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Şen Doğan R, Deveci Şirin H. Death anxiety and satisfaction with life among the adults in the social isolation process of Covid-19 pandemic: the mediating role of perceived stress. J Ment Health 2023; 32:1086-1095. [PMID: 35770825 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2022.2069689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study examined the mediating role of perceived stress during the social isolation process of the Covid-19 pandemic on the association between death anxiety and satisfaction with life. The participants of the study included 410 individuals (212 females and 198 males) from Turkey. Data were collected using the Death Anxiety Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. AIMS The aim of this study was to reveal the relationships between death anxiety, perceived stress and satisfaction with life and to test the mediating role of perceived stress on the effect of death anxiety and satisfaction with life in the Covid-19 pandemic process. METHODS AND RESULTS The structural equation modelling results indicated that stress mediated the impact of death anxiety on satisfaction with life. Moreover, the bootstrapping procedure revealed significant links from death anxiety to satisfaction with life through perceived stress in the social isolation process of Covid-19. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the study contributed to the structuring of psychological health services to be offered within the scope of public health during the Covid-19 pandemic and the understanding of the complex nature of the relationship between psychological factors and satisfaction with life. Possible explanations and limitations were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Şen Doğan
- Department of Econometrics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey
| | - Hatice Deveci Şirin
- Vocational School of Health Science, Child Care and Youth Services, Selcuk University, Alaeddin Keykubat Campus, Konya, Turkey
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2
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Raza S, Thiruchelvam D, Redelmeier DA. Costs for Long-Term Health Care After a Police Shooting in Ontario, Canada. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2335831. [PMID: 37768661 PMCID: PMC10539992 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.35831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Police shootings can cause serious acute injury, and knowledge of subsequent health outcomes may inform interventions to improve care. Objective To analyze long-term health care costs among survivors of police shootings compared with those surviving nonfirearm police enforcement injuries using a retrospective design. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cohort analysis identified adults (age ≥16 years) who were injured by police and required emergency medical care between April 1, 2002, and March 31, 2022, in Ontario, Canada. Exposure Police shootings compared with other mechanisms of injury involving police. Main Outcomes and Measures Long-term health care costs determined using a validated costing algorithm. Secondary outcomes included short-term mortality, acute care treatments, and rates of subsequent disability. Results Over the study, 13 545 adults were injured from police enforcement (mean [SD] age, 35 [12] years; 11 637 males [86%]). A total of 13 520 individuals survived acute injury, and 8755 had long-term financial data available (88 surviving firearm injury, 8667 surviving nonfirearm injury). Patients surviving firearm injury had 3 times greater health care costs per year (CAD$16 223 vs CAD$5412; mean increase, CAD$9967; 95% CI, 6697-13 237; US $11 982 vs US $3997; mean increase, US $7361; 95% CI, 4946-9776; P < .001). Greater costs after a firearm injury were not explained by baseline costs and primarily reflected increased psychiatric care. Other characteristics associated with increased long-term health care costs included prior mental illness and a substance use diagnosis. Conclusions and Relevance In this longitudinal cohort study of long-term health care costs, patients surviving a police shooting had substantial health care costs compared with those injured from other forms of police enforcement. Costs primarily reflected psychiatric care and suggest the need to prioritize early recognition and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheharyar Raza
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Deva Thiruchelvam
- Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) in Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Donald A. Redelmeier
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) in Ontario, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Health Policy Management and Evaluation, Ontario, Canada
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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3
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Shah A. Palliating in Avoidable Death: Reconciling Psychiatrists' Roles as Treaters on Death Row With Participation in a System of Overt Harm. J Nerv Ment Dis 2023; 211:555-558. [PMID: 37505894 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Although nations across the globe have eliminated capital punishment, the United States remains one of the few countries in the Americas and Europe that still uses execution. There has been little discussion around the implications of psychiatry's involvement in providing care to incarcerated individuals awaiting death. The following perspective examines the United States as an example of a democratic and highly developed country where the death penalty remains an undeniable reality; the piece provides a brief discussion on psychiatry's relationship with end-of-life care to provide context for subsequent discussion on the role of the psychiatrist on death row in the United States. Medicolegal and ethical considerations are further outlined to identify specific concessions that might be made by the US criminal justice system to truly allow death row psychiatrists to practice to the highest standard of compassionate care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arya Shah
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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MacLeod A, Cameron P, Luong V, Kovacs G, Patrick L, Fredeen M, Kits O, Tummons J. Negotiating humanity: an ethnography of cadaver-based simulation. ADVANCES IN HEALTH SCIENCES EDUCATION : THEORY AND PRACTICE 2023; 28:181-203. [PMID: 35994215 PMCID: PMC9395868 DOI: 10.1007/s10459-022-10152-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Human body donation (HBD) serves an essential function in many medical schools, particularly in institutions where people engage in cadaver-based simulation (CBS) as a pedagogical approach. The people who facilitate HBD and CBS have a highly specialized skill set, yet their expertise remains largely unacknowledged, and takes place out of sight from the broader medical school community. This manuscript, based on a two-year practice-based ethnography (Structured Observations n = 68 h, Unstructured Observations n = 150 + hours; Interviews n = 24; and Document/Policy Analysis n = 14) illuminates the complex work of HBD. We identify three primary functions of HBD and CBS (1. Cadaver Intake & Administration, 2. Cadaver Preparation, and 3. Cadaver-Based Pedagogy). We describe how medical educators involved in CBS have developed a skillset specific to their role: negotiating humanity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna MacLeod
- Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education Research, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H4R2, Canada.
