bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Vouros M. , Koutoukoglou P. , Jelastopulu E. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic was immediately realized to pose a considerable threat both to the physical, and the mental health of people. For healthcare professionals, it marks frantic work rhythms, anxiety for their patients and exposure to an invisible enemy. Those who hold administrative positions are called upon to make unprecedented decisions, facing a high degree of uncertainty. Hence, hospital staff is expected to experience severe psychological distress.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the psychological distress and possible associations with demographic characteristics, professional duties, hierarchy and predisposing factors to severe COVID-19 disease.MethodsOnline questionnaires were distributed to all employees of two hospitals in Thessaloniki, Greece, from March until May 2021. The questionnaires comprised two sections, one concerning the aforementioned purported risk factors, and another involving three psychometric scales, i.e. Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale and Obsession with COVID-19 Scale.ResultsThe psychological pressure experienced by healthcare professionals was low, compared to the literature. A history of COVID-19 disease, existence of predisposing factors to severe COVID-19 illness and frequent contact with infected patients were shown to significantly increase the likelihood of psychological distress. Furthermore, an age of 30-34 years, a higher level of education, existence of infected family members and non-vaccination were identified as possible risk factors.ConclusionsContrary to previous research results, our sample did not experience severe COVID-19-related psychological distress. Nevertheless, emphasis should be placed on initiatives to support the mental health of this professional group, as many of them do struggle with psychological difficulties.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Emotional reactions and hardiness among Russian students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rozhdestvenskiy V. , Ivanov D. , Aleksandrovich Y. , Gorkovaya I. , Titova V. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic provoked emotional reactions in Russian student populations. Hardiness is seen as a personality predisposition that increases individuals’ resilience to stress.ObjectivesThe study aimed to determine the severity of depression, anxiety, stress, and various components of hardiness in Russian students. In addition, the correlations between emotional reactions and hardiness components were also analysed.MethodsData collection was carried out between 29 May and 06 July 2020. A total of 129 medical and non-medical students participated in the study. The DASS-21 was used to measure depression, anxiety, and stress levels, while the Personal Views Survey-III examined hardiness. Both questionnaires were adapted for use in Russia.ResultsWe found that medical students were less likely to be depressed than non-medical students (M = 4.03 and M = 6.01 respectively, p < 0.05). Medical students had higher levels of the component of hardiness such as commitment (M = 20.95 and M = 18.43 respectively, p < 0.05). In both groups, all hardiness components have negative relationships with depression, anxiety, and stress, but in the medical group control is associated only with depression (rx = -0.446, p < 0.01), whereas the other group also has associations with anxiety (rx = -0.356, p < 0.01) and stress (rx = -0.407, p < 0.01).ConclusionsHardiness was negatively related to depression, anxiety, and stress in a pandemic setting. Medical students were more adaptable to the pandemic than non-medical students.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Impact of covid 19 outbreak on mental health of patients with cancer
Authors: Sbika W. , Belfekih H. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe COVID19 outbreak was declared a public health emergency by The Word Health Organisation (WHO) on January 2020. By spring 2020, more than half of the world’s population had experienced a lockdown with strict pandemic prevention such as physical distancing measures. The COVID-19 pandemic have negatively affected many people’s mental health especially the ones who are at risk such as patients with cancer.ObjectivesThis study aimed to screen mental health problems among patients with cancer during the fisrt wave of COVID 19.MethodsTo assess the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health of patients with cancer, a Survey was conducted at the department of medical oncology in Nabeul (Tunisia) between March and May 2020. The patients were asked to answer a socio-demographic questionnaire. The COVID-19 infection-related mental Heath problems were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Medical conditions and clinical characteristics were extracted from patients healthcare records.ResultsThe median age was 53 years (range, 34-70) with sex ratio 0.35. The majority of the patients had a social support (85%) and lived in urban areas (60%). Only 19 % of them had college degree. Almost quarter of patients had medical conditions. The most common cancer in our cohort was breast cancer (54%) followed by colorectal cancer (20%). Sixty four per cent of them were on adjuvant chemotherapy. Among the 80 person surveyed, 20% had depression and 39 % anxiety.ConclusionsFurther investigations are required to screen mental health status for all cancer patients in order to help them coping.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Tunisian mothers facing the covid-19 pandemic: what are the risks for their mental health?
