Search

While most studies have been reporting the psychological issues being faced by the public due to the global spread of coronavirus and sudden restrictions and changes accompanying it, the present study attempted to explore dynamic human experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdown, so as to understand the psycho-social factors that acted as adaptive resources or as buffers to maintain a stable mental state amidst this crisis. In-depth telephonic interviews with 30 participants were conducted to explore their experiences in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown. Thematic analysis performed to identify the positive and protective factors that helped people adapt in a healthy way revealed that although the initial response of the participants to the pandemic was "optimistic bias" followed by downplaying the seriousness of the issue, later they demonstrated increased realization and acceptance to the seriousness of the situation. Upon realizing the situation, their positive psychological resources acted as a buffer against the ill effects of the pandemic, and they used both cognitive and behavioral coping. The study clearly demonstrates that crisis in life is not just a source of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty but also an opportunity to test one's psychological resources to learn and grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new entity affecting a small percentage of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: Demography, clinical, and laboratory variables of children admitted from April to September 2020 with MIS-C were studied retrospectively at eight hospitals in Delhi, India. Results: We identified 120 patients [median age: 7 years (interquartile range (IQR): 4-10)] with male-to-female ratio of 2.3:1. Overall, 73 out of 120 children (60.8%) presented with shock, 63 (52.5%) required inopressor support, and 51 (43%) required respiratory support. We categorized the cohort into three observed clinical phenotypes: MIS-C with shock (n = 63), MIS-C with Kawasaki disease (KD) (n = 23), and MIS-C without shock and KD (n = 34). Atypical presentations were hypothermia, orchitis, meningoencephalitis, demyelination, polyneuropathy, pancreatitis, and appendicitis. Ninety-four percent had laboratory evidence of SARS-CoV-2 (78.3%, seropositive and 15.8%, RT-PCR positive). The median C-reactive protein (CRP) was 136 mg/L (IQR, 63.5-212.5) and ferritin was 543 ng/mL (IQR, 225-1,127). More than 90% received immunomodulatory therapy (intravenous immunoglobulins and/or steroids) with an excellent outcome (96% survived). CRP and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) were correlated statistically with severity. Conclusion: MIS-C data from Delhi are presented. Rising CRP and ANC predict the severe MIS-C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 forced lockdown in India, leading to the loss of job, crisis of food, and other financial catastrophes that led to the exodus migration of internal migrant workers, operating in the private sector, back to their homes. Unavailability of transport facilities led to an inflicted need to walk back to homes barefooted without lack of any other crucial resources on the way. The woeful state of internal migrant workers walking back, with all their stuff on their back, holding their children, was trending on social media worldwide. Their problem continued even after reaching home, including misbehavior of villagers, indifferent mannerism of family members toward them, inability to fulfill family responsibility, and financial crisis, which led to stress, fear, and trauma for these internal migrant workers. The present paper aimed to assess the idiosyncratic stressors of internal migrant workers throughout the pandemic era and their responses toward those problems, which helped them cope with it. In-depth semistructured telephonic interviews were conducted with 25 internal migrant workers who were working in different cities in India before lockdown. The analyses revealed that multiple stressors include financial crisis, unavailability of food, inability to continue education, inability to pay house rent, lack of support from neighbors and family, and other psychological stressors that affected them. However, they also tried multiple strategies to deal with the problems, including a cognitive appraisal of the problem and making oneself psychologically competent to deal with the situation. Social support of family and friends played a vital role in enhancing hardiness and increasing the level of happiness at scarce times. At the same time, some of them could not deal with stressors and opted for psychiatric help to manage the physical symptoms of stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 epidemic has mushroomed globally, disrupting the existence of millions. Under this current pandemic situation, the frontline health care professionals are looped in the clutch of the virus and are relatively more exposed to the patients infected with the disease. In this precarious situation, the frontline health care professionals have contributed their best to provide utmost care to the patients infected with the ailment. The direct involvement of these professionals, however, has taken a toll on their physical health as well as on their mental well-being. Several studies conducted recently have reported that frontline health care workers engaged in direct diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with COVID-19 are associated with a higher risk of symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. Lack of personal protection equipment, unreasonable amounts of work, improper medicines, fear of contracting the disease, and lack of skilled training have interposed the frontline health care workers with unimaginable stress. Due to the widespread outbreak, the death count of the frontline health care professionals has also surged. However, studies exploring the physical and mental welfare of the frontline health care professionals and their families are very few and far behind. To address this aperture, the present paper attempts to highlight the psychological and physical impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frontline health care professions and to understand the impact of the death of these frontline health care professionals on the psychological well-being, mourning process, and complicated grief among the family members of healthcare professionals. The paper also presents some recommendations for providing psychological support to healthcare professionals and their bereaved families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide prevention in times of COVID-19 pandemic has become more challenging than ever due to unusual