Psychological Distress https://greenmedinfo.com/taxonomy/term/47572/all en ALERT: Meta-Analysis of 65 Studies Reveals Face Masks Induce Mask-Induced Exhaustion Syndrome (MIES) https://greenmedinfo.com/blog/alert-meta-analysis-65-studies-reveals-face-masks-induce-mask-induced-exhaustion- <div class="copyright">This article is copyrighted by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2021<br/><strong><a href="/greenmedinfocom-re-post-guidelines">Visit our Re-post guidelines</a></strong></div><p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:22px;"><em><img alt="" src="//cdn.greenmedinfo.com/sites/default/files/ckeditor/Sayer Ji/images/Screen%20Shot%202021-04-23%20at%2010_20_55%20AM.png" style="width: 600px; height: 625px;" /></em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px;"><em><strong>A first-of-its-kind literature review on the adverse effects of face masks, titled "<a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/4344/htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards?</a>," reveals there are clear, scientifically demonstrable adverse effects for mask wearers, both on psychological, social and physical levels.</strong></em></span></p><p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/blog/alert-meta-analysis-65-studies-reveals-face-masks-induce-mask-induced-exhaustion-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/blog/alert-meta-analysis-65-studies-reveals-face-masks-induce-mask-induced-exhaustion-#comments Influenza Psychological Distress Respiratory Infections Stress and Anxiety Face Masks (Lack of Safety and Ineffectiveness Research) Health Guide: Corruption in Science corruption in science respiratory tract infections viral infections Fri, 23 Apr 2021 14:22:35 +0000 Sayer Ji 238359 at https://greenmedinfo.com Association between junk food consumption and mental health in a national sample of Iranian children and adolescents. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/association-between-junk-food-consumption-and-mental-health-national-sample-ir PMID:  Nutrition. 2014 ;30(11-12):1391-7. Epub 2014 May 9. PMID: 25280418 Abstract Title:  Association between junk food consumption and mental health in a national sample of Iranian children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-IV study. Abstract:  OBJECTIVES: The consumption of high energy and low nutritional content foods, which are known as junk foods, has increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between junk food intake and mental health in a national sample of Iranian children and adolescents.METHOD: Data were obtained from a surveillance system entitled CASPIAN-IV (Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and Prevention of Adult Non communicable Disease) study of school students, ages 6 to 18 y in Iran. The students and their parents completed two sets of reliable questionnaires obtained from Global School Health Survey translated to Persian. The student questionnaire comprised several questions such as psychiatric distress (worry, depression, confusion, insomnia, anxiety, aggression, and worthless) and violent behaviors (physical fighting, being a victim, and bullying). The junk foods consisted of sweets, sweetened beverages, fast foods, and salty snacks.RESULTS: In the sample of 13 486 children and adolescents, the frequency of junk food consumption was significantly associated with psychiatric distress (P<p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/article/association-between-junk-food-consumption-and-mental-health-national-sample-ir" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/article/association-between-junk-food-consumption-and-mental-health-national-sample-ir#comments Psychological Distress Violence Western Diet Risk Factors Ultra-Processed Food Human Study Mon, 20 Feb 2023 20:49:12 +0000 greenmedinfo 271226 at https://greenmedinfo.com Combining therapeutic acupuncture with structured salutogenic dialogue appears to have greater intermediate-term effects than usual primary care in reducing anxiety and depression. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/combining-therapeutic-acupuncture-structured-salutogenic-dialogue-appears-have PMID:  BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 ;14:210. Epub 2014 Jun 30. PMID: 24980440 Abstract Title:  Six-month effects of integrative treatment, therapeutic acupuncture and conventional treatment in alleviating psychological distress in primary care patients Abstract:  BACKGROUND: To evaluate and compare 6-month effects of 8 weeks of an integrative treatment (IT), therapeutic acupuncture (TA), and conventional treatment (CT) in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression and in improving health-related quality of life (HRQL) and sense of coherence (SOC) in psychologically distressed