The Contribution of Environmental Science to Mental Health Research: A Scoping Review.

Mental health is influenced by multiple complex and interacting genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors. As such, developing state-of-the-art mental health knowledge requires collaboration across academic disciplines, including environmental science. To assess the current contribution of environmental science to this field, a scoping review of the literature on environmental influences on mental health (including conditions of cognitive development and decline) was conducted. The review protocol was developed in consultation with experts working across mental health and environmental science. The scoping review included 202 English-language papers, published between 2010 and 2020 (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic), on environmental themes that had not already been the subject of recent systematic reviews; 26 reviews on climate change, flooding, air pollution, and urban green space were additionally considered. Studies largely focused on populations in the USA, China, or Europe and involved limited environmental science input. Environmental science research methods are primarily focused on quantitative approaches utilising secondary datasets or field data. Mental health measurement was dominated by the use of self-report psychometric scales. Measures of environmental states or exposures were often lacking in specificity (e.g., limited to the presence or absence of an environmental state). Based on the scoping review findings and our synthesis of the recent reviews, a research agenda for environmental science's future contribution to mental health scholarship is set out. This includes recommendations to expand the geographical scope and broaden the representation of different environmental science areas, improve measurement of environmental exposure, prioritise experimental and longitudinal research designs, and giving greater consideration to variation between and within communities and the mediating pathways by which environment influences mental health. There is also considerable opportunity to increase interdisciplinarity within the field via the integration of conceptual models, the inclusion of mixed methods and qualitative approaches, as well as further consideration of the socio-political context and the environmental states that can help support good mental health. The findings were used to propose a conceptual model to parse contributions and connections between environmental science and mental health to inform future studies.

The impact of gastrointestinal conditions on psychosocial factors associated with the biopsychosocial model of health: A scoping review.

The increase in the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions is an emerging global health concern. Studies of the impact on the lives of individuals living with GI conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) typically focus on biological elements, such as symptomology and treatment efficacy. Comparatively fewer studies have explored the psychological and social aspects of GI conditions, which could provide key information needed to better understand the impact of GI conditions on people and their lived experiences. In this review, existing literature concerning the psychosocial factors and well-being outcomes associated with GI conditions was reviewed using a scoping methodology. Sixty-eight studies were selected for inclusion. Of these studies, the well-being outcomes most frequently addressed, for both IBS and IBD, were quality of life and health-related quality of life, and the most frequently addressed psychosocial factors were social support and coping. These outcomes are largely consistent with those identified for other medical conditions explored using the biopsychosocial model of health, with some exploration of the lived experiences of those with a GI condition.

Children's Experiences of Their Journey to School: Integrating Behaviour Change Frameworks to Inform the Role of the Built Environment in Active School Travel Promotion.

Childhood obesity is a public health problem with multiple effects on children's life. Promoting Active School Travel (AST) could provide an inclusive opportunity for physical activity and shape healthy behaviours. Data for this cross-sectional study were drawn from questionnaires carried out in five primary schools located in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, in neighbourhoods chosen for their variability in IMD (index of multiple deprivation) and spatial structure of street networks (measured through space syntax measure of integration). A randomly selected and heterogenic sample of 145 pupils (aged 9-10) completed an open-ended questionnaire to state what they like and dislike about their journey to school. Thematic analysis identified four typologies (environmental context, emotions, social influences and trip factors) based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and specific themes and sub-themes underlying children's affective experiences of their journeys to school. This study is the first known to authors to attempt to adapt the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model into AST and children's experiences and associated behavioural domains with design aspects. Such an insight into children's attitudes could inform urban planners and designers about how to apply more effective behaviour change interventions, targeting an AST increase among children.

Restructuring the built environment to change adult health behaviors: a scoping review integrated with behavior change frameworks.

