The efficacy of augmented reality exposure therapy in the treatment of spider phobia-a randomized controlled trial.

The evidence for the use of Augmented Reality (AR) in treating specific phobias has been growing. However, issues of accessibility persist, especially in developing countries. The current study examined a novel, but relatively simple therapist guided smartphone-based AR Exposure Treatment (ARET) of spider phobia. Participants who reported symptoms of Arachnophobia were randomized into one of three comparison groups: ARET (n = 20), traditional in vivo exposure therapy (IVET; n = 18) and a waitlist control group (n = 17). Behavioral approach, subjective symptom measures, and galvanic skin response were assessed pre- and post-treatment. The study was concluded with a one-month follow up assessment. Results indicated that both treatment groups showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in behavioral approach at post-test that were maintained at 1 month follow- up, compared to the wait-listed group. Moreover, the treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements in subjective symptom report at 1-month follow up. Given its utility and potential accessibility, our findings suggest that future AR evaluation research could be conducted in therapy settings with minimal resources.

Mental health literacy for social phobia in Ghana: Investigation of gender stereotypes and previous experience for recognition rates and prejudice.

BACKGROUND: Mental health literacy (MHL) research has been of substantial interest internationally. Nevertheless, the interplay between beliefs, attitudes, previous experience with mental disorders, and knowledge of Ghanaians on specific mental disorders remains to be understood. The present study explored the interconnectedness between gender stereotypes, prejudice, previous experience with social phobia, and MHL among the general population in Ghana. METHOD: Six hundred and one Ghanaians were recruited for an online experimental study design using a survey approach for data gathering. Respondents were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions (i.e., male and female vignettes) depicting symptoms of social phobia for a hypothetical person. Participants further completed self-reported measures including gender stereotypes (based on Ambivalent Sexism Inventory) and prejudice. RESULTS: Results revealed a 15.5% recognition rate for social phobia. Recognition rates of social phobia did not differ by the experimental condition or by the gender of participants. However, personal experience of social phobia was positively related to an increased likelihood of correctly labeling social phobia among men in the female vignette condition, whereas correct recognition of social phobia was negatively related to prejudice among women in the male vignette condition. In the male vignette condition, men with more hostile sexism attitudes toward men exhibited more prejudice toward their hypothetical male counterpart. In contrast, women with hostile sexism attitudes toward men exhibited less prejudice, but greater benevolent sexism attitudes toward men was associated with more prejudice toward the hypothetical male in the vignette. CONCLUSION: Findings from the current study emphasize the role of the cultural milieu in shaping effective mental health interventions. The results also have implications for promoting MHL to reduce prejudice in Ghana and other developing countries in the region.

Implications for COVID-19 vaccine uptake: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Globally, increasing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination coverage remains a major public health concern in the face of high rates of COVID-19 hesitancy among the general population. We must understand the impact of the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake when designing national vaccination programmes. We aimed to synthesise nationwide evidence regarding COVID-19 infodemics and the demographic, psychological, and social predictors of COVID-19 vaccination uptake. METHODS: We systematically searched seven databases between July 2021 and March 2022 to retrieve relevant articles published since COVID-19 was first reported on 31 December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Of the 12,502 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the databases, 57 met the selection criteria and were included in this systematic review. We explored COVID-19 vaccine uptake determinants before and after the first COVID-19 vaccine roll-out by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA). RESULTS: Increased COVID-19 vaccine uptake rates were associated with decreased hesitancy. Concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety, negative side effects, rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine, and uncertainty about vaccine effectiveness were associated with reluctance to be vaccinated. After the US FDA approval of COVID-19 vaccines, phobia of medical procedures such as vaccine injection and inadequate information about vaccines were the main determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. CONCLUSION: Addressing effectiveness and safety concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines, as well as providing adequate information about vaccines and the impacts of pandemics, should be considered before implementation of any vaccination programme. Reassuring people about the safety of medical vaccination and using alternative procedures such as needle-free vaccination may help further increase vaccination uptake.

Mental health literacy in Ghana: Implications for religiosity, education and stigmatization.

Research on Mental Health Literacy (MHL) has been growing internationally. However, the beliefs and knowledge of Ghanaians about specific mental disorders have yet to be explored. This vignette study was conducted to explore the relationships between religiosity, education, stigmatization and MHL among Ghanaians using a sample of laypeople (N = 409). The adapted questionnaire presented two vignettes (depression and schizophrenia) about a hypothetical person. The results revealed that more participants were able to recognize depression (47.4%) than schizophrenia (15.9%). Religiosity was not significantly associated with recognition of mental disorders but was positively associated with both social and personal stigma for depression, and negatively associated with personal and perceived stigma for schizophrenia. Moreover, education was found to be positively associated with disorder recognition, and negatively with perceived stigma. Finally, perceived stigma was positively associated with disorder recognition, whereas personal stigma for schizophrenia related negatively to recognition of mental disorders. In conclusion, education but not religiosity predicted identification accuracy, but both predictors were associated with various forms of stigma. Findings from this study have implications for MHL and anti-stigma campaigns in Ghana and other developing countries in the region.