Discover mental health最新文献

{"title":"Emerging substances of abuse and cheap highs among Nigerian youths.","authors":"Nenubari Naabiae, Gideon S Alex, Fortune C Orish, Naomi A Mogborukor, Danladi C Husaini, Andrew Orowigho Oghenerukevwe, Orish Ebere Orisakwe","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00512-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00512-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Substance use among Nigerian youths has become a significant public health concern. The narrative review examines the trends and emerging substance use among Nigerian youths, highlighting the use of conventional and unconventional substances. Data were collected from academic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, media outlets and national newspapers using keywords such as \"unconventional substance use in Nigeria,\" \"youth drug abuse,\" and \"emerging substances\". The results showed a disturbing trend of using unusual substances: fermented urine, lizard dung, pit-latrine gas, gutter water, boiled sanitary pads, and nitrous oxide (laughing gas). To account for this trend, socioeconomic deprivation, peer influence, curiosity, and attempts at self-medication of depression are considered. The health consequences are serious and involve neurotoxicity, respiratory failure, endocrine disruption, and even death. The proliferation of unconventional \"cheap highs\" reflects deep socioeconomic and mental health crises among Nigerian youths. This further calls for multi-sectoral interventions, public awareness campaigns, policy reforms targeting substance use, and expanded rehabilitation services.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13677649/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149220801","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":"Validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale among Iranian healthcare professionals and students.","authors":"Mina Aghaei, Omid Gheisavandi, Brian D Carpenter, Zahra Vahabi, Farshad Sharifi, Farnaz Etesam","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00546-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00546-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide. With rising prevalence in countries such as Iran, assessing healthcare professionals' knowledge of AD is essential. This study translated and adapted the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) into Persian and provided preliminary evidence of validity and reliability. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 304 healthcare professionals and students. The mean Persian version of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS-P) score was 20.27 (standard deviation (SD) = 3.62; possible range 0-30). The ADKS-P was developed using forward-backward translation, expert review, and pilot testing. Content validity, item-level performance, internal consistency estimated with Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20), and two-week test-retest reliability were assessed. Known-groups validity was examined through education, occupation, and familiarity with dementia. All items met the critical Content Validity Ratio (CVR) threshold. Internal consistency was modest (KR-20 = 0.64), test-retest reliability was moderate (r = 0.53, p = 0.016), and several items showed weak discrimination (item-total r < 0.20 for 15 items; item 24 r = - 0.05). Higher ADKS-P scores were associated with greater education, professional role, and dementia familiarity. The ADKS-P offers a preliminary, culturally adapted tool for group-level baseline knowledge assessment in Persian-speaking contexts. Further refinement and validation are recommended before broader application.The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (IR.TUMS.MEDICINE.REC.1401.202).</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13672755/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148551658","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":"Investigating NF-κB as a biomarker for suicidal ideation in depression in a pilot case-control study.","authors":"Kimia Sarmast, Mahdieh Rahmani, Reza Rostami, Reza Kazemi, Farshad Hashemian","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00507-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00507-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Suicidal ideation (SI) is an emotional symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) that significantly impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. The relationship between inflammation and suicide is both complex and bidirectional. Neuroinflammation has been increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of depression and SI. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) trigger Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) activation, initiating immune responses and inflammation when they recognize pathogens or danger signals.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NF-κB expression levels and symptoms, SI in depressive patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This case-control study included 60 patients diagnosed with MDD. Based on clinical assessment, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores, participants were stratified into three subgroups: 20 individuals with recent SI within the past month, 20 with a past history of SI but no such thoughts in the last month, and 20 with no history of SI, serving as the control group. Blood levels of NF-κB were measured using a Human NF-κB enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)Kit.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A weak, inverse association was observed between patients with a history of SI and NF-κB levels compared to patients without a history of SI.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings of the present study suggest that depressed patients with SI may have impaired expression of NF-κB. A decrease in blood levels of NF-κB, among other influencing factors, could serve as a potential predictor of SI in patients with MDD.