Trajectory of adjustment difficulties following disaster: 10-year longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although much is known about psychopathology such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression following bushfire (also known as wildfire), little is known about prevalence, trajectory and impacts for those experiencing general adjustment difficulties following exposure to these now-common events. AIMS: This was an exploratory analysis of a large cohort study that examined the prevalence, trajectory and risk factors of probable adjustment disorder over a 10-year period following bushfire exposure. METHOD: The Beyond Bushfires study assessed individuals exposed to a large and deadly bushfire across three time points spanning 10 years. Self-report survey data from participants from areas with moderate and high levels of fire-affectedness were analysed: n = 802 participants at Wave 1 (3-4 years post-fires), n = 596 at Wave 2 (5 years post-fires) and n = 436 at Wave 3 (10 years post-fires). Surveys indexed fire-related experiences and post-fire stressors, and comprised the six-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (probable adjustment disorder index), four-item Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (probable fire-related PTSD) and nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (probable major depressive episode). RESULTS: Prevalence of probable adjustment disorder was 16% (Wave 1), 15% (Wave 2) and 19% (Wave 3). Probable adjustment disorder at 3-4 years post-fires predicted a five-fold increase in risk for escalating to severe psychiatric disorder (i.e. probable fire-related PTSD/major depressive episode) at 10 years post-fires, and was associated with post-fire income and relationship stressors. CONCLUSIONS: Adjustment difficulties are prevalent post-disaster, many of which are maintained and exacerbated over time, resulting in increased risk for later disorder and adaptation difficulties. Psychosocial interventions supporting survivors with adjustment difficulties may prevent progression to more severe disorder.

Embitterment in Vietnam War Veterans Predicted by Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Research on the association between posttraumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) and other psychopathologies in veterans and adults aged ≥65 years is lacking. This study aimed to assess embitterment among elderly war veterans and its association with major psychopathological factors. METHODS: Participants included Vietnam War veterans who visited a psychiatric clinic. Based on the Posttraumatic Embitterment Disorder Self-Rating Scale (PTEDS) score, the participants were divided into the embitterment (PTED(+), mean score of PTEDS items [mPTEDS] ≥1.6) and non-embitterment (PTED(-), mPTEDS <1.6) groups. Demographic characteristics, combat exposure severity, depression, anxiety, sleep, and alcohol use disorder symptom scores of the participants were collected and compared between the PTED(+) and PTED(-) groups. A correlation analysis between symptom measure scores and the mPTEDS was conducted. The influence of psychopathology on embitterment was investigated using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: In total, 60 participants (28 in PTED(+) and 32 in PTED(-)) were included. Among those in PTED(+), 21 (35.0%) showed mild embitterment symptoms (1.6≤ mPTEDS <2.5) and 7 (11.7%) reported moderate or severe embitterment symptoms (mPTEDS ≥2.5). The mean scores of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety were significantly higher in the PTED(+) than in the PTED(-) group. The mPTEDS were significantly correlated with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder scores. The PTSD symptoms significantly explained the higher mPTEDS score in a regression model. CONCLUSION: Embitterment symptoms were associated with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms in elderly veterans, similar to the results of prior studies involving only the general population.

Circulating mitochondrial long non-coding 7S RNA in primary health care patients with depression/anxiety.

BACKGROUND: The significant role of long non-coding 7S RNA in controlling mitochondrial transcription highlights its importance in mitochondrial function. Considering the suggested connection between mitochondrial dysfunction and the onset of mental disorders, this study aimed to explore the potential involvement of 7S RNA in the context of depression/anxiety. RESULTS: A total of 181 patients in primary health care (age 20-64 years) with depression/anxiety and 59 healthy controls were included in the study. 7S RNA was measured using quantitative real-time PCR in plasma samples collected before (baseline) and after 8 weeks of treatment (mindfulness or cognitive-based behavioral therapy). Upon adjustment for age and sex, the baseline plasma levels of 7S RNA were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Notably, post-treatment, there was a significant reduction in 7S RNA levels (p = 0.03). These changes in 7S RNA were related to the treatment response, as indicated by HADS-D (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) scores (ß = -0.04, p = 0.04), even after accounting for baseline scores and other cofounders. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate an association between plasma 7S RNA levels and depression/anxiety, as well as treatment response. While further confirmatory analyses are necessary, plasma 7S RNA holds promise as a potential predictive biomarker for both depression/anxiety and the treatment response within these disorders.

