Effectiveness of Symptomatic Physiotherapy in Enhancing the Psychological Parameters of a Patient With Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Case Report.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a polyneuropathy that can be caused by an autoimmune condition or a bacterial infection. In typical GBS cases, there is hypo- or areflexia, symmetrical limb weakness that worsens within four weeks of the symptoms. The facial nerve is involved in this situation, which results in weak facial muscles, which, in turn, affect facial emotions and movements. In this case study, a 21-year-old athlete who suffered from unexpected weakness that resulted in quadriplegia had goal-oriented physical therapy treatment designed for the patient, who recovered quickly. This case study aims to emphasize how goal-oriented physical therapy treatment can help patients recover quickly.

Ketamine Infusion in a Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Patient in Bangladesh with Severe Suicidal Ideation: A Case Report.

Treatment of resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) typically results in insufficient symptom alleviation, and even long-term medication often fails to have the intended effect. Ketamine is a potent non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Studies have shown that low-dose ketamine infusion results in a considerable reduction in obsessive-compulsive symptoms and a rapid resolution of suicidal ideation. This is a case report on the effect of intravenous ketamine infusion on a patient with resistant OCD and severe suicidal ideation. Intravenous (IV) ketamine was given once a week over consecutive three weeks with necessary precautions. Psychometric tools such as the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI-S), the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideations (BSSI), and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) were applied before and after infusions. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms and suicidal severity started to decrease rapidly after the first infusion. However, after a transient improvement, these symptoms again began to increase after a stressful incident on the second day of the first infusion. All the symptoms measured by validated rating scales showed continued improvement after the following two infusions. The improvement was sustained until discharge (one week after the last infusion) and subsequent follow-up in the sixth and 12th weeks. The role of ketamine in reducing suicidal thoughts and behavior is already established. Very few studies emphasized its effectiveness in improving severe/resistant obsessive-compulsive symptoms. This pioneering work may offer scope for similar research in the relevant field.

Assessment of psychological distress and its associated factors among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy in rural Bangladesh.

Background: Psychological distress may worsen during cancer treatment and affect well-being. Information on the prevalence of distress and its associated variables in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in rural Bangladesh has not been thoroughly explored. To address this, we aimed to assess psychological distress and its associated factors in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in rural Bangladesh. Only adult patients with cancer who were receiving chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. The validated Depression Anxiety Stress Scale was used to assess psychological distress. Frequency and percentages were used in descriptive analysis, and logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate potential associated factors for depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: Participants comprised 415 patients with a mean age of 46.3 years. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 61.5%, 55.4%, and 22.0%, respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients with more than five family members and smokeless tobacco users had a significant association with depression, anxiety, and stress. In contrast, participants aged >60 years had a protective association with depression. Conclusions: Our findings show that patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy experience a high prevalence of depression and anxiety and that the use of smokeless tobacco and having six or more family members are associated with psychological distress. These findings will aid health professionals and policymakers in establishing and implementing improved care programs to ensure the greater mental health of cancer survivors, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Relationship Between Alexithymia, Smartphone Addiction, and Psychological Distress Among University Students: A Multi-country Study.

Objectives: Increasing dependence on smartphones results in the appearance of psychological problems, especially among young people. This study aims to determine the rates of alexithymia and its relationship with smartphone addiction and psychological distress in university students. Methods: A total of 2616 students (mean age = 22.5±3.5 years; 73.1% female) from universities in Egypt, Oman, and Pakistan were included in a cross-sectional and comparative study conducted through a web survey during the COVID-19 pandemic from October to December 2021. The following scales were used: Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). The survey also included questions related to sociodemographic and smartphone usage patterns.

Relationship Between Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Weight Self-Stigma Among Youths in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Study.

