bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mental Health Impact among Survivors from COVID 19 Pneumonia, Almoosa Hospital Experience
Authors: Osman S. , Alkhalifa S. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionCOVID-19 is associated with mental manifestations, Anxiety and depression appear to be common amongst people hospitalized for COVID-19.Objectivesevaluate the emotional stress resulting from infection and assess its impact on the mental health of patients who recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia.MethodsIt is a cross-sectional study, The mental health assessment tool DASS2 (Arabic version) was applied in collecting the data for the study. Demographic characteristics, chronic disease status, COVID 19 pneumonia, oxygen saturation level were recorded at the follow-up visit, soon after the psychiatric evaluation. Psychological distress was assessed An Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to assess the mental health status. Statistical analysis by (SPSS, version 25).Results466 patients were consented prior to enrollment in the study, out of the total respondents; (53.2%) were females, anxiety rate was found in (18%), stress in (17%), and depression in (14%) of the patients, significantly elevated blood levels of the inflammatory marker in patients with depression and anxiety, increase in the rates of depression with male gender, increasing age and longer duration of ICU stay respectively, with non-significant p-values. There was also a small increase in the period stayed in ICU among those who developed depression and anxiety. Reduced oxygen saturation in COVID-19 patients with depression was 4 times those with no depression.Conclusionsprolonged ICU stays and reduced oxygen saturation was associated with a high rate of depression in patients with COVID-19, as well as elevated levels of the inflammatory marker D-dimer with depression and anxiety.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Covid-19 Barrier gestures for patients with schizophrenia: A therapeutic “dead end”?
Authors: Bouguerra I. , Khelifa E. , Abassi B. , Ben Aissa S. , Maatouk O. , Kouki N. , Mnif L. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionSince the beginning of Coronavirus pandemic, the world is facing huge challenges for the prevention of mass infection. Studies shows that wearing facemasks and hand washing seems to be the best protection from disease transmission. Indeed, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 was efficaciously controlled in countries where mask wearing is respected. However, such recommendations may not be easily established with inpatients with mental disorders due to limited ability to embrace instructions.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of facemasks and hand’s wash among inpatients with mental disorders during coronavirus pandemic in a psychiatric hospital in Tunisia.MethodsThis hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2021 among thirty hospitalized inpatients in a psychiatric department suffering from schizophrenia. All patients responded to an anonymous questionnaire about mask wearing and washing hands status. Knowledge about COVID-19 was assessed by a 6-item questionnaire inspired from a Corean study.ResultsPreliminary findings showed that most patients are aware of covid-19 pandemic and about barrier gestures but only a very few (less than 20%) wear masks. Inpatients with schizophrenia were in most cases not afraid from covid-19 contamination within the hospital and less that 50% were vaccinated.ConclusionsDuring a pandemic, psychiatric departments needs an extra attention because of the high-risk of spreading infections in inpatients with mental diseases. Communication has to be clearer, and repeated assistance by correctly reminding measures has to be implanted above all for patients with schizophrenia.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Epidemiological analysis of hospitalized patients at the Clinic for Psychiatry KCV in Novi Sad during 2020
Authors: Kuljancic D. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe 2020 year was the first year of Covid19 pandemy in Serbia. Epidemiological measures introduced to prevent the spread of the infection have shaped both the everyday life of citizens and the way the health system of our country functions. A large number of those infected required the redistribution of health personnel to work in covid zones and therefore the work with non covid patients suffered.ObjectivesThe aim of the study is to process and present the epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized patients at the Clinic for Psychiatry of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina in Novi Sad in 2020.MethodsA retrospective analytical study of the epidemiological type was conducted.ResultsDuring 2020, a total of 1345 patients were hospitalized at our Clinic, which is over 30% less than during the previous year. Several males, aged 19 to 45, with a predominant diagnosis of psychosis, were hospitalized. Hospitalizations lasted significantly shorter than during the previous year. The number of relapses was significantly lower. Patients with other diagnoses of mental disorders are significantly less often hospitalized, except for those with addiction diseases who are hospitalized in a reduced percentage.ConclusionsRestrictive epidemiological measures led to a significant reduction in the number of hospitalizations at our Clinic, primarily because patients were prevented from exercising their right to health care, but also because of the mobilization of all healthy defense mechanisms in a collective crisis situation and consequently reduced psychopathological manifestations.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Assessment of cognitive disorders in Covid-19 patients in Tunisia
