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Liebe RA, Porter KJ, Adams LM, Hedrick VE, Serrano EL, Cook N, Misyak SA. "I'm Doing the Best that I Can": Mothers Lived Experience with Food Insecurity, Coping Strategies, and Mental Health Implications. Curr Dev Nutr 2024; 8:102136. [PMID: 38645883 PMCID: PMC11031732 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Food insecurity can have lasting physical and mental health consequences. The experience of food insecurity within a household may disproportionately impact mothers because they tend to manage the household food environment. Objective This study sought to understand the stresses faced by United States mothers experiencing food insecurity, related coping mechanisms, and the impacts of these stressors on their mental health. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted in May and June 2022 with a purposive sample of Virginia mothers who reported experiences of food insecurity. Participants were recruited from a related survey and university and community LISTSERVs. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed by trained coders. A thematic analysis was conducted to describe themes that emerged from the data. Virtual interviews were 20-60 min in duration. Mothers with children living in their household, having experienced food insecurity, and living in Virginia were eligible. Results The following 3 themes emerged from the interviews with the mothers (n = 15): 1) food insecurity added stress to mothers' lives in multiple ways (e.g. worry about obtaining the "right" foods and internalized or experienced stigma), 2) mothers used positive and negative coping strategies to address the impacts of these stressors (e.g. use of community resources and reduced personal food intake), and 3) the stressors and coping strategies had varying impacts on mothers' mental health (e.g. added to existing mental health challenges or reduced their mental capacity to make changes). Conclusions Study findings suggest that a multilevel and tailored approach to address diverse stressors is warranted. Future research should explore emotional coping strategies that comprehensively empower mothers to manage stressors, leverage resources, and reduce social stigma associated with food insecurity and accessing nutrition and mental health assistance. This may improve their household food security and mitigate the burden of stressors on their mental health because system-level solutions to food insecurity are pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Liebe
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Kathleen J Porter
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Christiansburg, VA, United States
| | - Leah M Adams
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Valisa E Hedrick
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Elena L Serrano
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- The Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Natalie Cook
- Department of Population Health Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Sarah A Misyak
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- The Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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2
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Stassen HH, Bachmann S, Bridler R, Cattapan K, Seifritz E. Polypharmacy in psychiatry and weight gain: longitudinal study of 832 patients hospitalized for depression or schizophrenia, along with data of 3180 students from Europe, the U.S., South America, and China. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01767-2. [PMID: 38462586 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01767-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Epidemiologic data indicate that overweight and obesity are on the rise worldwide. Psychiatric patients are particularly vulnerable in this respect as they have an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity, and often experience rapid, highly undesirable weight gain under psychotropic drug treatment. Current treatment strategies in psychiatry are oriented towards polypharmacy, so that the information on drug-induced weight gain from earlier monotherapy studies is of very limited validity. We have analyzed the longitudinal data of 832 inpatients with ICD-10 diagnoses of either F2 (schizophrenia; n = 282) or F3 (major depression; n = 550) with the goal of ranking treatment regimens in terms of weight gain, side effects, and response to treatment. The patient data were complemented by the data of 3180 students aged 18-22 years, with which we aimed to identify factors that enable the early detection and prevention of obesity and mental health problems. After 3 weeks of treatment, 47.7% of F2 patients and 54.9% of F3 patients showed a weight gain of 2 kg and more. Major predictive factors were "starting weight" (r = 0.115), "concurrent medications" (r = 0.176), and "increased appetite"(r = 0.275). Between 11 and 30% of the observed variance in weight gain could be explained by these factors, complemented by sex and age. The comparison between monotherapy (n = 409) and polypharmacy (n = 399) revealed significant drawbacks for polypharmacy: higher weight gain (p = 0.0005), more severe side effects (p = 0.0011), and lower response rates (F2: p = 0.0008); F3: p = 0.0101). The data of 3180 students made it clear that overweight and obesity often begin early in life among those affected, and are interconnected with personality traits, while increasing the risk of developing psychosomatic disturbances, mental health problems, or somatic illnesses. Although the available data did not readily lead to a comprehensive, clinically applicable model of unwanted weight gain, our results have nevertheless demonstrated that there are ways to successfully counteract such weight gain at early stages of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- H H Stassen
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Institute for Response-Genetics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - S Bachmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University of Halle, 06112, Halle, Germany
- Germany and Clienia AG, Psychiatric Hospital, 9573, Littenheid, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, 1226, Thônex, Switzerland
| | - R Bridler
- Sanatorium Kilchberg, 8802, Kilchberg, Switzerland
| | - K Cattapan
- Sanatorium Kilchberg, 8802, Kilchberg, Switzerland
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - E Seifritz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
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McBride H, Jhawar N, Boucicaut L, Bearden CE, Kates WR, Woolf-King SE, Antshel KM. Mental health, coping, and protective factors in mothers of children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2024:e32973. [PMID: 38409998 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Compared to the large body of maternal mental health research for other pediatric disorders, we know far less about the experience of mothers of children with 22q11DS. This study investigates the coping methods, protective factors, and mental health of this population. These findings might lead to better support for 22q11DS maternal mental health. An international sample of 71 mothers (M = 40.5 years) of children with 22q11DS (M = 9.2 years) was recruited and completed an online survey assessing maternal mental health (symptoms of depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, general stress, and alcohol consumption), coping methods, and mental health protective factors (social support, dyadic adjustment, parenting competence). Maternal ratings of child mental health symptoms were also obtained. Mothers' self-report revealed a high percentage who screened positive for elevated levels of general stress (69%), hazardous alcohol consumption (30.9%), traumatic stress (33.8%), anxiety (26.8%), and depression (26.8%). After controlling for demographic variables and child mental health symptoms, maternal self-reported maladaptive coping methods were positively associated with maternal symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and traumatic stress. Reducing maladaptive coping methods may be a promising intervention for improving mental health in mothers of children with 22q11DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley McBride
- Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Nandini Jhawar
- Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Laurie Boucicaut
- Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Carrie E Bearden
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Psychology, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Wendy R Kates
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY-Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | | | - Kevin M Antshel
- Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY-Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
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4
