Trajectories of mental health outcomes following COVID-19 infection: a prospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global mental health crisis. Yet, we know little about the lasting effects of COVID-19 infection on mental health. This prospective longitudinal study aimed to investigate the trajectories of mental health changes in individuals infected with COVID-19 and to identify potential predictors that may influence these changes. METHODS: A web-survey that targeted individuals that had been infected with COVID-19 was used at three time-points: T0 (baseline), T1 (six months), and T2 (twelve months). The survey included demographics, questions related to COVID-19 status, previous psychiatric diagnosis, post-COVID impairments, fatigue, and standardized measures of depression, anxiety, insomnia. Linear mixed models were used to examine changes in depression, anxiety, and insomnia over time and identify factors that impacted trajectories of mental health outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 236 individuals completed assessments and was included in the longitudinal sample. The participants' age ranged between 19 and 81 years old (M = 48.71, SD = 10.74). The results revealed notable changes in mental health outcomes over time. The trajectory of depression showed significant improvement over time while the trends in anxiety and insomnia did not exhibit significant changes over time. Younger participants and individuals who experienced severe COVID-19 infection in the acute phase were identified as high-risk groups with worst mental ill-health. The main predictors of the changes in the mental health outcomes were fatigue and post-COVID impairments. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study suggest that mental health outcomes following COVID-19 infection exhibit a dynamic pattern over time. The study provides valuable insights into the mental health trajectory following COVID-19 infection, emphasizing the need for ongoing assessment, support, and interventions tailored to the evolving mental health needs of this population.

Conceptual overlap of negative thought processes in insomnia: A focus on catastrophizing, worry, and rumination in a student sample.

OBJECTIVES: The association and overlap between different forms of negative thought processes in insomnia is largely unknown. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine conceptual overlap between three insomnia-specific negative thought processes; catastrophizing, worry, and rumination, identify the underlying factors, and explore their associations with insomnia symptoms. METHODS: A total of 360 students completed three insomnia-related negative thought process scales (Catastrophic Thoughts about Insomnia Scale, Anxiety and Preoccupation about Sleep Questionnaire, Daytime Insomnia Symptom Response Scale) and two insomnia symptoms measures (the Insomnia Severity Index and Sleep Condition Indicator). RESULTS: The three scales and their subscales displayed acceptable reliabilities. Further, confirmatory factor analysis was supportive of the notion of catastrophizing, worry, and rumination measures as distinct. The catastrophizing and worry constructs were significantly associated with insomnia symptoms, but the rumination factor was not. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that catastrophizing, worry, and rumination might be viewed as distinct constructs. Although more research is warranted on the topic of conceptual overlap, the current results might have implications for the development of models of insomnia, clinical research, and practice.

Psychometric evaluation of the appearance anxiety inventory in adolescents with body dysmorphic disorder.

The Appearance Anxiety Inventory (AAI) is a self-report measure assessing the typical cognitions and behaviours of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Despite its use in research and clinical settings, its psychometric properties have not been evaluated in young people with BDD. We examined the factor structure, reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the AAI in 182 youths with BDD (82.9% girls; Mage = 15.56, SD = 1.37) consecutively referred to two specialist outpatient clinics in Stockholm, Sweden (n = 97) and London, England (n = 85). An exploratory factor analysis identified three factors, namely "threat monitoring", "camouflaging", and "avoidance", explaining 48.15% of the variance. The scale showed good internal consistency (McDonalds omega = 0.83) and adequate convergent validity with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder for Adolescents (BDD-YBOCS-A; rs = 0.42) and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (rs = 0.32). Sensitivity to change was adequate, with AAI total scores and individual factor scores significantly decreasing over time in the subgroup of participants receiving multimodal treatment for BDD (n = 79). Change of AAI scores over treatment showed a positive statistically significant moderate-to-good correlation (r = 0.55) with changes in BDD symptom severity, measured by the BDD-YBOCS-A. The study provides empirical support for the use of the AAI in young people with BDD in clinical settings.

