Discover mental health最新文献

{"title":"Developing and testing preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of a mental health application in Ethiopia.","authors":"Endalamaw Salelew, Mengesha Srahbzu, Tsehay Diges, Habtamu Genet Yeniakal, Gebeyehu Begashaw, Tesfaye Tadele, Tewodiros Hailu, Wondimagegn Degef, Fikirnesh Bazezew, Demeke Demilew, Melsew Belachew","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00158-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00158-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mental health mobile applications are a cost-effective and scalable answer to the world's psychiatrist shortage and limited access to care in remote areas. However, there is currently no mobile application for providing mental health interventions in Ethiopia. Therefore, this project aimed to develop and test the preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of an Android-based mobile application for mental health information, psychological self-testing, and treatment recommendation during COVID-19 and beyond.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a preliminary assessment to review experiences and demands associated with the mental health mobile apps. Object-oriented modeling and the Agile Development software development methodology were employed. Android Studio's layout editor, resource management, palette, and theme editor were used. We utilized Java as the programming language for writing application code, eXtensible Markup Language (XML) to construct the overall structure of the app, and SQLite to save data locally on the user's device. To ensure quality, tests were performed on a regular basis throughout the development process.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The project developed an Android-based mobile app for mental health information, psychological self-testing, and treatment recommendations for COVID-19. A preliminary assessment found no existing mobile apps for mental health care. Of participants, 94.6% believed mental health apps benefit the public, patients, and healthcare professionals. However, some individuals opposed the app due to concerns about self-treatment and medication misuse.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study indicates a high demand for a mental health mobile app, but few participants fear self-treatment or drug abuse. Apps that support native languages are recommended, and nonpharmacological treatments should be used in conjunction with clinician consultation.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11896947/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143607333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of the effect of teaching coping skills and acupressure on premenstrual stress: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Mojgan Mirghafourvand, Somayeh Abdolalipour, Amjad Mohamadi Bolbanabad, Behnaz Manouchehri","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00153-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00153-1","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to significant clinical physical and psychological manifestations during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, leading to significant distress and impaired functional capacity. Given the side effects caused by pharmacotherapy, it seems logical to use non-pharmacological methods that can reduce symptoms such as menstrual stress. Thus, this study has been conducted to compare the effect of teaching coping skills and acupressure on premenstrual stress in undergraduate students of the Medical School of Azad University of Sanandaj-Iran.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Method: &lt;/strong&gt;This study is an experimental study that was designed in the form of three groups (two acupressure and coping strategy groups and one control group). The participants by moderate or severe degree based on the Symptoms Premenstrual Screening Tool entered the study. Students in the coping skills training group received intervention for 5 weeks and every week for 60 min. The second intervention group received acupressure intervention for 3 months and twice a day for 60 s each time, in a sitting position, with pressure on the 6th spleen point (SP6). Data collection tools included socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics questionnaire, as well as premenstrual stress questionnaire and stress coping styles questionnaire, which were completed before and 3 months after the intervention. ANCOVA test was used for comparing the variables of premenstrual stress and coping strategy between the investigated groups, controlling the scores of premenstrual stress and coping strategy before the intervention, as well as controlling those socio-demographic variables that had a significant difference between the two groups.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Based on the ANCOVA test adjusted based on the age of first menstruation and pre-intervention premenstrual stress scores, the mean post-intervention premenstrual stress scores in the acupressure group [adjusted mean difference (AMD): - 20.6; 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): - 23.1 to - 17.1; P &lt; 0.001] and coping strategy group [AMD: - 20.5; 95% CI - 23.4 to - 16.7; P &lt; 0.001] were significantly lower than that of the control group. Also, based on the post-hoc test, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of the mean post-intervention PMS scores between the two acupressure and the coping strategy groups [AMD: - 0.1; 95% CI - 3.5-2.9; P = 0.995]. Also, the mean post-intervention scores of task-oriented coping subscale [AMD: 30.8; 95% CI 25.6-36.1; P &lt; 0.001] as well as avoidance-oriented coping subscale [AMD: 18.2; 95% CI 14.6-21.8; P &lt; 0.001] were significantly higher than those of the control group, yet in terms of the emotion-oriented coping subscale [AMD: - 26.9; 95% CI - 31.1 to - 22.7; P &lt; 0.001], the scores were significantly lower than those of the control group.