| | - Paula Cameron
- Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education Research, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H4R2, Canada
| | - Victoria Luong
- Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education Research, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H4R2, Canada
| | - George Kovacs
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Lucy Patrick
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Molly Fredeen
- Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education Research, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H4R2, Canada
| | - Olga Kits
- Research Methods Unit, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Menzies RE, Menzies RG. Death anxiety and mental health: Requiem for a dreamer. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2023; 78:101807. [PMID: 36435549 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2022.101807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Recently, there has been an increased interest in the role of death anxiety in a broad range of mental health disorders. It has been argued that the fear of death may be a transdiagnostic variable contributing to the development and maintenance of many chronic mental health problems. Further, it has been suggested that death anxiety may be responsible for relapse and the emergence of new disorders in patients that have received successful treatment for earlier conditions in their lives. Given this, the purpose of the present selective review is to: (1) explore contemporary theoretical accounts of the role of death anxiety in a broad range of human behaviours; (2) examine evidence for death anxiety as a key variable in mental health disorders; (3) examine evidence on the treatment of death anxiety in both non-clinical and clinical populations; (4) describe the limitations of the current literature, and; (5) provide a detailed description of the critical future directions for this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ross G Menzies
- Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
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Menzies RE, Sharpe L, Dar-Nimrod I. The development and validation of the Death Anxiety Beliefs and Behaviours Scale. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 61:1169-1187. [PMID: 35938594 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Research spanning the fields of clinical, social and health psychology suggests that death anxiety is an important construct. However, no comprehensive, psychometrically adequate measure of the construct exists. The current studies outline the development of a new measure of death anxiety, the Death Anxiety Beliefs and Behaviours Scale (DABBS), which is the first measure to specifically assess unhelpful beliefs and behaviours that may underlie fears of death. METHODS In Study 1, items were piloted in a large community sample (N = 505). In Studies 2A and 2B, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed using a treatment-seeking (N = 200) and non-treatment-seeking sample (N = 200). These analyses resulted in the final 18-item scale. RESULTS The DABBS demonstrated good construct validity, criterion validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability. In Study 3, the DABBS effectively distinguished participants with clinically significant death anxiety and distress from those without, demonstrating excellent discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS The present data indicate that the DABBS is a valid and reliable measure of affect, beliefs and behaviours relating to death anxiety, in a community sample of adults and among those seeking mental health treatment. Given the increasing recognition of the importance of death anxiety, the DABBS offers a useful research and clinical tool.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louise Sharpe
- The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ilan Dar-Nimrod
- The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Ku X, Hyun S, Lee B. The role of death anxiety on marksmanship performance: a virtual reality simulator study. ERGONOMICS 2022; 65:219-232. [PMID: 34348582 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2021.1965222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite the well-established relationship between state anxiety and marksmanship performance, few efforts have examined the individual differences that affect the extent to which individuals experience state anxiety in combat situations. Thus, further studies are needed to increase the probability of mission accomplishment, which could ultimately serve to safely bring soldiers home. The present study examined how death anxiety, a trait-based difference affects state anxiety, which in turn affects shooting performance on a battlefield. In particular, we used a virtual reality simulator to create a realistic engagement setting in which simulated death anxiety is salient. On a sample of 99 active-duty enlisted men in the Republic of Korea Army, we found that death anxiety, and not trait anxiety, increased state anxiety, which in turn decreased marksmanship performance. Overall, the current findings highlight the role of death anxiety in combat situations. The practical implications and avenues for future research are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xyle Ku
- Department of Psychology, Korea Military Academy, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seungju Hyun
- Department of Psychology, Korea Military Academy, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byounghwak Lee
- Department of Physics & Chemistry, Korea Military Academy, Seoul, Korea
