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Bracone F, Gialluisi A, Costanzo S, Di Castelnuovo A, Persichillo M, Olivieri M, Cerletti C, Donati MB, de Gaetano G, Iacoviello L, Bonaccio M. Retrospective Recall of Psychological Distress Experienced During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy: Results From the ALT RISCOVID-19 Survey. Int J Public Health 2022; 67:1604345. [PMID: 35153649 PMCID: PMC8833312 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: To estimate psychological distress experienced during the Italian lockdown (March-May 2020) by assessing, in the transition period of the pandemic (June-September 2020), participants’ recalling of their psychological state. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis on 1,880 adults (mean age 48.9 ± 14.5 years) from the web-based ALT RISCOVID-19 survey. Participants were asked to retrospectively recall their psychological state during lockdown concerning symptoms of depression (Patients’ Health Questionnaire), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder), stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and post-traumatic stress (Screening Questionnaire for Disaster Mental Health). Results: Experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress was recalled by 15.8, 15.3 and 13.1% of respondents, respectively. These psychometric scales tended to decrease during the 4-month period of assessment (p < 0.05), while perceived stress levels did not (p = 0.13). Men and older individuals reported lower symptoms of depression (β = −0.42 and β = −0.42; p < 0.0001, respectively), anxiety (β = −0.41 and β = −0.45; p < 0.0001, respectively), stress (β = −0.36 and β = 0.50; p < 0.0001, respectively) and post-traumatic stress (β = −0.42; p < 0.0001, men vs women). Conclusion: Recalled psychological distress experienced during COVID-19 lockdown tended to decrease during the transition period of the pandemic, except for stress. Women and younger people were at higher risk to recall psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Bracone
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Pozzilli, Italy
| | | | - Simona Costanzo
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Pozzilli, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Chiara Cerletti
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Pozzilli, Italy
| | | | | | - Licia Iacoviello
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Center in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (EPIMED), University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
- *Correspondence: Licia Iacoviello,
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Post-Traumatic Outcomes among Survivors of the Earthquake in Central Italy of August 24, 2016. A Study on PTSD Risk and Vulnerability Factors. Psychiatr Q 2021; 92:1489-1511. [PMID: 33974161 PMCID: PMC8531086 DOI: 10.1007/s11126-021-09908-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Central Italy suffered from the earthquake of 2016 resulting in great damage to the community. The purpose of the present study was to determine the long-term traumatic outcomes among the population. A preliminary study aimed at obtaining the Italian translation of the first 16 item of HTQ IV part [1] which was administered, 20 months after the disaster, at 281 survivors. In backward stepwise logistic regressions models, we estimated among the respondent's characteristics and event-related variables the best predictors of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed a HTQ five-factors solution as best model, with satisfactory indexes of fit. HTQ held a positive correlation with both the SQD-P (r = .65, p < .05) and SQD-D subscales (r = .47, p < .05). ROC analysis suggested an area of .951 (95% CI = .917-.985) for the PTSD prediction. Basing on sensibility (.963) and specificity (.189), the best cut-off of 2.0 allowed discriminating for PTSD positive cases. After 20 months of the earthquake, the estimate prevalence of PTSD among the survivors is of 21.71% with a consistent and graded association between exposure variables and vulnerability factors (gender, age, exposure to death and home damage) and PTSD symptoms.
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Bonaccio M, Costanzo S, Bracone F, Gialluisi A, Di Castelnuovo A, Ruggiero E, Esposito S, Olivieri M, Persichillo M, Cerletti C, Donati MB, de Gaetano G, Iacoviello L. Psychological distress resulting from the COVID-19 confinement is associated with unhealthy dietary changes in two Italian population-based cohorts. Eur J Nutr 2021; 61:1491-1505. [PMID: 34846604 PMCID: PMC8631258 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-021-02752-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Purpose To examine the relationship between psychological distress resulting from the COVID-19 lockdown and dietary changes. Methods Cross-sectional analysis from 2 retrospective Italian cohorts recruited from May to September 2020: (1) The Moli-LOCK cohort consists of 1401 participants from the Moli-sani Study (n = 24,325) who were administered a telephone-based questionnaire to assess lifestyles and psychological factors during confinement; (2) the ALT RISCOVID-19 is a web-based survey of 1340 individuals distributed throughout Italy who self-responded to the same questionnaire using Google® forms. Psychological distress was measured by assessments of depression (PHQ-9 and depressive items from the Screening Questionnaire for Disaster Mental Health- SQD-D), anxiety (GAD-7), stress (PSS-4), and post-traumatic stress disorder (SQD-P). Diet quality was assessed either as changes in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) or adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD). Results In ALT RISCOVID-19, increased UPF intake was directly associated with depression (both PHQ-9 and SQD-D; p < 0.0001), anxiety (p < 0.0001), stress (p = 0.001) and SQD-P (p = 0.001); similar results were obtained in the Moli-LOCK cohort except for perceived stress. When psychometric scales were analysed simultaneously, only depression (SQD-D) remained associated with UPF (both cohorts). In both cohorts, psychological distress poorly influenced changes toward an MD, except for depression (SQD-D) that resulted inversely associated in the ALT RISCOVID-19 participants (β = − 0.16; 95% CI − 0.26, − 0.06). Conclusions Psychological distress from the COVID-19 confinement is directly associated with unhealthy dietary modifications in two Italian cohorts. In view of possible future restrictive measures to contain pandemic, public health actions are warranted to mitigate the impact of psychological distress on diet quality. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-021-02752-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialaura Bonaccio
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
| | - Simona Costanzo
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Francesca Bracone
