Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine最新文献

Background: Childhood trauma encompassing abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction is known to have enduring consequences on mental health, increasing susceptibility to depression, anxiety, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) across the lifespan. Despite the rising focus on mental health in higher education, research on the prevalence and impact of childhood trauma within Indian undergraduate populations remains limited. This study examines the prevalence of childhood trauma and its association with mental health outcomes in undergraduates, framed within a lifespan developmental perspective.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 410 undergraduate students (74.6% female; mean age = 20.57 years). Participants completed validated instruments: The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7). Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to assess the relationships between childhood trauma subtypes and mental health outcomes.

Results: Emotional abuse (r = 0.507, p < .01) and physical abuse (r = 0.517, p < .05) demonstrated the strongest associations with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. Emotional neglect significantly predicted depressive symptoms (β = 0.231, p = .002). Female students reported substantially higher PTSD scores compared to males (p < .05), reflecting gendered differences in trauma responses. Although minimization/denial of trauma showed negative correlations with mental health symptoms, these associations were not statistically significant, suggesting a possible role of avoidance-based coping.

Conclusions: This study reveals a robust relationship between childhood trauma and mental health challenges among undergraduates, with emotional abuse, physical abuse, and emotional neglect emerging as key predictors of psychological distress. The findings highlight the urgent need for trauma-informed, gender-sensitive mental health interventions within academic institutions. Early screening and culturally tailored support services could play a pivotal role in mitigating the long-term impacts of adverse childhood experiences during the critical life phase of emerging adulthood.

Background: Dyslexia, a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in word recognition and decoding, remains underexplored in non-Western orthographies such as Persian. To estimate the prevalence of dyslexia and examine the relationship between decoding and reading comprehension among Persian-speaking elementary students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,400 students (Grades 2-5) using a multistage stratified-cluster sampling design. Dyslexia was identified using the nonword reading subtest of a standardized reading and dyslexia test, with intellectual functioning assessed via the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). Survey-weighted logistic and linear regression models were used to analyze associations and interactions, with a Bonferroni correction (p < .0083) applied for multiple comparisons. Confidence intervals (CI) and odds ratios (OR) are reported.

Results: The weighted prevalence of dyslexia was 10.40% (95% CI: 9.00-12.05), with higher rates in boys (14.50%, 95% CI: 12.42-16.92, OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.90-3.71, p < .001) than girls (6.01%, 95% CI: 4.61-7.80) and in private versus public schools (6.40% vs. 12.08%, OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.33-0.75, p = .002). Word reading and comprehension were significant protective factors (p < .001), while phonological awareness was non-significant in adjusted models. Decoding strongly predicted comprehension in typical readers, but this association was significantly weaker in dyslexic students (p = .006).

Conclusions: Dyslexia affects approximately one in 10 Persian-speaking students, with variations influenced by gender, school type, and reading skills. Comprehensive screening and interventions targeting decoding and comprehension are critical, particularly in public schools.

Background: Common mental disorders (CMDs) in older adults contribute to considerable disease burden and are associated with significant multimorbidity. With the increase in population ageing, the concerns related to multimorbidity are likely to increase. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach for CMDs. More recently, transdiagnostic approaches to address shared mechanisms across disorders have been studied. Novelty: Despite a considerable body of literature on psychological interventions in higher-income countries, there is a notable lack of empirical studies examining the efficacy of transdiagnostic CBT (tCBT) in CMDs and older adults in India. In this study, we propose to test the effectiveness of a tCBT adapted for older adults, involving stakeholders.

Objectives: To examine the efficacy of a tCBT for older adults with CMDs.

Methods: A two-group parallel-arm randomised controlled design will be adopted to examine the efficacy of tCBT in older adults with CMDs. A total of 120 older adults (N = 60; intervention and control arm, respectively), meeting criteria for CMDs and scoring above the cut-off on Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and/or GAD-7, consenting for participation, will be randomised to receive either tCBT or treatment as usual plus psychoeducation (TAU + psychoeducation). The primary outcome (mood) will be measured using HAM-A and HAM-D. Secondary outcomes include sleep disturbances, repetitive negative thinking (RNT), metabolic effects, and quality of life. Participants will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. The intervention will be adapted to older adults in India, based on a needs analysis with stakeholders (patients, caregivers, and experts).

Expected outcomes: There is a dearth of systematic studies in India on psychotherapy in older adults, particularly those that target multimorbidity and transdiagnostic processes such as sleep and RNT. This psychotherapy trial will provide important empirical data on the efficacy of evidence-based tCBT in older adults with CMDs.

Background: Community-based studies on postpartum depression (PPD), a major maternal and public health issue, are scarce in India. We aimed to assess the proportion of postpartum mothers with depressive symptoms in the Malappuram district of Kerala and examine the correlates of PPD in this group.

Methods: Between August and December 2024, we recruited eligible postpartum mothers using a cross-sectional, community-based design through a multistage cluster sampling procedure. We used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to screen the sample for PPD symptoms. Multivariable linear regression analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between socio-demographic, maternal, or infant-related factors and postpartum depressive symptoms in mothers.

Results: The mean age of the sample (N = 560) was 27.3 (±4.6) years. The mean years of education were 13.3 (±1.8) years. Eleven percent of women (n = 63) screened positive for PPD symptoms. Higher risk of PPD symptoms was linked to living separately from husband (B = 0.91, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.17-1.65), adverse birth outcomes (B = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.17-1.82), antepartum depression (B = 8.26, 95% CI = 4.07-12.46), antenatal anxiety (B = 5.39, 95% CI = 1.07-9.71), and chronic diseases (B = 2.87, 95% CI = 0.78-4.96).

Conclusions: More than one in 10 mothers reported PPD symptoms. Not living with a husband, anxiety or depression during pregnancy, maternal chronic illnesses, and adverse pregnancy outcomes were all linked to PPD symptoms. These findings suggest the need for routine mental health screening during postnatal and immunization visits. Integrating screening using task-shifting models may enhance sustainability and scalability.

Background: Somatic symptoms are frequent yet understudied manifestations of psychological distress among university students.

Methods: This cross-sectional, observational study assessed 297 Paraguayan undergraduates using validated instruments to measure somatic symptoms, perceived stress, academic burnout, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Results: Significant correlations emerged between somatic symptoms and exhaustion, perceived stress, insomnia, and psychological distress. A multiple linear regression model identified disengagement, insomnia, anxiety, and depression (-0.29 ≤ all β ≤ 0.23) as significant predictors of somatic symptoms, accounting for nearly 40% of the variance. A parallel mediation analysis revealed that academic burnout mediated the relationship between stress and somatic symptoms, with exhaustion amplifying the effect (β = 0.09) and disengagement mitigating it (β = -0.07).

Conclusions: These findings underscore the complex interaction between psychological and physical symptomatology among university students and highlight the dual mediating role of burnout. Targeted interventions aimed at mitigating academic stress, sleep disruption, and emotional dysregulation may be instrumental in preventing somatization and fostering student mental well-being.