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World Journal of Clinical Cases Sep 2021The uncertainties about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the change in routine, lifestyles and the reduction of physical contact can cause stress, anxiety, emotional...
BACKGROUND
The uncertainties about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the change in routine, lifestyles and the reduction of physical contact can cause stress, anxiety, emotional overload, poor sleep and even physical health complications.
AIM
To evaluate the scientific publications available on the relationship between COVID-19 and anxiety experienced in the general population, during the period of social isolation, adopted by governmental organizations and public health policymakers as a measure to contain the spread of cases.
METHODS
A literature search was performed systematically exploring the PubMed and Medline databases using the following terms classified as MeSH descriptors: ("anxiety" AND "pandemic" AND "COVID-19"). For the search, in the - BVS, Science.gov, Web of Science and National Library platforms, the following keywords were used: ("anxiety" AND "coronavirus" AND "social isolation"). Thirty-seven peer-reviewed articles were found. PRISMA and the Downs & Black checklist were used for qualitative evaluation.
RESULTS
After applying the inclusion criteria, seven ( = 7) original scientific articles were selected. The collated evidence demonstrated increased levels of symptoms of anxiety and depression during the period of social isolation. The population between 21 to 40 years was most affected. The risk of severe depression was twice as high at the epicenter of the pandemic. Sleep quality was significantly impaired. Questions about politics, religion, and consumption of products from China were found to generate fear and anticipate probable changes in the pattern of post-pandemic consumption. Social isolation exacerbated feelings of extreme hopelessness, sadness, loneliness and suicidal ideation.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that there is a potential relationship between social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and symptoms of anxiety. It is important to note that the direct and indirect costs of not identifying the detrimental effects of this phenomenon and neglecting strategies for intervention could lead to a significant psychological burden on society in several aspects after social isolation.
PubMed: 34616809
DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i25.7433 -
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 2014Alcohol abuse and dependence can cause a wide variety of cognitive, psychomotor, and visual-spatial deficits. It is questionable whether this condition is associated... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Alcohol abuse and dependence can cause a wide variety of cognitive, psychomotor, and visual-spatial deficits. It is questionable whether this condition is associated with impairments in the recognition of affective and/or emotional information. Such impairments may promote deficits in social cognition and, consequently, in the adaptation and interaction of alcohol abusers with their social environment. The aim of this systematic review was to systematize the literature on alcoholics' recognition of basic facial expressions in terms of the following outcome variables: accuracy, emotional intensity, and latency time.
METHODS
A systematic literature search in the PsycINFO, PubMed, and SciELO electronic databases, with no restrictions regarding publication year, was employed as the study methodology.
RESULTS
The findings of some studies indicate that alcoholics have greater impairment in facial expression recognition tasks, while others could not differentiate the clinical group from controls. However, there was a trend toward greater deficits in alcoholics. Alcoholics displayed less accuracy in recognition of sadness and disgust and required greater emotional intensity to judge facial expressions corresponding to fear and anger.
CONCLUSION
The current study was only able to identify trends in the chosen outcome variables. Future studies that aim to provide more precise evidence for the potential influence of alcohol on social cognition are needed.
PubMed: 25228806
DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S65376 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2023The use of open-label placebos (OLPs) has shown to be effective in clinical trials. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether OLPs are... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The use of open-label placebos (OLPs) has shown to be effective in clinical trials. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether OLPs are effective in experimental studies with non-clinical populations. We searched five databases on April 15, 2021. We conducted separate analyses for self-reported and objective outcomes and examined whether the level of suggestiveness of the instructions influenced the efficacy of OLPs. Of the 3573 identified records, 20 studies comprising 1201 participants were included, of which 17 studies were eligible for meta-analysis. The studies investigated the effect of OLPs on well-being, pain, stress, arousal, wound healing, sadness, itchiness, test anxiety, and physiological recovery. We found a significant effect of OLPs for self-reported outcomes (k = 13; standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.43; 95% CI = 0.28, 0.58; I = 7.2%), but not for objective outcomes (k = 8; SMD = - 0.02; 95% CI = - 0.25, 0.21; I = 43.6%). The level of suggestiveness of the instructions influenced the efficacy of OLPs for objective outcomes (p = 0.02), but not for self-reported outcomes. The risk of bias was moderate for most studies, and the overall quality of the evidence was rated low to very low. In conclusion, OLPs appear to be effective when examined in experimental studies. However, further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying OLPs.
Topics: Humans; Arousal; Databases, Factual; Pain; Sadness; Self Report
PubMed: 36871028
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30362-z -
Journal of the National Cancer Institute Jul 2014The National Cancer Institute's Symptom Management and Health-Related Quality of Life Steering Committee held a clinical trials planning meeting (September 2011) to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The National Cancer Institute's Symptom Management and Health-Related Quality of Life Steering Committee held a clinical trials planning meeting (September 2011) to identify a core symptom set to be assessed across oncology trials for the purposes of better understanding treatment efficacy and toxicity and to facilitate cross-study comparisons. We report the results of an evidence-synthesis and consensus-building effort that culminated in recommendations for core symptoms to be measured in adult cancer clinical trials that include a patient-reported outcome (PRO).
