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Abstract Background The number of people struggling with vulnerability to mental health difficulties is increasing worldwide, and there is a need for new interventions, to prevent more people from developing serious mental illnesses. In recent years, peer support has been suggested as a key element in creating person-centered interventions in mental health services. However, the evidence for peer support is not yet established. We aim to investigate the effect of a 10-week peer-support intervention “Paths to EvERyday life” (PEER) added to service as usual (SAU) versus SAU alone in a Danish municipality setting. Methods A two-armed, investigator-initiated, multi-municipal, parallel-group superiority trial to investigate the effectiveness of the PEER intervention added to SAU compared to SAU alone. A total of 284 participants will be recruited from the municipal social services in the participating municipalities and by self-referrals and randomly assigned to (1) the PEER intervention added to SAU or (2) SAU. The primary outcome is a self-assessed personal recovery (Questionnaire about the process of recovery (QPR-15)) at end of the intervention. The secondary outcomes are self-assessed empowerment (Empowerment Scale Rogers (ESR)), quality of life (The Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of life (MANSA)), and functioning (Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)). Discussion This trial will test a new community-based peer-support intervention, and if the intervention proves to be effective, the goal is that future integration of this intervention will improve individual recovery and mental health and reduce the societal burden of individuals seeking municipal social support and/or mental health services. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04639167. Registered on Nov. 19, 2020.

'Mentally vulnerable' young people are a strong focal point in public debate and policy in Denmark at present, and a variety of cultural activities are now being offered to them. Building on ethnographic fieldwork (April 2018-August 2019) with so-called mentally vulnerable young women (aged 18-36) who meet in literature reading groups, this article seeks to connect the reading group with the phenomenon of 'mental vulnerability', first through a review of the historical emergence and contemporary use of the term, and second by considering what (painful) experiences the term signifies for individuals belonging to this category. This contextualization involves a discussion of literature on the role of context in anthropological analyses. The article concludes with an empirical contradiction: the reading group provides a sanctuary from everyday demands for purposefulness and productivity, but it can also be used as a strategy for navigating such demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of people struggling with vulnerability to mental health difficulties is increasing worldwide, and there is a need for new interventions, to prevent more people from developing serious mental illnesses. In recent years, peer support has been suggested as a key element in creating person-centered interventions in mental health services. However, the evidence for peer support is not yet established. We aim to investigate the effect of a 10-week peer-support intervention "Paths to EvERyday life" (PEER) added to service as usual (SAU) versus SAU alone in a Danish municipality setting.Methods: A two-armed, investigator-initiated, multi-municipal, parallel-group superiority trial to investigate the effectiveness of the PEER intervention added to SAU compared to SAU alone. A total of 284 participants will be recruited from the municipal social services in the participating municipalities and by self-referrals and randomly assigned to (1) the PEER intervention added to SAU or (2) SAU. The primary outcome is a self-assessed personal recovery (Questionnaire about the process of recovery (QPR-15)) at end of the intervention. The secondary outcomes are self-assessed empowerment (Empowerment Scale Rogers (ESR)), quality of life (The Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of life (MANSA)), and functioning (Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)).Discussion: This trial will test a new community-based peer-support intervention, and if the intervention proves to be effective, the goal is that future integration of this intervention will improve individual recovery and mental health and reduce the societal burden of individuals seeking municipal social support and/or mental health services.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04639167. Registered on Nov. 19, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By constructing a "measure-representation-mechanism" research paradigm of mental vulnerability, this manuscript explores the mental vulnerability measures, spatial representations, and influencing factors of affordable housing residents in Fanghe Garden in Guangzhou by combining the mental vulnerability questionnaire (MVQ) and the structural equation model (SEM). First, the residents of Fanghe Garden had a higher mental vulnerability, difficulties in interpersonal interaction, and lower well-being. Second, the behavioral spatial representations of residents' mental vulnerability were significantly differentiated. Low-rent housing residents were less active and preferred hidden and small places, while economically affordable housing residents were more active, and they concentrated their activity space in the cultural gallery and central square. Residents were highly willing to interact with neighbors within the community, but mainly with similar people. Third, housing condition, community construction, physical condition, neighborhood communication, and housing experience had a significant negative effect on the mental vulnerability of affordable housing residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim was to investigate and compare the prevalence of symptoms of depression throughout pregnancy and postpartum among women who at the first pregnancy consultation had (1) record of mental disease, (2) self-reported psychological difficulties but no record of mental disease, or (3) no mental vulnerability. Materials and methods: Prospective cohort study. An electronic questionnaire containing the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) was e-mailed to 1494 pregnant women after the first, second and third prenatal care consultation and eight weeks postpartum. High depression score was considered present with MDI scores of 21 or more. Information on sociodemographic, somatic comorbidities and previous psychiatric disorders was collected. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: The overall prevalence of symptoms of depression (MDI - 21) dropped throughout pregnancy. At the first prenatal care consultation the prevalence was 15.3%, 10.7% in the second trimester, 9.3% in the third trimester and 5.6% postpartum. Logistic regression showed increased risk of symptoms of depression throughout pregnancy and postpartum for both women with mental disease and psychological difficulties. For each outcome, the increase in odds for the psychological difficulties group was about one third of the increase in odds for the mental illness group. Conclusions: Self-reported psychological difficulties may indicate higher odds of depressive symptoms. The healthcare staff meeting the pregnant women in early pregnancy have a good opportunity to identify this subgroup of vulnerable women by means of the Pregnancy Health Records and additional questions exploring women's experiences with previous psychological difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By constructing a “measure-representation-mechanism” research paradigm of mental vulnerability, this manuscript explores the mental vulnerability measures, spatial representations, and influencing factors of affordable housing residents in Fanghe Garden in Guangzhou by combining the mental vulnerability questionnaire (MVQ) and the structural equation model (SEM). First, the residents of Fanghe Garden had a higher mental vulnerability, difficulties in interpersonal interaction, and lower well-being. Second, the behavioral spatial representations of residents’ mental vulnerability were significantly differentiated. Low-rent housing residents were less active and preferred hidden and small places, while economically affordable housing residents were more active, and they concentrated their activity space in the cultural gallery and central square. Residents were highly willing to interact with neighbors within the community, but mainly with similar people. Third, housing condition, community construction, physical condition, neighborhood communication, and housing experience had a significant negative effect on the mental vulnerability of affordable housing residents.

