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Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social... Jun 2022During the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, playing video games has been much more than just a pastime. Studies suggested that video games for many individuals... (Review)
Review
The Effects of Playing Video Games on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Loneliness, and Gaming Disorder During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: PRISMA Systematic Review.
During the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, playing video games has been much more than just a pastime. Studies suggested that video games for many individuals have helped to cope with such difficult life experience. However, other research indicates that gaming may have had harmful effects. Within this context, this systematic review aimed to describe the literature on the effects of video games during the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis on stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and gaming disorder (GD), examining the study characteristics and outcomes. A systematic search of the literature was made following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. It was preregistered in the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (INPLASY)-INPLASY202180053. The search databases were PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Medline. The search string was: [("video game*") OR ("computer game*") OR ("gaming")] AND [("COVID-19")]. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Four research explored the effects of playing video games during the COVID-19 pandemic on stress, anxiety, and depression. Four studies investigated loneliness, while 18 research investigated game disorder. Video games, especially augmented reality and online multiplayer ones, mitigated stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness among adolescents and young adults during stay-at-home restrictions. However, in the case of at-risk individuals (i.e., particularly male youths), playing video games had detrimental effects.
Topics: Adolescent; Anxiety; Behavior, Addictive; COVID-19; Depression; Humans; Loneliness; Male; Pandemics; Video Games; Young Adult
PubMed: 35639118
DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2021.0252 -
Complementary Therapies in Clinical... Aug 2023The purpose of this systematic review is to ascertain the impact of inhalation aromatherapy on stress and anxiety in clinical settings. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this systematic review is to ascertain the impact of inhalation aromatherapy on stress and anxiety in clinical settings.
METHODS
A search strategy was developed using various databases. Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) as well as single and double-blind pilot clinical studies (non-RCT) using inhalation aromatherapy with an essential oil blend or a single essential oil were examined. All studies included a control intervention and use of a validated measurement tool. The time period under review was years 2000-2021. Due to the high level of heterogeneity and element of bias, a narrative synthesis was conducted.
RESULTS
The search strategy initially retrieved 628 studies and through application of the selection criteria and the removal of duplicates, 76 studies were selected for review with a total of 6539 patients. In 42% of the RCTs, physiological measures including vital signs and/or salivary cortisol were used in addition to questionnaires. Over 70% of the studies reported a positive effect on anxiety levels in the aromatherapy intervention groups compared with the control. However, in many cases this is limited by the absence of safety data, imprecise reporting of plant species and dosage of essential oil.
CONCLUSION
Inhalation aromatherapy has the potential to reduce stress and anxiety with data emerging to further support this result across a wide modality of clinical treatments. However, there is a clear need for the development of standard protocols for research in this area, generating measurable results which will create the opportunity for more rigorous evidence-based outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Aromatherapy; Oils, Volatile; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Administration, Inhalation; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37031643
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101750 -
The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in COVID-19 patients: a meta-analysis.Annals of the New York Academy of... Feb 2021Evidence from previous coronavirus outbreaks has shown that infected patients are at risk for developing psychiatric and mental health disorders, such as depression,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Evidence from previous coronavirus outbreaks has shown that infected patients are at risk for developing psychiatric and mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. To construct a comprehensive picture of the mental health status in COVID-19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in this population. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Wanfang Data, Wangfang Med Online, CNKI, and CQVIP for relevant articles, and we included 31 studies (n = 5153) in our analyses. We found that the pooled prevalence of depression was 45% (95% CI: 37-54%, I = 96%), the pooled prevalence of anxiety was 47% (95% CI: 37-57%, I = 97%), and the pooled prevalence of sleeping disturbances was 34% (95% CI: 19-50%, I = 98%). We did not find any significant differences in the prevalence estimates between different genders; however, the depression and anxiety prevalence estimates varied based on different screening tools. More observational studies assessing the mental wellness of COVID-19 outpatients and COVID-19 patients from countries other than China are needed to further examine the psychological implications of COVID-19 infections.
