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Coronavirus Mental Health

A national survey of pandemic fear and cyberchondria after ending zero-COVID policy: The chain mediating role of alexithymia and psychological distress
Fang J, Qiu C, Sun Z, Zhou J, He P, Conti A, Lu Y, Huang X, Xu J and Tang W
More than half the domestic population in China were infected with COVID-19 in two months after ending "zero-infection policy", which severely overwhelmed frontline healthcare providers with stress and fear. However, there is no study to date investigating the associations between nurses' fear of pandemic and cyberchondria. This study aimed to 1) investigate the correlations between fear pandemic and cyberchondria among frontline nurses, and 2) discover its potential mechanism.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Diagnostic Frequency and Medical Therapies Applied to Subjects With Functional Seizures
Schaefer Bennett G, Naik S and Krawiec C
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was associated with catastrophic consequences and increased psychological distress. However, it is unknown if the pandemic impacted the frequency of functional seizures (FS), a well known manifestation of psychiatric disease. The study objectives are to evaluate FS diagnostic code frequency before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the therapies applied. We hypothesized that FS frequency would be higher during the pandemic, but that the therapies applied would be similar between the two time periods.
Perspectives of primary school teachers on the capacity of schools to support post-pandemic health needs emerging among school-age children
Bennett AE
This study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on capacity building for health promotion in primary schools from the perspectives of primary school teachers.
COVID-19 Is Not Done With Us … We Are Not Done With COVID-19
Ingoglia C
Well-being approaches targeted to improve child and youth health post-COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review
Moss SJ, Sriskandarajah C, Brundin-Mather R, Cherak MS, Mizen SJ, Stelfox M, Halperin D, Halperin S, Ahmed SB, Lorenzetti DL, Smith S, Harley M, Tutelman PR, Birnie KA, Anglin MC, Stelfox HT, Fiest KM, Racine N and Parsons Leigh J
Our previous work synthesized published studies on well-being interventions during COVID-19. As we move into a post-COVID-19 pandemic period there is a need to comprehensively review published strategies, approaches, and interventions to improve child and youth well-being beyond deleterious impacts experienced during COVID-19.
Generation Scotland: an update on Scotland's longitudinal family health study
Milbourn H, McCartney D, Richmond A, Campbell A, Flaig R, Robertson S, Fawns-Ritchie C, Hayward C, Marioni RE, McIntosh AM, Porteous DJ, Whalley HC and Sudlow C
Generation Scotland (GS) is a large family-based cohort study established as a longitudinal resource for research into the genetic, lifestyle and environmental determinants of physical and mental health. It comprises extensive genetic, sociodemographic and clinical data from volunteers in Scotland.
Perceived stress and influencing factors for the people at high risk to COVID-19 in centralized quarantine camps in Wenzhou, China
Zhou YW, Zheng JY, Shan CY, Yang HS, Su YS, Wang DB, Ni JX, Lan LJ, Lian XZ and Zhou ZM
This study was designed to assess stress levels and related factors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic among individuals in centralized quarantine camps in Wenzhou, China.
Impact of COVID-19-Induced Academic Stress on Insomnia and Suicidal Ideation among Taiwanese Health Trainees and Junior Doctors
Huang PC, Lin CY, Huang RY, Chen JS, Potenza MN, Strong C, Wang HW, Griffiths MD, Chen CY, Ko NY and Shieh SJ
BACKGROUND Clinical training for allied health trainees (AHTs) and postgraduate-year (PGY) doctors needed to go online during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which may have caused academic stress and consequent outcomes among this cohort. MATERIAL AND METHODS To evaluate academic-related stress, clinical confidence, psychological distress, and insomnia, an online survey-based study was conducted among Taiwanese AHTs and PGY doctors between July and December, 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey included the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and self-designed questions. It was distributed using convenience sampling and snowball sampling and was completed by 522 participants. RESULTS Structural equational modelling showed that academic stress was negatively associated with clinical confidence (standardized coefficient [ß]=-0.382, p<0.001). Clinical confidence was negatively associated with psychological distress (ß=-0.397, p<0.001), which was associated with insomnia (ß=0.648, p<0.001). Additionally, clinical confidence and psychological distress were the significant mediators. Results indicated that higher academic stress was associated with higher level of insomnia via the mediation of clinical confidence and psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS Academic stress related to changes in clinical training may have led to insomnia among AHTs and PGY doctors during the pandemic. Factors to reduce academic stress should be investigated to promote good mental health while providing sufficient clinical training, especially during events that can cause increased stress (eg, epidemics, pandemics).
The long COVID and its mental health manifestations - the review of literature
Pietrzak P and Hanke W
This article aims to present the overview of the situation during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic about issues concerning the prevalence of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, rate of suicide attempts, and long COVID (LC) infections in the general population during COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of the literature (in English, Polish and Spanish language) on topics related to COVID-19, mental disorders (suicide attempts, depression, anxiety) and LC infection published during the 4 years (2020-2023) was done using Pubmed and PubMed Central search engine. Keywords such as "COVID-19," "mental disorders," "long COVID infection," "depression," "anxiety," "suicide attempts" were used during the search. The conduct of this review/comment followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol, which corresponds to a checklist of 27 items designed to facilitate the development and reporting of a robust protocol for systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Overall 35 studies were selected and analyzed in the review on topics: including among others LC (14 studies), suicide attempts (7 studies), mental disorders (depression, anxiety) (14 studies). The main issues raised in the articles were: higher risk of LC symptoms in women, fatigue and brain fog listed as frequently encountered patient's complaints together with anxiety, depression, loneliness, especially in younger age groups and in women. Issues regarding LC, mental disorders and suicide attempts requires further research as the results vary in different countries. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(3).
Trends in weight gain recorded in English primary care before and during the Coronavirus-19 pandemic: An observational cohort study using the OpenSAFELY platform
Samuel M, Park RY, Eastwood SV, Eto F, Morton CE, Stow D, Bacon S, Mehrkar A, Morley J, Dillingham I, Inglesby P, Hulme WJ, Khunti K, Mathur R, Valabhji J, MacKenna B, Finer S and
Obesity and rapid weight gain are established risk factors for noncommunicable diseases and have emerged as independent risk factors for severe disease following Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Restrictions imposed to reduce COVID-19 transmission resulted in profound societal changes that impacted many health behaviours, including physical activity and nutrition, associated with rate of weight gain. We investigated which clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were associated with rapid weight gain and the greatest acceleration in rate of weight gain during the pandemic among adults registered with an English National Health Service (NHS) general practitioner (GP) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exploring the care experiences among clinical staffing during emerging infectious disease: from the COVID-19 pandemic approach
Lee Y, Chung F, Liao P, Wang P and Lin M
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), one of the most significant recent emerging infectious diseases, has evolved into a global pandemic, resulting in an unprecedented public health crisis with substantial morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the care experiences of nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Relationships between students' perceived campus walkability, mental health, and life satisfaction during COVID-19
Zhang Z, Wang J, Wang H and Wu J
Improving walkability in the campus environment and socio-psychological environments can promote students' mental health and subjective well-being. This study aimed to propose a theoretical model to investigate the link of perceived campus walkability (PCW) with mental health and life satisfaction (LS), and to disentangle the mediating impact of socio-psychological environments and academic performance on this relationship, while simultaneously considering the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied structural equation modeling to analyze the data collected through a questionnaire survey conducted at six universities and colleges in Yantai, China. PCW had both direct and indirect positive effects on mental health and LS. However, indirect effects are greater than direct effects. Walking attitudes, social capital, and academic performance were critical to the relationship between PCW, mental health, and LS. Academic performance had the strongest indirect effect on mental health, while social capital had the strongest indirect effect on LS. We also found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, body mass index and family income were significantly correlated with mental health and LS. The findings indicate that campus planners and policymakers should improve PCW and support the socio-psychological environment to promote students' mental and social health during situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Integrated care policy recommendations for complex multisystem long term conditions and long COVID
van der Feltz-Cornelis CM, Sweetman J, Turk F, Allsopp G, Gabbay M, Khunti K, Williams N, Montgomery H, Heightman M, Lip GYH, Crooks MG, Strain WD, Loveless A, Hishmeh L, Smith N and Banerjee A
The importance of integrated care for complex, multiple long term conditions was acknowledged before the COVID pandemic but remained a challenge. The pandemic and consequent development of Long COVID required rapid adaptation of health services to address the population's needs, requiring service redesigns including integrated care. This Delphi consensus study was conducted in the UK and found similar integrated care priorities for Long COVID and complex, multiple long term conditions, provided by 480 patients and health care providers, with an 80% consensus rate. The resultant recommendations were based on more than 1400 responses from survey participants and were supported by patients, health care professionals, and by patient charities. Participants identified the need to allocate resources to: support integrated care, provide access to care and treatments that work, provide diagnostic procedures that support the personalization of treatment in an integrated care environment, and enable structural consultation between primary and specialist care settings including physical and mental health care. Based on the findings we propose a model for delivering integrated care by a multidisciplinary team to people with complex multisystem conditions. These recommendations can inform improvements to integrated care for complex, multiple long term conditions and Long COVID at international level.
COVID-19 and long-term impact on symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life in Costa Rica: the RESPIRA cohort study
Barboza-Solis C, Fantin R, Hildesheim A, Pfeiffer R, Porras C, Butt J, Waterboer T, Raventós H, Abdelnour A, Aparicio A, Loria V, Prevots DR, Gail MH, Herrero R and
Evidence continues to accumulate regarding the potential long-term health consequences of COVID-19 in the population. To distinguish between COVID-19-related symptoms and health limitations from those caused by other conditions, it is essential to compare cases with community controls using prospective data ensuring case-control status. The RESPIRA study addresses this need by investigating the lasting impact of COVID-19 on Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and symptomatology in a population-based cohort in Costa Rica, thereby providing a robust framework for controlling HRQoL and symptoms.