Positive thinking about negative studies.

The non-reporting of negative studies results in a scientific record that is incomplete, one-sided and misleading. The consequences of this range from inappropriate initiation of further studies that might put participants at unnecessary risk to treatment guidelines that may be in error, thus compromising day-to-day clinical practice.

"I was very sad, but not depressed": phenomenological differences between adjustment disorder and a major depressive episode.

Introduction: Adjustment disorder (AD) is a diagnosis that must be differentiated from major depressive episode (MDE) because of the therapeutic implications. The aim of this study is to understand the experience of patients who in their lifetime have been diagnosed with AD as well as MDE to establish the characteristics of each disorder. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological approach was used with in-depth interviews to four patients and the method proposed by Colaizzi to understand the experiences and reach the description of both disorders. Results: Three women and one man, with advanced schooling were interviewed. The participants emphasized the existence of differences that were grouped in: the attribution made by the individual, the theme of cognitions, the variability in the course, the possibility of mood modulation, the syndrome severity, the presence of hopelessness and the perceived course. Conclusion: Phenomenological differences were found in the subjective experience of MDE and AD. The MDE would be described as an intense state of generalized shutdown of the subject's own life, with little response to events, and the AD, as a dynamic reaction attributed to a stressful event, with high variability in the course of symptoms due to the dependence on such event, with the preserved hope that it will end.

'It's a girl!' Is gender disappointment a mental health or sociocultural issue?

Gender disappointment can be defined as subjective feelings of sadness when discovering that the sex/gender of a child is the opposite of what the parent had hoped or expected. Wanting a boy (or 'son preference') has long been noted in many cultures, particularly in South and East Asian communities, but it is now becoming more recognised in the UK, Europe and North America. This article aims to improve understanding of gender disappointment by exploring medical and social sciences research; it also discusses the clinical and risk implications of assessing and managing gender disappointment (or not doing so) when individuals present to perinatal and/or community mental health services.

Imposter syndrome and its associated factors in medical students in six Peruvian faculties.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors associated with impostor syndrome in medical students from six regions of Peru. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentre, cross-sectional study was conduced on students from first to the sixth year in six Peruvian regions. Sociodemographic, academic, and psychological characteristics were included through the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale. Generalised linear models were performed using crude and adjusted estimated prevalence ratios. RESULTS: Of 2,231 medical students, 54.3% were female and 30.6% had the impostor phenomenon. An association was found between the PI and those who suffered from depression (aPR=1.51; 95%CI, 1.27-1.79), anxiety (aPR=2.25; 95%CI, 1.75-2.90), stress (aPR=1.37; 95%CI, 1.19-1.57), and being female (aPR=1.12; 95%CI, 1.01-1.26). CONCLUSIONS: Three out of 10 medical students suffer from PI; having some level of depression, anxiety, stress, being a woman, and/or attending the fourth academic year were predisposing factors for their development.

Síndrome del impostor y sus factores asociados en estudiantes de Medicina de seis facultades peruanas

Objetivo: Determinar los factores asociados con el síndrome del impostor (IP) en estudiantes de Medicina de 6 facultades peruanas. Material y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico transversal analítico realizado en estudiantes del primer al sexto año en 6 regiones peruanas. Se incluyeron características sociodemográficas, académicas y psicológicas mediante la escala de depresión, ansiedad y estrés, la escala de autoestima de Rosenberg y la escala del Fenómeno del Impostor de Clance. Los modelos lineales generalizados se construyeron mediante razones de prevalencia estimada brutas y ajustadas. Resultados: De 2.231 estudiantes de Medicina, el 54,3% eran mujeres y el 30,6% padecía IP. Se encontró asociación entre el IP y la depresión (RPa = 1,51; IC95%, 1,27-1,79), la ansiedad (RPa = 2,25; IC95%, 1,75-2,90), el estrés (RPa = 1,37; IC95%, 1,19-1,57) y el sexo mujer (RPa = 1,12; IC95%, 1,01-1,26). Conclusiones: De cada 10 estudiantes de Medicina, 3 sufren IP; tener depresión, ansiedad o estrés, ser mujer y/o cursar el cuarto anno fueron los factores predisponentes.