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Müller C, El-Ansari K, El Ansari W. Cross-Sectional Analysis of Mental Health among University Students: Do Sex and Academic Level Matter? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12670. [PMID: 36231970 PMCID: PMC9564483 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
University students' mental health and well-being is a growing public health concern. There is a lack of studies assessing a broad range of mental health domains by sex and academic level of study. This cross-sectional online survey of BSc, MSc, and PhD students (n = 3353, 67% female) enrolled at one university in Germany assessed a wide scope of mental health domains, covering positive (i.e., self-rated health, self-esteem, student engagement) and negative aspects (i.e., perceived stress, irritation, and screening positive for depression, anxiety, comorbidity, and psychological distress). We evaluated differences in mental health by sex and academic level. Overall, although self-rated health did not differ by sex and academic level, females and lower academic level were associated with less favorable mental health. Males reported higher prevalence of high self-esteem, and higher engagement (all p ≤ 0.04). Conversely, mean perceived stress and cognitive/emotional irritation were higher among females, as were rates for positive screenings for anxiety, anxiety and depression comorbidity, and psychological distress (p < 0.001 for all). Likewise, lower academic level (BSc) was associated with lower rates of high self-esteem (p ≤ 0.001), increased perceived stress (p < 0.001), and higher prevalence of positive screening for depression, anxiety, comorbidity, and psychological distress (p ≤ 0.002 for all), while higher academic level (PhD) was linked to increased student engagement (p < 0.001 for all). Although the effect sizes of sex and academic level on student mental health were modest, these findings support a need for action to establish and expand early detection and prevention programs, on-campus advisory services, and peer counseling that focus on the sex-specific and academic-study-level-specific factors, as well as mental health and career development resources for students. Academics and policy makers need to consider multipronged intervention strategies to boost confidence of students and their academic career.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Müller
- Department of Applied Health Sciences, Hochschule für Gesundheit, 44801 Bochum, Germany
- University Sports, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | | | - Walid El Ansari
- Department of Surgery, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
- College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Doha 24144, Qatar
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Jimenez AG, Calderaro L, Clark S, Elacqua D, Hazen E, Lam V, Leightheiser GS. Can dogs serve as stress mediators to decrease salivary cortisol levels in a population of liberal arts college undergraduate students? Explore (NY) 2022; 19:283-289. [PMID: 35989236 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2022.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The steroid hormone cortisol can be used to measure physiological stress in humans. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis synthesizes cortisol, and a negative feedback cycle regulates cortisol depending on an individual's stress level and/or circadian rhythm. Chronic stress of college undergraduate students is associated with various adverse health effects, including anxiety and depression. Reports suggest that stress levels have risen dramatically in recent years, particularly among university students dealing with intense academic loads in addition to COVID-19 pandemic-related uncertainty. The increasing rate of mental illness on college campuses necessitates the study of mediators potentially capable of lowering stress, and thus cortisol levels. Research on mediation techniques and coping mechanisms have gained traction to address the concerning levels of stress, including the employment of human-animal interaction sessions on college campuses. In this study, human-canine interaction as a stress mediation strategy for undergraduate students was investigated. We measured salivary cortisol levels in 73 college undergraduate students during a 60-min interaction period with a dog to determine whether human-canine interactions are effective in lowering cortisol levels and potentially reducing chronic stress typical of undergraduate students. Our results indicate that a human-canine interaction for 60 min is an effective method for significantly reducing salivary cortisol and stress levels among undergraduate college students. These findings support the expansion of animal visitation programs on college campuses to help students manage stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luke Calderaro
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA
| | - Sophia Clark
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA
| | - David Elacqua
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA
| | - Emily Hazen
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA
| | - Vanessa Lam
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA
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6
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Camilleri C, Fogle CS, O'Brien KG, Sammut S. The Impact of COVID-19 and Associated Interventions on Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Sample of University Students. Front Psychiatry 2022; 12:801859. [PMID: 35153865 PMCID: PMC8825780 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.801859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental health issues have continued to rise globally, including among university students. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the previously existing and concerning problem. Given that coping mechanisms have been proposed to mediate the relationship between stressors and mental health, the aim of our cross-sectional study was to investigate the mediation of coping mechanisms on the relationship between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health. METHODS University students (≥18 years old; N = 676; 31% male, 69% female) were administered an anonymous survey addressing current demographics, COVID-19 pandemic-related demographics, personal experiences, sources of stress and perceived effect on mental health, politics, sources of news/information, and various pre-validated scales addressing mental health (DASS-21), the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (IES-R) and coping strategies utilized (Brief COPE). RESULTS Our results indicate a substantial proportion of our sample reporting scores in the severe and extremely severe DASS-21 categories, in addition to ~50% reporting a perceived deterioration in mental health relative to pre-COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, a substantial proportion of students reported IES-R scores at levels where PTSD is of clinical concern. Alarmingly, a significant proportion of females (~15%) reported scores reflecting potential long-term PTSD-related implications. Females tended to be more severely impacted in all mental health measures. Mediation analysis indicated that while dysfunctional coping mediated the relationship between the impact of the event (COVID-19 pandemic) and all three mental health outcomes, overall, this was not the case with the positive coping strategies. CONCLUSION Our study appears to indicate a reduced buffering influence on negative mental health outcomes by the positive coping mechanisms investigated in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and secondary interventions implemented. While the findings of this study pertain specifically to university students, they corroborate the existing extensive body of research (from physiological to behavioral, preclinical to clinical) pertaining to the response associated with major stressful events at every level of society. In this regard, the findings imply the necessity for health and other authorities, tasked with safeguarding public well-being, to avoid reactive interventions that do not appropriately balance the risks and benefits, potentially exacerbating pre-existing psychopathologies and compromising social order.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Stephen Sammut
- Department of Psychology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OH, United States
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7
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Buizza C, Cela H, Costa A, Ghilardi A. Coping strategies and mental health in a sample of students accessing a university counselling service. COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/capr.12519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Buizza
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia Brescia Italy
| | - Herald Cela
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia Brescia Italy
