The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

Despeaux, Katie E.; Lating, Jeffrey M.; Everly, George S.; Sherman, Martin F.; Kirkhart, Matthew W.

doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001029pmid: 31306290

Abstract A randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy of group psychological first aid (PFA) by comparing the Johns Hopkins RAPID-PFA model with a group conversation condition in 119 participants using the state version of State Trait Anxiety Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedules. Both groups showed similar baseline scores, and after watching a distressing 5-minute video, both groups showed similar significant increases in state anxiety scores and negative affect scores, as well as similar decreases in positive affect scores. However, compared with the group conversation condition, the RAPID-PFA group evidenced significantly lower state anxiety scores at postintervention and at 30-minute delay. RAPID-PFA, compared with the group conversation condition, was also more effective in lowering negative affect scores postintervention, and significantly increasing positive affect scores at 30-minute delay. These results support the two primary goals of PFA, which are mitigating acute distress and instilling hope.

Lahoud, Nathalie; Zakhour, Maha; Haddad, Chadia; Salameh, Pascale; Akel, Marwan; Fares, Kassandra; Hallit, Souheil; Obeid, Sahar

doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001017pmid: 31356406

Abstract Our aim was to assess the relationship between personality and psychological traits, and burnout among the Lebanese population. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted with multiple validated scales used to measure burnout and other characteristics. A cluster analysis was then performed to split the population into mutually exclusive groups with different profiles according to the burnout scales using the K-mean method. A multivariate analysis of covariance was carried out to compare multiple measures between the cluster groups under comparison. The study, conducted between November 2017 and March 2018, enrolled 789 participants. The results showed that 100 (14.0%) had high emotional work fatigue, whereas 443 (62.5%) and 680 (95.4%) had high mental and physical work fatigue, respectively. People with high physical work fatigue (cluster 1) had lower alcohol dependence (β = −2.78), alexithymia (β = −3.16), depression (β = −7.20), anxiety (β = −6.99), perceived stress (β = −2.53), social phobia (β = −11.49), suicidal ideation (β = −0.35), emotional awareness (β = −4.54), emotional managament (β = −1.71), social emotional awareness (β = −9.27), and relationship management (β = −9.12). People with high emotional work fatigue (cluster 2) had higher alcohol dependence (β = 2.11), alexithymia (β = 6.51), depression (β = 2.48), anxiety (β = 4.11), perceived stress (β = 4.30), and lower emotional awareness (β = −6.68), emotional management (β = −7.80), social emotional awareness (β = −3.71), and relationship management (β = −3.05). Higher levels of burnout were found to be associated with multiple psychological factors. The results would help understand the burnout dimensions and their correlated factors in the Lebanese population.

Kjelsaas, Kathleen; Mecklenburgh, Naomi; von Hippel, Courtney; Brener, Loren

doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001025pmid: 31356407

Abstract Online social networking is ubiquitous, but research regarding its relationship to wellbeing has yielded contradictory results. This study examined the relationship between Facebook use and wellbeing among community mental health service clients. Twenty-six clients from a community mental health service provided access to their Facebook page. Seven aspects of 3674 Facebook posts were coded, and cross-lagged multilevel models were estimated over three periods to establish the relationship between Facebook use and wellbeing over time. Some aspects of Facebook use were related to wellbeing within the same period, although this pattern of relationships did not emerge longitudinally. Although Facebook has the potential to forge social connections for those who are socially isolated, Facebook use was neither helpful nor harmful over time among people with mental health problems. Given the prevalence of social networking, a clearer understanding of its impact on wellbeing is critical for mental health providers.

Cheref, Soumia; Benoit, Julia S.; Walker, Rheeda L.

doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001026pmid: 31306289

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine psychological, substance use, and sociodemographic predictors of 12-month suicide ideation and attempts across six US racial/ethnic groups—white, Latino/a, Black, Asian or Pacific Islander (A/PI), American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN), and multiracial adults. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted for 218,765 adults who participated in the 2008–2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Overall, commonly cited factors were associated with increased risk for suicide ideation and attempt for some racial/ethnic groups, but not for others. As one example, 12-month depression was associated with 12-month suicide attempt for A/PI, AI/AN, Latino/a, and white, but not for Black or multiracial adults. Alcohol abuse and dependence were also associated with suicide attempt for AI/AN, Black, and white respondents but not for other racial/ethnic groups. Risk factors for suicide ideation and attempt may not increase risk universally. More theoretically supported research is needed.

Rentzios, Christos; Kamtsios, Spiridon; Karagiannopoulou, Evangelia

doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001027pmid: 31356408

Abstract The present study belongs to a new strand of research in learning in higher education focusing on emotions and emotion regulation, including defense mechanisms. The purpose of the study was to investigate the mediating role of implicit and explicit emotion regulation in the relationship between academic emotions and approaches to learning. Participants were composed of 226 undergraduates (40 males and 186 females studying in a social science department). They completed the following questionnaires: Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Student Experience of Emotions Inventory, Defense Style Questionnaire, and Approaches to Learning and Studying Inventory. Both the moderating (interaction) and the mediational (indirect) effects were examined using the PROCESS program. Results failed to indicate the moderating role of emotion regulation in the association between academic emotions and approaches to learning. Instead, results revealed the dominant mediating role of emotion regulation and particularly the role of immature defense style in the relationship between negative emotions and approaches to learning. Moreover, reappraisal and suppression seemed to act as mediators in the relationship between positive and negative emotions with deep and surface approaches, respectively. The results of the study are discussed in the context of the recent literature. Implications for higher-education institutions regarding the role of unconscious cognitive processes are also discussed.

Song, Yanping; Cui, Xueling; Zhang, Yan; Gao, Huiying; Cai, Qiaoying; Mu, Zhenzhen

doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001032pmid: 31356409

Abstract Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a severe outcome after lung transplantation, especially in the elderly lung transplant recipients. Home-based computerized cognitive training (CCT) is a widely used intervention for cognition improvement, but its efficacy has not been validated in this population. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to analyze the effect of CCT on elderly lung transplant recipients. The participants received either an 8-week CCT intervention or usual care. The changes of cognitive function were assessed between preintervention (T1), postintervention (T2), and 12 weeks postintervention (T3). Among the 46 participants, 91.3% completed the interventions. The CCT group performed better than the control group on Digit-Span Forward Test (T3: p = 0.0044) and Verbal Fluency Test (T3: p = 0.0331), indicating the efficacy of CCT on verbal memory in the elderly lung transplant recipients. Although varied impacts were observed on different cognitive domains, it seems promising to use CCT on the elderly population after lung transplantation.

doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001084pmid: 31356410