Topics: Anxiety; COVID-19; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Pandemics; Prevalence; SARS-CoV-2; Sleep Wake Disorders
PubMed: 33009668
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14506 -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Mar 2022Yoga is a popular mind-body medicine frequently recommended to pregnant women. Gaps remain in our understanding of the core components of effective pregnancy yoga... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Yoga is a popular mind-body medicine frequently recommended to pregnant women. Gaps remain in our understanding of the core components of effective pregnancy yoga programmes. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the characteristics and effectiveness of pregnancy yoga interventions, incorporating the FITT (frequency, intensity, time/duration and type) principle of exercise prescription.
METHODS
Nine electronic databases were searched: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, WHOLiS, AMED, ScieLo, ASSIA and Web of Science. Randomised control trials and quasi-experimental studies examining pregnancy yoga interventions were eligible. Covidence was used to screen titles, abstracts, and full-text articles. Outcomes of interest were stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, labour duration, pain management in labour and mode of birth. The Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Assessment tool was used to assess methodological quality of studies and GRADE criteria (GRADEpro) evaluated quality of the evidence. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3.
RESULTS
Of 862 citations retrieved, 31 studies met inclusion criteria. Twenty-nine studies with 2217 pregnant women were included for meta-analysis. Pregnancy yoga interventions reduced anxiety (SMD: -0.91; 95% CI: - 1.49 to - 0.33; p = 0.002), depression (SMD: -0.47; 95% CI: - 0.9 to - 0.04, P = 0.03) and perceived stress (SMD: -1.03; 95% CI: - 1.55 to - 0.52; p < 0.001). Yoga interventions also reduced duration of labour (MD = - 117.75; 95% CI - 153.80 to - 81.71, p < 0.001) and, increased odds of normal vaginal birth (OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.46-4.56, p < 0.001) and tolerance for pain. The quality of evidence (GRADE criteria) was low to very low for all outcomes. Twelve or more yoga sessions delivered weekly/bi-weekly had a statistically significant impact on mode of birth, while 12 or more yoga sessions of long duration (> 60 min) had a statistically significant impact on perceived stress.
CONCLUSION
The evidence highlights positive effects of pregnancy yoga on anxiety, depression, perceived stress, mode of birth and duration of labour.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO, CRD42019119916. Registered on 11th January 2019.
Topics: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Female; Humans; Parturition; Pregnancy; Quality of Life; Yoga
PubMed: 35337282
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04474-9 -
JMIR MHealth and UHealth Oct 2021Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent mental health problem with serious adverse consequences for affected women and their infants. Clinical trials have found that... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent mental health problem with serious adverse consequences for affected women and their infants. Clinical trials have found that telehealth interventions for women with PPD result in increased accessibility and improved treatment effectiveness. However, no comprehensive synthesis of evidence from clinical trials by systematic review has been conducted.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth interventions in reducing depressive symptoms and anxiety in women with PPD. To enhance the homogeneity and interpretability of the findings, this systematic review focuses on PPD measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).
METHODS
PubMed, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CNKI, and Wanfang were electronically searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of telehealth interventions for women with PPD from inception to February 28, 2021. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two researchers. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software.
RESULTS
Following the search, 9 RCTs with a total of 1958 women with PPD were included. The EPDS (mean difference=-2.99, 95% CI -4.52 to -1.46; P<.001) and anxiety (standardized mean difference=-0.39, 95% CI -0.67 to -0.12; P=.005) scores were significantly lower in the telehealth group compared with the control group. Significant subgroup differences were found in depressive symptoms according to the severity of PPD, telehealth technology, specific therapy, and follow-up time (P<.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Telehealth interventions could effectively reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety in women with PPD. However, better designed and more rigorous large-scale RCTs targeting specific therapies are needed to further explore the potential of telehealth interventions for PPD.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42021258541; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=258541.