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AbstractBackground.The mechanisms linking cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression are still not established. We investigated the impact of mental vulnerability on the relationship between CVD and depression.Methods.A total of 19,856 individuals from five cohorts of random samples of the background population in Copenhagen were followed from baseline (1983–2011) until 2017 in Danish registries. Additive hazard and Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the effects of confounding by mental vulnerability as well as interactions between mental vulnerability and CVD on the risk of depression.Results.During follow-up, 15.3% developed CVD, while 18.1% experienced depression. A strong positive association between CVD and depression (hazard ratio: 3.60 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 3.30; 3.92]) corresponding to 35.4 (95% CI: 31.7; 39.1) additional cases per 1,000 person-years was only slightly attenuated after adjustment for mental vulnerability in addition to other confounders. Synergistic interaction between CVD and mental vulnerability was identified in the additive hazard model. Due to interaction between CVD and mental vulnerability, CVD was associated with 50.9 more cases of depression per 1,000 person-years among individuals with high mental vulnerability compared with individuals with low mental vulnerability.Conclusions.Mental vulnerability did not explain the strong relationship between CVD and depression. CVD was associated with additional cases of depression among individuals with higher mental vulnerability indicating that this group holds the greatest potential for intervention, for example, in rehabilitation settings.

Recently, the prisons have noticed that some inmates have intellectual disabilities, and they did not have a diagnosis until they were in prison. This means that their mental vulnerability has not been considered during the criminal procedure and, therefore, the right to a fair trial has been compromised. This is a hidden reality that has gone unnoticed for professionals and researchers. This paper focuses on what happens to people with intellectual disabilities who commit crimes and how they go through the criminal procedure. For this purpose, first, intellectual disability is conceptualized. Then the barriers in the penal system are identified and different strategies to adapt the penal system to the people with intellectual disabilities are explored in order to ensure the right to a fair trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The mechanisms linking cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression are still not established. We investigated the impact of mental vulnerability on the relationship between CVD and depression. Methods. A total of 19,856 individuals from five cohorts of random samples of the background population in Copenhagen were followed from baseline (1983-2011) until 2017 in Danish registries. Additive hazard and Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the effects of confounding by mental vulnerability as well as interactions between mental vulnerability and CVD on the risk of depression. Results. During follow-up, 15.3% developed CVD, while 18.1% experienced depression. A strong positive association between CVD and depression (hazard ratio: 3.60 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 3.30; 3.92]) corresponding to 35.4 (95% CI: 31.7; 39.1) additional cases per 1,000 person-years was only slightly attenuated after adjustment for mental vulnerability in addition to other confounders. Synergistic interaction betweenCVDand mental vulnerability was identified in the additive hazard model. Due to interaction between CVD and mental vulnerability, CVD was associated with 50.9 more cases of depression per 1,000 person-years among individuals with high mental vulnerability compared with individuals with low mental vulnerability. Conclusions. Mental vulnerability did not explain the strong relationship between CVD and depression. CVD was associated with additional cases of depression among individuals with higher mental vulnerability indicating that this group holds the greatest potential for intervention, for example, in rehabilitation settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chalotte Heinsvig Poulsen,1,2 Lene Falgaard Eplov,2 Carsten Hjorthøj,2 Marie Eliasen,1 Sine Skovbjerg,1 Thomas Meinertz Dantoft,1 Andreas Schröder,3 Torben Jørgensen1,4,5 1Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Capital Region of Denmark, Glostrup, 2Copenhagen University Hospital, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Hellerup, 3Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, 4Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 5The Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with mental vulnerability, and half of patients report comorbid somatic and mental symptoms. We aimed to investigate the relationship between an IBS symptom continuum and the subsequent development of common mental disorders (CMDs) and functional somatic syndromes (FSSs).Methods and study design: A longitudinal population-based study comprising two 5-year follow-up studies, Dan-MONICA 1 (1982–1987) and Inter99 (1999–2004), recruited from the western part of Copenhagen County. The total study population (n = 7,278) was divided into symptom groups according to the degree of IBS definition fulfillment at baseline and/or follow-up and was followed until December 2013 in Danish central registries. Cox regression