This scoping review aims to synthesize existing evidence on mental health (MH) interventions for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Africa. Given the high prevalence of MH disorders in this population and barriers to care, integrating MH services within HIV care settings is explored as a potential strategy to improve patient outcomes.

Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across five databases to identify studies examining MH interventions for PLWHA in African settings. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were reviewed for intervention type, target population, and reported outcomes.

Of 818 studies identified, 16 from six African countries met inclusion criteria, with Zimbabwe and South Africa leading in interventions. Most targeted depression, employing non-pharmacological approaches such as task-sharing and stepped-care models. Findings suggest integrated MH and HIV care improves MH symptoms and adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

Despite limited studies, evidence supports the feasibility and benefits of integrating MH services into HIV care in Africa. Scaling evidence-based interventions is essential to address unmet MH needs in this population.

Cooking is a central activity of daily living, supporting independence as well as mental and physical health. However, prior work has highlighted key barriers for people with low vision (LV) to cook, particularly around safely interacting with tools, such as sharp knives or hot pans. Drawing on recent advancements in computer vision (CV), we present CookAR, a head-mounted AR system with real-time object affordance augmentations to support safe and efficient interactions with kitchen tools. To design and implement CookAR, we collected and annotated the first egocentric dataset of kitchen tool affordances, fine-tuned an affordance segmentation model, and developed an AR system with a stereo camera to generate visual augmentations. To validate CookAR, we conducted a technical evaluation of our fine-tuned model as well as a qualitative lab study with 10 LV participants for suitable augmentation design. Our technical evaluation demonstrates that our model outperforms the baseline on our tool affordance dataset, while our user study indicates a preference for affordance augmentations over the traditional whole object augmentations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHS Clinical Leaders Network (CLN) developed 'The North West Offer' for Enhancing Mental Health Resilience (EMHR) in the north west of England. The EMHR programme aimed to reinforce psychological resilience in the healthcare workforce; that is, enhance the mental, emotional and behavioural adaptation processes of the workforce to pandemic challenges. The present paper describes the EMHR programme, reviews its evaluation outcomes and proposes a series of recommendations regarding promoting psychological resilience in the healthcare workforce. Recommendations include establishing reflective support for leaders, promoting knowledge sharing between leaders and organisations, collaborating with a variety of internal and external partners to maximise staff access to psychological services, ensuring uninterrupted access to clinical psychologists for staff use and monitoring of at-risk staff. These recommendations are expected to strengthen mental health workforce resilience for stressors during business as usual as well as future pandemic planning.

Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) engage in less physical activity (PA) and experience an earlier mortality rate than the general population. PA offers individuals with SMI multiple benefits, improving their physical and mental health. However, barriers are present that minimise the engagement of individuals with SMI in PA, including SMI symptoms, a lack of motivation, a lack of support and a lack of PA knowledge. Digital tools incorporated in PA interventions can assist in minimising these barriers and act as a long-term PA support for the SMI population. A gap remains in the literature on incorporating the voices of those with a lived experience of SMI in developing a long-term digital PA intervention. This project utilised a Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) approach in designing a digital web-based PA application for the SMI population in an Irish mental health residential setting, understanding SMI perspectives and influencing the design. The objective of this paper is to explore (i) the PPI process, and (ii) the impact of PPI.

A local clinical psychologist was contacted to assist in identifying suitable contributors. Two individuals with a lived experience of a SMI living in an Irish mental health residential setting and two clinicians (i.e., stakeholder representation) working within these settings were identified. The individuals with a lived experience of a SMI and the clinicians were separated, and each group contributed to separate discussions. Each group participated in two discussions, sharing their ideas and views on the design of the web-based PA application. Each contributor provided insightful feedback on the design and development of the web-based PA application. Key highlights of the discussions involved the need for the web-based application to include more visuals in comparison to writing, suitable terminology, multiple PA options, multiple intensities, font type, layout design and the exclusion of a timer and a login feature.

Based on the valuable feedback from the contributors, the web-based application was designed accordingly to address the needs and preferences of individuals with a lived experience of SMI and their clinicians working in the Irish mental health residential setting.