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The Thought of Death in a Pandemic Era: Can Anxiety Determine the Nexus between the Accessibility, Availability and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 and Work Behaviour among Aviation Workers? Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10020215. [PMID: 35206830 PMCID: PMC8872227 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10020215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the emergence of COVID-19, the aviation sector has been one of the numerous industries which have been affected the most. In this present paper, the thought of death among aviation workers as an indicator of anxiety at a time when the availability, access to, and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) remains paramount to the survival of work in the line of duties and its influence on different work behaviors was assessed. The theoretical foundation of the study was built on the process efficiency theory, attentional interference theory, and the terror management theory (TMT), which focuses on both the psychological and emotional responses exhibited by people due to fear or worry about a specific situation. The study adopted an exploratory study design that incorporates a cross-sectional and self-reported survey among 646 frontline workers across 12 international airlines and the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), Accra, Ghana using simple random sampling and convenient sampling techniques. After all the preliminary tests were performed, the path analysis estimated by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) indicated that anxiety has a significant influence on workers’ stress-adaptive performance and task performance, but recorded no significant causal link with interpersonal performance. The findings indicated that all three proxies of employee work behaviours, which focus on both adaptive and task performance, were significantly related to workers’ access, availability, and use of PPE (APPE). The association between anxiety and APPE was also found to be significant. Bootstrapping mediation analysis shows that anxiety partially mediates the influence APPE has on both stress-adaptive performance and task performance, but did not show any mediating effect on the association between APPE and interpersonal performance. Among the three dimensions of death anxiety, both the fear of death (FDE) and death intrusion (DINT) indicated a significant partial mediating effect on the influence APPE has on all three multidimensional constructs of work behaviours. The findings literally prove that worrying about the fatality risk associated with COVID-19 is highly predictive.
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Enea V, Candel OS, Zancu SA, Scrumeda A, Bărbuşelu M, Largu AM, Manciuc C. Death anxiety and burnout in intensive care unit specialists facing the COVID-19 outbreak: The mediating role of obsession with COVID-19 and coronaphobia. DEATH STUDIES 2022; 46:2306-2315. [PMID: 34019464 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2021.1928331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine the role of the obsession with COVID-19 thoughts and coronaphobia in the relationship of death anxiety with burnout among staff working at infectious diseases hospitals in the front-line of the fight against COVID-19. A cross-sectional online survey (N = 110) was conducted during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results showed that obsession with COVID-19 and coronaphobia mediated the relationship of death anxiety with burnout. Most of the participants reported higher levels of death anxiety compared with the general population and nurses reported higher levels of death anxiety than physicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Enea
- Department of Psychology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iaşi, Romania
| | | | | | - Andreea Scrumeda
- Department of Psychology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iaşi, Romania
| | - Mariana Bărbuşelu
- Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Memory Assessment Service, UK
| | | | - Carmen Manciuc
- The Saint Parascheva Infectious Diseases Hospital, Iaşi, Romania
- Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania
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10
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Overcome Death Anxiety: The Development of an Online Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Programme for Fears of Death. BEHAVIOUR CHANGE 2021. [DOI: 10.1017/bec.2021.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
AbstractEmerging research suggests that death anxiety is a transdiagnostic construct, which may underpin a number of mental illnesses. Although cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has been found to be the most effective treatment for death anxiety, no self-guided treatments for this construct exist at present. Furthermore, there is a growing need for accessible, scalable and cost-effective psychological treatments. To address these gaps, we created Overcome Death Anxiety (ODA), an online CBT-based programme which specifically targets fears of death. ODA was designed to be a fully automated, standalone, yet individualised online treatment. The present study outlines the development and structure of this programme using responses from four users to illustrate feasibility. Research is needed to examine the efficacy and usability of ODA with a larger clinical sample.
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Arredondo AY, Caparrós B. Traumatic experiences and resilience: Associations with mental health, death attitudes, and religion in university students. DEATH STUDIES 2021; 46:2187-2197. [PMID: 33848214 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2021.1909181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Resilience may be related to mental health and profound beliefs and attitudes. Utilizing a survey design, we examined relationships among resilience, clinical syndromes, death attitudes, and religion. Mexican university students (N = 161) answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Global Post-Traumatic Stress Scale, the Millon Multiaxial Inventory, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Death Attitudes Profile. Pearson correlation analyses showed that resilience correlated inversely with clinical syndromes and fear of death and positively with approach acceptance. Religion entailed higher death attitudes and resilience. Regression analysis revealed that lower anxiety, alcohol use, persistent depression, and higher delusion and death approach acceptance explained resilience.