Background and objectives Many research studies show that self-stigma related to weight can exacerbate mental health issues. There is also evidence suggesting that depression, anxiety, and stress could be predictors of weight stigma. However, these connections have not been thoroughly investigated among young people in Saudi Arabia, where there is a high prevalence of obesity. This study aimed to explore the relationships between depression, anxiety, stress, and weight self-stigma in Saudi Arabian adolescents and young adults. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2022 and utilized online surveys, including the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21). We conducted descriptive analysis, independent samples t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression for the statistical analysis using SPSS version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results A total of 1624 participants were enrolled in this survey. Most participants (889, 54.7%) were females. The mean age was 20.73 years (SD: 2.63). Males were more likely to report self-stigma compared to females (p = 0.018). Weight self-stigma demonstrated significant positive associations with body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.0001) and depression, anxiety, and stress (p = 0.0001) scores. Further analysis revealed weight self-stigma was positively correlated with psychological distress levels in the study population (p = 0.0001). The results demonstrated a statistically significant difference between different regions of Saudi Arabia with weight self-stigma being more prevalent in the Al-Baha region and least prevalent in the Al-Madinah region. Conclusions The results of this study indicate robust positive correlations between weight self-stigma scores and depression, anxiety, and stress scale scores among adolescents and young adults in Saudi Arabia. Further epidemiological and clinical studies on the national level are warranted.

Assessing mental health among students in the UAE: A cross-sectional study utilizing the DASS-21 scale.

Background: The escalating worldwide concerns for mental health, significantly amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitates understanding the impact on vulnerable populations, such as university students. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and implications of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21). Methods: This study utilized convenience sampling to investigate the mental health of undergraduates in UAE universities using a bilingual DASS-21 questionnaire via Google Forms. Analysis was conducted using SPSS version 29.0, employing descriptive statistics, Chi-squared tests, Mann-Whitney tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Multinomial Logistic Regression to analyze relationships between sociodemographic variables and mental health scores. Results: The study examined 332 students, with most female participants (81 %, n = 269) and individuals aged 18-20 (89.8 %, n = 298). It revealed higher mean DASS scores among females: Depression (M = 15.80, p = 0.030), Anxiety (M = 17.63, p < 0.001), and Stress (M = 22.61, p < 0.001). Fourth-year students exhibited the highest DASS scores for depression (M = 30.33, p = 0.002), anxiety (M = 21.33, p = 0.002), and stress (M = 27.00, p = 0.005). Younger participants aged 18-20 had an odds ratio (OR) of 4.925 for depression, indicating they were approximately five times more likely to experience depression. Conclusions: This study reveals gender, age, and academic-year variations in depression, anxiety, and stress among UAE university students. Specifically, our findings indicate higher levels of anxiety and stress among females and reveal academic-year and age-related patterns in mental health conditions. University support services in the UAE should better address student needs, including counseling focused on high school to university transition challenges.

Association of Salivary Cortisol With Anxiety in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Before and After Complete Denture Rehabilitation: An In-Vivo Analysis.

Background Complete edentulism negatively impacts emotional, physical, social, and psychological well-being, leading to a decline in quality of life and heightened stress and anxiety. Stressful situations associated with edentulism can elevate cortisol levels, potentially increasing the risk of diabetes. Rehabilitation with complete dentures needs careful evaluation for its impact on general health, considering stress points and systemic effects. This study aimed to assess salivary cortisol levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients before and after complete denture rehabilitation, highlighting the intricate relationship between diabetes, cortisol, and the stress response. Methods This is a cross-sectional study centered on individuals with diabetes who were completely edentulous and undergoing evaluation by the outpatient prosthodontic department. Glycated hemoglobin, anxiety levels, and the fabrication of complete dentures were all accomplished with the participants' consent. Patients underwent evaluations before and one month after receiving complete denture rehabilitation. Results An absolute correlation between salivary cortisol levels and anxiety may be established because anxiety levels dramatically decreased during complete denture rehabilitation. Conclusion By learning how the patient's general health is related to their new set of complete dentures and how to correlate that information with dental rehabilitation, professionals can help patients better adapt to their new set of dentures.

