Changes in Daily Behaviors and Cognitions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations With Suicide Crisis Syndrome and Suicidal Ideation

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in drastic disruptions to lives and possible pernicious impacts on mental health, including suicidality. Understanding these relations, as well as impacts on at-risk populations, is essential. The present study examined changes in daily behaviors and cognitions after the implementation of physical/social distancing mandates in individuals with symptoms of suicide crisis syndrome (SCS) and/or suicidal ideation. Adults (N = 5,528) across 10 countries completed online self-report measures. There were significant main effects of time and various configurations of interactions between time, SCS, and suicidal ideation in predicting behaviors (outdoor and social engagements) and cognitions (thoughts about health, finances, and living situation). Cross-culturally, individuals with more severe SCS symptoms generally had the largest changes in behaviors and cognitions, though this effect was not replicated across all countries. Overall, these findings highlight the implications of the potentially mutually exacerbating influences of routine disruptions and suicide risk and the importance of examining associations cross-culturally.

Disaster, health, and panic buying

Disasters have complex direct and indirect effects on population health and healthcare systems. Direct effects include risk of death, acute injuries, and destruction of healthcare infrastructure, while indirect effects include risk of communicable diseases and scarcity of food, water, medicines, and essential commodities. A disaster that threatens health, disrupts social order, and provokes shortage of commodities may precipitate behavior changes in population. One such behavior change is the well-documented phenomenon of panic buying where individuals buy unusually large quantities of goods that are perceived as necessary in anticipation of price rise or scarcity. It has received increasing attention during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its resurgence. The phenomenon has significant negative implications for population health and disease control. Attempts to control panic buying are more likely to succeed if they are predicated upon insights from an integrated biopsychosocial model. The chapter will assist readers in comprehending the complex relationships between disaster, health, and panic buying. This has important implications for prevention, public health, and policy planning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Prevention strategies of panic buying during disaster

Panic buying is arguably an (ir)rational human behavior that is observed at times of emergencies. Although the phenomenon has been noted across the globe, very little evidence has been identified to prevent it. We aimed to identify, assess, and categorize the prevention strategies of panic buying during disasters. Sensible media reporting, psychological measures (online group counseling measures, promotion of kinship), (de)marketing (rationing, avoiding price hike), public health authority measures (assurance of the stock, raising awareness, subsidized goods sales, reduction of import duty, monitoring and punishment, psychosocial support, direct, clear, and sensible communication to the people), and supply chain management (assurance of the stock, sustainable supply, import from an alternative source, product substitution, resilient e-commerce, rapid replenishment) were the major identified domains of prevention for panic buying. This chapter identified and discussed importantly and perhaps preliminary strategies for the prevention of panic buying relating them to the different phases of disaster. Preparedness for controlling the panic among the population during future outbreaks should have an emphasis on these identified domains of preventive strategies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Cross-national presence and sociodemographic correlates of the suicide crisis syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS) has been proposed as an acute, pre-suicidal mental state that precedes imminent suicidal behavior; however, its cross-national applicability and sociodemographic correlates have not yet been determined. The present study assessed the presence and severity of the SCS in ten countries and examined several potential sociodemographic correlates (i.e., age, gender, marital status, race/ethnicity) of the SCS. METHODS: 5528 community-based adults across 10 participating countries provided information on their SCS symptoms and sociodemographic characteristics in an anonymous online survey obtained via convenience sampling during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The SCS occurred cross-nationally, with rates ranging from 3.6% (Israel) to 16.2% (Poland). Those in the United States, South Korea, Poland, and Turkey had the highest severity of symptoms. Participants who were older, identified as cisgender men, and married tended to have lower rates of the SCS than their respective counterparts. There were minimal differences in the SCS by race/ethnicity. LIMITATIONS: These data were both cross-sectional and collected via convenience sampling, limiting generalizability of findings and information about the SCS's predictive utility. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the cross-national presence of the SCS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic correlates aligned with those of suicidal behavior more generally, providing additional evidence for the concurrent/predictive validity of the SCS.