Built environment restructuring can improve public health through increased opportunity for healthy behaviors. Behavioral science targets individual health behaviors within place, suggesting the potential to integrate these approaches. This scoping review was one of the first to summarise the impact built environment restructuring has on health outcomes and behaviors and integrate these findings with the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior model and Theoretical Domains Framework of behavior change. Potential studies were identified from 12 academic databases in urban design, psychology and public health. Search parameters involved 50 environment types, for example green space or healthy cities, combined with both an intervention (e.g. green infrastructure, active transport) and a measurable health outcome (e.g. exercise, wellbeing). Searches were limited to North America, Europe, or Australia/New Zealand. Of 536 potential studies reviewed against defined inclusion/exclusion criteria, 23 contributed to the findings. Evidence supported the positive influence of restructuring on varied health outcomes, many of which were drivers and domains of health behavior. Most studies indicated a clear contribution to increased physical activity. Recommendations include the need for explicit communication of theories guiding restructuring project design, consideration of health outcomes beyond physical activity, and better investigation of unanticipated barriers to health behaviors arising from built environment restructuring projects.

Assessing physical symptoms during the postpartum period: reliability and validity of the primary health questionnaire somatic symptom subscale (PHQ-15).

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed at establishing the reliability and validity of the primary health questionnaire (PHQ-15) somatic symptom severity subscale for postpartum women. METHODS: Women (N = 495) completed the PHQ-15 approximately 6 weeks postpartum during the baseline phase of a randomized controlled trial evaluating a writing intervention for postnatal health in England. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency statistics and convergent validity by comparing differences in self-reported physical health, health-related quality of life (QoL) and primary care usage by PHQ-15 symptom severity category. RESULTS: Cronbach's α for the PHQ-15 was 0.73 and item-total statistics met recommended guidelines. Validity analyzes showed 6% of women reported severe symptoms, 17% medium, 50% low and 27% minimal symptoms. Women with severe symptoms reported poorer overall physical health, poorer physical health-related QoL and greater use of primary care. Women with severe symptoms also rated their baby's health as worse and used primary care more for their baby. DISCUSSION: This study suggests the PHQ-15 has the potential to be a useful and valid measure of physical symptoms in postpartum women in high-income countries.

The Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire (BirthMARQ): development and evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Childbirth is a challenging and emotive experience that is accompanied by strong positive and/or negative emotions. Memories of birth may be associated with how women cognitively process birth events postpartum and potentially their adaptation to parenthood. Characteristics of memories for birth may also be associated with postnatal psychological wellbeing. This paper reports the development and evaluation of a questionnaire to measure characteristics of memories of childbirth and to examine the relationship between memories for birth and mental health. METHODS: The Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire (BirthMARQ) was developed by generating items from literature reviews and general measures of memory characteristics to cover dimensions relevant to childbirth. Fifty nine items were administered to 523 women in the first year after childbirth (M = 23.7 weeks) as part of an online study of childbirth. Validity of the final scale was checked by examining differences between women with and without probable depression and PTSD. RESULTS: Principal components analysis identified 23 items representing six aspects of memory accounting for 64% of the variance. These were: Emotional memory, Centrality of memory to identity, Coherence, Reliving, Involuntary recall, and Sensory memory. Reliability was good (M alpha = .80). Women with probable depression or PTSD reported more emotional memory, centrality of memories and involuntary recall. Women with probable depression also reported more reliving, and those with probable PTSD reported less coherence and sensory memory. CONCLUSION: The results suggest the BirthMARQ is a coherent and valid measure of the characteristics of memory for childbirth which may be important in postnatal mood and psychopathology. While further testing of its reliability and validity is needed, it is a measure capable of becoming a valuable tool for examining memory characteristics in the important context of childbirth.

