Related Psychological Distress Research Articles

Psychological distress in relation to site specific cancer mortality: pooling of unpublished data from 16 prospective cohort studies

Objective To examine the role of psychological distress (anxiety and depression) as a potential predictor of site specific cancer mortality. Design Pooling of individual participant data from 16 prospective cohort...

Understanding the influence of stigma and discrimination for the functional limitation severity – psychological distress relationship: A stress and coping perspective

Understanding the influence of stigma and discrimination for the functional limitation severity – psychological distress relationship: A stress and coping perspective

Minority stress, psychological distress, and alcohol misuse among sexual minority young adults: A resiliency-based conditional process analysis

BackgroundSexual minority young adults experience elevated rates of distal stress (discrimination, victimization), and related psychological distress and alcohol misuse. However, few studies have examined the degree to which personality trait differences confer risk/resilience among sexual minority young adults. We hypothesized that psychological distress would mediate the relationship between distal stress and alcohol misuse, but that these relationships would be moderated by personality trait differences. MethodSexual minority young adults (N=412) were recruited nationally. Survey measures included demographic questions, minority stressors, Five Factor personality traits, and current psychological distress and alcohol misuse symptoms. We used a data-driven two-stage cluster analytic technique to empirically derive personality trait profiles, and conducted mediation and moderated mediation analyses using a regression-based approach. ResultsOur results supported a two-group personality profile solution. Relative to at-risk individuals, those classified as adaptive scored lower on neuroticism, and higher on agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. As predicted, psychological distress mediated the relationship between distal stress and alcohol misuse. However, personality moderated these relationships to the degree that they did not exist among individuals classified as adaptive. DiscussionIn the current study, we found that personality moderated the established relationships between distal stress, psychological distress, and alcohol misuse among sexual minority young adults. Future research is needed to further explicate these relationships, and in order to develop tailored interventions for sexual minority young adults at risk.

Deep prosthetic joint infection: a qualitative study of the impact on patients and their experiences of revision surgery

ObjectivesAround 1% of patients who have a hip replacement have deep prosthetic joint infection (PJI) afterwards. PJI is often treated with antibiotics plus a single revision operation (1-stage revision), or...

Buffering effects of job resources on the association of overtime work hours with psychological distress in Japanese white-collar workers.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the buffering effects of job resources, utilizing the job demands-control (or demand-control-support) and effort-reward imbalance models (i.e., job control, workplace social support, and extrinsic reward), on the association of overtime work hours with psychological distress in Japanese employees. A total of 1,198 participants (valid response rate = 93.7 %) from five branches of a manufacturing company in Japan completed a self-administered questionnaire comprising the scales assessing job resources, psychological distress, and demographic characteristics. We obtained the information on working hours in the most recent month from the personnel records of the surveyed company. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. In a series of analyses, interaction term of overtime work hours with each job resource was included in the model. Significant interaction effect of overtime work hours with job control was observed. Among the low job control group, the long overtime (80 h or more) subgroup had a significantly higher prevalence odds ratio of psychological distress compared to the short overtime (44 h or less) subgroup. No significant association of overtime work hours with psychological distress was found among the high job control group. On the other hand, there was no significant interaction effect of overtime work hours with workplace social support or extrinsic reward. The present findings suggest that high job control has an effect on reducing psychological distress in relation to overtime work hours in Japanese employees.

Psychological distress across twelve months in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: The role of disease activity, disability, and mindfulness

ObjectiveMindfulness may diminish effects of adversities on psychological well-being in medical patients, but studies are scarce, especially in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose was to examine the prospective moderating effect of mindfulness regarding psychological distress associated with disease activity and disability in patients with RA. MethodsTwo-hundred-and-one patients with RA (mean age 57.4±11.7, 55% women) completed questionnaires at baseline and at six and twelve month follow-up. Disease activity score was assessed by the rheumatologist. ResultsControlled for potential confounders, mixed linear model analyses showed a strong prospective association of higher baseline mindfulness with lower psychological distress up to the twelve month follow-up (p<.001). In addition, a mindfulness by disability by time interaction showed that higher baseline mindfulness was associated with lower disability related psychological distress at follow-up (p=.022). ConclusionFindings are in line with the hypothesis that mindfulness may protect against psychological distress associated with disability in RA. Potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions for prevention should be examined in this population.

