{"title":"Coping With Pandemics: A Historical Perspective About Society's Tools to Deal With Global Infectious Diseases.","authors":"Fernando Espí Forcén, Oliver Freudenreich","doi":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001668","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001668","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Throughout history, society has dealt with several devastating pandemics. Our objective is to analyze society's coping mechanisms to deal with pandemic-related stress in history congruent with the values of the time. For that purpose, we have carefully selected some of the most significant pandemics based on their impact and the available psychosocial literature. After a brief introduction, society's coping tools are reviewed and analyzed for the Antonine Plague, the second bubonic plague, the third cholera pandemic, the Spanish flu, the HIV pandemic, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite occurring at different times in history, parallels can be established in the study of society's psychological reactions among different pandemics. Magical thinking, political skepticism, fake accusations, and discrimination of minorities are recurrent reactions in society among different pandemics in history.</p>","PeriodicalId":16480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease","volume":" ","pages":"927-933"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9436910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Quality of Life During the First Three Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Two Earthquakes in Croatia.","authors":"Zrnka Kovačić Petrović, Tina Peraica, Mirta Blažev, Lea Tomašić, Dragica Kozarić-Kovačić","doi":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001660","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001660","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>In a cross-sectional study, we measured the impact of the first three COVID-19 pandemic waves and two earthquakes, occurring during the same period in Croatia, on the quality of life (QoL) of the general adult population. An online survey consisting of sociodemographic questions, questions related to COVID-19 and earthquake stressors, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL)-BREF scale, Impact of Event Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire 4 was completed by 220 men and 898 women (mean age, 35.1 ± 12.3 years). In a series of regressions, we examined the association among five blocks of predictors and six dependent QoL variables, four domain scores, and two global scores. Both WHOQoL-BREF global and domain scores after the prolonged stress were significantly predicted by anxiety, depression, stress symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics. COVID-19-related stressors predicted significantly physical and psychological health, social relationships, and environmental QoL, whereas earthquake-related stressors predicted health satisfaction, physical and psychological health, and environmental QoL.</p>","PeriodicalId":16480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease","volume":" ","pages":"919-926"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9446858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paulo M G Sales, Melissa J Greenfield, Aaron Pinkhasov, Ramaswamy Viswanathan, Ramotse Saunders, Damir Huremović
{"title":"Drawing the Line Between Postacute Sequelae of COVID-19 and Functional Neurologic Disorders: A Daunting Clinical Overlap or Irrelevant Conundrum?","authors":"Paulo M G Sales, Melissa J Greenfield, Aaron Pinkhasov, Ramaswamy Viswanathan, Ramotse Saunders, Damir Huremović","doi":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001643","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001643","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in its multiple variants that classically presents with cough, fatigue, fever, headache, myalgias, and diarrhea. As vaccination becomes widely available and infection rates facilitate herd immunity across the globe, more attention has been given to long-term symptoms that may persist after the index infection, which include impairments in concentration, executive dysfunction, sensory disturbances, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and cough, among other symptoms classified under the umbrella term of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).Functional neurologic disorder (FND), also known as conversion disorder and functional neurologic symptom disorder, refers to the presence of one or more symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function that are incompatible with and not better explained by a known neurological or medical condition that causes significant distress and functional impairment. Although the diagnosis of FND may not require the identification of an underlying psychological stressor, being diagnosed with an FND can worsen stigma and shift attention and resources away from other medical concerns that should be concomitantly addressed.This review summarizes the literature on the overlapping nature and discrimination of PASC from FND in COVID-19 survivors. Based on this, we develop a treatment framework that targets unique domains of these complex overlapping presentations, following a multidisciplinary approach with an individualized treatment plan inclusive of physical and psychological interventions focused on functional rehabilitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":16480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease","volume":"211 12","pages":"882-889"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138444918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ozlem Olguner Eker, Murat Gultekin, Saliha Demirel Ozsoy
