bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study on patterns of use of mobile phone and nomophobia in medical undergraduate students during a COVID-19 pandemic lockdown
Authors: Bhatnagar P. , Tarachandra S. , Undaru S.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The governments of various countries enforced a lockdown to contain the COVID -19 pandemic. As the colleges remain closed, the academic teachings for students was conducted online. The mobile phone remained the main source for academics and entertainment during this period.

Objectives

To assess patterns of use of mobile phone by Medical Undergraduate students prior to and during the COVID-19 lockdown. To assess Nomophobia among same participants.

Methods

This study was done by an online survey method after obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. A validated questionnaire on patterns of mobile phone use and the Nomophobia Questionnaire(NMP-Q) was completed by the medical students (n=187) who consented to participate in the study

Results

Prior to the pandemic lockdown, 52.9% of the participants used the mobile phones for 2-4 hours per day with 78% of the usage in social media. During lockdown, 89.3% of the participants reported an increase in the usage of mobile phones. 35.65% reported an increase in use by 2-4 hours everyday. About 30.5 % used the mobile phone for 6-8 hours per day. 80.2 % reported a maximum usage for social media. 59.45% reported a maximum usage for online academics. 33.7% frequently checked their phones once in 15 minutes. About 60.43% of the participants were in the moderate and 21.4% in the severe category of nomophobia.

Conclusions

There is an increase in mobile phone usage during the lockdown with a significant proportion of students in the moderate and severe category of nomophobia.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Can social media be beneficial for eating disorders?
Authors: Jordan G. Lladó , García M.D.C. Díaz , Cano M. Miguel , Cubo M. Jiménez , Díez B. Lozano , Martín A. Santos , Esteban P. Sánchez , Sánchez P. Mediavilla , Del Barrio J.A. Gómez , Ayesa-Arriola R.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Eating Disorders are a frequent pathology, particularly among teenagers, a group characterized by its vulnerability and body dissatisfaction. Social networks (SN) can be a gateway to ED, mainly with Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia resources. Despite the aforementioned, SN can also be helpful for professionals, either as a tool of approach to vulnerable groups or as a way of interaction in patients already diagnosed.

Objectives

To study the relationship between ED and SN, using the open access evidence available in Pubmed over the last 5 years.

Methods

A single-phase computerised search was carried out in Pubmed. The search terms were: (“Anorexia Nervosa”[Mesh] OR “Bulimia Nervosa”[Mesh] OR “Feeding and Eating Disorders”[Mesh] OR “Eating Disorders”[Tiab] OR “Eating Disorder”[Tiab] OR “Disorder, Eating”[Tiab] OR “Disorders, Eating”[Tiab] OR “Anorexia”[Tiab] OR “Bulimia”[Tiab]) AND (“blogging”[Mesh] OR “social media”[Mesh]). The filters applied were: “free Full Text” and publications for the last 5 years.

Results

36.84% studied SN as a positive tool for ED. 47.37% revealed negative influence, only 44.44% focused on Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia. 15.79% provided both positive and negative arguments. The most studied SN were Twitter and Facebook.

Conclusions

Despite the known negative effect that SN can have on ED, they can also be used as a supportive recovery framework. They can be used to identify dangerous behaviours and intervene or as a prevention tool.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
How to reduce the number of children awaiting the diagnosis of intellectual disability in Brazil?
Authors: Tafla T. , Brunoni D. , Carreiro L.R. , Seabra A. , Da Silva L. , Rossi A.C. , Santos P.H. Dos , Teixeira M.C.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

In Brazil there is high number of children with Intellectual Disability (ID) who begin basic education but did not receive a diagnosis. The basic education teachers can be important agents in identifying signs of ID in the student so that they can be referred to health services.

Objectives

To develop and implement a decision-making model for basic education teachers to identify students with predictive signs of ID.

Methods

The sample was composed by 51 teachers from 20 public schools and their 1758 students eligible for the study enrolled in a educational network in São Paulo state, Brazil. A standardized model was developed for the evaluation process using an open-source software named BONITA. For the screening of students with ID signs the teachers answered a checklist based on the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5 and the students were evaluated with neuropsychological test WASI (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence) and neuropsychiatric assessment. A Classification Based on Association Rules (CBA) generated the predictive models of sensitivity for confirming ID from the items in the checklists.

Results

35 children had suspected ID. The CBA showed an accuracy of 82%, identifying only 1 false-negative case and 3 false-positive cases for ID. According to the teachers, the most accurate signs were deficits in abstract thinking skills, deficits in communication and conversation and difficulties in emotional regulation in social interactions.