Burnout in Psychiatric Nursing: Examining the Interplay of Autonomy, Leadership Style, and Depressive Symptoms

It is important to consider ways in which nurses can be protected from experiencing the effects of burnout. This study examined the relationships between leadership style of psychiatric nurse supervisors, work role autonomy, and psychological distress in relation to psychiatric nurse burnout. Eighty-nine psychiatric nurses from Montana and New York hospitals completed an online survey that assessed their work-related experiences. Overall, results of this study indicate that the participants were experiencing high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization when compared to a normative sample of mental health workers. Results also showed that leadership style and work role autonomy are likely to be environmental factors that protect against burnout in nurses. Finally, it was shown that the relationship between depressive symptoms and the burnout component of personal accomplishment may be influenced by nurses’ perceptions of the leadership style in their work environment. These findings are important because nurse supervisor leadership styles and amount of autonomy are characteristics of the work environment that may be amenable to change through training and intervention.

Bereavement and complicated grief: towards a definition of Prolonged Grief Disorder for DSM-5

Mourning is a natural response to a loss and a condition which most people experience several times during their lives. Most individuals adjust adequately to the loss of a relative, neverthless, a small but noteworthy proportion of bereaved individuals experience a syndrome of prolonged psychological distress in relation to bereavement. Prolonged distress and disability in connection with bereavement has been termed Complicated Grief (CG) or Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). The purpose of this paper is to analyze the literature on loss and mourning making a review of the main studies published between 1993 and 2013, identified through a search conducted on Medline/PubMed, in order to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of "normal" grief and "complicated" grief, pointing out the path of the clinical definition of PGD and proposed diagnostic criteria for inclusion in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition (DSM-5). The two main diagnostic systems proposed by Horowitz and Prigerson are also compared.

P112 Stéatose hépatique non alcoolique chez les obèses : prévalence et profil nutritionnel

Several studies have reported stigma and impact of HIV status on people testing positive but the impact of psychological distress among HIV negative people has not been looked into. This is a report of 10 clients attending an ICTC at Agra who resorted to repeat counseling and testing, at regular intervals inspite of their HIV-negative status.In the present study, data were extracted from the record files of the ICTC at Agra over a period of 3 years, 2009 - 2011 and analysed for the repeat testing and counseling sessions among the HIV-negative clients. The levels of distress were assessed using GHQ-12 & K-10 questionnaires.In our study, it was observed that guilt feeling combined with awareness and perceived risk of acquiring HIV infection led to psychological distress among these cases. The severity of distress as assessed by higher GHQ-12 & K-10 scores correlated with the number of counselling & testing sessions. which, in turn, were because of the re-assurance and re-confirmation of the results required by clients.There is a need to focus on HIV-negative repeat testers as a special risk group and the service providers like Counselors, Technicians as well as the Medical officer(s) need to be vigilant and exercise patience while dealing with such clients. This is the first report of HIV related psychological distress among HIV-negative clients in this region of the country.

Psychotherapy with South Asian Women: Dilemmas of the Immigrant and First Generations

Immigration imposes changes in gender role expectations and sexual expression that can contribute to acculturative stress and intergenerational conflicts. This article focuses on how immigrant and first-generation South Asian women in the United States negotiate losses incurred in immigration and navigate multiple cultural contexts. Immigrant women, having been raised in the country of origin and migrating to the United States as adults, face unique acculturative stressors, such as language/communication barriers, separation from close friends and family, and adapting to new cultural norms. First-generation women face challenges related to navigating across South Asian and mainstream cultural values that may significantly vary between their parental homes and their lives outside of the home. Despite these challenges and related psychological distress, the mental health needs of South Asian women across generations tend to be overlooked. This paper addresses the unique ways in which South Asian women cope with psychological distress, and how psychotherapy that integrates feminist, multicultural and psychodynamic perspectives can provide a meaningful opportunity for healing. Case vignettes are presented to illustrate the similarities and differences in cultural adjustment and the negotiation of cultural identity for immigrant and first-generation South Asian women.