Authors: Guermazi A. , Guermazi F. , Bouhamed M. , Ben Abdallah M. , Baati I. , Masmoudi J. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionCovid-19 pandemic put parents under great pressure, and the most vulnerable parents may have become too overwhelmed to find appropriate ways to be supportive caregivers and to address children’s fears and insecurities.ObjectivesAssess the level of parental stress experienced by mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare it with that experienced by fathers.MethodsThis was a descriptive and comparative analytical study, shared on social networks during the period from 8 to 20 April 2021, targeting mothers of children aged 2 to 18 years. The mother answered the questionnaire for herself and her child. The level of stress experienced by the mother in the parent-child relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed by the brief version of the Parental Stress Index (PSI-SF).ResultsThe total number of participants was 65 mothers. Parental stress level in mothers was high in 58.5%, the average PSI score was 94.25; the mean score of the parental distress subscale was 34.06; the mean score of the dysfunctional child-parent interaction subscale was 27.86; and the average score of the child difficulty subscale was 32.32. The mean scores of the parental distress subscale, the child difficulty subscale, as well as the mean PSI total score were significantly higher in mothers than in fathers, with p= 0.010; p= 0.022 and p=0.017 respectively.ConclusionsOur results highlight a higher level of stress in mothers than in fathers. This can be explained the parental, marital and professional responsibilities imposed on women, underlining the urgent need to provide mothers with adequate support.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Validation of the Naimigen questionnaire among the healthy population of Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Koniukhovskaia J. , Pervichko E. , Mitina O. , Stepanova O. , Shishkova I. , Dorokhov E. , Petrenko V. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe Naimigen questionnaire (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985) was developed in the 1980s to assess the severity of hyperventilation syndrome, which causes respiratory alkalosis and, as a result, polysystemic functional symptoms. Later, this questionnaire was recommended for use in the diagnosis of dysfunctional breathing. The COVID-19 pandemic provokes anxiety as a stressful event and objectifies the respiratory function, which becomes a favorable ground for the growth of the prevalence of dysfunctional breathing in society.ObjectivesTo validate the Naimigen questionnaire in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic among the Russian-speaking population.MethodsThe author’s socio-demographic questionnaire and the Naimigen Questionnaire (NQ) were used (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985). The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia, including 1,153 women and 209 men aged 15 to 88 years (38.3 ±11.4).ResultsThe stable reliability of the Alpha-Kronbach coefficients (> 0.877) was revealed for all NQ points. To check the factor structure of the Naimigen questionnaire, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis using the direct Oblimin criterion, which, when explaining 57.3% of the total variance, allowed us to identify 4 factors: respiratory symptoms, paresthesia and gastrointestinal symptoms, tension, derealization.ConclusionsChecking the reliability and factor structure of the Naimigen questionnaire allows us to reasonably use this questionnaire on a Russian-language sample in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Disclosure: Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.DisclosureResearch is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.
Paternal postpartum depression in an obsessive personality following the COVID-19 lockdown successfully treated with Vortioxetine
Authors: Orsolini L. , Pompili S. , Salvi V. , Volpe U. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionA growing amount of studies investigating the mental health impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic worldwide have been recently published, even though very few studies investigating the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown on the mental health of fathers of newborns during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly on paternal postpartum depression (PPD).ObjectivesA case report describing a 37-years-old man with an obsessive-compulsive personality who manifests the onset of a clinically relevant PPD following his wife’s delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of obsessive symptomatology.MethodsAt baseline and during a 12-months follow-up were administered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19-S), Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) and Y-BOCS-II (Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale).ResultsPatient was successfully treated with vortioxetine up to 20 mg/die with a significant clinical remission of depressive and obsessive symptomatology at 6 months and a maintenance therapy with vortioxetine 10 mg daily.ConclusionsPPD should be better investigated, particularly the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of fathers of newborns during the COVID-19-related situation.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Positive and negative affects in university students at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and a year after it was announced
Authors: Shaigerova L. , Almazova O. , Vakhantseva O. , Shilko R. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe emotional state of university students is critical for their successful learning, efficient interacting with people around, and increasing the quality of life in general. The COVID-19 pandemic widely affected the mood and emotional state of student youth.ObjectivesThe study focuses on tracing the dynamics of positive and negative affects among students in the first few weeks after the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic and one year later.MethodsPositive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS, Watson, Clark, Tellegen, 1988) was applied in the research. The study involved 210 university students aged 18 to 23. The study was conducted online shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in spring 2020 (N = 105) and a year later (winter-spring 2021) (N=105). Given that the sizes of subsamples are comparable ANOVA was used for the periods under consideration (Levene Statistic > 0.05).ResultsOne-way analysis of variance ANOVA showed that evaluations of positive affect differ significantly (p <0.05) while estimations of negative affect do not differ (p> 0.05) during the periods of the COVID-19 pandemic (spring 2020 and winter-spring 2021 ). With Post Hoc Scheffe, it was also shown that the positive affect scores in spring 2020 were significantly higher than in winter-spring 2021 (p <0.05).ConclusionsThus, it has been shown that although the level of negative affect in students did not increase a year after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of positive emotions significantly decreased during this period. The reported study was funded by RFBR, project number 20-04-60174.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