Conclusions

The decision-making model by elementary school teachers to identify students with ID showed high levels of sensitivity and can help the waiting for diagnosis.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
The role of self-esteem in the regulation of students’ mental states
Authors: Kartasheva M. , Klimanova A. , Prokhorov A. , Chernov A. , Yusupov M.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Studied the role of self-esteem in the regulation of mental states in the educational activities of students.

Objectives

The aim of the research is to reveal the interrelationships of states’ substructures (mental processes, experiences, behavior) with the level of self-esteem of students.

Methods

The study involved 69 students of the 1st and 2nd year, all humanities. The study was carried out in various situations of educational activity: at lectures, seminars, exams. Used the methods to study mental states, style of self-regulation and self-esteem.

Results

Found that as the level of self-esteem increases, the intensity of mental states’ substructures also increases, and vice versa. As a result of ANOVA use, found that the regulatory properties “independence” (p <0.001) and “ability to program actions” (p <0.002) exert the greatest influence on the interaction of mental states and self-esteem. In lectures, seminars students with a low level of self-esteem mostly experience states of low intensity. Students with an average level of self-esteem are characterized by positive states of an increased level of intensity: from cheerfulness and anticipation to interest and fun. Students with high self-esteem experience mental states different in modality, intensity. As the level of self-esteem increases, the intensity of mental states’ substructures manifestation increases, and vice versa.

Conclusions

Average self-esteem is most optimal for the regulation of mental states. In the case of high self-esteem, the most optimal states are experienced when the subject is highly independent. Low self-esteem students, experience the least intense states. This work was supported by the RFBR grant № 20-013-00076.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
The effectiveness of mental states’ self-regulation of students in the course of educational activities
Authors: Kartasheva M. , Klimanova A. , Prokhorov A. , Chernov A. , Yusupov M.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Studied the psychological mechanisms of mental states’ self-regulation of students in the course of the educational activities: at lectures, seminars and exams.

Objectives

The main aims of the study were: 1. To identify the typical methods and techniques of mental states’ self-regulation and regulatory abilities in everyday and stressful conditions of educational activity; 2. To establish the relationships between the quality of subject training, regulatory abilities and states of students; 3. To study the influence of mental structures (semantic, reflective) on self-regulation and regulatory abilities of students.

Methods

To solve these problems used a bank of 23 techniques, including 303 indicators. 260 1-st year students took part in the research (aged 18-20).

Results

As a result of the research, identified the states typical for lectures, seminars, exams. Comparison of mental states characteristics of humanities students and students of natural sciences did not reveal any differences. Among the mental states of highly effective students, particular importance have the cognitive mental states: interest, thoughtfulness and concentration. Found that the effectiveness of students’ mental states self-regulation affects the productivity of passing the semester exam. The most commonly used methods are introspection (withdrawal), self-control, the use of logic, a positive attitude and search activity. This pattern is typical for both mathematics and psychology students.

Conclusions

Found that students with high self-regulation efficiency more often use a wide range of regulatory technics. Established the properties of personality, providing high efficiency of self-regulation, these are: adequacy, awareness, independence and assertiveness. This work was supported by the RFBR grant № 19-29-07072.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Dhat syndrome: A case report on a culture-bound challenge
Authors: Ilzarbe L. , Ilzarbe D. , Arbelo N. , Llach C. , Anmella G. , Vieta E. , Murru A.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Dhat Syndrome is a culture-bound entity frequent in the Indian subcontinent. It is characterized by somatic symptoms, together with depressive and anxiety features, specifically focused on the belief of losing semen through urine1.

Objectives

To describe an atypical Dhat Syndrome case in European cultural context,and to determine the appropriate diagnostic frame and subsequent therapeutic approach.

Methods

We present the case of a 37-year-old Indian man attended in our psychiatric outpatient unit mainly due to somatic complaints (gastrointestinal, sexual dysfunction, weakness, and dizziness). He interpreted his problem as possibly due to diabetes and hypothyroidism, and specifically from sugar loss in urine. Organic diseases were excluded.

Results

Although considered as culture-bound, Dhat syndrome has been classified as a subtype of depression, anxiety disorder, somatoform disorder2,3,4, and even a prodromal phase of schizophrenia5. Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are the most recommended pharmacological treatments1. Antipsychotic agents have been used when clear psychotic symptoms were present (auditory hallucinations,delusions)5. Nonetheless, paliperidone 6mg/d was initiated at baseline, with good response and partial remission of the symptoms at two weeks, despite the absence of clear psychotic features. Culturally-informed cognitive-behavioural therapy, as well as sexual education could be beneficial were planned and initiated1.