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gialluisi
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | | | - Emilia Ruggiero
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Simona Esposito
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | | | - Mariarosaria Persichillo
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Chiara Cerletti
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Maria Benedetta Donati
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Giovanni de Gaetano
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Licia Iacoviello
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, Via dell'Elettronica, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Center in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (EPIMED), University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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Moore A, van Loenhout JAF, de Almeida MM, Smith P, Guha-Sapir D. Measuring mental health burden in humanitarian settings: a critical review of assessment tools. Glob Health Action 2020; 13:1783957. [PMID: 32657249 PMCID: PMC7480646 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1783957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The effects of disasters and conflicts are widespread and heavily studied. While attention to disasters’ impacts on mental health is growing, mental health effects are not well understood due to inconsistencies in measurement. Objective The purpose of this study is to review mental health assessment tools and their use in populations affected by disasters and conflicts. Method Tools that assess posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, substance use disorder, and general mental health were examined. This review began with a search for assessment tools in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Next, validation studies for the tools were obtained through snowball sampling. A final search was conducted for scientific studies using the selected tools in humanitarian settings to collect the data for analysis. The benefits and limitations described for each tool were compiled into a complete table. Results Twelve assessment tools were included, with 88 studies using them. The primary findings indicate that half of the studies used the Impact of Events Scale-Revised. The most common limitation discussed is that self-report tools inaccurately estimate the prevalence of mental health problems. This inaccuracy is further exacerbated by a lack of cultural appropriateness of the tools, as many are developed for Western contexts. Conclusion It is recommended that researchers and humanitarian workers reflect on the effectiveness of the mental health assessment tool they use to accurately represent the populations under study in emergency settings. In addition, mental health assessment should be coupled with action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Moore
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health , New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joris Adriaan Frank van Loenhout
- Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain , Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maria Moitinho de Almeida
- Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain , Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Smith
- Institute of Health and Society IRSS, Université Catholique de Louvain , Brussels, Belgium
| | - Debarati Guha-Sapir
- Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain , Brussels, Belgium
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Masedu F, Mazza M, Di Giovanni C, Calvarese A, Tiberti S, Sconci V, Valenti M. Facebook, quality of life, and mental health outcomes in post-disaster urban environments: the l'aquila earthquake experience. Front Public Health 2014; 2:286. [PMID: 25566527 PMCID: PMC4273552 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: An understudied area of interest in post-disaster public health is individuals’ use of social networks as a potential determinant of quality of life (QOL) and mental health outcomes. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out to examine whether continual use of online social networking (Facebook) in an adult population following a massive earthquake was correlated with prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and QOL outcomes. Methods: Participants were a sample of 890 adults aged 25–54 who had been exposed to the L’Aquila earthquake of 2009. Definition of “user” required a daily connection to the Facebook online social network for more than 1 h per day from at least 2 years. Depression and PTSD were assessed using the Screening Questionnaire for Disaster Mental Health. QOL outcomes were measured using the World Health Organisation Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument. Logistic regression was carried out to calculate the prevalence odds ratios (POR) for social network use and other covariates. Results: Two hundred and twenty one of 423 (52.2%) men, and 195 of 383 (50.9%) women, had been using Facebook as social network for at least 2 years prior to our assessment. Social network use correlated with both depression and PTSD, after adjusting for gender. A halved risk of depression was found in users vs. non-users (POR 0.50 ± 0.16). Similarly, a halved risk of PTSD in users vs. non-users (POR 0.47 ± 0.14) was found. Both men and women using online social networks had significantly higher QOL scores in the psychological and social domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusion: Social network use among adults 25–54 years old has a positive impact on mental health and QOL outcomes in the years following a disaster. The use of social networks may be an important tool for coping with the mental health outcomes of disruptive natural disasters, helping to maintain, if not improve, QOL in terms of social relationships and psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Masedu
- Section of Environmental Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Monica Mazza
- Section of Neuropsychology, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Chiara Di Giovanni
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency of the National Health System , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Anna Calvarese
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency of the National Health System , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Sergio Tiberti
- Section of Environmental Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Vittorio Sconci
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency of the National Health System , L'Aquila , Italy
| | - Marco Valenti
- Section of Environmental Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila , L'Aquila , Italy ; Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency of the National Health System , L'Aquila , Italy
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