A chain mediation model on COVID-19 symptoms and mental health outcomes in Americans, Asians and Europeans.

The novel Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020, impacting the lifestyles, economy, physical and mental health of individuals globally. This study aimed to test the model triggered by physical symptoms resembling COVID-19 infection, in which the need for health information and perceived impact of the pandemic mediated the path sequentially, leading to adverse mental health outcomes. A cross-sectional research design with chain mediation model involving 4612 participants from participating 8 countries selected via a respondent-driven sampling strategy was used. Participants completed online questionnaires on physical symptoms, the need for health information, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) questionnaire and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The results showed that Poland and the Philippines were the two countries with the highest levels of anxiety, depression and stress; conversely, Vietnam had the lowest mean scores in these areas. Chain mediation model showed the need for health information, and the perceived impact of the pandemic were sequential mediators between physical symptoms resembling COVID-19 infection (predictor) and consequent mental health status (outcome). Excessive and contradictory health information might increase the perceived impact of the pandemic. Rapid COVID-19 testing should be implemented to minimize the psychological burden associated with physical symptoms, whilst public mental health interventions could target adverse mental outcomes associated with the pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health of Asians: A study of seven middle-income countries in Asia.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the economy, livelihood, and physical and mental well-being of people worldwide. This study aimed to compare the mental health status during the pandemic in the general population of seven middle income countries (MICs) in Asia (China, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). All the countries used the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to measure mental health. There were 4479 Asians completed the questionnaire with demographic characteristics, physical symptoms and health service utilization, contact history, knowledge and concern, precautionary measure, and rated their mental health with the IES-R and DASS-21. Descriptive statistics, One-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression were used to identify protective and risk factors associated with mental health parameters. There were significant differences in IES-R and DASS-21 scores between 7 MICs (p<0.05). Thailand had all the highest scores of IES-R, DASS-21 stress, anxiety, and depression scores whereas Vietnam had all the lowest scores. The risk factors for adverse mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic include age <30 years, high education background, single and separated status, discrimination by other countries and contact with people with COVID-19 (p<0.05). The protective factors for mental health include male gender, staying with children or more than 6 people in the same household, employment, confidence in doctors, high perceived likelihood of survival, and spending less time on health information (p<0.05). This comparative study among 7 MICs enhanced the understanding of metal health in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Correlation of Maternal Stress Because of Positive Aneuploidy Screening Serum Analytes and Uterine Arteries' Doppler Ultrasound Index: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal anxiety or maternal stress is a prevalent chronic mental disorder in pregnant women. We have assessed the effect of maternal stress from positive aneuploidy screening results on the changes in uterine artery blood flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort (one sample) pilot study at a hospital in Tehran, Iran. A total of 60 pregnant women who were candidates for amniocentesis due to abnormal sequential screening test results entered the study. We conducted 2 standard psychological tests, the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, to determine anxiety levels in the participants before amniocentesis and two weeks after amniocentesis. The uterine artery resistance index was also measured before and two weeks after amniocentesis. The level of maternal stress was compared with the uterine artery resistance index. RESULTS: Patients had a mean State Trait Anxiety Inventory score before amniocentesis of greater than 40, which meant that the mothers experienced high anxiety. There were no correlations between both inventories' anxiety scores and uterine artery blood flow before amniocentesis. However, two weeks after amniocentesis, we observed significant negative correlations between the State Anxiety (P=0.0041) and Trait Anxiety (P=0.010) Inventory scores and the uterine artery resistance indexes. Also, there was an association between the decreased right uterine artery resistance index and State Anxiety scores (P=0.036). There were significant correlations between State and Trait Anxiety scores and second trimester analytes of ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG, P<0.001), α-fetoprotein (P<0.001), and unconjugated estriol (P=0.048). CONCLUSION: Maternal anxiety because of positive aneuploidy screening serum analytes and amniocentesis can affect perinatal outcomes via mood-based alterations in blood flow of the uterine arteries and the screening markers ß-hCG,unconjugated estriol, and α-fetoprotein.

The effect of positive psychotherapy in test anxiety among Zahedan students with hemophilia.

Hemophilia is a chronic disease which due to several reasons, including frequent absences from school and reduced motivation, leads to the incident of test anxiety among patients. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy in test anxiety among students with hemophilia. The current study followed a pretest, posttest, and two-month followup quasi-experimental design with an experimental group and a control group. This study had a statistical population including all senior elementary and junior high school students with hemophilia who had medical records in Zahedan Hemophilia Society. After screening them, 60 students were selected and randomly assigned to two 30-person groups of experimental and control. Since some patients refused to continue taking part in this study, the sample decreased to 57 people. Measurement tool used in this study was Sarason Test Anxiety Scale. Positive psychotherapy was held in 8 sessions (two 120-minute sessions per week) and a follow-up was conducted two months after completing the psychotherapy. Data were analyzed using a repeated measure analysis of variance. Results showed that positive psychotherapy significantly reduced test anxiety among the students with hemophilia. Moreover, the stability of the effects of this therapy in the follow-up was confirmed. The obtained results indicated that policymakers should pay a lot of attention to this new positive psychological training and its effects on reducing test anxiety.

The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Training on Increasing Self-Concept's Measure and the Attitude Style Toward Narcotic Drugs in Tonekabon Addicted Prisoners.

BACKGROUND: The existing studies have indicated that persons with positive attitude and believe to narcotics have more addiction than those with negative or natural attitudes. The aim of the present study was to specify the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral training on increasing of self-concept's measure, and the attitude style toward narcotic drugs in addicted prisoners of Tonekabon. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of cognitive-behavioral training on increasing self-concept and the attitude style toward narcotic drugs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Statistical population included 450 persons. After screening, 65 entered the study. Among them, 40 persons were selected randomly and allocated in experimental and control group. Self-concept and gauge attitude questionnaire were used to gather the data. The program of cognitive-behavioral training was executed at 12 weekly sessions in 120 minutes for experimental group. The past-quest was executed after finishing training for two groups. RESULTS: The result using analysis of covariance showed that the difference between two groups on self-concept and the attitude toward narcotic drugs was significant at P < 0.5. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore it can be resulted that cognitive-behavioral training is effective on self-concept and the changing of attitude toward narcotic drugs.