Effectiveness of the expressive writing on the psychological distress and traumatic symptoms of the migrants: A prospective study multiarm randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Migration is a phenomenon related to adverse impacts, including higher risk for psychological distress and trauma symptoms, highlighting the strong need for effective psychological treatments to help migrants. However, the use of expressive writing intervention (EW) has not been examined in this population. The aims of the study were to evaluate: (a) the effectiveness of a trauma-focused EW on psychological distress, trauma symptoms, alexithymia, and hope for the future in migrants, and (b) the role of alexithymia and hope for the future in the association with the EW and the psychological symptoms.

METHOD

Twenty-eight migrants were enrolled in a multiarm double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) that included three groups: (a) trauma-focused EW, (b) neutral EW, and (c) control. Participants completed self-report measures at pretreatment, immediately after the intervention, and at 1 month follow-up. The study complied with the guidelines of Consolidate Standard of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist and was retrospectively recorded on ClinicalTrials.gov.

RESULTS

Trauma-focused EW was related to an immediate improvement in phobic anxiety and positive total symptoms and improvement in somatization, global severity index, and hope for the future at follow-up. Trauma symptoms and alexithymia did not show significant effects. Factorial regressions showed that the interaction group per time per hope for the future was a significant predictor on the phobic anxiety.

DISCUSSION

EW may be an effective tool for reducing migrant's distress and may have long-term improvements in mental health. Moreover, the results suggest the potential influence of the hope for the future on anxiety in migrants. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Coping with the mental health impact of COVID-19: A study protocol for a multinational longitudinal study on coping and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Mental health is challenged due to serious life events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and can differ by the level of resilience. National studies on mental health and resilience of individuals and communities during the pandemic provide heterogeneous results and more data on mental health outcomes and resilience trajectories are needed to better understand the impact of the pandemic on mental health in Europe.

METHODS

COPERS (Coping with COVID-19 with Resilience Study) is an observational multinational longitudinal study conducted in eight European countries (Albania, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia). Recruitment of participants is based on convenience sampling and data are gathered through an online questionnaire. gathering data on depression, anxiety, stress-related symptoms suicidal ideation and resilience. Resilience is measured with the Brief Resilience Scale and with the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Depression is measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire, Anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and stress-related symptoms with the Impact of Event Scale Revised- Suicidal ideation is assessed using item 9 of the PHQ-9. We also consider potential determinants and moderating factors for mental health conditions, including sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender), social environmental factors (e.g., loneliness, social capital) and coping strategies (e.g., Self-efficacy Belief).

DISCUSSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to multi-nationally and longitudinally determine mental health outcomes and resilience trajectories in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study will help to determine mental health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic across Europe. The findings may benefit pandemic preparedness planning and future evidence-based mental health policies.

Data collection during time of crisis – experiences from the COPERS study

Background

The pandemic situation has been present for more than a year all over the world. In almost all countries actions were taken following WHO recommendations of social distance, smart work, online lectures, using of masks, etc. These procedures reduced physical distance but increased social isolation, encouraging virtual connection among people and eventually, increasing psychological repercussions. In many countries, equivalent measures were taken, but the cultural vulnerability to the virus could be dissimilar, influencing on social disruption and economic inequalities among countries. COPERS study aims to examine the association between the exposure and depression, perceived stress, anxiety, suicidal ideation, social capital in different cultural contexts.

Methods

We carefully focused on measuring exposure. Exposure can be described and assessed by intensity and by duration. We assessed both intensity and duration of exposure to the pandemic itself and to the containment measures. IES-R was used to assess the impact of the pandemic Covid-19 among people, assessing among others, feelings, sleeping troubles, stressful life events and emotional reactions.

Results

The assessments included specific issues on exposure range to Covid-19 in different countries. Specifically, could be mentioned the mandatory isolation policy in specific hours, freely vaccination willingness and high suicidal occurrences as the Albanian case. Despite the high mortality and suicidal cases in Albania, many people acted as if virus was not around. However, it was possible to obtain data in a cultural environment which was reluctant to participate.

Conclusions

The measure to overcome skepticism to participate was mainly possible due to building trust to key persons. More measure how to conduct studies in populations which are reluctant to participate in research will be discussed. To obtain results in times of crises it is necessary to get data as well in difficult to reach populations.