AB1358 Body image satisfaction in rheumatic patients: Preliminary data

BackgroundPhysical disabilities can cause disturbances in a patient’s body image.Body dissatisfaction has severe impact on obesity related psychological distress and other mental health problems. The recommendation to achieve optimal weight...

Psychological distress leading to repeat HIV testing in an Integrated Counseling & Testing Centre (ICTC) at Agra, India—Case report of 10 HIV-negative clients

BackgroundSeveral studies have reported stigma and impact of HIV status on people testing positive but the impact of psychological distress among HIV negative people has not been looked into. This is a report of 10 clients attending an ICTC at Agra who resorted to repeat counseling and testing, at regular intervals inspite of their HIV-negative status. Materials and methodsIn the present study, data were extracted from the record files of the ICTC at Agra over a period of 3 years, 2009 - 2011 and analysed for the repeat testing and counseling sessions among the HIV-negative clients. The levels of distress were assessed using GHQ-12 & K-10 questionnaires. ResultsIn our study, it was observed that guilt feeling combined with awareness and perceived risk of acquiring HIV infection led to psychological distress among these cases. The severity of distress as assessed by higher GHQ-12 & K-10 scores correlated with the number of counselling & testing sessions. which, in turn, were because of the re-assurance and re-confirmation of the results required by clients. ConclusionThere is a need to focus on HIV-negative repeat testers as a special risk group and the service providers like Counselors, Technicians as well as the Medical officer(s) need to be vigilant and exercise patience while dealing with such clients. This is the first report of HIV related psychological distress among HIV-negative clients in this region of the country.

Beta‐blockers may reduce intrusive thoughts in newly diagnosed cancer patients

A cancer diagnosis provokes significant levels of emotional distress, with intrusive thoughts being the most common manifestation among breast cancer survivors. Cancer-related intrusive thoughts can take the form of emotional memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive images. Emotional arousal after a severe life stressor prolongs adrenergic activation, which in turn may increase risk for post-traumatic symptomatology. However, antihypertensive beta-blockers block adrenergic activation and are known to reduce traumatic memories and related psychological distress. Thus, the current study examined the association between beta-blocker use and the severity of cancer-related intrusive thoughts and related symptoms following a cancer diagnosis. The 174 breast and 36 female colorectal cancer patients who had recently undergone diagnostic screening or biopsy included 39 beta-blocker users and 171 non-users. Prior to any cancer treatment including surgery, participants completed questionnaires that included the Impact of Events Scale and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Analyses controlled for age, education, cancer stage, cancer type, days since diagnosis, marital status, depression, and comorbidities. Although the high rates of cancer-related distress in this sample were similar to those of other studies with recently diagnosed patients, beta-blocker users endorsed 32% fewer cancer-related intrusive thoughts than non-users. Recently diagnosed cancer patients using beta-blockers reported less cancer-related psychological distress. These results suggest that beta-blocker use may benefit cancer patients' psychological adjustment following diagnosis, and provide a promising direction for future investigations on the pharmacological benefits of beta-blockers for cancer-related distress.

Can stress reduction interventions improve psoriasis? A review

Psoriasis remains incurable and many sufferers experience related psychological distress and a lower quality of life comparable with other chronic diseases. A subpopulation of people with psoriasis believes their condition is exacerbated by psychological stress. This review analyses whether stress-reduction interventions can reduce: the physical severity of psoriasis and related psychological distress. A systematic search across EMBASE, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library SIGLE and PsychInfo, identified 730 trials and 10 were included. Three trials found a significant difference in psoriasis outcomes between groups post-intervention, (p < 0.05). Seven studies included a psychological outcome and three found a significant difference (p < 0.05). Three trials included a quality of life measurement and one of these reported a significant improvement (p < 0.001). Due to low quality evidence it is currently insufficient to judge stress reduction interventions as either effective or ineffective. We make nine recommendations for future research in this multidisciplinary field.

