The Psychopathological Predictors and Effects of Death Anxiety.

Death anxiety has been linked to several psychopathological conditions. However, the causes, comorbidity, and differential diagnosis of death anxiety is unexplored. This paper stands out by identifying common predictors of death anxiety and exploring the potential of death anxiety as a predictor for other psychological conditions. The paper reports the findings of four consecutive studies that involved a total of 2291 conveniently selected participants including 861 men and 1430 women. We focused on clarifying both the predictors of death anxiety and the psychopathological consequences emerging from it. Our findings established depression, anxiety, stress, fear of aging, and reduced life satisfaction as predictors of death anxiety. Psychosocial illness, sleep disturbances, aggression, and daily hassles were established as the adverse outcomes of death anxiety. Fear of aging was the most significant predictor of death anxiety and daily hassles emerged as the most significant adverse consequence of death anxiety.

Development and Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Evaluating the Nutritional Status of Patients with Serious Mental Illnesses (DIETQ-SMI) in Bahrain.

General food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) have not been tailored for or validated in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Given the unique eating behaviors of patients with serious mental illnesses (SMIs), custom-made tools are needed. Therefore, we developed and validated an FFQ customized to individuals with SMIs. A total of 150 adults with SMIs (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression) were recruited from Bahrain. The participants completed the 50-item Dietary Intake Evaluation Questionnaire for Serious Mental Illness (DIETQ-SMI) FFQ and a 3-day food record (FR). The validity of the FFQ was assessed by comparing nutrient intake to FR intake using correlation and reliability statistics. The DIETQ-SMI demonstrated a good ranking validity compared to the FR based on correlation coefficients (rho 0.33 to 0.92) for energy and macro- and micronutrients. The FFQ had high internal consistency (McDonald's omega = 0.84; Cronbach's alpha = 0.91) and test-retest reliability (ICC > 0.90). The FFQ tended to estimate higher absolute intakes than the FR but adequately ranked the intakes. The FFQ value was correlated with the FR for all the items (p < 0.001). The DIETQ-SMI is a valid and reliable FFQ for ranking dietary intake in individuals with an SMI. It can help assess nutritional status and, subsequently, guide interventions in high-risk psychiatric populations.

The Translation and Preliminary Psychometric Validation of the Ghosting Questionnaire in Urdu.

BACKGROUND: "Ghosting" refers to the practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with a person with whom you have been in constant correspondence. The break comes without warning and without understandable provocation. The term most commonly applies to online romantic relationships. The motives for and effects of ghosting have been studied, and validated research questionnaires have been developed; however, there are no such questionnaires available for Urdu speakers. The purpose of this study was to adapt the "Ghosting Questionnaire (GQ)" for use in Pakistan and India, two of the world's most populous countries-a process that involves translation, adaptation, and validation. METHODS: The study's methodology involved translating the GQ into Urdu using both forward and backward translation techniques. Convergent validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, confirmatory factor analysis, and goodness of fit were all components of the psychometric analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The Urdu version of the GQ demonstrated a good internal consistency, with the Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega both exceeding 0.90. It also showed a high test-retest reliability-(0.96). The one-factor structure was confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis, which agreed with the original English version of the GQ.

Profanity as a Self-Defense Mechanism and an Outlet for Emotional Catharsis in Stress, Anxiety, and Depression.

Background: Swearing is an increasing trend among men and women worldwide. Earlier studies on the positive aspects of profanity mostly relate to pain management and the release of negative emotions. The uniqueness of the current study is its analysis for a possible constructive role of profanity in stress, anxiety, and depression. Method: The current survey involved 253 conveniently selected participants from Pakistan. The study analyzed the role of profanity in connection to stress, anxiety, and depression. Profanity Scale and the Urdu version of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale were used along with a structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and t-test were implied to obtain results. Results: The study revealed that the usage of profane language had significantly inverse correlations with stress (r = -0.250; p < 0.01), anxiety (r = -0.161; p < 0.05), and depression (r = -0.182; p < 0.01). Higher profaners also revealed significantly lower levels of depression (M = 29.91, SD = 10.80 vs. M = 33.48, SD = 10.40; p = 0.009; Cohen's d = 0.338) and stress (M = 30.83, SD = 11.41 vs. M = 35.16, SD = 11.31; p = 0.003; Cohen's d = 0.381) as compared to lower profaners. Profanity had no significant correlations with age (r = 0.031; p > 0.05) and education (r = 0.016; p > 0.05). Men projected significantly higher levels of profanity as compared to women. Conclusion: The current study viewed profanity similar to the self-defense mechanisms and emphasized on its cathartic role in stress, anxiety, and depression.