Community-Based Cluster-Randomized Trial to Reduce Opioid Overdose Deaths
, Samet JH, El-Bassel N, Winhusen TJ, Jackson RD, Oga EA, Chandler RK, Villani J, Freisthler B, Adams J, Aldridge A, Angerame A, Babineau DC, Bagley SM, Baker TJ, Balvanz P, Barbosa C, Barocas J, Battaglia TA, Beard DD, Beers D, Blevins D, Bove N, Bridden C, Brown JL, Bush HM, Bush JL, Caldwell R, Calver K, Calvert D, Campbell ANC, Carpenter J, Caspar R, Chassler D, Chaya J, Cheng DM, Cunningham CO, Dasgupta A, David JL, Davis A, Dean T, Drainoni ML, Eggleston B, Fanucchi LC, Feaster DJ, Fernandez S, Figueroa W, Freedman DA, Freeman PR, Freiermuth CE, Friedlander E, Gelberg KH, Gibson EB, Gilbert L, Glasgow L, Goddard-Eckrich DA, Gomori S, Gruss DE, Gulley J, Gutnick D, Hall ME, Harger Dykes N, Hargrove SL, Harlow K, Harris A, Harris D, Helme DW, Holloway J, Hotchkiss J, Huang T, Huerta TR, Hunt T, Hyder A, Ingram VL, Ingram T, Kauffman E, Kimball JL, Kinnard EN, Knott C, Knudsen HK, Konstan MW, Kosakowski S, Larochelle MR, Leaver HM, LeBaron PA, Lefebvre RC, Levin FR, Lewis N, Lewis N, Lofwall MR, Lounsbury DW, Luster JE, Lyons MS, Mack A, Marks KR, Marquesano S, Mauk R, McAlearney AS, McConnell K, McGladrey ML, McMullan J, Miles J, Munoz Lopez R, Nelson A, Neufeld JL, Newman L, Nguyen TQ, Nunes EV, Oller DA, Oser CB, Oyler DR, Pagnano S, Parran TV, Powell J, Powers K, Ralston W, Ramsey K, Rapkin BD, Reynolds JG, Roberts MF, Robertson W, Rock P, Rodgers E, Rodriguez S, Rudorf M, Ryan S, Salsberry P, Salvage M, Sabounchi N, Saucier M, Savitzky C, Schackman B, Schady E, Seiber EE, Shadwick A, Shoben A, Slater MD, Slavova S, Speer D, Sprunger J, Starbird LE, Staton M, Stein MD, Stevens-Watkins DJ, Stopka TJ, Sullivan A, Surratt HL, Sword Cruz R, Talbert JC, Taylor JL, Thompson KL, Vandergrift N, Vickers-Smith RA, Vietze DJ, Walker DM, Walley AY, Walters ST, Weiss R, Westgate PM, Wu E, Young AM, Zarkin GA and Walsh SL
Evidence-based practices for reducing opioid-related overdose deaths include overdose education and naloxone distribution, the use of medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder, and prescription opioid safety. Data are needed on the effectiveness of a community-engaged intervention to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths through enhanced uptake of these practices.
Colchicine to reduce coronavirus disease-19-related inflammation and cardiovascular complications in high-risk patients post-acute infection with SARS-COV-2-a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Thankachen SS, Devasenapathy N, Bassi A, Ghosh A, Arfin S, Gummidi B, Basheer A, Bangi A, Sahu D, Bhalla A, Blesson M, Jain M and Jha V
There is no known effective pharmacological therapy for long COVID, which is characterized by wide-ranging, multisystemic, fluctuating, or relapsing symptoms in a large proportion of survivors of acute COVID. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the safety and efficacy of an anti-inflammatory agent colchicine, to reduce symptoms among those at high risk of developing long COVID.
Association of post-COVID phenotypic manifestations with new-onset psychiatric disease
Coleman B, Casiraghi E, Callahan TJ, Blau H, Chan LE, Laraway B, Clark KB, Re'em Y, Gersing KR, Wilkins KJ, Harris NL, Valentini G, Haendel MA, Reese JT and Robinson PN
Acute COVID-19 infection can be followed by diverse clinical manifestations referred to as Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV2 Infection (PASC). Studies have shown an increased risk of being diagnosed with new-onset psychiatric disease following a diagnosis of acute COVID-19. However, it was unclear whether non-psychiatric PASC-associated manifestations (PASC-AMs) are associated with an increased risk of new-onset psychiatric disease following COVID-19. A retrospective electronic health record (EHR) cohort study of 2,391,006 individuals with acute COVID-19 was performed to evaluate whether non-psychiatric PASC-AMs are associated with new-onset psychiatric disease. Data were obtained from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C), which has EHR data from 76 clinical organizations. EHR codes were mapped to 151 non-psychiatric PASC-AMs recorded 28-120 days following SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and before diagnosis of new-onset psychiatric disease. Association of newly diagnosed psychiatric disease with age, sex, race, pre-existing comorbidities, and PASC-AMs in seven categories was assessed by logistic regression. There were significant associations between a diagnosis of any psychiatric disease and five categories of PASC-AMs with odds ratios highest for neurological, cardiovascular, and constitutional PASC-AMs with odds ratios of 1.31, 1.29, and 1.23 respectively. Secondary analysis revealed that the proportions of 50 individual clinical features significantly differed between patients diagnosed with different psychiatric diseases. Our study provides evidence for association between non-psychiatric PASC-AMs and the incidence of newly diagnosed psychiatric disease. Significant associations were found for features related to multiple organ systems. This information could prove useful in understanding risk stratification for new-onset psychiatric disease following COVID-19. Prospective studies are needed to corroborate these findings.
Chronic post-COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms persisting beyond one year from infection: a case-control study and network analysis
Chau SWH, Chue TM, Chan RNY, Lai YL, Wong PWC, Li SX, Liu Y, Chan JWY, Chan PK, Lai CKC, Leung TWH and Wing YK
Our study aims to delineate the phenotypes of chronic neuropsychiatric symptoms among adult subjects recovering from their first COVID that occurred more than one year ago. We also aim to explore the clinical and socioeconomic risk factors of having a high loading of chronic neuropsychiatric symptoms. We recruited a post-COVID group who suffered from their first pre-Omicron COVID more than a year ago, and a control group who had never had COVID. The subjects completed app-based questionnaires on demographic, socioeconomic and health status, a COVID symptoms checklist, mental and sleep health measures, and neurocognitive tests. The post-COVID group has a statistically significantly higher level of fatigue compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Among the post-COVID group, the lack of any COVID vaccination before the first COVID and a higher level of material deprivation before the COVID pandemic predicts a higher load of chronic post-COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms. Partial correlation network analysis suggests that the chronic post-COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms can be clustered into two major (cognitive complaints -fatigue and anxiety-depression) and one minor (headache-dizziness) cluster. A higher level of material deprivation predicts a higher number of symptoms in both major clusters, but the lack of any COVID vaccination before the first COVID only predicts a higher number of symptoms in the cognitive complaints-fatigue cluster. Our result suggests heterogeneity among chronic post-COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms, which are associated with the complex interplay of biological and socioeconomic factors.
Investigating Health and Well-Being Challenges Faced by an Aging Workforce in the Construction and Nursing Industries: Computational Linguistic Analysis of Twitter Data
Li W, Tang LM, Montayre J, Harris CB, West S and Antoniou M
Construction and nursing are critical industries. Although both careers involve physically and mentally demanding work, the risks to workers during the COVID-19 pandemic are not well understood. Nurses (both younger and older) are more likely to experience the ill effects of burnout and stress than construction workers, likely due to accelerated work demands and increased pressure on nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we analyzed a large social media data set using advanced natural language processing techniques to explore indicators of the mental status of workers across both industries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Examining Coping Strategies and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence for the Protective Role of Problem-Focused Coping
Chang OD, Ward KP and Lee SJ
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, studies documented a marked decline in mental health and well-being when compared with prepandemic levels. This study examined how different coping styles were associated with anxiety, depression, and sleep problems among U.S. adults March-April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 535 U.S. adults across three time points were analyzed using longitudinal multilevel logistic and linear regression modeling. Avoidant-emotional coping was associated with greater odds of experiencing anxiety (OR = 1.65, p < .001). Both avoidant- and active-emotional coping were associated with greater odds of experiencing depression (OR = 1.67, p < .001, and OR = 1.09, p = .022, respectively) and sleep problems (b = 0.05, p < .001, and b = 0.01, p = .005, respectively). Alternatively, problem-focused coping was associated with lower odds of depression (OR = 0.86, p < .001). Results converge with previous evidence suggesting the perniciousness of avoidant-emotional coping during the pandemic, but also underscore that problem-focused coping strategies may represent one important source of resilience for adults to adapt despite such challenges.
Health Behaviours and the Quality of Life of Students of Medical Fields during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Kupcewicz E, Schneider-Matyka D, Rachubińska K, Jastrzębski P, Bentkowska A and Grochans E
(1) Background: Social distancing and closing down public spaces associated with learning, leisure and physical activity limited the spread of COVID-19. These measures had an impact not only on the economy and education but also on health behaviours and the quality of life of individuals affected by the restrictions. The aim of this study was to identify the role of health behaviours in the perception of the quality of life of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: This study was conducted among 796 students of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn in the first quarter of 2022. Subgroup 1 consisted of students at the Public Health School ( = 428; 53.8%) and subgroup 2 consisted of students belonging to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine ( = 368; 46.2%). The diagnostic survey method was applied, and an original survey questionnaire, the Health Behaviour Inventory and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQoL-Bref version) were used. (3) Results: The largest contribution to the prediction of quality of life of students in subgroup 1 was made by a positive mental attitude related to avoiding too strong emotions, which explained 19% of the result variability in the somatic domain (ßeta = 0.24; R = 0.21), 20% of the result variability in the psychological domain (ßeta = 0.36; R = 0.20), 16% of the result variability in the social domain (ßeta = 0.52; R = 0.17) and 17% of the result variability in the environmental domain (ßeta = 0.19; R = 0.19). Moreover, in subgroup 2, a predominantly positive mental attitude significantly predicted quality of life in the somatic domain, explaining 23% of the result variability (ßeta = 0.24; R = 0.26), while it explained 25% of the result variability in the psychological domain (ßeta = 0.47; R = 0.25), 16% of the result variability in the social domain (ßeta = 0.46; R = 0.17) and 21% of the result variability in the environmental domain (ßeta = 0.38; R = 0.23). (4) Conclusions: Positive correlations between health behaviours and the quality of life among the study participants were determined. Health-promoting behaviours had a beneficial impact on the respondents' quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The category of health behaviours described as a positive mental attitude was an important predictor for the participants' quality of life.
