{"title":"Medical anthropology and epidemiology: a collaborative venture for mental health research in India.","authors":"Chittaranjan Subudhi, Ramakrishna Biswal","doi":"10.1080/09540261.2020.1733793","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1733793","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Research in mental health is a complex phenomenon that requires the use of more than one technique. It is extremely crucial to study and understand people's perceptions, beliefs, healing practices and coping strategies related to mental health. Stipulating only one between the medical/biomedical and medical anthropology perspectives may not be adequate to understand the dynamics of mental health research. The number of variables and components associated with the respondents and their social environments give diverse results. Research on mental health is very crucial and different from other kinds of health-related researches. Thus, while conducting mental health research, it is important that the researchers be careful in choosing and applying appropriate methodology. It is a very critical field of research, requiring Interdisciplinary research methodological approaches. An eclectic strategy is required to give an innate understanding of the phenomenon of mental health. Studies should follow both anthropological and epidemiological notions to understand human behaviour, for better management and planning of the mental health services. The proposed paper discusses 'cultural epidemiology' as a methodology and explores its contribution to the contemporary mental health research.</p>","PeriodicalId":306151,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)","volume":" ","pages":"29-36"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/09540261.2020.1733793","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37725066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adaptive coping during protracted political conflict, war and military blockade in Gaza.","authors":"Jeyda Hammad, Rachel Tribe","doi":"10.1080/09540261.2020.1741257","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1741257","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Identifying culturally-relevant concepts and coping mechanisms can help protect civilian wellbeing. This study explores how seven professional Palestinian university graduates in the Gaza Strip (occupied Palestinian territories) cope with war, military occupation, military blockade and the challenges of living in a conflict-affected area. Participants were interviewed to determine whether culturally specific modes of coping were used. Thematic analysis was applied. The use of resistance and more specifically sumud, <sup>1</sup> being steadfast and persevering, were identified alongside the motivation to persevere and other adaptive responses to living conditions. Coping strategies identified in this study include adapting, problem-solving, accepting reality, exercising patience, utilising social support, and faith in God (iman) and religion. The implications of this study and the relevance of the findings to mental health and disaster relief are considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":306151,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)","volume":" ","pages":"56-63"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/09540261.2020.1741257","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37784299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shanaya Rathod, Elizabeth Graves, David Kingdon, Kerensa Thorne, Farooq Naeem, Peter Phiri
{"title":"Cultural Adaptations in Clinical InteractiONs (CoACtION): a multi-site comparative study to assess what cultural adaptations are made by clinicians in different settings.","authors":"Shanaya Rathod, Elizabeth Graves, David Kingdon, Kerensa Thorne, Farooq Naeem, Peter Phiri","doi":"10.1080/09540261.2020.1750818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1750818","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Culture influences models of mental illness, help-seeking behaviours and outcomes of interventions. Cultural competency training has been developed to improve clinician practice in addressing these issues. The study aims to identify to what extent culturally competent and informed interactions are used by clinicians in England and how patients experience these interaction. Clinicians and non-white western patients were recruited to complete a questionnaire on culturally adapted practice in 25 areas of England. Clinicians are much more likely to rate their practice as clinically competent whereas patients were more likely to disagree that services were completely culturally competent. Length of time working as clinicians, receipt of specific cultural competence training and a higher percentage of caseload from non-white western backgrounds all increased clinician's perception that their practice was culturally competent. Clinicians recognised the importance of cultural competency but the disparity between their assessment of whether they achieved this and that of patients must be addressed. Ethics approval was obtained via proportionate review from the London - Central Research Ethics Committee (REC Ref no: 17/LO/1962). <b>Study registration</b>: UK Clinical Research Network Portfolio: 36744.</p>","PeriodicalId":306151,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)","volume":" ","pages":"3-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/09540261.2020.1750818","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37902228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Changes in society and young people's mental health<sup>1</sup>.","authors":"Derek Bolton, Dinesh Bhugra","doi":"10.1080/09540261.2020.1753968","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1753968","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is well recognized that many psychiatric disorders are strongly influenced by cultural and social factors. Foucault's account of the modern development links together 'madness', psychiatry and the asylum. We pick up the story at the point Foucault left it, the mid-twentieth century, to examine cultural and social processes that are reshaping concepts, discourse and practices - the 'social imaginary' - around mental health, with particular reference to the apparent rise in mental health problems among the young. We conclude that this apparent rise may reflect cultural and social changes in representations of mental health. In addition, over recent decades there have been increasingly evident fractures in social solidarity, interacting with and exacerbating specific socio-political-economic-environmental stressors on younger generations, including increasing intergenerational wealth inequalities and accelerating environmental concerns.</p>","PeriodicalId":306151,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)","volume":" ","pages":"154-161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/09540261.2020.1753968","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37882683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nomusa F Mngoma, Oyedeji A Ayonrinde, Stevenson Fergus, Alan H Jeeves, Rosemary J Jolly