Authors: Adouni A. , Abdelghaffar W. , Boudriga S. , Somii B. , Blibech H. , Haloui N. , Rafrafi R. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionSince the beginning of the pandemic, the Sars-cov2 virus remains unclear concerning its clinical manifestations and its sequelae. Few studies have evaluated the existence of cognitive impairment in patients with COVID-19 and estimated its imputability in the development of these disorders.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study is to assess cognitive disorders in post-COVID patients.MethodsA descriptive observational survey was conducted by the psychiatry department of Mongi Slim hospital in Tunis-Tunisia during May-June 2021 among covid-19 patients selected at the first post covid consultation (at 1 month). First, sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, then the evaluation of the cognitive disorders was carried using many scales: MMS (mini mental state), FAB, TMT and the maze task.ResultsEight patients met the selection criteria with a sex ratio of 6:2 and an average age of 67.5 years (6 with a primary level). The extent of the lesions varied between 10% and 75%. Among the participants, 4 required hospitalization in intensive care: 3 with non-invasive ventilation and 1 needed intubation. The 1-month evaluation found that all the patients had good memory and execution skills with MMS scales >25 and FAB scales >14. Regarding flexibility and planification: 4 of them needed more than 78 seconds to complete the TMT-A ,3 took more than 273 seconds to complete the TMT-B and 2 needed more than 60 seconds to accomplish the maze task (deficient scores).ConclusionsThe screening of cognitive disorders in post-COVID patients is very important for a better management that may require early neurocognitive rehabilitation.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Child psychiatric emergency visits during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Andreo Jover J. , Hernandez Calle D. , Curto-Ramos J. , Vicente Valor L. , García Martínez D. , Juárez G. , Alcamí M. , Ortiz A. , Iglesias N. , Bravo-Ortiz M.F. , Martinez-Ales G. , Rodríguez-Vega B. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionPaediatric and adult psychiatric emergency department (ED) visits decreased during the initial COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Long-term consequences of the pandemic will include increases in mental healthcare needs especially among especially vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents.ObjectivesThis study examined changes in the number of overall and diagnosis-specific mental health ED visits among patients aged <18 years following onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Madrid, Spain.MethodsWe used electronic health records to extract the monthly numbers of total and diagnosis-specific mental health ED visits among patients aged <18 years, between October 2018 and April 2021, to La Paz University Hospital. We conducted interrupted time-series analyses and compared trends before and after the day of the first ED COVID-19 case (1st March 2020).ResultsIn March 2020, there was a marked initial decrease of -12.8 (95%CI -21.9, -7.9) less monthly mental health ED visits. After April 2020, there was a subsequent increasing trend of 3.4 (95%CI 2.6, 4.2) additional monthly mental health ED visits.ConclusionsAfter onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in paediatric psychiatric ED visits, especially due to suicide-related reasons. These data reinforce the crucial role of the ED in the management of acute mental health problems among youth and highlight the need for renovated efforts to enhance access to care outside of and during acute crises during the pandemic and its aftermath.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Young and lonely? Results from the COMET study
Authors: Di Vincenzo M. , Marone L. , Del Vecchio A. , Giallonardo V. , Del Vecchio V. , Luciano M. , Sampogna G. , Fiorillo A. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe sudden changes in daily routine due to the containment measures adopted for facing the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact on the mental health of the general population. In particular, young adults are exposed to a higher risk compared to the general population to suffer from the consequences of the pandemic, in terms of anger and irritability, depressive symptoms and somatic complaints, insomnia, lack of motivation and loneliness. In particular, loneliness can be particularly pronounced during young adulthood.ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe the levels of loneliness in a sample of Italian young people during the national lockdown in 2020, evaluating clinical and socio-demographic differences and the role of coping strategies and levels of resilience.MethodsA sub-analysis of a sample of adults aged 18-34 years has been drawn on a larger cross-sectional observational national trial (COMET, 2020) in which, among other psychopathological dimensions, the levels of loneliness have been assessed by the UCLA scale short version.ResultsLevels of loneliness were particularly severe in a third of cases (risk factors: unemployment, low income and vulnerability in mental health), in association with depression, anxiety, stress, OCD symptoms, higher rates of suicidal ideation, sleep disturbance and excessive use of Internet. Levels of loneliness tended to increase over time.ConclusionsOverall, during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown young people have experienced quite high levels of loneliness: this dimension could represent a useful domain to assess in routine clinical practice.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Psychiatric intervention on patients recovering from hospitalization due to Covid-19