Topics: Anxiety; Depression, Postpartum; Female; Humans; Infant; Telemedicine; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34617909
DOI: 10.2196/32544 -
Ciencia & Saude Coletiva Sep 2021This review aims to understand and analyse the effects of probiotics on depression, anxiety and psychological stress. These disorders are among the leading causes of...
This review aims to understand and analyse the effects of probiotics on depression, anxiety and psychological stress. These disorders are among the leading causes of disability worldwide. Conventional pharmacotherapies usually have a poor response or adverse side effects. In this context, recent studies have demonstrated a dense bi-directional communication named gut-brain axis. Evidences are demonstrating the relationship between disturbance in the enteric microbiome and psychiatric disorders, paving the way for the emergence of alternative therapies. A systematic search for randomized double/triple blind placebo-controlled clinical trials was performed in PubMed, Scopus and Lilacs. The studies selection followed the recommendations of the main items for report systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). Nine articles met the criteria and were analysed for effects on depression, anxiety, psychological stress and biomarkers. Seven found positive results in at least one of the items. We concluded that the use of probiotics to alleviate depressive symptoms and anxiety is promising, mainly due to its potential anti-inflammatory effect, but additional and more rigorous double blind randomized clinical trials are necessary to endorse such conclusions.
Topics: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Complementary Therapies; Depression; Humans; Probiotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 34586262
DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232021269.21342020 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Oct 2023Academic pressure is a potential contributor to adolescent mental health problems, but international evidence on this association has never been synthesised. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Academic pressure is a potential contributor to adolescent mental health problems, but international evidence on this association has never been synthesised.
METHODS
We conducted the first systematic review of the association between academic pressure and adolescent depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidality, suicide attempts and suicide. We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ERIC and Web of Science (core collection) up to November 24, 2022, for studies of school-going children or adolescents, which measured academic pressure or timing within the school year as the exposure and depression, anxiety, self-harm, or suicidal ideation, attempts or suicide as outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. We used narrative synthesis to summarise the evidence. The review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021232702).
RESULTS
We included 52 studies. Most studies assessed mixed anxiety and depressive symptoms (n = 20) or depressive symptoms (n = 19). Forty-eight studies found evidence of a positive association between academic pressure or timing within the school year and at least one mental health outcome.
LIMITATIONS
Most studies were cross-sectional (n = 39), adjusted for a narrow range of confounders or had other limitations which limited the strength of causal inferences.
CONCLUSIONS
We found evidence that academic pressure is a potential candidate for public health interventions which could prevent adolescent mental health problems. Large population-based cohort studies are needed to investigate whether academic pressure is a causal risk factor that should be targeted in school- and policy-based interventions.
FUNDING
UCL Health of the Public; Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adolescent; Mental Health; Anxiety; Suicide, Attempted; Suicidal Ideation; Schools
PubMed: 37437728
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.028 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023The findings of clinical studies exploring essential oils (EOs) for anxiety remain disputed, and no studies have yet clarified the differences in the efficacy of EOs.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The findings of clinical studies exploring essential oils (EOs) for anxiety remain disputed, and no studies have yet clarified the differences in the efficacy of EOs. The purpose of the study was to directly or indirectly compare the efficacy of different types of EOs on anxiety by pooling the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
METHODS
PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched from inception to November 2022. Only full texts of RCTs that investigated the effects of EOs on anxiety were included. The trial data were extracted and the risk of bias was assessed by two reviewers independently. Pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis were performed by Stata 15.1 or R 4.1.2 software.