Conclusions

Data on Dhat Syndrome is scarce, yet agreement exist in considering the cultural context of the patient to avoid diagnostic delays. The adequate treatment remains uncertain. Antipsychotics may be a potential treatment. Further research is necessary to clarify the nature of this syndrome but European clinicians must be aware of culturally-mediated psychiatric manifestations which are increasingly prevalent due to globalization.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Behavioral disturbances in porencephaly. Report of a case
Authors: Rodriguez L. Soldado , Barea M. ValverDe , Solis M.O.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Porencephaly is a neurological condition that can develop before or after birth, characterized by cysts located in any place inside the brain parenchyma, which generally are covered by plain walls and encircled by an atrophic crust. It generates a very variable clinic appearance, with severe cases of high disability and slight cases with a light neurological involvement, which also can go unnoticed until adulthood. The prevalence is unknow and the inheritance is autosomal dominant Male patient of 45 years diagnosed with porencephaly with cerebral palsy that affects left half and cognitive disability. His father reports an emerging defiant behavior, mutism and decrease of appetite from a week ago. No triggering stress factors are reported.

Objectives

Show the importance of include in the differential diagnose hypoactive confusional syndrome.

Methods

On urgent medical visit, male comes with ataxic gates which wasn’t shown before. Inhibited attitude, semiflexed staring at floor, with sparing and monosyllabic speech answers, verbalizing discomfort and personal concern. Sleep-wake rhythm disruptions.

Results

Blood tests and drug screening shows no abnormalities Cranial CT: Without acute lesion Urinary infection observed.

Conclusions

It is important to make complementary test to exclude organic frames which could justify acute-subacute psychopathology. In this case, diagnosis was acute confusional syndrome, however, most known presentation is the hyperactive one which include motor hyperactivity, inappropriate behavior or disorganization and alterations of sensory perception. Hypoactive must always be considered, which is the concluding diagnosis in this case.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Genome-wide association studies in psychiatry: Current perspectives
Authors: Smajlagic D. , Zayats T. , Bekkehus M. , Le Hellard S.
Published: February 2022

Abstract Body

Genome-wide Association Studies in Psychiatry - Current Perspectives Last decade was exciting time for human genetic studies. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs), used to examine the association of genotyped variants across the entire genome and common complex phenotype(s), have led to many findings. Currently, GWAS Catalogue has collected 4,809 publications and 227,262 associated variants. In recent years, psychiatric genetics has enjoyed some success in discoveries of associated variants. This mostly happened because researchers were able to unite and generate large sample sets of patients and healthy controls in big consortia. As a result of large sample sizes becoming available for meta-GWASs, some of the first genome-wide significant loci in psychiatric and related neurodevelopmental traits were detected. However, most of the large-scale genetic studies are done primarily on European population and GWASs have huge diversity problem. Performing trans-ethnic GWASs on psychiatric traits can help us discover more associated variants. Another advantage of bringing many datasets together into large-scale meta-analyses is the ability to conduct cross-disorder studies. This is possible to be done on psychiatric traits since many of them share genetic liability. However, little research has been conducted on the genetic differences between related psychiatric traits. Identifying disorder-specific variants remain important open question. In this presentation we will bring an update of recent findings and current state of the art methods and analyses.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Should we despecialize the training? Postgraduate training in psychiatry in the time of the COVID-19 outbreak in poland: Challenges & solutions
Authors: Szczegielniak A. , Gondek T. , Rewekant A.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic forced a change in the functioning of health care systems across the globe, requiring rapid adaptation to new conditions for the safe provision of services within all medical fields. General disruption has also affected the traditional program of a postgraduate training, which has been so far fixed with temporary solutions, but not given a proper evaluation in the times of big expectations and pressures from both patients and healthcare workers.

Objectives

Outbreak of the COVID-19 put psychiatry trainees and Early Career Psychiatrists in an unprecedented position of responsibility for treatment of a variety of comorbidities they had no prior experience with due to closure of specialized hospital departments and limited access to regular diagnostic tools. In addition to changes in clinical practice and deployment to unfamiliar ground, rescheduling of different components of regular training, transferring most of the educational activities to distance learning, limiting professional growth by canceling most courses and conferences only strengthened the feeling of uncertainty caused by constant adjustments of the final examinations’ conditions.

Methods

The Speciality Training Section of the Polish Psychiatric Association decided to review changes forced by the COVID-19 outbreak in a traditional postgraduate training program in psychiatry.

Results

Identified shortcomings pose questions about the necessity of a solid revision of the training in order to cope with more demanding working conditions.

Conclusions

Presented recommendations may be the starting point for a discussion on the programs’ evaluation across the entire region.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based violence in Tunisia
Authors: Sediri S. , Zgueb Y. , Aissa A. , Ouali U. , Nacef F.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Violence against women is a public health problem worldwide. During humanitarian crises such as wars, violence expands mainly to the detriment of the most vulnerable groups.