Panic Buying in Bangladesh: An Exploration of Media Reports.

Background: As an erratic human behavior, panic buying is an understudied research area. Although panic buying has been reported in the past, it has not been studied systematically in Bangladesh. Aim: This study aimed to explore the characteristics of panic buying episodes in Bangladesh in comparison to current concepts. Methods: A retrospective and explorative search were done using the search engine Google on November 6, 2020, with the search term "panic buying in Bangladesh." All the available news reports published in the English language were extracted. A thorough content analysis was done focusing on the study objectives. Results: From the initial search, a total of 30 reports were extracted. However, six reports were not included based upon the exclusion criteria, resulting in an analysis of 24 reports. Five panic buying episodes were identified, discussing the precipitating events, responsible factors, goods acquired through panic buying, and prevention measures. Flood, curfew, COVID-19, and export ban were found to be precipitating events. Media reports frequently mentioned prevention strategies, expert opinion, supply chain status, rationing, and government action. The reported goods that were panic bought were items necessary for daily living such as rice, oil, spices, and safety products such as hand sanitizer and masks. Conclusion: The study revealed preliminary findings on panic buying in Bangladesh; however, they are aligned with the current concept of it. Further empirical studies are warranted to see the geographical variation, precise factors, and to test the culturally appropriate controlling measures.

Associations between long-term and near-term stressful life events, suicide crisis syndrome, and suicidal ideation

The suicide crisis syndrome (SCS) and suicidal ideation (SI) are differentially linked to short-term suicide risk. Since both are theoretically and empirically linked to stressful life events, which have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, a clear understanding of these processes may be essential for suicide prevention. Thus, the present study examined (a) associations between SCS, SI, and total number of stressful life events and (b) relations between specific types of stressful life events, SCS, and SI. Participants (N = 5,528) across 10 participating countries completed an anonymous online battery of self-report measures assessing stressful life events, SCS symptoms, and SI during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a negative binomial regression, the association between SCS and the total number of stressful life events was approximately two to three times stronger than that of the relation between SI and the number of stressful life events. Relationship-related and role/identity-related stressors were most consistently related to SCS and SI cross-nationally. Remaining vigilant of the link between stressful life events, SI, and SCS is imperative in preventing suicide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SCS has a stronger relationship to stressful life events than SI in a way that appears relatively invariant to cross-cultural differences. SCS and SI may identify two divergent pathways to suicidal behavior. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Prevention strategies of panic buying during disaster

Panic buying is arguably an (ir)rational human behavior that is observed at times of emergencies. Although the phenomenon has been noted across the globe, very little evidence has been identified to prevent it. We aimed to identify, assess, and categorize the prevention strategies of panic buying during disasters. Sensible media reporting, psychological measures (online group counseling measures, promotion of kinship), (de)marketing (rationing, avoiding price hike), public health authority measures (assurance of the stock, raising awareness, subsidized goods sales, reduction of import duty, monitoring and punishment, psychosocial support, direct, clear, and sensible communication to the people), and supply chain management (assurance of the stock, sustainable supply, import from an alternative source, product substitution, resilient e-commerce, rapid replenishment) were the major identified domains of prevention for panic buying. This chapter identified and discussed importantly and perhaps preliminary strategies for the prevention of panic buying relating them to the different phases of disaster. Preparedness for controlling the panic among the population during future outbreaks should have an emphasis on these identified domains of preventive strategies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Disaster, health, and panic buying

Disasters have complex direct and indirect effects on population health and healthcare systems. Direct effects include risk of death, acute injuries, and destruction of healthcare infrastructure, while indirect effects include risk of communicable diseases and scarcity of food, water, medicines, and essential commodities. A disaster that threatens health, disrupts social order, and provokes shortage of commodities may precipitate behavior changes in population. One such behavior change is the well-documented phenomenon of panic buying where individuals buy unusually large quantities of goods that are perceived as necessary in anticipation of price rise or scarcity. It has received increasing attention during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its resurgence. The phenomenon has significant negative implications for population health and disease control. Attempts to control panic buying are more likely to succeed if they are predicated upon insights from an integrated biopsychosocial model. The chapter will assist readers in comprehending the complex relationships between disaster, health, and panic buying. This has important implications for prevention, public health, and policy planning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Effects of web-based training for carers in old age homes using WHO-iSupport for dementia, as a training tool - A mixed-method study.

