Politically-focused intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors in a community sample

COVID-19-related intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors

This study evaluated COVID-19-related intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors (CITRB). From March to May 2020, 1,118 Chinese high school students, college students, psychiatric outpatients, and community members completed a survey assessing CITRB, generalized anxiety, depression, somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and pandemic-related disruptions. Overall, participants reported mild to moderate CITRB, although certain thoughts/behaviors were more frequently endorsed, such as repeatedly telling others to take precautions against COVID-19 and checking COVID-19-related news. Being male, younger, a health-care worker, or in isolation/quarantine was associated with CITRB severity in community members. Obsessive-compulsive symptom severity, depression, somatic symptoms, and anxiety were associated with CITRB severity, although only obsessive-compulsive symptoms were uniquely associated with CITRB. This study provided evidence for the construct of CITRB, which may help mental health providers identify the nature and sources of COVID-19-related distress for some individuals as well as serve as a framework for evaluating obsessive-compulsive symptoms specific to large-scale crises.

Parental Attitudes Toward Use of Ketamine in Adolescent Mood Disorders and Suicidality

Objectives: Investigation into parental decision-making processes involving ketamine is of high priority, given the necessary role of parents in consenting to treatment. In this study, we examined parental attitudes toward the emerging use of ketamine in adolescent mood disorders and suicidality. Methods: Two hundred eighty-three English-speaking parents completed an online survey using Amazon Mechanical Turk on psychiatric use of ketamine, acceptability of treatment, and their perceptions of ketamine treatment. Data quality control measures were used to mitigate invalid reporting. Results: Parents reported high acceptability toward use of ketamine for suicidality, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder in adolescents. Primary concerns around ketamine involved its potential side effects and lack of United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Responses indicated a preference for short-term applications and less invasive routes of administration for ketamine. Parent history of mental illness, familiarity with psychological treatments, and comfort using other mental health interventions in their children predicted greater acceptability of ketamine. Conclusion: Although ketamine is not currently approved by the FDA for psychiatric use in children nor recommended outside of research protocols, these findings suggest that parents have interest in the application of ketamine as a treatment for pediatric mood disorders and point to future directions for research and clinical orientation.

The Impact of Conservatism and Elected Party Representation on Mental Health Outcomes During Major Elections

Introduction: The American Psychological Association's national surveys have revealed high levels of stress surrounding the political climate since the 2016 United States (U.S.) presidential election. The two current studies aimed to further evaluate the impact of political factors, such as social and economic conservatism and political party affiliation mismatch between individuals and their local or federal officials, on emotional experiences. Methods: Data for these studies were collected through Amazon's Mechanical Turk following the 2016 and 2018 U.S. elections. Results: Results from Study 1 revealed that following the 2016 presidential election, higher social and economic conservatism was associated with less political obsessions and lower levels of depression. Results from Study 2 also demonstrated that following the 2018 midterm elections, higher conservatism predicted lower depression, less political obsessions, lower levels of negative affect, and higher positive affect. Additionally, conservatism moderated the relationship between party affiliation mismatch between participants and their official in the U.S. House of Representatives and both anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The relationship between mismatch of party affiliation for participants’ Senators and obsessive-compulsive symptoms was also moderated by conservatism. Discussion: These studies suggest that political factors, particularly conservatism, may impact emotional experiences and mental health symptoms during times of increased political polarization. Future studies should further explore the impact of political divisiveness on individual's stress levels and emotional well-being.

National Parent Survey 2017: Worries, hopes, and child well-being

Sociopolitical events impact population health; parents' perspective of such events crosses demographics, geography, and generations. We elicited changes in U.S. parents' hopes and worries for their children 1 year after the 2016 election via an online survey of school climate, discrimination against child, family health care and security, and macrolevel/future concerns (e.g., environment, postsecondary options). Among n = 1189 respondents, national security (39%), the environment (30.5%), and "continued place in America" (25.7%) were most worrisome. In general linear mixed models, employment buffered against social and material stressors such as discrimination (odds ratio [OR] = 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.49-0.92), and family health care/security (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.45-0.86) while being of a dominant religion and ethnicity buffered future macrolevel (Christianity, OR = 70; 95% CI = 0.54-0.92/non-Hispanic, OR = 59; 95% CI = 0.39-0.90) and existential "continued place in America" (Christianity, OR = 69; 95% CI = 0.51-0.94/non-Hispanic, OR = 56; 95% CI = 0.36-0.88) worries. Qualitative comments underscored macrolevel worries. Parents represent a unique vantage for gauging how sociopolitical events impact health and well-being.