| | - Andrea Costa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia Brescia Italy
| | - Alberto Ghilardi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Brescia Brescia Italy
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Moragrega I, Bridler R, Mohr C, Possenti M, Rochat D, Parramon JS, Stassen HH. Monitoring the effects of therapeutic interventions in depression through self-assessments. RESEARCH IN PSYCHOTHERAPY (MILANO) 2021; 24:548. [PMID: 35047425 PMCID: PMC8715262 DOI: 10.4081/ripppo.2021.548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The treatment of major psychiatric disorders is an arduous and thorny path for the patients concerned, characterized by polypharmacy, massive adverse side effects, modest prospects of success, and constantly declining response rates. The more important is the early detection of psychiatric disorders prior to the development of clinically relevant symptoms, so that people can benefit from early interventions. A well-proven approach to monitoring mental health relies on voice analysis. This method has been successfully used with psychiatric patients to 'objectively' document the progress of improvement or the onset of relapse. The studies with psychiatric patients over 2-4 weeks demonstrated that daily voice assessments have a notable therapeutic effect in themselves. Therefore, daily voice assessments appear to be a lowthreshold form of therapeutic means that may be realized through self-assessments. To evaluate performance and reliability of this approach, we have carried out a longitudinal study on 82 university students in 3 different countries with daily assessments over 2 weeks. The sample included 41 males (mean age 24.2±3.83 years) and 41 females (mean age 21.6±2.05 years). Unlike other research in the field, this study was not concerned with the classification of individuals in terms of diagnostic categories. The focus lay on the monitoring aspect and the extent to which the effects of therapeutic interventions or of behavioural changes are visible in the results of self-assessment voice analyses. The test persons showed an over-proportionally good adherence to the daily voice analysis scheme. The accumulated data were of generally high quality: sufficiently high signal levels, a very limited number of movement artifacts, and little to no interfering background noise. The method was sufficiently sensitive to detect: i) habituation effects when test persons became used to the daily procedure; and ii) short-term fluctuations that exceeded prespecified thresholds and reached significance. Results are directly interpretable and provide information about what is going well, what is going less well, and where there is a need for action. The proposed self-assessment approach was found to be well-suited to serve as a health-monitoring tool for subjects with an elevated vulnerability to psychiatric disorders or to stress-induced mental health problems. Daily voice assessments are in fact a low-threshold form of therapeutic means that can be realized through selfassessments, that requires only little effort, can be carried out in the test person's own home, and has the potential to strengthen resilience and to induce positive behavioural changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Moragrega
- Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Christine Mohr
- Department of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michela Possenti
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Deborah Rochat
- Department of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Hans H. Stassen
- Institute for Response-Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
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Wang Q, Zhang J, Wang R, Wang C, Wang Y, Chen X, Mi G, Chen X, Cheng X, Wang L, Zhao H, Pan F, Zhong X. Sleep quality as a mediator of the association between coping styles and mental health: a population-based ten-year comparative study in a Chinese population. J Affect Disord 2021; 283:147-155. [PMID: 33549879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Little is known about the variation in sleep quality and its association with coping style and mental health in 21st century China, despite of enormous socioeconomic changes. This study aims to document the variation in sleep quality and its contribution to the association between coping style and mental health in China. METHODS Pooled cross-sectional data of 46,561 adults was obtained from the 2004 and 2015 mental health surveys conducted in Shandong Province, China. A Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were assessed, with mental health measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). A mediation regression model was run to test the mediating effect of sleep quality. RESULTS Above 10% reported poor sleep quality or median-to-high risk of mental disorders according to GHQ results in year 2015, and a significant but small improvement for sleep quality and mental health came during the studied decade, with the exception of poor sleep quality increasing among males. In 2015, a one-point increase in sleep quality score was associated with an increase of 0.17 (95% CI, 0.16-0.18) and 0.16 (95% CI, 0.14-0.17) points on the GHQ for males and females, respectively. Sleep quality mediated the relationship between negative tendency of coping style and elevated GHQ scores, and the mediating effects grew stronger in 2015 than those in 2004. LIMITATION The study is a cross-sectional study, and the sample is not nationally representative. CONCLUSION An integrative intervention of mental health promotion is recommended to account for sleep quality and coping strategies..
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jingxuan Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Mental Health Center, Jinan City, Shandong, China.
| | - Ruzhan Wang
- Shandong Provincial Mental Health Center, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Can Wang
- Shandong Provincial Mental Health Center, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Yanhu Wang
- Shandong Provincial Mental Health Center, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Xiuzhe Chen
- Shandong Provincial Mental Health Center, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Guolin Mi
- Shandong Provincial Mental Health Center, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Shandong Provincial Mental Health Center, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaojing Cheng
- Shandong Provincial Mental Health Center, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Shandong Provincial Mental Health Center, Jinan City, Shandong, China
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fengming Pan
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xuefu Zhong
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Institute for Medical Dataology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Ahorsu DK, Sánchez Vidaña DI, Lipardo D, Shah PB, Cruz González P, Shende S, Gurung S, Venkatesan H, Duongthipthewa A, Ansari TQ, Schoeb V. Effect of a peer-led intervention combining mental health promotion with coping-strategy-based workshops on mental health awareness, help-seeking behavior, and wellbeing among university students in Hong Kong. Int J Ment Health Syst 2021; 15:6. [PMID: 33422098 PMCID: PMC7796456 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-020-00432-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The psychological well-being of university students is an important factor in successfully coping with the demands of academic life. This study aimed to assess the impact of a peer-led intervention of mental health promotion combined with coping-strategy-based group workshops on mental health awareness and help-seeking behavior among university students in Hong Kong. Method A mixed-method concurrent design was used for this study. Quantitative data, based on one-group pretest-posttest design, were collected using Mental Health Knowledge Schedule Questionnaire to assess mental health awareness, and Attitude Towards Seeking Professional Help Questionnaire-Short Form to examine help-seeking behavior of university students from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Qualitative data were collected from written post-activity reflections and focus group discussions which were thematically analyzed. Results A total of 62 university students (mean age: 23.2 ± 5.1 years) were included in this study. Mental health awareness was significantly improved (p = 0.015, 95% Confidence Interval of − 2.670, − 0.297) after program implementation. Help-seeking behavior mean score increased from pretest to posttest, however, no significant difference was observed (p = 0.188, 95% CI = − 1.775, 0.355). Qualitative analysis revealed that the program helped participants learn about coping strategies to help themselves and others with mental health challenges. Conclusions The peer-led intervention provided a positive impact through increased mental health awareness and knowledge of coping strategies on self-help and helping others among university students. Further study could focus on the impact of the program when applied regularly throughout the entire academic year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | | | - Donald Lipardo