WHO recognized Dementia as public health priority and developed iSupport, a knowledge and skills training program for carers of people living with Dementia. This Mixed-Method study assessed the effectiveness of web-based training sessions among carers at old age homes in and around Puducherry, India, using WHO-iSupport for dementia hardcopy manual as a training tool. We registered the clinical trial protocol with Clinical Trial Registry-India (CTRI), CTRI/2020/11/029154. We determined the change in 35 carer's knowledge and attitude following the training sessions using pre and post-test questionnaires quantitatively. Further, we explored their learning experience by conducting eight descriptive one-to-one telephonic interviews. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted this study online. i.e., obtained virtual consents, pre and post-test using Google forms, and training sessions through a webbased platform. We divided carers into groups where each carer attended two training sessions, and each session lasted for 2 h. Training sessions improved the carer's knowledge from a pre-test score of Median (IQR) 12 (9, 15) to a post-test score of 17 (16, 20) and attitude score from 30 (27.3, 34.8) to 33.5 (30.3, 39) in post-test. They perceived that the training sessions were helpful as they gained knowledge on dementia care, and their attitude has changed optimistically towards people living with Dementia. These findings suggest that web-based training has an effect and indicates the need for training among carers in various old age homes for betterment in providing care.

Panic buying research: A bibliometric review.

Background: Panic buying has been reported during a period of crisis when people buy an extra amount of essential commodities and hoard them anticipating their future utility. As a newer entity, a bibliometric analysis would reveal the research gaps for further studies. We aimed to do a bibliometric analysis of researches published on panic buying over the past two decades. Methods: A literature search was conducted in the SCOPUS database using the keyword "panic buying". All published research in the English language between 1st January 2001 to 1st August 2021 was included in the analysis of this study. Results: We identified a total of 142 articles on panic buying published over the past two decades. There is an exponential increase in the publication on this topic during the COVID-19 pandemic (n=127). Majority of the articles were published from the United States (n=23), followed by the United Kingdom (n=20), and China (n=20). The Frontiers in Public Health and Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services published the highest number of articles (eight each). Arafat SMY published the highest number of publications as a single author (n=10) and Enam Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh has the highest number of papers as an institution (n=10). Among all the publishers, Elsevier has published the maximum number of papers (n=38). Conclusion: There is an exponential growth of panic buying research during 2020-21. The global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic has been attributed to the recent rise in panic buying research.

Prevention of panic buying

Panic buying (PB), an interdisciplinary phenomenon of social and public health relevance, has gained significant attention since the initial days of the COVID-19 pandemic. A combination of psychological and social factors has been proposed to explain the genesis of PB. Insights drawn from these theories can potentially inform preventive strategies for PB though empirical research on prevention of PB has been limited. In this chapter, we focus on outlining the possible preventive measures to control PB. The strategies are divided into universal prevention strategies, aimed at the entire population, selective prevention strategies that target vulnerable sub-sections of the population and indicated prevention for those showing early signs of the condition. Universal prevention strategies cover the role of governmental agencies, retailers, media and promotion of kinship/resilience among the public. Selective prevention strategies involve identification of individuals prone to PB, monitoring their behaviour and specifying purchase limits for commodities, while indicated prevention involves referral to mental health professionals for those with co-morbid anxiety or depression. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Interventions for attempted suicide.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Suicide is a major, global, public health issue. Those who attempt suicide represent a high-risk subgroup for eventual death by suicide. We provide an update on emerging evidence for interventions for attempted suicide to reduce subsequent suicidal behavior. RECENT FINDINGS: Major approaches that have been examined recently include pharmacological, psychosocial, brief active contact and outreach interventions, and digitally driven interventions. Notwithstanding the limited evidence base for most of these approaches, brief contact and follow-up interventions appear to have more robust effects on reduction of repeat suicidal behavior, including attempts; such approaches may have especial significance in emergency settings because of their brevity. Digital interventions for self-harm appear promising in the short-term whereas the evidence for pharmacological and psychosocial strategies remain inconclusive. SUMMARY: Although current evidence supports the use of brief interventions, contact, and outreach for reducing risk of subsequent suicide attempts and suicidal behavior, there are large gaps and limitations in the evidence base related to trial design, lack of long-term efficacy data, and implementational challenges. More robustly designed long-term trials that examine integrated intervention approaches with well defined outcomes are needed to develop recommendations in this area.

