Mental Health Matters

Inter Partner Violence & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Published on 01/14/202001/12/2020 by Andrew MarshallLeave a comment

Research Paper Title

An Evidence-Based Assessment Tool for Estimating Future Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study.

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects up to one in three women across the world.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common outcome.

Many, but not all, women suffer long after they first sought help for IPV.

Validated tools for estimating the likelihood of future PTSD are lacking.

Methods

Women who sought IPV support services for the first time in 2011-2012 (N = 300) completed a seven-item screen for the presence or absence of clinically significant PTSD symptoms and the first assessment screening tool for post-traumatic stress disorder (FAST-PTSD), a tool designed to estimate future PTSD among women seeking help for IPV.

Seven years later, in 2018, 271 (90%) women again completed the seven-item screen for clinically significant PTSD symptoms.

A two-step binary logistic regression was conducted to determine the 7-year validity of the FAST for clinically significant symptoms of PTSD while controlling for baseline PTSD symptoms.

Results

More than 25% of the women reported clinically significant PTSD at 7 years. Baseline moderate- and high-risk scores on the FAST-PTSD were associated with clinically significant levels of PTSD.

Moderate risk was associated with nearly two and one-half times (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4) the risk of clinically significant symptoms of PTSD, and high risk with nearly eight times (OR = 7.8) the risk of PTSD at 7 years.

Conclusions

PTSD is commonly associated with IPV and if untreated can compromise functioning of women and their children.

The FAST-PTSD is a valid indicator of significant clinical PTSD symptoms 7 years following first contact with IPV support services.

Using the FAST-PTSD to triage women at risk for sustained PTSD to early, preventive intervention may improve outcomes for women and their children.

Reference

McFarlane, J., Maddoux, J., Paulson, R., Symes, L. & Jouriles, E.N. (2020) An Evidence-Based Assessment Tool for Estimating Future Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study. Journals of Women’s Health. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2019.7699. [Epub ahead of print].

Polycythemia, Mental Health & the Great East Japan Earthquake

Published on 01/13/202001/12/2020 by Andrew MarshallLeave a comment

Research Paper Title

Relationship between the prevalence of polycythemia and factors observed in the mental health and lifestyle survey after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Background

The researchers have been examining the Comprehensive Health Check of the Fukushima Health Management Survey of residents of 13 municipalities who were forced by the government to evacuate due to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE).

Their findings showed that evacuation is a risk factor for polycythemia and suggested that experiencing an unprecedented disaster and exposure to chronic stress due to evacuation might be a cause of polycythemia.

Methods

The researchers analysed the relationship between the prevalence of polycythemia and the following factors observed in the Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey in an observational study with a cross-sectional design:

Traumatic symptoms;
Depression status;
Socioeconomic factors such as residential environment; and
Working situation after the GEJE.

Target population of the survey included men and women who were at least 15 years of age and who lived in the evacuation zones specified by the government.

Participants analysed consisted of 29,474 persons (12,379 men and 16,888 women) who had participated in both the 2011 Comprehensive Health Check and Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey from June 2011 through March 2012.

Results

The prevalence of polycythemia was not associated with mental states associated with traumatic symptoms (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Scale ≥ 44) and depression status (Kessler 6-item Scale ≥ 13).

Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that there was a tendency for males to develop polycythemia, with characteristics such as:

Being aged 65 years and older;
Highly educated;
Obese (body mass index ≥ 25);
Hypertensive;
Diabetic;
Having liver dysfunction; and
A smoker being significantly related to the prevalence of polycythemia.

Conclusions

The researchers state their findings conclusively demonstrated that polycythemia was not significantly related to psychological factors, but was significantly related to the onset of lifestyle-related disease after the GEJE.

Reference

Sakai, A., Nakano, H., Ohira, T., Maeda, M., Okazaki, K., Takahashi, A., Kawasaki, Y., Satoh, H., Ohtsuru, A., Shimabukuro, M., Kazama, J., Hashimoto, S., Hosoya, M., Yasumura, S., Yabe, H., Ohto, H., Kamiya, K. & Fukushima Health Management Survey Group. (2020) Relationship between the prevalence of polycythemia and factors observed in the mental health and lifestyle survey after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Medicine (Baltimore). 99(1):e18486. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000018486.

A Review into Effective & Cost Effective Interventions of Child Mental Health Problems

Published on 01/10/202001/05/2020 by Andrew MarshallLeave a comment

Research Paper Title

Effective/cost effective interventions of child mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries (LAMIC): Systematic review.

Background

This systematic review protocol aims to examine the evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions for children and adolescents with, or at risk of developing mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries (LAMICs).

Methods

The researchers will search Medline Ovid, EMBASE Ovid, PsycINFO Ovid, CINAHL, LILACS, BDENF and IBECS.

They will include randomised and non-randomised controlled trials, economic modelling studies and economic evaluations.

Participants are 6 to 18 year-old children and adolescents who live in a LAMIC and who present with, or are at high risk of developing, one or more of the conditions: depression, anxiety, behavioural disorders, eating disorders, psychosis, substance abuse, autism and intellectual disabilities as defined by the DSM-V. Interventions which address suicide, self-harm will also be included, if identified during the extraction process.

They will include in person or e-health interventions which have some evidence of effectiveness (in relation to clinical ad/or functional outcomes) and which have been delivered to young people in LAMICs.

They will also consider a wide range of delivery channels (e.g., in person, web-based or virtual, phone), different practitioners (healthcare practitioners, teachers, lay health care providers) and sectors (i.e., primary, secondary and tertiary health care, education, guardianship councils).

In the pilot of screening procedures, 5% of all references will be screened by two reviewers.

