Surviving COVID-19: Biopsychosocial Impacts, Death Anxiety, and Coping Strategies.

As the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, attempts to contain the spread of the virus took two concurrent forms, including mobility restrictions (aka lockdowns) and the race to produce a vaccine. However, it is quite striking that, amidst both the lockdown and the race to produce a vaccine, the question of how COVID-19 survivors/patients coped with the disease has not received the degree of attention it deserved. To navigate this issue, we employed a sample consisting of 100 COVID-19 survivors; this paper explores the relationship between the biopsychosocial (BPS) impacts of COVID-19, death anxiety, and coping strategies. In this context, the mediating role of death anxiety is placed in the spotlight. The analysis reveals a significant positive association between the BPS impact of COVID-19 and death anxiety and a significant negative association between death anxiety and coping strategies among COVID-19 survivors. Thus, death anxiety mediates the relationship between the BPS impact and the coping strategies that COVID-19 survivors adopt. Given the general recognition of the validity of the BPS model in contemporary medical science and practice, a thorough examination of COVID-19 survivors and their experiences related to surviving is necessary to match the challenges of today, including the increased probability of pandemics.

Assessment of risk perception and adoption of safety measures during Covid-19 pandemic in Pakistan: a survey study through mobile application.

This coronavirus disease's impact, effect, and spread largely depend on how people behave and react mindfully. According to the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) theory, the only way to war against COVID-19 is to ensure allegiance to all Pakistanis' controlled maneuvers nationwide. To control this pandemic, the determination of safety measures practiced by people and their associated factors are of great importance. This study aimed to explore Pakistani's perception of the economic and psychological risks related to COVID-19 and the association of perceived risks with adopting safety measures. The was conducted among 1,058 Pakistanis using a self-developed survey questionnaire from March 15 to June 15, 2020 - using a mobile application. The analysis revealed that more participants agreed that (i) Covid 19 is associated with economic threats to the overall economy, (ii) social media and the Government is causing more psychological threat than the virus, and (iii) personal and imposed safety measures should be observed during the spread of the virus. Moreover, regression analysis indicates that economic and psychological threats were significantly and positively correlated with personal safety measures but not government-imposed safety measures. Moreover, economic and psychological threats are significant predictors of personal safety measures. This study is helpful as it is the first to inform about the threats associated with this pandemic and their association with safety measures practiced by Pakistan's population. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12652-022-04421-8.

Psychometric analysis of cognitive distortions scale-urdu on patients diagnosed with mental disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability and concurrent validity of Cognitive Distortions Scale-Urdu based on Beck's Cognitive Model of psychopathology on patients diagnosed with mental disorders. METHODS: The correlational study was conducted from June 15, 2019, to January 30, 2020, in Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised psychiatric patients of either gender aged 18-65 years from six government hospitals, including Mayo Hospital, Services Hospital, Punjab Institute of Mental Health, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Gulab Devi Hospital and the Combined Military Hospital. The participants completed the demographic information form and the Cognitive Distortions Scale-Urdu. The latter was re-administered after a gap of two weeks to determine its internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Feinstein Paranoia, Subjective Wellbeing and Siddiqui Shah Depression Scales were administered along with the Cognitive Distortions Scale-Urdu to determine its concurrent validity. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 24. RESULTS: Of the 106 patients, 56(52.8%) were recruited for reliability analysis with an overall mean age of 32.31±10.62 years, and 50(47.2%) for concurrent validity analysis with an overall mean age of 31.30±10.52 years. Correlation analysis indicated good internal consistency (α=0.87), test retest reliability (r=0.86) and moderately high concurrent validity of the scale (range: 0.44-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: The Cognitive Distortions Scale-Urdu was found to have sound psychometric properties and was suitable for researchers to obtain quantitative estimates of the frequency and intensity of cognitive distortions in clinical samples.

Work status, death anxiety and psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic: Implications of the terror management theory.

The present study determined the application of terror management theory during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. Death anxiety and psychological distress were examined in the context of work status. A sample of 478 from the general population voluntarily participated in the study. Findings revealed a significant moderating role of work status, illustrating the strong relationship between psychological distress and death anxiety for non-working participants. Therefore, psychological distress is related to more significant death anxiety among non-working than those who are working. This study highlights the importance of work as an anxiety buffering factor concerning mortality thoughts.

Mediated Associations Between Religious Coping, Self-Regulation, and Psychological Distress Vary for Young Muslim Men and Women in Lahore, Pakistan.