METHODS
We used a data-driven, consensus-building process. A panel of experts, including patient representatives, conducted a systematic review of the literature (2001-2011) and analyzed six large datasets. Results were reviewed at a multistakeholder meeting, and a final set was derived emphasizing symptom prevalence across diverse cancer populations, impact on health outcomes and quality of life, and attribution to either disease or anticancer treatment.
RESULTS
We recommend that a core set of 12 symptoms--specifically fatigue, insomnia, pain, anorexia (appetite loss), dyspnea, cognitive problems, anxiety (includes worry), nausea, depression (includes sadness), sensory neuropathy, constipation, and diarrhea--be considered for inclusion in clinical trials where a PRO is measured. Inclusion of symptoms and other patient-reported endpoints should be well justified, hypothesis driven, and meaningful to patients.
CONCLUSIONS
This core set will promote consistent assessment of common and clinically relevant disease- and treatment-related symptoms across cancer trials. As such, it provides a foundation to support data harmonization and continued efforts to enhance measurement of patient-centered outcomes in cancer clinical trials and observational studies.
Topics: Adult; Anorexia; Anxiety; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cognitive Dysfunction; Constipation; Depression; Diarrhea; Dyspnea; Fatigue; Female; Health Status; Humans; National Cancer Institute (U.S.); Neoplasms; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Pain; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Self Report; Severity of Illness Index; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; United States
PubMed: 25006191
DOI: 10.1093/jnci/dju129 -
Jornal de Pediatria 2024In this systematic review (SR), the authors aimed to identify the possible impact of the social restriction imposed by the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic on... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
In this systematic review (SR), the authors aimed to identify the possible impact of the social restriction imposed by the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic on children/adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
DATA SOURCES
This SR was registered on PROSPERO CRD42021255569. Eligible articles were selected from PubMed, Embase, and LILACS, according to the following characteristics: ADHD patients < 18 years old, exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the outcomes, medications, relationships, sleep, media use, remote learning, and comorbidities such as depression/sadness, inattention, anxiety, and irritability/aggressiveness. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort, cross-sectional and case-control studies was used to assess methodological quality and the risk of bias.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Of the 222 articles identified, 27 were included, with information on 7,235 patients. Most studies (n = 22) were cross-sectional and received a mean NOS 4.63/10 followed by longitudinal (n = 4) with 3.75/8 points and case-control (n = 1), with 3/9 points. The pandemic affected patients' access to treatment, behavior, and sleep. Difficulties in remote learning and increased use of social media were described, as well as significant and positive changes in relationships with family and peers.
CONCLUSION
Although the studies were heterogeneous, they indicated that the pandemic-related issues experienced by patients with ADHD were mostly manifested affecting their behavior and sleep patterns.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adolescent; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; COVID-19; Pandemics; Case-Control Studies
PubMed: 37640234
DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2023.06.003 -
Anales Del Sistema Sanitario de Navarra 2015The process of nursing home placement can be a stressful event for both the dependent elderly person and the family. During admission, especially the first few months,... (Review)
Review
The process of nursing home placement can be a stressful event for both the dependent elderly person and the family. During admission, especially the first few months, the family may suffer feelings of loss, sadness, failure and guilt. In this context, support and guidance from health professionals are essential to address the needs of residents and families through effective interventions. The aim of this systematic review is to identify the most effective interventions to help families during the process of institutionalization of a relative in a nursing home. Two types of family interventions were identified: those that focused on family-staff relationship and those that focused on family support groups, the latter being the most effective. On the other hand, most interventions have an individualistic approach, focusing on the primary caregiver. Finally, there is a shortage of quality studies that present the results of family interventions in the geriatric field and also a lack of such studies in the Spanish context.
Topics: Aged; Caregivers; Homes for the Aged; Humans; Nursing Homes
PubMed: 25963462
DOI: 10.23938/ASSN.0057 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a medical condition involving persistent sadness and loss of interest; however, conventional treatments with antidepressants and... (Review)
Review
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a medical condition involving persistent sadness and loss of interest; however, conventional treatments with antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy have limitations. Based on the pathogenesis of MDD, treatments using herbal medicines (HM) have been identified in animal studies. We conducted a systematic review of clinical studies to identify neurobiological outcomes and evaluate the effectiveness of HM in treating MDD. A meta-analysis was performed by searching nine databases from their inception until 12 September 2022, including 31 randomized controlled trials with 3133 participants, to examine the effects of HM on MDD using neurobiological biomarkers and a depression questionnaire scale. Quality assessment was performed using a risk of bias tool. Compared to antidepressants alone, HM combined with an antidepressant significantly increased concentrations of serotonin (SMD = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.24-2.68, < 0.00001, I = 97%), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (SMD = 1.38, 95% CI: 0.92-1.83, < 0.00001, I = 91%), and nerve growth factors (SMD = 2.38, 95% CI: 0.67-4.10, = 0.006, I = 96%), and decreased cortisol concentrations (SMD = -3.78, 95% CI: -4.71 to -2.86, < 0.00001, I = 87%). Although HM or HM with an antidepressant benefits MDD treatment through improving neuroendocrine factors, these findings should be interpreted with caution because of the low methodological quality and clinical heterogeneity of the included studies.