{"title":"Foreign Accent Syndrome After COVID 19 Infection: A Case Report.","authors":"Ozlem Olguner Eker, Murat Gultekin, Saliha Demirel Ozsoy","doi":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001617","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001617","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Foreign accent syndrome (FAS) is an extremely rare disorder characterized by the appearance of speech changes that are perceived by the speaker and listeners as an acquired foreign accent. It still remains a poorly understood condition. Three main types of FAS have been reported in the medical literature as neurogenic, psychogenic, and mixed type. Psychogenic FAS includes all cases of FAS in which an organic cause has not been identified and a clear psychological factor has been identified after careful clinical, neurological, and neuroradiological examination. Although the COVID-19 epidemic, which has been ongoing since February 2020, primarily manifests itself with upper respiratory tract infection findings, it is seen that it also causes a wide range of neurological and psychiatric signs and symptoms. In this study, a 42-year-old female patient who started to have speech disorder after COVID-19 infection is presented in the light of clinical history, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis literature findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":16480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease","volume":"211 12","pages":"974-976"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138444993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charlotte Williamson, Margaret Jones, Laura Palmer, Glen Dighton, Howard Burdett, Marie-Louise Sharp, Nicola T Fear
{"title":"Anger Among UK Ex-Service Military Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Charlotte Williamson, Margaret Jones, Laura Palmer, Glen Dighton, Howard Burdett, Marie-Louise Sharp, Nicola T Fear","doi":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001681","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001681","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Military service and ex-service personnel commonly experience difficulties with anger. The COVID-19 pandemic had several negative consequences upon social, economic, and health factors that influence anger. This study aimed to explore 1) levels of anger in an ex-serving military cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) self-reported changes in anger compared with prepandemic levels; and 3) identify sociodemographic characteristics, military characteristics, COVID-19 experiences, and COVID-19 stressors associated with anger. UK ex-service personnel ( n = 1499) completed the Dimensions of Anger Reactions 5-item measure within an existing cohort study. Overall, 14.4% reported significant difficulties with anger, and 24.8% reported their anger worsened during the pandemic. Anger was associated with factors such as financial difficulties, extra/new caring responsibilities, and COVID-19 bereavement. Endorsing more COVID-19 stressors was associated with higher odds of anger difficulties. This study highlights the impact of the pandemic on ex-service personnel, including a strain on family/social relationships and financial hardship, which affected anger.</p>","PeriodicalId":16480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease","volume":" ","pages":"940-947"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9769756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Refractory Depression With Persistent Sore Throat and Hypochondriacal Delusion of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Case Study.","authors":"Gaku Hayasaki, Takeshi Terao, Hirofumi Hirakawa, Masaaki Muronaga, Kentaro Kohno","doi":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001666","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001666","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Herein, we present a case of a female patient with a persistent sore throat, which preceded a hypochondriacal delusion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Both the sore throat and hypochondriacal delusion persisted together, despite the repeatedly negative results of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 and a moderate improvement in her depression. Four possibilities for the patient's sore throat were discussed: pain symptoms of somatic symptom disorder, pain symptoms of depression, delusion of pain in her throat, and somatic hallucination as a sore throat. Consequently, somatic hallucinations were considered the most likely. In any case, the present findings suggest that sore throat can precede hypochondriacal delusion of SARS-CoV-2 infection in some noninfected patients. When patients continue to complain of a sore throat despite the negative results of SARS-CoV-2 by the RT-PCR test, we should consider that it might be a somatic hallucination and soon hypochondriacal delusions may occur, leading to the manifestation of other symptoms of psychiatric disorders, such as depression, which may be refractory and/or suicidal.</p>","PeriodicalId":16480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease","volume":"211 12","pages":"977-978"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138444999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Psychological Stress and Coping Strategy Profiles Among Frontline Medical Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Lihua Yan, Jiahuan Li, Pingzhen Lin, Jiwei Sun","doi":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001723","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001723","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>This study aimed to explore coping strategy profiles used by frontline medical workers and the psychological stress reactions associated with each category, in the COVID-19 pandemic context. Participants were 651 frontline medical workers recruited between February and March 2020. Psychological stress reactions (e.g., anxiety, depression) and coping strategies were assessed and analyzed using latent profile analysis and linear regression. Participants had three coping strategy profiles: coping inadequately (28.9%), coping appropriately (64.4%), and coping excessively (6.7%). Compared with coping appropriately, those who coped inadequately and excessively had higher psychological stress reactions levels. Levels of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder in excessive-coping individuals were higher than those who coped inadequately. Our findings elucidate the effectiveness of different coping strategy profiles and provide insights for developing targeted interventions to mitigate stress among medical workers. In light of these results, we recommend implementing stress management programs tailored to specific coping strategy profiles.