Decoding depression by exploring the exposome-genome edge amidst COVID-19 lockdown
Farré X, Blay N, Espinosa A, Castaño-Vinyals G, Carreras A, Garcia-Aymerich J, Cardis E, Kogevinas M, Goldberg X and de Cid R
Risk of depression increased in the general population after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. By examining the interplay between genetics and individual environmental exposures during the COVID-19 lockdown, we have been able to gain an insight as to why some individuals are more vulnerable to depression, while others are more resilient. This study, conducted on a Spanish cohort of 9218 individuals (COVICAT), includes a comprehensive non-genetic risk analysis, the exposome, complemented by a genomics analysis in a subset of 2442 participants. Depression levels were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Together with Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS), we introduced a novel score; Poly-Environmental Risk Scores (PERS) for non-genetic risks to estimate the effect of each cumulative score and gene-environment interaction. We found significant positive associations for PERS (Social and Household), PERS (Lifestyle and Behaviour), and PERS (Wider Environment and Health) scores across all levels of depression severity, and for PRS (Broad depression) only for moderate depression (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.03-1.40). On average OR increased 1.2-fold for PERS and 1.6-fold for PER and PER from mild to severe depression level. The complete adjusted model explained 16.9% of the variance. We further observed an interaction between PERS and PRS showing a potential mitigating effect. In summary, stressors within the social and behavioral domains emerged as the primary drivers of depression risk in this population, unveiling a mitigating interaction effect that should be interpreted with caution.
A New Pandemic of the XXIst Century: The Growing Crisis of Adolescent Depression in the Digital Age
Cyrkler M, Czerwiak KZ, Drabik A and Soroka E
In a reality dominated by social media and affected by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of people in various age groups has undoubtedly suffered, especially among young people. Statistics confirm that adolescent depression is a significant health problem and is the most common cause of disability in this age group. Research shows the multifactorial basis of this disease entity, placing particular emphasis on the genetic, environmental, and biological background. A family history of depression can increase the risk of developing depression by 4-fold. A teenager, being part of many systems, such as family, school community, and social media co-user, is exposed to many stressors. Maturing youth have a very demanding educational plan to implement, and depression causes a decline in cognitive functions, which are so important in acquiring knowledge. Among many patients, an additional risk is self-harm and suicide, which are part of the clinical picture of depressive disorders. Suicide accounts for about one-third of mortality among youth. We draw attention to the need to increase educational and psychoeducational impacts on adolescent depression, as it is a huge health problem that has an impact on all areas of a young person's life. The trend of depression among adolescents is constantly increasing. The aim of this article is to review the global causes and consequences of the growing number of cases of depression, self-harm, and suicide among children and adolescents, as well as contemporary approaches to management.
Psychological status of pregnant women during the omicron pandemic outbreak in China
Bao S, Chen B, Zhu S, Hu Y, Lee CS, Du M, Zhou M, Fan D, Xie B, Gu H and Liang Z
Pregnant women faced great challenges and psychological and physiological changes of varying degrees during the omicron epidemic outbreak. It is important to recognize the potential impact of these challenges on the mental health of pregnant women and to provide appropriate resources and support to mitigate their effects.
Mindfulness-based interventions for improving mental health of frontline healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review
Benavides-Gil G, Martínez-Zaragoza F, Fernández-Castro J, Sánchez-Pérez A and García-Sierra R
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) appear to be effective for improving the mental health of healthcare professionals (HCPs). However, the effectiveness of MBIs on extreme psychological trauma caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is largely unknown. The aim of this paper was to systematically review empirical studies of MBIs for HCPs carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic, to evaluate them and their effectiveness in different areas of mental health.
What can we learn from speaking to asthma patients more than once? The power of qualitative longitudinal design in primary care research
Wanat M, Santillo M, Tonkin-Crine S and Wang K
Qualitative Longitudinal Research (QLR) has a long tradition in a variety of social science disciplines and is increasingly used in applied healthcare research. QLR can provide insights into the nature, causes and consequences of change (or its absence). However, its use in primary care research is limited.
Pulmonary rehabilitation in follow-up and inpatient rehabilitation for Long COVID: twelve months of follow-up
Rutsch M, Buhr-Schinner H, Gross T, Schüller PO and Deck R
Individuals with persistent impairments due to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can receive pulmonary rehabilitation in Germany. To date, there is no evidence of the medium- or long-term effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on Long COVID.
Mental Health and Well-Being Among Home Health Aides
Yanez Hernandez M, Kuo EF, Henriquez Taveras Y, Lee A, Ramos A, Ringel J, Andreae S, Tsui E, Safford MM, Avgar AC, Shen MJ, Dell N, Shalev D, Riffin C, Wiggins F, Kozlov E, Moise N and Sterling MR
Home health aides and attendants (HHAs) provide essential care to older adults and those with chronic conditions in the home. However, some HHAs struggle with poor mood and stress, which may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evaluation of awareness and performance towards COVID-related disinfectant use: a comparative study between Jordan and United Arab Emirates
Ghach W, Takshe AA, Rababa M, Al-Rawashdeh S and Alwan N
The World Health Organization recommended the use of chemical-based disinfectants as an effective prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, calls for poisoning were reported in several medical centers. The widespread use of chemical-based disinfectants as a preventive measure during the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored potential gaps in community awareness and performance, posing health risks. This study evaluates and compares levels of awareness and performance regarding the safe use of disinfectants in Jordan and UAE.
Resilience and adaptation: a mixed-methods exploration of COVID-19's influence on neonatal residency education in China
Liu W, Wei H, Wang C and Hua Z
This study aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on neonatology residency training in a tertiary children's hospital in Chongqing, located in southwest China. Specifically, the study encompassed the effects on residents' education, lived experiences, well-being, and the quality of neonatal care delivered. As higher educational institutions adapt to the post-COVID-19 era after the pandemic disruption, it is imperative that educational designers/academics learn from their experiences and challenges in curriculum design and delivery, ensuring quality and relevance in education.
Fear in general populations: A cross-sectional study on perceived fear of common diseases, COVID-19, life events, and environmental threats in 30 countries
Li J, Pandian V, Fong DYT, Lok KYW, Wong JYH, Man Ho M, Choi EPH, Davidson PM, Duan W, Tarrant M, Lee JJ, Lin CC, Akingbade O, Alabdulwahhab KM, Ahmad MS, Alboraie M, Alzahrani MA, Bilimale AS, Boonpatcharanon S, Byiringiro S, Hasan MKC, Schettini LC, Corzo W, De Leon JM, De Leon AS, Deek H, Efficace F, El Nayal MA, El-Raey F, Ensaldo-Carrasco E, Escotorin P, Fadodun OA, Fawole IO, Goh YS, Irawan D, Khan NE, Koirala B, Krishna A, Kwok C, Le TT, Leal DG, Lezana-Fernández MÁ, Manirambona E, Mantoani LC, Meneses-González F, Mohamed IE, Mukeshimana M, Nguyen CTM, Nguyen HTT, Nguyen KT, Nguyen ST, Nurumal MS, Nzabonimana A, Omer NAMA, Ogungbe O, Poon ACY, Reséndiz-Rodriguez A, Puang-Ngern B, Sagun CG, Shaik RA, Shankar NG, Sommer K, Toro E, Tran HTH, Urgel EL, Uwiringiyimana E, Vanichbuncha T and Youssef N
In this study, we assessed the general population's fears towards various diseases and events, aiming to inform public health strategies that balance health-seeking behaviours.
Burnout Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Palliative and Hospice Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Endemic: An Exploratory Survey
Ng WR, Hamizah N, Chen X, Yeo ZZ, Soh KC and Chong PH
Burnout is a significant issue for palliative and hospice professionals, exacerbated by the impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on healthcare professionals. It is crucial to update our understanding of prevalence data, identify associated factors, and evaluate support resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prenatal Maternal Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Newborn Brain Development
Weiner S, Wu Y, Kapse K, Vozar T, Cheng JJ, Murnick J, Henderson D, Teramoto H, Limperopoulos C and Andescavage N
Elevated maternal psychological distress during pregnancy is associated with altered fetal brain development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, prenatal maternal psychological distress more than doubled.
Loneliness and Coping Styles Among Athletes With Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Urbański PK, Tasiemski T, Schroeder K, Lewandowska M and Bojkowski Ł
The study aimed to assess loneliness experiences among athletes with disabilities (AWD) during the different phases of the pandemic and to understand its relationship with coping styles. Ninety-one AWD participated in a longitudinal study spanning 10 months, covering three time points: April (A), June (Time B), and November (Time C) 2021. The study used the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and the revised University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale-Revised (UCLA-R) to measure coping mechanisms and feelings of loneliness, respectively. Loneliness levels peaked during the most intense phase of the pandemic, showing significant differences between consecutive time points (χ = 20.29, p < 0.001, d = 0.24). The most robust regression models were built in Time B, using the "intimate contacts" dimension of loneliness as the dependent variable and "emotion-oriented coping", "avoidance-oriented coping", and "impairment" as independent variables, explaining 44% of the variance (p < 0.001). Loneliness among Paralympic athletes fluctuated during various phases of the pandemic. The findings highlight the significant influence of coping styles, particularly emotional styles which heightened perceived loneliness, and task-oriented styles which reduced it, on athletes' experiences of loneliness. These results underscore the need for longitudinal studies to delve deeper into the relationship between loneliness and mental health. Moreover, they stress the importance of developing tailored interventions that promote effective coping mechanisms in AWD during challenging times amid to COIVID-19.
