Media-Induced War Trauma Amid Conflicts in Ukraine

Neurotic Disorders in Children and Adults Under Social Stress Neurosis in Kids and Adults: Social Stress

ABSTRACT

The relevance of the research subject is to explore the neurotic disorders that arise in people affected by the Russian-Ukrainian war and who witness violence and war crimes. The purpose of the research is to reflect the specific features of the mental reaction of children and adults to military actions as an example of global social stress. Bibliographic, bibliosemantic, and statistical research methods were used in the research. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the number of patients with prolonged depression and schizophrenia has increased, and neurotic disorders has become more severe and acute. Particular attention should be devoted to assistance to military personnel who have been in the combat zone for a long time and former military prisoners of war. Attention should be devoted to the psyche, emotionality, and behavior of people with labile and unformed nervous systems-children, adolescents, pregnant women, and people of retirement age.

Where should "Humans" be in "One Health"? Lessons from COVID-19 for One Health

The culling of animals that are infected, or suspected to be infected, with COVID-19 has fuelled outcry. What might have contributed to the ongoing debates and discussions about animal rights protection amid global health crises is the lack of a unified understanding and internationally agreed-upon definition of "One Health". The term One Health is often utilised to describe the imperative to protect the health of humans, animals, and plants, along with the overarching ecosystem in an increasingly connected and globalized world. However, to date, there is a dearth of research on how to balance public health decisions that could impact all key stakeholders under the umbrella of One Health, particularly in contexts where human suffering has been immense. To shed light on the issue, this paper discusses whether One Health means "human-centred connected health" in a largely human-dominated planet, particularly amid crises like COVID-19. The insights of this study could help policymakers make more informed decisions that could effectively and efficiently protect human health while balancing the health and well-being of the rest of the inhabitants of our shared planet Earth.

War trauma and strategies for coping with stress among Ukrainian refugees staying in Poland

Objectives

The Russian military aggression against Ukraine resulted in a humanitarian crisis. There was a mass exodus of war refugees. More than 17 million people have left Ukraine since the war broke out. The refugees who came to Poland and other countries have experienced war trauma. The study aims to assess mental health of Ukrainian war refugees in Poland.

Population and methods

At the time of the study, that is, in April and May 2022, between 1,5 million and 2 million Ukrainian refugees were staying in Poland. They were mainly young women with their children. The CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) technique was used in the study. The research sample was selected using purposive sampling. The invitation to take part in the survey was posted on social media for Ukrainians in Poland, and also sent to the participants of a Polish as a Foreign Language course. The study utilizes the RHS-15 and a nominal scale measuring the strategies for coping with stress.

Results

The research sample consists of 737 respondents. The results of the screening tests indicate that depression, anxiety disorders and PTSD may be observed among 73% of respondents, whereas 66% of the respondents display psychological distress. The analyses have shown that higher levels of mental health disorders were observed among women and refugees who do not speak Polish. Younger respondents experienced a higher psychological distress. The results of the study also indicate that the refugees more often implemented problem-focused strategies. The analysis has shown that the respondents who followed active strategies scored the lowest on RHS-15. The emotion-focused strategies, such as praying, diverting attention by becoming involved in different activities or taking sedatives were not effective. The highest levels of disorders were present among the refugees who indicated resignation.

Conclusions

The collected observations indicate that the main problem which might hinder their adaptation could be mental health issues, which in turn impact the general deterioration of health and the quality of life.

Technology-based interventions for health challenges older women face amid COVID-19: a systematic review protocol

BACKGROUND

Pandemics, such as COVID-19, are dangerous and socially disruptive. Though no one is immune to COVID-19, older persons often bear the brunt of its consequences. This is particularly true for older women, as they often face more pronounced health challenges relative to other segments in society, including complex care needs, insufficient care provisions, mental illness, neglect, and increased domestic abuse. To further compound the situation, because protective measures like lockdowns can result in unintended consequences, many health services older women depend on can become disrupted or discontinued amid pandemics. While technology-based interventions have the potential to provide near-time, location-free, and virtually accessible care, there is a dearth of systematic insights into this mode of care in the literature. To bridge the research gaps, this investigation aims to examine the characteristics and effectiveness of technology-based interventions that could address health challenges older women face amid COVID-19.

METHODS

A systematic review of randomized trials reporting on technology-based interventions for older women (≥65 years) during COVID-19 will be conducted. The databases of Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus will be searched. Retrieved citations will be screened independently by at least two reviewers against the eligibility criteria. Included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane ROB-2 tool. Data will be extracted independently by the reviewers. Where possible, meta-analyses will be performed on relevant study outcomes and analysed via odds ratios on the dichotomized outcomes. Where applicable, heterogeneity will be measured using the Cochrane Q test, and publication bias will be assessed via funnel plots and Egger's regression test.

DISCUSSION

Technology has the potential to transform healthcare for the better. To help society better safeguard vulnerable populations' health and quality of life, this investigation sets out to gauge the state-of-the-art development of technology-based interventions tailored to the health challenges older women face amid COVID-19. In light of the growing prevalence of population ageing and the inevitability of infectious disease outbreaks, greater research efforts are needed to ensure the timely inception and effective implementation of technology-based health solutions for vulnerable populations like older women, amid public health crises like COVID-19 and beyond.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020194003.