Mental health science最新文献

Universal evidence-based prevention and promotion programs lack in availability and scalability for child and adolescent mental health in Central and Eastern Europe. This paper describes the process of applying the theory of change to plan, develop, and pilot a mental health literacy intervention in Czech schools. The process of using theory of change to develop a complex intervention for mental health literacy is described across three stages: formative development, piloting, and evaluation. The application of evidence-based intervention was discussed within 64 diverse stakeholder meetings and tested over 2 years of piloting. The resulting theory of change map is described in the context of consideration for modifications, revisions, and recommendations for successful implementation of the developed intervention. Continued monitoring and evaluation and a formal evaluation of the effectiveness of mental health literacy curriculum within the region will be essential before scale-up.

The Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) is a widely used tool to assess mental well-being and life satisfaction in various populations. However, the psychometric properties of the WEMWBS in Arabic-speaking populations have not been established. This study aimed to validate and assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the WEMWBS among adolescents. A rigorous translation process was conducted, and the scale was administered to 470 participants aged 13–18 years in Qatar. The data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency, and validity assessments. The results showed that the Arabic version of the WEMWBS had a unidimensional structure, with high factor loadings and good internal consistency. The findings suggest that the Arabic version of the WEMWBS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing mental well-being and life satisfaction among Arabic-speaking adolescents. These results can facilitate the use of the Arabic WEMWBS scale in different mental well-being studies that include Arabic-speaking populations.

Emerging evidence on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic suggests that children are experiencing a deterioration in mental health, namely, an increase in anxiety, depression, and hyperactivity symptoms. To address this rising issue, preventive strategies and mental health interventions need to be evaluated to help children in their school setting. Recent studies have suggested that art-based interventions could increase children's well-being and be easily implemented in schools. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of an emotion-based directed drawing intervention, compared to a mandala drawing intervention, on elementary school children's (n = 165) mental health, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. An experimental design was used to compare the effects of the two interventions on primary school students' anxiety, depression, and inattention symptoms. All drawing activities were led by an online facilitator, while children and teachers attended school in-person. Mixed analyses of variance revealed a significant effect of time on students' levels of anxiety. Post hoc sensitivity analyses indicated that children from both groups reported lower levels of anxiety pre- to postintervention. Results from this study showed that, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, both emotion-based and mandala drawing interventions could improve certain mental health aspects of elementary school children, by reducing their anxiety levels. Informal evidence indicates that implementing these interventions online and remotely through a videoconferencing platform is feasible and well received by children and their teachers. Nevertheless, future studies should include an inactive control group, explore the acceptability of the intervention, and use longitudinal methods to better document if the positive impacts on mental health can be maintained through time.

As the prevalence of childhood and adolescent anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns continues to rise, there has been an unprecedented increase in support of mind–body practices like yoga, dance, meditation, mindfulness, aerobic exercise, and more—in part driven by the mental health burden imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While a growing body of evidence supports the safety and effectiveness of mind–body approaches, gaps in funding for and empirical research on mechanistic underpinnings, methodology development to assess multicomponent therapeutic practices, dissemination and implementation, and diversity in researchers, practitioners, and recipients remain. As a consequence, the neurobiological impacts of mind–body techniques are not well understood nor broadly accepted as standard forms of care by clinicians and insurers—often being considered as “alternative” rather than “complementary” or “integrative.” In this commentary, we summarize work from our labs and others highlighting the promise of mind–body approaches for improving mental health in youth, in line with the National Institute of Mental Health's strategic plan to address health disparities. We offer a potential framework for implementation and research—the Expressive Therapies Continuum. We also propose solutions to key research and policy gaps, that by could have positive public health impacts for those who are struggling and to prevent emergence of psychiatric illness, especially in developing youth.

