Browsing by Author "Vrublevska, Jelena"

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    Anxiety Screening among the General Population of Latvia and Associated Factors
    (2022-08-26) Vinogradova, Vineta Viktorija; Kivite-Urtane, Anda; Vrublevska, Jelena; Rancans, Elmars; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology; Institute of Public Health; Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
    Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the point prevalence of at least mild anxiety symptoms and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in the Latvian general population, and to analyze the associated factors. Materials and Methods: A computer-assisted face-to-face survey was conducted in 2019–2020 with a multistage stratified probability sample of the Latvian general adult population (n = 2687). Anxiety was assessed using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale; a score of ≥5 was defined as indicating the presence of mild symptoms of anxiety, and a score of ≥10 as the cutoff for identifying cases of generalized anxiety disorder. The Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) modules were used for assessing comorbid conditions. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted. Results: The point prevalence of mild anxiety symptoms was 10.9%. The point prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms was 3.9%. Higher odds of mild anxiety symptoms were detected in respondents of a young age (vs. 65 y.o. and older, aOR 3.1, p < 0.001), unmarried respondents (vs. married/cohabiting, aOR 1.5, p = 0.02), those living in the capital city (aOR 1.6, p = 0.008) or rural areas (aOR 1.5, p = 0.03) (vs. other towns), respondents with poor self-rated health (vs. good, aOR 2.6, p < 0.001), and diagnosed alcohol use disorder (aOR 1.9, p < 0.001), suicidal behavior (aOR 2.4, p < 0.001), and symptoms of depression (aOR 6.4, p < 0.001) (vs. no such conditions). As for symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, female sex (vs. males, aOR 2.5, p = 0.003), age below 44 years (vs. 65+, aOR 6.2, p = 0.002), average self-rated health (vs. good, aOR 2.6, p = 0.005), and poor self-rated health (vs. good, aOR 5.3, p < 0.001), together with comorbid suicidal behavior (aOR 6.1, p < 0.001) and symptoms of depression (aOR 43.4, p < 0.001) (vs. no such conditions), increased the odds. Conclusions: Young age, poor self-rated health, and comorbid symptoms of depression and suicidal behavior were significant factors associated with symptoms of both mild anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder. Being unmarried, living in the capital city or rural areas, and alcohol use disorder were associated with mild anxiety symptoms alone. Female sex was associated with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms alone.
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    Association of depression and anxiety with the 10-year risk of cardiovascular mortality in a primary care population of Latvia using the SCORE system
    (2018-06) Ivanovs, Rolands; Kivite, Anda; Ziedonis, Douglas; Mintale, Iveta; Vrublevska, Jelena; Rancans, Elmars; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology; Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
    Background: Depression and anxiety have been recognized as independent risk factors for both the development and prognosis of cardiovascular (CV) diseases (CVD). The Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) function measures the 10-year risk of a fatal CVD and is a crucial tool for guiding CV patient management. This study is the first in Latvia to investigate the association of depression and anxiety with the 10-year CV mortality risk in a primary care population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at 24 primary care facilities. During a 1-week period in 2015, all consecutive adult patients were invited to complete a nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and a seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) followed by sociodemographic questionnaire and physical measurements. The diagnostic Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) was administered by telephone in the period of 2 weeks after the first contact at the primary care facility. A hierarchical multivariate analysis was performed. Results: The study population consisted of 1,569 subjects. Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) were associated with a 1.57 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-2.33) times higher odds of a very high CV mortality risk (SCORE ≥ 10%), but current anxiety disorder (M.I.N.I.) reduced the CV mortality risk with an odds ratio of 0.58 (95% CI: 0.38-0.90). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that individuals with SCORE ≥ 10% should be screened and treated for depression to potentially delay the development and improve the prognosis of CVD. Anxiety could possibly have a protective influence on CV prognosis.