To investigate the impact of preoperative psychological factors on outcomes following metatarsophalangeal joint replacement surgery in patients with Freiberg's infraction.

This retrospective study included 127 patients diagnosed with Freiberg's infraction who underwent metatarsophalangeal joint replacement surgery at Xi'an Honghui Hospital's Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery between August 2013 and September 2023. Patients were stratified into two groups based on preoperative psychological status: Group A comprised patients with preoperative anxiety and/or depression symptoms, while Group B included patients without such symptoms. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were administered preoperatively and at final follow-up to assess psychological status and pain levels. Primary outcome measures included the 0-100 mm VAS for pain and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) functional score.

Of 127 patients, 91 (71.7%) completed follow-up. Among these 91 patients, 53 (58.2%) had preoperative anxiety and/or depression symptoms. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in all measured parameters compared to preoperative values. However, Group A showed significantly worse clinical outcomes than Group B across all assessment measures.

Metatarsophalangeal joint replacement surgery significantly improves pain and functional outcomes in patients with Freiberg's infraction. However, preoperative anxiety and depression are associated with inferior postoperative outcomes.

The period following the pandemic has witnessed a surge in depression, distress, and anxiety, alongside a rise in digitalization. This has underscored the necessity of finding alternatives to in-person interventions for mental well-being. According to positive psychology, compassion and gratitude can alleviate anxiety and depression. This pilot study investigates the impact of a four-week self-directed online training program that emphasizes compassion and gratitude as essential components of women's psychological well-being.

For this randomized controlled trial, a sample of 51 women aged between 21 and 39 years was selected. The experimental group (n = 26) underwent a four-week training program on compassion and gratitude, which included psychoeducation, compassion exercises, and journaling. The control group was a waitlist control group (n = 25). Participants' levels of compassion and gratitude were assessed before and after the four-week program using standardized self-report surveys. The German Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-G) and the German Multi-Component Gratitude Measure (MCGM-G) were utilized to examine the differences between the experimental group and the waitlist control group over time, a repeated measures ANOVA was conducted.

The study shows that participants in the experimental group experienced a significant improvement in both compassion and gratitude skills. Furthermore, there was a strong positive correlation between compassion and gratitude.

The findings of the pilot study suggest that a brief self-directed online program aimed at cultivating compassion and gratitude can enhance factors that are crucial to women's mental well-being. Further research is necessary to examine the long-term effects of these interventions and their suitability for diverse demographics.

The trail was registered 23.12.2022 at German Clinical Trails Registre.

DRKS00030973.

Substance abuse poses significant health and societal burdens, particularly among psychiatric populations. Various coping styles, such as emotion-oriented and task-oriented approaches, influence substance use behaviors. This study explores the relationship between these coping styles and the utilization and misuse of industrial and traditional substances among hospitalized psychiatric patients in Iran.

This cross-sectional study employed census sampling to evaluate 510 hospitalized psychiatric patients (135 women and 375 men) at Shiraz Ibn Sina Hospital in Iran over a three-month period. Participants underwent clinical interviews and completed Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), the Iranian Addiction Potential Scale (IAPS), and a substance use checklist. The study aimed to assess stress coping styles and addiction potential among all eligible patients in the hospital during the study period. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23.

A study of 510 patients (375 males, 135 females; average age 36.2 ± 10.7) examined coping styles and addiction susceptibility. No significant difference was found in emotion-focused coping (p = 0.818), but males scored higher in task-oriented coping (p = 0.036) and addiction risk (p < 0.001). Substance users exhibited varying addiction potentials: cigarette smokers (p = 0.048), hookah users (p = 0.004), and amphetamine users (p < 0.001) showed notable tendencies toward emotion-oriented coping. Significant associations were found between substance use and psychiatric disorders, particularly mood and psychotic disorders (p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated coping styles significantly predict IAPS scores; task-oriented lowers (Beta: -0.233, p < 0.001), emotion-oriented increases (Beta: 0.378, p < 0.001) addiction risk.

Emotion-oriented coping was positively associated with addiction potential, while task-oriented coping showed a protective effect. These findings underscore the predictive value of coping styles in addiction vulnerability and support the development of coping-focused interventions.

