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Newlands F, Lewis C, d’Oelsnitz A, Pinto Pereira SM, Stephenson T, Chalder T, Coughtrey A, Dalrymple E, Heyman I, Harnden A, Ford T, Ladhani SN, Powell C, McOwat K, Bhopal R, Dudley J, Kolasinska P, Muhid MZ, Nugawela M, Rojas NK, Shittu A, Simmons R, Shafran R. " People don't have the answers": A qualitative exploration of the experiences of young people with Long COVID. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 29:783-798. [PMID: 38718276 PMCID: PMC11188547 DOI: 10.1177/13591045241252463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Young people living with Long COVID are learning to navigate life with a constellation of poorly understood symptoms. Most qualitative studies on experiences living with Long COVID focus on adult populations. This study aimed to understand the experiences of young people living with Long COVID. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted (n = 16); 11 young people (aged 13-19) and five parents were recruited from the Children and Young People with Long COVID (CLoCk) study (n = 11) or its patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) group (n = 5). Thematic analysis generated four themes: (i) Unravelling Long COVID: Exploring Symptom Journeys and Diagnostic Dilemmas; (ii) Identity Disruption and Adjustment; (iii) Long COVID's Ripple Effect: the impact on Mental Health, Connections, and Education; and (iv) Navigating Long COVID: barriers to support and accessing services. Treatment options were perceived as not widely available or ineffective, emphasising the need for viable and accessible interventions for young people living with Long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Newlands
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Celine Lewis
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
- NHS North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Anais d’Oelsnitz
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Snehal M Pinto Pereira
- Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, UK
| | - Terence Stephenson
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Trudie Chalder
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
| | - Anna Coughtrey
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Emma Dalrymple
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Isobel Heyman
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Anthony Harnden
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Tamsin Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Shamez N Ladhani
- Immunisation Department, UK Health Security Agency, UK
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George’s University of London, UK
| | - Claire Powell
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Kelsey McOwat
- Immunisation Department, UK Health Security Agency, UK
| | - Rowan Bhopal
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Jake Dudley
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Paige Kolasinska
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Mohammed Z Muhid
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Manjula Nugawela
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Natalia K Rojas
- Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, UK
| | - Angel Shittu
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Ruth Simmons
- Immunisation Department, UK Health Security Agency, UK
| | - Roz Shafran
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
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Merlo EM, Tutino R, Myles LAM, Lia MC, Minasi D. Alexithymia, intolerance to uncertainty and mental health difficulties in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Ital J Pediatr 2024; 50:99. [PMID: 38755698 PMCID: PMC11100042 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01647-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) represents a serious chronic condition affecting a wide number of people. Discussion of the physical issues associated with T1DM pervades the literature, however, there is less discussion of the psychological consequences. Mental health difficulties, alexithymia and uncertainty are present in this population, and known to be harmful for the onset, maintenance and worsening of T1DM. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of these phenomena in people with T1DM. METHODS 105 participants aged between 11 and 17 years old (M: 13.88; SD: 2.16) affected by T1DM were included in the sample. To assess the presence of mental health difficulties, SAFA scales (Depression, Anxiety and Somatic symptoms) were included in the protocol together with TAS-20 and IUS-12, which evaluate the presence and role of alexithymia and intolerance to uncertainty in the sample, respectively. RESULTS A concerning presence of anxiety, depression and somatic symptoms was found in the sample. Mental health difficulties appeared to be consistently present in the sample, often overcoming pathological thesholds. Alexithymia and uncertainty were also common, highlighting their role in T1DM. CONCLUSIONS Active mental health difficulties together with high rates of alexithymia and intolerance to uncertainty were prevalent in the sample of adolescents with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Maria Merlo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
| | - Rita Tutino
- Pediatric Unit of Ospedali Riuniti Presidium, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Bianchi Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | | | - Maria Carmela Lia
- Pediatric Unit of Ospedali Riuniti Presidium, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Bianchi Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Domenico Minasi
- Pediatric Unit of Ospedali Riuniti Presidium, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Bianchi Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy
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Merlo EM, Tutino R, Myles LAM, Alibrandi A, Lia MC, Minasi D. Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Psychopathology, Uncertainty and Alexithymia: A Clinical and Differential Exploratory Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:257. [PMID: 38275537 PMCID: PMC10815314 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12020257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) represents a complex pathology affecting a large number of people. Research suggests that psychological factors influence coping with T1DM. This study aimed to investigate the presence and role of psychopathology, alexithymia and uncertainty in people affected by T1DM. The sample consisted of 137 patients (88 females, 49 males) affected by T1DM aged from 11 to 19 years old (Mean: 13.87; SD: 2.40). The diagnostic protocol consisted of a sociodemographic questionnaire, Self-administration Psychiatric Scales for Children and Adolescents (SAFA), Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) and Intolerance to Uncertainty Scale-12 (IUS-12). Descriptive, differential, correlational and regression analyses were performed in order to examine the relationships between these variables. The results suggested the sample had high levels of psychopathological indexes, alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty. Also, there were significant differences between TAS-20 and IUS-12 distributions with respect to psychopathology. Correlations and multivariate linear regressions indicated age, gender and education significantly predicted alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty. This data suggest the presence of elevated psychopathology, alexithymia and uncertainty in people with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Maria Merlo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Rita Tutino
- Pediatric Unit of Ospedali Riuniti Presidium, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Bianchi Melacrino Morelli, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy; (R.T.); (M.C.L.); (D.M.)
| | | | - Angela Alibrandi
- Department of Economics, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy;
| | - Maria Carmela Lia
- Pediatric Unit of Ospedali Riuniti Presidium, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Bianchi Melacrino Morelli, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy; (R.T.); (M.C.L.); (D.M.)
| | - Domenico Minasi
- Pediatric Unit of Ospedali Riuniti Presidium, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Bianchi Melacrino Morelli, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy; (R.T.); (M.C.L.); (D.M.)
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