Measuring Sexual Intelligence for Evaluating Sexual Health.

The current paper reports four consecutive studies that were conducted to link sexual health with a new construct of sexual intelligence by developing and validating a new scale to measure sexual intelligence. Sexual intelligence was defined as "the ability to perceive, understand and respond to sexual needs and desires in a personal and social context." Sexual Intelligence Scale (SIS), comprising of 8 items in English and 2 factors (sexual knowledge & sexual behavior), was developed and validated by involving 959 respondents in the process of 4 consecutive studies. The validity of SIS was tested step by step for its face, content, factorial, convergent, discriminant, and predictive validities. The reliability was measured through internal consistency and item-total & item-scale correlations. The study found significantly higher levels of sexual intelligence in men as compared to women. Sexual intelligence, moreover, had significant positive correlations with age, education, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, sexual health, and satisfaction with life. Sexual health was linked with sexual intelligence and the SIS was accepted as a reliable and valid tool to measure sexual intelligence.

Emotional Intelligence: Emotional Expression and Emotional Regulation for Intrinsic and Extrinsic Emotional Satisfaction.

Purpose: Theorists have constructed emotional intelligence differently, based on which the literature reveals different diversified scales to measure emotional intelligence. These scales are quite lengthy to respond and have been criticized for producing varying results. The current paper projects the findings of 3 consecutive studies carried out to summarize and simplify the existing models of emotional intelligence and to produce a brief measure in this regard. Methods: Based on the review of the earlier models of emotional intelligence, emotional intelligence was comprehended as an "ability to express and regulate emotions for intrinsic and extrinsic emotional satisfaction". "Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS)", comprising 12 items in English, was developed and validated through principal component analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis through a series of 3 consecutive studies which involved 1894 participants from Pakistan. The validity of EIS was tested step by step for its face, content, factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity. The reliability was measured through internal consistency and item-total and item-scale correlations. Results: EIS was revealed to be a valid and reliable scale to measure emotional intelligence through 4 core factors, ie, emotional expression, emotional regulation, intrinsic emotional satisfaction, and extrinsic emotional satisfaction. The additional findings revealed significantly higher levels of emotional intelligence among men as compared to women; significantly positive correlation of emotional intelligence with social intelligence, positive emotional effects, age, and education; and a significantly inverse correlation between emotional intelligence and the negative emotional effects. Conclusion: The current paper reported the development and validation of a new scale on emotional intelligence by comprehending and summarizing the earlier models of emotional intelligence.

The psychodermatological role of cosmetic dermatologists and beauticians in addressing charismaphobia and related mental disorders.

BACKGROUND: Psychodermatology is an emerging field that relates cosmetic dermatology with several mental abnormalities associated with appearance and attraction. Being a latest field, psychodermatology lacks research in several fundamental aspects. The current study intended to analyze the prevalent role of cosmetic dermatologists and beauticians in handling the psychological issues of their clients, and to educate them on the relevant mental conditions associated with cosmetic dermatology, beauty, and attraction. METHOD: The first aspect of the study involved interviewing cosmetic dermatologists (n = 30) and beauticians (n = 73) to analyze their psychodermatological role with their clients. The second aspect of the study intended to educate cosmetic dermatologists and beauticians on the relevant psychopathology which would possibly be present among their clients. RESULTS: The findings revealed that the cosmetic dermatologists and beauticians were aware of several psychopathological issues of their clients. However, they were unable to identify and label the appropriate clinical diagnoses in this regard. Their clients did possess tendencies toward social anxiety disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, charismaphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, histrionic personality disorder, gerascophobia, and narcissistic personality disorder. The study also confirmed a significant rise in their clientele due to the psychopathological issues faced by their clients. The study also found cosmetic dermatologists and beauticians involved in providing psychological counseling to their clients while being untrained. CONCLUSION: The current paper is a valuable contribution to the under-researched field of psychodermatology. It analyzed the existing psychodermatological role of cosmetic dermatologists and beauticians and facilitated them to practice in a more educated way.

