ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is strong evidence for the co-occurrence of mental health conditions and alcohol problems, yet physical health outcomes among this group are not well characterised. This study aimed to identify clusters of physical health conditions and their associations with mental health and problematic alcohol use in England's general population. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (N = 7546) was conducted. The survey used standardised measures of problematic alcohol use and mental health conditions, including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised. Participants self-reported any lifetime physical health conditions. Latent class analysis considered 12 common physical illnesses to identify clusters of multimorbidity. Multinomial logistic regression (adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, education, and occupational grade) was used to explore associations between mental health, hazardous drinking (AUDIT 8 +), and co-occurring physical illnesses. RESULTS: Five clusters were identified with statistically distinct and clinically meaningful disease patterns: 'Physically Healthy' (76.62%), 'Emerging Multimorbidity' (3.12%), 'Hypertension & Arthritis' (14.28%), 'Digestive & Bowel Problems'' (3.17%), and 'Complex Multimorbidity' (2.8%). Having a mental health problem was associated with increased odds of 'Digestive & Bowel Problems' (adjusted multinomial odds ratio (AMOR) = 1.58; 95% CI [1.15-2.17]) and 'Complex Multimorbidity' (AMOR = 2.02; 95% CI [1.49-2.74]). Individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions and problematic alcohol use also had higher odds of 'Digestive & Bowel Problems' (AMOR = 2.64; 95% CI [1.68-4.15]) and 'Complex Multimorbidity' (AMOR = 2.62; 95% CI [1.61-4.23]). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with a mental health condition concurrent with problematic alcohol use experience a greater burden of physical illnesses, highlighting the need for timely treatment which is likely to include better integration of alcohol and mental health services.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism , Mental Health , Adult , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Alcoholism/epidemiology , Cluster AnalysisABSTRACT
People with dementia belong to some of the most vulnerable groups and their vulnerability has been augmented by the Covid-19 pandemic. This article provides a critical appraisal and evaluation of a systematic review that has investigated the relationship between dementia and COVID-19 related outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Background: Young people increasingly look towards the Internet for support. Online forums have been developed to provide mental health support, but they have received little attention in the research to date. Aims: To summarise the existing literature examining how individuals use online forums to obtain support for mental health difficulties. Methods: A systematic review of electronic databases was conducted to identify empirical literature in this area. The papers that met the inclusion criteria and satisfied quality assessment review were analysed for key themes. Results: Twenty-one papers were found. Three common themes in the papers were associated with opportunities of the technology: (1) Providing stand alone or complementary informal support, (2) Providing informational, emotional and infomotional support, and (3) Making use of the specific practical opportunities afforded by forum technology. A further three themes were associated with challenges: (1) Managing the expectations of forum users, (2) Ensuring service user safety, and (3) Navigating the technical challenges associated with forums. Conclusions: The paper highlights the potential for individuals to access dynamic and responsive support within online forums. Additionally, it reflects upon the major areas that mental health professionals need to be aware of when entering into this arena.