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China.,College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
| | - Parth Bharat Shah
- School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Pablo Cruz González
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Sachin Shende
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Shilpa Gurung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Harun Venkatesan
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Anchalee Duongthipthewa
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Talha Qasim Ansari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Veronika Schoeb
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China. .,School of Health Sciences (HESAV), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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11
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Radicke A, Sell M, Adema B, Daubmann A, Kilian R, Busmann M, Winter SM, Lambert M, Wegscheider K, Wiegand-Grefe S. Risk and Protective Factors Associated With Health-Related Quality of Life of Parents With Mental Illness. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:779391. [PMID: 34925103 PMCID: PMC8672802 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.779391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) can be reduced in parents with mental illness (mental illness) who face the dual demands of disabling symptoms and their impact on family, social, and occupational life. This study aimed at analyzing the influence of various factors on HRQoL in parents with mental illness. Method: Baseline data of the German randomized controlled multicenter project CHIMPS (children of parents with mental illness) was used for analyses. The final sample consisted of n = 208 parents with mental illness and n = 197 children and adolescents aged 8-18 years. HRQoL was assessed with the EQ-5D. Results: Parents with mental illness reported significantly lower global and specific HRQoL than the German reference population. They were least satisfied with aspects that relate to anxiety and depression followed by usual activities, pain and discomfort. Better global HRQoL was primarily associated with self-reported physical and mental health, as well as adaptive coping behavior. Associations with mobility, self-care, usual activity, pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression were analyzed and discussed. Conclusions: HRQoL in parents with mental illness is reduced. Clinical interventions should focus on the alleviation of mental health symptoms and probably somatic symptoms and promote adaptive coping skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Radicke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marlit Sell
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bonnie Adema
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne Daubmann
- Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Reinhold Kilian
- Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University at Bezirkskrankenhaus Guenzburg, Guenzburg, Germany
| | - Mareike Busmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sibylle M Winter
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) and Charité Medical University of Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Lambert
- Department of Adult Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karl Wegscheider
- Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Silke Wiegand-Grefe
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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12
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Stassen HH, Bachmann S, Bridler R, Cattapan K, Herzig D, Schneeberger A, Seifritz E. Inflammatory processes linked to major depression and schizophrenic disorders and the effects of polypharmacy in psychiatry: evidence from a longitudinal study of 279 patients under therapy. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2021; 271:507-520. [PMID: 32696276 PMCID: PMC7981316 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-020-01169-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 2 decades, polypharmacy has become the de-facto standard of acute treatment in psychiatry where patients with psychiatric disorders receive a multiple medication regimen. There is growing evidence for a potential link between major psychiatric disorders and inflammatory processes. Combining these two aspects aims at avoiding polypharmacy attempts among patients with inflammatory activation through alternative treatment strategies. In this study, we addressed the following questions: (1) to what extent can polypharmacy be explained through the factors "diagnosis", "previous history", "severity at baseline", "age", "gender", and "psychiatrist in charge"; (2) what are the differences between polypharmacy and monotherapy regarding efficacy and side effect profiles; and (3) what amount of between-patient variance is explainable by the natural antibody immunoglobulin M (IgM) within each diagnostic group. This naturalistic longitudinal study was comprised of 279 patients under therapy with a clinical diagnosis of depressive (ICD-10: "F3x.x"; n = 195) or schizophrenic disorders (ICD-10: "F2x.x"; n = 84). The study protocol included (1) assessment of previous history by the SADS Syndrome Check List SSCL-16 (lifetime version); (2) repeated measurements over 5 weeks assessing the time course of improvement by the Hamilton Depression Scale HAM-D and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale PANSS, along with medication and unwanted side effects through the Medication and Side Effects Inventory MEDIS; and (3) the collection of blood samples from which DNA and serum were extracted. The association between inflammatory response system and psychiatric disorders was detailed by fitting multi-layer Neural Net (NN) models to the observed data ("supervised learning"). The same approach was used to set up prediction models of side effects. Our data showed that polypharmacy was omnipresent. Yet the various polypharmacy regimens had no advantage over monotherapy: we even found slightly larger baseline score reductions under monotherapy, independent of primary diagnoses and for comparable baseline severities. Most patients experienced unwanted side effects. The close link between side effects and treatment regimen was revealed by a linear model in which the mere number of drugs explained a significant (p < 0.001) proportion of the observed variance. As to the inflammatory response system: For the F2 patients, our NN model identified a 22.5% subgroup exhibiting a significant correlation of r = 0.746 (p = 0.0004) between global schizophrenia scores and IgM levels, along with a correct prediction of response of 94.4%, thus explaining 55.7% of the observed between-patient variance. For the F3 patients, our NN model identified a 19.6% subgroup exhibiting a significant correlation of r = 0.644 (p = 0.00003) between global depression scores and IgM levels, along a correct prediction of response of 89.6%, thus explaining 41.4% of the observed between-patient variance. Polypharmacy is omnipresent in today's acute treatment of psychiatric disorders. Given the large proportion of patients with unwanted side effects and the strong correlation between side effects and the number of drugs, polypharmacy approaches are not equally suited for every patient. In terms of efficacy, there are no advantages of polypharmacy over monotherapy. Most notably, our study appears to have cleared the way for the reliable identification of a subgroup of patients for whom the inflammatory response system is a promising target of therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. H. Stassen
- grid.412004.30000 0004 0478 9977Institute for Response-Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Psychiatric Hospital, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - S. Bachmann
- grid.9018.00000 0001 0679 2801Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University of Halle, 06112 Halle, Germany ,Clienia AG, Psychiatric Hospital, 9573 Littenheid, Switzerland
| | - R. Bridler
- grid.492890.e0000 0004 0627 5312Sanatorium Kilchberg, 8802 Kilchberg, Switzerland
| | - K. Cattapan
- grid.492890.e0000 0004 0627 5312Sanatorium Kilchberg, 8802 Kilchberg, Switzerland
| | - D. Herzig
- grid.412004.30000 0004 0478 9977Institute for Response-Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Psychiatric Hospital, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland ,grid.9018.00000 0001 0679 2801Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University of Halle, 06112 Halle, Germany ,Clienia AG, Psychiatric Hospital, 9573 Littenheid, Switzerland
| | - A. Schneeberger