Depressive, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms Among Schoolgirls With Disordered Eating Behaviors.

Objectives This study aimed to assess the relationship between depression, anxiety, stress, and disordered eating behaviors among schoolgirls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The current study could provide insights into potential intervention strategies for addressing both aspects simultaneously, contributing to a more holistic approach in the field. Method Via simple sampling technique, the current quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study included 347 female adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years in public schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire comprised demographic information, items on body image satisfaction and perception, the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results Among the participants, 32.6% scored at or above the cutoff point on the EAT-26, indicating a negative eating attitude. Additionally, multiple factors such as age, obesity, body image dissatisfaction, and peer pressure were correlated with disordered eating behaviors, with excessive exercise being the most reported weight control behaviors. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were 58.5%, 73.2%, and 40.9%, respectively. Notably, anxiety was significantly associated with disordered eating behaviors. Conclusion In conclusion, disordered eating behaviors were reported by 32.6% of the participants, and symptoms of anxiety were significantly associated with these behaviors. Media consumption appeared to influence more than half of the participants in their weight loss attempts.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale: Factor validation during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Mexico

Introduction: Globally, mental health problems have affected nearly 1 billion people and approximately 1 in 10 Mexicans. The detection and surveillance of depression, anxiety, and stress in Mexico requires more reliable and valid instruments. Objective: To determine the factor validity and internal consistency of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21) in a non-probabilistic national sample of Mexican adults. Method: Cross-sectional study by means of an online survey of 1 613 Mexican adults aged 18 years and older. The Spanish version of the DASS-21 was used, which evaluates the presence of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress. Factor validity was determined by comparing different confirmatory factor analysis models: one-dimensional, three factors (correlated and non-correlated), second order, and bifactor. Results: The application of the bifactor model to the DASS 21, supports its validity for identifying the presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as an altered general emotional state in a sample of Mexican adults. Conclusions: The DASS-21 is a theoretically robust instrument useful for research and clinical practice.

Introducción: A nivel global los problemas de salud mental han alcanzado a cerca de 1 billón de personas y aproximadamente a uno de cada diez mexicanos. La detección y vigilancia de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en México demandan instrumentos más confiables y válidos. Objetivo: Determinar la validez factorial y consistencia interna de la Escala de Depresión, Ansiedad y Estrés (DASS-21) en una muestra nacional no probabilística de adultos mexicanos. Método: Estudio transversal por medio de una encuesta en línea entre 1 613 adultos me-xicanos de 18 años o más. Se utilizó la versión en español del DASS-21 que evalúa la presencia de síntomas depresivos, ansiedad y estrés. La validez factorial se determinó mediante la comparación de distintos modelos del análisis factorial confirmatorio: unidimensional; tres factores (correlacionados y no), de segundo orden, y bifactor. Resultados: La aplicación del modelo bifactor al DASS-21 sustenta su validez para identificar la presencia de síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés, así como de un estado general emocional alterado en una muestra de adultos mexicanos. Conclusiones: El DASS-21 es un instrumento teóricamente robusto útil para la investigación y la práctica clínica.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic in patients with a diagnosis of Oral Lichen Planus: Pain perception and psychological profile analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of COVID-19 in patients affected by OLP, in terms of level of pain, stress, depression and anxiety and their impact on the clinical manifestation of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A longitudinal design was employed. Psychometric evaluations of anxiety, stress, and depression were conducted using the DASS21 scale, while pain levels were measured using the VAS scale. Clinical diagnosis and phenotype evaluation were performed. RESULTS: The study included 24 patients with an average age of 62.9 years, with 70.8% presenting erosive OLP. Results revealed a significant worsening of anxiety, stress, and depression scores during the pandemic. Pain level (1.5 ± 1.2 pre-pandemic VS 3.8 ± 1.1 during the pandemic, p < 0.0001) was also negatively affected. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the potential interplay between psychological stress and oral health conditions, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of OLP's complex etiology and its response to external stressors. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Multidisciplinary care strategies to address both physical and psychological aspects of OLP patients is recommended following the present findings. Further research is warranted to confirm these observations in larger multicenter studies and to guide tailored guidance approaches for OLP patients during challenging times.