The main aim of the study was to assess the direct, mediated, and conditional mediated associations among religious coping, self-regulation, and psychological distress in young Muslim adults while analyzing gender as a moderator of these mediated associations. Based on a sample of 247 young adults from Lahore, Pakistan (M age = 21.31, SD = 2.40; 51% women, 49% men), it was found that self-regulation mediated the negative associations of positive religious coping with stress and anxiety and the positive association of negative religious coping with stress. Further, it was found that mediated associations were stronger and significant in young men compared to women. The implications of the findings concerning gender differences in association between religious coping, self-regulation, and psychological distress are discussed.

Sexual functioning as predictor of depressive symptoms and life satisfaction in females with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: PCOS is the one of the frequently diagnosed endocrine syndrome in Pakistani women. However, little attention has been devoted to empirical investigation of the role of sexual dysfunction in developing depressive symptoms and reducing life satisfaction. Our objective was to determine the contribution of Sexual dysfunction in developing depressive symptoms and life dissatisfaction in females diagnosed with PCOS. METHODS: This correlation study was carried out from 1st September 2019 to 15th February 2020 at COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus. A sample of 60 women with PCOS between reproductive age 18 - 38 years (Mage = 27.86, SD = 4.58) was selected through purposive sampling technique from the government hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. The participants responded to a Demographic Information Form, Female Sexual Functioning Index, Siddiqui Shah Depression and Life Satisfaction Scale. RESULTS: Correlation analysis revealed significant positive link of sexual dysfunction with depressive symptoms and negative link with life satisfaction level. Further, regression analysis revealed sexual functioning as significant predictor of depressive symptoms only. CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction play a major role in general mental health of females, therefore, screening and identification as well as preventive measure need to be introduced at early level of development. In addition, current study findings suggest that once females are diagnosed with PCOS, they should be provided sufficient counselling services in order to deal with depressive symptoms and feeling of low life satisfaction. Further, targeted interventions and counselling services may also facilitate in optimising patient care.

Integration of hypnotherapy with brief cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for treatment of depression.

The current study was planned to assess how the integration of brief cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) with hypnotherapy can be productive for a client's quick progress in treatment. It illustrates the effectiveness of two methods of treatment integrated to make better prognosis in the treatment of a depressed Pakistani housewife aged 25 years, who had been suffering for a year. The sessions included hypnotic induction, teaching self-hypnosis with positive suggestions, mood monitoring, use of imagery and relaxation techniques along with specific strategies of brief CBT. Predominant feature of her clinical presentation was the belief of being unloved, and the negative thoughts of being devalued by the husband. Hypnotherapy contributed to achieving remarkable therapeutic progress in a relatively short time. At initial presentation, the depressive symptoms were extremely high as demonstrated by psychological assessment tests and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Subsequent test results indicated that she had returned to normal level of functioning (81-90) as assessed through the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAFS). At the time of reporting the case, she was in the follow-up phase. The case highlights the value of hypnosis as a tool of empowerment especially important to diminish depression when used as an adjunct with cognitive behaviour therapy.

Humour styles as predictors of psychological and somatic health in under graduates of COMSATS University, Lahore.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictability of humour styles on psychological and Somatic health of university students. METHODS: The study was carried out at COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus during the period of 1st September 2018 to 30th December, 2018. Correlation research design was used to assess the study objectives. A sample of 199 (93 females & 106 males) university students falling in age range from 18 to 26 years with mean age =21.02±1.78 years were assessed on self-report measures to Humour styles questionnaire, Physical Health Questionnaire, and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. RESULTS: It was found from simultaneous regression analyses that after controlling potential confounding effects due to demographic, affiliative humour was a negative predictor of stress, anxiety, and depression; while aggressive humour was a positive predictor of stress only. However, both negative humour styles, that are aggressive and self defeating humour styles, were negative predictors of somatic health. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that relationship oriented positive humour style is a protective factor against psychological distress but negative humour styles are detrimental for physical health.

Four session hypnosis intervention for smoking cessation: Treatment outcome evidence from Pakistan.

Hypnosis for smoking cessation is a widely used treatment in western countries. This study provides preliminary data regarding hypnosis for smoking cessation in clinical settings in Pakistan. An individualized 4 session hypnosis intervention is described according to the teachings of National Guild of Hypnotists, Inc (NGHUSA). Three smokers with ages 18, 30 and 35 respectively, self-approached the hypnotherapist at Transformation Wellness Clinic, Lahore with the motivation to quit smoking. Average number of cigarettes smoked per day was 20. Three follow up sessions were taken within 3, 6 and 12th month post treatment. At the end of treatment, all three clients reported quitting smoking and were satisfied with the treatment they had received. This treatment is not commonly used in Pakistan and therefore, up till current date there is no literature available to evaluate its effectiveness. Endeavors to empirically evaluate hypnosis as treatment of tobacco dependency in future are discussed.