Related Psychological Distress Research Articles

COVID-19 outbreak–related psychological distress among healthcare trainees: a cross-sectional study in China

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 outbreak has caused enormous strain on healthcare systems, and healthcare trainees, which comprise the future healthcare workforce, may be a vulnerable group. It is essential to assess the...

51.12 PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MEDICAL STUDENTS IN NEW YORK CITY

The aim of this study is to understand the COVID-19–related psychological distress of medical students and identify risk and protective factors associated with higher distress and resilient trajectories.

The identification of needs and development of best practice guidance for the psychological support of frontline healthcare workers during and after COVID-19: A protocol for the FLoWS project.

Recent estimates suggest that up to 34% of frontline workers in healthcare (FLWs) at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic response are reporting elevated symptoms of psychological distress due to resource constraints, ineffective treatments, and concerns about self-contamination. However, little systematic research has been carried out to assess the mental health needs of FLWs in Europe, or the extent of psychological suffering in FLWs within different European countries of varying outbreak severity. Accordingly, this project will employ a mixed-methods approach over three work packages to develop best-practice guidelines for alleviating psychological distress in FLWs during the different phases of the pandemic. Work package 1 will identify the point and long-term prevalence of psychological distress symptoms in a sample of Irish and Italian FLWs, and the predictors of these symptoms. Work package 2 will perform a qualitative needs assessment on a sample of Irish and Italian FLWs to identify sources of stress and resilience, barriers to psychological care, and optimal strategies for alleviating psychological distress in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Work package 3 will synthesise the findings from the preceding work packages to draft best practice guidelines, which will be co-created by a multidisciplinary panel of experts using the Delphi method. The guidelines will provide clinicians with a framework for alleviating psychological distress in FLWs, with particular relevance to the COVID-19 pandemic, but may also have relevance for future pandemics and other public health emergencies.

Psychological distress in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic: Preliminary development of an assessment scale

COVID-19 is now spreading worldwide, and poses some public mental health problems which requires close attention. This study aims to develop a scale of COVID-19 related psychological distress in healthy public (CORPD) to assess the severity of psychological distress in uninfected healthy populations. We compiled a 14-item scale which contains two dimensions— Anxiety & fear and Suspicion —using the classical measurement theory. 652 Chinese citizens consented and completed a survey through an online questionnaire APP. The reliability test showed that the scale had good internal consistency reliability and Split-Half reliability, and the validity test showed that it had good structure validity, content validity and criterion correlation validity. This scale can be used to assess the psychological distress of people in China and in other COVID-19-hit regions and countries. It also provides a reference for future studies on COVID-19 or other respiratory infectious diseases related public mental health.

Poor mental health outcomes in crisis transitions: an examination of retired athletes accounting of crisis transition experiences in a cultural context

ABSTRACT Up to 20% of retiring athletes continue to experience crisis transitions, characterised by a lack of adjustment, ongoing psychological distress, depression and low self-esteem. Crisis transitions remain under researched compared with transition difficulties, especially within cultural sport psychology. This study aims to explore crisis transitions and related psychological distress within a cultural context. The media is a site of cultural exploration, thus this study examines data from the Australian media: specifically, a two-part special of a current affairs programme (120 minutes of footage) that examined the crisis transitions of nine former elite Australian athletes. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis, located within a constructionist epistemology. The focus of analysis was on the broad repeated patterns of representation around experiences of and reasons for crisis transitions. Athletes depicted transitions predominately as difficult, invoking diagnostic language, including depression and substance abuse, to further constructions of transition distress. However, transition was also presented as a relief and an ongoing process, using varying constructions of choice in order to produce different versions of retirement. A range of themes were identified in accounting for these experiences during crisis transitions: sport was constructed as an addiction, inactivity partly related to lack of activities and self-worth was invoked, as well as constructions of abandonment by sporting organisations. The findings contribute to the cultural praxis of transitions and crisis transition literature by extending understanding around these experiences and resultant poor athlete mental health. Implications for career assistance programs and supporting retiring athletes are outlined.

