Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a highly regarded evidence-based psychotherapy that aims to alleviate the suffering of clients and improve their interpersonal functioning. Research has ...demonstrated the effectiveness of IPT in depressive, bipolar and eating disorders. IPT also focuses on grief and loss as a problem area to help clients address and process their grief symptoms, leading them to reach a phase of finding meaning. However, traumatic grief which is characterized by someone who has both symptoms of trauma and grief can further complicate treatment. As for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), IPT can be a choice of treatment by addressing perceived isolation and emotional dysregulation through mobilizing adequate social support. This case study highlights the efficacy of IPT in treating complicated grief with traumatic experiences caused by the loss of a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic, without undergoing exposure-based therapy. The treatment course consisted of 12 sessions scheduled twice weekly, and the client received antidepressant medication augmented with antipsychotic medication. After undergoing IPT, the client experienced an improvement in symptoms, gradual recovery of functional disability, and more meaningful interpersonal relationships. The case study presented provides evidence to suggest that IPT is a promising treatment approach for individuals struggling with trauma related to grief.
There was a surge in psychological distress and emotional burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual reality (VR) is helpful as a psychological intervention whilst maintaining physical or social ...distancing. The present systematic review assessed the role of VR as a psychological intervention tool for mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a systematic review that followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. This study used the search-related terms: (Virtual reality OR simulated-3D-environment OR VR) AND (covid! or corona!) AND (mental* OR psychologic* OR well* OR health*) AND (intervention) on six databases, i.e., MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Ovid Medline, EMBASE, ACM digital library, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from the inception date until 23 June 2021. We finally included four studies in the systematic review out of the 379 references imported for screening. These studies reveal that VR is beneficial as a psychological tool for intervention in individuals with mental health problems. Immersed in the telepresence, interacting in a 3-D format compared to a 2-D layout, having a sense of enjoyment and engagement, activating an affective-motivational state, "escaping" to a virtual from the real world are pivotal faucets of VR as a psychological tool for intervention.
The field of study addressing the relationship between FSD and male sexual dysfunction (MSD) represents a pivotal worldwide health issue as interrelationship between FSD and MSD studies are still ...inconclusive.
To review the interrelationship between FSD and MSD and to conclude whether there is a definitive risk of men developing sexual dysfunction when his partner is suffering from FSD.
The investigation was conducted following the standard practice for conducting and reporting the findings of systematic reviews and meta-analyses comprising of 4 electronic databases, that is, Embase, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library and Ovid (Medline) from inception to December 2019. Search strategies were developed based on relevant keywords with appropriate truncation and Boolean operators' approach. The quality of studies was employed using the McMaster Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies and were assessed by independent reviewers. The levels of evidence of the included studies were also determined.
MSD who had been exposed to FSD.
From more than 8,000 studies searched, 26 studies were finally included, and most included studies have reasonable quality. Meta-analysis found a significant sexual dysfunction in men who are partnered with women with FSD. It found a consistent correlation between FDS and sexual dysfunction in men with a significant 3-fold increase in MSD who are partnered with women with FSD (odds ratio = 3.011, 95% confidence interval: 1.856-4.885, P = <.001, I² = 42.26%). Among subtypes of MSD, likelihood increased 4-fold for erectile dysfunction and that of premature ejaculation doubled. The data for several other domains on their components were mixed.
These findings support the notion that clinicians should evaluate sexual function pertaining to both partners and encompassing several dimensions and needing an interdisciplinary approach.
This review exhaustively examines data search from vast electronic databases and as the comparison of studies is extracted from English journal publications, not all regions worldwide are represented.
This meta-analysis and systematic review found an association between sexual dysfunction in men partnered with women with FSD, especially in the domains of erectile and ejaculatory function. Chew PY, Choy CL, Sidi Hb,et al. The Association Between Female Sexual Dysfunction and Sexual Dysfunction intheMale Partner: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Sex Med 2021;18:99-112.
Objective
Elderly individuals are among the age groups with the highest risk of suicide. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced isolation and resulted in an increased risk of depression, ...hopelessness, and perceived burdensomeness among the elderly, thereby increasing the risk of suicide.
Methods
This is a case report of an elderly single retired school principal with obsessive-compulsive personality traits who developed depression with psychotic symptoms after being isolated following the movement control order (MCO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The social isolation led to feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. The patient’s depressive symptoms worsened after he developed physical illnesses, such as eye floaters, that affected his daily activities. This caused him to have suicidal ideation to the extent that he attempted suicide by ingesting 90 mL of pesticide. Two weeks prior to the attempt, he updated his will and asked his friend to keep it. After the suicide attempt, he vomited and had diarrhea and epigastric pain. He called his friend, who brought him to the hospital emergency room (ER). He was resuscitated and subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). After being medically stabilized, he was transferred to the psychiatric ward, where further treatment was administered for his depression. His depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation improved after he was administered antidepressants and psychotherapy.
Results
The impact of the COVID pandemic has led to a surge in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The elderly are among the highest-risk groups of individuals to contract or die of COVID-19 infection, and they are also the most likely to develop mental health issues related to the pandemic. Furthermore, the risk of death by suicide is highest in this age group due to physical illness, social isolation, and the lack of a support system. This case also highlights the need for awareness of suicidal ideation screening among non-medical healthcare professionals and religious organizations to avoid the treatment gap.