Authors: Machado D. , Borges A. , Laureano C. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionAccording to recent reports Covid-19 patients may exhibit psychiatric co-morbidities that cause dysfunction, loss of autonomy and emotional suffering even after the physical illness is treated. Considering the high impact Covid-19 may have on mental health, we have created a psychiatric consultation dedicated to the study, observation and support of patients that developed mental illness after being hospitalized due to Covid-19.ObjectivesWe aim at 1) describe the profile of patients that developed psychiatric comorbidities following a hospitalization due to Covid-19 and 2) recognize and treat early psychiatric symptoms in Covid-19 patients.MethodsBased on what was described in other epidemic crisis, we established a semi-structured interview to evaluate several dimensions of the patients’ life that may have been affected by Covid-19 and that may impact on mental health. The interview included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Each patient was observed multiple times over several months. Our evaluation was done in parallel with consultations in Internal Medicine.ResultsMost patients complained of symptoms directly related with the infection of SARS-CoV-2, namely fatigue, short breath and reduced tolerance to efforts. Importantly, many patients also reported de novo or aggravation of anxiety, stress, depression, sleep disturbances and grief often associated with feelings of existential emptiness and lack of purpose.ConclusionsHospitalization due to Covid-19 has a high impact on mental health, raising important questions on purpose and emptiness. An early psychiatric intervention is highly recommended.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Assessement of burnout among high school teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sfax, Tunisia
Authors: Regaieg N. , Zouari L. , Mejdoub Y. , Smaoui N. , Omri S. , Feki R. , Gassara I. , Charfi N. , Ben Thabet J. , Maalej M. , Maalej M. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionFacing educational difficulties related to COVID-19, some teachers can no longer adapt, making them potential candidates for burnout.ObjectivesWe aimed to assess burnout among high school teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine its prevalence and factors associated with it.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, carried out on google drive in May 2021, and relating to 97 Tunisian junior and secondary school teachers from the Sfax region. Burnout was evaluated by the Burnout Measure Short version (BMS-10).ResultsThe sex-ratio (M/F) of our population was 0.32 and the average age was 44.23 ± 7.81 years old. The labor load was low, medium and high in respectively 1.4%, 57.6% and 41% of cases. Almost a third of participants (30.6%) reported a low satisfaction with working conditions. The average BMS score was 40.19 ± 13.98. According to the BMS scores, 36.1% of teachers had a very low to a low degree of burnout, 23.6% had burnout while 40.3% had a high to very high degree of exposure to burnout. Furthermore, the BMS score was associated with the female gender (p=0.002), sleep disturbances (p<0.001), suicidal thoughts (p<0.001) and with a medium to a high labor load (p=0.045).ConclusionsIn this study, Tunisian high school teachers in times of COVID-19 reported a high burnout rate. Thus, the protection of this vulnerable population must be an important component of public health measures.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Unique combination of herbal ingredients for everyday distress in medical workers (short-term pilot study)
Authors: Morozova M. , Alexeev A. , Rupchev G. , Beniashvili A. , Potanin S. , Lepilkina T. , Burminskiy D. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionPsychological distress is a phenomenon that often occurs not only in patients but in normal subjects under excessive psychological pressure. Health care workers are at particular risk of distress in a pandemic. It negatively affects the quality of life, social and physical functioning and can be a trigger of different diseases. The pharmaceutical drugs can be unnecessary active for healthy subjects. Nutraceuticals may be the adequate choice in this situation.ObjectivesAssessing the effectiveness of the unique antistress combination of the three herbal ingredients (standardized extracts of passionfruit, melissa and catnip) in medical workers with the signs of psychological distressMethodsTwenty-four subjects-medical doctors from 30 to 55 years old (15 women; 9 men) were included into the one-week study. Antistress combination was administered 1 tablet tid. The first part of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI “State anxiety”) andor a free self-report were done twice (before and at the end of the study)ResultsFrom 24 subjects 19 subjects filled out the STAI, free self-reports were received from 10 subjects (5 people provided information about their condition in two forms). STAI scores showed statistically significant decrease in anxiety at the end of the study. A positive effect the emotional condition and quality of sleep was noted in free self-reports. Adverse effects of nutraceuticals were rare, mild, and transient. No negative impact on quality of working condition was registered.ConclusionsThe pilot study showed the promising effect of antistress combination in medical workers in specific stressful situation.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Retrospective Memories of Parents about Behaviour of Their Children During Lockdown
