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The Effects of Trait Extraversion on University Student Mental Health and Well-being During Lockdown: A Systematic Review
- Oliver James, Athanasios Hassoulas, Katja Umla-Runge
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 9 / Issue S1 / July 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 July 2023, p. S55
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Aims
Personality traits such as extraversion and neuroticism are associated with mental health and well-being with trait extraversion positively associated with resilience, and negatively associated with a plethora of mental disorders including depression. Resilience was likely a useful trait during the COVID-19 pandemic which studies have shown negatively impacted the mental health of several different population groups, particularly university students. Mental health may also have been impacted differentially based on trait extraversion, with some evidence finding the mental health of extraverts was negatively impacted by lockdown. This review aimed to investigate whether trait extraversion was protective to university student mental health and well-being, operationalised by different symptom domains including stress and anxiety, during lockdown. We hypothesised that due to an extravert's proclivity to seek out and enjoy social interaction and the restriction of these very activities during lockdown, trait extraversion would no longer have a protective effect on mental health and well-being.
MethodsSix databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, PSYCHINFO, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Cardiff University Full Text Journals) were consulted, and forty-five studies identified. Briefly, the eligibility criteria were studies of university students that had trait extraversion measured using either the Big Five or Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire in addition to a measure of mental health or well-being. Furthermore, at least 50% of the study must have been conducted under lockdown conditions with cross-sectional and longitudinal studies eligible for inclusion. After data screening, three longitudinal and seven cross-sectional studies were identified as eligible for inclusion. Following data extraction, a qualitative narrative synthesis was applied to the extracted data.
ResultsSignificant results were found for positive affect, negative affect, life satisfaction, quality of life enjoyment and satisfaction, anxiety and depression which suggested extraversion was protective. Non-significant results were also found for anxiety, depression, mental health, global quality of life, perceived stress, COVID-19 student stress and coronavirus anxiety.
ConclusionThe hypothesis that extraversion would be protective for mental health and well-being was accepted unanimously for life satisfaction and tentatively for anxiety. Furthermore, the hypothesis was rejected for depression and stress whose relationship with trait extraversion differed from pre-pandemic findings. The review recommended that extraverted university students should be mindful of the increased risk of depression and stress during lockdown. Additionally, further research should be carried out on extraversion's relationship with stress, an important factor in mental health, and also look at interactions of trait extraversion with other personality traits such as neuroticism.
The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Anxiety Disorders in Adults: A Systematic Narrative Review
- Lisa Harrison, Katja Umla-Runge, Athanasios Hassoulas
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, p. S53
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In recent years there has been accelerated clinical interest in Mindfulness based interventions (MBI's) leading to an upswell in research due the impact of its wide clinical application. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) have recently been investigated for the beneficial treatment of anxiety-based disorders in adults. The aim of the current review was to appraise and synthesise findings of studies published within the last decade, in determining the efficacy of MBCT and ACT in treating anxiety disorders in adults, given gaps identified in the existing literature.
MethodsScoping searches were conducted using MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Emcare, and Cochrane databases. The Synthesis Without Meta-analysis protocol (SWiM) was adopted for this review, in evaluating the efficacy of MBCT and ACT for anxiety disorders in adults. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Standards.
ResultsThe results of this review suggest that MBCT and ACT are effective therapeutic modalities in improving anxiety in adult populations. The results are, however, tentative. Whilst both MBI's show promise in the treatment of anxiety disorders, with the paucity of existing systematic reviews and methodological flaws within overall primary study design, the results should be interpreted with caution.
ConclusionThe overall therapeutic effectiveness of MBI's has been assessed and the general data support its efficacy. However, a judicious approach is required as results continue to remain inconclusive grounded in the totality of the evidence.
The current review revealed the ongoing methodological concerns encountered in determining the comparative effectiveness of MBCT and ACT for anxiety disorders in adults. Due to the current limited number of comparative studies of mindfulness based with mindfulness informed interventions, it could be suggested that a lack of systematic research is slowly influencing a collective understanding of MBI's being a homogenous group of treatments. The lack of delineation can have an impact on research, clinical practice and policy making. Further high quality research is required to continue to bridge the science practice gap. Without depth of understandings associated with the mechanisms of change and the impact that contextual aspects have on the outcome effectiveness, there are significant implications for practice and patient care. It is of importance that the adaptation and subsequent developments in clinical practice do not outpace the research base to fully understand the mechanisms that make each MBI effective, for which population and diagnoses.