PubMed: 37631092
DOI: 10.3390/ph16081176 -
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2022The neural activity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients in the resting state without any intervention has not been systematically studied. The purpose of this... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The neural activity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients in the resting state without any intervention has not been systematically studied. The purpose of this study was to compare the resting-state brain functions of IBS patients with healthy controls (HCs).
METHODS
The published neuroimage studies were obtained from electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core, CNKI Database, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and CBMdisc. Search dates were from inception to March 14th, 2022. The studies were identified by the preidentified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two independent reviewers compiled the studies and evaluated them for quality and bias.
RESULTS
Altogether 22 fMRI studies were included in this review. The risk of bias of the included studies was generally low. The findings indicated that in IBS patients, increased or decreased brain areas were mostly associated with visceral sensations, emotional processing, and pain processing. According to brain network research, IBS may exhibit anomalies in the DMN, CEN, and emotional arousal networks. The fluctuations in emotion (anxiety, sadness) and symptoms in IBS patients were associated with alterations in the relevant brain regions.
CONCLUSION
This study draws a preliminary conclusion that there are insufficient data to accurately distinguish the different neurological features of IBS in the resting state. Additional high-quality research undertaken by diverse geographic regions and teams is required to reach reliable results regarding resting-state changed brain regions in IBS.
PubMed: 35572000
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.851586 -
The impact on mental health practitioners of the death of a patient by suicide: A systematic review.Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy Mar 2021There is a growing body of research investigating the impact on mental health professionals of losing a patient through suicide. However, the nature and extent of the... (Review)
Review
There is a growing body of research investigating the impact on mental health professionals of losing a patient through suicide. However, the nature and extent of the impact is unclear. This systematic review synthesizes both quantitative and qualitative studies in the area. The aim was to review the literature on the impact of losing a patient through suicide with respect to both personal and professional practice responses as well as the support received. A search of the major psychological and medical databases was conducted, using keywords including suicide, patient, practitioner, and impact, which yielded 3,942 records. Fifty-four studies were included in the final narrative synthesis. Most common personal reactions in qualitative studies included guilt, shock, sadness, anger, and blame. Impact on professional practice included self-doubt and being more cautious and defensive in the management of suicide risk. As quantitative study methodologies were heterogeneous, it was difficult to make direct comparisons across studies. However, 13 studies (total n = 717 practitioners) utilized the Impact of Event Scale, finding that between 12% and 53% of practitioners recorded clinically significant scores. The need for training that is focused on the impact of suicides, and the value placed upon informal support was often cited. The experience of losing a patient through suicide can have a significant impact on mental health professionals, both in terms of their personal reactions and subsequent changes to professional practice. The negative impact, however, may be moderated by cultural and organisational factors and by the nature of support available.
Topics: Anger; Female; Guilt; Health Personnel; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Qualitative Research; Sadness; Suicide
PubMed: 32914489
DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2515 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2020Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a biological and mood disorder with a seasonal pattern. Dietary intervention and nutritional status have been reported to affect...
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a biological and mood disorder with a seasonal pattern. Dietary intervention and nutritional status have been reported to affect SAD severity. The objective of this study was to systematically review the evidence of associations between SAD and diet, eating behavior, and nutrition intervention. We performed a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception up to July 1, 2019. Studies that examined diet and eating behaviors in SAD patients and tests of nutrition interventions for SAD were included. Two independent investigators extracted data based on study designs, participants, outcomes, exposures, and association measures. Eleven studies were included: six studies examined distinctive dietary patterns and eating behaviors in SAD patients and five studies explored the efficacy of nutrition interventions for SAD. Vegetarianism and alcoholism were associated with higher SAD prevalence, but normal alcohol intake was not correlated with SAD severity. Compared with non-clinical subjects, SAD patients tended to consume significantly larger dinners and more evening snacks during weekdays and weekends and exhibit a higher frequency of binge eating, external eating, and emotional eating. Additionally, compared to healthy controls, SAD patients presented more cravings for starch-rich food and food with high fiber. However, neither the ingestion of carbohydrate-loaded meals nor Vitamin D/B12 supplementation showed benefit for SAD. Studies suggest that SAD patients may exhibit distinctive diet preferences and eating behaviors, but no current nutrition intervention has demonstrated efficacy for ameliorating SAD symptoms. Further evidence is needed from randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and longer durations.
PubMed: 32903693
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01451