Psychological distress among health professional students during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Due to the drastic surge of COVID-19 patients, many countries are considering or already graduating health professional students early to aid professional resources. We aimed to assess outbreak-related psychological distress and symptoms of acute stress reaction (ASR) in health professional students and to characterize individuals with potential need for interventions. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1442 health professional students at Sichuan University, China. At baseline (October 2019), participants were assessed for childhood adversity, stressful life events, internet addiction, and family functioning. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined associations of the above exposures with subsequent psychological distress and ASR in response to the outbreak. Three hundred and eighty-four (26.63%) participants demonstrated clinically significant psychological distress, while 160 (11.10%) met the criterion for a probable ASR. Individuals who scored high on both childhood adversity and stressful life event experiences during the past year were at increased risks of both distress (ORs 2.00-2.66) and probable ASR (ORs 2.23-3.10), respectively. Moreover, internet addiction was associated with elevated risks of distress (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.60-2.64) and probable ASR (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.50-3.10). By contrast, good family functioning was associated with decreased risks of distress (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.33-0.55) and probable ASR (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.33-0.69). All associations were independent of baseline psychological distress. Our findings suggest that COVID-19 related psychological distress and high symptoms burden of ASR are common among health professional students. Extended family and professional support should be considered for vulnerable individuals during these unprecedented times.

Online interventions for sexual health in cancer.

Recent advances in digital healthcare, combined with the increasing appreciation for the need for sexual health programming in cancer, has established a zeitgeist for further development of digital health interventions for sexual health in cancer. Developers of digital health interventions should consider two equally important factors: efficacy of the intervention, and participant engagement. This review describes the status of digital health interventions in sexual health within the oncology setting. Sexual dysfunction and related psychological distress affecting patients and their partners is recognized as a significant survivorship care need in the oncology setting. Provision of care is challenged by traditional approaches to disease follow-up, and limited healthcare resources. Digital health interventions may offer efficient, accessible, and scalable care pathways. Digital health innovation in cancer survivorship and sexual health indicates trends toward efficacy, yet patient engagement remains a challenge. Implementation of established online patient engagement approaches are recommended. Studies to date may underestimate the potential of digital health interventions in sexual health and cancer due to poor patient engagement. Developers of digital health intervention will benefit from effort in employing engagement strategies and engagement-efficacy analysis.

CN22 - Psychological distress among patients with advanced cancer: A concept analysis

BackgroundPsychological distress is common problem happened in advanced cancer patient. Issued of distress are often faced by health care professional when they are dealing with advanced cancer since many of unmet psychological need was identified. Unfortunately description of psychological distress in advanced cancer is not clearly mention since we know that psychological distress concept in advanced cancer is totally different with the psychological distress in the patient of early stage of cancer. Failure to acknowledge it earlier may have a great impact to patient’s quality of life. Although many articles referred and describing about psychological distress, this term is still poorly defined in the literature and has not been clearly yet. There are no articles were found about concept analysis of psychological distress among advanced cancer patients. The Purpose of this concept analysis is to clearly define psychological distress in terms of advanced cancer patients. This concept analysis could bring clarity meaning by examining various ways it is used in nursing area. Clarifying what is meant by psychological distress will help oncology nurse able to communicate among their colleagues, patients and care giver. MethodsA literature search was conducted using CINAHL, Clinical Key, and Psych Info data base for the past 30 years (1988-2018). ResultsCancer related psychological distress as a concept has limited research substation. Psychological distress in terms of advanced cancer has five defining attributes: 1) Anxiety, 2) Depression, 3) Demoralization, 4) Death anxiety and 5) Perceived in ability to cope effectively. The Primary antecedent is treatment complexity. The consequences can be negatively or positively related to concept. The most positive consequences is much appreciation of life. In another side, a negative psychological distress outcome are hopelessness, low quality of life, and reduced performance status. ConclusionsConcept analysis of psychological distress could clearly defined the meaning of psychological distress and being as a guidance for nurses to give their nursing care appropriately. Intervention should address the antecedents and consequences of the concept and considered individual as a person who has unique characteristic. Legal entity responsible for the studyThe author. FundingHas not received any funding. DisclosureThe author has declared no conflicts of interest.

A structured telephone-delivered intervention to reduce problem alcohol use (Ready2Change): study protocol for a parallel group randomised controlled trial