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12
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Wolf JJ, McVeigh J, Vallières F, Hyland P, MacLachlan M. Death anxiety, self-worth, and exposure to human donor remains: A longitudinal study of Irish medical students. DEATH STUDIES 2020; 46:875-884. [PMID: 32628572 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1783030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between death anxiety levels at pre-exposure to human donor remains, post-exposure self-worth, and post-exposure death anxiety levels, among a sample of Irish medical students. A multi-wave prospective study was conducted, using questionnaires administered at six time-points. Path analysis was used to investigate the effect of pre-exposure death anxiety levels and post-exposure self-worth on post-exposure death anxiety levels. Baseline death anxiety was found to predict post-exposure death anxiety. Furthermore, self-worth at one month of exposure was found to mediate the relationship between pre-exposure death anxiety levels and death anxiety levels at six months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Wolf
- School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joanne McVeigh
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Assisting Living and Learning (ALL) Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Frédérique Vallières
- School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Philip Hyland
- Assisting Living and Learning (ALL) Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
- Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Malcolm MacLachlan
- Assisting Living and Learning (ALL) Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
- Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
- Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Gun injury accounts for substantial acute mortality worldwide and many others survive with lingering disabilities. We investigated whether additional health losses beyond mortality can also arise for patients who survive with long-term disability. METHODS We conducted a population-based individual patient analysis of adults injured by firearms who had received emergency medical care in Ontario, Canada, from Apr. 1, 2002, to Apr. 1, 2019. Longitudinal cohort analyses were evaluated through deterministic linkages of individual electronic patient files. The primary outcome was death or subsequent application for long-term disability in the years after hospital discharge. RESULTS In total, 8313 patients were injured from firearms, of which 3020 were injured from intentional incidents and 5293 were injured from unintentional incidents. A total of 2657 (88.0%) patients with intentional gun injury and 5089 (96.1%) patients with unintentional gun injury survived initial injuries. After a mean 7.75 years of follow-up, patients surviving intentional injuries had a disability rate twice as high as patients surviving unintentional injuries (19.7% v. 10.1%, p < 0.001), equivalent to a hazard ratio of 2.01 (95% confidence interval 1.80-2.25). The higher risk of long-term disability for survivors after intentional gun injury was not explained by demographic characteristics, extended to survivors treated and released from the emergency department, and was observed regardless of whether the incident was self-inflicted or from interpersonal assault. Half of the disability cases were identified after the first year. Additional predictors of long-term disability included a lower socioeconomic status, an urban home location, arrival by ambulance transport, a history of mental illness and a diagnosis of substance use disorder. INTERPRETATION Our study shows that gun death statistics underestimate the extent of health losses from long-term disability, particularly for those with intentional injuries. Additional and sustainable follow-up medical care might improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheharyar Raza
- Department of Medicine (Raza, Redelmeier), University of Toronto; Evaluative Clinical Sciences (Raza, Thiruchelvam, Redelmeier), Sunnybrook Research Institute; ICES in Ontario (Thiruchelvam); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Redelmeier), Toronto, Ont
| | - Deva Thiruchelvam
- Department of Medicine (Raza, Redelmeier), University of Toronto; Evaluative Clinical Sciences (Raza, Thiruchelvam, Redelmeier), Sunnybrook Research Institute; ICES in Ontario (Thiruchelvam); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Redelmeier), Toronto, Ont
| | - Donald A Redelmeier
- Department of Medicine (Raza, Redelmeier), University of Toronto; Evaluative Clinical Sciences (Raza, Thiruchelvam, Redelmeier), Sunnybrook Research Institute; ICES in Ontario (Thiruchelvam); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Redelmeier), Toronto, Ont.