- grid.412004.30000 0004 0478 9977Institute for Response-Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Psychiatric Hospital, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - E. Seifritz
- grid.412004.30000 0004 0478 9977Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Psychiatric Hospital, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
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13
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Phillips R, Kraeuter AK, McDermott B, Lupien S, Sarnyai Z. Human nail cortisol as a retrospective biomarker of chronic stress: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 123:104903. [PMID: 33137562 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Cortisol is the primary glucocorticoid produced by the activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis after a psychological or physiological stressor. The dysregulation of the HPA axis by chronic stress has been associated with psychiatric disorders. Although hair is currently the main validated source of chronic cortisol concentrations, cortisol is also bound to human nails, another keratinised matrix. Therefore, nail cortisol has the potential to be an alternative retrospective chronic measure of HPA activation. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the temporal resolution, methodological issues, HPA correlates, and target populations in nail cortisol investigations. A qualitative synthesis was performed to assess current literature exploring cortisol concentrations from human nails. A total of 18 eligible human studies extracted from Medline (PubMed and Ovid), ProQuest (PsycINFO), and Scopus found that immunoassays and mass spectrometry were the two primarily methods of analysis. However, methodological variability remained evident between studies. Nail cortisol correlated with saliva and hair in some studies and was investigated across multiple developmental periods. Finally, when applied as an outcome measure in health disorders, higher nail cortisol concentrations have been shown to be associated with acute coronary syndrome and depression. In conclusion, nail cortisol may serve as a retrospective biomarker of chronic stress; however, the ability to track how much cortisol is accumulating within nail clippings is complex and may represent a large timespan. Further, very few studies have reported effect sizes and investigated the effects of covariates, such as age, sex, ethnicity, and nail characteristics, which limits the validation of this measure. Further studies are required to validate the utility of nail cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress across the human lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riana Phillips
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ann-Katrin Kraeuter
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brett McDermott
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sonia Lupien
- Psychiatry Department, University of Montreal, Canada
| | - Zoltán Sarnyai
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
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Boecking B, von Sass J, Sieveking A, Schaefer C, Brueggemann P, Rose M, Mazurek B. Tinnitus-related distress and pain perceptions in patients with chronic tinnitus - Do psychological factors constitute a link? PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234807. [PMID: 32584841 PMCID: PMC7316290 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the co-occurrence of tinnitus-related distress and pain experiences alongside psychological factors that may underlie their association. METHOD Patients with chronic tinnitus (N = 1238) completed a questionnaire battery examining tinnitus-related distress and affective and sensory pain perceptions. A series of simple, parallel- and serial multiple mediator models examined indirect effects of psychological comorbidities as well as -process variables including depressivity, perceived stress and coping attitudes. Moderator and moderated mediation analyses examined differential relational patterns in patients with decompensated vs. compensated tinnitus. RESULTS There were significant associations between tinnitus-related distress and pain perceptions. These were partially mediated by most specified variables. Psychological comorbidities appeared to influence tinnitus-pain associations through their impact on depressivity, perceived stress, and coping attitudes. Some specific differences in affective vs. sensory pain perception pathways emerged. Patients with decompensated tinnitus yielded significantly higher symptom burden across all measured indices. Tinnitus decompensation was associated with heightened associations between [1] tinnitus-related distress and pain perceptions, depressivity and negative coping attitudes; and [2] most psychological comorbidities and sensory, but not affective pain perception. Moderated mediation analyses revealed stronger indirect effects of depressivity and anxiety in mediating affective-, and anxiety in mediating sensory pain perception in patients with decompensated tinnitus. CONCLUSION Psychological constructs mediate the co-occurrence of tinnitus- and pain-related symptoms across different levels of tinnitus-related distress. Psychological treatment approaches should conceptualize and address individualised interactions of common cognitive-emotional processes in addressing psychosomatic symptom clusters across syndromatic patients with varying distress levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Boecking
- Tinnitus Center, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Antonia Sieveking
- Tinnitus Center, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Petra Brueggemann
- Tinnitus Center, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Rose
- Division of Psychosomatic Medicine, Medical Department, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Mazurek
- Tinnitus Center, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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15
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Zhang M, Bridler R, Mohr C, Moragrega I, Sun N, Xu Z, Yang Z, Possenti M, Stassen HH. Early Detection of the Risk of Developing Psychiatric Disorders: A Study of 461 Chinese University Students under Chronic Stress. Psychopathology 2020; 52:367-377. [PMID: 32053817 PMCID: PMC7158233 DOI: 10.1159/000505787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress, a characteristic of modern time, has a significant impact on general health. In the context of psychiatric disorders, insufficient coping behavior under chronic stress has been linked to higher rates of (1) depressive symptoms among subjects of the general population, (2) relapse among patients under treatment for clinical depression, and (3) negative symptoms among subjects with an elevated vulnerability to psychosis. In this normative study we assessed basic coping behavior among 461 Chinese freshman university students along with their consumption behavior and general health in terms of regular exercises, physical health, psychosomatic disturbances, and mental health. The assessments relied on two instruments that have already demonstrated their capability of (1) reliably detecting insufficient coping behavior under chronic stress and (2) reliably quantifying the interrelation between coping behavior and mental health in the Western world. Thus, we aimed to complement existing data and to develop a generally available, socioculturally independent tool that can be used for the early detection of subjects with an elevated risk of mental health problems. Structural analyses yielded essentially the same scales "activity" and "defeatism" as previous studies on 2,500 students from Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the USA, and Argentina. These scales explained 74.3% of the observed variance in coping behavior among the 461 Chinese students. We found highly significant correlations (p < 0.0001) between the "defeatism" scale on the one hand, and the scales "regular use of medicine," "psychosomatic disturbances," and "impaired mental health" on the other. Particularly intriguing was the finding that a neural net classifier could be constructed to identify students with the highest contributions to the interrelation between "coping behavior" and "mental health," yielding a correlation coefficient as high as r = 0.597 for the respective subgroup. Based on the normative data, an online tool for risk assessments was developed with immediate feedback to users. This study provided another piece of evidence regarding the close link between basic coping behavior and mental health, across cultures and ethnicities. In consequence, our approach to quantifying basic coping behavior, along with other risk factors, can be expected to clear the way for an "early" detection of students with an elevated risk of stress-related mental health problems, nota bene prior to the development of clinically relevant symptoms. The socioeconomic impact of the potential prevention of depressive -disorders, and psychiatric disorders in general, may be enormous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Christine Mohr