Long COVID cognitive sequelae 6 months postinfection and beyond: a scoping review protocol
Monteiro S, Dessenne C and Perquin M
The novel and expanding field of long COVID research has undergone diverse methodological approaches in recent years. This protocol lays out the methodological approach, which aims at identifying nuances in current research. It underscores the necessity for a more precise understanding of prolonged cognitive sequelae and their relation to initial disease severity. The findings will add valuable insights for the development of targeted rehabilitation, healthcare interventions and thereby aid patients, clinicians, policymakers and researchers. Our upcoming research is introduced here.
A digital intervention to support childhood cognition after the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot trial
Kirk H, Spencer-Smith M, Jobson L, Nicolaou E, Cornish K, Melzak E, Hrysanidis C, Moriarty C, Davey B, Whyman T, Bird L and Bellgrove MA
Difficulties in executive functioning (EF) can result in impulsivity, forgetfulness, and inattention. Children living in remote/regional communities are particularly at risk of impairment in these cognitive skills due to reduced educational engagement and poorer access to interventions. This vulnerability has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and strategies are needed to mitigate long-term negative impacts on EF. Here we propose a pilot trial investigating the benefits, feasibility, and acceptability of a school-based EF intervention for primary school students (6-8 years) living in regional, developmentally vulnerable, and socio-economically disadvantaged communities. Students were randomised to a digital intervention or teaching as usual, for 7 weeks. Children completed measures of EF and parents/educators completed ratings of everyday EF and social/emotional wellbeing at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Change in EFs (primary outcome), everyday EF, and social/emotional wellbeing (secondary outcomes) from pre- to post-intervention and pre-intervention to 3-month follow-up were examined. Feasibility and acceptability of the intervention was assessed through educator feedback and intervention adherence.Protocol Registration: The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on 20 April 2023. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/WT3S2 . The approved Stage 1 protocol is available here: https://osf.io/kzfwn .
"The genie is out of the bottle": a qualitative study on the impact of COVID-19 on continuing professional development
Soklaridis S, Shier R, Zaheer R, Scully M, Williams B, Daniel SJ, Sockalingam S, Dang L and Tremblay M
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic catalysed a monumental shift in the field of continuing professional development (CPD). Prior to this, the majority of CPD group-learning activities were offered in-person. However, the pandemic forced the field to quickly pivot towards more novel methods of learning and teaching in view of social distancing regulations. The purpose of this study was to obtain the perspectives of CPD leaders on the impact of the pandemic to elucidate trends, innovations, and potential future directions in the field.
Real-world predictors of changes in fear of COVID-19 in the Japanese general population: a large-scale internet-based cohort study with 20,712 participants
Tokumitsu K, Sugawara N, Tabuchi T and Yasui-Furukori N
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection that considerably impacts both physical and mental health. In particular, the prolonged nature of psychological issues associated with COVID-19 has become a concern. However, evidence based on longitudinal studies investigating the changes in fear of COVID-19 has been limited, posing a public health challenge.
Longitudinal associations of depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers assisting patients with end-stage cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: the moderator role of emotional exhaustion
Sardella A, Musetti A, Franceschini C, Quattropani MC and Lenzo V
This study aimed to analyze the moderating role of emotional exhaustion in the relationships between longitudinal associations of depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers assisting end-of-life cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Re-engaging with arts and cultural activities at the Life Rooms: 'It's given me spring'
Worsley J, Billington J and Balabanova E
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust's Life Rooms initiative is an established and successful model of integrating arts and culture within NHS provision. In the face of COVID-19, the Life Rooms was restructured to provide a full suite of online resources. Following the lifting of restrictions, in-person arts provision returned to the Life Rooms sites. Additional evidence in respect of the impact on mental health and wellbeing of the return to in-person arts and cultural activities provided by the Life Rooms, as well as the relative merits of online and in-person arts and cultural activities, is needed to inform future planning around in-person, online, and/or hybrid provision.
Understanding factors for adhering to health recommendations during COVID-19 among older adults - a qualitative interview study using health belief model as analytical framework
Gustavsson J and Beckman L
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique possibility to broaden the understanding of people's reactions to a global crisis. Early on, it became evident that older adults were particularly vulnerable to the virus and that the actions of this age group would be crucial to the outcome. This qualitative interview study uses the Health Belief Model (HBM) framework as an analytical tool to examine older people's experiences of adherence to recommendations during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to view this study in the context of Sweden's voluntary restrictions, which further highlight the unique nature of this research.
Changes in the prevalence of mental health problems during the first year of the pandemic: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Salanti G, Peter NL, Tonia T, Holloway A, Darwish L, Kessler RC, White I, Vigod SN, Egger M, Haas AD, Fazel S, Herrman H, Kieling C, Patel V, Li T, Cuijpers P, Cipriani A, Furukawa TA, Leucht S and
To describe the pattern of the prevalence of mental health problems during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the impact of containment measures on these trends.
Layperson-Delivered Telephone-Based Behavioral Activation Among Low-Income Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The HEAL-HOA Randomized Clinical Trial
Kwok JYY, Jiang D, Yeung DY, Choi NG, Ho RTH, Warner LM and Chou KL
Older adults are particularly vulnerable to loneliness and its physical and psychosocial sequelae, but scalable interventions are lacking, especially during disasters such as pandemics.
Profiles of objective and subjective cognitive function in Post-COVID Syndrome, COVID-19 recovered, and COVID-19 naïve individuals
Bland AR, Barraclough M, Trender WR, Mehta MA, Hellyer PJ, Hampshire A, Penner IK, Elliott R and Harenwall S
Post-COVID Syndrome has emerged as a significant public health concern worldwide with increasing evidence to suggest that individuals who have had an acute COVID-19 infection report lingering memory and attention difficulties, even in individuals who have fully recovered and no longer experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The present study sought to investigate the profile of objective and subjective cognitive difficulties in people who have Post-COVID Syndrome, people who have fully recovered from an acute COVID infection and people who have never had COVID-19. We further sought to explore the extent to which self-reported fatigue and stress are related to subjective and objective cognitive difficulties. 162 participants including 50 people living with Post-COVID Syndrome, 59 people who have had COVID-19 but have fully recovered and 53 people who have never experienced symptoms of COVID-19 and had never tested positive for COVID-19 were recruited from Academic Prolific to complete a series of online questionnaires and neurocognitive tasks. Subjective cognitive function was measured using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire and objective cognitive function was measured using the Cognitron cognitive test battery. We found that objective and subjective measures of cognitive function were not significantly related, suggesting that self-reports of "brain fog" are not reflecting objectively measured cognitive dysfunction. A MANOVA revealed that subjective cognitive deficits were driven by heightened perceived stress and fatigue and not significantly related to COVID-19 status. Objective cognitive function, however, was significantly related to perceived stress and COVID status whereby we observed significant objective cognitive deficits in people who have been exposed to an acute COVID-19 infection regardless of whether they had Post-COVID Syndrome or had fully recovered, as compared to people who had never had COVID-19. This suggests that an acute infection can have long term effects on cognitive function, even without persistent COVID-19 symptoms. Encouragingly, objective cognitive function was significantly associated with time since initial infection showing that cognitive deficits improved over time for people who had recovered from COVID-19. However, we did not observe the same improvement in individuals with Post-COVID Syndrome and observed that cognitive dysfunction was significantly related to the number of neurological symptoms presently experienced. These results add to the accumulating literature that COVID-19 is associated with significant cognitive difficulties following a COVID-19 infection, which appear to improve over time for those who have recovered from COVID-19 yet persist in people living with Post-COVID Syndrome.
Population-based disease-group analysis of Spanish excess mortality in the early COVID-19 pandemic period
Reyes-Santias F, Reboredo-Nogueira JC, Garcia-Alvarez RM, Cinza-Sanjurjo S and Gonzalez Juanatey JR
Increased mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic is not explained exclusively by COVID-19 infection and its complications. We analysed non-COVID-19 causes of mortality in a population analysis based on data from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics.
Non-attendance is associated with work performance due to the side effects of COVID-19 vaccination: A cross-sectional study in a Japanese manufacturing industry
Yamada M, Dohi S, Ide H and Mafune K
Although vaccines have promoted the socioeconomic normalization of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), adverse effects on work performance due to the post-vaccination side effects have been reported. Thus, we examined the relationship between the status of going to work the day following vaccination as a post-vaccination employment consideration and work performance among the Japanese workers in the manufacturing industry.
Medical students' professionalism attributes, knowledge, practices, and attitudes toward COVID-19 and attitudes toward care provision during pandemic amidst the COVID-19 outbreak according to their demographics and mental health
Choi EK and Yeo S
This study examines various aspects related to medical professionalism in medical students during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, focusing on their medical professionalism attributes, KPA (knowledge, practices, and attitudes) toward COVID-19 and attitudes toward provision of care in pandemic. We assessed whether these aspects related to medical professionalism were varied by their demographics and mental health level.