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Death anxiety in the time of COVID-19: theoretical explanations and clinical implications. COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPIST 2020; 13:e19. [PMID: 34191938 PMCID: PMC7308596 DOI: 10.1017/s1754470x20000215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a surge in anxiety across the globe. Much of the public's behavioural and emotional response to the virus can be understood through the framework of terror management theory, which proposes that fear of death drives much of human behaviour. In the context of the current pandemic, death anxiety, a recently proposed transdiagnostic construct, appears especially relevant. Fear of death has recently been shown to predict not only anxiety related to COVID-19, but also to play a causal role in various mental health conditions. Given this, it is argued that treatment programmes in mental health may need to broaden their focus to directly target the dread of death. Notably, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to produce significant reductions in death anxiety. As such, it is possible that complementing current treatments with specific CBT techniques addressing fears of death may ensure enhanced long-term symptom reduction. Further research is essential in order to examine whether treating death anxiety will indeed improve long-term outcomes, and prevent the emergence of future disorders in vulnerable populations. Key learning aims (1)To understand terror management theory and its theoretical explanation of death anxiety in the context of COVID-19.(2)To understand the transdiagnostic role of death anxiety in mental health disorders.(3)To understand current treatment approaches for directly targeting death anxiety, and the importance of doing so to improve long-term treatment outcomes.
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Moreton SG, Szalla L, Menzies RE, Arena AF. Embedding existential psychology within psychedelic science: reduced death anxiety as a mediator of the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:21-32. [PMID: 31784805 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05391-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Psychedelic therapies can engender enduring improvements in psychological well-being. However, relatively little is known about the psychological mechanisms through which the salutary effects of psychedelics emerge. Through integrating extant research on psychedelics with contemporary existential psychology, we present a novel hypothesis that reduced death anxiety may be a key mechanism underpinning the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. In developing this hypothesis, we also provide a complementary review of mechanisms through which psychedelics may reduce death anxiety. We conclude that an awareness of the role of death anxiety in psychopathology has the potential to guide future research into psychedelic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam G Moreton
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
| | - Luke Szalla
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Rachel E Menzies
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Andrew F Arena
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
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Menzies RE, Sharpe L, Dar‐Nimrod I. The relationship between death anxiety and severity of mental illnesses. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019; 58:452-467. [DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Arredondo AY, Caparrós B. Associations Between Existential Concerns and Adverse Experiences: A Systematic Review. JOURNAL OF HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/0022167819846284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
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Rometsch-Ogioun El Sount C, Windthorst P, Denkinger J, Ziser K, Nikendei C, Kindermann D, Ringwald J, Renner V, Zipfel S, Junne F. Chronic pain in refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A systematic review on patients' characteristics and specific interventions. J Psychosom Res 2019; 118:83-97. [PMID: 30078503 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chronic pain in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a frequent symptom and a complicating factor in the treatment of patients. The study' purpose is to systematically review the scientific literature on patients' characteristics and the effects of specific interventions implemented for the treatment of chronic pain in traumatized refugees. METHOD A systematic search of the current literature was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science, from 1996 to 2017. A structured screening process in accordance with the PRISMA-statement was used with eligibility criteria based on the modified PICOS-criteria including refugees with chronic pain and diagnosed PTSD to investigate sample size, gender, country of origin, residential status, pain locations, predictors and correlations and type and efficacy of specific interventions. RESULTS The initial search resulted in a total of 2169 references, leading to 15 included studies. Most frequently, patients reported headaches, backaches, and pain in the arms and legs. Pain symptoms were associated with higher age, female gender, general living difficulties and PTSD symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and, Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) with biofeedback, manualized trauma psychotherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Emotional Freedom Techniques were evaluated as specific interventions, resulting in positive outcomes for both pain severity and PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS To date, the existing literature shows scarce evidence evaluating specific interventions that address the needs of traumatized refugees with chronic pain. However, the current reported evidence allows for a preliminary evaluation of the characterizations of patient dimensions as well as promising results found in intervention studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Rometsch-Ogioun El Sount
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - P Windthorst
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - J Denkinger
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - K Ziser
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - C Nikendei
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - D Kindermann
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Ringwald
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - V Renner
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - S Zipfel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - F Junne
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