primary care patients.METHODS: Patients who had participated in an open, pragmatic randomized controlled trial were followed up six months after treatment. The study sample consisted of 120 adults (40 per treatment arm) aged 20 to 55 years referred from four different primary health care centres in western Sweden for psychological distress. Assessments were made at baseline after eight weeks and after 24 weeks. Anxiety and depression were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), HRQL with the SF-36 Mental Component Summary scores (MCS) and SOC with the Sense of Coherence-13 questionnaire.RESULTS: No baseline differences were found between groups on any outcome variable. At 24 weeks, IT and TA had significantly better values than CT on all variables. All three groups showed significant improvements from baseline on all variables, except HAD depression in CT; however, improvements were significantly greater in IT and TA than in CT. IT and TA did not differ on any outcomevariable. Effect sizes were large in IT and TA for all variables and small or moderate in CT. Improvements on all variables seen after 8-weeks of IT and TA remained stable at 24 weeks and the CT group improved on HAD anxiety.CONCLUSIONS: IT and TA seem to be more beneficial than CT in reducing anxiety, depression, and in improving quality of life and sense of coherence after 24 weeks of follow up in patients with psychological distress. More research is needed to confirm these results.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN trial number NCT01631500. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/combining-therapeutic-acupuncture-structured-salutogenic-dialogue-appears-have#comments Anxiety Disorders Depression Depressive Disorder Psychological Distress Acupuncture Integrative Medicine Human Study Mon, 13 Apr 2015 02:08:01 +0000 greenmedinfo 116829 at https://greenmedinfo.com Exploring the use of psilocybin therapy for existential distress. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/exploring-use-psilocybin-therapy-existential-distress PMID:  J Psychoactive Drugs. 2021 Jul 16:1-12. Epub 2021 Jul 16. PMID: 34266372 Abstract Title:  Exploring the Use of Psilocybin Therapy for Existential Distress: A Qualitative Study of Palliative Care Provider Perceptions. Abstract:  There is a growing body of research suggesting that palliative care patients coping with existential distress may benefit from psilocybin. However, there is a large gap regarding the perceptions of palliative care providers who may provide education, counseling services, recommendations, and/or prescriptions for psilocybin if it is decriminalized, commercialized, and/or federally rescheduled and legalized. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of interdisciplinary palliative care providers regarding existential distress and the use of psilocybin therapy. Five (n = 5) health care providers from a hospital-based palliative care team completed a semi-structured interview related to their experiences supporting patients with existential distress and their beliefs and attitudes related to psilocybin as a possible treatment modality. A qualitative descriptiveapproach was used to identify key themes which included: 1) multiple barriers to addressing existential distress at the cultural, institutional/organizational, relational, and individual levels, 2) the duality and power of presence, 3) suffering as an intrinsically subjective phenomenon, and 4) uncertainty about the risks and benefits of psilocybin. To inform an inclusive, safe, and holistic approach, more research is needed regarding the possible integration of psilocybin therapy within palliative care for the treatment of existential distress. <p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/article/exploring-use-psilocybin-therapy-existential-distress" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/article/exploring-use-psilocybin-therapy-existential-distress#comments Psilocybin Psychological Distress Human Study Wed, 08 Dec 2021 05:14:52 +0000 greenmedinfo 249900 at https://greenmedinfo.com Influence of electromagnetic fields on the rat stress system is dependent on the time of exposure. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/influence-electromagnetic-fields-rat-stress-system-dependent-time-exposure PMID:  Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2014 Nov ;22(6):570-6. Epub 2014 Nov 30. PMID: 25489427 Abstract Title:  Effects of electromagnetic radiation exposure on stress-related behaviors and stress hormones in male wistar rats. Abstract:  Studies have demonstrated that electromagnetic waves, as the one of the most important physical factors, may alter cognitive and non-cognitive behaviors, depending on the frequency and energy. Moreover, non-ionizing radiation of low energy waves e.g. very low frequency waves could alter this phenomenon via alterations in neurotransmitters and neurohormones. In this study, short, medium, and long-term exposure to the extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) (1 and 5 Hz radiation) on behavioral, hormonal, and metabolic changes in male Wistar rats (250 g) were studied. In addition, changes in plasma concentrations for two main stress hormones, noradrenaline and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were evaluated. ELF-EMF exposure did not alter body weight, and food and water intake. Plasma glucose level was increased and decreased in the groups which exposed to the 5 and 1Hz wave, respectively. Plasma ACTH concentration increased in both using frequencies, whereas nor-adrenaline concentration showed overall reduction. At last, numbers of rearing, sniffing, locomotor activity was increased in group receiving 5 Hz wave over the time. In conclusions, these data showed that the effects of 1 and 5 Hz on the hormonal, metabolic and stress-like behaviors may be different. Moreover, the influence of waves on stress system is depending on time of exposure. <p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/article/influence-electromagnetic-fields-rat-stress-system-dependent-time-exposure" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/article/influence-electromagnetic-fields-rat-stress-system-dependent-time-exposure#comments Psychological Distress Electromagnetic Field Harms Electromagnetic Radiation Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation Exposure Animal Study Mon, 16 Sep 2019 20:28:33 +0000 greenmedinfo 196548 at https://greenmedinfo.com More than 60 research articles in peer-reviewed journals report a staggering 98% efficacy rate with the use of this procedure. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/more-60-research-articles-peer-reviewed-journals-report-staggering-98-efficacy PMID:  J Holist Nurs. 2016 May 11. Epub 2016 May 11. PMID: 27170647 Abstract Title:  The Emotional Freedom Technique: Finally, a Unifying Theory for the Practice of Holistic Nursing, or Too Good to Be True? Abstract:  The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is defined and described as a clinical procedure for the relief of psychological and physical distress that patients often bring to the attention of nurses. Frequently referred to as&quot;tapping,&quot;this technique combines the cognitive reprocessing benefits of exposure and acceptance therapy with the energetic disturbance releases associated with acupuncture and other energy therapies. More than 60 research articles in peer-reviewed journals report a staggering 98% efficacy rate with the use of this procedure from psychological distress (posttraumatic stress disorder, phobias, anxiety, depression, etc.) to physical conditions (asthma, fibromyalgia, pain, seizure disorders, etc.) to performance issues (athletic, academic). Perhaps because of this, this technique has encountered a fair degree of skepticism within the health care community. Easily taught as a self-help aid that patients can administer to themselves, EFT becomes an efficacious tool in the hands of nurses who are seeking whole person approaches for the healing of a wide variety of psychological and physical conditions. A conceptual framework, mechanisms of action, evidence of safety, literature review, and case studies are also included. <p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/article/more-60-research-articles-peer-reviewed-journals-report-staggering-98-efficacy" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/article/more-60-research-articles-peer-reviewed-journals-report-staggering-98-efficacy#comments Anxiety Asthma Chronic Pain Depression Fibromyalgia Phobias Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) Psychological Distress Seizures Anti-Anxiety Agents Antidepressive Agents Emotional Freedom Technique Review Thu, 09 Feb 2017 21:09:18 +0000 greenmedinfo 143276 at https://greenmedinfo.com One stressful event blocks multiple actions of diazepam for up to at least a month. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/one-stressful-event-blocks-multiple-actions-diazepam-least-month PMID:  Brain Res. 1988 Apr 5 ;445(2):380-5. PMID: 3370472 Abstract Title:  One stressful event blocks multiple actions of diazepam for up to at least a month. Abstract:  Based on recent findings of this laboratory, the hypothesis was tested that a single stressful encounter might have a persistent antidiazepam influence. Our results indicate that one exposure to a brief stressful event up to at least one month earlier prevented completely the effect of diazepam on pentylenetetrazole-induced changes in dopamine in the rat frontal cortex, elevations of plasma corticosterone levels and seizures. <p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/article/one-stressful-event-blocks-multiple-actions-diazepam-least-month" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/article/one-stressful-event-blocks-multiple-actions-diazepam-least-month#comments Anxiety Psychological Distress Stress Benzodiazepines Animal Study Fri, 08 Dec 2017 01:07:33 +0000 greenmedinfo 157120 at https://greenmedinfo.com Pesticide exposure is associated with psychological distress and suicidal ideation. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/pesticide-exposure-associated-psychological-distress-and-suicidal-ideation PMID:  Occup Environ Med. 2010 Nov;67(11):778-84. Epub 2010 Aug 25. PMID: 20798019 Abstract Title:  Symptoms of psychological distress and suicidal ideation among banana workers with a history of poisoning by organophosphate or n-methyl carbamate pesticides. Abstract:  OBJECTIVES: Neuropsychiatric disorders and increased suicide rates have been associated with exposure to cholinesterase inhibiting organophosphates. This study examined symptoms of psychological distress, including suicidal ideation, among banana workers in Costa Rica previously exposed to a cholinesterase inhibiting pesticide.METHODS: 78 workers who had received medical attention 1-3 years previously for occupational pesticide poisoning were recruited: 54 had been exposed to organophosphate, 24 to carbamate, and 43 and 35, respectively, had single and multiple poisoning episodes with a cholinesterase inhibitor. Referents were 130 non-poisoned workers randomly selected from company payrolls. Psychological distress symptoms during the month prior to interview were obtained using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), which has a general severity index and nine subscale scores. Differences in abnormal BSI scores (T score≥63) were assessed through multivariate logistic regression for all poisoned and for subcategories of poisoned as compared to non-poisoned workers.RESULTS: Organophosphate poisoned workers reported significantly more symptoms than non-poisoned on all but one symptom dimension. Significant trends of increasing symptoms with increasing number of previous poisonings were seen for somatisation, obsessive-compulsiveness, interpersonal sensitivity, depression and anxiety. Carbamate poisoned workers only had increased scores for somatisation. The ORs for suicidal thoughts were: all poisoned 3.58 (95% CI 1.45 to 8.84); organophosphate poisoned 3.72 (1.41 to 9.81); carbamate poisoned 2.57 (0.73 to 9.81); and 2.65 and 4.98, respectively for 1 and≥2 poisonings (trend p=0.01).CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study showed a relationship between acute occupational poisoning with organophosphates and psychological distress including suicidal ideation. Stronger designs are needed to address causality. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/pesticide-exposure-associated-psychological-distress-and-suicidal-ideation#comments Pesticide Toxicity Pesticide-Induced Toxicity: Organophosphates Psychological Distress Suicidal Behavior Suicidal Ideation Neurotoxic Organochlorine pesticides Organophosphates Pesticides Human Study Sun, 16 Jan 2011 21:26:39 +0000 greenmedinfo 60209 at https://greenmedinfo.com These findings suggest that the distress-reducing effects of meditation practice on affective processing may transfer to ordinary states. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/these-findings-suggest-distress-reducing-effects-meditation-practice-affective PMID:  Soc Neurosci. 2017 Apr 10:1-12. Epub 2017 Apr 10. PMID: 28393652 Abstract Title:  Meditation-induced neuroplastic changes in amygdala activity during negative affective processing. Abstract:  Recent evidence suggests that the effects of meditation practice on affective processing and resilience have the potential to induce neuroplastic changes within the amygdala. Notably, literature speculates that meditation training may reduce amygdala activity during negative affective processing. Nonetheless, studies have thus far not verified this speculation. In this longitudinal study, participants (N = 21, 9 men) were trained in awareness-based compassion meditation (ABCM) or matched relaxation training. The effects of meditation training on amygdala activity were examined during passive viewing of affective and neutral stimuli in a non-meditative state. We found that the ABCM group exhibitedsignificantly reduced anxiety and right amygdala activity during negative emotion processing than the relaxation group. Furthermore, ABCM participants who performed more compassion practice had stronger right amygdala activity reduction during negative emotion processing. The lower right amygdala activity after ABCM training may be associated with a general reduction in