Objectives

This study aims to assess the effect of the COVID-19-related lockdown on gender-based violence.

Methods

This study was conducted using an online survey, between April 25 and May 6, 2020. Women were asked about sociodemographic information, lockdown conditions, history involving exposure to violence before and during the COVID-19 lockdown and its types.

Results

The number of included participants was 751. The age ranged from 18 to 69 years. Violence against women increased significantly during the lockdown (from 4.4 to 14.8%; p < 0.001). Psychological abuse was the most frequent type of violence (96%). Almost 90% (n = 98) of those who experienced violence during the lockdown did not seek assistance. Women who had experienced abuse before the lockdown were at an increased risk of violence during lockdown (p < 0.001; OR = 19.34 [8.71–43.00]).

Conclusions

Strengthening strategies to protect women during periods of crisis is urgent. However, a change in mentalities would take more time to set up. Violence against women necessitates a fundamental long-term struggle and practical intervention strategies.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Depression in multiple sclerosis: RS-FMRI research
Authors: Temniy A. , Markin K. , Poplyak M. , Trufanov A. , Tarumov D. , Litvinenko I.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating and neurodegenerative disorder of the CNS, which incapacitates people of working age. Due to progressive disability, the quality of life decreases, adding a number of other diseases to the main one. Several studies have reported high rates of depression in MS with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 50%.

Objectives

Therefore, we would like to pattern the functional activation of the brain of patients with different phenotypes of MS. This would objectify the patient’s condition and the effectiveness of therapy for these diseases.

Methods

68 patients with MS were examined: 40 with a relapsing-remitting type of course (RRMS) in remission and 28 with secondary - progressive MS (SPMS). Patients underwent MRI of the brain on a Siemens Tim Trio 3.0 T tomograph and processed the data using CONN 18b software. Clinical features were estimated by tests (BDI, HADS) results.

Results

91% of all MS patients in research have signs of depression. We noted that decreased FC in RRMS patients has a whole-brain type, but it is only decreasing, not losing the connections between brain clusters. Decreased FC and losing the connections between large-scale brain networks and brain clusters. Due to tests, more severe depression was observed in SPMS patients.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that patients with SPMS have depression, cause of decreasing in FC between the main clusters of the brain, and patients with SPMS have more severe depression, which, as we assume, neurodegeneration has turned into atrophy and loosing all connections between clusters even in large-scale brain networks.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Experiences of fear in hospital settings from the perspectives of mental health service users and informal caregivers
Authors: Lantta T. , Anttila M. , Varpula J. , Välimäki M.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

In the literature, service users and informal caregivers have been critical towards psychiatric inpatient care. However, little is known about their fears related to hospital care.

Objectives

We describe service users’ and informal caregivers’ experiences of fear in psychiatric hospital settings.

Methods

The data were collected from seven mental health associations located in six Finnish cities. Focus group interviews (f=8) were conducted (2015–2016) with service users (n=20) and informal caregivers (n=15), and were guided to focus on violence and challenging situations in psychiatric care. In a secondary analysis, experiences of fear were extracted from the transcriptions and analyzed using inductive content analysis.

Results

Both groups’ experiences of fear focused on themes related to staff, treatment and fellow patients. Additionally, service users had experiences of fear related to the hospital environment. Fears related to staff involved intimidating personnel using force or acting in threatening ways. Participants also described staff seemingly being afraid of patients and care givers. Three types of fears related to treatment were described: fear of not being admitted to hospital even if needed, fear of being admitted to hospital, and fear of coercive methods used in care. Fear of fellow patients involved being afraid of aggressive, unpredictable behaviors, which could cause, e.g., a lack of sleep at night for service users. Fears related to the environment itself were also discussed.

Conclusions

Being hospitalized can be a difficult experience for service users and informal caregivers. These results can help psychiatric healthcare staff acknowledge areas in care that may potentially cause feelings of fear.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Schizophrenia hospitalizations - a big data approach
Authors: Gonçalves-Pinho M. , Ribeiro J.P. , Freitas A.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Schizophrenia is characterized by long hospitalizations and a recurrent use of chronic and acute psychiatric care.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to analyze schizophrenia related hospitalizations in Portugal.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted using a nationwide hospitalization database containing all hospitalizations registered in Portuguese public hospitals from 2008 to 2015.Hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia were selected and schizophrenia subtypes were grouped using the International Classification of Diseases version 9, Clinical Modification(ICD-9-CM) codes of diagnosis 295.xx.

