Longitudinal assessment of disability amongst patients of bipolar and unipolar depressive disorders presenting to a tertiary care center in North India

Objectives: To assess and compare the changes in disability scores associated with Bipolar Depression (BD) and Unipolar Depression (UD) over 1 year. Methods: A longitudinal study was taken up in adults diagnosed with unipolar or bipolar depressive disorder with current depressive episode. Diagnosis was made according to Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. Severity scoring was done using Hamilton’s Depression (HAM-D) rating scale and Hamilton’s Anxiety (HAM-A) rating scale. Disability was assessed using Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale (IDEAS) and London handicap Scale (LHS) at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Results: Sixty participants were recruited (42 UD and 18 BD). No significant differences were seen in socio-demographic parameters, except higher education levels and males being overrepresented in UD. Significant differences at baseline were seen in HAM-D ( p = .001) and HAM-A ( p = .003) scores. The extent of disability was seen to correlate with severity of illness only in case of BD at baseline. No significant differences were seen in the IDEAS scores at baseline. IDEAS score improved at each follow-up assessment ( p < .001). LHS showed significant improvement over time in UD ( p < .001), but not BD ( p = .076). Percentage individuals meeting cut-off for benchmark disability (>40%) were comparable at baseline but were significantly more in the BD at 12-months ( p = .049). Conclusion and implications: Disability in psychiatry occurs equally amongst unipolar and bipolar depressive disorders and tends to improve over time, although the level of improvement may differ. It may not always correspond to severity of illness. These factors should be considered while certifying disability.

Impaired emotional intelligence is related to symptoms severity and suicidal attempts in depression

Objective: Few studies demonstrated the impairment of perceived emotional intelligence ‘EI’ among depressed patients. This study aimed to assess the perceived EI in a group of depressed patients, and its association with different clinical characteristics. Methods: Forty-five patients diagnosed with depression were assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and compared to 45 controls that were assessed by the Arabic version of General Health Questionnaire to exclude Psychiatric disorders. The Arabic version of Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS) is used to evaluate EI in both groups. Results: Patients with depression showed significantly lower EI scores in the three parts of TMMS (repair, clarity and attention) compared to the controls ( p < .001). Patients showed significant difference in clarity subscale ( p = .005) and attention regarding severity of depression ( p < .001). Clarity of feelings was significantly higher in patients who suffered more than two episodes ( p = .012). Depressive patients with suicidal attempts showed significantly lower scores of repair ( p = .044) and attention ( p = .016) subscales. There were no significant differences of TMMS subscales between patients with and without suicidal ideation, sleep disturbance and somatic symptoms. Conclusions: The current study demonstrates impaired perceived EI among patients with depression that is correlated with symptom severity and suicidal attempts.

The lived experience of surviving from the Islamic State attack and capture in Iraq and Syria: An arts-based qualitative study with Yazidi young women

Background: In August 2014, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) attacked the Sinjar district and destroyed several villages and towns and killed several individuals. Aim: In this study, the Yazidi young women who survived the ISIS attack were encouraged to express their lived experiences through paintings following participation in a 6-month art-based intervention program. Methods: A total of 13 Yazidi Kurdish females aged 18 to 25 years (Mean: 21.7 years) were invited to participate in an art-based (drawing and painting) course for 6 months in 2018. They were invited to draw or paint images that portrayed their lived experiences of attack and capture by the ISIS. Qualitative research situated within feminist methodology was used with the young women in this study. The interviews were analyzed using the descriptive content analysis method. Results: The paintings and narratives of the participants were constructed into three main themes: fear and traumatic experiences; feeling of hopelessness; and freedom and hope. During the attack and capture, due to the escape, rape, and horrific treatments by the ISIS fighters, the young women were traumatized severely. They were sold as a sex slave by the ISIS fighters. The participants still had severe anxiety and psychological challenges after being free from the capture. However, despite their traumatic experiences and feeling of hopelessness, most of them were hoping for freedom and a better future. Conclusions: This study showed that the Yazidi young females still experienced psychological challenges burdens even 3 years after the traumatic day. However, the participants showed their resilience through feeling hopeful for freedom and a better future.