The emphasis on formulation, as a lynchpin and driver of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has received increasing attention, consensus of value among practitioners and emerging studies of efficacy. The terms, “formulation” and “conceptualisation” are frequently used interchangeably in literature which is exclusively focussed on high intensity CBT. In contrast, little has been included on the value or recognising the existence of formulation, for Low Intensity CBT practitioners providing guided self-help. This may contribute to misconceptions that Low Intensity CBT is a mechanistic set of techniques. Links to CBT competencies, curricula, role of supervision and roots in UK Behavioral Nurse Therapist training, are made to highlight the implicit presence of Low Intensity formulation. We suggest a definition of formulation, as a key Low Intensity competency. This uses an individualised treatment rationale and problem statement, derived from a structured functional assessment. We propose, explicitly emphasising these, constitutes Low Intensity case formulation, which guides intervention. This is a refocus of existing practice, not introduction of completely new elements. A brief illustration of “how to” deliver formulation-driven Low Intensity CBT is made. This promotes a concise “within-session” and “between-session” thread. This adjustment, on what guides Low Intensity interventions, is relevant to practitioners, supervisors and trainers in promoting Low Intensity best practice. This argues that recognising the value of formulation assists in optimising skills development, client outcomes and satisfaction with Low Intensity CBT. Cautions with the approach and the need for further research are noted.

Depression is measured in most studies by surveys that sum individual symptom scores into one common variable. Given the high heterogeneity of depressive disorders and the diversity of symptom profiles at the same levels of depression, a significant amount of information is, therefore, not evaluated. In this study, we aimed to investigate how distinct depression symptoms from the tripartite model of anxiety and depression relate to the dimensions of core affect. The study included N = 1102 individuals who completed depression, anxiety and stress, and core affect scales. Participants were recruited from the convenience sample and were aged between 18 and 59 years (M = 39.70; SD = 12.03) with 38.2% men and 61.8% women, whose average number of years spent in education was M = 14.17; SD = 3.63. Correlation and regression analysis with JASP and R software showed that all depressive symptoms were significantly related to the core affect dimensions (valence and activation), and network analysis indicated which symptoms formed undirected interrelationships and what their possible roles were in the model. We concluded that not all depression symptoms in the network model formed similar relationships with the dimensions of core affect, which may be explained through both validity and nonclinical sampling aspects.

People with severe mental illness (SMI) have a higher prevalence of obesity as compared with the general population, however, there is mixed evidence about the prevalence of underweight. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the pooled prevalence of underweight in people with SMI and its association with socio-demographic factors; and to compare the prevalence of underweight between SMI and the general population. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE databases were searched to identify observational studies assessing the prevalence of underweight in adults with SMI (schizophrenia, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, and bipolar disorders). Screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessments were performed independently by two co-authors, with disagreements resolved by consensus. Random effect estimates for the pooled prevalence of underweight and the pooled odds of underweight in people with SMI compared with the general population were calculated. Subgroup analyses were conducted for the type of SMI, setting, antipsychotic medication, region of the world, World Bank country income classification, data collection, and sex. Forty estimates from 22 countries were included. The pooled prevalence of underweight in people with SMI was 3.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.9–5.0). People with SMI were less likely to be underweight than the general population (odds ratio [OR] 0.65; 95% CI = 0.4–1.0). The pooled prevalence of underweight in SMI in South Asia was 7.5% (95% CI = 5.8–14.1) followed by Europe and Central Asia at 5.2% (95% CI = 3.2–8.1) and North America at 1.8% (95% CI = 1.2–2.6). People with SMI have lower odds of being underweight compared to the general population. People with schizophrenia had the highest prevalence of underweight compared to other types of SMI. Japan and South Asia have the highest prevalence of underweight in people with SMI.

Psychosis and psychosis-related disorders (including schizophrenia) have been one of the most challenging psychiatric disorders to treat. Despite successful recovery and relapse rates, a substantial number continue to struggle with ongoing “psychotic symptoms” and residual functional impairments needing ongoing treatment and support services (Ahmed et al., 2007; Jaaskelainen et al., 2013; Javitt & Coyle, 2004; Owen et al., 2016). Psychosis may reflect an underlying deficit in “information processing” that may contribute to “atypical” thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with impaired level of functioning and at-risk behaviors raising need for clinical services (Ahmed & Boisvert, 2013; Ahmed et al., 2014; Bodatsch et al., 2013; Turetsky et al., 2009).

