The ability to regulate emotions is vital to successful social interactions. This study explores whether visual attention bias is associated with emotion dysregulation (ED) in early childhood. Parental reports of child ED (Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and Temper Tantrum Scale) were examined in relation to child visual attention bias whilst viewing emotional faces. Results indicated that the level of eye gaze fixation towards emotional images and faces was associated with ED when social function (measured with the Social Responsiveness Scale), gender, age, and attention problems (measured from the CBCL subscale), were adjusted. The modifying effect on visual attention bias was evaluated using interaction analysis in the generalized linear model. The level of visual attention bias, indicated by the proportion of eye gaze fixation time on areas of interest (AOIs) in images displaying unpleasant emotions (such as anger), was inversely associated with the level of externalising problem behaviours (p = .014). Additionally, the association of eye gaze fixation time for AOIs displaying negative emotional cues with the level of externalising problem behaviours varied by age (p = .04), with younger children (aged < 70 months) demonstrating a stronger association than older children (aged 70 months). Findings suggest that young children with greater ED symptoms look less at unpleasant emotional cues. However, this relationship is attenuated as children become older. Further research to identify objective biomarkers that incorporate eye-tracking tasks may support prediction of ED-related mental health issues in the early years.

Studies on problematic online activities commonly focus on one type of online activity, such as social media. However, individuals often use their Smartphones for more than one online activity. This study examined four types of online activities (social networking, gaming, information acquisition, and short-form video viewing). Based on a combinatory assessment of problematic smartphone use and hours spent online, two groups were created from a larger sample (N = 642): a problematic smartphone user group (PSU; N = 230; F = 72%; Age = 24.99 ± 6.60) and a non-problematic smart phone user group (NPSU; N = 87; F = 62%; Age = 30.49 ± 10.22). As compared to the NPSU group, the PSU group engaged in more social networking, gaming, information acquisition, and short-form video seeing. The PSU group also scored higher on psychological distress, sleep disturbance, fear of missing out, metacognitions about Smartphone use (MSU), desire thinking (DT), and lower on satisfaction with life and cognitive reappraisal. Regression analyses were employed to probe correlates of each online activity among the PSU and NPSU groups. The findings are discussed in light of the metacognitive model of addictive behaviors and future directions are provided concerning the challenges of distinguishing individuals for problematic Internet-related behaviors.

The Bergen-Yale Sexual Addiction Scale (BYSAS; [1]) is arguably the most popular questionnaire at present for assessing sex addiction. Employing Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and treating item scores as ordered categorical, we applied Weighted Least Square Mean and Variance Adjusted Chi-Square (WLSMV) extraction to investigate the longitudinal measurement and structural invariance of ratings on the BYSAS among 276 adults (mean = 31.86 years; SD = 9.94 years; 71% male) over a two-year period, with ratings at three yearly intervals. Overall, there was support for configural invariance, full loading, full threshold, the full unique factor invariance; and all structural (latent variances and covariances) components. Additionally, there was no difference in latent mean scores across the three-time points. The psychometric and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance for the treatment of depression is widely followed and has international influence. According to these guidelines, antidepressant medications are recommended for moderate to severe depression. Nonetheless, antidepressants are increasingly prescribed, including for cases of subthreshold and mild depression. This may indicate that a proportion of depressed patients uses pharmacological interventions with unclear evidence-base, though other factors such as physical and mental health comorbidities need to be accounted for. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and trends of antidepressant prescriptions among community-dwelling adults diagnosed with depression according to NICE recommendations. We conducted a systematic review of PsycInfo, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus databases. Observational studies reporting on the prevalence of antidepressant treatments in UK adults diagnosed with depression were sought. Fifteen studies were included. The prevalence of antidepressants for depression treatment ranged from 30.8 to 95% and mainly concerned selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) among classes of antidepressant drugs. Little information about depression severity as well as comorbid conditions was reported. High prevalence rates of antidepressant drug use highlight the widespread adoption of pharmacological interventions, while also raising concerns about compliance with NICE guidelines. Careful assessment of depressive illness severity and comorbidities is needed to ensure the delivery of adequate care to people with depression. Systematic Review Registration Number (PROSPERO) CRD42023448152.