Adverse events reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Danish region: a retrospective analysis
Uggerby C, Knudsen SV, Grøntved S, Sørensen AL, Larsen KL, Schmidt CK, Jensen T, Pedersen JR and Mainz J
The 2020 onset of the COVID-19 pandemic globally strained healthcare. Healthcare systems worldwide had to rapidly reorganize, impacting service delivery, patient care, and care-seeking behaviors. This left little time to assess the pandemic's effects on patient safety. This paper investigates COVID-19's influence on patient safety in a Danish region, using data from the national reporting system for adverse events during the initial COVID-19 surge in early 2020. This retrospective analysis investigated how the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (January-September 2020) affected the incidence of adverse events in a Danish Region, comparing it to the same period in 2019. Data were sourced from the Danish Patient Safety Database and regional systems. Adverse events were reported numerically. Descriptive statistics were employed to describe the percentage difference in adverse events and hospital activity, as well as the rate of adverse events per 1000 activities. Additionally, COVID-19-specific adverse events from April 2020 to March 2021 were identified and analyzed, categorizing them into seven risk areas across various healthcare sectors. During Denmark's initial COVID-19 surge in early 2020, the North Denmark Region's hospitals reported a significant decrease in adverse events, with a 42.5% drop in March 2020 compared to March 2019. From January to September 2020, the number of adverse events dropped 8.5% compared to the same period in 2019. In the same period, hospital activity declined by 10.2%. The ratio of reported adverse events per 1000 hospital activities thus decreased in early 2020 but showed only a minor difference overall for January-September compared to 2019. Between April 2020 and March 2021, out of 5703 total adverse events, 324 (5.7%) were COVID-19 related. COVID-19-related events were categorized into seven distinct risk areas, reflecting diverse impacts across healthcare sectors including hospitals, general practices, pre-hospital care, and specialized services. The initial decline in reporting of adverse events likely resulted from rapid healthcare changes and under-prioritization of the reporting system during the acute phase. However, a near return to pre-pandemic reporting levels suggests a resilient reporting system despite the crisis. The study's strength lies in the comprehensive data from Danish reporting systems, though it acknowledges potential underreporting and doesn't measure the pandemic's overall impact on patient safety.
COVID again? Health workers' burnout and turnover intentions: possible impacts of coronavirus-induced anxiety and first-level servant leaders
Kılınç E and Çiçek B
Building on social exchange and leader-member exchange theories, this paper aims to propose a model of the impact of coronavirus-induced anxiety on health-care professionals' burnout and turnover intention through the mediation role of servant leadership.
Global prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Lin YK, Saragih ID, Lin CJ, Liu HL, Chen CW and Yeh YS
As future physicians, medical students have experienced tremendous pressure during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is associated with a high risk of depression and anxiety. We aimed to investigate an overview of the prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students in various countries during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and discuss associated stressors.
Mental health, sleep, and respiratory health after initiating elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor treatment in children with cystic fibrosis
Pham H, Vandeleur M, Mainzer RM and Ranganathan S
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) significantly improves lung function but its effect on mental health and sleep remains poorly understood. We report on mental health, sleep, and respiratory health outcomes of adolescents with CF commenced on ETI therapy, and monitored the prevalence of neuropsychiatric issues through the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Compounding stress: A mixed-methods study on the psychological experience of miscarriage amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Fernandez-Pineda M, Swift A, Dolbier C and Banasiewicz KG
Experiencing a miscarriage can have profound psychological implications, and the added strain of the COVID-19 pandemic may have compounded these effects. This study aimed to explore the psychological experiences, assess the levels of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder), and examine the relationships of personal significance of miscarriage and perceived stress with psychological distress of women in North Carolina who suffered a miscarriage of a desired pregnancy between March 30, 2020, and February 24, 2021, of the COVID-19 pandemic, at 14 to 31 months after the loss.
Quality of life and associated factors for community health workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in northeastern Brazil
Forte FDS, Vieira NFC, Farias SF, Campelo ILB, Castro M, Yousafzai AK and Vieira-Meyer APGF
In this study, we evaluated the quality of life (QoL) and associated factors of community health workers (CHWs) in different urban settings as a contributor to the preparedness of Brazilian primary care for future sanitary emergencies. The sample included 1935 CHWs from 4 state capitals and 4 inland municipalities in northeastern Brazil. Information was collected on QoL (WHOQOL-BREF), work routines, sociodemographics, direct and indirect exposure to violence, general self-efficacy, social support (MSPSS), mental health (SRQ-20) and coronavirus anxiety. The data were subjected to multiple linear regression analysis (α = 5%). In the state capitals, the factors associated with loss of QoL were poor mental health, lack of training, uncertainty about occupational biosafety, and lack of adaptation of services to tend to patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Among the inland municipalities, the main factors were coronavirus anxiety, poor mental health, lack of adaptation of services, lack of training, and lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). A high MSPSS (family and friends) score and self-efficacy had positive impacts on QoL in both urban settings. Our results highlight the need for investment in permanent education, PPE, social support, and mental health care for CHWs.
Occupational safety and health of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the missing part of quality care: a qualitative study
Mehboodi F, Zamanzadeh V, Rahmani A, Dianat I and Shabanloie R
This study explored the consequences of COVID-19 on the occupational safety and health of nurses.
Increasing role of post-intensive care syndrome in quality of life of intensive care unit survivors
Patsaki I and Dimopoulos S
In this editorial we comment on the detrimental consequences that post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) has in the quality of life of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors, highlighting the importance of early onset of multidisciplinary rehabilitation from within the ICU. Although, the syndrome was identified and well described early in 2012, more awareness has been raised on the long-term PICS related health problems by the increased number of coronavirus disease 2019 ICU survivors. It is well outlined that the syndrome affects both the patient and the family and is described as the appearance or worsening of impairment in physical, cognitive, or mental health as consequence of critical illness. PICS was described in order: (1) To raise awareness among clinicians, researchers, even the society; (2) to highlight the need for a multilevel screening of these patients that starts from within the ICU and continues after discharge; (3) to present preventive strategies; and (4) to offer guidelines in terms of rehabilitation. An early multidisciplinary approach is the key element form minimizing the incidence of PICS and its consequences in health related quality of life of both survivors and their families.
Closer to Home: A Quality Improvement Initiative to Optimize Satellite Site Bed Capacity
Herrmann LE, Hubbell B, Taylor A, Duma E, Warniment A, Smith L, Mailloux E, Szczepanski K, Schmidlin E, Mitchell M, Kientz L, Albrecht J, White CM and Statile AM
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic resulted in the underutilization of inpatient beds at our satellite location. A lack of clarity and standardized admission criteria for the satellite led to frequent transfers to the main campus, resulting in patients traveling larger distances to receive inpatient care. We sought to optimize inpatient resource use at the satellite campus and keep patients "closer to home" by admitting eligible patients to that inpatient unit (LA4). Our aim was to increase bed capacity use at the satellite from 45% to 70% within 10 months. Our process measure was to increase the proportion of patients needing hospitalization who presented to the satellite emergency department (ED) and were then admitted to LA4 from 76% to 85%.
Asthma control associated with anxiety and depression in asthmatic children following post-acute COVID-19
Chang TM, Chen Y, Yang KD, Wang JY, Lin CY, Chang YJ, Chen CH and Tsai YG
Poor asthma control may adversely affect mental health. Our study investigates the correlation between inadequate asthma control, exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) levels, and anxiety and depression among pediatric asthma patients with COVID-19.
Mental Health of Medical Students Combating the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Cross-sectional Study in Vietnam
Cap Minh D, Nguyen Quang A and Nguyen Thi T
This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of mental health (MH) symptoms and associated factors among medical students who were engaged in combating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in 4 provinces/cities of Vietnam.
Medical Team Intervention Into a Long-Term Care Health Facility in Japan During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Saito M, Kita K, Sakamaki I, Yamamoto Y and Yamashiro S
Nursing homes face a high risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection; in the early stages of the pandemic, outbreaks in nursing homes resulted in significant deaths among residents. Our medical team intervened in one nursing home struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed the outcomes of 65 residents (52 women and 13 men; mean age, 89 years) during the first wave of infection, as well as changes in resident and staff numbers after the pandemic subsided. The mortality rates in the early and late transfer groups for the first three months of our intervention were 46.7% and 19.2%, respectively. The number of residents and staff fell to 34 and six, respectively, at their lowest point, but recovered to 64 and 33, respectively, by August 2023. Since the successful containment of the outbreak, no clusters of COVID-19-related illnesses have been observed at the facility despite nine infection waves occurring across Japan. Improving staff precautions, designing facilities with effective zoning, and sharing information with government agencies are essential for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Hence, an inter-professional team approach is important to support residents, and ongoing mental health support for staff is essential to maintain optimal healthcare quality in nursing home facilities.
Technologic and Nontechnologic Barriers to Implementing Behavioral Health Homes in Community Mental Health Settings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Woltmann EM, Osorio B, Yuan CT, Daumit GL and Kilbourne AM
Persons with serious mental illnesses (SMIs) experience disparities in health care and are more likely to die from physical health conditions than the general population. Behavioral health homes are used in public sector mental health programs to deploy collaborative care to improve physical health for those with SMIs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these programs faced new challenges in delivering care to this vulnerable group.
Impact of continued mindfulness practice on resilience and well-being in mindfulness-based intervention graduates during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
Tanaka C, Wakaizumi K, Ninomiya A, Tamura N, Kosugi S, Park S, Sado M, Mimura M and Fujisawa D
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented stress. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are known to be effective in reducing stress. However, it is unclear how long-term outcomes differ between those who continue mindfulness practice after MBIs and those who do not. In this study, we hypothesized that those who continued mindfulness practice would have higher stress tolerance, and we examined this hypothesis through a survey of MBI graduates. In this study, we examined the association between the continuation of mindfulness practice among MBI completers and individual stress during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Depressive symptoms, burnout, resilience, and psychosocial support in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide study in Japan
Oyama N, Seki M, Nakai M, Miyamoto K, Nagao K and Morimitsu R
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of healthcare workers. This study aimed to assess the mental health of healthcare workers and identify risk and protective factors.