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Considering the effect of learning coping strategies and app","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893933/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Caregiving for autistic children in Nigeria: experiences and challenges.","authors":"Albright Obinna Azubuike, Precious Chidozie Azubuike, Ayobami Oyekunle Afape, Michael Obule Enyam, Temidayo Akinreni, Uchenna Frank Imo, Miracle Nwadiche, Chimankpam Kingsley Ogbonna, Promise Nmesomachi Timothy, Eberechukwu Ruth Uchegbu, George Sefa Adai","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00159-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00159-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Raising autistic children poses a daunting task for their caregivers. Providing care may take a toll on caregivers' physical, psychological, social, and financial wellbeing. This study explored the experience of the responsibility of care among caregivers of autistic children in Nigeria and informed targeted psychosocial support interventions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This phenomenology qualitative study was conducted among 103 caregivers in Cross River, Nigeria. The PREPARE tool was used for the data collection. Data were analyzed using the inductive and deductive approaches qualitatively, using NVivo software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Stigma and misunderstanding of autism, emotional impact and acceptance, transportation and accessibility, lack of support networks, and balancing responsibilities and care responsibilities with personal commitments were the major challenges reported by our participants. These factors contributed to emotional strain, underscoring the complexities associated with caregiving experiences.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Given the significant responsibilities of caregivers, targeted intervention must be taken to properly enlighten Nigerian societies on autistic people, and the need for acceptance. Key stakeholders must provide suitable healthcare facilities and resources for autistic people. Also, social support groups would help establish a sense of belonging and support.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893948/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Depression and associated factors among people with epilepsy at Wolaita Sodo University Hospital, South Ethiopia.","authors":"Tamene Berhanu, Niguse Yigzaw, Seblewongel Tinsae, Yohannes Mirkena, Asegid Belete","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00161-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00161-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in the world and contributes to various psychiatric illnesses. Depression is one of the most frequent comorbid psychiatric disorders that affect the quality of life in people with epilepsy. Despite this impact, depression continues to be under-recognized and undertreated. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of depression and its associated factors among people with epilepsy at Wolaita Sodo University Hospital, South Ethiopia, 2021.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2021 to May 2021. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 423 samples of people with epilepsy, and interviewer-administered structured questionnaires were employed. The Patient Health Questionnaire with 9 items was used to assess depression. A logistic regression model was used to determine the association between the outcome and independent variables. A 95% CI and odds ratio with a corresponding p-value < 0.05 were used to determine the strength of association.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>The overall magnitude of depression among people with epilepsy in this study was 49.2%. Educational status; unable to read and write (AOR = 3.43, 95% CI 1.09, 10.7), being female (AOR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.43, 4.52), perceived stigma (AOR = 5.96, 95% CI 2.88, 12.3), poor social support (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI 1.28, 6.48), poor medication adherence (AOR = 4.60, 95% CI 2.46, 8.63), and seizure frequency above 5 times per month (AOR = 5.59, 95% CI 1.72, 18.1) were independent predictors of depression among people with epilepsy at p-value < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Conclusion and recommendation: </strong>In this study nearly half of the people with epilepsy had depression. Educational status; inability to read and write, being female, perceived stigma, poor social support, poor medication adherence, and seizure frequency of above 5 times per month were independent predictors of depression among people with epilepsy. Therefore, screening depression in people with epilepsy and appropriate management critically needed attention to reduce the effects of the problems.