Objective: To determine the factors associated with impostor syndrome in medical students from six regions of Peru. Material and methods: A multicentre, cross-sectional study was conduced on students from first to the sixth year in six Peruvian regions. Sociodemographic, academic, and psychological characteristics were included through the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale. Generalized linear models were performed using crude and adjusted estimated prevalence ratios. Results: Of 2,231 medical students, 54.3% were female and 30.6% had the impostor phenomenon. An association was found between the PI and those who suffered from depression (aPR=1.51; 95%CI, 1.27-1.79), anxiety (aPR = 2.25; 95%CI, 1.75-2.90), stress (aPR=1.37; 95%CI, 1.19-1.57), and being female (aPR = 1.12; 95%CI, 1.01-1.26). Conclusions: Three out of 10 medical students suffer from PI; having some level of depression, anxiety, stress, being a woman, and/or attending the fourth academic year were predisposing factors for their development.

World Trade Center psychological exposures and trauma related disorders: PTSD and adjustment disorders.

The relationship between exposure to the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster and elevated rates of trauma related psychiatric illnesses in 9/11 responders and survivors has been well documented. This paper is part of a series to promote the practice of evidence-based medicine when managing persons with WTC-related conditions and focuses on "Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders," a diagnostic category that includes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorder. It offers background on 9/11-related trauma exposure, a summary of research findings from this cohort, and is followed by brief diagnostic and treatment information from selected clinical practice guidelines.

Therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy versus face-to-face CBT for depression/anxiety symptoms in infertile women with adjustment disorders: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The present study compared the effectiveness of ICBT to face-to-face CBT on the improvement of adjustment disorder symptoms in infertile women. Method: In a pragmatic, multi-center (public or private), single-blinded, non-inferior randomized controlled trial (RCT), 152 patients with AD (100 women in public center and 52 women in private canter) were assigned to ICBT and CBT. Primary outcomes were Adjustment Disorder New Module-20 (ADNM-20) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS). Secondary outcomes were the Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) and Fertility Adjustment Scale (FAS). Results: "Peaceful mind" ICBT was feasible and accessible for delivering the treatment to infertile women with AD. At end-of-treatment, improvements in ICBT were non-inferior to CBT for symptoms of AD, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the non-inferiority of ICBT to CBT was maintained at a three-month follow-up. Conclusions: ICBT was non-inferior to CBT in improving mental symptoms in infertile women with AD.

Heart rate variability, serum cortisol levels and temperament in a sample of workers exposed to occupational stress: a preliminary report.

Work-related stress is an emerging risk for psychiatric occupational disorders including Adjustment Disorders (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate in workers exposed to occupational stress suffering from AD about putative indices of stress and mental health resilience such as serum cortisol (seC) levels, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and affective temperaments. We consecutively recruited 15 male and 15 female AD patients between workers evaluated for occupational stress at an Italian Occupational Medicine Unit. SeC levels were measured by specific immunoassay. HRV indices were recorded using Task Force® Monitor system (CNSystems, Graz, Austria). Specific questionnaires were used to measure perceived and occupational stress, psychopathological symptoms and temperament. Women presented higher levels of occupational stress, higher High-Frequency HRV (HF-HRV) and lower Low-Frequency HRV (LF-HRV) than men. SeC levels were positively correlated with LF-HRV values and negatively with HF-HRV values. The LF/HF ratio resulted to be inversely correlated with the score of Harm Avoidance temperament dimension and directly with the score of Reward Dependence temperament dimension. In conclusion, in AD patients exposed to occupational stress high seC levels and reward dependence appear to be associated with a pattern of HRV reflecting less mental health resilience.

Effectiveness of a stepped-care programme of internet-based psychological interventions for healthcare workers with psychological distress: Study protocol for the RESPOND healthcare workers randomised controlled trial.