Sexuality After Sigmoid Vaginoplasty in Patients With Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome

The primary cause of vaginal aplasia is the Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. The infertility and the lack of normal sexuality associated with this syndrome have a profound impact on body image and self-esteem; one third of patients suffer from depression. In the last 2 decades, numerous techniques creating a neovagina in patients with MRKH syndrome have been investigated. Treatment methods used include both surgical and nonsurgical techniques of vaginal reconstruction. Among these, the nonsurgical Frank method must be considered as first-line therapy and used where possible. Because of the lack of prospective randomized trials, there is no consensus as to the best surgical treatment. The sigmoid graft, which uses a bowel graft to create a neovagina, was long considered a second-line treatment because of its associated morbidity. With advances in antibiotic prophylaxis and colorectal anastomosis, it can now be considered as first-line surgical therapy for MRKH. This prospective study assessed the functional and sexual outcome of sigmoid vaginoplasty in patients with MRKH syndrome. Participants were 59 women with the syndrome who had been referred to a university hospital between 1992 and 2010; 11 of these patients were treated by the Frank method, and 48 by sigmoid vaginoplasty. Two standardized questionnaires, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the revised Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS-R), were used to evaluate the primary study outcome measures, functional results, and sexuality. Additional questions assessed body image perception, desire for motherhood, and signs of depression. Of the 40 patients (68%) who completed and mailed the questionnaire, 35 (73%) underwent surgery, and 5 (45%) were treated by the Frank method. There was no significant difference between groups in the mean total FSFI (P < 0.13) and FSDS-R (P < 0.72) scores: FSFI scores for the surgical group and Frank group were 28 ± 3.1 and 30.3 ± 6.2, respectively, and FSDS-R scores were 21.4 ± 12.1 and 18.4 ± 15.4, respectively. These findings show that sigmoid vaginoplasty provides nearly normal sexual function in patients with vaginal aplasia. Whatever technique is chosen, appropriate management requires a multidisciplinary team, because sexually related psychological distress persists in most patients.

Health and Psychosocial Outcomes in U.S. Adult Patients with Diabetes from Diverse Ethnicities

Within the United States, diabetes is a serious public health concern and patients with diabetes are more likely to experience clinical depression, psychological distress, and depressive symptoms than those without. Negative psychosocial factors are associated with poorer diabetes management and glycemic control. Overall, both the rates of diabetes and related psychological distress are greater for persons of diverse ethnicities than for non-Latino whites, and have reached epidemic proportions in certain groups. The following article will provide an overview across ethnicities of the rates of diabetes, health outcomes, psychosocial outcomes, and unique cultural and linguistic challenges that contribute to disparities within US diabetes patients of diverse ethnicities. Using this information, our hope is that health care practitioners and researchers alike can better respond to the psychosocial needs of ethnically diverse patients.

Identifying bereaved subjects at risk of complicated grief: Predictive value of questionnaire items in a cohort study

BackgroundBereavement is a condition which most people experience several times during their lives. A small but noteworthy proportion of bereaved individuals experience a syndrome of prolonged psychological distress in relation to bereavement. The aim of the study was to develop a clinical tool to identify bereaved individuals who had a prognosis of complicated grief and to propose a model for a screening tool to identify those at risk of complicated grief applicable among bereaved patients in general practice and palliative care.MethodsWe examined the responses of 276 newly bereaved individuals to a variety of standardised and ad hoc questionnaire items eight weeks post loss. Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG-R) was used as a gold standard of distress at six months after bereavement. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis was performed for all scales and items regarding ICG-R score. Sensitivity, specificity and area under curve (AUC) were calculated for scales and items with the most promising ROC curve analyses.ResultsBeck's Depression Inventory (BDI) was the scale with the highest AUC (0.83) and adding a single item question ('Even while my relative was dying, I felt a sense of purpose in my life') gave a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 75%. The positive/negative predictive values for this combination of questions were 70% and 85%, respectively. With this screening tool bereaved people could be categorized into three groups where group 1 had 7%, group 2 had 23% and group 3 had 64% propensity of suffering from complicated grief six months post loss.ConclusionsThis study shows that the BDI in combination with a single item question eight weeks post loss may be used for clinical screening for risk of developing complicated grief after six months. The feasibility and clinical implications of the screening tool has to be tested in a clinical setting.