</p>","PeriodicalId":16480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease","volume":"211 12","pages":"954-960"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138444998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Understanding Moral Injury in Frontline Health Care Professionals 2 Years After the Onset of COVID-19.","authors":"Maya Elizabeth Sharma, Rosanna Cousins","doi":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001665","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001665","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, health care professionals have worked in morally challenging situations. The aim of this research was to investigate the predictors of moral injury in United Kingdom frontline health care professionals working in a variety of roles 2 years after the onset of the pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted January 25-February 28, 2022. A total of 235 participants answered sociodemographic, employment, health, COVID-19-related questions, and the 10-item Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Healthcare Professional version. Nearly three quarters had experienced moral injury. Twelve significant predictors of moral injury were entered into a backward elimination binominal logistic regression. The final model included five independent predictors that explained 25.4% variance in moral injury (χ 2 [5, N = 235] = 45.7, p < 0.001). Odds of moral injury were significantly raised in young health care professionals (<31 years), smokers, and those reporting low workplace confidence, not feeling appreciated, and feeling burned out. The findings support interventions to relieve moral injury in frontline health care professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":16480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease","volume":" ","pages":"934-939"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9477787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kerri-Anne Bell, Caitlin M O'Loughlin, Marilyn L Piccirillo, Brooke A Ammerman
{"title":"Negative Beliefs About Suicide Disclosure: Implications for US Veterans.","authors":"Kerri-Anne Bell, Caitlin M O'Loughlin, Marilyn L Piccirillo, Brooke A Ammerman","doi":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001701","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001701","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>This study examined the differences in negative beliefs about disclosing suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) between US Veterans and non-Veterans, and between Veterans who are and are not enrolled in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care. Participants included 495 adults with a history of suicide ideation who completed an online self-report questionnaire inquiring about history of STBs, STB disclosure, and beliefs about STB disclosures. Group differences in STB disclosure beliefs were analyzed. Results showed that Veterans (vs. non-Veterans) more strongly believed that STB disclosure would result in firearm confiscation. VHA-enrolled (vs. non-VHA enrolled) Veterans reported stronger beliefs that STB disclosures result in involuntary hospitalization. Among VHA-enrolled Veterans, stronger beliefs regarding providers' interest regarding true STB experiences and others' comfort with STB disclosures were associated with lower STB disclosure likelihood. Findings highlight that educating Veterans on the benefits of STB disclosure and limiting misinformation regarding its consequences is paramount, specifically through improved suicide-related communication within the VHA and stigma reduction campaigns.</p>","PeriodicalId":16480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease","volume":"211 11","pages":"866-869"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10617650/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"61563201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Diagnostic Concept of Unipolar Mania: The Missing Entity of the Affective Spectrum.","authors":"Francesco Bartoli","doi":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001704","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NMD.0000000000001704","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Although the traditional nosological view interprets mania as strictly connected with depression in the context of manic-depressive illness, unipolar mania (UM), that is, the lifetime occurrence of mania or hypomania in the absence of depression, has been proposed as a necessary diagnostic entity. Epidemiological data estimate that at least 5% of people with type I bipolar disorder never experienced depression. These subjects are more often males with a hyperthymic temperament, a younger age at onset, and more psychotic features. Current classification systems do not formally recognize UM, but different definitions of mania without depression have been proposed. UM should be assessed according to the number of mood episodes, the predominance of manic or hypomanic episodes, and its clinical course. More generally, UM should be considered in the context of an affective spectrum including different clinical phenotypes based on the predominance of depressive or manic symptoms. Additional clinical and epidemiological research in this field is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":16480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease","volume":" ","pages":"811-813"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9944832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}