was used for the analyses, adjusting for age, sex, length of education and cohort membership. In a subsequent analysis, we adjusted for mental vulnerability as a risk factor for both CMDs and FSSs, including IBS.Results: Over a 5-year period, 51% patients had no IBS symptoms, 17% patients had IBS symptoms without abdominal pain, 22% patients had IBS symptoms including abdominal pain and 10% patients fulfilled the IBS definition. IBS and IBS symptoms including abdominal pain were significantly associated with the development of CMDs and other FSSs identified in secondary care. When adjusting for mental vulnerability, IBS and IBS symptoms including abdominal pain were no longer associated with CMDs, but the significant relationship to other FSSs remained.Conclusion: In a clinical setting, the perspective should be broadened to individuals not fulfilling the symptom cluster of IBS but who report frequent abdominal pain. Additionally, it is important to combine symptom-based criteria of IBS with psychosocial markers such as mental vulnerability, because it could guide clinicians in decisions regarding prognosis and treatment. Keywords: functional gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain, comorbidity, somatization, neuroticism

Background and Aim: Mental vulnerability (i.e. a tendency to experience psychosomatic symptoms, mental symptoms or interpersonal problems) is associated with various diseases. This study investigated whether mental vulnerability is associated with hospitalization for depression.Methods: A prospective study was conducted of six cohorts from the population of Copenhagen County, Denmark, with baseline information on mental vulnerability, lifestyle, social factors and comorbidity collected in 1976, 1982–84, 1991 and 1997–98 (N = 11,862). By register-linkage information on hospital contacts for affective disorders were obtained from the Danish Psychiatric Central Register. The association between mental vulnerability and depression was examined using Kaplan-Meier plots allowing for death as competing risk and Cox proportional-hazard models adjusting for possible confounders.Results: The cohort of 11,862 persons yielded a mean follow-up time of 12.3 years with 170 persons hospitalized with depression. The adjusted hazard ratio for hospitalization for depression associated with mental vulnerability was 1.23 (95% CI, 1.16–1.31) per step on the most used 12-item scale.Conclusions: Mental vulnerability may be a risk factor for depression. Early identification and treatment of depression are essential for preventing chronic depression, reduced social functioning and disability. Psychiatric interviews should be used to evaluate whether the criteria for depression are fulfilled, but it may furthermore be relevant to identify persons who may be at risk of developing depression in the long term. The possibility of using, for example, the mental vulnerability scale for such purpose should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Eplov, L.F., Petersen, J., Jørgensen, T., Johansen, C., Birket-Smith, M., Lyngberg, A. C. & Mortensen, E. L. (2010). The Mental Vulnerability Questionnaire: A psychometric evaluation. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 51, 548-554. The Mental Vulnerability Questionnaire was originally a 22 item scale, later reduced to a 12 item scale. In population studies the 12 item scale has been a significant predictor of health and illness. The scale has not been psychometrically evaluated for more than 30 years, and the aim of the present study was both to evaluate the psychometric properties of the 22 and 12 item scales and of three new scales. The main study sample was a community sample comprising more than 6,000 men and women. In this sample the coefficients of homogeneity were all over 0.30 for the three new scales, but below 0.30 for the 12 and the 22 item scales. All five Mental Vulnerability scales had positively skewed score distributions which were associated significantly with both SCL-90-R symptom scores and NEO-PI-R personality scales (primarily Neuroticism and Extraversion). Coefficient alpha was highest for the 22 and 12 item scales, and the two scales also showed the highest long-term stability. The three new scales reflect relatively independent dimensions of Psychosomatic Symptoms, Mental Symptoms, and Interpersonal Problems, but because of reliability problems it remains an open question whether they will prove useful as predictors of health and morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective joint working has become an essential component of public-service delivery. The interface between the public, the private and the third sector is increasingly complicated as co-working and the possible pooling of resources is required to meet greater service demands. Within housing, joint working has emerged as a particularly thorny problem, since a legislative gap within the Housing Act 1996 has required other organisations to step in and meet unmet housing needs. This article explores the nature and impetus for joint working in relation to social housing for the mentally vulnerable. It draws upon empirical data collected from an ESRC-funded (Economic and Social Research Council) project called 'Housing The Mentally Vulnerable: The Role Of Charities'. It examines the benefits that can accrue from successful collaboration, the barriers to joint working that currently exist and the need to draw upon known mechanisms that could facilitate the joint working process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]