Effects of Training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing on Mental Health Practitioner Behaviour: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Effective training of mental health professionals is crucial for bridging the gap between research and practice when delivering cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI) within community settings. However, previous research has provided inconclusive evidence regarding the impact of training efforts. The current study aimed to systematically search, review and synthesize the literature on CBT and MI training to assess its effect on practitioner behavioural outcomes. Following prospective registration, a literature search was conducted for studies where mental health practitioners were exposed to training in face-to-face CBT or MI, reporting on at least one quantitative practitioner behavioural outcome. A total of 116 studies were eligible for the systematic review, and 20 studies were included in four meta-analyses. The systematic review highlights the need to establish psychometrically valid outcome measures for practitioner behaviour. Results of the meta-analyses suggest that training has a greater effect on practitioner behaviour change compared to receiving no training or reading a treatment manual. Training combined with consultation/supervision was found to be more effective than training alone, and no differences were found between face-to-face and online training. Results should be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations in the primary studies, large heterogeneity, and small samples in the meta-analyses. Future directions are discussed.

Development and experiences of an internet-based acceptance and commitment training (I-ACT) intervention in ice hockey players: a qualitative feasibility study.

Internet-based psychological interventions have increased the accessibility of evidence-based treatments in clinical psychology but are still an unexplored delivery format in sport psychology research. This study describes the development and evaluates the experiences of an internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy/training (I-ACT) intervention in ice hockey players focusing on performance enhancement and a sustainable sport participation. I-ACT consisted of seven weekly modules and the feasibility of the intervention was investigated using a qualitative research design. Four national level ice hockey players took part of I-ACT and were interviewed about their experiences using a semi-structured protocol. Interview transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings suggest that the content of I-ACT was comprehensible, relevant, and that it was possible to put the psychological skills into practice. I-ACT was described as helpful to the ice hockey players either in their sport performance or in their life outside of sport. The internet-format was generally perceived as positive, flexible, and a feasible option for delivering psychological interventions in an elite sport context. Some concerns were raised regarding the timing of the intervention at the end of the season, and some players also wished for more time to complete I-ACT. It was also expressed that some of the exercises could have been better adapted for goaltenders. Further trials are needed to evaluate the effects of I-ACT on performance and mental health outcomes in various sport populations using robust quantitative research methodology. Internet-based psychological interventions are a potential future opportunity to make evidence-based practices more accessible for athletes.

Investigating the trajectory of post-COVID impairments: a longitudinal study in Sweden.

Introduction: Individuals recovering from COVID-19 often experience a range of post-recovery symptoms. However, the literature on post-COVID-19 symptoms reveals conflicting results, necessitating a heightened focus on longitudinal studies to comprehend the trajectory of impairments over time. Our study aimed to investigate changes in long-term impairments among individuals infected with COVID-19 and explore potential predictors influencing these changes. Methods: We conducted a web-survey targeting individuals that had been infected with COVID-19 at four time-points: T0 (baseline), T1 (three months), T2 (six months), and T3 (twelve months). The survey included contextual factors, factors related to body functions and structures, and post-COVID impairments. The longitudinal sample included 213 individuals (with a mean age of 48.92 years). Linear mixed models were employed to analyze changes in post-COVID impairments over time and identify impacting factors. Results: Findings revealed a general decline in post-COVID impairments over time, with each symptom exhibiting a dynamic pattern of fluctuations. Factors such as initial infection severity, education level, and work status were significantly associated with the levels of impairments. Discussion: The study emphasizes that post-COVID impairments are not static but exhibit variations over time. Personalized care, especially for vulnerable populations, is crucial. The results underscore the need for long-term monitoring and multidisciplinary treatment approaches. Targeted support and interventions are highlighted for individuals with severe initial infections and those in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

Harbingers of Hope: Scientists and the Pursuit of World Peace.

The ongoing wars in many regions-such as the conflict between Israel and Hamas-as well as the effects of war on communities, social services, and mental health are covered in this special editorial. This article emphasizes the need for international efforts to promote peace, offer humanitarian aid, and address the mental health challenges faced by individuals and communities affected by war and violence.