Loneliness and depression are serious public mental health problems. Meaning in life (MIL) is associated with reduced loneliness and depression. This study aimed to: (1) investigate associations between loneliness, MIL, and depression, differentiated by sex in individuals aged ≥ 50 years, residing in 26 European countries and Israel, and (2) to examine in men and women separately whether MIL mediated the relationship between loneliness and depression. We included 41,372 individuals (23,789 women) who responded to wave 8 of the SHARE project. The variables analyzed were loneliness (UCLA), depression (EURO-D scale), and MIL (CASP-19). The analytical procedures included regression analysis and exploratory mediation analysis. Among men and women, the odds of loneliness increasing depression were 3.6 and 3.3 times higher, respectively. Among men, feeling MIL sometimes or often had odds for reducing depression by 0.53 and 0.21, respectively. In women, feeling MIL sometimes or frequently reduced the odds of depression by 0.37 and 0.19, respectively. Regardless of sex, mediation analyses showed a positive association between loneliness and depression, while MIL was negatively associated with loneliness and depression. MIL partially mediated the association between LON and depression in male and female models by approximately 83.2% and 80.7%, respectively. No differences were found between men's and women's mediation models. Regardless of sex, high levels of MIL seem to be effective in benefiting the mental health of Europeans aged 50 and over. MIL proved to be a significant mediator of the relationship between loneliness and depression, while loneliness and depression strengthened each other.

To examine the risks of long-term de novo psychiatric disease in women with primary infertiltiy compared to age-matched referrent women. Retrospective, population-based cohort of 1,001 women with primary infertility and 1,001 age-matched (± 1 year) referent women aged 18-50. The "index date" was date of first clinical note for infertility and included visits fromJanuary 1, 1980 to December 31, 1999. Baseline characteristics were collected by chart review. Outcome data was evaluated through December 31, 2020. Primary outcomes were baseline prevalence and de novo rates of subsequent psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, suicidality, and somatization evaluated by Cox proportional hazards modeling. Among women with primary infertility and referent women, the median duration of follow-up was 23.7 years. The risk of de novo psychiatric disorders was not significantly different between groups. Additionally, the risk of de novo psychiatric disorders did not significantly differ between those with isolated male factor versus isolated female factor infertility. Among women with primary infertility, the cumulative incidence of de novo depression and anxiety was significantly higher among women diagnosed with primary infertility in the 1990s compared to the 1980s. Women with primary infertility, in a historical population-based cohort, do not have a significantly different long-term risk of de novo psychiatric diagnoses compared to age-matched referent women. Our findings support the notion that infertility diagnosis and treatment present an acute period of stress and for some psychologic distress, neither of which persist or increase the risk for development of future psychiatric disease.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of resilience or public service motivation (PSM) on firefighters' work engagement during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted an online survey with 304 firefighters assigned to Gyeonggi-do between October 27 and 28, 2022, and collected their demographic information; work-related data; mood, anxiety and insomnia symptoms; and work-related attitudes. The leading causes of firefighters' stress were physical and mental health decline due to heavy workloads (46.4%), verbal abuse and assault from civilians (33.9%), conflict with coworkers (18.4%), and death of colleagues (13.2%). The results of the logistic regression analysis revealed that high levels of resilience (OR = 1.28, p < 0.001), service motivation (OR = 1.17, p < 0.001), and non-exposure to death (OR = 0.33, p = 0.005) led to high work engagement. Mediation analysis showed that resilience and PSM mediated the influence of depression on work engagement. The work engagement of firefighters is influenced by resilience, PSM, and exposure to death.

The aims of this study were to explore the influence of shift working nursing professionals' psychological inflexibility on their level of insomnia. Additionally, we investigated the mediation effect of depression and sleep-related cognitions on this association. An online survey was conducted among 202 nursing professionals at Asan Medical Center from July to August, 2023. Participants responded to questionnaires including the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep - 16 (DBAS-16), Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale (GSES), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9), and the Discrepancy between desired time in bed and desired total sleep time index (DBST index). Pearson's correlation and linear regression were performed to explore the factors predicting ISI scores. Mediation analysis was implemented. Linear regression revealed that insomnia severity was predicted by DBAS-16 (β = 0.15, p = 0.008), GSES (β = 0.48, p < 0.001), and PHQ-9 (β = 0.26, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed that the relationship between the psychological inflexibility of shift-working nursing professionals' and insomnia severity was fully mediated by depression, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, and sleep effort. Psychological inflexibility does not directly influence insomnia severity, but depression, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, and sleep effort fully mediate the relationship.

