Psychiatry research
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Psychiatry research · Feb 2019
Social support moderates association between posttraumatic growth and trauma-related psychopathologies among victims of the Sewol Ferry Disaster.
Disasters have numerous harmful effects on the mental health status of trauma-exposed people. We investigated the differences in the association between trauma-related psychopathologies and posttraumatic growth according to the perceived social support level among victims of the Sewol Ferry disaster on April 16, 2014, in South Korea. Data from 241 bereaved family members, survivors, and family members of survivors were used. ⋯ The social support level had correlations with posttraumatic growth and the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic embitterment disorder only in female respondents. Furthermore, there was a mediation pathway from social support level to posttraumatic growth through depressive symptoms. This study explored the complex relationship between social support, posttraumatic growth, trauma-related psychopathologies, and gender among trauma-exposed individuals in the aftermath of the Sewol Ferry disaster.
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Psychiatry research · Jan 2019
Validation of an interview-only version of the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DY-BOCS) in treatment-seeking youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be sub-typed along different symptom dimensions. These dimensions may help explain responsiveness to current treatments. The Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DY-BOCS) is a validated instrument involving a self-report screening tool followed by a structured interview in which the presence/absence and severity of OCD symptom dimensions are assessed and rated. ⋯ Clinically-referred children and adolescents (N = 119) with OCD were administered the DY-BOCS along with other measures of OCD, anxiety, depression, and overall functioning and a subset (N = 100) were reassessed on average 14 months after initial assessment. This briefer, interview-only version of the DY-BOCS demonstrated high levels of internal consistency and correlated in the moderate to strong range with alternative measures of OCD severity and OCD symptom dimensions. Change scores on the DY-BOCS from baseline to follow-up were significantly correlated with change scores on the alternative measures of OCD and clinician-rated improvement, suggesting that this brief version of the DY-BOCS is valid and sensitive to the effects of treatment for OCD delivered in routine clinical care.
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Psychiatry research · Jan 2019
Post-migration treatment targets associated with reductions in depression and PTSD among survivors of torture seeking asylum in the USA.
Mental health research among asylum seekers and refugees has largely focused on effects of pre-migration trauma on post-migration wellbeing. While emerging literature highlights the importance of post-migration factors, we do not yet understand how addressing these factors may influence change in psychological distress. This study uses archival clinical data to identify post-migration correlates of reductions in distress among torture survivors, after accounting for pre-migration trauma. ⋯ Accessing more social services and not reporting chronic pain were associated with reduced PTSD. Stable housing and employment significantly moderated the relationship between lower chronic pain and reduced PTSD. Although effect sizes were small, results emphasize the importance of post-migration factors on wellbeing among torture survivors and are a first step towards identifying key treatment targets.
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Psychiatry research · Dec 2018
Randomized Controlled TrialAn evaluation of a low intensity mHealth enhanced mindfulness intervention for Chinese university students: A randomized controlled trial.
Mental disorders and sleep dysfunction are common among Chinese university students. This study aimed to evaluate a low cost scalable mindfulness intervention program to improve psychological health and sleep quality among Chinese university students. A randomized controlled trial with 101 university students (mean age 22.30 ± 2.63, 69.31% female) was conducted. ⋯ After the intervention at week 4, compared to controls, completers in group 2, 3 and 4 (n = 42) showed significantly reduced depression (Cohen's d = 0.83), anxiety (Cohen's d = 0.84), and stress (Cohen's d = 0.75), and improved subjective sleep quality (Cohen's d = 2.00), sleep latency (Cohen's d = 0.55), and habitual sleep efficiency (Cohen's d = 0.86). The effect was maintained at week 7. Low-intensity mindfulness interventions might be a useful intervention program in university settings.
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Psychiatry research · Nov 2018
Impulse control difficulties while distressed: A facet of emotion dysregulation links to Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among psychiatric inpatients at military treatment facilities.
Links between emotion dysregulation, suicide ideation, and suicidal versus non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are poorly understood within military samples. United States service members and beneficiaries (N = 186), psychiatrically hospitalized following a suicidal crisis, completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), and reported lifetime suicide ideation, attempts, and NSSI. We expected that emotion dysregulation would positively associate with worst lifetime suicide ideation, multiple suicide attempt status, and lifetime NSSI. ⋯ Notably, difficulties with impulse control (feeling out of control while distressed) was positively associated with NSSI history. Theoretical models that clearly describe the role of emotion dysregulation in suicidal thoughts, its progression to suicidal actions, and NSSI are needed to advance clinical care for this highly vulnerable group. Longitudinal and micro-longitudinal study designs require further investigation.