Experience, impact and needs of informal parental caregivers around the communication of a diagnosis of schizophrenia

Aims: To qualitatively characterize the experience, impact and needs of informal family caregivers around the communication of a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Methods: In all, 13 informal family caregivers were recruited. All were parents. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore their experience of the diagnosis of schizophrenia, the impacts of the diagnosis and the needs related to the diagnosis around its communication. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, codes generated and mixed deductive–inductive thematic analysis undertaken. Results: Participants described receiving the diagnosis of schizophrenia for their relative as a devastating experience, although some nuanced the experience with a sense of relief of finally naming the disorder and getting access to care. Caregivers’ experience and representations prior to hearing the diagnosis played an important role in the way the ‘news’ was internalized. The communication of the diagnosis constituted a starting point for acceptance of the reality of the illness in participants. Numerous unmet needs around the communication of the diagnosis were reported by participants, including personnalized support, specific explanations about the disorder and guidance on their role as caregiver. Conclusion: A specific attention must be given to the communication of the diagnosis of schizophrenia to the informal family caregivers. Information giving must be early, comprehensive, personalized and embedded into tailored education and support programmes for caregivers to facilitate illness acceptance and adaptation.

A descriptive study of welfare and mental health issues among health-related sciences undergraduate students at the Medical University of Gdansk

Purpose and methods: We surveyed a large sample of health-related sciences undergraduate students at the Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG), Poland in a pilot study to assess self-reported somatic/mental health-related issues, measure the level of burnout using Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), the presence of depressive symptoms with Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) and assess the problematic alcohol intake (CAGE questionnaire). Additionally, stress coping mechanisms were investigated. Results: A total of 864 students participated in the survey. The mean total OLBI and PHQ-9 scores equalled 43.3 ± 2.7 and 11.3±5.8 points, respectively. The CAGE questionnaire was positive in 21.6% of students. Three most prevalent stress coping mechanisms included TV binge-watching, binge-eating and cigarette chain smoking (51.0%, 45.0% and 28.0% respectively). Conclusions: Future studies are required to confirm the obtained results, assess, and monitor trends and set-up interventions to improve the welfare of health-related science MUG students.

Satisfaction with Telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic: Patients’ and psychiatrists’ report from a University Hospital

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to important changes in the approach to patients worldwide. Different agencies have proposed and implemented telemedicine-based care services in order to ensure access to health care for all people. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the satisfaction of patients using the Telepsychiatry service offered by the Department of Psychiatry of the Hospital de Clínicas (National University of Asunción, Paraguay). Methods: A cross sectional and descriptive study has been conducted. Participants were recruited through a phone-based survey. Satisfaction with Telepsychiatry has been measured with an adapted version of a satisfaction survey in Teleneurology. As a complement, psychiatrists from the Hospital de Clínicas were also interviewed about their rate of satisfaction with Telepsychiatry. Results: A total of 530 patients were included, 51.3% of whom were women. The consultation satisfaction scale ranged between 2.15 and 4.30 with a mean score of 3.02 ± 0.32. Cronbach’s alpha for the scale was .897, indicating a good internal consistency. Patients’ satisfaction was higher for the perception of Telepsychiatry and lower for the doctor-patient relationship. Of the physicians, 87.5% were satisfied with the Telepsychiatry service. Conclusion: The satisfaction overall score indicates patients’ general satisfaction with the quality of care in Telepsychiatry, mainly regarding the perception of health care. and lower satisfaction with the doctor-patient relationship. Nine out of 10 psychiatrists felt satisfied with the Telepsychiatry service and considered that the degree of patient’s satisfaction was acceptable during the Telepsychiatry consultation.

Caregivers’ experiences and perspectives of factors associated with relapse in Iranian people living with schizophrenia: A qualitative study

Background: Relapse in People Living with Schizophrenia (PLS) has several reasons and recognizing these can increase the effectiveness of treatment interventions. Formal and informal caregivers are an informed source to reduce relapse in PLS. Aim: This study explores the caregivers’ perspective in Iran on the factors affecting relapse in PLS. Method: A total of 28 caregivers (16 formal caregivers and 12 informal caregivers) of PLS were enrolled in our qualitative study. A content analysis was conducted using individual and group, semi-structured in-depth interviews with informal and formal caregivers of PLS. This study was conducted in a hospital, three universities, and a non-governmental organization in Tehran, Iran. Results: The majority (69%) of the participants were females. About half of the informal caregivers were over 60 years old and about 40% of the formal caregivers were in the age range of 30 to 40 years. The average number of years of work for informal caregivers was 17.6 years and the average of work experience among the formal caregivers was 14.1 years. Seven key dual themes were identified from data: ‘awareness-stigma’, ‘social support-social exclusion’, ‘treatment adherence-treatment discontinuation’, ‘holistic approach – one-dimensional approach’, ‘supported employment-social dysfunction’, ‘emotional management in family – family with high emotional expression’, and ‘access to treatment-treatment gap’. Conclusion: The results of this research can help practitioners and policymakers to enable evidence-based practices to reduce relapse in PLS by emphasizing and acting on factors identified in our analyses.

