The COVID Psychosocial Impacts Scale: A Reliable and Valid Tool to Examine the Psychosocial Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This paper reports on the development and validation of the COVID Psychosocial Impacts Scale (CPIS), a self-report measure that comprehensively examines both positive and negative psychosocial impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first part of the program of work in which the CPIS was administered and compared with a measure of psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, K-10) and wellbeing (World Health Organization Well-Being Index, WHO-5). The data were obtained online in 2020 and 2022 at two distinct time points to capture different exposures to the pandemic in the New Zealand population to a non-representative sample of 663 and 687 adults, respectively. Two hundred seventy-one participants took part in both surveys. Findings indicate a unidimensional structure within CPIS subscales and inter-relatedness among CPIS stress-related subscales. The scatter plots and correlation matrix indicate CPIS having a positive moderate correlation with K10 and a negative moderate correlation with WHO-5, indicative of construct validity. The paper outlines contextual factors surrounding CPIS development and makes suggestions for future iterations of CPIS. Further work will examine its psychometric properties across cultures.

Attempted Suicide and Seriousness of Intent.

This descriptive research was conducted to estimate the method of suicide and suicidal intent among hospitalised suicide attempters at Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF) Hospital, Wah Cantt, from December 2012 to June 2013. Data were collected from 49 hospitalised suicide attempters through purposive sampling technique by using Suicidal Intent Scale. Majority of suicide attempters (92%) used self-poisoning as the method of suicide regardless of their gender, age, occupation, past medical history, past psychiatric history, and history of suicide and psychiatric illness in their families. Additionally, most of them (43%) reported high level of suicidal intent, while 16 (33%) reported medium suicidal intent and 12 (24%) reported mild suicidal intent. Keeping in view the fact that majority of suicide attempters used self-poisoning as a method and most of them reported high level of suicidal intent, it is important to plan preventive measures.

Depression, anxiety and their associated factors among medical students.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of anxiety and depression among medical students of Wah Medical College and their associations with sociodemographic and educational characteristics if any. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Wah Medical College, from September 2007 to March 2008. METHODOLOGY: A sample of 279 students was included in the study after excluding first year medical students because they were admitted for less than 6 months. A self administered Encounter Form was administered. Sociodemographic and educational characteristics included age, gender, birth order, number of siblings, monthly income, monthly expenditure on education, academic performance in professional examination, past medical and past psychiatric history, substance abuse and family history of psychiatric illness. Beck depression inventory and beck anxiety inventory were used to assess the level of depression and anxiety. The chi-square test was applied at 5% level of significance to determine associated factors for anxiety and depression respectively. RESULTS: The mean age of students was 21.4+/-1.41 years with female preponderance i.e. 202 (72.4%). Anxiety was present in 133 (47.7%) students and depression in 98 (35.1%) students. Both were found concomitantly in 68 (24.37%) students. Age (p=0.013), gender (p=0.016), examination criteria dissatisfaction (p=0.002) and overburden with test schedule (p=0.002) were significantly associated with depression. Anxiety was significantly associated with gender (p=0.007), birth order (p=0.049), year of study (p=0.001), examination criteria dissatisfaction (p=0.010) and overburden with test schedule (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: One third of students were found to have anxiety and depression which was associated with the sociodemographic and educational factors as stated above.

Anxiety and depression in burn patients.

BACKGROUND: The psychological aspects of burn injury have been researched in different parts of world producing different outcomes. Therefore objective of this research is to determine the frequency of Anxiety and Depression in burn patients. To assess the socio-demographic distribution of patients developing Anxiety and Depression and to determine the effects of burn related factors on development of Anxiety and Depression. METHODS: A Case series was conducted at the Department of Burn, Pakistan Ordinance Factory Hospital, Wah Cantt. for a duration of 12 months commencing from June 2007 and concluded in May 2008. The study population comprised of hospitalized patients with 1% to 50%, selected through non probable sampling technique who were assessed for Anxiety and Depression on fifteen day after burn injury. Testing protocol comprised of questionnaire having socio-demographic variables and burn related variables. Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory was applied to evaluate Anxiety and Depression in Burn patients. Descriptive statistics like mean with Standard Deviation was calculated for age. Frequencies along with percentages were calculated for socio-demographic variables. The frequencies and proportions were also calculated for presence and extent of severity of depression and anxiety in burn patients. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included in the study, thirty patients (60%) were male and 20 (40%) were females. The mean age of participants was 33.64 +/- 19 years. Majority of participants, 38 (76%) had sustained burn injury up to 25%. Flame was found to be most common agent of burn injuries affecting 19 (38%) patients. Depression was seen amongst 29 (58%) patients. Thirteen (26 %) patients had mild, 7 (14%) had moderate and 9 (18%) had severe Depressive symptoms. Anxiety was seen among 41 (82%) patients, thirteen (26%) patients had mild, 11 (22%) had moderate and 17 (34%) had severe Anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION: Anxiety was present in 41 (82%) and Depression was present in 29 (58%) patients following burn injury. This study highlights the importance of the simultaneous evaluation and management of Anxiety and Depression in burn injured patients.