BackgroundCurrent population surveys suggest around 20% of Australians meet diagnostic criteria for an alcohol use disorder. However, only a minority seek professional help due to individual and structural barriers, such as low health literacy, stigma, geography, service operating hours and wait lists. Telephone-delivered interventions are readily accessible and ideally placed to overcome these barriers. We will conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to examine the efficacy of a standalone, structured telephone-delivered intervention to reduce alcohol consumption, problem severity and related psychological distress among individuals with problem alcohol use.Methods/designThis is a single site, parallel group, two-arm superiority RCT. We will recruit 344 participants from across Australia with problem alcohol use. After completing a baseline assessment, participants will be randomly allocated to receive either the Ready2Change (R2C) intervention (n = 172, four to six sessions of structured telephone-delivered intervention, R2C self-help resource, guidelines for alcohol consumption and stress management pamphlets) or the control condition (n = 172, four phone check-ins < 5 min, guidelines for alcohol consumption and stress management pamphlets). Telephone follow-up assessments will occur at 4–6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months post-baseline. The primary outcome is the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score administered at 3 months post-baseline. Secondary outcomes include change in AUDIT score (6 and 12 months post-baseline), change in number of past-month heavy drinking days, psychological distress, health and wellbeing, quality of life, client treatment evaluation and cost effectiveness.DiscussionThis study will be one of the first RCTs conducted internationally to examine the impact of a standalone, structured telephone-delivered intervention to address problem alcohol use and associated psychological morbidity. The proposed intervention is expected to contribute to the health and wellbeing of individuals who are otherwise unlikely to seek treatment through mainstream service models, to reduce the burden on specialist services and primary care providers and to provide an accessible and proportionate response, with resulting cost savings for the health system and broader community.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12618000828224. Pre-registered on 16 May 2018.

Pain and pain management during induced abortions: A web-based exploratory study of recollections from previous patients.

To explore recollections of pain and pain management during induced abortions. Mixed-methods exploratory study in Sweden. A web-based survey was distributed between October 2017 - July 2018 via Swedish discussion boards and social media. Open-ended questions were asked about recollection of pain and pain management, followed by self-reported ratings. The survey was answered by 185 participants, responses were analysed with qualitative content analysis. Recollections of pain intensity illustrated considerable pain and a traumatic event, described in temporal aspects and likened to other painful conditions such as dysmenorrhoea and childbirth. Recollections of pain management illustrated experiences of insufficient treatment of pain and dissatisfaction with pain management, including inefficient treatment and lack of professional attendance. Psychological aspects and consequences illustrated that participants related psychological distress to physical pain, felt unprepared for the physical pain and emphasized the importance of psychological support. Those who experienced intense pain described long-term psychological consequences, including fear of childbirth. Physical pain and psychological distress can manifest as considerable challenges during induced abortion. Abortion-related pain is a multidimensional phenomenon involving physical and psychological components that needs to be rigorously treated. When physical pain is unsuccessfully treated, women may experience long-term psychological consequences after an abortion. The results illustrate the importance of holistic abortion care where the multidimensional components of abortion-related pain are considered. Patients need to be offered sufficient preparatory information about potential physical pain and psychological distress. This study indicates that there is room for improvement in pain management. Larger studies are needed.

Age of First Exposure to American Football and Behavioral, Cognitive, Psychological, and Physical Outcomes in High School and Collegiate Football Players.

Although some studies have observed a relationship between age of first exposure (AFE) to American football and long-term outcomes, recent findings in collegiate athletes did not observe a relationship between AFE and more intermediate outcomes at early adulthood. This, however, requires independent replication. There will be no association between AFE to football and behavioral, cognitive, emotional/psychological, and physical functioning in high school and collegiate athletes. Cross-sectional study. Level 3. Active high school and collegiate football players (N = 1802) underwent a comprehensive preseason evaluation on several clinical outcome measures. Demographic and health variables that significantly differed across AFE groups were identified as potential covariates. General linear models (GLMs) with AFE as the independent variable were performed for each clinical outcome variable. Similar GLMs that included identified covariates, with AFE as the predictor, were subsequently performed for each clinical outcome variable. After controlling for covariates of age, concussion history, race, and a diagnosis of ADHD, earlier AFE (<12 vs ≥12 years) did not significantly predict poorer performance on any clinical outcome measures (all P > 0.05). A single statistically significant association between AFE group and somatization score was recorded, with AFE <12 years exhibiting lower levels of somatization. In a large cohort of active high school and collegiate football student-athletes, AFE before the age of 12 years was not associated with worse behavioral, cognitive, psychological, and physical (oculomotor functioning and postural stability) outcomes. The current findings suggest that timing of onset of football exposure does not result in poorer functioning in adolescence and young adults and may contribute to resilience through decreased levels of physically related psychological distress.

Exploring the loss and disenfranchised grief of animal care workers

This article explores the psychological distress of Animal Care Workers (ACWs), and the disenfranchisement of this distress through mixed methods study conducted as an online survey. In all, 139 participants responded about their experiences as an ACW, related psychological distress, and the systemic disenfranchisement of distress. Findings indicate that nearly half of ACWs experienced symptoms of depression in the previous month. Over 66% indicated it was difficult to cope. Limited support often resulted in a disenfranchized loss. Implications suggest ACW distress and disenfranchisement related to animals they serve is similar to that of individuals who lose animal companions.