Background and aims: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has challenged health services worldwide, with a worsening of healthcare workers' mental health within initial pandemic hotspots. In early 2022, the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly around the world. This study explores the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a stepped-care programme of scalable, internet-based psychological interventions for distressed health workers on self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms. Methods: We present the study protocol for a multicentre (two sites), parallel-group (1:1 allocation ratio), analyst-blinded, superiority, randomised controlled trial. Healthcare workers with psychological distress will be allocated either to care as usual only or to care as usual plus a stepped-care programme that includes two scalable psychological interventions developed by the World Health Organization: A guided self-help stress management guide (Doing What Matters in Times of Stress) and a five-session cognitive behavioural intervention (Problem Management Plus). All participants will receive a single-session emotional support intervention, namely psychological first aid. We will include 212 participants. An intention-to-treat analysis using linear mixed models will be conducted to explore the programme's effect on anxiety and depression symptoms, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire - Anxiety and Depression Scale summary score at 21 weeks from baseline. Secondary outcomes include post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, resilience, quality of life, cost impact and cost-effectiveness. Conclusions: This study is the first randomised trial that combines two World Health Organization psychological interventions tailored for health workers into one stepped-care programme. Results will inform occupational and mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies. Registration details: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04980326.

Affective temperament and mood spectrum symptoms in workers suffering from work-related stress disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Adjustment Disorders (AD) which develop in response to work-related stressors represent a model of psychiatric occupational disease. Major Depressive Episodes (MDE) although often associated to work-related stressors are unlikely recognized by insurance institutes as occupational diseases. Affective temperament and mood spectrum symptoms are possible factors of vulnerability to stress. The aim of this study was to investigate if temperaments and mood spectrum symptoms had a different distribution among workers exposed to occupational stress and suffering from different psychiatric disorders (AD, MDE). METHODS: 156 AD and 97 MDE patients were recruited and evaluated with scales for perceived stress (PSM) and work-related stress (JCQ), for psychopathological symptoms (BDI-II, SAS), for affective temperament (TEMPS-A[P]) and for lifetime mood spectrum symptoms (MOODS-SR). Group comparisons and correlation analyses between variables were performed by parametric or non-parametric statistical tests according to variables distribution. RESULTS: The diagnostic groups did not differ for perceived and occupational stress levels. MDE patients reported significantly higher BDI-II score and MOODS-SR scores than AD ones. The hyperthymic temperament was significantly more frequent in AD than in MDE group. The hyperthymic score, differently from other dimensions of temperament and from mood spectrum components, negatively correlated or did not correlate with psychopathological symptoms severity and perceived stress levels. LIMITATIONS: Predictive limitation because of cross-sectional design. CONCLUSIONS: The hyperthymic temperament as opposed to lifetime subtreshold mood symptoms appears to be more represented in patients suffering from occupational AD than in MDE ones. Acknowledging vulnerability factors to job stress could support clinicians in occupational diseases prevention and management.

A history of adjustment disorder predicts greater weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective long-term options for treating class III obesity or class II obesity with medical co-morbidities; however, a significant number of patients do not achieve the expected weight loss. New studies are needed to find the predictive value of different variables on surgery outcomes. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to study a number of physical, medical, and psychopathological variables as potential risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with class II-IV obesity scheduled for sleeve gastrectomy. SETTING: Sagrat Cor University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain. METHODS: This prospective longitudinal study enrolled a sample consisting of 441 patients from whom a descriptive analysis was obtained. For 235 of them, we performed a comparative analysis between the patients with differing responses to sleeve gastrectomy after 1 year of follow-up. The remaining patients had differing follow-up data or were lost to follow-up. To collect the data, a semi-structured interview was conducted, and various tests were administered to assess the patients' psychopathology (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) and functionality (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale). RESULTS: The results show the prognostic relationship between certain presurgery variables and the good or poor outcomes of the bariatric surgery, based on the patients' weight loss. Advanced age, high body mass index, diabetes, and respiratory problems were significant predictors of a poor response to surgery. Contrarywise, a history of adjustment disorder predicted a better response. CONCLUSIONS: The results allow us to conclude that, beyond well-established physical and medical conditions, a psychopathological study of patients prior to bariatric surgery including adjustment disorders could be predictive of therapeutic response and could help to personalize the follow-up.