The impact of Covid-19 on the Mental Health of the Portuguese Population
Authors: Dos Santos I. , Saraiva J. , Mesquita E. , Coelho M. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionCovid-19 does not only have repercussions on the physical level, representing a new way of life, both individually and in society. The pandemic results in invisible consequences for the population’s mental health.ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the consequences of Covid-19 on mental health in Portugal with a view to understanding and promoting the well-being and happiness of the Portuguese.MethodsThe study included 111 young people and adults, aged between 18 and 58 years (M= 21.81, SD= 5.34), with 43.7% males and 52.7% females. A sociodemographic questionnaire was applied to all participants, as well as the Échelle de Mesure des Manifestations du Bien-Être Psychologique (ÈMMBEP; Massé et al., 1998 - Portuguese translation by Monteiro, Tavares & Pereira, 2012) which translates into a response scale 5-point Likert type, with five subscales, including happiness. In addition, a semistructured interview with data collection instruments was administered.ResultsThe results obtained demonstrate the negative impact of Covid-19 on the level of well-being, regardless of the participant’s gender or age.ConclusionsThe data presented point to the need to sensitize individuals to the risk of the pandemic in terms of mental health, thus increasing society’s awareness of the psychological effects of this new global disease. Therefore, coping mechanisms are essential to promote well-being and successfully overcome the pandemic.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Clozapine Toxicity in the Setting of COVID-19: A case of differential diagnosis
Authors: Pelayo-Terán J.M. , Zapico-Merayo Y. , Vega-García S. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionTogether with agranulocytosis, fever and immflamatory manifestations are clozapine side effects to be monitorized during initial treatment. In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, implied mechanisms, and symptomatology should be carefully controlled.ObjectivesTo analyze the clinical analytic and inflammatory chracterisctics the resembles and differenciates clozapine immune response and SARS-CoV-2 infection. To describe a case of clozapine induced fever and pneumonitis during COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA case of clozapine-induced pneumonitis during COVID-19 pandemic is described.- A mini-review of clozapine inflamamtory effects, induced-pneumonitis and SARS-CoV-2 was performed.ResultsA 33 year old afrolatin male started treatment with clozapine up to 250 mg daily. He developed fever and respiratory symptoms in the 11th day of treatment. The exploration revealed pulmonary sounds decreased and 91% basal saturation, making the probable causes viral infection (local incidence of SARS-CoV-2 >800/100000hab), nosocomial bacterial infection or pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient was isolated due to probable COVID-19. Blood tests showed leucocytosis (13400/mcL), Lymphocytopenia (11.8%), high PCR (14.4mg/dL), Ferritine (506.9ng/mL), Fibrinigen (663.83 mg/dL), D-Dimer (1.61mg/dL), and Interleukin-9 /25.8pg/mL). The angioTC revealed a pleural efusion and ground glass infiltrates (figure1). Only after 2 weeks eosinophilia was discovered (88/mcL) After 2 negative consecutieve PCRs for SARS-CoV-2, no imrovement with ampirical antibiotics and all infectious pannels negative, we started decreasing clozapine with improvement of the symptoms and resolution after suspending clozapine completely.ConclusionsClozapine may induce a generalize inflammatory response mediated by interleukin-6. Patients treated with clozapine may exhibit fever and rarely, insterstitial lung inflammation. The expression of induced pneumonitis resembles viral infections, particularly SARS-CoV-2DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Measurement of COVID-19 related mental health problems
Authors: Arts M. , Petrykiv S. , De Jonge L. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe spread of the corona virus (COVID-19) has an enormous psychosocial impact on humanity across the globe, resulting in an increase in mental health issues. There are no specific diagnostic instruments that could identify COVID-19 related mental health problems. In recent months, new scales have been developed to identify COVID-19 related problems.ObjectivesOur objective was to investigate the clinical utility of these new assessment instruments.MethodsWe performed a literature search, using Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane library databases, to search for new scales identifying COVID-19 related mental health problems.ResultsDuring the first half of the year 2020, we found five published new self-report measurement instruments: Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), the COVID Stress Scales (CSS), the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS), and the Questionnaire on Perception of Threat from COVID-19. These instruments have been validated in a group of middle-aged ambulatory patients.ConclusionsThese new instruments might be useful in non-clinical settings. Although the psychometric reports are promising, the instruments have been validated in a less vulnerable group of patients. Future validation studies should also comprise other age groups, particularly the old and more vulnerable population.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Schizophrenia in Covid-19 crisis : Is it a mortality risk factor ?