{"title":"Distress, desperation and despair: anxiety, depression and suicidality among rural South African youth.","authors":"Nomusa F Mngoma, Oyedeji A Ayonrinde, Stevenson Fergus, Alan H Jeeves, Rosemary J Jolly","doi":"10.1080/09540261.2020.1741846","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1741846","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Common mental disorders (CMDs) affect millions of people worldwide and impose a high cost to individuals and society. Youth are disproportionately affected, as has also been confirmed in South Africa. Mental disorders and substance use disorders often occur as concurrent disorders. Although youth in rural South Africa grow up in difficult social and economic conditions, the study of mental disorders in South Africa has focussed primarily on urban populations. One such rural area in South Africa is the Harry Gwala District, where rates of interpersonal violence and self-inflicted injuries among 15-24-year-old men, are extraordinarily high. Suicide is an important proxy measure of severe emotional distress, predominantly depression and hopelessness. This study reports on rates of fatal self-harm among 15-24-year-old men in the Harry Gwala District. We determined the rates and severity of CMDs and their correlates among 355 young males ranging in age from 14 to 24 years in the Harry Gwala District community. High rates of depression, anxiety, hopelessness and worthlessness were reported. One in four of the young men and boys reported current suicidal thoughts associated with depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness and binge drinking. Reports of alcohol use were high, as were those of daily cannabis use. Our findings show high rates of CMDs and alcohol use, and highlight the impact of collective dysphoria on the mental well-being of rural youth in South Africa, who are likely coping through drug and alcohol use.</p>","PeriodicalId":306151,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)","volume":" ","pages":"64-74"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/09540261.2020.1741846","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37852729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Culturally informed resilience in conflict settings: a literature review of Sumud in the occupied Palestinian territories.","authors":"Jeyda Hammad, Rachel Tribe","doi":"10.1080/09540261.2020.1741259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1741259","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Investigating culturally specific views and experiences of trauma and resilience can offer new insights that can aid distress management, meaning making, coping and resilience in adverse conditions, and inform emergency and disaster responses. Sumud is a Palestinian cultural construct and component of resilience in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt). Sumud in Arabic refers to steadfastness or perseverance. This literature review focuses on research studies on Sumud in the oPt, with particular attention to the meaning and manifestations of Sumud, the role of non-violent resistance, and how Sumud and non-violent resistance informs resilience and coping in the context of a military occupation, protracted political conflict, and chronic adversity. The peer-reviewed literature was surveyed using the PubMed and PsycINFO databases. The findings indicate how Sumud is a central component of resilience and provides a meta-cognitive framework which Palestinians use to interpret, cope and respond to ongoing injustice and traumatic experiences, engendering a sense of purpose and meaning. It is both a value and an action that manifests via individual and collective action to protect family and community survival, wellbeing, dignity, Palestinian identity and culture, and a determination to remain on the land. The implications of this study and the relevance of the findings to mental health and disaster relief are considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":306151,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)","volume":" ","pages":"132-139"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/09540261.2020.1741259","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37785383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Yoga and psychiatric disorders: a review of biomarker evidence.","authors":"Hemant Bhargav, Sanju George, Shivarama Varambally, Bangalore Nanjundaiah Gangadhar","doi":"10.1080/09540261.2020.1761087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1761087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Traditionally, yoga has been used as a means for spiritual growth but over the past two decades or so its therapeutic benefits in psychiatric disorders have been scientifically explored. Yoga has been shown to be useful as a mono-therapy in mild to moderate depression and as an adjuvant in several psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Furthermore, systematic attempts have been made to understand the biological correlates of yoga in these psychiatric disorders. Given that no psychiatric disorder has strong and established biomarkers, it is interesting that preliminary research has demonstrated significant changes in certain important biomarkers following regular yoga practice. In this brief review, we provide an update on the effects of yoga on biochemical, neuro-physiological and neuro-imaging related bio-markers in psychiatric disorders. Although findings and trends are promising, much more research is warranted to establish a definite biological basis for yoga in psychiatry.</p>","PeriodicalId":306151,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)","volume":" ","pages":"162-169"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/09540261.2020.1761087","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37929227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charles L Cole, Samantha Waterman, Elaine Catherine Margaret Hunter, Vaughan Bell, Neil Greenberg, G James Rubin, Alison Beck