Association between precautionary behaviors against coronavirus disease and psychosocial factors in outpatients with a pre-existing disease and their attendants
Idemoto K, Niitsu T, Shiina A, Kobori O, Onodera M, Ota K, Miyazawa A, Tachibana M, Kimura M, Seki R, Hashimoto T, Yoshimura K, Ito S, Nakazato M, Igarashi Y, Shimizu E and Iyo M
The spread of the novel coronavirus infection (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) has caused behavioral changes and mental illness in patients and their attendants during its early phase. The present study aimed to examine the association between precautionary behaviors against COVID-19 and psychosocial factors in outpatients with pre-existing disease and their attendants.
Effectiveness of psychological first aid in infectious disease pandemics: An overview of systematic reviews
Koda M, Horinouchi T, Oya N, Aki M, Iriki A, Yoshida K, Ogawa Y, Kuga H and Nakao T
There is insufficient research on the usefulness of psychological interventions, such as psychological first aid (PFA), during outbreaks. We searched for and critically appraised systematic reviews that examined the effectiveness of PFA during infectious disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Systematic reviews that examined the efficacy of PFA in the severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Ebola virus disease, and COVID-19 outbreaks were searched through PubMed on February 19, 2021. The three included systematic reviews were critically appraised and assessed using AMSTAR-2. One review's overall confidence in its findings was evaluated as "high," which suggested that PFA training had a favorable effect on healthcare personnel. Furthermore, the review also demonstrated that PFA was commonly used during outbreaks and could be delivered through multiple methods, such as a phone or video call. Although it was anticipated that PFA would improve subjective well-being, reports showed no evidence of reduced depression or insomnia. Future studies should examine additional numbers of PFA recipients and conduct quasi-experimental studies to better understand the effectiveness of PFA. Evidence on its effectiveness in infectious disease outbreaks is still lacking, along with research and evaluation methods. Quasi-experimental studies, such as comparisons with other psychological interventions, are required to better understand the effectiveness of PFA.
Impact of COVID-19 on mental health and healthcare service delivery
Low WY and Tong WT
Risk and protective factors of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Singapore
Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Shafie S, Wang P, Shahwan S, Satghare P, Chua BY, Ni MY, Lun P, Teh WL, Vaingankar JA and Chong SA
The main aims of the study were to: establish the average levels of psychological distress, suicidality and positive mental health (PMH); and examine their associated risk and protective factors in the population of Singapore during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of COVID-19 on mental health and social service provision in Singapore: Learnings from a descriptive mixed-methods study for future resource planning
Goh ZZS, Chan LG, Lai JY, Lee J, Lee ES, Soon WSW, Toh A and Griva K
COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown measures have led to impact on the mental health and social service delivery, including the rapid adoption of digital solutions to mental healthcare delivery in Singapore. This study aims to rapidly document the quantitative and qualitative impact of the pandemic restrictions on mental health and social services.
Healthcare worker job burnout, anxiety and depression: A one-year comparison during COVID-19 in Singapore
Teo I, Chay J, Quek LM, Sung SC and Tan HK
Occurrence, co-occurrence and persistence of symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors of COVID-19 critical illness
Navarra-Ventura G, Godoy-González M, Gomà G, Jodar M, Sarlabous L, Santos-Pulpón V, Xifra-Porxas A, de Haro C, Roca O, Blanch L, López-Aguilar J and Fernández-Gonzalo S
Intensive care unit (ICU) admission and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) are associated with psychological distress and trauma. The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a series of additional long-lasting stressful and traumatic experiences. However, little is known about comorbid depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To examine the occurrence, co-occurrence, and persistence of clinically significant symptoms of depression and PTSD, and their predictive factors, in COVID-19 critical illness survivors. Single-centre prospective observational study in adult survivors of COVID-19 with ≥24 h of ICU admission. Patients were assessed one and 12 months after ICU discharge using the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Davidson Trauma Scale. Differences in isolated and comorbid symptoms of depression and PTSD between patients with and without IMV and predictors of the occurrence and persistence of symptoms of these mental disorders were analysed. Eighty-nine patients (42 with IMV) completed the 1-month follow-up and 71 (34 with IMV) completed the 12-month follow-up. One month after discharge, 29.2% of patients had symptoms of depression and 36% had symptoms of PTSD; after one year, the respective figures were 32.4% and 31%. Coexistence of depressive and PTSD symptoms accounted for approximately half of all symptomatic cases. Isolated PTSD symptoms were more frequent in patients with IMV (≤.014). The need for IMV was associated with the occurrence at one month (OR = 6.098,  = .005) and persistence at 12 months (OR = 3.271,  = .030) of symptoms of either of these two mental disorders. Comorbid depressive and PTSD symptoms were highly frequent in our cohort of COVID-19 critical illness survivors. The need for IMV predicted short-term occurrence and long-term persistence of symptoms of these mental disorders, especially PTSD symptoms. The specific role of dyspnea in the association between IMV and post-ICU mental disorders deserves further investigation. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04422444.
Current epidemiology of chronic liver disease
Manikat R, Ahmed A and Kim D
Chronic liver disease presents a significant global health burden, characterized by several etiologies, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), chronic hepatitis B virus infection, and chronic hepatitis C virus infection. This review explored current epidemiological trends and projections for each etiology, looking into their respective burdens and challenges. MASLD, formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is the most prevalent cause of chronic liver disease, and its global incidence and prevalence are steadily rising. ALD, fueled by increased alcohol consumption, is also on the rise, with concerning implications for future mortality rates. Chronic hepatitis B and C infections remain major public health concerns, particularly in specific regions of the world, necessitating concerted efforts for screening and treatment. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the epidemiology of chronic liver disease, exacerbating mortality rates and disrupting healthcare services. Mental health issues arising from the pandemic further complicate the treatment of chronic liver disease, making comprehensive healthcare strategies essential. Despite advancements in treatment, chronic liver disease continues to impose a substantial economic burden, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures and early intervention. In conclusion, ongoing surveillance and research efforts are crucial for understanding and addressing the evolving landscape of chronic liver disease. Comprehensive strategies that encompass prevention, screening, and treatment of its different etiologies are essential for mitigating its impact and improving patient outcomes.
Depression and assets during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study of mental health across income and savings groups
Ettman CK, Cohen GH, Abdalla SM, Hatton CR, Castrucci BC, Bork RH and Galea S
The prevalence of depression in U.S. adults during the COVID-19 pandemic has been high overall and particularly high among persons with fewer assets. Building on previous work on assets and mental health, we document the burden of depression in groups based on income and savings during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a nationally representative, longitudinal panel study of U.S. adults (N = 1,271) collected in April-May 2020 (T1), April-May 2021 (T2), and April-May 2022 (T3), we estimated the adjusted odds of reporting probable depression at any time during the COVID-19 pandemic with generalized estimating equations (GEE). We explored probable depression-defined as a score of ≥10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)-by four asset groups, defined by median income (≥$65,000) and savings (≥$20,000) categories. The prevalence of probable depression was consistently high in Spring 2020, Spring 2021, and Spring 2022 with 27.9% of U.S. adults reporting probable depression in Spring 2022. We found that there were four distinct asset groups that experienced different depression trajectories over the COVID-19 pandemic. Low income-low savings asset groups had the highest level of probable depression across time, reporting 3.7 times the odds (95% CI: 2.6, 5.3) of probable depression at any time relative to high income-high savings asset groups. While probable depression stayed relatively stable across time for most groups, the low income-low savings group reported significantly higher levels of probable depression at T2, compared to T1, and the high income-low savings group reported significantly higher levels of probable depression at T3 than T1. The weighted average of probable depression across time was 42.9% for low income-low savings groups, 24.3% for high income-low savings groups, 19.4% for low income-high savings groups, and 14.0% for high income-high savings groups. Efforts to ameliorate both savings and income may be necessary to mitigate the mental health consequences of pandemics.
Overdose deaths before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a US county
Brown CH, Johnson KA, Hills HA, Vermeer W, Clarke DL, Barnett JT, Newman RT, Burns TL and Pellan WA
Globally, overdose deaths increased near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which created availability and access barriers to addiction and social services. Especially in times of a crisis like a pandemic, local exposures, service availability and access, and system responses have major influence on people who use drugs. For policy makers to be effective, an understanding at the local level is needed.
Move Well, Feel Good: Feasibility and acceptability of a school-based motor competence intervention to promote positive mental health
Fairclough SJ, Clifford L, Foweather L, Knowles ZR, Boddy LM, Ashworth E and Tyler R
In response to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown measures Move Well, Feel Good (MWFG) was developed as a school intervention using improvement of motor competence as a mechanism for promoting positive mental health. Study objectives were to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of MWFG and to describe changes in child-level outcomes.
Association between job lost and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of food insecurity as mediator of this relationship
Meller FO, Quadra MR, Santos LPD, Dumith SC, Eugenio FD, Silva TJD, Mendes JVS and Schäfer AA
This study aimed to evaluate the association between employment status and mental health, considering food insecurity as a mediator of this relation. A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted with adults (≥ 18 and < 60 years) during the COVID-19 outbreak in two cities from Southern Brazil. Employment status was categorized into working, not working, and lost job. The mental health outcomes evaluated were depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and sadness. Food insecurity was identified by the short-form version of the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Adjusted analyses using Poisson regression were performed to assess the association between employment status and mental health. Mediation analysis was performed to investigate the direct and indirect effects of employment status on mental health outcomes. In total, 1,492 adults were analyzed. The not working status was associated with 53% and 74% higher odds of perceived stress and of sadness, respectively. Being dismissed during the pandemic increased the odds of depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and sadness by 68%, 123%, and 128%, respectively. Mediation analyses showed that food insecurity was an important mediator of the association between employment status and depressive symptoms and sadness, but not of perceived stress. The complexity of these results highlights economic and nutritional aspects involved in mental health outcomes.