Authors: Nourchene K. , Khelifa E. , Abassi B. , Ben Aissa S. , Maatouk O. , Bouguerra I. , Mnif L. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionPatients with mental disorders mainly schizophrenia represent a vulnerable population. In Covid-19 pandemic situation, could schizophrenia be considered as a significant mortality risk factor ?ObjectivesIn this study, we aimed to explore the odds of significant COVID-19 mortality among schizophrenia patientsMethodsOur literature review was based on the PubMed interface and adapted for 2 databases: Science Direct and Google Scholar using the following combination ( schizophrenia [MeSH terms]) AND (COVID-19, mortality[MeSH terms])ResultsOur review included 4 population-based cohort studies covering the period from december 2019 to May 2021. The data showed increased mortality risk among individuals with schizophrenia who have had COVID-19. Indeed, this high rate of mortality maybe associated with multiple factors such as unhealthy lifestyle, low socioeconomic status and comorbidities as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. The use of antipsychotics can be considered as a risk factor regarded its immunomodulatory effects. Furthermore, stigma and discrimination towards mental illnesses particularly schizophrenia might have contributed to a worse prognosis.ConclusionsSchizophrenia is a severe mental disorder ,associated with an increased high risk Covid-19. Thus, this population require enhanced preventive and disease management strategies.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Factors Associated With The Covid-19 Infection Severity In Patients With Mental Disorders
Authors: Turki M. , Daoud A. , Blanji S. , Ellouze S. , Ben Jmeaa R. , Ben Abdallah F. , Halouani N. , Aloulou J. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionRecent research showed that persons with mental disorders may represent a population at increased risk for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection with more adverse outcomes.ObjectivesWe aimed to analyze clinical profile of psychiatric inpatients during their infection with COVID-19, and to explore factors associated with the disease progression.MethodsWe analyzed retrospectively the medical records of 32 psychiatric inpatients, hospitalized in psychiatry “B” department at Hedi Chaker hospital (Sfax, Tunisia), and who contracted the COVID-19 infection. We used “Charlson Comorbidity Index Score” (CCIS), predicting 10-year survival in patients with multiple comorbidities.ResultsSomatic history was reported in 50% of patients. The CCIS ranged between 0 and 4. Psychiatric diagnosis was schizophrenia in 81.3% and bipolar disorder in 18.7% of cases. The clinical symptoms reported were fever (50%), dry cough (75%); dyspnea (34.4%). Biological assessment showed a lymphopenia in 40.6% and a high C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in 53.1%. Among our patients, 37,5% needed oxygen, and 25% were transferred to the intensive care unit. The COVID-19 complications were mostly bacterial pulmonary superinfections (21.9%) and pulmonary embolism (9.4%). Only three (9.4%) patients died from the virus. Patients with medical history were more likely to need oxygen (p<0.001). Clinical and paraclinical parameters associated with oxygen need were: fever (p<0.001); dyspnea (p<0.001); lymphopenia (p<0.001); high CRP (p=0.001). Patients presenting pulmonary superinfection or embolism were more likely to require oxygen (p=0.006 and p=0.044 respectively).ConclusionsThis study highlighted factors that may worsen the COVID-19 infection evolution, and which require special attention, in order to improve the prognosis of this disease.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Involuntary Treatments in Italy: a Debated Issue
Authors: Carpiniello B. 
Published: September 2022

Involuntary treatments probably are the most critical issue for psychiatric practice all over the world, including Italy, where the public debate about involuntary admissions and related coercive measures has been constantly alive. In Italy involuntary treatments are justified on the basis of three criteria: the presence of a mental illness; the need for urgent hospital-based treatment, the patient refusal of treatment. Although only 10% of all hospitalizations in Italy occur on a involuntary basis, actually the lowest rate in Europe, proposals of modification of the current Law have been repeatedly presented, in terms of further restrictions of the conditions allowing involuntary hospitalization or even in terms of its abolition. The practice of physical restraint in particular, which has been reported as applied in approx. 85% of Psychiatric Wards, has been strongly criticized, although the effective dimension of its use in Italy is unknown due the lack of official data. In 2015 The National Council of Bioethics expressed a series of doubts and criticisms as well as the Special Commission for Human Rights of the Italian Senate in 2016. Moreover, the death of some patients submitted to physical restraint in the last years, gave repeteadly rise to a media hype, leading again very recently to claims for the abolition of any form of physical restraint during a National Conference on Mental Health, a proposal that the Minister of Health welcomed, committing himself to implement it through a agreement between the State and the Regions, officially devoted to health assistance in Italy.DisclosureNo significant relationships.