identified 708 potentially relevant studies. Literature was assessed that reported on fertility-related psychological distress experienced by male and female cancer patients of reproductive age (<45years) across oncology treatment time points. A total of 47 papers were included within the final review. Fertility-related psychological distress persists from diagnosis through to survivorship, with cancer patients reporting a range of negative emotional experiences brought about by threatened infertility. In survivorship, reproductive concerns, unfulfilled desire for a child, nulliparous status, and early menopause were linked to higher rates of mental health disorders and psychological distress. Fertility-related psychological distress is prevalent and persistent in cancer patients and survivors. As such, patients and survivors would greatly benefit from fertility-related psychological support implemented into standard practice from diagnosis through to survivorship. A revised model of care is proposed.

Access to mental health services: The experiences of people with intellectual disabilities.

People with intellectual disability experience higher rates of mental health disorders than the rest of the population, and expert opinion holds that multiple barriers prevent people with intellectual disability from accessing appropriate services. A qualitative study was designed to explore the lived experience of barriers and enablers to access to mental health services among people with intellectual disability. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with people with intellectual disability, carers and service providers. Barriers and enablers were identified across four key dimensions of access: utilization of services; service availability; relevance, effectiveness and access; and equity and access. These factors operated at both systemic and personal levels. The findings from this study provide empirical evidence of anecdotal experiences of access to mental health services and provide insight into the ways users, carers and service providers navigate an often hostile system and indicate further directions for research.

World Arthritis Day 2018 ‐ Perspectives on Rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases

World Arthritis Day 2018 ‐ Perspectives on Rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases

The Association between Mental Health Disorders and History of Unintended Pregnancy among Women Veterans.

Women Veterans have high rates of mental health disorders and other psychosocial factors which may render this population particularly vulnerable to negative health outcomes associated with unintended pregnancy. The objective of our study was to assess the relationship between self-reported mental illness and history of unintended pregnancy among women Veterans. Data are from a nationally representative, cross-sectional telephone survey of women Veterans, ages 18-45, who used VA for primary care within 12months prior to interview (survey completion rate 83%). Predictors were self-report of any and number of mental health disorders (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia). Outcomes were any and number of unintended pregnancies. Multivariable logistic and negative binomial regression were used to assess relationships between mental illness and unintended pregnancy. To assess women's current risk of unintended pregnancy, we examined associations between any mental health disorder and contraceptive use at last sex among heterosexually active women not desiring pregnancy. Among 2297 women Veterans, 1580 (68.8%) reported a history of at least one mental health disorder, with 20.1, 21.6, and 27.0% reporting one, two, or three or more conditions, respectively. Any history of unintended pregnancy was reported by 1315 women (57.3%); 28.3% reported one, 15.6% reported two, and 13.4% reported three or more. Compared to women with no mental illness, women with any mental health disorder were more likely to report any unintended pregnancy (60.3 vs. 50.5%; adjusted OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.15, 1.71) and to have experienced greater numbers of unintended pregnancies (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.29; 95% CI 1.15, 1.44). Increasing numbers of mental health disorders were associated with greater numbers of unintended pregnancies. Contraceptive use and method efficacy at last sex did not differ by mental health status. Women Veterans with mental health disorders are more likely to have experienced any and greater numbers of unintended pregnancies than Veterans without mental health disorders.

Integrated, Overwhelmed, and Distanced: Narratives of Mental Health Among Young Adults With Prior Public System Involvement

AbstractObjective: Young adults who have been involved in child welfare and other public systems of care often have elevated rates of mental health disorders and low rates of mental health service ...

Popular Musician Responses to Mental Health Treatment.

Popular (i.e., nonclassical) musicians have higher rates of mental health disorders and mental health service utilization than the general population. Little is known, however, about how popular musicians perceive mental health interventions in terms of overall satisfaction and therapeutic benefit. An online client satisfaction survey was sent to all musicians and family members who received mental health services through a nonprofit mental health organization in Austin, Texas, between July 2014 and June 2015 (n=628). 260 individuals (41.4%) responded to the survey, of whom 94% (n=244) were musicians. A majority of musician respondents were male (60%) and white (82%). 87% received counseling, 32% received psychiatric medication treatment, and 8% received addiction recovery services. 97% of musicians (205/211) rated their counselor as 'very good' or 'excellent,' 88% (64/79) rated their psychiatric providers as 'very good' or 'excellent,' and 94% (17/19) rated their addiction recovery specialists as 'very good' or 'excellent' (nonsignificant between all categories, p>0.05). 89% of musicians receiving counseling, 84% receiving psychiatric medication treatment, and 95% receiving addiction recovery services agreed or strongly agreed that their symptoms and overall functioning improved as a result of their treatment (nonsignificant between all categories, p>0.05). Popular musicians express strong provider satisfaction and overall benefit when mental health interventions are accessible, affordable, and delivered by professionals familiar with their concerns. More research is needed to understand the unique psychosocial stresses popular musicians face to inform treatment planning for this high-risk, underserved population.