- Department of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ines Moragrega
- Departament de Psicobiologia, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ningning Sun
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhaoyue Xu
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zimo Yang
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Michela Possenti
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Hans H Stassen
- Institute for Response-Genetics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (KPPP), Zurich, Switzerland,
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16
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Groth N, Schnyder N, Kaess M, Markovic A, Rietschel L, Moser S, Michel C, Schultze-Lutter F, Schmidt SJ. Coping as a mediator between locus of control, competence beliefs, and mental health: A systematic review and structural equation modelling meta-analysis. Behav Res Ther 2019; 121:103442. [PMID: 31430689 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2019.103442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This systematic review and two-staged structural equation modelling meta-analysis (TSSEM) aimed to examine whether coping mediates the associations between locus of control, competence beliefs, and mental health in the general population and clinical samples. METHODS Eligible studies published until May 2017 were identified through systematic searches of PubMED and EMBASE. The review included 19 studies and the meta-analysis 15 studies. RESULTS The review supports the assumption that coping mediates the associations between locus of control and competence beliefs, and mental health. TSSEM using a pooled sample of 3986 respondents and 225 cross-sectional effect sizes indicated that maladaptive coping mediates the association between maladaptive locus of control and mental health problems. On the contrary, adaptive coping did not mediate this association and was only significantly associated with competence beliefs and adaptive locus of control but, unexpectedly, not with mental health. Both maladaptive and adaptive locus of control but not competence beliefs had direct links to mental health problems that were independent of coping. CONCLUSION Interventions should not only focus on enhancing adaptive coping as it might be more promising to diminish maladaptive locus of control, which may result in reduced maladaptive coping and, finally, improved mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Groth
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Haus A, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60, Switzerland.
| | - Nina Schnyder
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Haus A, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60, Switzerland.
| | - Michael Kaess
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Haus A, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60, Switzerland; Section for Translational Psychobiology in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany, Blumenstraße 8, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Andjela Markovic
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Haus A, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60, Switzerland.
| | - Liz Rietschel
- SRH University Heidelberg, Academy for Psychotherapy, Heidelberg, Germany, Maaßstrasse 32/1, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Susann Moser
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Haus A, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60, Switzerland.
| | - Chantal Michel
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Haus A, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60, Switzerland; Developmental Clinical Psychology Research Unit, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 40, Boulevard du Pont-d'Arve, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland.
| | - Frauke Schultze-Lutter
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Haus A, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany, Bergische Landstraße 2, 40629 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Stefanie J Schmidt
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Haus A, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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17
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Sattler S. Nonmedical use of prescription drugs for cognitive enhancement as response to chronic stress especially when social support is lacking. Stress Health 2019; 35:127-137. [PMID: 30378254 DOI: 10.1002/smi.2846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The nonmedical use of prescription drugs to improve cognitive performance has gained attention due to concerns over its social and political implications as well as side effects and long-term health consequences. Some researchers expect a future trend of an instrumental use of drugs for cognitive enhancement (CE). Thus, getting insights about causes of CE-drug consumption is warranted before the prevalence increases. Because perceived stress is ubiquitous in universities and may decrease cognitive performance, one reaction to cope with stress and its consequences might be the instrumental use of drugs for CE, especially if other resources, such as social support, are lacking. With a prospective design, randomly selected students from four German universities were invited to a web-based survey and reinterviewed after 6 months (N = 2,203). Results show a 6-month prevalence rate of self-reported CE-drug use of about 2%. Higher reported chronic stress is positively associated with CE-drug use. Although social support has no main effect, stress-buffering effects were found. In men with low stress, more support is associated with a higher chance of self-reported CE-drug use. These findings can inform intervention and prevention strategies such as changes in drug regulation or sensitizing (potential) users to unwanted health consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Sattler
- Institute for Sociology and Social Psychology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Pragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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18
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Stoilkova-Hartmann A, Franssen FME, Augustin IML, Wouters EFM, Barnard KD. COPD patient education and support - Achieving patient-centredness. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2018; 101:2031-2036. [PMID: 29884533 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The art of medicine is undergoing a dramatic shift in focus, evolving to focus on patient involvement as partners in care, transforming the traditional, prescriptive, reactive practice of healthcare into a proactive discipline. The personal and societal burden of chronic diseases is burgeoning and unsustainable in current systems, novel approaches are required to address this. DISCUSSION Although considerable progress has been made in the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and care guidelines for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), questions remain surrounding the implementation of best practice education and support. Current educational programmes, personal limitations and preferences and patient-clinician communication in modification of coping styles and behaviour are discussed. A novel holistic model, the Kaleidoscope Model of Care is proposed to address the barriers to optimal self-care behaviours. CONCLUSION AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Holistic approaches are essential for optimal self-management and improved outcomes. Guidance on personalised goals for patients to help meeting their therapy priorities is needed to aid healthcare professionals (HCPs) and funders to minimise healthcare burden and costs. The novel KALMOD approach may optimise patient empowerment, exploring whole-life factors that impact COPD care and improve interactions between patients and HCPs for optimised outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Stoilkova-Hartmann
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Frits M E Franssen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Research & Education, CIRO, Centre of Expertise for Chronic Organ Failure, Horn, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid M L Augustin
- Department of Research & Education, CIRO, Centre of Expertise for Chronic Organ Failure, Horn, The Netherlands
| | - Emiel F M Wouters
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Research & Education, CIRO, Centre of Expertise for Chronic Organ Failure, Horn, The Netherlands
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19
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Krasuska M, Lavda A, Thompson A, Millings A. The role of adult attachment orientation and coping in psychological adjustment to living with skin conditions. Br J Dermatol 2018; 178:1396-1403. [DOI: 10.1111/bjd.16268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Krasuska