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13661838/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148521516","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":"Comprehensive integration of mental health screening and triage with mental performance services through a sport science hub model in collegiate sport.","authors":"Andreas Stamatis, Ernest Rimer, Nathan Wells","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00552-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00552-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Collegiate sport environments often bring mental health (MH) and performance (MP) into close interaction; yet, screening, triage, referral, and MP support often remain operationally fragmented. This fragmentation may weaken follow-through after screening, limit coordination across clinical and performance services, and create uncertainty around privacy, scope boundaries, and accountability. In this Perspective, drawing on implementation science, integrated care, and systems-oriented organizational design, we suggest that a promising direction in athlete MH-MP support is not simply expanding screening availability, but building governed infrastructure that better connects identification to action. We propose a sport science hub model for coordinating two linked but distinct lanes: (1) structured MH screening, triage, and clinician-led referral workflows, and (2) MP profiling and skills-based support delivered within non-clinical scope. The model is organized around explicit guardrails, including role separation, privacy-secured and auditable access, non-punitive use protections, and emergency escalation pathways. We discuss the rationale for using structured screening and referral processes while acknowledging the limitations of current screening tools, including false-negative and false-positive concerns, and the importance of interpreting performance disruption in context rather than medicalizing normal variation. We conclude with governance principles and a forward-looking research agenda focused on implementation, trust, acceptability, screening accuracy, and prospective evaluation of integrated MH-MP systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13661828/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148498390","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":"Prevalence of stress its sources and coping strategies among final year medical students at the University of Dongola Sudan 2025.","authors":"Kamal A A Mohammed, Rowaa G A Ahmed, Anfal A O Ibrahim","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00549-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00549-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Medical education is globally recognized as a high-stress environment, yet localized data regarding final-year students in Northern Sudan remain scarce. This study investigated the prevalence, independent predictors, and coping mechanisms of stress among final-year medical students at the University of Dongola.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in (2025) at the University of Dongola, Sudan. The study population comprised 120 final-year medical students. A total of 100 students completed the questionnaire, representing a response rate of 83.3%. Perceived stress was quantified using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), while a structured 22-item checklist was utilized to identify specific academic/non-academic stressors and coping behaviors. The questionnaire was administered in English to align with the medium of instruction. Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests (X²) and Binary Logistic Regression to identify independent predictors of stress (aOR; 95% CI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 100 students participated (83.3% response rate). The findings revealed that 77% of respondents experienced moderate-to-high stress levels (67% moderate; 10% high), with a mean PSS score of 18.17 ± 6.56. Exam pressure (73%) and academic workload (61%) were the dominant stressors. Multivariable analysis confirmed that exam pressure (aOR = 4.82, 95% CI:} 1.95-11.84, p < 0.001) and academic workload (aOR = 2.54, 95% CI:} 1.12-5.76, p = 0.026) were the primary independent predictors of stress. Regarding coping, prayer (67%) and social interaction (46%) were the most utilized strategies. Notably, physical exercise (aOR = 0.28, p = 0.008) and social support (aOR = 0.35, p = 0.024) were independently associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of high stress.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A significant majority of final-year students at the University of Dongola operate under high levels of psychological distress, primarily driven by structural curriculum demands. While religious and social buffers are utilized, the high prevalence of stress suggests that students have surpassed the optimal \"eustress\" threshold. Institutional interventions, including examination reform and the establishment of formal counseling services, are urgently required to safeguard student well-being and clinical competence.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13672264/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148498182","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 review of mental health and psychosocial support needs in Central Africa with emphasis on service gaps and opportunities for action.","authors":"Elvis Tajoache Amin, Prudence Tatiana Nti Mvilongo, Asonglefac Bonita Fonkem, Charles Njumkeng, Patrick Achiangia Njukeng","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00537-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00537-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mental health and psychosocial well-being remain critically underprioritized in Central Africa, a region characterized by persistent conflict, displacement, poverty, and fragile health systems. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs across Central Africa, identifies gaps, and informs policy directions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted (January 2010-December 2025) using keywords related to mental health, psychosocial support, and Central African countries. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized narratively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The literature reveals consistently elevated prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (> 30% among internally displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo), depression, and anxiety among conflict-affected populations. Mental health services remain grossly inadequate, concentrated in urban areas, underfunded, and poorly integrated into primary healthcare. Key barriers include insufficient infrastructure, scarcity of trained professionals, pervasive stigma, and logistical challenges. Community-based and task-shifting approaches demonstrate promise, yet sustainability remains constrained. Cultural contexts significantly influence help-seeking behaviors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Addressing MHPSS needs in Central Africa requires multi-sectoral strategies that integrate mental health into broader public health agendas, strengthen community-based interventions, build local capacity, and foster partnerships. Context-specific research and policy reforms are essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13658683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148474384","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":"Association between self-compassion and perceived stress among undergraduate nursing students.","authors":"Raoofeh Karimi, Esmaeil Mohammadnezhad, Arpi Manookian, Shima Haghani","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00528-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00528-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Undergraduate nursing students are exposed to substantial academic and clinical stressors that may adversely affect their mental health and academic performance. Although self-compassion is considered a positive psychological resource, its association with perceived stress as a cognitive appraisal process has been insufficiently examined, particularly among nursing students. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the association between self-compassion and perceived stress among undergraduate nursing students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study was conducted among 265 undergraduate nursing students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences between 2023 and 2024. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling with proportional allocation across academic semesters. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Neff's Self-Compassion Scale, and the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses, including independent-samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression, were conducted using SPSS version 16. A two-tailed significance level of P < 0.05 was adopted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean self-compassion score was 89.99 ± 12.24, and the mean perceived stress score was 26.85 ± 7.16. Nearly half of the students reported moderate levels of self-compassion (49.8%) and perceived stress (49.4%). Self-compassion demonstrated a statistically significant negative correlation with perceived stress (r = - 0.450, P < 0.001). After controlling for employment status, self-compassion explained an additional 20% of the variance (ΔR² = 0.200, P < 0.001) and remained a significant negative predictor (β = -0.448, P < 0.001), with the final model accounting for 21.6% of the variance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Higher levels of self-compassion were associated with lower perceived stress among nursing students. Although the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, the findings suggest that self-compassion may serve as a potentially influential psychological factor in the perception of stress among nursing students. Integrating self-compassion-focused educational strategies into undergraduate nursing curricula could be considered a supportive approach to strengthening students' stress management capacities. Future longitudinal and experimental studies are warranted to clarify potential causal pathways and better explain variability in perceived stress among nursing students.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13658650/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148474445","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 structural model of the impact of client's mental health components on their motivation to participate in vocational training courses.","authors":"Zahra Khoshnodifar, Pouria Ataei, Hamid Karimi","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00545-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00545-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study presents a structural model of clients' mental health and their motivation to participate in prison vocational training courses. The research population included all male and female clients in Arak Prison, located in Markazi Province, Iran. Among them, 83 individuals were selected as the research sample using a stratified sampling technique with proportional assignment. The data collection instruments were the Goldberg General Health Standard Questionnaire and the Harter Academic Motivation Questionnaire. The validity of these instruments was confirmed by a panel of experts, and their reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the composite reliability index. Data were analyzed using the partial least squares statistical method in SmartPLS software. Based on the total mental health score (sum of the four subscales: physical health, anxiety, social action, and depression), 41% of clients were found to be at risk. Moreover, more than 60% of the clients demonstrated an average level of educational motivation. Physical health, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders, and social action explained 44.2% of the variance in clients' educational motivation to participate in vocational training courses, with physical health, anxiety and sleep disorders, social action, and depression contributing the most, respectively. In addition, the three constructs of physical health, depression, and anxiety and sleep disorders accounted for a total of 64.6% of the variance in clients' social action.