Real World Studies of Psoriasis and Mental Illness in Newfoundland and Labrador.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease with an implied connection to psychiatric disorders. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to illustrate an association between psoriasis and psychiatric disorders using real world data gathered from the Newfoundland and Labrador population. METHODS: Data on 15,100 patients with psoriasis and 75,500 controls (1:5) was collected from the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information's Electronic Health Records. The cases and controls were matched for age, sex, and geography. Indicators for psychiatric disorders include diagnosis of mental illnesses from physician's visits and hospitalization records (all coded for mental health using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes). RESULTS: 9,991 (66.2%) cases were identified to have at least one visit with a diagnostic code for mental illness compared to 42,276 (56.0%), P < .0001 in the control group. The percentage of people coded for anxiety was 36.50% compared to 28.95%, P < .0001; depression was 37.04% compared to 30.19%, P < .0001; and adjustment disorder was 6.89% versus 5.48%, P < .0001, among those with and without psoriasis, respectively. The greatest risk for anxiety [OR 1.4 (1.20, 1.67)] and depression [OR 1.65 (1.36, 2.00)] among psoriasis patients was between the 0 to 20 age group. Women with psoriasis are more likely to have anxiety [OR 1.08 (1.03, 1.13)], depression [OR 1.04 (1.01, 1.09)] and adjustment disorder [OR 1.07 (0.98, 1.17)] compared to female controls. CONCLUSION: Our result shows that patients with psoriasis have an increased prevalence of mental illness. Using real world data to carry out further investigations will better elucidate this association and provide an increased understanding of the association between psoriasis and mental disorders.

Reacciones al estrés y aspectos psicoterapéuticos / Reactions to Stress and Psychotherapeutic Aspects

Resumen El periodismo científico de este artículo versa sobre una excepción habitual en el ambiente especializado, acerca de diversos trastornos mentales (TM) asociados al estrés y su comorbilidad, inadecuado enfrentamiento por el paciente/familia, su condición genético-epigenética y el deficiente manejo brindado de algunos profesionales de la salud. El desdén del manejo psicoterapéutico (prejuicio-impreparación) dificulta la atención adecuada de los casos. Se insta a desarrollar apego maternofilial apropiado, medidas para el logro de la salud mental social y programas asistenciales para atender los casos.

Abstract The scientific journalism of this article deals with a common exception in the specialized environment about various mental disorders associated with stress and its comorbidity, inadequate confrontation by the patient/family, its genetic-epigenetic condition and the deficient management provided by some health professionals. The disdain of psychotherapeutic management (prejudice- lack of preparation) hinders the adequate attention of cases. It is of the utmost importance to develop proper maternal and filial attachment, adequate measures for the achievement of social mental health and assistance programs to attend the cases.

Depresión en adultos mayores en el Perú: distribución geoespacial y factores asociados según ENDES 2018 - 2020 / Depression in elderly in Peru: geospatial distribution and associated factors according to ENDES 2018 - 2020

RESUMEN Introducción. La depresión en la población adulta mayor es un asunto de salud pública y escasos estudios analizan su distribución según áreas geográficas. Objetivos. Describir la distribución geoespacial y factores asociados del síndrome depresivo (SD) en adultos mayores peruanos según la ENDES 2018 al 2020. Métodos. Estudio transversal y de tipo analítico a partir de los datos de las encuestas nacionales, las cuales emplearon la escala PHQ-9 para medir el SD. Se utilizó la prueba Chi cuadrado de Pearson, regresión logística multivariada y OR con un p valor <0,05. Resultados. La prevalencia del SD en el año 2018 fue de 12,9%; 13,3% en 2019 y 10,8% en 2020. Los factores asociados al SD fueron: ser mujer, vivir en la pobreza. Bajo nivel de instrucción, residir en el área rural, proceder de la sierra y selva, vivir solo y tener 75 o más años de edad. El análisis geoespacial evidenció que el SD se concentra en departamentos de la sierra como Huancavelica, Puno, Ayacucho, Apurímac y por el norte, Ancash y Cajamarca. Conclusiones. Las políticas públicas dirigidas a la reducción del SD deben focalizarse en las mujeres, mayores de 75 años, quienes viven en área rural y fundamentalmente a los que viven en los departamentos identificados con la mayor prevalencia.