- Department of Psychology; University of Sheffield; Sheffield U.K
- Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics; University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh U.K
| | - A.C. Lavda
- Central Chesterfield Neighbourhood Team; Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Chesterfield U.K
| | - A.R. Thompson
- Department of Psychology; University of Sheffield; Sheffield U.K
| | - A. Millings
- Department of Psychology; University of Sheffield; Sheffield U.K
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Moritz S, Jahns AK, Schröder J, Berger T, Lincoln TM, Klein JP, Göritz AS. More adaptive versus less maladaptive coping: What is more predictive of symptom severity? Development of a new scale to investigate coping profiles across different psychopathological syndromes. J Affect Disord 2016; 191:300-7. [PMID: 26702520 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lack of adaptive and enhanced maladaptive coping with stress and negative emotions are implicated in many psychopathological disorders. We describe the development of a new scale to investigate the relative contribution of different coping styles to psychopathology in a large population sample. We hypothesized that the magnitude of the supposed positive correlation between maladaptive coping and psychopathology would be stronger than the supposed negative correlation between adaptive coping and psychopathology. We also examined whether distinct coping style patterns emerge for different psychopathological syndromes. METHODS A total of 2200 individuals from the general population participated in an online survey. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory revised (OCI-R) and the Paranoia Checklist were administered along with a novel instrument called Maladaptive and Adaptive Coping Styles (MAX) questionnaire. Participants were reassessed six months later. RESULTS MAX consists of three dimensions representing adaptive coping, maladaptive coping and avoidance. Across all psychopathological syndromes, similar response patterns emerged. Maladaptive coping was more strongly related to psychopathology than adaptive coping both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The overall number of coping styles adopted by an individual predicted greater psychopathology. Mediation analysis suggests that a mild positive relationship between adaptive and certain maladaptive styles (emotional suppression) partially accounts for the attenuated relationship between adaptive coping and depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS Results should be replicated in a clinical population. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that maladaptive and adaptive coping styles are not reciprocal. Reducing maladaptive coping seems to be more important for outcome than enhancing adaptive coping. The study supports transdiagnostic approaches advocating that maladaptive coping is a common factor across different psychopathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Moritz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna Katharina Jahns
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johanna Schröder
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Berger
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Jan Philipp Klein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Germany
| | - Anja S Göritz
- Occupational and Consumer Psychology, Freiburg University, Freiburg, Germany
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Braun S, Annovazzi C, Botella C, Bridler R, Camussi E, Delfino JP, Mohr C, Moragrega I, Papagno C, Pisoni A, Soler C, Seifritz E, Stassen HH. Assessing Chronic Stress, Coping Skills, and Mood Disorders through Speech Analysis: A Self-Assessment 'Voice App' for Laptops, Tablets, and Smartphones. Psychopathology 2016; 49:406-419. [PMID: 27842303 DOI: 10.1159/000450959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Computerized speech analysis (CSA) is a powerful method that allows one to assess stress-induced mood disturbances and affective disorders through repeated measurements of speaking behavior and voice sound characteristics. Over the past decades CSA has been successfully used in the clinical context to monitor the transition from 'affectively disturbed' to 'normal' among psychiatric patients under treatment. This project, by contrast, aimed to extend the CSA method in such a way that the transition from 'normal' to 'affected' can be detected among subjects of the general population through 10-20 self-assessments. METHODS Central to the project was a normative speech study of 5 major languages (English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish). Each language comprised 120 subjects stratified according to gender, age, and education with repeated assessments at 14-day intervals (total n = 697). In a first step, we developed a multivariate model to assess affective state and stress-induced bodily reactions through speaking behavior and voice sound characteristics. Secondly, we determined language-, gender-, and age-specific thresholds that draw a line between 'natural fluctuations' and 'significant changes'. Thirdly, we implemented the model along with the underlying methods and normative data in a self-assessment 'voice app' for laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Finally, a longitudinal self-assessment study of 36 subjects was carried out over 14 days to test the performance of the CSA method in home environments. RESULTS The data showed that speaking behavior and voice sound characteristics can be quantified in a reproducible and language-independent way. Gender and age explained 15-35% of the observed variance, whereas the educational level had a relatively small effect in the range of 1-3%. The self-assessment 'voice app' was realized in modular form so that additional languages can simply be 'plugged in' once the respective normative data become available. Results of the longitudinal self-assessment study in home environments demonstrated that CSA methods work well under most circumstances. CONCLUSIONS We have successfully developed and tested a self-assessment CSA method that can monitor transitions from 'normal' to 'affected' in subjects of the general population in the broader context of mood disorders. Our easy-to-use 'voice app' evaluates sequences of 10-20 repeated assessments and watches for affect- and stress-induced deviations from baseline that exceed language-, gender-, and age-specific thresholds. Specifically, the 'voice app' provides users with stress-related 'biofeedback' and can help to identify that 10-15% subgroup of the general population that exhibits insufficient coping skills under chronic stress and may benefit from early detection and intervention prior to developing clinically relevant symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Braun
- Institute for Response-Genetics, Psychiatric University Hospital (KPPP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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The importance of stress, self-efficacy, and self-medication for pharmacological neuroenhancement among employees and students. Drug Alcohol Depend 2015; 156:221-227. [PMID: 26455555 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study examined the relationship between stress, self-efficacy, self-medication, and pharmacological neuroenhancement (PNE) in the Swiss general population. METHODS Using the largest Swiss Internet panel, a sample of 10,171 employees and students (unweighted N=10,084) aged 15-74 years was recruited and asked to complete a self-administered online survey. The data were weighted for age, sex, and language region to provide results that were representative of the Swiss population. Multinomial logistic regression models were conducted to identify predictors of pharmacological cognitive enhancement (PCE) and pharmacological mood enhancement (PME) over the past year. Two self-medication models and an overall model were determined. RESULTS Current medical treatment for a mental disorder was the best predictor of both PCE and PME use as serious self-medication. The overall model revealed that cannabis use, frequent stress, and long-term stress were predictors of both PCE and PME, whereas negative stressors and time pressure at work did not remain in the final model. Furthermore, past-year PCE with and without PME was associated with being male, being a student, and using illegal drugs other than cannabis, whereas being female and having low self-efficacy predicted past-year PME only. CONCLUSIONS Consideration of the predictor variables identified in this study may help to identify the potential PCE and PME users for whom measures to prevent drug abuse and manage stress are most appropriate. More specifically, the use of PCE and PME as self-medication to enhance performance at work or while studying needs further consideration in the neuroenhancement debate.