Personal meaning of recovery among persons with schizophrenia

Background: Recovery in mental illness is not synonymous with cure. Personal recovery approach consider recovery as a process and not as an outcome. This approach takes into account the subjective meaning of recovery by assessing how a person has learned to accommodate and live with an illness. Aim: To study the personal meaning of recovery among persons with schizophrenia. Method: This article presents the findings of a qualitative study about what ‘recovery’ means to persons with schizophrenia. A semi structured interview schedule was prepared based on literature review and expert opinion. Twenty participants who met the inclusion criteria and personally consider themselves recovering/recovered from schizophrenia were selected for the in-depth qualitative interviews. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Meaning of recovery from each participant’s perspective was recorded. Findings: The results indicate factors that patients deem important for their recovery are, absence of symptoms, regaining functioning, being able to work, having adequate emotional stability and not being on medicines. The findings are examined in the background of the previous studies and suggestions for clinical practice and research is also discussed. Conclusion: Recovery is far more than remission of symptoms. Persons with mental illness has their own criteria of recovery, which could be very distinct from the clinical definition. Current study findings can help in identifying meaning of recovery through the perspectives of persons with mental illness and in developing and implementing recovery-oriented services.

Study on covert administration of medications practices among persons with severe mental illness: A cross-sectional study

Background: Covert administration of medication (CoAdM) by caregivers to persons with severe mental illness (SMI) is a commonly observed medication delivery practice in India. Aims: This study aims to examine different medication delivery practices adopted by caregivers to provide care to SMI at times of medication refusal. Method: This study was conducted at the outpatient department between April 2019 and November 2019. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview the caregivers of persons with SMI to assess medication delivery practices. Results: A total of 300 caregivers were interviewed. CoAdM was practiced in 96 (32.0%) persons with SMI at least once during their lifetime, and other strategies used were pleading ( n = 105, 35.0%), lying ( n = 10, 3.3%), and threatening ( n = 154, 51.4%). Logistic regression showed that male gender (OR 4.75; CI 1.37–16.46), absent insight (OR 10.0; CI 2.01–47.56), and poor adherence to medication (OR 4.75; CI 1.31–16.92) were significantly associated with CoAdM in the last 1 year. Caregivers perceived significant improvement in self-care ( Z = −4.37, p < .01), interpersonal ( Z = −7.61, p < .01), work ( Z = −5.9, p < .01), family functioning ( Z = −7.82, p < .01) difficult behavior ( Z = −8.27, p < .01), and dependency ( Z = −6.34, p < .01) in persons with SMI with use of CoAdM. Conclusions: CoAdM was given to one in three persons with SMI at some point in their lives. Male gender, absent insight and poor adherence were predictive of CoAdM in the last 1 year. Caregiver perceived improvements in self-care, work, interpersonal, family functioning, problem behaviors, and dependency after CoAdM. Policies need to be evolved to serve all stakeholders while keeping these practices in mind.

Mental health of Turkish medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The coronavirus disease emerged in 2019, spread in Turkey as all over the world rapidly. In this process, young people began to experience some mental problems due to the fear of contagion, as well as some changes in their lifestyles. Aims: In this study it is aimed to investigate anxiety and depression levels of medical school students and the factors associated with these mental problems. Method: The forms were sent over the internet to the officials responsible for medical education at universities in various regions of Turkey. A total of 2,778 medical faculty students were included in the study. Students were asked to fill out the sociodemographic data form, the Patient Health Questionnaire – 9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Test. Results: Students’ 67.3% were female and 31.7% were male. About 90.2% of the students in the PHQ-9 scale had depressive symptoms in the major depressive disorder (MDD) dimension, and 44.5% in the GAD-7 scale had moderate/severe anxiety symptoms. Gender, being a preclinical student, history of psychiatric treatment in the past, currently receiving psychiatric treatment, death of someone due to pandemic, economic and health situation, perception of mental health were found associated with MDD and Moderate/Severe Anxiety symptoms. Students with Anxiety and MDD reported significantly more anxiety about contamination and negative beliefs about precautions’ sufficiency. Conclusions: It was determined that medical school students in our country showed anxiety and depression at a remarkable level during the pandemic. Examining the underlying causes of these high rates will be beneficial in terms of taking precautions during the long-term pandemic. In literature, there are a limited number of studies on this subject in our country, we believe that our study will be useful in future studies to determine the underlying causes of mental illnesses and what can be done to help students.