{"title":"Effectiveness of small group cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression in Ebola treatment centre staff in Sierra Leone.","authors":"Charles L Cole, Samantha Waterman, Elaine Catherine Margaret Hunter, Vaughan Bell, Neil Greenberg, G James Rubin, Alison Beck","doi":"10.1080/09540261.2020.1750800","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1750800","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Following the 2014 Ebola outbreak, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM) were commissioned to provide a 'culturally appropriate, effective and sustainable' intervention to address the psychological needs of the Sierra Leonean Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) staff. The study evaluated the effectiveness of group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) developed to treat anxiety, depression and functional impairment amongst a sample of former ETC staff in Sierra Leone. Group comparisons explored whether the effect of the intervention differed dependent on the facilitators that delivered it, as well as whether it differed between former staff of high- and low-risk ETC roles. A sample of 253 former ETC staff attended the group CBT intervention comprised of eight sessions over six weeks. Outcome measures were administered upon entry and within two weeks after the intervention. At post-intervention, anxiety, depression and functional impairment significantly reduced. Reading ability (RA) was introduced as a covariate having impacted the outcomes. The intervention effect differed by facilitators delivering the sessions but not by ETC role risk. The implications of these results are discussed. Group CBT is a promising psychological intervention for treating the anxiety, depression and functional impairment of former ETC staff in Sierra Leone. Furthermore, as part of a stepped-care approach, it may provide a model for psychological support for staff that have worked on the frontline during future epidemics.</p>","PeriodicalId":306151,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)","volume":" ","pages":"189-197"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/09540261.2020.1750800","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37843320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Atif Rahman, Ahmed Waqas, Anum Nisar, Huma Nazir, Siham Sikander, Najia Atif
{"title":"Improving access to psychosocial interventions for perinatal depression in low- and middle-income countries: lessons from the field.","authors":"Atif Rahman, Ahmed Waqas, Anum Nisar, Huma Nazir, Siham Sikander, Najia Atif","doi":"10.1080/09540261.2020.1772551","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1772551","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over 90% women with perinatal depression in low and middle-income countries do not receive treatment. Scale-up of evidence-based psychosocial interventions is a key challenge. We developed the Thinking Healthy Programme (THP), a psychosocial intervention that can be delivered by non-specialist providers such as community health workers in primary and secondary care settings. Our research showed that three out of 4 women with perinatal depression who received the programme recovered, and there were beneficial effects on infant outcomes. In over a decade since the original research, policy and practice uptake of the programme globally has been promising. We describe factors contributing to this: the programme is relatively inexpensive and culturally transferable; the intervention can be integrated with existing maternal and child health programmes; the programme is amenable to 'task-sharing' via peers, nurses, community health-workers and other frontline workers; cascaded models of training and supervision, and the use of technology for training and delivery provide exciting future avenues for scaled-up implementation. These innovations are relevant to the neglected field of public mental health, especially in the post COVID19 era when rates of anxiety and depression are likely to rise globally.</p>","PeriodicalId":306151,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)","volume":" ","pages":"198-201"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/09540261.2020.1772551","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38029080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lina Matutyte, Ilona Belena, Nikita Bezborodovs, Doris Madissoon, Mariana Pinto da Costa
{"title":"Attitudes towards migration from the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea: similar history but different psychiatric trainees?","authors":"Lina Matutyte, Ilona Belena, Nikita Bezborodovs, Doris Madissoon, Mariana Pinto da Costa","doi":"10.1080/09540261.2020.1777777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1777777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article aimed to describe and compare migration tendencies between junior doctors training in psychiatry in the Baltic countries. A cross-sectional survey was circulated in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 2013-2014 as part of the Brain Drain study. The 61-item, anonymous questionnaire covered participants' demographic data, experiences of short-term mobility, long-term migration and trainees' attitudes towards migration. In this sample (<i>n</i> = 95) of psychiatric trainees in the Baltic countries, the majority were female (79.1%), training in adult psychiatry (77.9%). A vast majority (87.0%) of psychiatric trainees in the Baltic countries have 'ever' considered leaving the country; almost half (in Estonia) or more than a half (in Lithuania and Latvia) were considering leaving 'now'; yet a minority took 'practical steps' towards migration. For all trainees in the Baltic states, personal reasons were the most important to stay in their country. Whilst regarding reasons to leave, financial was top in Lithuania, while trainees from Estonia and Latvia indicated personal reasons as key to emigrate. Several psychiatric trainees in the Baltic countries had considered migration, with many calling for improvements in their salaries. These findings call for further investigation and action to support the workforce in the Baltics.</p>","PeriodicalId":306151,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)","volume":" ","pages":"16-22"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2021-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/09540261.2020.1777777","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38099836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}