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O’Leary-Barrett M, Pihl RO, Artiges E, Banaschewski T, Bokde ALW, Büchel C, Flor H, Frouin V, Garavan H, Heinz A, Ittermann B, Mann K, Paillère-Martinot ML, Nees F, Paus T, Pausova Z, Poustka L, Rietschel M, Robbins TW, Smolka MN, Ströhle A, Schumann G, Conrod PJ. Personality, Attentional Biases towards Emotional Faces and Symptoms of Mental Disorders in an Adolescent Sample. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128271. [PMID: 26046352 PMCID: PMC4457930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the role of personality factors and attentional biases towards emotional faces, in establishing concurrent and prospective risk for mental disorder diagnosis in adolescence. Method Data were obtained as part of the IMAGEN study, conducted across 8 European sites, with a community sample of 2257 adolescents. At 14 years, participants completed an emotional variant of the dot-probe task, as well two personality measures, namely the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale and the revised NEO Personality Inventory. At 14 and 16 years, participants and their parents were interviewed to determine symptoms of mental disorders. Results Personality traits were general and specific risk indicators for mental disorders at 14 years. Increased specificity was obtained when investigating the likelihood of mental disorders over a 2-year period, with the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale showing incremental validity over the NEO Personality Inventory. Attentional biases to emotional faces did not characterise or predict mental disorders examined in the current sample. Discussion Personality traits can indicate concurrent and prospective risk for mental disorders in a community youth sample, and identify at-risk youth beyond the impact of baseline symptoms. This study does not support the hypothesis that attentional biases mediate the relationship between personality and psychopathology in a community sample. Task and sample characteristics that contribute to differing results among studies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert O. Pihl
- Department of Psychology McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eric Artiges
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM CEA Unit 1000 “Imaging & Psychiatry”, University Paris Sud, Orsay, Paris, France
- AP-HP Department of Adolescent Psychopathology and Medicine, Maison de Solenn, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Arun L. W. Bokde
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience and Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Herta Flor
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vincent Frouin
- Neurospin, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Paris, France
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Ittermann
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig und Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karl Mann
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marie-Laure Paillère-Martinot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM CEA Unit 1000 “Imaging & Psychiatry”, University Paris Sud, Orsay, Paris, France
- AP-HP Department of Adolescent Psychopathology and Medicine, Maison de Solenn, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Frauke Nees
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tomas Paus
- Rotman Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Zdenka Pausova
- The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luise Poustka
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Trevor W. Robbins
- Behavioural and Clinical Neurosciences Institute, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael N. Smolka
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, and Neuroimaging Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Ströhle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gunter Schumann
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia J. Conrod
- Department of Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montreal, CHU Ste Justine Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Braun S, Botella C, Bridler R, Chmetz F, Delfino JP, Herzig D, Kluckner VJ, Mohr C, Moragrega I, Schrag Y, Seifritz E, Soler C, Stassen HH. Affective state and voice: cross-cultural assessment of speaking behavior and voice sound characteristics--a normative multicenter study of 577 + 36 healthy subjects. Psychopathology 2014; 47:327-40. [PMID: 25227968 DOI: 10.1159/000363247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human speech is greatly influenced by the speakers' affective state, such as sadness, happiness, grief, guilt, fear, anger, aggression, faintheartedness, shame, sexual arousal, love, amongst others. Attentive listeners discover a lot about the affective state of their dialog partners with no great effort, and without having to talk about it explicitly during a conversation or on the phone. On the other hand, speech dysfunctions, such as slow, delayed or monotonous speech, are prominent features of affective disorders. METHODS This project was comprised of four studies with healthy volunteers from Bristol (English: n = 117), Lausanne (French: n = 128), Zurich (German: n = 208), and Valencia (Spanish: n = 124). All samples were stratified according to gender, age, and education. The specific study design with different types of spoken text along with repeated assessments at 14-day intervals allowed us to estimate the 'natural' variation of speech parameters over time, and to analyze the sensitivity of speech parameters with respect to form and content of spoken text. Additionally, our project included a longitudinal self-assessment study with university students from Zurich (n = 18) and unemployed adults from Valencia (n = 18) in order to test the feasibility of the speech analysis method in home environments. RESULTS The normative data showed that speaking behavior and voice sound characteristics can be quantified in a reproducible and language-independent way. The high resolution of the method was verified by a computerized assignment of speech parameter patterns to languages at a success rate of 90%, while the correct assignment to texts was 70%. In the longitudinal self-assessment study we calculated individual 'baselines' for each test person along with deviations thereof. The significance of such deviations was assessed through the normative reference data. CONCLUSIONS Our data provided gender-, age-, and language-specific thresholds that allow one to reliably distinguish between 'natural fluctuations' and 'significant changes'. The longitudinal self-assessment study with repeated assessments at 1-day intervals over 14 days demonstrated the feasibility and efficiency of the speech analysis method in home environments, thus clearing the way to a broader range of applications in psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Braun
- Institute for Response-Genetics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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