Authors: Burlakova N. , Diusimbeeva F. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe trace in the memory left by the COVID-19 pandemic is no less important than the immediate reaction on it.ObjectivesThe objective was to study the parent-child relations during the strict lockdown (April 2020) on the material of parental memories focusing on emotional reactions and behaviour of children.MethodsThe material was collected in July-August 2020 in a small city in south Russia. The group included 88 parents (average age 34±5). 42 parents had an only child, 38 two children and 7 from 3 to 5 children. Methods used in the study included questionary, half-structured interview.Results61% estimated the lockdown as “very stressful and difficult.” Vast majority (86 parents) said that the situation was constantly discussed in the family, 2 parents demonstrated the reaction of denial saying that the situation was never discussed at home. Respondents mentioned “increase of anxiety,” “insecurity,” “conflicts within the family,” etc. In most cases, parents did not succeed to provide a constructive and balancing explanation, which would answer the child’s wish to understand the situation. Describing the children’s reactions on the changes in the usual way of life, parents stressed anxious (15%) and explosive-angry reactions (10%), with prevalence of apathy, tendency to “stick to” the adult (45%). 30% of parents did not notice any changes in their children’s behaviour.ConclusionsResults demonstrate the need in clinical-psychological solutions, which would be designed for wide use (“collective patient”) and aimed at explanation of the situation of pandemic to the children of different ages, belonging to different social groups.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Changes of ambulance departures to assaults during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
Authors: Pisl V. , Vevera J. , Volavka J. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionRestrictions related to COVID-19 may affect aggressive behaviour. Increased incidence of gender-based, domestic, and intimate-partner violence was expected during the pandemic, however, retrospective analyses yielded contradicting results.ObjectivesExamine changes in frequency of assaults caused by pandemic restrictions, including separate analysis for male and female assault victims, for residential and non-residential location of assaults and for assaults related to domestic violence.MethodsWeekly number of ambulance departures to injuries secondary to assaults in the Pilsen region, Czechia, during the COVID lockdown was compared to records from the three previous years using ANOVA and post hoc t-tests. Further, multilinear regression was used to model weekly number of ambulance departures between 1st January 2017 and 30th April 2021 based on presence of pandemic national emergency state, time, and seasonality.ResultsDuring pandemic lockdown, ambulance departures to assaults dropped by 43% compared to equivalent periods of the three previous years. The decrease was notable specifically among departures to male victims and to assaults in non-residential areas, with only small decrease observed for female victims and assaults related to domestic violence and no change found in frequency of assaults happening at home.ConclusionsLockdowns and restrictions of public life were associated with a decreased incidence of violent assaults. While the incidence decreased especially in males and in those assaulted outside of their homes, we found no support for an increase in domestic or gender related violence. Pandemic restrictions may serve as a protective rather than a risk factor for assaults.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
An exploratory qualitative study describing frontline nurses’ experiences with Presenteeism due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Laranjeira C. , Querido A. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic will have a long-lasting impact on healthcare workplaces and professionals alike. For that reason, it is necessary more knowledge and insights about sickness presenteeism behaviour to provide appropriate occupational health services for all healthcare workers affected directly and indirectly by this pandemic.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore and describe presenteeism experiences among frontline nurses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA qualitative thematic analysis was used to evaluate the perceptions of frontline nurses from different Portuguese hospital institutions joined in two Focus Groups. Using convenience sampling a total of 20 RNs participated in interviews. No restriction was given to their gender, age, career, and wards in charge so as to obtain diverse data on nurses’ experiences of presenteeism.ResultsThe sample mean age was 36 years [range 25 - 42 years]; they had a clinical career of 12 years on average [range 2 - 20 years]. The major theme was the metaphor of “the rotten orange”. This theme implied the presence of a phenomenon that is invisible due to the ignorance of many, but which spreads through the members of a team, leading to an overload of its members for lack of one compassionate leadership. Consequently, leads to loss of the nursing spirit and nursing manpower.ConclusionsOur findings point to the development of workplace interventions targets to reduce healthcare worker presenteeism and to help employers foster a ‘healthier’ sickness culture during the pandemic and beyond.DisclosureNo significant relationships.