Parallel-process trajectories of exposure to violence and psychological distress among justice-involved youth.

Researchers have raised awareness of high levels of violence exposure among justice-involved adolescents and its association with psychological distress, yet the relationship between the violence and psychological distress has rarely been studied longitudinally. This study aimed to gain understanding of the relationship between long-term exposure to violence and the development of psychological distress among justice-involved adolescents. We examined exposure to violence and emergent psychological distress among adolescents using latent growth model analyses with a sample of 1,336 young people-male and female-who completed 10 follow-up interviews over 7years as part of the Pathways to Desistance study. We tested four models: (a) changes in exposure to violence over time, (b) changes in psychological distress over time, (c) the contemporaneous, parallel processes of changes in exposure to violence and psychological distress over time, and (d) differences in the evolution of violence exposure and psychological distress across sex and race/ethnicity. For the sample as a whole, exposure to violence decreased over time, as did psychological distress, but their relationship to each other was consistent. There were individual differences, however, and the subgroup of young African Americans did not experience the reduction in exposure to violence reported by the young Whites and Hispanics. Trajectories of exposure to violence and related psychological distress did not escalate over time as expected. In light of these findings, more research is needed on the heterogeneity of violence exposure and its negative psychological impacts.

Psychological distress in relatives of critically ill patients: Risk and protective factors.

The admission to an intensive care unit can result in a significant burden of emotional distress in the family. This study analyzes the psychological distress of 89 relatives of intensive care unit patients and the potential risk/protective factors for such distress. Families show high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Regarding risk factors, having steady partner, being a woman, and being a mother are associated with increased risk of anxiety, depression, and stress. Contrarily, being younger and having higher educational level are associated with reduced anxiety and stress. Influencing these trends could change positively the suffering course experienced by relatives and intensive care unit patients indirectly.

Perceived oral health and its association with symptoms of psychological distress, oral status and socio-demographic characteristics among elderly in Norway

BackgroundThere is poor knowledge about the extent to which psychological distress influences oral health in older people in Norway. The aim of this study was two-fold: i) to describe the oral health of Norwegian elderly and their levels of psychological distress; and ii) to examine the relationship of psychological distress with self-rated oral health, while controlling for oral status and socio-demographic characteristics, in Norwegian elderly.MethodsData were retrieved from a national cross-sectional survey conducted by Statistics Norway in 2012 and included information about self-rated oral health, psychological distress (measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 25; HSCL-25), gender, age, civil status, smoking, self-reported number of teeth present and dental attendance for 949 non-institutionalised adults aged 65 years or older. Logistic regression was used to establish whether psychological distress predicts self-rated oral health, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and oral status.ResultsAround 27% of the elderly reported having poor oral health, and 8 % had a HSCL-25 mean score ≥ 1.75, which indicates higher levels of psychological distress. Among the symptoms listed in the HSCL-25, the most frequently reported problems were lack of energy (1.7 ± 0.8) and difficulties falling and staying asleep (1.6 ± 0.7). The likelihood of reporting poor oral health was independently associated with having a mean HSCL-25 score ≥ 1.75 (OR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.14–3.15), even when smoking (OR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.17, 2.87) and having fewer than 20 teeth (OR = 3.49; 95% CI = 2.56, 4.76) were taken into account.ConclusionMost of the Norwegian elderly in our sample perceived themselves to have good oral health and reported relatively low levels of psychological distress. Higher levels of psychological distress can influence the oral health of the elderly independently of other factors such as smoking and having reduced number of teeth. Dental care professionals should consider screening their elderly patients for psychological distress and individualise the information about dental care for this specific population.

The Relationship of Psychological Distress and Living with Children and Adolescents for Adult Non-medical Prescription Opioid Users

Prescription opioid use has been recognized as a major public health crisis in the United States. In 2015, more than 2 million persons had an opioid-related substance use disorder. Past research has directly linked opioid misuse to mental health problems. Child welfare systems have observed the effect of the opioid epidemic on families. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of adult non-medical prescription opioid use with psychological distress for families with children and adolescents. This study used data from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The sample in this analysis included 38,775 adults 18 and older. Multivariate regression analysis using survey design weights was used to examine the effect of past year non-medical prescription opioid use on psychological distress, measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Results indicated that adult opioid misuse was associated with increased psychological distress (b = 0.47, 95% CI [0.23, 0.71], β = 0.02, p < .001). Subgroup analysis revealed that for adult opioid users, having children or adolescents in the household was associated with higher psychological distress (b = 0.72, 95% CI [0.18, 1.25], β = 0.02, p < .05), while for non-users, it was associated with lower psychological distress (b = − 0.13, 95% CI [− 0.24, − 0.03], β = − 0.02, p < .05). Public policies targeting this health crisis must consider how resources should address opioid use within family systems. Social workers are on the front-line among providers that serve adults who live with children and adolescents affected by this crisis, and can play a critical role in screening, assessing, and delivering mental health services for this at-risk population.

