Do Dimensional Measures of Mental Health Symptoms Predict Level of Alcohol Involvement in the General Population?

Background: There is a limited understanding of what specific mental health symptoms are associated to alcohol involvement. It is important to understand how the severity of different mental health dimensions may differ, and distinguish between, levels of alcohol involvement. Objectives: (a) explore for differences in severity of mental health symptoms between those with lower, and moderate/high alcohol involvement, (b) assess the degree to which mental health dimensions can distinguish between those with lower, and moderate/high alcohol involvement, and (c) examine what mental health dimensions are related to the highest risk of moderate/high alcohol involvement. Results: 400 participants representative of the general population in the USA were recruited online through Prolific and completed the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test and Brief Symptom Inventory. Each of the nine mental health symptom dimensions significantly differed between lower and moderate/high alcohol involvement, with the moderate/high alcohol involvement group reporting greater severity symptoms. The nine symptom dimensions in combination also significantly distinguished lower and moderate/high alcohol involvement, however only somatization offered unique predictive utility. Lastly, global distress was also able to significantly distinguish the alcohol involvement groups, albeit to a lesser accuracy compared to the collection of individual symptom dimensions. Conclusions: These findings suggest that overall mental health distress may be important to understanding alcohol involvement, however individual symptom dimensions can add further explanatory variance. In particular, somatic symptoms may offer unique utility in understanding the relationship between mental health and alcohol involvement.

"It's Always Been a Second Class Cancer": An Exploration of the Experiences and Journeys of Bereaved Family Carers of People with Sarcoma.

Sarcomas are a group of rare and aggressive cancers, which develop in bones and connective tissue throughout the body. Sarcomas account for only 1-2% of all cancers worldwide; however, mortality rates for sarcoma are high with approximately two in four sarcoma patients dying following a diagnosis. Delays in diagnosis, poor management of symptoms, patients' high symptom loads and high carer burden are all associated with carer distress, which may lead to complications after bereavement. The experience of having a family member referred for palliative care is also distressing for carers, with the realisation that their family member is dying. This study aimed to explore the experiences of bereaved family carers of people diagnosed with sarcoma. A qualitative descriptive design using a social constructionist framework was adopted. Interviews were conducted with sixteen participants, and thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in the data. Four overarching themes emerged: beginning the journey; moving through treatment; transitioning to palliative care; and experiencing bereavement. The narratives were coherent and potent, and people reflected on their journeys. Interventions and supports for bereaved carers could include opportunities for counselling to support reflections, supports for developing a narrative such as writing therapy, and preparation for the death of the family member.