Efficacy of Psychological Interventions on Depression Anxiety and Somatization in Migrants: A Meta-analysis

Many studies reveal the effectiveness of different psychological interventions on the adult refugees reporting mental health distress. Aim of this metanalysis was to test the efficacy of different psychological treatments on the depressive, anxiety and somatization symptoms on refugees and asylum seekers. Fifty-two studies, since 1997 to 2019, were included in the systematic review and 27 of those were included in the metanalysis. Studies providing a pre and post treatment methodological design were included. All treatments reported significant effects on the three outcomes. Qualitative observations showed a probability to have a significant pre-post treatment effects on trials with outcome of depression (56%), anxiety (44%), and somatization (42%). Cognitive behavioral treatment resulted the most effective treatment. The status of refugee compared to the status of asylum seeker seems to have a great effect on the effectiveness of the treatment.

Neurophysiological correlates of emotional face perception consciousness

Aim of the present study was to investigate the neurophysiologic correlates of the conscious and not conscious perception of faces (presented for 14, 40, 80 ms) with happy and sad emotional valence. Electroencephalographic data of 22 participants during a report-based visual task were recorded. Both happy and sad faces presented for 14 ms showed a longer N170 latency compared to the faces presented for 40 and 80 ms. A shorter latency of early components (before N170) was found in the right hemisphere and a longer latency in the left one in response to the happy faces presented for 14 ms compared to those presented for longer times. The faces presented for 14 ms, declared as consciously perceived, evoked a higher brain response compared to those declared as not perceived. Parietal and cingulate brain areas showed a lower intensity of the brain response to the consciously perceived faces in the early components. Happy faces showed a greater brain response when consciously detected, while the sad faces induced a greater brain response when not consciously detected. The findings suggest that the N170 may be the epiphenomenon of an earlier consciously detection. Moreover, these preliminary results seem to support a main role of parietal and cingulate brain areas into not conscious perception.

Associations Between Social Capital and Depressive Symptoms Among College Students in 12 Countries: Results of a Cross-National Study

Introduction

A mental health crisis has hit university campuses across the world. This study sought to determine the prevalence and social determinants of depressive symptoms among university students in twelve countries. Particular focus was placed on the association between social capital and depressive symptoms.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among students at their first year at university in Europe, Asia, the Western Pacific, and Latin and North America. Data were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire, including questions on sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and social capital. The simplified Beck's Depression Inventory was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. Social capital was assessed using items drawn from the World Bank Integrated Questionnaire to Measure Social Capital. Multilevel analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between social capital and depressive symptoms, adjusting for individual covariates (e.g., perceived stress) and country-level characteristics (e.g., economic development).

Results

Among 4228 students, 48% presented clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Lower levels of cognitive (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.44-2.29) and behavioral social capital (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.29-1.76) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. The likelihood of having depressive symptoms was also significantly higher among those living in regions with lower levels of social capital.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that lower levels of individual and macro-level social capital contribute to clinically relevant depressive symptoms among university students. Increasing social capital may mitigate depressive symptoms in college students.

Social capital and students’ health: results of the splash study

Background

Universities around the world are challenged with rising rates of mental health problems among their students. Cumulative evidence demonstrated that aspects of the social environment, including social capital, play an important role in mental health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students from across the globe and to investigate whether social capital was associated with depressive symptoms in university students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Albania, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Malaysia Oman, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the USA in 2018/2019. Data were obtained through self-administered questionnaire, including questions on sociodemographic characteristics and depressive symptoms. The BDI-S was used to assess the presence of depressive symptoms. Multilevel analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between social capital and depressive, adjusting for individual covariates (e.g. perceived stress and health behaviours) and country-level characteristics (e.g. democracy type).

Results

A total 3894 students participated. Out of all participants almost 47% presented clinically relevant depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was highest among students identifying as other than male or female (48.7%), among students with low socioeconomic status (59.5%) and among students with low levels of cognitive (65.3%) and behavioural social capital (57.0%). Even after adjustment in multilevel logistic regression analyses, depressive symptoms remained significantly associated with low levels of cognitive social capital (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.10) and low level of behavioural social capital (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.71).

Conclusions

Social capital may play an important role in mental health problems in the university setting. The study identified significant opportunities for future research and health promotion strategies among students.

Key messages

Key factors associated with depressive symptoms among university students were low levels of behavioural and cognitive social capital. Health promotion programs targeting young persons with depressive symptoms should include effective components of social epidemiology such as social capital.