Using Wearable Devices and Speech Data for Personalized Machine Learning in Early Detection of Mental Disorders: Protocol for a Participatory Research Study.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of mental disorder symptoms is crucial for timely treatment and reduction of recurring symptoms and disabilities. A tool to help individuals recognize warning signs is important. We posit that such a tool would have to rely on longitudinal analysis of patterns and trends in the individual's daily activities and mood, which can now be captured through data from wearable activity trackers, speech recordings from mobile devices, and the individual's own description of their mental state. In this paper, we describe such a tool developed by our team to detect early signs of depression, anxiety, and stress. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine three questions about the effectiveness of machine learning models constructed based on multimodal data from wearables, speech, and self-reports: (1) How does speech about issues of personal context differ from speech while reading a neutral text, what type of speech data are more helpful in detecting mental health indicators, and how is the quality of the machine learning models influenced by multilanguage data? (2) Does accuracy improve with longitudinal data collection and how, and what are the most important features? and (3) How do personalized machine learning models compare against population-level models? METHODS: We collect longitudinal data to aid machine learning in accurately identifying patterns of mental disorder symptoms. We developed an app that collects voice, physiological, and activity data. Physiological and activity data are provided by a variety of off-the-shelf fitness trackers, that record steps, active minutes, duration of sleeping stages (rapid eye movement, deep, and light sleep), calories consumed, distance walked, heart rate, and speed. We also collect voice recordings of users reading specific texts and answering open-ended questions chosen randomly from a set of questions without repetition. Finally, the app collects users' answers to the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. The collected data from wearable devices and voice recordings will be used to train machine learning models to predict the levels of anxiety, stress, and depression in participants. RESULTS: The study is ongoing, and data collection will be completed by November 2023. We expect to recruit at least 50 participants attending 2 major universities (in Canada and Mexico) fluent in English or Spanish. The study will include participants aged between 18 and 35 years, with no communication disorders, acute neurological diseases, or history of brain damage. Data collection complied with ethical and privacy requirements. CONCLUSIONS: The study aims to advance personalized machine learning for mental health; generate a data set to predict Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale results; and deploy a framework for early detection of depression, anxiety, and stress. Our long-term goal is to develop a noninvasive and objective method for collecting mental health data and promptly detecting mental disorder symptoms. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/48210.

Alexithymia as a risk factor for poor emotional outcomes in adults with acquired brain injury.

Emotional disorders are pervasive in the acquired brain injury (ABI) population, adversely affecting quality of life and rehabilitation. This study aimed to explore the unique associative effects of alexithymia as measured by the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ; i.e., difficulty identifying positive/negative feelings, difficulty describing positive/negative feelings, and externally orientated thinking), on emotional outcomes as measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI-4) Adjustment index, in 83 adults with ABI. The addition of alexithymia to hierarchical multiple regression models (controlling for demographic, injury-related, and functional outcome variables) yielded statistically significant changes in R2 for all emotional outcome measures (i.e., Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Adjustment). Difficulty identifying negative feelings was found to be a significant unique predictor of Depression (ß = .43 p = <.001), Anxiety (ß = .40, p <.001), Stress (ß = .49, p <.001), and Adjustment (ß = .26, p = .001). Externally oriented thinking was found to be a significant unique predictor of Adjustment (ß = -.15, p = .033). These findings strengthen the argument that alexithymia, especially difficulties identifying negative feelings, may be an important risk factor for psychological distress in ABI and should be considered during early rehabilitation.