RESULTS
Forty-four RCTs (fifty study arms) involving 10 kinds of EOs and 3419 anxiety patients (1815 patients in EOs group and 1604 patients in control group) were included. Pairwise meta-analyses showed that EOs were effective in reducing State Anxiety Inventory scores (SAIS) [WMD = -6.63, 95% CI-8.17, -5.08] and Trait Anxiety Inventory scores (TAIS) [WMD = -4.97, 95% CI-6.73, -3.20]. Additionally, EOs could decrease systolic blood pressure (SBP) [WMD = -6.83, (95% CI -10.53, -3.12), < 0.001] and heart rate (HR) [WMD = -3.43, (95% CI -5.51, -1.36), < 0.001]. Network meta-analyses demonstrated that regarding the outcome of SAIS, was the most effective with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of-13.61 (95% CrI-24.79, -2.48). Followed by , which had a WMD of-9.62 (95% CrI-13.32, -5.93). Moderate effect sizes were observed for . ( (WMD = -6.78, 95% CrI-10.14, -3.49) and . ( (WMD = -5.41, 95% CrI-7.86, -2.98). Regarding the results of TAIS, . was the best ranked intervention with a WMD of-9.62 (95% CrI-15.62, -3.7). Moderate-to-large effect sizes were observed for . ( (WMD:-8.48; 95% CrI-16.67, -0.33) and (WMD:-5.5; 95% CrI-8.7, -2.46).
CONCLUSION
According to the comprehensive analysis, EOs are effective in reducing both state anxiety and trait anxiety, and . essential oil seems to be the most recommended type of EO for treating anxiety because of its significant effects in reducing SAIS and TAIS.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42022331319.
Topics: Humans; Oils, Volatile; Network Meta-Analysis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Anxiety Disorders; Anxiety
PubMed: 37325306
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1144404 -
Revista Da Escola de Enfermagem Da U S P 2020To identify evidence in scientific literature about the effects of auriculotherapy for treating stress, anxiety and depression in adults and older adults by analyzing...
OBJECTIVE
To identify evidence in scientific literature about the effects of auriculotherapy for treating stress, anxiety and depression in adults and older adults by analyzing the main protocols for applying the intervention.
METHOD
A systematic review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA). Detailed individual search strategies were applied in February 2019 in the BDENF, CINAHL, Cochrane, CUMED, Embase, LILACS, PEDro, PubMed, Scopus, Segunda Opinião Formativa (SOF) and Web of Science databases. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Jadad Scale.
RESULTS
A total of 24 from the 859 articles found comprised the study sample. Of these, 22 (92%) showed a positive effect of auriculotherapy for stress, anxiety or depression.
CONCLUSION
The available evidence on the effects of auriculotherapy on stress, anxiety and depression proves the effectiveness of the technique in adults and older adults. However, the studies showed methodological weaknesses. Although the identified protocols are different, there are frequent similar points including Shenmen, Kidney, Autonomic Nervous System, Heart, Brain Stem and Liver 1 and 2 which can be used in new studies.
Topics: Aged; Anxiety; Auriculotherapy; Depression; Humans; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 33111737
DOI: 10.1590/S1980-220X2019006703626 -
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Nov 2020Physical activity and exercise are among the most important, simplest, and cheapest approaches to anxiety treatment, especially for the elderly. Their positive effects... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Physical activity and exercise are among the most important, simplest, and cheapest approaches to anxiety treatment, especially for the elderly. Their positive effects on improvement of mental disorders in the elderly have attracted a considerable level of attention. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of sport on reducing anxiety in the elderly using meta-analysis.
METHODS
In this study, national and international databases of SID, MagIran, IranMedex, IranDoc, Cochrane, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched to find studies published electronically from 1999 to 2019. Heterogeneity between the collected studies was determined using the Cochran's test (Q) and I. Due to presence of heterogeneity, the random effects model was used to estimate the standardized mean difference of sport test scores obtained from the measurement of anxiety reduction among the elderly, between the intervention group before and after the test.
RESULTS
In this meta-analysis and systematic review, 19 papers finally met the inclusion criteria. The overall sample size of all collected studies for the meta-analysis was 841 s. Mean anxiety score before and after intervention were 38.7 ± 5.6 33.7 ± 3.4 respectively, denoting a decrease in anxiety score after intervention.
CONCLUSION
Results of this study indicates that Sport significantly reduces Anxiety in the Elderly. Therefore, a regular exercise program can be considered as a part of the elderly care program.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Quality of Life
PubMed: 33176811
DOI: 10.1186/s12955-020-01609-4