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tobacco smoking and the risk of eating behaviors and depression among Palestinian female university students.","authors":"Basma Damiri, Thabet Zidan, Dalia Hamayel, Motaz Saifi","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00160-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00160-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Tobacco smoking and eating disorders are often connected to concerns about body image and can be indicative of underlying mental health conditions, such as depression. In Palestinian society, females have a cultural belief that smoking can aid in weight loss. Societal pressure on body image may drive females to such risky behaviors. However, few studies have examined the link between smoking and eating disorder behaviors. We researched the prevalence of tobacco smoking among Palestinian female university students and its association with binge/purge behaviors and depression.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A cross-sectional research study was carried out at An-Najah National University. Female students [N = 642] completed anonymous surveys, sharing information about tobacco smoking and other substance use habits, answering questions from the Eating Attitude Test-26, the Sick (EAT-26), Control, One, Fat, and Food (SCOF) screening tests, and the Beck Depression Inventory.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study reported a high prevalence of waterpipe smoking (24.4%) among Palestinian university female students, which exceeded the prevalence of cigarette smoking (4%). For the SCOF scale, 36.3% scored ≥ 2 points, indicating a screened positive for anorexia or bulimia nervosa; 40% struggled with binge-eating behavior, while only 7.8% had sought treatment for eating disorders. Additionally, 34.7% of the students experienced depression. The adjusted binary logistic regression model of risk factors for cigarette smoking has shown that cigarette smoking is significantly associated with self-induced vomiting (aOR = 6.075, p-value = 0.027), history for eating disorder treatment (aOR = 3.438, p-value = 0.047), e-cigarettes (aOR = 10.070, p-value = 0.001), waterpipe (aOR = 3.299, p-value = 0.022), energy drinks (aOR = 5.163, p-value = 0.003), moderate depression (aOR = 11.499, p-value = 0.010), and mild depression (aOR = 12.963, p-value = 0.003).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study revealed concerning results of tobacco smoking linked to depression, binge/purge behaviors, obesity, and various weight-control methods. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions through awareness campaigns, culturally tailored health education, implementation of mental health support for students, and provide accessible medical and psychological assistance to at-risk Palestinian female students.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"34"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893922/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elite athlete initiatives in school mental health: crafting an art-based educational methodology for promoting mental health help-seeking.","authors":"Yasutaka Ojio, Shin Kawamura","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00162-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00162-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Art-based practices have been expected and incorporated into adolescent mental health education, enhanced by their potential to promote positive psychosocial development and foster resilience. Elite athletes, while encountering similar challenges as adolescents-such as reluctance to seek psychological support-occupy a distinctive position due to their capacity to exert substantial influence on youth. This paper presents the development and conceptualization of a novel, elite athlete-led mental health education framework that employs artistic expression as a core modality. We showed and explained the 'Yowai-wa-Tsuyoi Project' ('Weakness is Strength'), an initiative undertaken in Japan that seeks to harness the personal narratives of elite athletes to effect positive change in adolescents' mental health literacy. By collaborating with the Japan Rugby Players Association and mental health experts, the project integrates art-based interventions to stimulate dialogue on mental health, stress, and overall well-being. By sharing their lived experiences, athletes facilitate art-driven activities wherein students are encouraged to express and reflect upon their mental health experiences. This interdisciplinary initiative aspires to enhance adolescents' understanding of mental health through relatable athlete role models, foster emotional articulation via artistic media, and nurture empathy and collective support for mental well-being. The integration of sports, education, and art in this approach illustrates a potentially transformative model for engaging adolescents in critical discourse surrounding mental health and well-being. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of creating educational environments that embrace vulnerability, expression, and dialogue, thus providing students with the tools and space to address their mental health in a supportive context.