Georgia has experienced large waves of internal displacement and has one of the highest prevalence of internal displacement in the world, with IDPs representing about 7.5% of the population. Internal Displacement of Persons (IDP) carry multiple traumas that could affect the displaced populations.

To evaluate IDPs traumas and its mental health associations as compared to the non-displaced persons (non-IDPs) in Georgia.

This study employed a cross-sectional survey using representative sampling of IDPs and a randomized sample of non-IDPs totalling 1765 non-displaced people and 203 IDPs. Interviews were conducted face to face using ITQ (International Trauma Questionnaire) for PTSD, Composite Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) short form for anxious and depressive disorders, questions on suicidal behaviour; ASSIST for addictions, MH5 from SF36 for psychological distress.

IDPs and non IDPs populations differed on many aspects: IDPs were older, retired, from rural areas with lower education than non IDPs. Exposure to multiple traumatic events was higher in IDPs: 22.08% reported 4 or more events versus 1.27% for non IDPs. IDPs had much higher PTSD impairing symptoms from ITQ than non-IDPs (8.59% versus 1.32%). They suffered more from psychological distress and anxiety disorders but have equal prevalence of depressive disorders and moderate or severe risk of addictions. IDPs have lower prevalence of suicidal thoughts than non IDPs. Once controlled for most of the sociodemographic factors, IDPs remained at very higher risk as compared to non-IDPs for PTSD symptoms with impairment (OR = 12.12, GAD OR = 3.38, and panic anxiety OR = 1.72).

Georgian IDPs are more likely to suffer from PTSD and anxious disorders than non-IDPs. Special attention should be paid to the population experiencing internally displacement securing their surrounding and providing psychosocial support.

Patients with eating disorders show an elevated suicide risk compared to the general population. Adverse childhood experiences, depressive symptoms, and mental pain, often accompanied by hopelessness and demoralization, may increase this risk. This study aims to explore suicidal ideation and self-injurious behaviors in a heterogeneous sample of ED patients, and their association with childhood trauma and negative mental states.

101 female patients were recruited from the inpatient and day hospital ED units at Policlinico Umberto I, Rome. Assessments included comorbid psychiatric diagnosis, suicide risk, mental pain, childhood trauma, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and demoralization.

Suicidal ideation in the past month was significantly associated with trait and state-level mental pain, self-reported sexual abuse, depression, hopelessness, and loss of meaning. In the multivariate model, only childhood sexual abuse and loss of meaning remained significantly associated. Self-injurious behaviors in the past 3 months were associated with trait-level psychache, self-reported sexual and physical abuse, and depression severity, however significantly associated with self-injurious behaviors in the multivariate model.

Findings highlight the importance of assessing childhood trauma, especially sexual abuse, a low sense of meaning in life, depressive symptoms, and psychache in patients with EDs to improve suicide prevention strategies with specific interventions. Level of evidence III-Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.

To identify predictors of admission to ICU for patients attending the emergency department (ED) after intentional drug overdose.

A retrospective study examining factors predictive of ICU admission for adults > 15 years presenting to Christchurch ED with intentional overdose between 1 July 2018 and 31 December 2020. Descriptive statistics were used by treating all presentations independently and on a per-patient basis to account for patients with repeat presentations or ICU admissions. Binary logistic models provided odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. A multivariable logistic regression model which controlled for patients with ≥ 3 ED presentations in the past 365 days was used to determine predictors of ICU admission.

There were 2682 presentations to ED with intentional overdose from 1795 individual patients, with 113 associated ICU admissions (4.2%) involving 103 patients. Overdose was more common in those who were younger, of female sex, or with a mental health history. The rate of overdose by Māori patients was double the rate expected. Older age, reduced level of consciousness, polypharmacy or cardiac drug overdose, and a history of depression, substance abuse or ADHD, ASD, learning difficulties or previous head injury were independently associated with an increased risk of ICU admission. Paracetamol ingestion and a history of ≥ 3 ED presentations in the preceding year were independently associated with a lower risk of ICU admission.

The need for ICU admission in patients presenting with intentional overdose should be identified early to prevent deterioration, promote flow through the hospital, and ensure that ICU beds are utilised appropriately.