reactivity and distress. As all participants performed the emotion processing task in a non-meditative state, it appears likely that the changes in right amygdala activity are carried over from the meditation practice into thenon-meditative state. These findings suggest that the distress-reducing effects of meditation practice on affective processing may transfer to ordinary states, which have important implications on stress management. <p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/article/these-findings-suggest-distress-reducing-effects-meditation-practice-affective" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/article/these-findings-suggest-distress-reducing-effects-meditation-practice-affective#comments Psychological Distress Stress Meditation Neuroplasticity enhancement Human Study Tue, 02 May 2017 16:05:27 +0000 greenmedinfo 147101 at https://greenmedinfo.com This study extends the existing evidence on the benefits of natural outdoor environments for people's health. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/study-extends-existing-evidence-benefits-natural-outdoor-environments-peoples- PMID:  PLoS One. 2017 ;12(3):e0172200. Epub 2017 Mar 1. PMID: 28248974 Abstract Title:  The effect of randomised exposure to different types of natural outdoor environments compared to exposure to an urban environment on people with indications of psychological distress in Catalonia. Abstract:  INTRODUCTION: Experimental studies have reported associations between short-term exposure to natural outdoor environments (NOE) and health benefits. However, they lack insight into mechanisms, often have low external and ecological validity, and have rarely focused on people with some psycho-physiological affection. The aim of this study was to use a randomized, case-crossover design to investigate: (i) the effects of unconstrained exposure to real natural and urban environments on psycho-physiological indicators of people with indications of psychological distress, (ii) the possible differential effects of 30 and 30+180 minutes exposures, and (iii) the possible mechanisms explaining these effects.MATERIAL AND METHODS: People (n = 26) with indications of psychological distress were exposed to green (Collserola Natural Park), blue (Castelldefels beach) and urban (Eixample neighbourhood) environments in Catalonia. They were exposed to all environments in groups for a period of 30+180 minutes between October 2013 and January 2014. During the exposure period, participants were instructed to do what they would usually do in that environment. Before, during (at 30 and 30+180 minutes) and after each exposure, several psycho-physiological measures were taken: mood (measured as Total Mood Disturbance, TMD), attention capacity (measured as backwards digit-span task), stress levels (measures as salivary cortisol), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, autonomous nervous system (assessed as heart rate variability and the indicators: low frequency power (LF), high frequency power (HF), ratio between LF and HF (LF:HF), and coefficients of component variance of LF, HF, and LF:HF). We also measured several potential mediators: air pollution, noise, physical activity, social interactions, and self-perceived restoration experience.RESULTS: When compared with responses to urban environment, we found statistically significantly lower TMD [-4.78 (-7.77, -1.79) points difference], and salivary cortisol [-0.21 (-0.34, -0.08) log nmol/L] in the green exposure environment, and statistically significantly lower TMD [-4.53 (-7.57, -1.49) points difference], and statistically significant favourable changes in heart rate variability indicators (specifically LF:HF and CCV-LF:HF with around -0.20 points of difference of the indicators) in the blue exposure environment. Physical activity and self-perceived restoration experience partially mediated the associations between NOE and TMD. Physical activity and air pollution partially mediated the associations between NOE and heart rate variability.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study extends the existing evidence on the benefits of NOE for people&#039;s health. It also suggests NOE potential as a preventive medicine, specifically focusing on people with indications of psychological distress.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02624921. <p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/article/study-extends-existing-evidence-benefits-natural-outdoor-environments-peoples-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/article/study-extends-existing-evidence-benefits-natural-outdoor-environments-peoples-#comments Psychological Distress Anti-Anxiety Agents Exercise: Green Human Study Wed, 08 Mar 2017 00:36:50 +0000 greenmedinfo 144491 at https://greenmedinfo.com