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Glick DM, Cook JM, Moye J, Kaiser AP. Assessment and Treatment Considerations for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at End of Life. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2018; 35:1133-1139. [PMID: 29463090 PMCID: PMC6546161 DOI: 10.1177/1049909118756656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may first emerge, reemerge, or worsen as individuals approach end of life and may complicate the dying process. Unfortunately, lack of awareness of the occurrence and/or manifestation of PTSD at end of life can lead to PTSD going unaddressed. Even if PTSD is properly diagnosed, traditional evidence-based trauma-focused treatments may not be feasible or advisable with this group as many patients at end of life often lack the physical and mental stamina to participate in traditional psychotherapy. This article reviews the clinical and empirical literature on PTSD at end of life, as well as discusses assessment and psychotherapy treatment issues with this neglected population. In addition, it expands on the current reviews of this literature1-3 by extrapolating results from nontraditional treatment approaches with other patient populations. Elements of these approaches with patients sharing similar characteristics and/or comorbidities with patients with PTSD at end of life may provide additional benefits for the latter population. Clinical implications and suggestions for interdisciplinary care providers are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra M. Glick
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joan M. Cook
- National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System and Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jennifer Moye
- VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anica Pless Kaiser
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Predictors of Suicidal Ideation Among Children and Adolescents: Roles of Mental Health Status and Meaning in Life. CHILD & YOUTH CARE FORUM 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10566-017-9427-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Abstract
Research was conducted examining how death anxiety influenced PTSD and mental health among people who have experienced a life-threatening event. This study was conducted using undergraduate university students in Lithuania. The study used a mixed-method design and in phase 1, participants (N = 97) completed self-report questionnaires that gathered information on demographics, death anxiety, trauma and well-being. Data indicated a significant correlation between death anxiety and PTSD, but not psychiatric co-morbidity. Phase 2 attempted to further explore the phenomenological experience of participants with full PTSD, and 6 semi-structured interviews were conducted. IPA analysis found three major themes in response to the life-threatening event; self-efficacy, religious coping and existential attitude. Overall these coping mechanisms allowed participants to develop resilience against the effects of death anxiety and minimize its negative impact on mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Hoelterhoff
- Faculty of Health and Science, Fusehill Campus, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, CA1 2HH, UK.
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Pollock K, Dorstyn D, Butt L, Prentice S. Posttraumatic stress following spinal cord injury: a systematic review of risk and vulnerability factors. Spinal Cord 2017; 55:800-811. [PMID: 28485385 DOI: 10.1038/sc.2017.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To summarise quantitatively the available evidence relating to pretraumatic, peritraumatic and posttraumatic characteristics that may increase or decrease the risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following spinal cord injury (SCI). STUDY DESIGN Systematic review. METHODS Seventeen studies were identified from the PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science and PILOTS databases. Effect size estimates (r) with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs), P-values and fail-safe Ns were calculated. RESULTS Individual studies reported medium-to-large associations between factors that occurred before (psychiatric history r=0.48 (95% CI, 0.23-0.79) P=0.01) or at the time of injury (tetraplegia r=-0.36 (95% CI, -0.50 to -0.19) P<0.01). Postinjury factors had the strongest pooled effects: depressed mood (rw=0.64, (95% CI, 0.54-0.72)), negative appraisals (rw=0.63 (95% CI, 0.52-0.72)), distress (rw=0.57 (95% CI, 0.50-0.62)), anxiety (rw=0.56 (95% CI, 0.49-0.61)) and pain severity (rw=0.35 (95% CI, 0.27-0.43)) were consistently related to worsening PTSD symptoms (P<0.01). Level of injury significantly correlated with current PTSD severity for veteran populations (QB (1)=18.25, P<0.001), although this was based on limited data. CONCLUSION Combinations of peri- and post-injury factors appear to be influential in the development of PTSD among persons with SCI. Further studies are needed to extrapolate these findings to the broader spinal cord-injured population. More longitudinal research, driven by multicausal models of causation such as the diathesis-stress model, is also needed to determine the temporality of PTSD risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Pollock
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - D Dorstyn
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - L Butt
- Craig Hospital, Englewood, CO, USA
| | - S Prentice
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Yang H, Zhang J, Lu Y, Li M. A Chinese version of a Likert-type death anxiety scale for colorectal cancer patients. Int J Nurs Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2016.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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24
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Hamama-Raz Y, Mahat-Shamir M, Pitcho-Prelorentzos S, Zaken A, David UY, Ben-Ezra M, Bergman YS. The link between death anxiety and post-traumatic symptomatology during terror: Direct links and possible moderators. Psychiatry Res 2016; 245:379-386. [PMID: 27591947 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.08.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2016] [Revised: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The current wave of terrorism which is taking place in Israel is characterized by increased arbitrary attacks by individual terrorists, acting independently, with reduced ability to anticipate when and where the next attack will take place. This situation creates an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the lives of many citizens. Accordingly, the current study aims to establish a connection between death anxiety and PTSD symptom severity, as well as to examine whether major personality characteristics may moderate this connection. Using an online survey, 429 adult participants were recruited, and filled out death anxiety and PTSD symptomatology scales, as well as a short version of the Big Five personality scale. Findings revealed that death anxiety was a significant predictor of posttraumatic symptom severity, as were personality characteristics. Moreover, two personality traits, emotional stability and conscientiousness, moderated the association between death anxiety and PTSD symptomatology. The importance of death anxiety as a factor which is associated with PTSD symptomatology is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Adi Zaken