Psychiatry training for medical students: A global perspective and implications for India's competency-based medical education curriculum.

Competency-based medical education curriculum (CBME) has received traction worldwide. However, its adoption and implementation have significantly varied across the globe. The National Medical Commission, India (2019) has adopted CBME to improve the quality and content of training of medical students. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has spawned several challenges implementing the CBME. Therefore, there is a need to reflect on using novel teaching and assessment methods to enrich medical and psychiatric training. In this paper, we aimed to study global trends and characteristics of competency-based psychiatry training programs and how these experiences can be utilized to overcome challenges and facilitate the implementation of CBME in Psychiatry in the Indian context. A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The findings are presented narratively. Psychiatry training for medical students greatly vary across the globe. High-income countries mainly have implemented CBME and have incorporated psychiatry training during the foundation/pre-clerkship period itself. There is more reliance on skill development and flexible and learning-based training vs. time-based training. Various enrichment activities have been incorporated into the medical curriculum to promote and strengthen psychiatry training for medical students, particularly in developed nations, which have yielded positive results. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the medical student's training, it has reiterated the significance of skill-based education and opened novel avenues for implementing the CBME.Medical educationists need to adapt themselves to provide CBME to the students. Making structural, curricular changes, orienting teachers, and students about the CBME, mentoring teachers, adopting novel training and assessment methods, utilizing enrichment activities, collaborating with educational institutions and technology providers, periodically evaluating the implementation of the CBME, and making appropriate course corrections are essential. In addition, there is a need to address structural barriers, such as lack of workforce, for better realization of the CBME objectives.eriodically evaluating the implementation of the CBME, and making appropriate course corrections are essential. Additionally, there is a need to address structural barriers, such as lack of workforce, for better realization of the CBME objectives.

Psychiatric adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines: A rapid review of published case reports.

We aimed to review the available reports of psychiatric adverse reactions to COVID vaccines. Electronic databases such as PubMed and Google scholar were combed to identify relevant reports. We found a total of 11 reports describing 14 cases of psychiatric reactions; these were mostly altered mental states, psychosis, mania, depression, and functional neurological disorder. The index case was commonly a young or middle-aged adult. All reports pertained to the use of either mRNA or vector-based vaccines. Symptom onset was within 10 days of vaccination in all cases; as such, this seems to be a high-risk period warranting vigilance.

Studies on Sexual Behavior During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Bibliometric Analysis

Sexual relations suffered from a drastic change because of the pandemic of the COVID-19 and its controlling measures. We performed a bibliometric review of articles conducted on sexual behavior through this COVID-19 pandemic. We performed a search in the Scopus database on August 14, 2021. The search was carried out by the mentioned search terms: ?sex* act*? OR ?Sex* Behav*? AND ?COVID-19.? A total of 230 published articles was identified in the Scopus database, out of which 130 research works were funded and 23.91% (n = 55) articles had international collaborations. R Stephenson published the highest number of papers (n = 4) whilst SK Kar had the maximum number of citations (n = 39) and the highest number of citations per article (13). Universidade de S?o Paulo and the University of California were the most productive organizations whilst the USA outnumbered the other countries. Sexually Transmitted Infections (n = 13) and Elsevier (61) published the highest number of papers as a journal and publisher, respectively. It is the first bibliometric review on studies that assessed impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human sexual activities during which identified that more than half of the articles were funded which is a promising sign for the researchers from this field and for those who are keen to work in this field.