Effects of testosterone administration in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women with low weight: a randomized placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease is increasing among women, many of whom remain symptomatic with low weight and poor functional status. Although androgen levels may often be reduced in such patients, the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of testosterone administration in this population remains unknown. METHODS: A total of 57 HIV-infected women with free testosterone levels less than the median of the reference range and weight less than 90% of ideal body weight or weight loss greater than 10% were randomly assigned to receive transdermal testosterone (4 mg/patch) twice weekly or placebo for 6 months. Muscle mass was assessed by urinary creatinine excretion. Muscle function was assessed by the Tufts Quantitative Muscle Function Test. Treatment effect at 6 months was determined by analysis of covariance. Results are mean +/- SEM unless otherwise specified. RESULTS: At baseline, subjects were low weight (body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters] 20.6 +/- 0.4), with significant weight loss from pre-illness maximum weight (18.7% +/- 1.2%), and demonstrated reduced muscle function (upper and lower extremity muscle strength, 83% and 67%, respectively, of predicted range). Testosterone treatment resulted in significant increases in testosterone levels vs placebo (total testosterone: 37 +/- 5 vs -2 +/- 2 ng/dL [1.3 +/- 0.2 vs -0.1 +/- 0.1 nmol/L] [P<.001]; free testosterone: 3.7 +/- 0.5 vs -0.4 +/- 0.3 pg/mL [12.8 +/- 1.7 vs -1.4 vs 1.0 pmol/L] [P<.001]) and was well tolerated, without adverse effects on immune function, lipid and glucose levels, liver function, or body composition or the adverse effect of hirsutism. Muscle mass tended to increase (1.4 +/- 0.6 vs 0.3 +/- 0.8 kg; P =.08), and shoulder flexion (0.4 +/- 0.3 vs -0.5 +/- 0.3 kg; P =.02), elbow flexion (0.3 +/- 0.4 vs -0.7 +/- 0.4 kg; P =.04), knee extension (0.2 +/- 1.0 vs -1.7 +/- 1.3 kg; P =.02), and knee flexion (0.7 +/- 0.5 vs 0.3 +/- 0.7 kg; P =.04) increased in the testosterone-treated compared with the placebo-treated subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone administration is well-tolerated and increases muscle strength in low-weight HIV-infected women. Testosterone administration may be a useful adjunctive therapy to maintain muscle function in symptomatic HIV-infected women.

Neurocognitive function in HIV-infected patients with low weight and weight loss.

OBJECTIVE: To determine neurocognitive function in HIV-infected subjects with low weight and weight loss. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort. METHODS: Baseline data from male and female participants in longitudinal treatment studies of AIDS wasting were analyzed. Fifty-seven HIV-infected women (age: 38 +/- 5 years, education level: 12.3 +/- 2.3 years) and 24 HIV-infected men (age: 37 +/- 5 years, education level: 13.5 +/- 2.9 years) with weight <90% IBW or loss of >10% of preillness weight maximum underwent standardized neurocognitive testing to measure intellectual functioning, attention, memory, and fine motor dexterity. The z scores were determined using age- and gender-specific normative data. RESULTS: Among women, IQ (87 +/- 13, z score: -0.8 +/- 0.8 SD) and executive functioning scores (-0.7 +/- 1.2 SD) were below average but within normal limits. In contrast, performance (z scores) on measures of verbal learning (-2.5 +/- 1.5 SD), visuospatial abilities (-2.5 +/- 2.0 SD), and motor coordination (-2.3 +/- 3.3 SD) fell significantly below normal limits. Among men, IQ score was 96 +/- 13 SD (z score: -0.3 +/- 0.8 SD). Performance was below average on measures of verbal learning (-1.0 +/- 1.7 SD) and visual construction (-1.6 +/- 1.7 SD) but within normal limits on executive functioning (-0.1 +/- 1.0 SD). CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected women at low weight demonstrate significantly reduced verbal learning, memory, and motor function, whereas HIV-infected men at low weight demonstrate more moderate impairment in verbal learning and other measures of neurocognitive function.

Reduced testosterone levels in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women with weight loss and low weight.

Risk factors for hypoandrogenemia among low-weight, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are not known. Testosterone levels of 69 HIV-infected women with low weight and weight loss were compared with levels for 25 healthy, age- and body mass index-matched control subjects. HIV-infected subjects were of low weight, with a mean (+/- standard deviation) weight loss of -17.6% +/- 9.7% from preillness maximum, and 42% of HIV-infected subjects had a body mass index of <20 kg/m(2). Forty-nine percent of the HIV-infected population versus 8% of the control population exhibited low free testosterone levels (P<.001). Among HIV-infected women, when we controlled for chronic hepatitis status, age, and time of blood sampling, weight loss of >10% of maximum weight was a significant predictor of low free testosterone levels. Free testosterone levels did not differ by drug class or antiretroviral regimen. In conclusion, decreased androgen levels are common among HIV-infected women reporting significant weight loss, independent of exposure to antiretroviral medications.