Results

There was a total of 25,385 hospitalizations in public hospitals of Portugal between 2008 and 2015 with a primary diagnosis of Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. A total of 14,279 patients were hospitalized during the study period with an average of 1,78 hospitalizations episodes per patient in the 8-year interval(0.22 hospitalizations/patient/year). 68.0% of the hospitalizations occurred in male patients and the median length of stay was 18.0 days. Mean hospitalization charges were 3,509.7€ per hospitalization, summed to a total charge of 89.1M€. Throughout the study period there was a significant linear decrease in the number of hospitalizations (r = 0.940; B= -47.488; p = 0.001). The last year of the study(2015) had the lowest number of hospitalizations with a total of 2,958 (vs. 3,314 in 2008). When adjusted for the yearly population, there was also a decrease of the number of hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants from 31.39 to 28.56 hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants between 2008 and 2015, respectively.

Conclusions

We found differences in hospitalization characteristics by gender, age and primary diagnosis.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Antepartum depressive and anxious symptoms: Association with physiological parameters of the newborn
Authors: Pereira D. , Pereira A.T. , Azevedo J. , Xavier S. , Soares M.J. , Madeira N. , Macedo A.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The Perinatal period is a time of vulnerability for developing psychiatric disorders of higher prevalence in the female gender - depression and anxiety1. Numerous authors have proposed that maternal psychological factors could influence pregnancy course and the well-being of mother and newborn2.

Objectives

To explore the relationship between perinatal psychological disorder and physiological parameters evaluated at birth, such as the Apgar Index (AI; 1, 5 and 10 minutes), head circumference, weight, length and age.

Methods

533 women answered, in the second trimester of pregnancy (16.98±4.83 weeks of gestation), several questions about psychosocial variables, the Perinatal Depression Screening Scale3 and the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale4. Of these, 208 (39.0%) women were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview for Psychological Distress5. Newborn physiological parameters were obtained from electronic health records.

Results

AI was significantly (p<.01) and moderately (r≈.25) correlated with maternal anxious symptomatology, and with the experience of a stressful event in the last year (only AI 1 minute). Newborns of women with clinically relevant anxious symptomatology (>cutoff point, 14.6%) had significantly lower AI (p<.05), which was also observed in newborns of women who considered having had a stressful event (only AI 1 minute). Women’s newborns with maternal anxiety disorders during pregnancy (5.3%), had significantly lower values in AI, head circumference, weight and age of birth. Regression analyses showed that anxiety in pregnancy (symptoms and/or diagnoses) is a predictor of newborn physiological parameters, explaining significant percentages(r≈22%; p<.05) of its variability.

Conclusions

Early detection of psychological disorders in pregnancy, namely anxiety, is determinant to prevent adverse neonatal outcomes.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Factors associated with anxiety among health care workers practicing in emergency department in south of tunisia
Authors: Tfifha M. , Abbes W. , Sellami I. , Falah W. El , Hajjaji M. , Ghanmi L.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Health care workers in emergency department and intensive care are usually exposed to stressful situations, which require an early intervention.

Objectives

To assess the prevalence of anxiety among health care workers in emergency department and to determine its associated factors.

Methods

It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study including health care workers assigned to emergency ward and intensive care unit of Hedi Chaker and Habib Bourguiba hospitals in Sfax and the regional hospital of Kebili. Data was collected by an anonymous and confidential self- administered questionnaire. We used hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD) to assess anxiety and depression.

Results

The participation rate was 48.8% (n=240). The mean age was 37 years, 59.2% were female and 62% were married. Mean work experience was 11 years. 79.2% assured night shifts (average= 1.5 night shifts per week) and 71.7% benefited of compensatory rest. Our study revealed that 32.5 % of health care workers were suffering from anxiety. In univariate study, anxiety was significantly correlated with the female gender (p=0.004), the lack of practice of leisure activities (p=0.004), with absence of compensatory rest (p=0.001), with sleep disturbances (p=0.001) and with depression (p<10-3). Multivariate study pointed that anxiety was associated with lack of practice of leisure activities (OR=2.7[1.09-6.99]; p=0.006), absence of compensatory rest (OR=2.7[1.3-5.5]; p=0.004), depression (OR=3[1.5-6]; p= 0.001) and with sleep disturbances (OR=2.8[1.4-5.7]; p=0.004).

Conclusions

Anxiety affected one in three emergency caregivers. Stress management programs for emergency caregivers can be of great help in dealing with this problem.
Responding to the mental health needs of trafficked women
Authors: Oram S.
Published: February 2022

Background

Studies suggest a high prevalence of depression and PTSD among survivors of human trafficking in contact with shelter services. However, evidence for interventions to support the recovery of survivors of trafficking is lacking. The broader literature on PTSD and depression indicates that ongoing social stressors can exacerbate and perpetuate symptoms. Advocacy-based, or “casework”, interventions, which address current stressors and social support, may represent a promising avenue of enquiry. Objectives (1) Describe risk and protective factors for mental distress among trafficked people; (2) Present a preliminary theory of change describing how advocacy-based interventions may contribute to an improvement in mental health and wellbeing among survivors of human trafficking.