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11891109/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143588526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Scaling new heights: a prospective survey of rock climbing's impact on mental health.","authors":"Kathy Chen, Swetha Sundaram, David F Lo, Ahmed Gawash, Charalampos Papachristou, Altamash E Raja","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00154-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00154-0","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Sport climbing, officially added to the 2020 Summer Olympics, has grown rapidly, with U.S. climbing gyms increasing from 310 in 2013 to 591 in 2021. Over the past decade, European research has identified bouldering as a potential psychotherapeutic treatment for anxiety and depression. Randomized controlled trials have compared bouldering psychotherapy (BPT) to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), showing that BPT produces comparable results and positively impacts mental health.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Purpose: &lt;/strong&gt;There have been very few studies dedicated to the use of rock climbing as a therapy in the United States; further, there are few surveys that investigate whether American climbers would even consider climbing as beneficial towards mental health or not. With the ever-growing prevalence of mental health disorders and as climbing gains more traction, it is important to explore the potential of climbing as a therapeutic modality. It is hypothesized that rock climbing will be viewed as beneficial towards mental health amongst the population surveyed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A prospective survey was conducted to assess rock climbing's impact on mental health, focusing on participants' climbing habits and perceptions of its therapeutic benefits. The protocol was approved by the Rowan-Virtua IRB (Reference #: PRO-2022-353) in accordance with the latest guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Participants were recruited using flyers and posters at climbing gyms, an online climbing forum, and social media. The survey included individuals aged 18 years and older who engage in rock climbing at least once per week. No specific exclusion criteria was set in place, though participants were given the option to omit the mental health portion. The survey included questions on climbing frequency, mental health impact, and demographics. The survey was distributed online via Qualtrics Forms between February 2023 to June 2023, with informed consent obtained from participants, explaining both risks and data safeguards in place. Univariate graphs and bivariate analyses via chi square analysis were done using R Studio.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 748 survey responses were received, with 50.4% of participants aged 26-40 years. Most were White Non-Hispanic (59.7%) and resided in the Mid-Atlantic/Tri-State Area. Climbing preferences showed indoor bouldering (24.9%) as the most popular, followed by indoor top rope (16.4%) and indoor lead climbing (12.4%). Outdoor climbing activities were less common, with traditional climbing at 10.1% and speed climbing at 0.2%. Significant associations were found between climbing frequency and age (p = 0.0045), session length and age (p = 8.2e-10), and climbing frequency by gender (p = 0.0024). Regarding social behavior, 46.8% identified as introverts and 37.1% as ambiverts. Mental health data revealed that 73.1% of climbers felt rock climbing positivel","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"29"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11883046/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143560289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A scoping review of school-based expressive writing implementation reporting practices: missed opportunities and new research directions.","authors":"Janet Amos, Justin Moase, Ingrid E Sladeczek","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00151-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00151-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Expressive writing (EW) interventions are an effective, flexible, and cost-efficient option for mental health promotion, making them ideally suited for resource-limited school settings. However, the effectiveness of EW interventions varies greatly across studies, which may be partly explained by how EW interventions are implemented. As school-based EW interventions become increasingly popular and more widely used, rigorous reporting of implementation can help advance this emerging field by informing how variation in implementation across studies influences intervention outcomes.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this scoping review was to evaluate the implementation reporting practices of EW interventions in school settings as they can profoundly impact EW effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The present scoping review assessed the current state of fidelity of implementation (implementation) reporting in the school-based EW literature and identified areas where more rigorous reporting is needed. Out of an initial sample of 367 studies, 19 were eligible for inclusion in the review. Data were analyzed for critical issues and themes derived from Cargo et al.'s (2015) Checklist for Implementation (Ch-IMP).