Stress Among the Adult Population During COVID-19 Pandemic in Kedah, Malaysia: Association Between Sociodemographics and the Movement Control Order Period.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in the prevalence of stress worldwide. However, the extent and factors associated with psychological distress during COVID-19 among the local population in Kedah, Malaysia, have not been adequately explored. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with stress among the adult population in Kedah, Malaysia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using a retrospective record review. A simple random sampling was applied among the adult population of Kedah who were screened for mental health well-being from January 2021 until March 2022. A proforma checklist that consists of sociodemographic and clinical factors and the date of screening was used to collect the data. A descriptive and multiple logistic regression was conducted, and analysis was done by SPSS version 26 (IBM Inc., Armonk, New York). The dependent variables were the presence of stress incorporated self-reported symptoms ranging from mild to very severe. The independent variables were sociodemographic, clinical factors, and movement control order period, which refers to the period when the state of Kedah experienced all the different phases of movement control order (MCO), which were from 1 January 2021 until 28 June 2021. Results In total, 562 adults were included. The mean age was 31.75 years, and the majority were female (69.6%). The prevalence of stress was 45.7% (95% CI 41.6%, 49.8%), with a total of 257 people. The majority of them did not have stress, consisting of 305 people (54.3%), followed by 69 people (12.3%) who reported severe stress, 67 people (11.9%) who reported moderate, 66 people (11.7%) who reported mild, and 55 people (9.8%) who reported very severe stress. The significant factor associated with stress among the adult population in Kedah, Malaysia, during the COVID-19 pandemic was the female gender (Adj OR 3.035 95% CI: 2.007 to 4.591, p-value <0.001). Being unemployed (Adj OR 2.171 95% CI: 1.480 to 3.185, p-value <0.001) and being under movement control order period was also associated with stress (Adj OR 0.383 95% CI: 0.264 to 0.555, p-value <0.001). Conclusion The prevalence of stress among the adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kedah was 45.7%, with a total of 257 people, higher than other studies. Being female and unemployed was associated with stress, while the movement control order period was a protective factor against stress. Preventive strategies should be tailored based on the vulnerabilities of these groups, such as the development of more effective community-based interventions for safeguarding the mental health of the general public during future pandemics.

Psychometric properties of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) among different Chinese populations: A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis.

Given that there is limited evidence concerning the psychometric properties of DASS-21 when applied to primary school students, the present study undertook a comprehensive exploration of the psychometric evidence supporting the use of the DASS-21 within this demographic. The research comprised three studies. In Study 1, the basic psychometric properties of internal consistency and construct validity were examined. A total of 3138 primary school students from three provinces in mainland China participated. The internal reliability of the overall scale was 0.93, and for all the subscales, it was higher than 0.80. Construct validity was partially supported. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses upheld the factorial validity of the original three-factor structure. While convergent validity was established, the results showed unsatisfactory discriminant validity. The bifactor model showed that DASS-21 raw scores predominantly indicated the general factor, evidenced by the high explained common variance and omega-hierarchical values. However, the contributions from the three specific factors were minimal, with their omega hierarchical values all below 0.15. In Study 2, a longitudinal design was adopted, tracking 1366 primary school students from Southwest China over a three-month interval. The results further confirmed that the DASS-21 exhibited scalar time-invariance. The latent mean analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the latent means of depression, anxiety, and stress between Time 1 and Time 2. In Study 3, which included 364 college students and 483 enterprise workers, the results demonstrated that the DASS-21 had measurement invariance across different populations. The latent mean analysis further confirmed that, in terms of the latent mean of all three subscales, both college students and enterprise workers had significantly higher scores than primary school students. Overall, the findings indicated that the DASS-21 is a suitable tool for screening schoolchildren for general psychological distress, but it is not suitable for discerning distinct negative mood state disorders.

Depression, anxiety and stress among healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Northern Vietnam.