Methods

(1) Survey of adult male and female survivors of trafficking in contact with shelter services in England; symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder were measured using the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PCL-C. (2) Theory of change workshop and review of intervention studies that assessed the effectiveness of casework, client support, or advocacy interventions delivered in health or community settings to survivors of trafficking or vulnerable migrants.

Results

150 survivors of trafficking participated in the survey, 98 women and 52 men. In multivariate analyses, psychological distress was associated with higher number of unmet needs and lacking a confidante, suggesting that practical and social support is important in facilitating mental health recovery. The theory of change identifies common components in advocacy interventions delivered to survivors of trafficking, and proposes pathways by which these components contribute to improved mental health.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
School bullying int Tunisia: Psychological profile of harassers
Authors: Azouz Z. , Brahim T. , Salem N. Ben , Ayoub R. , Brigui N. , Turkia I. Ben , Guedria A.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

School Bullying is an educational and a health care issue that was kept hided for a long time. Despite, growing interest about this issue, it’s still a topic that is not well known and well analysed in Tunisia.

Objectives

- Evaluate the prevalence of school bullying among Middle school students - Establish the psychological profile of harassers

Methods

It’s a cross sectional study including 600 students of 2 middle schools of the region of Sousse -Tunisia during the month of March 2020. “The adolescent peer relations instrument” was used to identify school bullying and its type. The “Child Behaviour Checklist” questionnaire was used to identify emotional and behavioural problems among children. Self esteem levels were evaluated by the “Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale”.

Results

The mean age of participants was 13 years and 9 months ±1 year and 4 months. 95.1 % of the participants have experienced school harassment, but also 92% of them harassed their peers. Boys were more frequently bullies than girls (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in self esteem levels between bullies and non-bullies adolescents. Among the 8 syndroms explored by the Child behaviour checklist, adolescents experiencing one of the 7 folllowing items (Anxious syndrome, Depressive syndrome, Aggressive behaviour, Attention problems, Social problem, Thoughts problems and Withdrawal problems) had significantly higher risk of being a bully (p values between 0.001 and 0.02).

Conclusions

This study emphasizes the high prevalence of school bullying among adolescents in Tunisia. Most of the psychological problems explored in this study seem to be higher among bullies.
Validity of kinematics measures to assess handwriting development and disorders with a graphomotor task
Authors: Lopez C. , Cannafarina A. , Vaivre-Douret L.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Handwriting disorder is considered to be one of the major public health problems among school-aged children worldwide. All the scales in the literature use handwriting tasks but it could be interesting to investigate a more accurate assessment of handwriting difficulties before the development and acquisition of handwriting as such.

Objectives

The objective of our study is to examine the validity of a prescriptural task consisting of copying a line of cycloid loops in the diagnosis of handwriting disorders.

Methods

35 children with handwriting disabilities and 331 typically developing right-handed children in primary school, aged 6-11 years old, were included in the study. They performed a copy of a line of cycloid loops, in an ecological setting, with a paper sheet put on the table. The kinematic measures were recorded with a digital pen. A Receiver Operating Characteristic method (ROC curve) was used to determine whether the loops line copy may be a sensitive test to diagnose handwriting disorders.

Results

Six kinematic variables recorded during the prescriptural task were found to be relevant markers of handwriting disorders with a sensibility between 0.743 and 0.880: strokes number, total and effective drawing time, in-air pauses times, loops number, number of peaks velocity.

Conclusions

The graphomotor task of copying a line of cycloid loops showed a good sensitivity to diagnose handwriting disorders and appeared to be a good predictor test, more particularly with the variables reflecting the strokes temporal organization.Drawing loops is a rapid graphomotor task, useful for exploring prerequisites of handwriting in screening for handwriting disorders.
The particularities of microangiopathic and macroangiopathic complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients correlated with the presence or absence of type D personality
Authors: Kalinovic R. , Tinca B. , Neda-Stepan O. , Dinescu M. , Giurgi-Oncu C. , Enatescu I. , Enatescu V.R.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

According to our national data based on PREDATORR study, the point prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Romania was 11.6 % in adults between 20 and 79 years old. Unequivocally, type 2 diabetes mellitus is highly correlated with psychological and personality factors.

Objectives

The objective of our research was to evaluate the frequency of type D personality in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes and its influence on angiopathic complications.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 173 patients with type 2 diabetes who were self-assessed by using Beck Depression Inventory I, STAI-Y scale and DS 14 scale for detection of type D personality.