On February 6, 2023, two major earthquakes with magnitudes of 7,7 and 7,6 struck the Kahramanmaraş region in Turkey. Over 50.000 people lost their lives and more than half a million buildings were damaged as a result of these earthquakes. Earthquake survivors may develop post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep hygiene problems. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between post-traumatic stress and sleep hygiene among surviving adults six months after the February 6th Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes in Turkey. This study was conducted with 1004 earthquake survivors in 11 provinces influenced by the February 6th Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Turkey. The data was collected with Personal Information Form, Impact of Events Scale-Revised, and the Sleep Hygiene Index. It has been determined that 54.1% of earthquake survivors scored ≥ 33 on the Impact of Events Scale-Revised. The level of post-traumatic stress disorder was high and their sleep hygiene index level was above average among earthquake survivors. A strongly significant positive correlation was observed between the Impact of Events Scale-Revised and the Sleep Hygiene Index. It is recommended to plan and implement community-based psychological interventions to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder and improve sleep hygiene among survivors after earthquakes.

This study aimed to estimate the percentage of child RTCs utilizing seclusion and restraint (S/R) practices and examine predictors associated with increased likelihood of S/R use between 2010 and 2020. A secondary analysis of the National Mental Health Services Survey was conducted (n-range = 580-781). Facility-level client demographics and facility characteristics were examined using multi-level logistic regression. One-way ANOVA indicated that the percentage of child RTCs using S/R significantly decreased between 2010 and 2020 [F(4, 58074) = 75.62, p <.001]. A post-hoc Bonferroni test found that the percentage of facilities reporting the use of SR in 2010 was significantly higher than in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 (all p <.001). Multi-level logistic regression analysis found that facility-level client demographics (percent male, white, and involuntarily committed) did not significantly predict facility use of SR in 2010, 2014, or 2016. However, facility-level characteristics of SED program (all p <.01), use of psychotropic medication (all p <.001), and facility size as measured by number of mental health beds (all p <.01) consistently predicted usage of SR in 2010 [F(11) = 68.38, p <.001], 2014 [F(12) = 74.25, p <.001], and 2016 [F(12) = 74.48, p <.001]. Facility ownership and accepting Medicare payments did not significantly predict facility usage of SR. Use of SR within child RTCs significantly declined between 2010 and 2020. Larger facilities, facilities with an SED program, and facilities that used psychotropic medications with clients were more likely to use SR practices between 2010 and 2016. More high-quality, publicly available data for monitoring S/R use in mental health services within the United States is needed.

Recent research has shown that people who gamble are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and attempts compared to the general population. Despite the advancements made, no study to date has predicted suicide risk factors in people who gamble using machine learning algorithms. Therefore, current study aimed to identify the most critical predictors of suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts among people who gamble using a machine learning approach. An online survey conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 741 people who gamble (mean age: 25.9 ± 5.56). To predict the risk of suicide attempts and ideation, we employed a comprehensive set of 40 biological, psychological, social, and socio-demographic variables. The predictive models were developed using Logistic Regression, Random Forest (RF), robust eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and ensemble machine learning algorithms. Data analysis was performed using R-Studio software. Random Forest emerged as the top-performing algorithm for predicting suicidal ideation, with an impressive AUC of 0.934, sensitivity of 0.7514, specificity of 0.9885, PPV of 0.9473, and NPV of 0.9347. Across all models, dissociation, depression, and anxiety symptoms consistently emerged as crucial predictors of suicidal ideation. However, for suicide attempt prediction, all models exhibited weaker performance. XGBoost showed the best performance in this regard, with an AUC of 0.663, sensitivity of 0.78, specificity of 0.8990, PPV of 0.34, NPV of 0.984, and accuracy of 0.8918. Depressive symptoms and rumination severity were highlighted as the most important predictors of suicide attempts according to this model. These findings have important implications for clinical practice and public health interventions. Machine learning could help detect individuals prone to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among people who gamble, assisting in creating tailored prevention programs to address future suicide risks more effectively.

In this study, our aim was to develop a valid and reliable scale to determine the social anxiety level of people regarding COVID-19. A total of 420 people participated in the research. Explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the validity and reliability of the scale. As a result of the explanatory factor analysis, it was determined that the scale consisted of 22 items and four sub-dimensions. These sub-dimensions were named "negative thinking", "sociability", "fear" and "vaccination". In examination of the fit indices obtained from the confirmatory factor analysis results, it was seen that the four-factor scale structure was high and acceptable. Based on these results, we concluded that the COVID-19 social anxiety scale (CAS) was valid and reliable for examining the level of social anxiety of people during the pandemic periods.