- School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
| | - Udi Y David
- School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
| | | | - Yoav S Bergman
- School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
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Weems CF, Russell JD, Neill EL, Berman SL, Scott BG. Existential Anxiety Among Adolescents Exposed to Disaster: Linkages Among Level of Exposure, PTSD, and Depression Symptoms. J Trauma Stress 2016; 29:466-473. [PMID: 27580299 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to natural disasters can be highly traumatic and have a detrimental effect on youth mental health by threatening the satisfaction of basic human needs and goals. Recent research in adults suggests that exposure to disasters may exacerbate existential anxiety about the meaning of life. The current study expands this investigation to adolescents, who may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of disaster. Data came from 325 adolescents (mean age = 15.05 years, SD = 1.05) residing in the Greater New Orleans area who were exposed to Hurricanes Katrina and/or Gustav. Existential anxiety concerns were highly prevalent in the sample and were associated with elevated levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (R2 = .09) and depression symptoms (R2 = .13). Consistent with theoretical predictions, disaster exposure levels moderated the association between facets of existential anxiety and mental health symptoms. Findings highlight the salience of existential concerns in disaster exposed youth, and provide evidence that exposure to traumatic stress may strengthen their association with mental health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl F Weems
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
| | - Justin D Russell
- Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Erin L Neill
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Steven L Berman
- Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Brandon G Scott
- Department of Psychology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
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26
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Shpigelman CN, Gelkopf M. The experiences and needs of individuals with disabilities exposed to chronic political violence. Disabil Rehabil 2016; 39:23-35. [DOI: 10.3109/09638288.2016.1138557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Gelkopf
- Department of Community Mental Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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27
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Finding a Way to Cope: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Persons With Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurosci Nurs 2015; 47:313-9. [PMID: 26528948 DOI: 10.1097/jnn.0000000000000169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophe that causes disabilities and permanently changes people's lives. The people have to adapt to the loss of self-care ability and may need long-term rehabilitation. The recovery can be problematic, affecting physiological, psychological, and financial aspects of life. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of persons with SCI living in Taiwan. METHODS In 2009, we conducted a qualitative study on 10 participants with SCI recruited from the Association of Spinal Cord Injury Persons in Taiwan. Open-ended interviews were conducted using a guide and tape recorder for subsequent transcription. A phenomenological method was used to collect data by interviews. RESULTS The core experience of persons with SCI was "finding a way to cope," which was a process from despair to self-acceptance and composed of four categories: (a) shock and unpreparedness for the injury: the catastrophe of the injury itself and the underrecognition of physiological disabilities; (b) panic and fear: denying the injury and yearning for a miracle; (c) abyss of despair: imprinting of life, bearing the agony alone, and chaos of life; and (d) reflection on the meaning of life: adaptation to physical disabilities, self-acceptance, and growth. CONCLUSIONS Our research was descriptive and focused on the structure of the lived experiences of persons with SCI. Many issues of inequality also revealed physical disabilities, such as difficulty looking professional, resulting in burden of stress and frustration. These results highlight persons with SCI should be classified as case management and integration of social welfare resources to facilitate care for persons with SCI after discharge.
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Abstract
The idea of an existential threat caused by the awareness of mortality has been rarely investigated within coping research. The study explores relationships between coping strategies and attitudes toward dying and death in a sample of German adults aged 20 to 93 years. Participants responded to a Stress Coping Inventory and a questionnaire for the multidimensional assessment of attitudes toward dying and death. Pearson correlations for men, women, and the young and old age-groups confirm the expectation that attitudes toward dying and death are mainly associated with disengagement and accommodative coping. Gender- and age-specific findings refer to drug intake and aggression. Results are discussed within both a coping and a thanatological frame of reference and issues for future research are outlined.
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29
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Berger R, Gelkopf M, Versano-Mor K, Shpigelman CN. Impact of exposure to potentially traumatic events on individuals with intellectual disability. AMERICAN JOURNAL ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2015; 120:176-188. [PMID: 25715185 DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-120.2.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the prevalence of posttraumatic symptomatology (PTS) and functional problems among Israeli individuals with intellectual disability (ID) who live in supported residential care settings and who have been exposed to political violence. The sample included 196 residents exposed to chronic missile attacks and 91 residents with ID who were not exposed. Results showed PTS and functional problems to be higher in the exposed group compared to the nonexposed one, although still low compared to the general exposed population. Exposure was found to be related to PTS and functioning problems suggested individuals with ID are reactive to political violence, though the underlying mechanisms are not clear. Implications for research, caretakers, and policy are discussed.