Conclusion
It is essential to enhance suicide risk assessment and management among the elderly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cognitive and behavioral techniques have been found effective in teaching social communication skills to high functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) youth, yet little research has explored ...their integration into video-based instructions like video modeling (VM) and spherical video-based virtual reality (SVVR). We developed a social communication skills intervention by integrating psychoeducation, deep breathing technique, first-person modeling, third-person modeling and skill rehearsal into VM and SVVR. This preliminary study aimed at evaluating the user experience of the intervention content. Ten HFASD youths and five experts went through 5 sessions of learning social communication skills via VM and skill rehearsals using SVVR. Upon completion, they went through semi-structured interviews about their user experience. Results revealed that psychoeducation was perceived as clear and practical, while the combination of first-person modeling and third-person modeling techniques helped them understand the message from different perspectives. The relaxation technique was deemed helpful, while SVVR skill rehearsal was viewed as realistic and immersive but less interactive. Suggestions for improvement included interactive SVVR features and inclusion of homework and parents' involvement. Our findings underscore the importance of integrating cognitive and behavioral techniques into VM and SVVR for HFASD intervention, shedding light on their practical application and potential benefits. SVVR emerged as a promising platform for skill rehearsal due to its immersive nature. This study contributes valuable insights for future research and practice in utilizing VM and SVVR for social communication skills training in HFASD.
This policy brief examines the national health and action plans, laws and regulations, public health policies, and clinical practice guidelines in Malaysia on postnatal depression (PND).
We examined ...and included 13 documents for the presence or lack of a statement of intent and/or actions related to caring for women at risk for or experiencing PND.
Although PND is actively researched and included in the clinical practice guidelines, no other policy documents mention PND.
General recommendations to address this matter include channeling resources into developing care for PND, increasing advocacy work to reduce stigma, setting up appropriate training pathways for health care providers, and creating more roles and user-friendly modules for local volunteers to deliver mental health interventions.
Human being is not spared from a broad-ranged emotional state, including being jealous. Jealousy has both affective-cognitive and behavioural-evaluative dimension where the person perceives, or ...experiences a real threat on a valued relationship. As this complex emotion becomes irrational and not amenable to reason, it later transforms into a dangerously 'green-eyed monster'. This perilous situation which is viewed as pathological jealousy is a form of delusion, which is maintained by a fixed and false reasoning in an originally entrusted intimate relationship. Pathological jealousy is equally prevailing among both gender, and with a greater ubiquity among the geriatric population. The role of dopamine hyperactivity in the fronto-parietal-temporal region was implicated, with the anatomical mapping of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), cingulate gyrus (CG), and amygdala involvement in the context of the disease's neurobiology. The etiology of pathological jealousy includes major psychiatric disorders, i.e. delusional disorder, schizophrenia, mood disorder, organic brain syndrome, and among others, the drug-induced psychosis. The role of relationship issues and psychodynamic perspective, i.e. psychological conflicts with dependence on a romantic partner, and low self-esteem are involved. Pathological jealousy inherits high-risk forensic psychiatry entanglement, which may warrant intensive intervention, including hospital admission and antipsychotic treatment. Treatment options include an early recognition, managing underlying neuropsychiatric disorders, psycho education, cognitive psychotherapy, and choosing an effective psychopharmacological agent. The management strategy may also resort to a geographical intervention, i.e. separation between both persons to complement the biological treatment.
Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the standard treatments for treatment resistant bipolar depression (TRBD). There is limited literature on the role cognitive-behavioral therapy ...(CBT) in TRBD patient who fails to respond to ECT.
Aim: To report a case of patient achieving full functional recovery with CBT in combination with pharmacotherapy after failing to respond to ECT.
Method: Case report.
Results: A 45 year-old male with diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and bipolar II disorder presented with a third recurrence of depressive episode. In view of poor response to the combination pharmacotherapy of escitalopram 20 mg daily, mirtazapine 30 mg daily, sodium valproate Chrono 500 mg daily, and quetiapine XR 400 mg daily, TRBD was diagnosed and a full course of ECT was given. However, the patient did not respond to ECT. Twenty sessions of CBT were then given in combination with pharmacotherapy and the patient achieved full functional recovery.
Discussion: To date there is still a lack of consensus on both the diagnostic criteria of TRBD and the evidence based guideline for the treatment of TRBD. Adjunctive modafinil, pramipexole, tranylcypromine, and vagus nerve stimulation have been tried but the response rate is variable. Family-focused treatment, group psychoeducation, and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy have been tried on bipolar depression but more study is still required for TRBD patients that failed to respond to ECT. In conclusion, combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy is worth a trial for TRBD patients who do not respond to ECT.
ObjectiveElderly individuals are among the age groups with the highest risk of suicide. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced isolation and resulted in an increased risk of depression, ...hopelessness, and perceived burdensomeness among the elderly, thereby increasing the risk of suicide. MethodsThis is a case report of an elderly single retired school principal with obsessive-compulsive personality traits who developed depression with psychotic symptoms after being isolated following the movement control order (MCO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The social isolation led to feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. The patient's depressive symptoms worsened after he developed physical illnesses, such as eye floaters, that affected his daily activities. This caused him to have suicidal ideation to the extent that he attempted suicide by ingesting 90 mL of pesticide. Two weeks prior to the attempt, he updated his will and asked his friend to keep it. After the suicide attempt, he vomited and had diarrhea and epigastric pain. He called his friend, who brought him to the hospital emergency room (ER). He was resuscitated and subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). After being medically stabilized, he was transferred to the psychiatric ward, where further treatment was administered for his depression. His depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation improved after he was administered antidepressants and psychotherapy. ResultsThe impact of the COVID pandemic has led to a surge in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The elderly are among the highest-risk groups of individuals to contract or die of COVID-19 infection, and they are also the most likely to develop mental health issues related to the pandemic. Furthermore, the risk of death by suicide is highest in this age group due to physical illness, social isolation, and the lack of a support system. This case also highlights the need for awareness of suicidal ideation screening among non-medical healthcare professionals and religious organizations to avoid the treatment gap. ConclusionIt is essential to enhance suicide risk assessment and management among the elderly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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