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Fontanesi L, Verrocchio MC, D'Ettorre M, Prete G, Ceravolo F, Marchetti D. The impact of catastrophic events on the sex ratio at birth: A systematic review. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e24003. [PMID: 37916952 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The impact of maternal stress on birth outcomes is well established in the scientific research. The sex ratio at birth (SRB), namely the ratio of male to female live births, shows significant alteration when mothers experience acute stress conditions, as proposed by the Trivers-Willard Hypothesis. We aimed to synthetize the literature on the relationship between two exogenous and catastrophic stressful events (natural disasters and epidemics) and SRB. METHODS A systematic search was run in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, until March 9, 2023. The search produced 1336 articles and 25 articles met the inclusion criteria. We found seven case-control studies and 18 observational studies. Most of studies investigated the impact of earthquakes and other natural disasters. Only seven studies examined the effect of epidemics or pandemics. RESULTS The results of the studies seem inconsistent, as 16 studies found a decline in SRB, three found a rise, four did not record any change and two studies gave contradictory results. The period and population analyzed, the source of information, the method of variance analysis in the SRB, and the failure to assess confounding variables may have influenced the incongruence of the results. CONCLUSION Our findings contribute to improve the knowledge about the relationship between socio-ecological factors and SRB. Future studies should investigate the mechanisms by which this relationship impacts public health, in particular the health of pregnant women and their newborn, through an accurate and consistent methodology that also includes confounding factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilybeth Fontanesi
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Verrocchio
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Melissa D'Ettorre
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giulia Prete
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Ceravolo
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Daniela Marchetti
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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Efendi GY, Temeltürk RD, Çakmak IB, Dinçer M. Surviving the Immediate Aftermath of a Disaster: A Preliminary Investigation of Adolescents' Acute Stress Reactions and Mental Health Needs after the 2023 Turkey Earthquakes. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1485. [PMID: 37761446 PMCID: PMC10527644 DOI: 10.3390/children10091485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
On 6 February, southeastern Turkey and parts of Syria were struck by two powerful earthquakes, one measuring a magnitude of 7.8 and the other, nine hours later, at a magnitude of 7.5. These earthquakes have been recorded as some of the deadliest natural disasters worldwide since the 2010 Haiti earthquake, impacting around 14 million people in Turkey. For trauma survivors, the stressors associated with an event can lead to the development of acute stress disorder (ASD) or other psychiatric disorders. Trauma experiences during adolescence can impact development and affect adolescents differently than adults. Although ASD in adults has been addressed in several studies, there is much less information available about how younger populations respond to acute stress. The aim of our study was to assess the occurrence of ASD among individuals seeking help at the Şanlıurfa Mehmet Akif İnan Research and Training Hospital Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic following the 2023 Turkey Earthquakes and the factors associated with acute stress reactions. A child and adolescent psychiatry specialist conducted psychiatric interviews with the adolescents, and the individuals were also asked to complete 'The National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Short Scale' (NSESSS) to evaluate acute stress symptoms. ASD diagnoses were established according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. Results showed that 81.6% of the participants (n = 49) were diagnosed with ASD, and drug treatment was initiated in 61.7% of the cases (n = 37). It was determined that ASD rates did not differ according to gender, and patients without physical injury had higher acute stress symptom scores (p > 0.05). According to the logistic regression models, paternal educational levels and adolescents' own requests for psychiatric assistance were predictors of acute stress disorder (OR 10.1, β = 2.31, p = 0.006 and OR 16.9, 95 β = 2.83, p = 0.001, respectively). Our findings revealed striking results in demonstrating the need for careful evaluation of adolescents without physical injury in terms of acute stress disorder and the need to pay close attention to the psychiatric complaints of adolescents willing to seek mental health assistance. Moreover, our study suggests that the proportion of adolescents experiencing acute stress symptoms after earthquakes might be higher than previously reported. Estimation of the incidence rate and symptoms of psychiatric distress in the short-term period following a disaster is important for establishing disaster epidemiology and implementing efficient relief efforts in the early stages. The outcomes of this study have the potential to yield novel insights into the realms of disaster mental health and emergency response policies, as well as their pragmatic implementations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gökçe Yağmur Efendi
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Şanlıurfa Mehmet Akif İnan Training and Research Hospital, Şanlıurfa 63500, Türkiye;
| | - Rahime Duygu Temeltürk
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ankara University, Ankara 06590, Türkiye;
| | | | - Mustafa Dinçer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Şanlıurfa Mehmet Akif İnan Training and Research Hospital, Şanlıurfa 63500, Türkiye;
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Zhao Y, Wang P, Wu J, Wang R, Song Q. Evaluation of Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Chinese Visiting Scholars in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic Assessed by Online Questionnaires. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e926602. [PMID: 32966271 PMCID: PMC7521068 DOI: 10.12659/msm.926602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to use online questionnaires to evaluate the factors associated with anxiety and depression in Chinese visiting scholars in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material/Methods Using a cross-sectional design, 311 Chinese scholars visiting 41 states in the United States were interviewed on 20 and 21 April 2020 through WeChat using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire. Results Of these 311 visiting scholars, 69 (22.2%) reported no symptoms of anxiety or depression, whereas 63 (20.3%) reported severe anxiety and 67 (21.5%) reported severe depression. Risk of anxiety was 93% higher in visiting scholars with than without accompanying parents in the US (odds ratio [OR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–3.68) and was 1.72-fold (95% CI, 1.04–2.84) higher in those experiencing stress about family members with COVID-19. Stresses about personal security and return to China on schedule were associated with 1.73-fold (95% CI, 1.03–2.92) and 3.00-fold (95% CI, 1.51–5.95) higher risks of anxiety, respectively. Risks of depression were 1.86-fold (95% CI, 1.14–3.05), 1.84-fold (95% CI, 1.10–3.07), and 3.45-fold (95% CI, 1.72–6.92) higher in visiting Chinese scholars who were than were not experiencing stresses about financial support, personal security and return to China on schedule, respectively. Conclusions Chinese scholars visiting the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced severe psychological distress. Surveys that include larger numbers of visiting scholars are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland).,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Jiangping Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Ruibin Wang