Results

Both depression (p = 0.012) and state and trait anxiety (p = 0.019 and 0.023 respectively) scores were significantly higher in diabetic patients with type D personality compared with non-type D diabetic patients. Lower limb complications were more frequent in non-type D personality diabetics (p = 0.018) while diabetic retinopathy and diabetic polyneuropathy (p = 0.004 and p = 0.010 respectively).

Conclusions

The presence of type D personality has a supplementary negative impact on type 2 diabetic patients’ affectivity and emotions. On the one hand, the more frequent microangiopathic complications in type D personality diabetic patients confirm that diabetes, at least in part, is an endovascular disease. On the other hand, some factors such as pro-inflammatory biomarkers may be more expressed in type 2 diabetic patients with concomitantly type D personality than those without this type of personality, leading to premature microangiopathic complications.
Portuguese version of the fear of COVID-19 scale – psychometric study
Authors: Cabaços C. , Pereira A.T. , Paredes P. , Almeida S. , Araujo A. , Sousa R. , Macedo A.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

More than in other conditions, fear is associated with infectious diseases, and is directly associated with its transmission rate, morbidity and mortality. High levels of fear can affect the individual’s ability to think clearly, react proportionately and make rational decisions in the context of COVID-19. Recently, Mertens et al. (2020) developed the Fear of Covid-19 Scale (FCV-19S) to measure this construct.

Objectives

To analyse the psychometric properties of the FCV-19S Portuguese version, namely construct validity, internal consistency and convergent validity.

Methods

A community sample of 234 adults (75.6% women; mean age= 29.53±12.51; range:16-71) completed an on-line survey with the Portuguese versions of the FCV-19S, the Covid-19 Perceived Risk Scale (CPRS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21).The total sample was randomly divided in two sub-samples: sample A (n=117) was used to perform an exploratory factor analysis/EFA; sample B (n=117) to make a confirmatory factor analysis/CFA.

Results

EFA resulted in one component. CFA revealed that the unifactorial model presented acceptable fit indexes (X2/df=3.291; CFI=.977; GFI=.932; TLI=.919; p[RMSEA≤.01]=.091). Cronbach alpha was α=.855. The total score significantly correlated with Covid-19 Perceived Risk (r=.529, p<.01) and with anxiety from DASS-21 (r=.132, p<.05).

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary evidence for the validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of FCV-19S, which will be used in an ongoing research project on the relationship between fear of Covid-19, personality, cognitive processes and adherence to public health measures to contain the pandemic.
Prevalence of depression among college students living alone in pandemic 2020
Authors: Kantohe T. , Kurnijuanto G.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The prevalence of depression differs between groups, such as race, gender, and age group. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is one of the leading causes of death in the age group of 15-29 years-old. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some countries, including Indonesia, ordered a nationwide physical distancing and limited public activities. Indonesia also restricts the public mobilities, leaving the college students, studying in different regions, isolated and confined to their flats, boarding houses, and apartments.

Objectives

To find out the prevalence of Depression in College Students, living alone, in Pandemic 2020.

Methods

College students aged 18 to 28 years old, were assessed using Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI-II), through Google Form, and shared using social media. We also grouped the participants to age, gender, religion, and types of housing, and did the multivariate analysis using median comparison and multinomial logistic regression.

Results

A total of 84 college students, who are living alone during the Pandemic 2020, participated in this study. We found that 33.3% of the population suffered from depression. The median score for the group of females, prefer not to say their religion, and living in the owned house have a higher median. While multinomial logistic regression study does not have any significant odd risks in the variables.

Conclusions

The results indicate that in time of nationwide physical distancing and limited public activities due to COVID-19 Pandemic, the prevalence of depression among college students living alone in Pandemic 2020 is 33%. One-fourth of them are with severe depression.
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health - what do we know so far?
Authors: Marguilho M. , Nobre A.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The devastating effects of the current pandemic are profoundly affecting peoples’s physical and psychological health. Numerous studies on the effects of previous infectious outbreaks have been published. Similarly, an increasingly growing body of research on COVID-19 has been developed and released, reporting a substancial psychological impact of both the outbreak and the response, suggesting that the population may express high levels of psychological symptoms.

Objectives

This presentation aims to synthesize existent literature that reports on the effects of COVID-19 on psychological outcomes of the general population, groups with higher vulnerability and its associated risk factors.

Methods

Bibliographic research was made through scientific databases such as PubMed and EMBASE. No time limit was used. Pertinent articles were carefully reviewed for additional relevant citations.