The “atypical” life adaptations in psychosis may be considered to be akin to Freud's theory of Ego's defense with projection against “conscious Id” (Fenichel, 2014; Freud, 1961). and the cognitive behavioral theoretical formulation of individuals adaptations to atypical information processing with perceptual misattribution (Allen et al., 2004; Costafreda et al., 2008; Kingdon & Mander, 2015). These atypical experiences may originate from multiple factors including genetic predispositions that interact with unique adverse personal and social experiences contributing to a heightened sense of existential uncertainty and anxiety (Braehler et al., 2013; Legge et al., 2021; Longden & Read, 2016; Mayo et al., 2017; Merikangas et al., 2022). This developmental process is further compounded by increased confusion relating to self-identity and age-expected role functions during the challenging transitional period of experiencing changes from adolescence to adulthood (Braehler et al., 2013; Legge et al., 2021; Longden & Read, 2016; Mayo et al., 2017; Merikangas et al., 2022).

Human beings routinely engage in “autistic imageries” with an inward focusing of the mind as expressed in daydreaming and fantasies. For many it may supply inspiration for all forms of creativity and self-reflection and can contribute to innovative scientific developments and varied creative expressions in arts and writings appreciated by others. While engaging in such “autistic” preoccupations, people can navigate between both worlds and redirect themselves, for example, from the inner world of self-refection and fantasy to the outer world of social reality in response to various social cues or role expectations. However, due to various bio-psycho-social experiences not yet fully understood, this self-redirection may be more challenging for some people who may find themselves incessantly preoccupied with the inner

Health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Instead, it is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being (World Health Organization, 2020). As such, studying mental health requires broad, interdisciplinary approaches that will help better understand how the brain, body, and environment interact in maintaining mental health, how people with (or at risk of) impaired mental health can be identified or grouped, or how to develop new and improved interventions for persons with mental disorders. Mental Health Science adopts this broad scope of mental health and aims to support the establishment of mental health science as a “super discipline.”

The primary scope of the journal covers global mental research in its core disciplines such as psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, and public health and policy. However, the field of mental health research worldwide is broad and fragmented. It covers a diversity of health conditions and is driven by a large and varied population of researchers and funding organizations. Thus, the journal aims to not only include the more “traditional” disciplines associated with mental health, but also integrate with research from related fields such as nursing, genomics research, pharmacology, education, criminology, medical sociology, and others. This focus on both transdiagnostic and transdisciplinary approaches will facilitate a greater and more pronounced understanding of mental health disorders from individual pathophysiology to community-wide consequences. Given the scope of our journal, we have three co-editors-in-chief—Dr. Adrian Meule (psychology), Dr. Nathaniel G. Harnett (neuroscience), and Dr. T. Greg Rhee (clinical psychiatry and public mental health)—who will assist with scientifically rigorous and fair publication processes.

Mental Health Science will further embrace a global perspective on mental health research. For example, several inequities have been found in mental health research with most funding—in fact, more than 98%—being awarded by and spent in high-income countries (Woelbert et al., 2020). At the same time, mental health research has become more collaborative in recent decades; while only 3% of articles published in 1980 were the result of international collaboration, this proportion rose to 22% in 2011 (Larivière et al., 2013). As an international journal, Mental Health Science' editorial board is composed of experts from different countries with an effort to cover diverse regions and cultures. Following this mindset, the journal is committed to publishing scholarship that respects diversity, which includes work from scholars from a range of institutional affiliations, nationalities, and career stages.

There is a prescient need for easily accessible and available research to serve the global scientific community. As such, Mental Health Science is a gold open access journal and all pub