Introduction: The outbreak of coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) had significant effects on the mental well-being in general, particularly for healthcare professionals. This study examined the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, and identified the associated risk factors amongst healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak in a tertiary hospital located in Vietnam. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at a tertiary-level hospital, where the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) web-based questionnaire was employed. We analyzed the determinant factors by employing multivariate logistic models. Results: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were 19.2%, 24.7%, and 13.9%, respectively. Factors such as engaging in shift work during the pandemic, taking care of patients with COVID-19, and staff's health status were associated with mental health issues among health professionals. In addition, having alternate rest periods was likely to reduce the risk of stress. Conclusion: The prevalence of mental health problems in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic was relatively high. Having resting periods could potentially mitigate the development of stress among health professionals. Our findings could be taken into account for improving mental health of the health professional population.

Potential impacts of Russo-Ukraine conflict and its psychological consequences among Ukrainian adults: the post-COVID-19 era.

Background: Since February 2022, the nation of Ukraine has become entangled in an escalating conflict that erupted after coronavirus outbreak fostering a situation of indeterminacy and precariousness, which adversely affected several facets, especially psychological well-being. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence on the psychological well-being of Ukrainians during the Russo-Ukraine war, as well as their coping strategies in response to the war's repercussions. Consequently, this investigation endeavors to explore the prevalence of symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia and to correlate these symptoms with Ukrainians' effective coping mechanisms during the ongoing war. Methods: An online survey was administered in Ukraine from June to August 2022 due to the ongoing Russo-Ukraine conflict. The survey employed a quota sampling technique, targeting 2,664 individuals (≥18 years). Out of the total sample, 1,833 valid responses were obtained, yielding a response rate of 68. 81%. Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 (DASS-21), while the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was utilized to evaluate insomnia symptoms. In addition, Brief-COPE was adopted to evaluate the coping mechanisms of the selected study participants. Results: Of 1,833 Ukrainian adults, 60.5% had symptoms of stress; 62.4% of them reported symptoms of anxiety; and 58.2% reported symptoms of depression. Symptom criteria for insomnia were found in about 21.8% of the study sample. The factors of sex, living area, area occupied by Russian forces, and having older adults and children in the house were statistically significant with symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia. The productive coping strategies of self-distraction, using instrumental support, planning, and behavioral disengagement, were observed as statistically significant with four psychological constructs. Conclusion: The study outcomes highlight a substantial prevalence of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia attributed to the accumulated consequences of ongoing conflict and the COVID-19 outbreak. The aforementioned findings emphasize the imperative of providing healthcare services and facilitating effective coping strategies among Ukrainians amid the ongoing war.

The Effect of Sleep Quality and Mental Health on Academic Performance Among the Medical Students of King Abdulaziz University.

BACKGROUND: Sleep quality has an important role in brain functioning and development. Affected sleep quality and mental health can negatively affect the academic performance of college students. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of sleep quality and mental health on the academic performance of medical students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among medical students at King Abdulaziz University. The dependent variable was the current grade point average (GPA). For the independent variables, two validated tools were used in the study: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep assessment; and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) for mental health assessment. RESULTS: A total of 382 responses were analyzed. The majority of students (86.6%) had GPAs greater than 3.75/5, while only 1% of the sample had a GPA lower than 2.75/5. The PSQI showed a median and interquartile range of (9, 6-11). Normal DASS-21 represented the majority as follows: depression at 67%, anxiety at 63.1%, and stress at 82.2%. In the statistical analyses, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and stress were not statistically significant with the student's GPA. CONCLUSION: Low levels of sleep quality were found among medical students in our study. While sleep quality and mental health status did not show an effect on the GPA of the medical students, lower sleep quality was significantly correlated with increased scores of depression, anxiety, and stress. Our findings mandate interventions directed at improving sleep quality among medical students.

Evaluating the psychometric properties of the Chinese Depression Anxiety Stress Scale for Youth (DASS-Y) and DASS-21.