Divergences will be resolved by one expert in mental health research.

Reviewers will be retrained afterwards to ensure reliability.

The remaining 95% will be screened by one reviewer. Covidence web-based tool will be used to perform screening of references and full text paper, and data extraction.

Results

The protocol of this systematic review will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences.

The results will be presented descriptively and, if possible, meta-analysis will be conducted.

Ethical approval is not needed for anonymised secondary data.

Conclusions

The systematic review could help health specialists and other professionals to identify evidence-based strategies to deal with child and adolescents with mental health conditions.

Reference

Grande, A.J., Ribeiro, W.S., Faustino, C., de Miranda, C.T., Mcdaid, D., Fry, A., de Moraes, S.H.M., de Oliveira, S.M.D.V.L., de Farias, J.M., de Tarso Coelho Jardim, P., King, D., Silva, V., Ziebold, C. & Evans-Lacko, S. (2020) Effective/cost effective interventions of child mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries (LAMIC): Systematic review. Medicine (Baltimore). 99(1):e18611. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000018611.

Do We Need to be Aware of Differences in Patients’ Perceptions of Medication Support?

Published on 01/09/202003/23/2020 by Andrew MarshallLeave a comment

Research Paper Title

Enabling patients to cope with psychotropic medication in mental health care: Evaluation and reports of the new inventory MedSupport.

Background

This cross sectional study examined patients’ perceptions of professional support regarding use of psychotropic medication in a specialist mental health care setting.

The aims were to evaluate reliability and validity of the MedSupport inventory, and investigate possible associations between MedSupport scores and patient characteristics.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed.

The patients completed the MedSupport, a newly developed self-reported 6 item questionnaire on a Likert scale ranged 1 to 5 (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree), and the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire.

Diagnosis and treatment information were obtained at the clinical visits and from patient records.

Among the 992 patients recruited, 567 patients (57%) used psychotropic medications, and 514 (91%) of these completed the MedSupport and were included in the study.

Results

The MedSupport showed an adequate internal consistency (Cronbach alpha.87; 95% CI.86-89) and a convergent validity toward the available variables.

The MedSupport mean score was 3.8 (standard deviation.9, median 3.8).

Increasing age and the experience of stronger needs for psychotropic medication were associated with perception of more support to cope with medication, whereas higher concern toward use of psychotropic medication was associated with perception of less support.

Patients diagnosed with behavioural and emotional disorders, onset in childhood and adolescence perceived more support than patients with Mood disorders.

Conclusions

The MedSupport inventory was suitable for assessing the patients’ perceived support from health care service regarding their medication.

Awareness of differences in patients’ perceptions might enable the service to provide special measures for patients who perceive insufficient medication support.

Reference

Drivenes, K., Vederhus, J.K., Haaland, V.Ø., Ruud, T., Hauge, Y.L., Regevik, H., Falk, R.S. & Tanum, L. (2020) Enabling patients to cope with psychotropic medication in mental health care: Evaluation and reports of the new inventory MedSupport. Medicine (Baltimore). 99(1):e18635. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000018635.

4 Quick Tips for Coping with Depression

Published on 01/08/2020 by Andrew Marshall1 Comment

Four quick tips for those with a friend or relative with depression.

Be aware that depression can be a hidden illness.
- You may not know that someone close to you is struggling.
- Keep an eye out for any telltale signs.
Be there for your relative or loved one.
- Even though they will not necessarily always appreciate it.
Stay in touch with someone if you think they are struggling.
- An individual with depression may try to withdraw and not contact you, but do not take it personally.
- Be proactive when it comes to keeping in contact.
Offer support as best you can.
- But do not forget to also look after yourself.

Fitness Trackers & Apps: Be Careful When Monitoring Your Goals

Published on 01/08/2020 by Andrew MarshallLeave a comment

Fitness trackers and apps can give us guidance on everything we do, from how well we are eating to sleeping, and therefore can be a useful aid to help us to meet our health and fitness goals.

However, new research highlights the importance of using such fitness trackers and apps wisely.

A small-scale study by researchers at Loughborough University suggests that these trackers and apps could be linked to obsessive behaviour regarding food and exercise – a term known as ‘disordered eating’.

In the study, individuals who tracked their activity or food intake (primarily to manage their weight or shape) showed the highest levels of disordered eating and exercise.

Sleeplessness & Anxiety, Get Some NREM

Published on 01/08/2020 by Andrew MarshallLeave a comment

While a sleepless night can result in a 30% rise in anxiety levels, deep sleep could actually be a remedy against anxiety according to researchers at the University of California.

The researchers found that when the brain is in deep sleep (aka non-rapid eye movement or NREM) it has a calming effect on individuals with anxiety disorders.

MRI scans and other methods were used to measure brain activity in participants.

The results revealed that sleeplessness shuts down the brain’s medial prefrontal cortex – this helps to keep emotions in check.

However, a full night of slumber helps to restore prefrontal changes.

A Trip to the Park Can Boost Happiness

Published on 01/08/2020 by Andrew MarshallLeave a comment

A new study has found that spending time in city parks can improve our mood just as much as Christmas.

Published in the People and Nature Journal, this research looked at the content of people’s tweets and found that those who visited urban parks used more upbeat words and expressed less negativity on Twitter than they did before their visit.

The results also showed that their increase in happiness lasted up to four hours after their green space fix.

Exercise Up, Depression Down

Published on 01/08/2020 by Andrew MarshallLeave a comment

According to a study by researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital, individuals who exercise for as little as 30 minutes per day are 17% less likely to suffer from depression.

This is even if their genetics make them more vulnerable to the condition.