The number of social media users has increased dramatically in recent years. Common correlates of social media use may be poor mental and sleep health which are pressing issues among emerging adults and Hispanic groups. This study investigated the relationships between five different forms of social media use and mental and sleep health in Hispanic university emerging adults. Hispanic university emerging adults (n = 358) completed a survey assessing sociodemographics, overall social media use frequency, nighttime in-bed social media use, social media addiction, social media self-control failure, emotional investment in social media, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep quality. Findings demonstrated that social media addiction and social media self-control failure were positively associated with stress and poor sleep quality. Emotional investment in social media was positively associated with depression. Findings may suggest that Hispanic university emerging adults may use social media emotionally and problematically to cope with negative affect and poor sleep quality, or that negative affect and poor sleep quality stem from using social media emotionally and problematically. The clinical implications of these results are discussed. Prospective studies are warranted to assess temporality.

Despite high rates of psychological symptoms, many medical students often avoid psychological help. Determining the mental status of medical students at an early stage is very important for developing necessary interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the barriers to seeking psychological help among first-year medical students. This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2-20, 2023. Data were collected using an anonymous online questionnaire comprising students' self-reported psychological problems and treatment status, help-seeking barriers, and a validated mental health tool (Patient Health Survey 4). The response rate was 58.8% (n = 250). Of them, 34.4% had anxiety symptoms and 25.2% had depressive symptoms. The prevalence of self-reported psychological problems and serious psychological problems were 61.2% and 10.4%, respectively. Only 7.6% of students reported receiving psychological treatment. It was found that 5.6% of the students used psychiatric drugs (2% officially prescribed and 3.6% not officially prescribed). The most common barriers to help-seeking were not were not serious problems, lack of time, difficulty explaining psychological problems, fear of being recorded, and fear of stigmatization. The results indicated that a significant number of students had psychological problems, and some did not seek psychological help.

Self-stigma is a major barrier to personal and clinical recovery in people with mental illness. Although psychosocial interventions have been developed to reduce self-stigma, the exploration of group CBT-based interventions for hospitalised patients are less represented. The purpose of this trial is to investigate the effectiveness of a group CBT-based intervention aiming to reduce self-stigma and improve recovery-related outcomes such as self-esteem, stigma resistance and sense of coherence, which comes down to saying, "I am what I am". A total of 104 patients admitted to the inpatient therapy were recruited to participate in a randomised controlled clinical trial, and 77 participants (46 in the intervention group and 31 in the control group) completed the trial. Constructs of interest were measured before and after the intervention. The results showed that the evaluated intervention was effective in improving sense of coherence and stigma resistance, compared to treatment as usual (TAU). The level of self-stigma significantly decreased in both the intervention and control groups, but no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups. The limitations of the study include: the lack of assessment of the sustainability of the effects of therapy (follow-up), the presence of intensive interventions of the ward's programme and patients pre-qualified for the ward based on admission criteria. The intervention "I am what I am," has proven to be effective, especially in increasing the level of personal resources needed to build clinical and personal recovery and to counteract the negative consequences of self-stigma.

This study aimed to evaluate the role of neuroinflammation in neuronal and glial cells in the pathophysiology of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) through different biomarkers.S100-B and VILIP-1 levels of patients diagnosed with MDD were evaluated before and after antidepressant treatment. A total of 65 patients diagnosed with MDD and 69 healthy controls were included. Serum levels of S100B and VILIP-1 were measured at the time of diagnosis and after eight weeks antidepressant treatment and compared with healthy controls. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) were applied to assess the severity of depression. In our study, although serum S100B levels were higher in patients before treatment compared to healthy controls, this difference was not statistically significant. Regarding VILIP-1 levels, there was no statistically significant difference between patients and healthy controls. A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between S100B and VILIP-1 levels in MDD group before the treatment. At the eighth week of treatment, a statistically significant positive correlation was also found between S100B and VILIP-1 levels. Our research is the first study to evaluate MDD through two separate biomarkers specific to glial and neuronal cells.The fact that S100B and VILIP-1 levels showed significant correlations in patients diagnosed with MDD both before and after treatment suggests that they may play a shared role in the pathophysiology of the disorder. The correlation between S100B and VILIP-1 may serve as a guide in understanding the pathophysiology of the disorder and in identifying new drug development targets.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition often accompanied by cognitive impairments, such as difficulties with sustained attention, and emotional disturbances, particularly depression and anxiety. Understanding how these emotional and cognitive factors interact is crucial to improving treatment for fibromyalgia patients. This study aimed to investigate the network structure of these interactions, focusing on the relationship between depression, anxiety, and cognitive performance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted mental health worldwide, leading to increased rates of suicidal behavior. This systematic review and meta-regression aim to investigate the global prevalence and risk factors associated with suicidal behaviors in the general population during the pandemic. The study included 202 articles from January 1, 2019, to October 31, 2023, sourced from databases such as Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The meta-analysis revealed a prevalence of 13.5% for suicidal ideation, 10.4% for suicide attempts, and a death rate of 0.5%, translating to 4.52 per 100,000 person-years. Significant risk factors identified include being transgender, young adults (18-44 years), unmarried status, low education, retirement, living alone, low social support, a history of suicide attempts, substance use, depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleep problems, poor perceived physical health, loneliness, quarantine, and residing in the Americas or multiple regions. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions during pandemics, focusing on high-risk groups such as young adults, transgender individuals, those with low social support, and people with mental health issues. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers to develop effective strategies to mitigate the heightened risk of suicide during global health crises.