Results

Generally, there is a higher prevalence of symptoms of adverse psychiatric outcomes among the public when compared to the prevalence before the pandemic. Psychological reactions to pandemics include maladaptive behaviours, emotional distress and symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and avoidance behaviors. The groups known to be at higher risk for mental health problems during the pandemic are: women, healthcare workers, people under 40 years old and with chronic diseases. Other risk factors are: frequent exposure to social media/news relating to COVID-19, poor economic status, lower education level, and unemployment.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented threat to mental health. In addition to flattening the curve of viral transmission, special attention needs to be paid to the challenges it poses to the mental health of the population at a global scale.
Migration history, first episode psychosis and child abuse: Results from the EU-GEI study
Authors: Tarricone I. , Lal J. , D’Andrea G. , Muratori R. , Morgan C. , Berardi D. , Murray R. , Forti M. Di
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Child abuse is associated with a wide range of mental disease including psychotic disorders. Few studies have investigated the role of child abuse in contributing to increase the risk of psychosis in migrant population.

Objectives

To explore the risk of first episode psychosis (FEP) in migrants and natives for each type of trauma i.e. physical abuse (P.A.), sexual abuse (S.A.), emotional abuse (E.A.), physical neglect (P.N.) and emotional neglect (E.N.).

Methods

Within a large case- control incidence sample of FEP from the EU-GEI study (The EUropean Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene–Environment Interactions) we evalued the assocition of childhood trauma with FEP in migrants and natives. Associations were adjusted for age, gender, social status, level of education, family history of psychosis and cannabis use. Trauma was assessed through Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).

Results

CTQ mean score was higher in FEP migrants (45.4, sd 15.6) than in FEP natives (41.7, sd 13.9) (p = 0.002). In natives every type of child abuse was associated with FEP. In migrants P.A., S.A., P.N. were associated with FEP. We found a dose – dependent relationship between trauma and FEP.

Conclusions

Child abuse is common in individuals with psychosis. FEP migrants are more exposed to childhood trauma. Clinicians should routinely assess patients for childhood trauma. When treating a FEP migrant patient, clinicians must be aware of an underlying traumatic childhood adversity more than of a traumatic migration history.
Third generation cognitive-behavioral therapies for major depressive disorder- a literature review
Authors: Vasile D. , Vasiliu O. , Vasiliu D.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) represent a heterogeneous group of psychotherapies in continuous development that share a directive, structured, collaborative approach. Due to a high degree of treatment-resistant cases of major depressive disorder (MDD), new augmentation therapies are urgently needed, in order to increase the chance of recovery in these patients.

Objectives

To analyze data that may support the indication of third wave CBT in patients with MDD.

Methods

A literature search was performed in the main electronic databases, and papers published between January 2000 and August 2020 were included.

Results

Acceptance and commitment therapy has been associated with positive results, but data are derived from low quality trials (n=2). Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT)-based skill group have been also associated with favorable outcome, in MDD patients (n=2). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was also proven effective in the treatment in MDD (n=4), treatment-resistant MDD included, but the difference between MBCT and active comparators was not always significant. Metacognitive therapy (MCT) has been evaluated in good quality clinical trials (n=4), and its efficacy was confirmed. Mild and moderate MDD patients may benefit from compassion-focused therapy (CFT) (n=1). Behavioral activation (BA) is dedicated to MDD patients and according to a meta-analysis (n=26 randomized controlled trials) BA is superior to other active comparators, although the quality of clinical trials was modest.

Conclusions

Third generation CBT could be useful in MDD patients as augmentative strategy, but more good-quality data are necessary before recommending them in an evidence-based treatment guideline as a distinctive intervention from classical CBT.
Digitalization of education and mental health
Authors: Shilko R. , Egorov S. , Zinchenko Y.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Various social problems, financial difficulties and academic factors contribute to the fact that more and more students around the world experience mental health problems (Chen et al., 2013; Gotlib et al., 2019). On the other hand, all the sides of students’ lives – from education to family relationships – are mediated by information communication technologies, that may have broad and ambiguous influence on students mental health. What is undoubtedly that youth mental health can no longer be considered without touching on the digitalization, including in education.

Objectives

The current study aims to point up positive and negative examples of intersection of education digitalization and mental health of modern youth.

Methods

Theoretical analysis of research publications and conceptualization of practical applications in education mediated by digital technologies.

Results

A striking example of the negative impact of total digitalization of education was the sharp deterioration in mental health in the context of the transition to fully distant learning in conditions of the spread of coronavirus infection. Positive education as teaching form for both traditional skills and positive functioning and happiness provides a broad opportunities to combine the concepts of positive psychology with cutting-edge high-tech education approaches.

Conclusions

Digitalization of modern education can be accompanied by both mental health risks and new opportunities. Mental health support can be based on finding information about good functioning, learning and participating in community activities that are provided through websites and mobile applications. The reported study was funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project number 18-29-22049.