circumstances. The common risk factors identified with regard to suicidal behavior are fear of COVID-19, economic instability, poor access to healthcare facilities, pre-existing psychiatric disorders, and social disconnect. The studies done so far have reported either case studies or have made an effort to understand the risk factors. An understanding of the underlying causal pattern from existing theories, behind these risks, will enable adopting appropriate prevention mechanisms. Hence, this review examines evidence related to risk factors of suicides that occurred during COVID 19 and discusses it in the light of three major theoretical approaches: interpersonal model, stress diathesis model, and cognitive model. The insights obtained from the three viewpoints reveal that perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, stress sensitivity, cognitive errors such as magnification, catastrophic thinking, arbitrary inference, and mind-reading are likely reasons behind these risk factors for suicide. It is suggested that awareness regarding COVID-19 stressors, use of community-based approaches like gatekeeper training, and brief online psychotherapy by using techniques of mindfulness, interpersonal psychotherapy, and cognitive behavior therapy can be useful in reducing suicide risk during COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: psychological antibodies; COVID-19 pandemic; psychopathology; psychological immunity; frontline healthcare warriors EN psychological antibodies COVID-19 pandemic psychopathology psychological immunity frontline healthcare warriors N.PAG N.PAG 5 12/23/20 20201218 NES 201218 The rapid and unprecedented worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus, also termed as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has immensely strained the existing healthcare systems (HCSs) throughout the world ([1]). An eventual rise in the need of mental health services by HCWs is probable as these mental health consequences may remain even after the pandemic remits ([7], [8]). COVID-19-Linked Psychopathology in HCWs The medical personnel attending the COVID-19 patients report significantly higher symptoms of somatization, obsession, compulsion, anxiety, phobic anxiety, and psychoticism. [Extracted from the article]

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this fast-moving world to a standstill. The impact of this pandemic is massive, and the only strategy to curb the rapid spread of the disease is to follow social distancing. The imposed lockdown, resulting in the closure of business activities, public places, fitness and activity centers, and overall social life, has hampered many aspects of the lives of people including routine fitness activities of fitness freaks, which has resulted in various psychological issues and serious fitness and health concerns. In the present paper, the authors aimed at understanding the unique experiences of fitness freaks during the period of lockdown due to COVID-19. The paper also intended to explore the ways in which alternate exercises and fitness activities at home helped them deal with psychological issues and physical health consequences. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 22 adults who were regularly working out in the gym before the COVID-19 pandemic but stayed at home during the nationwide lockdown. The analysis revealed that during the initial phase of lockdown, the participants had a negative situational perception and a lack of motivation for fitness exercise. They also showed psychological health concerns and overdependence on social media in spending their free time. However, there was a gradual increase in positive self-perception and motivation to overcome their dependence on gym and fitness equipment and to continue fitness exercises at home. Participants also tended to play music as a tool while working out. The regular fitness workout at home during the lockdown greatly helped them to overcome psychological issues and fitness concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although the prevalence and mental health consequences of childhood maltreatment among adolescents have been studied widely, there are few data addressing these issues in Asian lower middle–income countries. Here, we assessed the prevalence and types of childhood maltreatment and, for the first time, examined their association with current mental health problems in Indian adolescents with a history of child work. Methods: One hundred and thirty-two adolescents (12–18 years; 114 males, 18 females) with a history of child work were interviewed using the Child Maltreatment, Conventional Crime, and Witnessing and Indirect Victimisation modules of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire. Potential psychiatric diagnoses and current emotional and behavioural problems were assessed using the culturally adapted Hindi versions of the Youth's Inventory–4R and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, respectively. Results: A large proportion of the sample reported childhood abuse or neglect (83.36%), direct or indirect victimisation (100%) and experienced symptoms of one or more psychiatric disorders (83.33%). Of the most common maltreatment types, physical abuse was present for 72.73% (extra-familial 56.25%, intra-familial 42.71%), emotional abuse for 47.7% (extra-familial 74.6%, intra-familial 12.9%), general neglect for 17.4% and unsafe home for 45.5% of the adolescents. All these maltreatment types were associated with poor mental health, with emotional abuse showing the strongest and wide-ranging impact. Conclusions: Indian adolescents with a history of child work are at an extremely high risk of extra-familial physical and emotional abuse as well as victimisation. They also experience a range of psychiatric symptoms, especially if they suffered emotional abuse. There is an urgent need for routine mental health screening and to consider emotional abuse in all current and future top-down and bottom-up approaches to address childhood maltreatment, as well as in potential interventions to ameliorate its adverse effects on mental health and well-being, of child and adolescent workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the role of childhood parental emotional abuse and neglect in the formation and development of fear of intimacy in the context of romantic relationships and depressive symptoms among a sample of young adults. A total of 275 participants (120 males &155 females) having the age range from 18 years to 25 years were administered Computer Assisted Maltreatment Inventory-Psychological Abuse Subscale, Multidimensional Neglectful Behaviour-Form A 20 (Adolescent & Adult Recall Version), Fear of Intimacy Scale and Beck Depression Inventory