MENTAL HEALTH AND RELIGION: INTERRELATION AND CHALLENGES IN POST-SOVIET GEORGIA.

Anxiety and depression syndrome (STD) are at the forefront of the world mental health priority list. To address this problem, a number of instruments and programs have been developed at both the global and national levels. STD is associated with a socio-political problem and correlates with external or internal instability in the country. In such circumstances, a special place is given to religion. The role of the Church, faith is important in low-or middle-income countries and depends on the authority of the Church as an institution, its activities and activity. At the final stage of the study the recommendations are presented.

IMPACT OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY ON SOCIETY'S MENTAL HEALTH (BASED ON THE POPULATION SURVEY OF TBILISI, GEORGIA).

Research of mental health related factors has become increasingly important on a global scale. The study is intended to uncover the relationship between a depression and a religion (Orthodox Christianity) - case of Tbilisi population. The research objectives are screening and measurement of a depression using Beck Depression Inventory; describing general statistics with correlation to demographics; revealing factors carrying significant connections with depression, distinguishing their role and place in the forming process of depression general indicator; researching religiosity as one of the hypothetical factors; analyzing the results of relationships between depression and religiousness. General Population: 18+ Tbilisi inhabitants; sample size - 500 completed interviews; method of sampling - stratified cluster sampling. Despite hard socio-economic background of Tbilisi population, low depression level was observed. The central trend of depression gravity level is ranging between having no depression and light depression's upper threshold. It is worth to note that the difference between symptoms of psychological nature and depression specific behavioral revelations is not statistically significant - that means no general linkage to depression's psychological or behavioral symptoms. The main result of the research is the discovery of inversely proportional relationship between depression gravity level and religiousness degree.

Integration of geriatric mental health screening into a primary care practice: a patient satisfaction survey.

OBJECTIVE: Colocation of mental health screening, assessment, and treatment in primary care reduces stigma, improves access, and increases coordination of care between mental health and primary care providers. However, little information exists regarding older adults' attitudes about screening for mental health problems in primary care. The objective of this study was to evaluate older primary care patients' acceptance of and satisfaction with screening for depression and anxiety. METHODS: The study was conducted at an urban, academically affiliated primary care practice serving older adults. Study patients (N = 107) were screened for depression/anxiety and underwent a post-screening survey/interview to assess their reactions to the screening experience. RESULTS: Most patients (88.6%) found the length of the screening to be "just right." A majority found the screening questions somewhat or very acceptable (73.4%) and not at all difficult (81.9%). Most participants did not find the questions stressful (84.9%) or intrusive (91.5%); and a majority were not at all embarrassed (93.4%), upset (93.4%), or uncomfortable (88.8%) during the screening process. When asked about frequency of screening, most patients (72.4%) desired screening for depression/anxiety yearly or more. Of the 79 patients who had spoken with their physicians about mental health during the visit, 89.8% reported that it was easy or very easy to talk with their physicians about depression/anxiety. Multivariate results showed that patients with higher anxiety had a lower positive reaction to the screen when controlling for gender, age, and patient-physician communication. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate strong patient support for depression and anxiety screening in primary care.

Bioarchaeological research development in Georgia: steps, peculiarities, directions.

In Georgia, Bioarcheology in its broad sense started developing with the research in Paleoanthropology and Paleopathology. Paleoanthropology initially developed in line with Archaeology. The study of biomaterial through the angle of paleopathology started in 1956. Later works were devoted to Ethnogenesis, comparative Anthropology, spreading physiological stresses and other issues. In recent years newly discovered rich archeological materials and introduction of the modern methods of research has outlined new prospects, and our decision is to put them in to action. From our point of view the research methods and aims of Bioarchaeology include: 1. morphological study of biomaterial on the macroscopic level. 2. The research through chemical methods which gives us an opportunity to outline many parameters of life such as eating habits, the aspects of interrelation with the environment and metabolic processes through the spectrum analysis of main ingredients of material. The important part of this direction is the researching of stable isotopes which gives us additional and strong arguments. 3. Genetic research answers the following important questions: biomaterial's variety; racial and ethnic origin; time and place of migration processes traced on ethnogenesis; hereditary disease history (dating, the origin of the diseases, epidemics and other); human and animal genome evolution and mutational changes; the role of environment (food, ecosystems) in genome changes. The results of the above mentioned research allow answering a lot of important historical and biomedical issues. From these, we have started the comparative analyses of the Genographic data of Georgia, taking notes of the genetic changes which, in our opinion, are caused by the radical and stable changes of eating habits produced about 450-500 years ago, which probably resulted proportional imbalance of the diseases that appeared in the same period.

Aspects of aging in georgian traditional medicine.

The goal of the investigation was studying Georgian medicinal manuscripts of X-XVIII centuries in order to find out ideas of ancient authors regarding peculiarities of healthy lifestyle from the moment of birth till the elderly age. Results of analysis of Georgian medieval medicinal manuscripts allow us to conclude, that Caucasian longevity is determined not only by genetic, ecological, social and hygiene factors, but also by rational diet, proper treatment, remedies of plant origin and healthy lifestyle, existing in Caucasian cultural anthropology. Original schemes of diets and recipes, based on humoral theory and balanced by main characteristics of natural material are described.

Georgia, country of ancient medical traditions.

Georgian medicine as well as the whole culture of Georgia, is one of the oldest in the world. In more than the 500 medical manuscripts preserved and since described, there are traces of Sumerian medicine. Examples of Chinese, Indian and especially Arabic medicine are also clearly seen. At the same time close relationships with Graeco-Roman medical traditions are beyond doubt. Nursing homes established by Georgian healers, many of whom were canonized by the Orthodox Church are to be found in many churches and monasteries all over the world. They gave fruitful scientific research and practical help.

Study of the history of medicine in Georgia.

There are different approaches to teaching the history of medicine in different countries. Teaching the history of medicine in Georgia is bound to its traditional medicine. Georgian medicine originated at the crossroads of the East and West and thus integrates the principles of both medical traditions. The Research Department of the History of Georgian Medicine and Traditional Medicine at Experimental and Clinical Medical Institute of Tbilisi State University has, over 40 years, collected a unique material on Georgian folk medicine, including thousands of recipes and hundreds of active components of herbal, animal, and mineral origin. Our project for the future is to prepare National Formulary of Georgian Medicine. In the work with students, we aim to teach them the basis of Chinese, Indian, Caucasian, Arabian, American, Australian, and African folk medicine, the basis of homeopathy and antroposophy, paleopathology, and bioarcheology so that they incorporate them into modern medicine and clinical practice.

A fragment of Georgia-Byzantine medical history.

This article throws light on the role of Georgia ranging from the ancient Greek cultural to the Byzantine periods. Drawing on similarities between proto-Georgian and proto-Greek culture, the author mentions the strong ethnic linguistic and mythical hands. In particular stress the special place of Georgian medicine in the texts of ancient Greek and Roman historians, geographers and doctors. In a more detailed discussion of historical sources particular attention is paid to the role of prominent Georgian figures in the Byzantine period including their important role in the translation of scientific and philosophic treatises and their active participation in the foundation of hospital and quarantine facilities.