Demoralization and embitterment.

Individuals may experience a wide range of psychological reactions in response to negative life events. Even if events that threaten life have been always played a central role in research, recent studies have outlined that experiences, considered exceptional but part of the human existence (e.g., divorce, unemployment, or chronic illness) may also lead individuals to experience enduring emotional states of suffering. Demoralization has been substantially described as an important condition occurring in response to stressful events, while a recent interest is growing on embitterment as a common reaction. By analyzing the most relevant studies (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycLit, and Cochrane Library), this article discusses the main features of embitterment and demoralization, summarizing the similarities as well as the differences detectable between the 2 constructs. Some authors have described these phenomena as spectrum or gradients that start with normal human responses until getting to pathological conditions, characterized by prolonged intense psychological distress in relation to stressful events. Both have shown distinct psychopathological features than other stress-related mental disorders and have been recognized as predictors of negative outcomes, such as impairment in work and social functioning, reduction of quality of life, risk for mental and physical disorders, and suicidality. Demoralization and embitterment are multidimensional phenomena, connected to each other by bridge dimensions and in the meanwhile characterized by distinct features. Accurately exploring these clinical conditions is an ongoing challenge to clinicians and researchers, who are called for improving their recognition and proper therapeutic interventions that can ameliorate patients quality of life. (PsycINFO Database Record

Neuroprognostication of Cardiac Arrest Patients: Outcomes of Importance

During the last two decades, survival rates after cardiac arrest have increased while the fraction of patients surviving with a severe neurological disability or vegetative state has decreased in many countries. While improved survival is due to improvements in the whole "chain of survival," improved methods for prognostication of neurological outcome may be of major importance for the lower disability rates. Patients who are resuscitated and treated in intensive care will die mainly from the withdrawal of life-sustaining (WLST) therapy due to presumed poor chances of meaningful neurological recovery. To ensure high-quality decision-making and to reduce the risk of premature withdrawal of care, implementation of local protocols is crucial and should be guided by international recommendations. Despite rigorous neurological prognostication, cognitive impairment and related psychological distress and reduced participation in society will still be relevant concerns for cardiac arrest survivors. The commonly used outcome measures are not designed to provide information on these domains. Follow-up of the cardiac arrest survivor needs to consider the cardiovascular burden as an important factor to prevent cognitive difficulties and future decline.

Psychotherapy in the Oncology Setting.

A person who faces the diagnosis of cancer is subjected to changes within his body, but also with regard to his view of himself and his social relationships. Cancer related psychological distress occurs frequently and has a different prevalence according to-among other factors-cancer type and stage of disease. The main psychiatric disturbances observed in patients with cancer are adjustment disorders and affective disorders (anxiety and depression), which in the majority of patients are due to stressors related to the occurrence and threat of the disease and pre-existing psychological vulnerabilities; however, they might also be a direct consequence of biological causes either resulting from bodily modifications induced by the cancer or from treatment side effects. This chapter provides theoretical and practical information on the main psychotherapeutic approaches for cancer patients, complemented by some reflections on their clinical and scientific evidence.

Influence of depressive symptoms on distress related to positive psychotic-like experiences in women

The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) is an effective instrument for detection of the presence of psychotic symptoms and associated distress in the general population. However, little research has studied distress associated with positive psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). Our aim is to study PLE-related distress using the CAPE. In this study we analysed factors associated with differences in PLE-related distress in a sample of 200 non-clinical participants recruited by snowball sampling. Presence of PLEs and related psychological distress was measured using the CAPE questionnaire. The influence of age, gender, educational level and drug use was studied. In univariate analysis we found that gender and CAPE positive, depressive and negative scores, were associated with CAPE positive distress. Using multiple linear regression, we found that only the effect of gender, and the interaction between frequency of depression and gender, remained statistically significant. In our sample interaction between gender and depressive symptoms is a determining factor in distress associated with positive PLEs. The results of this study may be useful for the implementation of prevention programs.