- Department of Emergency, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Qingkun Song
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The flood disaster of 9th-10th September 2014 wreaked havoc in the Jammu and Kashmir region of India. Incessant rains and deluge claimed 283 lives and damaged 2.53 lakh houses. This article presents the findings of the psychosocial care team from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, India, during the early phase of disaster. MATERIALS AND METHODS The team assessed posttraumatic stress symptoms of 64 child survivors from six villages of two districts struck by floods using Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES)-8 and qualitative narrations. RESULTS Children showed high levels of intrusion and avoidance in the aftermath of floods. Both boys and girls showed moderate to severe level of psychological impact on the domains of CRIES-8. The narrations by the children centred on the theme of "water" and "enjoyment in seeing lots of water;" followed by "fearing of the parent's life," later on "fear of their own life," and subsequently to avoidance to go near the river and nightmares like "floating in the water." CONCLUSION Disasters immensely impact children because of their particular stage of psychological and social development. This highlights the need for psychosocial interventions to minimize the impact of disasters on children at the earliest using simple psychosocial care techniques by employing available community-based manpower.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahim Ul Hassan
- Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Gaurav Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, K.D. Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Kasi Sekar
- Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Chu X, Zhou Y, Hu Z, Lou J, Song W, Li J, Liang X, Chen C, Wang S, Yang B, Chen L, Zhang X, Song J, Dong Y, Chen S, He L, Xie Q, Chen X, Li W. 24-hour-restraint stress induces long-term depressive-like phenotypes in mice. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32935. [PMID: 27609090 PMCID: PMC5016966 DOI: 10.1038/srep32935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing risk of mental disorders, such as acute stress disorder (ASD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among survivors who were trapped in rubble during earthquake. Such long-term impaction of a single acute restraint stress has not been extensively explored. In this study, we subjected mice to 24-hour-restraint to simulate the trapping episode, and investigated the acute (2 days after the restraint) and long-term (35 days after the restraint) impacts. Surprisingly, we found that the mice displayed depression-like behaviors, decreased glucose uptake in brain and reduced adult hippocampal neurogenesis 35 days after the restraint. Differential expression profiling based on microarrays suggested that genes and pathways related to depression and other mental disorders were differentially expressed in both PFC and hippocampus. Furthermore, the depression-like phenotypes induced by 24-hour-restraint could be reversed by fluoxetine, a type of antidepressant drug. These findings demonstrated that a single severe stressful event could produce long-term depressive-like phenotypes. Moreover, the 24-hour-restraint stress mice could also be used for further studies on mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixia Chu
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhiqiang Hu
- School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jingyu Lou
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Wei Song
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jing Li
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Xiao Liang
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Beimeng Yang
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jinjing Song
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yujie Dong
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Shiqing Chen
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lin He
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qingguo Xie
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Weidong Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.,Wuxi Mental Health Center, 156 Qianrong Road, Wuxi 214151, Jiangsu, China
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Using Mixed Methods to Assess Pediatric Disaster Preparedness in the Hospital Setting. Prehosp Disaster Med 2014; 29:569-75. [DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x14001137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIntroductionChildren are particularly vulnerable during disasters and mass-casualty incidents. Coordinated multi-hospital training exercises may help health care facilities prepare for pediatric disaster victims.ProblemThe purpose of this study was to use mixed methods to assess the disaster response of three hospitals, focusing on pediatric disaster victims.MethodsA full-functional disaster exercise involving a simulated 7.8-magnitude earthquake was conducted at three Los Angeles (California USA) hospitals, one of which is a freestanding designated Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. Exercise participants provided quantitative and qualitative feedback regarding their perceptions of pediatric disaster response during the exercise in the form of surveys and interviews. Additionally, trained observers provided qualitative feedback and recommendations regarding aspects of emergency response during the exercise, including communication, equipment and supplies, pediatric safety, security, and training.ResultsAccording to quantitative participant feedback, the disaster exercise enhanced respondents’ perceived preparedness to care for the pediatric population during a mass-casualty event. Further, qualitative feedback from exercise participants and observers revealed opportunities to improve multiple aspects of emergency response, such as communication, equipment availability, and physician participation. Additionally, participants and observers reported opportunities to improve safety and security of children, understanding of staff roles and responsibilities, and implementation of disaster triage exercises.ConclusionConsistent with previous investigations of pediatric disaster preparedness, evaluation of the exercise revealed several opportunities for all hospitals to improve their ability to respond to the needs of pediatric victims. Quantitative and qualitative feedback from both participants and observers was useful for comprehensively assessing the exercise's successes and obstacles. The present study has identified several opportunities to improve the current state of all hospitals’ pediatric disaster preparedness, through increased training on pediatric disaster triage methods and additional training on the safety and security of children. Regular assessment and evaluation of supplies, equipment, leadership assignments, and inter-hospital communication is also suggested to optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of response to pediatric victims in a disaster.BurkeRV, KimTY, BachmanSL, IversonEI, BergBM. Using mixed methods to assess pediatric disaster preparedness in the hospital setting. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(6): 1-7.
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