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May AK, Smeeth D, McEwen F, Karam E, Rieder MJ, Elzagallaai AA, van Uum S, Lionetti F, Pluess M. The role of environmental sensitivity in the mental health of Syrian refugee children: a multi-level analysis. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02573-x. [PMID: 38702371 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02573-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Individuals with high environmental sensitivity have nervous systems that are disproportionately receptive to both the protective and imperilling aspects of the environment, suggesting their mental health is strongly context-dependent. However, there have been few consolidated attempts to examine putative markers of sensitivity, across different levels of analysis, within a single cohort of individuals with high-priority mental health needs. Here, we examine psychological (self-report), physiological (hair hormones) and genetic (polygenic scores) markers of sensitivity in a large cohort of 1591 Syrian refugee children across two waves of data. Child-caregiver dyads were recruited from informal tented settlements in Lebanon, and completed a battery of psychological instruments at baseline and follow-up (12 months apart). Univariate and multivariate Bayesian linear mixed models were used to examine a) the interrelationships between markers of sensitivity and b) the ability of sensitivity markers to predict anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and externalising behaviour. Self-reported sensitivity (using the Highly Sensitive Child Scale) significantly predicted a higher burden of all forms of mental illness across both waves, however, there were no significant cross-lagged pathways. Physiological and genetic markers were not stably predictive of self-reported sensitivity, and failed to similarly predict mental health outcomes. The measurement of environmental sensitivity may have significant implications for identifying and treating mental illness, especially amongst vulnerable populations, but clinical utility is currently limited to self-report assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew K May
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Demelza Smeeth
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Fiona McEwen
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of War Studies, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Elie Karam
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Balamand University, St Georges Hospital University Medical Center, Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care (IDRAAC), Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Michael J Rieder
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Abdelbaset A Elzagallaai
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stan van Uum
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Francesca Lionetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Michael Pluess
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
- Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
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Consanguineous Marriages and Dental Anomalies: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study. Int J Dent 2022; 2022:9750460. [PMID: 35432541 PMCID: PMC9007677 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9750460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine the correlation between consanguineous marriages and dental anomalies. Study Design. A cross-sectional analytical study. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional analytical multicentered study was carried out at Foundation University College of Dentistry after approval of the Ethical Research Committee (ERC) from September 2021 to November 2021 in Pakistan. All pediatric patients (4–10 years old) with dental malformations undergoing dental procedures or examinations and born with spontaneous vaginal delivery and uncomplicated cesarean section participated in the study. First, second, and third-degree relatives' marriages of parents were used to define consanguinity. The Basic Pay Scale was the reference of estimation of socioeconomic status. Participants with a history of orofacial trauma, pertinent parental history (infertility, hormonal treatment, or infectious diseases during pregnancy, conception with assisted reproductive techniques, prolonged complicated labor, premature deliveries, and twin births), and prolonged hospital admission immediately after birth were excluded from the study. Results The mean maternal and paternal age was recorded to be 23.86 ± 5.4 and 27.07 ± 9.6, respectively, whereas the mean age of participants was 6.60 ± 1.67. There were 297 children with congenital abnormalities, with 203 (68.4%) males and 94 (31.6%) females. The prevalence of consanguineous marriage was found to be in 210 (70.7%) participants. Congenital dental anomalies correlation was found to be significant with consanguineous marriages (p value <0.001). Consanguineous marriages were more frequent in the lower socioeconomic group when compared with the middle and upper socioeconomic groups, respectively (74.7% vs. 8.1% vs. 17.2%, p value 0.007). Conclusion Congenital dental anomalies were significantly prevalent in consanguineous marriages with greater incidence in lower socioeconomic groups. Consanguineous marriages have the propensity to transmute population conformation, but due to religious and social beliefs, literature is hesitant to ascribe congenital dental anomalies persuasive relevance with consanguinity.
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