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, the results of this scoping review indicate that researchers who implement EW in school settings have not consistently assessed key implementation domains such as dose received and fidelity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>To address this problem, the present review adds a unique contribution to the literature by identifying how rigorous reporting of implementation can strengthen the evidence base for school-based EW interventions. Specifically, researchers can support the use of EW interventions in schools through increased implementation reporting to better understand how variability in fidelity of implementation affects treatment outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11880461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural disasters and SARS-CoV-2: potential risk factors for exacerbating mental health conditions among veterans.","authors":"Parthasarathy Arpitha, Laura Bolorin-Vargas, Glorisel Gonzalez-Viera, Marta Rodriguez-Garcia, Gerardo Jovet-Toledo, Irma L Molina-Vicenty, Luis Collazo-Rodriguez, Maria Leticia Reyes-Rabanillo","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00147-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00147-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Veterans (PRVs) have faced recurring challenges from hurricanes, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These events combined with prior traumas and social determinants of health (SDoH), may contribute to neuropsychiatric mental health conditions (MHCs) like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in PRVs affected by SARS-CoV-2.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To clinically characterize the risk factors for MHCs among SARS-CoV-2 infected PRVs, we examined 839 records (2016-2020) to study SARS-CoV-2 infections and MHCs. Records were assessed for (i) PTSD and SUD using health data at diagnosis; (ii) clinical details pre-hurricanes (control; group 1), during hurricanes (group 2), and pandemic (group 3). Groups 1 and 2 were reviewed in 2020 to gauge exacerbation. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2/PHQ-9), PTSD checklist (PCL-5), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), SDoH, and other tools were used for clinical evaluation, with the data analyzed using logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Health data indicated SARS-CoV-2 infection in 21 PRVs. Earthquakes did not affect the infected PRVs nor did SDoH have any significant impact. Clinical analysis revealed that SUD worsened during hurricanes and exacerbation of all MHCs occurred during the pandemic among SARS-CoV-2 infected PRVs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results underscore the fact that the combination of natural disasters like hurricanes and SARS-CoV-2 had synergistically contributed to the deterioration of neuropsychiatric MHCs, therefore warranting equitable MH support.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11880468/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of psychoeducation on clinical symptoms, adherence, insight and autonomy in patients with schizophrenia.","authors":"Bouchra Oneib, Atif Mansour, Mohammed Amine Bouazzaoui","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00152-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00152-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study is to assess the impact of psychoeducation on patients with schizophrenia, focusing on clinical symptoms, insight, self-esteem, treatment adherence, and social autonomy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective study evaluates the effects of a 6-month psychoeducation program, the P.A.C.T. (Psychosis Aider Comprendre Traiter) program, on stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia, without the use of a control group. The program is designed to help patients understand their illness and treatment, improving adherence to care. Topics covered include the symptoms of schizophrenia, available treatment options, and coping strategies. The program also emphasizes peer support and individualized care, addressing challenges such as cognitive deficits and low motivation. Data were collected both prior to and following the psychoeducation program using a standardized questionnaire and assessment scales to evaluate the following: clinical symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS), therapeutic adherence (Medication Adherence Report Scale, MARS), insight (Birchwood Insight Scale), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and social autonomy (Social Autonomy Scale, SAS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 100 patients participated in the psychoeducational sessions, with a mean age of 37.73 ± 10.51 years and a male predominance. Following the psychoeducation program, significant improvements were observed across all assessment scales: - PANSS: Clinical symptoms improved markedly, with the mean score decreasing from 83.17 ± 23.09 before psychoeducation to 43.67 ± 16.11 after psychoeducation (p < 0.0001). - MARS-5: The rate of good adherence to treatment increased from 9% to 63.7%, with a significant change (p < 0.0001). - Birchwood Insight Scale and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Insight and self-esteem scores improved significantly (p < 0.0001).</p><p><strong>- sas: </strong>Social autonomy showed substantial improvement, with the mean SAS score decreasing from 58.81 to 20.21 (p < 0.0001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The P.A.C.T. psychoeducation program has been shown to significantly improve clinical outcomes, treatment adherence, insight, self-esteem, and social autonomy in patients with schizophrenia. However, the absence of a control group prevents the generalization of these data. Subsequent comparative studies would be desirable to demonstrate the positive effect of psychoeducation in the early stages of the disease within the framework of a comprehensive approach to recovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11871247/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143525329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}