Bringing research to the bedside: Knowledge translation in the mental health care of burns patients.

Advances in surgical techniques and wound management have improved outcomes for burn patients; however, the psychological impacts on burn survivors have had less attention. There is a higher rate of mental health disorders amongst burns victims, with those with pre-existing mental health conditions likely to have worse outcomes. To implement effective burns care and rehabilitation, knowledge and understanding of mental health issues is required. This position paper discusses the extent to which clinicians currently translate knowledge around mental health and burns into practice to identify enables and inhibitors. Successful knowledge translation requires dissemination and accessibility of information with the capacity and readiness for change. Clinicians and researchers need to identify how translating research to practice can meet the needs of burn survivors. There is a gap in the utilization of evidence concerning mental health and the needs of burns survivors, and we need to understand what we know as compared to what we do. Clinicians are well placed to determine how and why knowledge does not necessarily translate to practice and how they can better accommodate the needs of burn survivors.

The genetic architecture of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism spectrum disorder

Considerable evidence suggests that autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) share a common molecular aetiology, despite their unique clinical diagnostic criteria. The aim of this study was therefore to determine and characterise the common and unique molecular architecture of ASD, SCZ, BD and OCD. Gene lists were obtained from previously published studies for ASD, BD, SCZ and for OCD. Genes identified to be common to all disorders, or unique to one specific disorder, were included for enrichment analyses using the web-server tool Enrichr. Ten genes were identified to be commonly associated with the aetiology of ASD, SCZ, BD and OCD. Enrichment analyses determined that these genes are predominantly involved in the dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways, the voltage-gated calcium ion channel gene network, folate metabolism, regulation of the hippo signaling pathway, and the regulation of gene silencing and expression. In addition to well-characterised and previously described pathways, regulation of the hippo signaling pathway was commonly associated with ASD, SCZ, BD and OCD, implicating neural development and neuronal maintenance as key in neuropsychiatric disorders. In contrast, a large number of previously associated genes were shown to be disorder-specific. And unique disorder-specific pathways and biological processes were presented for ASD, BD, SCZ and OCD aetiology. Considering the current global incidence and prevalence rates of mental health disorders, focus should be placed on cross-disorder commonalities in order to realise actionable and translatable results to combat mental health disorders.

The Associations between Self-Reported Exposure to the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Zone and Mental Health Disorders in Ukraine.

In 1986, Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Pripyat, Ukraine exploded, releasing highly-radioactive materials into the surrounding environment. Although the physical effects of the disaster have been well-documented, a limited amount of research has been conducted on association of the disaster with long-term, clinically-diagnosable mental health disorders. According to the diathesis-stress model, the stress of potential and unknown exposure to radioactive materials and the ensuing changes to ones life or environment due to the disaster might lead those with previous vulnerabilities to fall into a poor state of mental health. Previous studies of this disaster have found elevated symptoms of stress, substance abuse, anxiety, and depression in exposed populations, though often at a subclinical level. With data from The World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview, a cross-sectional large mental health survey conducted in Ukraine by the World Health Organization, the mental health of Ukrainians was modeled with multivariable logistic regression techniques to determine if any long-term mental health disorders were association with reporting having lived in the zone affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Common classes of psychiatric disorders were examined as well as self-report ratings of physical and mental health. Reporting that one lived in the Chernobyl-affected disaster zone was associated with a higher rate of alcohol disorders among men and higher rates of intermittent explosive disorders among women in a prevalence model. Subjects who lived in the disaster zone also had lower ratings of personal physical and mental health when compared to controls. Stress resulting from disaster exposure, whether or not such exposure actually occurred or was merely feared, and ensuing changes in life circumstances is associated with increased rates of mental health disorders. Professionals assisting populations that are coping with the consequences of disaster should be aware of possible increases in psychiatric disorders as well as poorer perceptions regarding personal physical and mental health.