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Sharif Nia H, Ebadi A, Lehto RH, Peyrovi H. The experience of death anxiety in Iranian war veterans: a phenomenology study. DEATH STUDIES 2015; 39:281-287. [PMID: 25561015 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2014.991956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Recognition of death anxiety experienced by patients who have survived violence and threats to life during war is of strong importance in delivery of best care for veterans experiencing health stressors. The aim of the study was to explore the death anxiety experience of veterans from the Iran-Iraq war. Using a phenomenological approach, 11 war veterans were interviewed related to death anxiety experiences. Four major themes included afterlife fears; alienated farewell; ambiguous separation; and physical dissolution. Patients who have been exposed to death trauma in the battlefield may carry added burden from unique cognitions and fears related to personal death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Sharif Nia
- a Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
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31
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Death anxiety and its role in psychopathology: Reviewing the status of a transdiagnostic construct. Clin Psychol Rev 2014; 34:580-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2014] [Revised: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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32
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Koenig HG. Religion, spirituality, and health: the research and clinical implications. ISRN PSYCHIATRY 2012; 2012:278730. [PMID: 23762764 PMCID: PMC3671693 DOI: 10.5402/2012/278730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 623] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This paper provides a concise but comprehensive review of research on religion/spirituality (R/S) and both mental health and physical health. It is based on a systematic review of original data-based quantitative research published in peer-reviewed journals between 1872 and 2010, including a few seminal articles published since 2010. First, I provide a brief historical background to set the stage. Then I review research on R/S and mental health, examining relationships with both positive and negative mental health outcomes, where positive outcomes include well-being, happiness, hope, optimism, and gratefulness, and negative outcomes involve depression, suicide, anxiety, psychosis, substance abuse, delinquency/crime, marital instability, and personality traits (positive and negative). I then explain how and why R/S might influence mental health. Next, I review research on R/S and health behaviors such as physical activity, cigarette smoking, diet, and sexual practices, followed by a review of relationships between R/S and heart disease, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, immune functions, endocrine functions, cancer, overall mortality, physical disability, pain, and somatic symptoms. I then present a theoretical model explaining how R/S might influence physical health. Finally, I discuss what health professionals should do in light of these research findings and make recommendations in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold G. Koenig
- Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, P.O. Box 3400, Durham, NC 27705, USA
- Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21413, Saudi Arabia
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Harris JI, Erbes CR, Engdahl BE, Ogden H, Olson RHA, Winskowski AMM, Campion K, Mataas S. Religious Distress and Coping With Stressful Life Events: A Longitudinal Study. J Clin Psychol 2012; 68:1276-86. [DOI: 10.1002/jclp.21900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Henry Ogden
- Minneapolis VA Medical Center; Department of Psychology; Minneapolis; MN
| | | | | | - Kelsey Campion
- Minneapolis VA Medical Center; Department of Psychology; Minneapolis; MN
| | - Saari Mataas
- Minneapolis VA Medical Center; Department of Psychology; Minneapolis; MN
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Abstract
Existential anxiety is hypothesized to be a core human issue in a great deal of theoretical and philosophical writing. Fostering the empirical understanding of the expression of these concerns may be a valuable addition to the psychological literature on exposure to trauma. The purpose of this study was to test theoretical predictions about the association between different facets of existential anxiety and psychological symptoms (posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, suicidal ideation) among individuals following a natural disaster. A sample of 386 Gulf Coast residents completed the Existential Anxiety Questionnaire, a posttraumatic stress disorder symptom checklist, and a measure of psychological symptoms that included an item on suicidal ideation in the months following Hurricane Katrina. The results suggested that existential concerns were prevalent in the sample and that the various facets of existential anxiety were differentially associated with psychological symptoms. These findings provide preliminary evidence for existential concerns as an important correlate of psychological distress following exposure to natural disasters and increment empirical understanding of the concept of existential anxiety.
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Barr P. Acute Traumatic Stress in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parents: Relation to Existential Emotion-Based Personality Predispositions. JOURNAL OF LOSS & TRAUMA 2010. [DOI: 10.1080/15325020903373128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Marca L Sipski
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA
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