II. The results of the study showed a significant relationship of childhood parental emotional abuse and neglect with fear of intimacy and depressive symptoms. The results also suggested significant gender differences in fear of intimacy among young adults. Childhood parental emotional abuse and neglect were significantly predicted fear of intimacy and depressive symptoms. The results, thus, indicate that childhood parental emotional abuse and neglect play a critical role in the development of fear of intimacy in the context of romantic relationships and depressive symptoms among young adults. Therefore, it may be argued that maltreatment occurring during the childhood may have enduring adverse influences on adult psychological health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ: Baer, Smith, Hopkins, Krietemeyer & Toney, 2006) though is a widely used measure for assessing the trait mindfulness, its five factor structure has been questioned and a four factor model (without observe dimension) has been advocated in several studies. The validity of the initially proposed five factor and the alternative four factor models of the FFMQ was tested in the present study using the Hindi version of this measure (FFMQ-H) on a sample of 300 non-meditators (163 males & 137 females). Findings of the confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the original five factor of the FFMQ do not provide a good fit to the data even after allowing the five dimensions and some of the error terms to correlate. The test of the alternative four factor model (without the observe dimension) yielded a better fit compared to five factor model. The model was further revised by dropping three items (33, 4 & 10) having poor psychometric properties and/or poor loading which resulted in considerable improvement in the model fit. The final 28 item Hindi version of the FFMQ (without observe dimension) and its four factors demonstrated satisfactory reliability (alpha coefficient for the whole scale was .85 & for the four factors it ranged from .61 to .81). The findings suggest that the FFMQ-H can be used to reliably measure the trait mindfulness among Hindi speaking Indians and the trait mindfulness can be better summarized by four factors without the observe dimension that may be redundant for assessing it among non-meditators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a severe psychopathological disorder that is marked by a constellation of affective, cognitive and memory deficits. These deficits have been observed as being responsible for the onset, maintenance, and recurrence of depressive episodes among individuals diagnosed with depression. However, the nature and course of these cognitive and affective deficits in undiagnosed samples are relatively less explored. The present study examined the nature of autobiographical memory recall and emotion regulation in 38 (19 male and 19 female) depressed participants screened on the basis of their scores on Beck Depression Inventory-II. All the selected participants responded on self-report measure of Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and Autobiographical Memory Test. The results showed that both the dimensions of emotion regulation (emotion suppression and cognitive reappraisal) correlated positively and significantly with depression. However, the emotion suppression dimension emerged as best predictor of depression. Results also showed a significant and negative correlation between depression and specificity of positive autobiographical memory recall. Overall, the findings of the present study suggest that the overgeneral autobiographical memory recall, use of inappropriate emotion regulation strategy and lack of motivation to repair negative mood are associated with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The link between mindfulness and better emotion regulation (ER) has been well documented, but the mechanism through which it improves ER is still unclear. It is likely that the emotion regulatory effects of mindfulness might be occurring indirectly through other affective aspects (e.g., range & differentiation of emotional experiences). The said possibility was tested on a sample of 211 adults, using self-report measures of mindfulness, the use of ER strategies (reappraisal & suppression) and range and differentiation of emotional experience. Analyses revealed that mindfulness and its dimensions correlated negatively with the use of suppression and positively with reappraisal as well as range and differentiation of emotional experiences. The hypothesis that mindfulness influences ER indirectly through altering the range and differentiation of emotions is supported by the findings of structural equation modeling. Findings revealed that mindfulness was indirectly linked with enhanced use of reappraisal through improved emotional differentiation and reduced use of suppression through enhancement of both the range and differentiation of emotional experiences. Further, mindfulness was found to have a significant direct effect on suppression but not on reappraisal. These findings imply that mindfulness exerts its emotion regulatory effect indirectly by enhancing the range and differentiation of emotional experiences but it may also have some direct effect on some aspects of ER such as reduced emotional suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that cognitive styles do not remain static, but they change over a period of time. Both boys and girls become more field independent with increase in their age. The present study examines the development of field dependent-field independent cognitive style and related cognitive functioning of school children. A sample of 220 school children (111 boys and 109 girls) of 7-12 years was selected randomly from four schools of Varanasi city and divided into three groups, i e., 7-8 (group-1), 9-10 (group-2), and 11-12 (group-3) years. Each child was given Story-Pictorial Embedded Figures Test (SPEFT), Figure Identification Task and Face Identification Task. Results revealed that the elder children were more Field Independent than younger children. More specifically, children of the second age group (9-10 years) scored significantly higher on SPEFT than the first age group (7-8 years). Similarly children of the third age group (11-12 years) scored higher on SPEFT than the first and second groups. However, the difference was significant only between the first and the third groups. Similar developmental trend has also been observed with regard to children's performance on Figure Identification and Face Identification tasks. Further, FI children scored higher on both Face and Figure Identification tasks as compared to their FD counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]