Infertility as seen by the infertile couples from a collectivistic culture.

Infertility in collectivistic cultures is usually regarded as a matter of social stigmatization instead of a biomedical problem. It has adverse sociocultural consequences, especially for the female spouse. The current study, by involving 20 infertile couples, was a qualitative research focusing on the sociocultural experiences of the infertile couples about the nature, causes, and consequences of infertility. The findings of the current study clearly depicted the sociocultural factors involved in interpreting infertility as a matter of shame and bad reputation for the couple and its family. The study has filled a significant knowledge gap and will be useful in identifying and addressing the cultural barriers in the treatment of infertility.

Barriers in Seeking Psychological Help: Public Perception in Pakistan.

Mental health services are globally less utilized because of several psychosocial barriers that vary from culture to culture. Regarding Pakistan, a serious knowledge gap existed in this regard. The current study was aimed at exploring the barriers for Pakistanis which stop them from seeking psychological help. The survey involved 3500 participants from 5 cities. The sample was sufficiently rich to be categorized based on gender, age, education, profession and income. Data was gathered through interviews and a self-report questionnaire. Lack of faith in psychological treatment, prior personal experience, religious fatalism, carelessness for mental disorders, social defame, personal shame, bad reputation of mental health practitioners, prohibition by family, and fear of treatment were found to be the barriers in seeking psychological help. To overcome these barriers, the participants of the current study suggested the mental health practitioners of the country to raise awareness on mental health and improve mental health services.

Prevalent Tendencies for Mental Disorders in Pakistan / Las tendencias prevalentes en trastornos mentales en Pakistán

Psychological problems and mental disorders are visibly prevalent all around the globe. The current survey intended to the latest situation of the prevailing variety of mental disorders in the ry by involving 3,500 participants from 5 major cities. The sample of the study was sufficiently rich to represent Pakistanis based on gender, age, education, profession, and income. Data was gathered through interviews and a self-reported questionnaire. The study revealed that 27% of Pakistanis possess tendencies for different mental disorders. Depression and sleep-related problems are the most prevalent psychological problems in the ry. Females, unmarried, people below 40 years of age, people with primary level of education, and people belonging to the upper-middle class possess significantly higher tendencies towards mental disorders as compared with their erparts. The findings will be helpful for researchers, mental health practitioners, and other stakeholders in assessing the state of mental health in the ry

Los problemas psicológicos y los trastornos mentales son visiblemente prevalentes en todo el mundo. El estudio actual pretende analizar la situación más reciente de la variedad predominante de los trastornos mentales en el país con la participación de 3,500 participantes de 5 grandes ciudades. La muestra del estudio fue suficientemente rica para representar a los paquistaníes en función del sexo, la edad, la educación, la profesión y la renta. La información se obtuvo a través de entrevistas y un cuestionario autoinformado. El estudio reveló que el 27% de los paquistaníes tienen tendencia a padecer difrentes trastornos mentales, siendo la depresión y los problemas relacionados con el sueño los problemas psicológicos más prevalentes en el país. Las mujeres, solteras, las personas menores de 40 años de edad, las personas con estudios primarios y las personas que pertenecen a la clase media-alta tienen una tendencia significativamente más elevada a sufrir trastornos mentales en comparación con sus homólogos. Los resultados serán útiles para los investigadores, los profesionales de salud mental y otras partes interesadas en la evaluación del estado de la salud mental en el país