BACKGROUND: In recognizing the need for a reliable and valid instrument to assess psychological distress among children and adolescents, the present study translated the newly developed Depression Anxiety Stress Scale for Youth (DASS-Y) into Chinese, while also comparing its psychometric properties with those of the well-established DASS-21 within a primary and middle school demographic. METHODS: Utilizing a combination of convenience sampling and purposive sampling, a cohort comprising 1,507 primary and 1,131 middle school students was recruited. Rasch analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used in the data analysis. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the DASS-Y and the DASS-21, notably within the anxiety subscale. The proportions of individuals with clinical mood disorders identified by the two scales demonstrated a significant disparity. Both scales, following an adjustment of responses, exhibited satisfactory internal consistency and convergent validity, with the acceptance of a three-factor structure. Furthermore, the DASS-Y showed superior discriminant validity relative to the DASS-21, providing more compelling evidence regarding concurrent validity. CONCLUSION: Overall, the Chinese version of the DASS-Y demonstrated superior robustness to the DASS-21 in terms of psychometric properties. The findings provide initial evidence for the psychometric properties of the DASS-Y from another culture.

The Relative Effectiveness of Bilateral and Unilateral Electrode Placement in Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background This study is focused on the comparative efficacy of bilateral and unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on depressive symptoms in patients at the Perth Clinic for the period from 2016 to 2021. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 485 patients who received ECT treatment. The expected improvements in depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) assessment tool filled out by the patients on admission and discharge from the hospital. Only the depression score of the DASS scale was utilised for this research. Results The results suggested that both electrode placements resulted in a significant improvement in depressive symptoms. The positive response rates for the bilateral and unilateral electrode placements were 78.3% and 71.6%, respectively. There was no difference between males and females in the average DASS score at discharge for bilateral and unilateral electrode placements. Conclusions This study confirmed that the results obtained at the Perth Clinic are similar to the existing international research results on the same topic. Bifrontal and unilateral ECT electrode placements are equally efficacious in improving depressive symptoms in patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD).

Efficacy of a Text-Based Mental Health Coaching App in Improving the Symptoms of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Stress, anxiety, and depression are major mental health concerns worldwide. A wide variety of digital mental health interventions have demonstrated efficacy in improving one's mental health status, and digital interventions that involve some form of human involvement have been shown to demonstrate greater efficacy than self-guided digital interventions. Studies demonstrating the efficacy of digital mental health interventions within the Asian region are scarce. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the potential efficacy of the digital mental health intervention, ThoughtFullChat, which consists of one-on-one, asynchronous, text-based coaching with certified mental health professionals and self-guided tools, in improving self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. The study also aims to examine the potential differences in efficacy among occupational subgroups and between sexes. METHODS: A randomized controlled study was conducted among housemen (trainee physicians), students, faculty members, and corporate staff at International Medical University, Malaysia. A total of 392 participants were enrolled and randomized to the intervention (n=197, 50.3%) and control (n=195, 49.7%) groups. Depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items at baseline and after the 3-month intervention period. The Satisfaction with Life Scale and Brief Resilience Scale were also included, along with a questionnaire about demographics. RESULTS: Significant decrease was observed in depression (P=.02) and anxiety (P=.002) scores in the intervention group. A subgroup (corporate staff) also demonstrated significant decrease in stress (P=.005) alongside depression (P=.006) and anxiety (P=.002). Females showed significant improvements in depression (P=.02) and anxiety (P<.001) when compared with males. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that the ThoughtFullChat app is effective in improving the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in individuals, particularly among corporate staff from the educational field. It also supports the notion that mobile mental health apps that connect users to mental health professionals in a discreet and cost-efficient manner can make important contributions to the improvement of mental health outcomes. The differential improvements among occupational subgroups and between sexes in this study indicate the need for future digital mental health app designs to consider an element of personalization focused on systemic components relating to occupation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04944277; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04944277.