Combating the ‘Microstress’ That Causes Burnout
Small moments of anxiety can pass almost beneath our notice, but they add up and take a toll. There are ways to manage them.
Combating the ‘Microstress’ That Causes Burnout Read More »
Anxiety News
The effects of the pandemic on mental health in persons with and without a psychiatric history
Background
Prospective studies are needed to assess the influence of pre-pandemic risk factors on mental health outcomes following the COVID-19 pandemic. From direct interviews prior to (T1), and then in the same individuals after the pandemic onset (T2), we assessed the influence of personal psychiatric history on changes in symptoms and wellbeing.
Methods
Two hundred and four (19–69 years/117 female) individuals from a multigenerational family study were followed clinically up to T1. Psychiatric symptom changes (T1-to-T2), their association with lifetime psychiatric history (no, only-past, and recent psychiatric history), and pandemic-specific worries were investigated.
Results
At T2 relative to T1, participants with recent psychopathology (in the last 2 years) had significantly fewer depressive (mean, M = 41.7 v. 47.6) and traumatic symptoms (M = 6.6 v. 8.1, p < 0.001), while those with no and only-past psychiatric history had decreased wellbeing (M = 22.6 v. 25.0, p < 0.01). Three pandemic-related worry factors were identified: Illness/death, Financial, and Social isolation. Individuals with recent psychiatric history had greater Illness/death and Financial worries than the no/only-past groups, but these worries were unrelated to depression at T2. Among individuals with no/only-past history, Illness/death worries predicted increased T2 depression [B = 0.6(0.3), p < 0.05].
Conclusions
As recent psychiatric history was not associated with increased depression or anxiety during the pandemic, new groups of previously unaffected persons might contribute to the increased pandemic-related depression and anxiety rates reported. These individuals likely represent incident cases that are first detected in primary care and other non-specialty clinical settings. Such settings may be useful for monitoring future illness among newly at-risk individuals.
Brief self-affirmation intervention for adults with psoriasis for reducing anxiety and depression and boosting well-being: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial
Background
There are relatively few studies to address mental health implications of self-affirming, especially across groups experiencing a chronic health condition. In this study, short- and longer-term effects of a brief self-affirmation intervention framed in terms of implementation intentions (if-then plans with self-affirming cognitions; S-AII) were evaluated against an active control group (non-affirming implementation intentions; N-AII), matched to the target condition, and mere goal intention condition (a non-active control) in adults with psoriasis. The three pre-registered primary outcomes captured depression, anxiety, and well-being.
Methods
Adults with psoriasis (N = 175; Mage = 36.53, s.d. = 11.52) were randomized into S-AII, N-AII, or control. Participants’ mental health outcomes were assessed prior to randomization (at baseline), at week 2 (post-intervention), and at a 1-month follow-up.
Results
Linear mixed models were used and results were reported on the intention-to-treat principle. Analyses revealed that S-AII exerted significantly more improvement in the course of well-being (ds > 0.25), depressive symptoms (ds > −0.40), and anxiety (ds > −0.45) than the N-AII and control group at 2-week post-intervention. Though the differences between groups faded at 1-month follow-up, the within-group changes over time for S-AII in all mental health outcomes remained significant.
Conclusions
Brief and low-intensity S-AII intervention exerted in the short-term a considerable impact on mental health outcomes. The S-AII shows promising results as a relevant public mental health strategy for enhancing well-being and reducing psychological distress. Future studies could consider whether these effects can be further enhanced with booster interventions.
Online group music therapy: proactive management of undergraduate students’ stress and anxiety
In alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal to provide comprehensive and integrated mental health services in community-based settings, this randomized control trial explored the efficacy of online group music therapy as a proactive intervention for reducing stress and anxiety in university students who do not necessarily have a diagnosis. …
Lessons in Stress Reduction
A new free online course has been launched to try and reduce the stress of the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Members of the Irish Society of Alexander Technique Teachers (ISATT) are to offer hundreds of hours of free training online to help people deal with the tidal wave of stress caused by Covid. ISATT […]
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Study: ADHD Increases Risk for Postpartum Depression, Anxiety
Women with ADHD are six times more likely than neurotypical mothers to experience postpartum anxiety, and five times more likely to experience postpartum depression, according to a new Swedish study on PPD.
Study: ADHD Increases Risk for Postpartum Depression, Anxiety Read More »
Study: High-Intensity Exercise Greatly Improves Mental Health in Adults
Vigorous exercise may be more effective than psychotherapy or pharmacological therapy at improving symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults across populations, according to this wide-scale meta-analysis.
Study: High-Intensity Exercise Greatly Improves Mental Health in Adults Read More »
I’m 43, I’ve Been in Long-Term Relationships and I’m a Virgin By Choice
In her new book “Halal Sex,” Sheima Benembarek shares personal stories of Muslim immigrants and their relationships to sex and sexuality. In this chapter, Taslim, a virgin in her forties, shares her experience with inter-faith relationships.
The post I’m 43, I’ve Been in Long-Term Relationships and I’m a Virgin By Choice appeared first on Best Health.
I’m 43, I’ve Been in Long-Term Relationships and I’m a Virgin By Choice Read More »
Studien zu Achtsamkeit: Kann Meditation heilen?
Meditation ist en vogue. Sie soll die Konzentration stärken, resilient machen und bei Schlafstörungen, Ängsten und sogar Krebs helfen. Wie ist die wissenschaftliche Studienlage?
Studien zu Achtsamkeit: Kann Meditation heilen? Read More »