Patients with acute psychosis are often confronted with the prejudice that they refuse all treatment due to lack of insight. This study examined and compared the aims and preferences for treatment of patients with acute psychosis and of psychiatric inpatient staff. A total of 142 inpatients being treated for a psychotic disorder on either a locked or an open ward indicated which of a range of symptoms they want to be treated and which of various biopsychosocial treatment options they would like to receive. Staff members from the same wards reported which psychiatric symptoms they deemed relevant in the treatment of psychosis and which treatment options should be offered. Patients assigned the highest treatment need to neurocognitive symptoms, followed by affective and positive symptoms. In contrast, staff assigned the highest treatment need to positive symptoms, followed by neurocognitive and affective symptoms. Patients and staff on open wards expressed more treatment needs overall than did patients and staff on locked wards. Patients' desire for treatment differed across treatment types. In comparing patients on locked versus open wards, patients on open wards expressed higher approval of medication than patients on locked wards. Even patients with highly acute psychosis being treated on locked psychiatric wards endorsed treatment. Treatment preferences of this group deviated markedly in some instances from staffs' preferences. Considering their specific needs may contribute to increasing patient self-efficacy, and improving adherence to treatment.

This study assessed the relationship between daily life changes and mental health in Korean adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from middle and high school students who responded to the relevant survey items the 2021 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed (n = 53,868). The survey assessed changes in economic status, physical activity, skipping breakfast, drinking, smoking, and mental health, including stress, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicidal ideation, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall prevalence of perceived stress, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicidal ideation was 38.6%, 26.4%, 12.2%, and 12.4%. Adolescents whose economic status worsened due to COVID-19 had a higher risk of perceived stress, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicidal ideation. Changes in physical activity and breakfast consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly associated with increases in perceived stress, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicidal ideation. Adolescents who increased their alcohol consumption had the highest risk of perceived stress, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicidal ideation. Changes in economic status and health behaviors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the mental health of Korean adolescents. These results can be used to identify adolescents at high risk of developing mental health problems.

School bullying and depression are both serious social and public health problems among adolescents. Prior studies indicated a correlation between bullying and depression. However, the potential moderators remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to identify the mediating effect of Internet addiction and the moderating effect of living in urban or rural areas in the relationship between school bullying victimization and depression symptoms among Chinese adolescents. This cross-sectional study of adolescents was conducted using two-stage random cluster sampling of students in urban and rural public high schools in China. A moderated mediation model was constructed to uncover the underlying mechanism of school bullying victimization and depression symptoms. A total of 2,376 adolescents (52.65% females, mean age ± SD a 14.69 ± 1.76 years) were included in the study. The prevalence of clinical depression symptoms with a cut-off value of 16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was 21.76% (95% CI: 20.15, 23.46), and with a cut-off value of 20 on the CES-D was 13.85% (95% CI: 12.51, 15.30) for overall. Our findings indicated a significant positive association between school bullying victimization and depression symptoms (p < 0.01) and a significant mediating effect of Internet addiction in the association between school bullying victimization and depression symptoms (indirect effect = 1.143, 95% CI: 0.677, 1.609; percentage of mediation: 16.7%, 95% CI: 10.3, 23.1). This indirect relationship was partially moderated by the living in urban or rural areas in the mediation process. Specifically, the effect of school bullying victimization on Internet addiction was greater among urban adolescents (simple slope: 0.774, 95% CI: 0.524, 1.024, p < 0.01) than among rural adolescents (simple slope: 0.337, 95% CI: 0.132, 0.543, p < 0.01), but moderating effect of urban-rural areas was not significant on the relationship between Internet addiction and depression symptoms. These findings highlight the mediating role of Internet addiction and the moderating role of living areas in school bullying victimization and adolescents' depression symptoms, which provide evidence for social work, mental health services, and policy interventions for adolescents in China.