Family Background and Environment, Psychological Distress, and Juvenile Delinquency

The relationship between youth offending and family background is still unclear in the literature. This study explored the role of family factors and psychological distress in relation to delinquency and youth offending to try and explicate the relative importance of family structure, family relations, and psychological distress. The study used the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Family Environment Scale, and the Delinquency Scale in a structured interview format to measure psychological distress, family structure and relations, and levels of youth offending, in 219 older children and adolescents aged between 12-17 years living in areas associated with high levels of youth offending in the UK. Analysis involved correlations, hierarchical multiple regression and analysis of variance. Family relations were the best predictors of delinquency and were also correlated with psychological distress. The relationship between delinquency and psychological distress indicated that participants with more psychological distress were less likely to be involved in criminal behaviour. The study supports the conclusion that youth offending and psychological distress are both influenced by a range of factors in the family, but may be unrelated to each other.

Is psychological distress in people living with cancer related to the fact of diagnosis, current treatment or level of disability? Findings from a large Australian study

To investigate whether the observed elevated levels of psychological distress in cancer survivors relate specifically to aspects of cancer diagnosis, to treatment or to disability. Self-reported questionnaire data on demographic, health and lifestyle factors and mental health from 89574 Australian men and women aged 45 years or older, sampled from the Medicare database for the 45 and Up Study from 1 February 2006 to 30 April 2008. Logistic regression was used to examine the risk of high levels of psychological distress in relation to cancer diagnosis and disability, adjusting for age, sex, income and education. High psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale score > or = 22). Overall, 7.5% of participants had high levels of psychological distress. Among cancer survivors, the median time since diagnosis was 7.3 years. Compared with people without cancer, the odds ratios (95% CIs) for psychological distress were: 1.17 (1.09-1.26) in people reporting having had any cancer apart from non-melanoma skin cancer; 1.34 (1.08-1.67) in those with cancer diagnosed in the previous year; 1.53 (1.33-1.76) for those reporting treatment for cancer in the previous month and 1.11 (1.03-1.19) for those with cancer but without recent treatment. Using individuals with neither cancer nor disability as the reference group, the adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) for psychological distress was 6.51 (5.95-7.12) in those reporting significant disability but no cancer, 1.14(1.04-1.24) in those without disability but with cancer and 5.81(4.88-6.91) in those with both cancer and disability. The risk of psychological distress in individuals with cancer relates much more strongly to their level of disability than it does to the cancer diagnosis itself.

The Role of Mastery and Social Support in the Association Between Life Stressors and Psychological Distress in Older Canadians

Gerontological social workers and other health professionals are often dealing with older adults in psychological distress. Greater clarity on the relationship between stress and psychological distress will enhance the efficacy of outreach and treatment initiatives for older adults. This study explored the underlying causal structure of the relationships of common life stressors and psychosocial resources for Canadians 65 years and older (542 men and 835 women). Using structural equation modeling of data collected in the National Population Health Survey in 2004–2005 and 2002–2003, the roles played by socioeconomic conditions, physical health, chronic stress, sense of mastery, and perceived social support in the stress–psychological distress relationship were estimated and compared. Findings revealed that chronic stress was the strongest determinant of the level of psychological distress for both genders; however its effect was higher for men compared to women. Poor physical health played a more important role in determining women's psychological distress compared to men. Higher levels of mastery and perceived social support were associated with lower levels of psychological distress for both men and women. These associations were somewhat stronger for men compared with women. Socio-economic conditions played a minor role in the stress–mental health relationship for both genders.