Provider perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on treatment of substance use and opioid use disorders among American Indian and Alaska Native adults
Richardson M, Hirchak K, Bajet K, Brigman M, Shaffer R, Keyes B, Oliver KA, Kropp F, McDonell MG, Venner KL and Campbell ANC
American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities are more likely to suffer negative consequences related to substance misuse. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the opioid poisoning crisis, in combination with ongoing treatment barriers resulting from settler-colonialism, systemic oppression and racial discrimination. AI/AN adults are at greatest risk of COVID-19 related serious illness and death. In collaboration with an Indigenous community advisory board and Tribal leadership, this study explored AI/AN treatment provider perceptions of client-relatives' (i.e., SUD treatment recipients) experiences during the pandemic from 2020 to 2022.
Does volunteering decrease burnout? Healthcare professional and student perspectives on burnout and volunteering
Metzger T, Nguyen N, Le H, Havo D, Ngo K, Lee S, Nguyen T, Nguyen Q, Tran L, Tong N, Le C and Dudovitz R
Burnout among healthcare providers is a significant crisis in our healthcare system, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to understand what motivates healthcare workers and students to volunteer in their community as well as examine how volunteering relates to burnout. These findings can help health organizations better meet the needs of healthcare workers, as well as provide insights for non-profits that rely on volunteer professionals.
Issues and Solutions in Psychiatric Clinical Trial with Case Studies
Chen X, Chen J, Zhao X, Mu R, Tan H and Yu Z
The coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic resulted in a major increase in depression and anxiety disorders worldwide, which increased the demand for mental health services. However, clinical interventions for treating mental disorders are currently insufficient to meet this growing demand. There is an urgent need to conduct scientific and standardized clinical research that are consistent with the features of mental disorders in order to deliver more effective and safer therapies in the clinic. Our study aimed to expose the challenges, complexities of study design, ethical issues, sample selection, and efficacy evaluation in clinical research for mental disorders. The reliance on subjective symptom presentation and rating scales for diagnosing mental diseases was discovered, emphasizing the lack of clear biological standards, which hampers the construction of rigorous research criteria. We underlined the possibility of psychotherapy in efficacy evaluation alongside medication treatment, proposing for a multidisciplinary approach comprising psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and statisticians. To comprehend mental disorders progression, we recommend the development of artificial intelligence integrated evaluation tools, the use of precise biomarkers, and the strengthening of longitudinal designs. In addition, we advocate for international collaboration to diversity samples and increase the dependability of findings, with the goal of improving clinical research quality in mental disorders through sample representativeness, accurate medical history gathering, and adherence to ethical principles.
Easing anxiety symptoms through leisure activities during social isolation: Findings from nationally representative samples
Cheong Q, Kazanjian A and Puyat JH
Public health interventions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate anxiety symptoms for many. We conducted this study to better understand the role of leisure activity in promoting mental wellness during times of social isolation and reduced access to recreation facilities and mental health support services. We analyzed nationally representative survey data collected by Statistics Canada as part of the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series (CPSS) during May 4-10 (CPSS 2) and July 20 to 26, 2020 (CPSS 4). Data related to leisure activity and anxiety symptoms as measured by a score of more than 10 on the General Anxiety Disorder scale were examined using descriptive and log-binomial regression analyses. Survey sampling weights were applied in all analyses, and regression results were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. Exercise and communication with friends and loved ones were the most frequently reported leisure activity. Prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms reported by participants was lower in CPSS 4 compared to CPSS 2. Results of adjusted log-binomial regression analyses revealed lower prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms in those who engaged in exercise and communication, while those who meditated exhibited higher prevalence. In conclusion, leisure activities, such as exercise and communication with loved ones, can promote mental wellness. Future research should clarify the role of meditation for mental wellness promotion during periods of social isolation.
Combined effect of compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding on Chinese college students' mental health during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a response surface analysis
Liu L, Li Y, Yu Q, Wu X and Wang W
The initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly deteriorated mental health, especially among college students. Self-compassion has demonstrated benefits for psychological outcomes such as depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and posttraumatic growth (PTG). Notably, existing literature suggests that the protective and vulnerable aspects within the Self-Compassion Scale, namely, compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding (CSR and USR), can coexist within individuals and influence their mental health through various coexisting patterns. However, this process has not been sufficiently explored. This study aimed to explore the combined effects of CSR and USR on college students' depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, PTSS, and PTG during the initial wave of the pandemic. In this cross-sectional study, 4450 Chinese college students (51.9% females,  = 20.58 years,  = 1.49) completed self-report measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic's initial wave in 2020. Response surface analyses were utilised to investigate the combined effects of CSR and USR. Simultaneously increased CSR and USR were associated with a slight increase in depressive symptoms, PTSS, and life satisfaction, but a substantial increase in PTG. Conversely, increased CSR and decreased USR were associated with a considerable decrease in depressive symptoms and PTSS, a significant increase in life satisfaction, and a moderate increase in PTG. CSR and USR demonstrated protective and vulnerable impacts, respectively. It is imperative to analyse their combined effects as an interactive system and consider the specific characteristics of different psychological responses.
Association between work from home and health-related productivity loss among Korean employees
Kim HJ, Lee DW, Choi J, Hong YC and Kang MY
After the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the widespread adoption of working from home, or teleworking, has prompted extensive research regarding its effects on work productivity and the physical and mental health of employees. In this context, our study aimed to investigate the association between working from home and health-related productivity loss (HRPL).
Mental health and the overall tendency to follow official recommendations against COVID-19: A U-shaped relationship?
Apouey B, Yin R, Etilé F, Piper A and Vögele C
This paper investigates the association between several mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness) and the overall tendency to follow official recommendations regarding self-protection against COVID-19 (i.e., overall compliance). We employ panel data from the COME-HERE survey, collected over four waves, on 7,766 individuals (22,878 observations) from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. Employing a flexible specification that allows the association to be non-monotonic, we find a U-shaped relationship, in which transitions to low and high levels of mental health are associated with higher overall compliance, while transitions to medium levels of mental health are associated with less overall compliance. Moreover, anxiety, stress, and loneliness levels at baseline (i.e., at wave 1) also have a U-shaped effect on overall compliance later (i.e., recommendations are followed best by those with lowest and highest levels of anxiety, stress, and loneliness at baseline, while following the recommendations is lowest for those with moderate levels of these variables). These U shapes, which are robust to several specifications, may explain some of the ambiguous results reported in the previous literature. Additionally, we observe a U-shaped association between the mental health indicators and a number of specific health behaviours (including washing hands and mask wearing). Importantly, most of these specific behaviours play a role in overall compliance. Finally, we uncover the role of gender composition effects in some of the results. While variations in depression and stress are negatively associated with variations in overall compliance for men, the association is positive for women. The U-shaped relation in the full sample (composed of males and females) will reflect first the negative slope for males and then the positive slope for females.
Practice Facilitation and Clinical Performance Feedback Using the Electronic Health Record Improved Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Management in Small Primary Care Practices in New York City
Tabaei BP, De Leon S, Glenn L and Pham-Singer H
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately affects people of color and those with lower household income. Improving blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol management for those with or at risk for CVD can improve health outcomes. The New York City Department of Health implemented clinical performance feedback with practice facilitation (PF) in 134 small primary care practices serving on average over 84% persons of color. Facilitators reviewed BP and cholesterol management data on performance dashboards and guided practices to identify and outreach to patients with suboptimal BP and cholesterol management. Despite disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, practices demonstrated significant improvements in BP (68%-75%, P < .001) and cholesterol management (72%-78%, P = .01). Prioritizing high-need neighborhoods for impactful resource investment, such as PF and data sharing, may be a promising approach to reducing CVD and hypertension inequities in areas heavily impacted by structural racism.
Validation of the Italian Version of the Telepresence in Videoconference Scale (TVS) in a Sample of Psychologists and Psychotherapists During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Cipolletta S, Tomaino SCM, Bouchard S, Berthiaume M and Manzoni GM
Telepresence may play a fundamental role in establishing authentic interactions and relationships in online psychological interventions and can be measured by the Telepresence in Videoconference Scale (TVS), which was validated only with patients to date. This post hoc study aimed to validate the Italian version of the TVS with mental health professionals.
Identifying social determinants of health in populations exposed to structural inequities: a qualitative study of the COVID-19 pandemic experiences of Black and Latinx people living with HIV and cardiovascular risks
Loeb TB, Albarran GI, Lee E, McEwan JA, Dyer KE, Cooley-Strickland M, Norwood-Scott E, Ramm K, Kesblyan D, Barnes A, Novacek D and Chin D
Black and Latinx communities experience inequities in the social determinants of health (SDOH) and high rates of chronic illnesses [e.g., cardiovascular disease (CVD), HIV]. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified these long-standing SDOH disparities. However, scant attention has been paid to the pandemic-related experiences of populations exposed to structural inequities.
Assessing the Disruption Impact on Healthcare Delivery
Fatani M, Shamayleh A and Alshraideh H
Health emergency outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic make it challenging for healthcare systems to ration medical resources and patient care. Such disastrous events have been increasing over the past years and are becoming inevitable, necessitating the need for healthcare to be well-prepared and resilient to unpredictable rises in demand. Quantitative and qualitative based decision support systems increase the effectiveness of planning, alleviating uncertainties associated with the crisis. This study aims to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the performance of healthcare systems in different areas and to address the associated disruption. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates among healthcare workers who worked during the pandemic. The pandemic-related disruption and its psychometric properties were assessed using Structural Equations Modeling (SEM) with 5 latent factors: Staff Mental Health, Communication Level, Planning and Readiness, Healthcare Supply Chain, and Telehealth. Responses from highly qualified participants with many years of experience in hospital settings were collected and analyzed. Results show that the model satisfactorily fits the data with a CLI of 0.91 and TLI of 0.88. The model indicates that enhancing supply chain management, planning, telehealth usage, and communication level across the healthcare system can mitigate the disruption. However, the lack of mental health management for healthcare workers can significantly disrupt the quality of delivered care. Staff mental health and healthcare supply chain, respectively, are the highest contributors to varying degrees of disruption in healthcare delivery. This study provides a direction for more research focusing on determinants of healthcare efficiency. It also provides decision-makers insights into the main factors leading to disruptions in healthcare systems, allowing them to shape their outbreak response and better prepare for future health emergencies.