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13654916/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148474364","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":"Prevalence and factors associated with depression among junior police officers in Kampala metropolitan area.","authors":"Enock Kabanda, Jemimah Kyeyune, Ronald Opito","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00550-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00550-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Police officers in Uganda are at higher risk of depression due to the exceptionally stressful nature of their work and exposure to trauma, yet there is paucity of evidence on depression and its associated factors among police officers in Uganda. This study, therefore, aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and associated factors among junior police officers in Kampala Metropolitan area (KMP).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study which involved 266 junior police officers in KMP sampled using multi-stage sampling technique and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression, and participants with PHQ-9 scores ≥ 10 were considered to have depressive symptoms. Data was entered into Stata version 16.0 for management and analysis. Descriptive statistics were conducted and presented as means, frequencies and percentages while bivariate and multivariate analysis were conducted using Modified Poisson regression and presented as prevalence ratios (PR) with a 95% interval and a P < 0.05 for statistical significance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of the 266 participants was 36 (SD = 8) years, with prevalence of depression being 31.2% (95% CI 25.9-37.1). The sociodemographic factor significantly associated with depression was working in the field force department, aPR = 2.28 (95%CI 1.17-4.42). The environmental and occupational factors significantly associated with depression were working in rural areas, aPR = 2.11 (95%CI 1.08-4.14) and history of experiencing traumatic incidents, aPR = 2.56 (95%CI 1.45-4.53).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study found the prevalence of depression among junior police officers in KMP to be higher compared to the global prevalence of depression among police officers, and to findings from several studies in other population settings. Working in the field force unit, rural areas and history of experience trauma were significantly associated with depression among the junior police officers. There is a need for the Uganda police force to create friendly working environment with flexible work schedules and put in place mechanisms to support officers experiencing trauma at workplace.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13654900/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148474468","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":"When medical knowledge is not enough: medication adherence and self-treatment among physicians with chronic illness in Upper Egypt.","authors":"Mahmoud Ahmed Bekiet, Ahmed Jado Nabih Ali","doi":"10.1007/s44192-026-00510-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-026-00510-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Medication adherence in chronic illness is influenced by behavioral, psychological, and contextual factors. Whether physicians-despite high medical literacy-demonstrate superior adherence compared with non-physician patients remains unclear. This study compared medication adherence between physicians with chronic illness and matched non-physician controls and examined psychological and behavioral correlates, including self-treatment practices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 250 physicians and 250 age-, sex-, and disease-category-matched non-physician adults receiving long-term pharmacotherapy at university outpatient clinics in Upper Egypt. Self-reported adherence was assessed using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) as the primary adherence measure. Self-treatment behavior, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and burnout were evaluated using validated instruments. In a consenting subset, objective adherence was estimated using pharmacy refill data (proportion of days covered [PDC]) and documented pill-count records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with adequate adherence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of adequate self-reported adherence did not differ significantly between physicians and controls (28.4% vs. 31.2%, p = 0.557). Among participants who consented to pharmacy linkage (36% physicians; 43% controls), median PDC and the proportion achieving PDC ≥ 0.80 were comparable between groups. Agreement between self-reported and objective adherence was poor in both cohorts. In adjusted analyses, physician status was not independently associated with adequate adherence. A higher number of prescribed medications and greater engagement in self-treatment behaviors were independently associated with higher odds of adequate self-reported adherence.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Physicians with chronic illness demonstrated adherence patterns comparable to matched non-physician patients. Professional training and medical knowledge were not independently associated with better adherence. Behavioral engagement and treatment-related factors appeared more strongly associated with adherence than occupational status. The limited concordance between self-reported and objective adherence highlights the importance of multimethod assessment in adherence research.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13373143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148450879","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}