Frequency of Diagnostic Classification Systems’ Usage by Mental Health Professionals in Day-to-Day Clinical Practice
- Eleni Vrigkou, Robert Stamatakis, Katja Umla-Runge
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, pp. S77-S78
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Diagnostic classification systems (DCSs) are medical models constructed by experts with the purpose of facilitating diagnostic processes. Specifically in psychiatry, DCSs serve as mental health professionals’ major diagnostic tool. Several studies, however, suggest that mental health professionals may not systematically apply the DCSs in day-to-day practice. The primary aim of this secondary research was to assess the actual frequency of DCSs’ application in psychiatric practice. All DCSs were considered. The secondary aims were to investigate the mode of DCSs’ application (e.g., assign diagnosis, inform treatment, administrative/billing or teaching purposes), and to assess if DCSs’ usage patterns vary depending on the clinicians’ specific occupation (e.g., psychiatrists, psychologists) and country of employment.
MethodsThe bibliographic databases of MEDLINE Via Ovid, PsycInfo, Web of Science and Global Health were searched from 1/2000–12/2020. All primary studies assessing DCSs’ frequency of application by mental health professionals were eligible for inclusion. The search yielded nine eligible articles. The total number of participants from all included studies was 10,388. The study samples were diverse, including practitioners from a wide variety of geographical locations, languages, and income-level countries.
ResultsThe results of the study showed that 69% (95%CI = 58–80%) of the responders use DCSs “often, almost always or always” in day-to-day practice. Regarding the mode of DCSs’ application, responders stated that they use DCSs most frequently for administrative/billing purposes and assigning a diagnosis. The study's results also showed that 68% (95%CI = 45–90%) of psychiatrists and 74% (95%CI = 43–100%) of psychologists use the DCSs “often, almost always or always”. Subgroup analysis based on responders’ country of employment suggest that the frequency of “often, almost always or always” DCSs’ usage (according to World Health Organization regions) were: for the Region of the Americas 75.3%, for the African Region 73.5%, for the Western Pacific Region 71.6%, for the European Region 69.4%, for the South-East Asia Region 66.8%, and for the Eastern Mediterranean Region 57.1%.
ConclusionThe study's outcomes indicate that DCSs are integrated into the daily practices of mental health professionals worldwide. Further research is needed, however, in order to assess in more depth DCSs’ application practices (e.g., comparative usage of different DCSs, types of mental disorders, patients and settings where DCSs are more frequently applied). Such findings could be valuable, since they can be used to help appraise the quality of DCSs’ actual use, the impact of DCSs on clinical care and public health, and also to aid design more effective mechanisms for DCSs’ further implementation.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on symptom subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a cross-sectional study
- Athanasios Hassoulas, Katja Umla-Runge, Olivia Adams, Madeline Scurlock-Green, Abeer Zahid, Antonia Hassoulas, Eliana Panayiotou
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 7 / Issue S1 / June 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 18 June 2021, pp. S253-S254
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Since the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a global pandemic, public health messages have emphasised the importance of frequent handwashing in limiting the transmission of the virus. Whilst crucial in controlling transmission, such messaging may have an adverse effect on individuals with OCD. The primary aim of this study was to investigate any significant changes to handwashing behaviour, as well as other related hygiene behaviours, across all symptom dimensions of OCD. The frequency of engaging with pandemic-related media coverage was also considered across all symptom subtypes.
MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted, with a total of 332 participants recruited. Participants who scored above the optimal cut-off score on the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory Revised edition (OCI-R) were included in the analysis (n = 254). Scores on the six subscales of the OCI-R were correlated with responses to a COVID-19 Impact measure.
ResultFactor analysis of the COVID-19 Impact measure revealed that items loaded on two components of the measure (handwashing and distress-avoidance). A significant correlation was revealed between the handwashing component and the OCI-R washing subscale (rs = 0.523, p = 0.0001), as well as between distress-avoidance and the OCI-R washing and ordering subscales (s = −0.227, p = 0.0001; rs = −0.159, p = 0.006). Content analysis revealed disruption to treatment delivery and worsening symptom severity in participants with contamination-related OCD.
ConclusionThe pandemic has had a significant impact on individuals with contamination-related OCD symptoms, in relation to symptom severity and treatment disruption. Consideration should be given to targeted support tailored to patients with this subtype of OCD.