Support needs of Australians bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey study
Ivynian SE, Maccallum F, Chang S, Breen LJ, Phillips JL, Agar M, Hosie A, Tieman J, DiGiacomo M, Luckett T, Philip J, Dadich A, Grossman C, Gilmore I, Harlum J, Kinchin I, Glasgow N and Lobb EA
COVID-19 disrupted access to bereavement support. The objective of this study was to identify the bereavement supports used by Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic, perceived helpfulness of supports used, prevalence and areas of unmet support need, and characteristics of those with unmet support needs.
Evaluation of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Screening Measures of Emergency Medical Services Clinicians in Urban and Suburban New York During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic
Maloney LM, Robitsek RJ, McKenzie K, Peralta E and Valenzuela JY
The objective of this study was to assess the psychological impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the self-reported rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians in urban and suburban settings that were one of the primary epicenters during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for children in custody: An analysis of inspection reports
Lennox C, Duncan-Zaleski M, Nasim S, Shirley O, Ross K, Chitsabesan P, Robinson L, Shaw J and Leonard S
Children in custodial settings are a vulnerable group. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic there were concerns about the safety of children in these settings. COVID-19 has had an impact on everyone but given the vulnerability of children in custody, there were concerns about the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. All custody settings for children are independently inspected and this research aimed to analyse data from inspection reports. Twenty-six inspection reports undertaken between March 2020 and October 2021 were analysed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on delivery of usual care/regime.
A bibliometric analysis of the knowledge related to mental health during and post COVID-19 pandemic
Wang L, Ye L, Jin Y, Pan X and Wang X
COVID-19 led to a horrific global pandemic, with strict lockdowns and prolonged indoor stays increasing the risk of mental health problems, affecting people of different ages, genders, regions, and types of work to varying degrees. This study provides a bibliometric summary of the knowledge map related to mental health during and post COVID-19 pandemic.
Mental health is just an Addendum: Assessing stakeholder's perceptions on COVID-19 and mental health services provision in Malawi
Mchenga M, Ndasauka Y, Kondowe F, Kainja J, M'manga C, Maliwichi L and Nyamali S
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020. COVID-19 has since caused a significant increase in mental health problems at national and global levels. This study assessed the views of key mental health stakeholders regarding the state of mental health service provision in Malawi and the pandemic's impact on the sector.
Assessing the association between antibody status and symptoms of long COVID: A multisite study
Binswanger IA, Palmer-Toy DE, Barrow JC, Narwaney KJ, Bruxvoort KJ, Kraus CR, Lyons JA, Lam JA and Glanz JM
The association between SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (long COVID) remains uncertain. The objective of this population-based cohort study was to assess the association between SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and symptoms consistent with long COVID. English and Spanish-speaking members ≥ 18 years old with SARS-CoV-2 serologic testing conducted prior to August 2021 were recruited from Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Kaiser Permanente Colorado. Between November 2021 and April 2022, participants completed a survey assessing symptoms, physical health, mental health, and cognitive function consistent with long COVID. Survey results were linked to SARS-CoV-2 antibody (Ab) and viral (RNA) lab results in electronic health records. Weighted descriptive analyses were generated for five mutually exclusive patient groups: (1) +Ab/+RNA; (2) +Ab/- or missing RNA; (3) -Ab/+RNA; (4a) -Ab/-RNA reporting no prior infection; and (4b) -Ab/-RNA reporting prior infection. The proportions reporting symptoms between the +Ab/+RNA and -Ab/+RNA groups were compared, adjusted for covariates. Among 3,946 participants, the mean age was 52.1 years old (SD 15.6), 68.3% were female, 28.4% were Hispanic, and the serologic testing occurred a median of 15 months prior (IQR = 12-18). Three quarters (74.5%) reported having had COVID-19. Among people with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, there was no association between antibody positivity (+Ab/+RNA vs. -Ab/+RNA) and any symptoms, physical health, mental health, or cognitive function. As expected, physical health, cognitive function, and fatigue were worse, and palpitations and headaches limiting the ability to work were more prevalent among people with laboratory-confirmed prior infection and positive serology (+Ab/+RNA) compared to those without reported or confirmed prior infection and negative serology (-Ab/-RNA/no reported COVID-19). Among people with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 serology from practice settings were not associated with long COVID symptoms and health status suggesting limited utility of serology testing for long COVID.
Exploring barriers to care home research recruitment during the COVID-19 pandemic: The influence of social media recruitment posts and public sentiment
Schoultz M, Mcgrogan C, Carolan C, Macaden L and Beattie M
Recruitment of care home staff to research studies is recognised as challenging. This was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated negative media portrayal of care home workers. Social media use has surged since the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns, offering a plausible approach to understanding the barriers to care home research recruitment and gaining insight into public perceptions of care home workers.
Parity of esteem: A global COVID-19 vaccination approach for people with mental illnesses, based on facts from 34 countries; recommendations and solutions
Shoib S, Saeed F, Philip S, Chandradasa M, Das S, de Filippis R, Yousaf Z, Ojeahere M, Gad HK, Yadivel R, Legris Z, Jatchavala C, Paul R, Gupta AK, Handuleh JIM, Gürcan A, da Costa MP, Dannatt L, Ahmad AR, Jaguga F, Saleem SM, Sawitri B, Arif N, Islam MS, Haque MA, Őri D, Chumakov E, Swed S, Roza TH and Islam SMS
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Patients with severe mental illness are at higher risk of contracting the virus due to social determinants of health. Vulnerable populations include the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions, and those exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Unfortunately, only a few countries have updated vaccination strategies to prioritize patients with mental illnesses. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether individuals with mental disorders are prioritized in vaccine allocation strategies in different world regions. They are often neglected in policymaking but are highly vulnerable to the threatening complications of COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors among pregnant and lactating women attending maternity care clinics in refugee camps in Jordan
Dalky A, Quran TO, Abuhammad S, Al-Faraj HM, Bani Hani S, ALBashtawy M, Abu Khader IR, Jallad M and Salameh B
Despite the advantages of vaccination in preventing maternal and fetal problems, there were many concerns in the medical community regarding vaccine safety for pregnant women, and this has put obstetricians in a challenging situation when it comes to advising their pregnant patients on whether to obtain the vaccine.
Self-perception of health and physical activity levels among the youth and adults before and amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
Nyawornota VK, Adamba C, Tay DA, Nyanyofio OC, Muomah RC, Chukwuorji JC, Nwonyi SK, Malete L, Joachim D and Ocansey RT
Emerging research indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions led to decreased physical activity levels and poorer health globally. However, most studies on this topic have focused on advanced countries, leaving a gap in understanding the impact in countries like Ghana. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing self-perceived health status and physical activity levels among youth and adults in Ghana before, during, and after the COVID-19 restrictions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for informing public health interventions and policies to promote well-being during and beyond the pandemic.
Demand for mental health support services among health professionals in Vietnam: Lesson from COVID-19 Pandemic
Thanh NH, Manh Hung T, Ngoc TN, San BV, Hung DQ, Hung ND, Binh VD, Trung LH, Tinh LV, Nam NT, Tan PH, Khoa PTA, Thach PN, Khanh NT, Chinh CD, Trung NV, Thi TTM, Hien PB, Long TA, Thuong NV, Thanh NV, Thang TX, Truong LD, Hieu VQ and Otsu S
This study aimed to measure the preferences for mental health support among health professionals, their willingness to support the mental health of colleagues and associated factors.
Retrospective study on the emotional status of healthcare workers in a COVID-19 field hospital in Oman
McCall RK, Al-Sinawi H, Al-Kharusi N, Al Rawahi S, Al Balushi R, Al-Lawati N, Rizzo M, Al-Rasadi K and Al Maniri A
To combat the overwhelming demand for medical services and care during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Sultanate of Oman launched the COVID-19 Field Hospital in 2020, designed to respond and alleviate the burden on the medical infrastructure. Several studies globally and from the Middle East suggested that frontline healthcare workers (HCW) were at risk of developing markers of psychological distress. It was further understood through research findings that HCW were resilient during times of crisis. However, there is a dearth in studies evaluating the emotional status of frontline HCW posted in the COVID-19 field hospitals in Gulf Countries, including Oman. This study attempts to shed light on the emotional status of HCW that were on the frontlines in the field hospital in the Sultanate of Oman.
The prevalence of mental health and addiction concerns and factors associated with depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada: A cross-sectional study
Chang O, Levitt A, Khalid M, Kodeeswaran S and Markoulakis R
Higher than expected rates of mental health and/or addiction (MHA) concerns have been documented since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A more up-to-date prevalence of MHA outcomes and the factors associated with the occurrence of MHA concerns remains unclear. This study examined the prevalence of MHA outcomes and factors associated with screening positive for symptoms of depression only, anxiety only, and both depression and anxiety two years into the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.
Physical activity on the mental health of children and adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic-induced school closures-A systematic review
Zhong B, Sun H, Wang G, Junwen S, Tang S, Gao Y, Chen H, Lu T and Yan J
To review published Physical Activity (PA) on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents aged 5 to 18 years during COVID-19 pandemic-induced school closures.
The impact of COVID-19 on non-communicable disease patients in sub-Saharan African countries: A systematic review
Basa M, De Vries J, McDonagh D and Comiskey C
COVID-19 and its prevention measures have had a significant impact on patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by disrupting routine healthcare service and increasing risk factors. These challenges were expected to be more severe in sub-Saharan Africa due to the lack of physical infrastructure and inadequate resources. The quantity of studies conducted was limited, and there was a lack of published systematic reviews in the specified region. This systematic review aimed to assess the indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures on individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan African countries.
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Psychiatry AI RAISR 4D System Psychiatry + Mental Health