ABSTRACT Introduction. Depression in the elderly population is a public health issue and few studies analyze its distribution according to geographic areas. Objectives. To describe the geospatial distribution and associated factors of depressive syndrome (DS) in Peruvian older adults according to ENDES 2018 to 2020. Methods. Crosssectional and analytical study based on data from national surveys, which used the PHQ-9 scale to measure DS. The analysis used Pearson's Chi square test and multivariate logistic regression and OR with p < 0,05. Results. The prevalence of DS in 2018 was 12.9%; 13.3% in 2019 and 10.8% in 2020. The factors associated with DS were: being a woman, living in poverty, having secondary education, residing in rural areas, coming from the mountains and jungle, living alone and being 75 years of age or older. The geospatial analysis shows that the SD is concentrated in five departments: the coast (Lima, La Libertad, Piura) and the southern highlands (Puno, Arequipa). Conclusions. Public policies aimed at reducing DS should focus on women, older than 75 years and those who live in rural areas and fundamentally those who live in the departments identified as having the highest prevalence.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of predictors of adjustment disorders in adults.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of adjustment disorder is common in clinical practice, yet there is lack of research on the etiology and epidemiology of adjustment disorders. The goal of this systematic review was to evaluate predictors of adjustment disorders in adults. METHODS: We conducted systematic searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO. We included 70 studies that examined thirteen theoretically-derived and predefined predictors of adjustment disorders with a total of 3,449,374 participants. RESULTS: We found that female gender, younger age, unemployed status, stress, physical illness and injury, low social support, and a history of mental health disorders predicted adjustment disorders. Most of these predictors differentiated individuals with adjustment disorders from individuals with no mental health disorders. Participants with adjustment disorders were more likely to have experienced accidents than were those with posttraumatic stress disorder but were less likely to have experienced assaults and abuse, neglect, and maltreatment. More research is needed to identify factors that differentiate adjustment disorders from other mental health disorders. LIMITATIONS: Because very few studies adjusted for confounders (e.g., demographic variables, mental health histories, and a variety of stressors), it was not possible to identify independent associations between predictors and adjustment disorders. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a number of factors that predicted adjustment disorders compared to no mental health diagnosis. The majority of studies were rated as moderate or high in risk of bias, suggesting that more rigorous research is needed to confirm the relationships we detected.

Correlations between Psychiatric Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients with Psychological Disorders: Hospital-Based Retrospective Study.

Little research has been conducted on the relationship between the five-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5) and quality of life in patients with mood disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential effects of psychological symptoms on quality of life in patients with psychological disorders. We recruited 124 patients with psychological disorders from a psychological teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Data were obtained from medical records of all patients with a diagnosis of mood or adjustment disorder. We assessed psychological symptoms on the BSRS-5 and examined quality of life by using the Taiwanese version of the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). We performed hierarchical linear regression analysis to explore the relationship between psychological symptoms and quality of life. The analysis revealed a significant correlation between the items on the BSRS-5 and WHOQOL and their correlations with the total scores on these assessments (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). Our findings indicated that scores on the BSRS-5 can predict scores on quality of life. This suggests that psychometrically measured psychological symptoms constitute critical determinants of quality of life.

Headspace for parents: qualitative report investigating the use of a mindfulness-based app for managing parents' stress during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Stress can compromise parental well-being and may contribute to harsh and critical parenting styles, which are in turn associated with children's conduct problems. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related restrictions are likely to have exacerbated parental stress as, for many, UK-based family life was altered considerably. Mindfulness has been demonstrated to improve stress management and emotion regulation when delivered to parents in person, however, more accessible online interventions are under-researched. AIMS: To provide preliminary data on family well-being and parent-child relationships as well as the acceptability and usability of the Headspace app - a self-delivered mindfulness-based intervention - for parents in low-risk families during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: We provided 12 parents with access to Headspace, and collected qualitative data (semi-structured interviews and 5 minute speech samples) immediately following the initial COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. The resulting transcripts were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Most parents reported Headspace to be acceptable and useful - improvements in parents' own sleep were particularly noted - and there was high adherence to the intervention. However, difficulties related to family well-being and parent-child relationships following the lockdown were also reported. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the confounding impact of COVID-19 restrictions, and varied access to app content, we were unable to determine any outcomes to be a result of practising mindfulness specifically. However, COVID-19 has had a profound impact on many UK-based families, including those previously at low risk, and our results demonstrate that Headspace may have beneficial effects for parents. There is a need to more rigorously test this tool with a broader range of families.