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    Case report : Successful administration of cariprazine in a young, severely ill patient with recurrent relapses of schizophrenia and persistent negative symptoms
    (2023) Vrublevska, Jelena; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology
    The present case report describes a young man diagnosed with schizophrenia and presents a “revolving door” (RD) phenomenon. He was hospitalized in an acute psychiatric clinic three times in 1 year. After each hospitalization, he was discharged with incompletely reduced psychotic symptoms, persistent negative symptoms, low functioning, lack of insight, and adherence. He had an insufficient response to maximally tolerated doses of antipsychotic monotherapy with haloperidol and risperidone. Moreover, his treatment was complicated due to the low accessibility of long-acting injectable atypical antipsychotics (LAI) in the country and his refusal of the only available atypical LAI paliperidone palmitate and refusal to take clozapine. Due to limited alternatives, the decision to administer combinations of antipsychotics was made. Since his diagnosis, he received several combinations of antipsychotics, i.e., haloperidol + quetiapine, risperidone + quetiapine, haloperidol + olanzapine, risperidone + olanzapine, but without sufficient clinical effectiveness. Although combinations of antipsychotics reduced his positive symptoms to some degree, persistent negative symptoms and extrapyramidal side effects were observed. After initiating cariprazine, which was combined with olanzapine, improvement in the patient’s positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and overall functioning was detected. The combination of medications mentioned above facilitated the therapeutic alliance, thus providing control over the symptoms and preventing psychiatric hospitalizations.
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    Depression, distress and their association with patterns of psychoactive substance use during the COVID-19 emergency state in Latvia
    (2021-04) Vrublevska, Jelena; Sibalova, A.; Aleskere, Ilana; Rezgale, Baiba; Smirnova, D.; Fountoulakis, K.; Rancans, E.; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology
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    Determinants of Anxiety in the General Latvian Population During the COVID-19 State of Emergency
    (2022) Vrublevska, Jelena; Perepjolkina, Viktorija; Martinsone, Kristine; Kolesnikova, Jelena; Krone, Ilona; Smirnova, Daria; Fountoulakis, Konstantinos N.; Rancans, Elmars; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology; Institute of Public Health; Komunikācijas fakultāte; Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy
    Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictive public health measures have seriously affected mental health of society. Social, psychological, and health-related factors have been linked to anxiety in the general population. Aim: We investigate the association of various sociopsychological and health-related determinants of anxiety and identify the predicting factors for anxiety in the general population during the COVID-19 state of emergency from in Latvia. Methods: We conducted an online survey using a randomized stratified sample of the general adult population in July 2020 for 3 weeks. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S). Sociodemographic, health-related, sociopsychological characteristics and suicidality were identified using the structured questionnaire. The statistical analysis included Pearson's chi-square test, post hoc analysis, and binomial logistic regression. Results: The weighted study sample included 2,608 participants. The mean STAY-S score of the total sample was 22.88 ± 12.25. In the total sample, 15.2% (n = 398) of participants were classified as having anxiety. The odds ratio (OR) of having anxiety was higher in females (OR = 2.44; 95% CI 1.75–3.33) and people who had experienced mental health problems in the past (OR = 1.45; 95% CI 1.03–2.04), had suicide attempt in the past (OR = 1.68; 95% CI 1.08–2.59), were worried about their health status due to COVID-19 (OR = 1.64; 95% CI 1.36–1.16), were worried about stigmatization from others if infected with COVID-19 (OR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.03–1.35), were worried about information regarding COVID-19 from the Internet (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.08–1.43), persons who were lonely (OR = 1.90; 95% CI 1.54–2.34), and persons with negative problem orientation (OR = 1.26; 95% CI 1.06–1.51). Protective factors were identified as having good self-rated general health (OR = 0.68, 95 % CI 0.58–0.81), maintaining a daily routine (OR = 0.74, 95 % CI 0.61–0.90), having financial stability (OR = 0.66, 95 % CI 0.55–0.79), and having good psychological resilience (OR = 0.90, 95 % CI 0.87–0.94). Conclusions: This is the first study to report a prevalence of anxiety in the general population of Latvia. Certain factors that predict anxiety, as well as protective factors were identified.
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    Factors Related to COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors : A Structural Equation Model
    (2021-07-05) Šuriņa, Sanita; Martinsone, Kristine; Perepjolkina, Viktorija; Kolesnikova, Jelena; Vainik, Uku; Ruža, Aleksejs; Vrublevska, Jelena; Smirnova, Daria; Fountoulakis, Konstantinos N.; Rancans, Elmars; Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy; Komunikācijas fakultāte; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology; Institute of Public Health
    Background: While COVID-19 has rapidly spread around the world, and vaccines are not widely available to the general population, the World Health Organization outlines preventive behavior as the most effective way to limit the rapid spread of the virus. Preventive behavior is associated with a number of factors that both encourage and discourage prevention. Aim: The aim of this research was to study COVID-19 threat appraisal, fear of COVID-19, trust in COVID-19 information sources, COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and the relationship of socio-demographic variables (gender, age, level of education, place of residence, and employment status) to COVID-19 preventive behavior. Methods: The data originate from a national cross-sectional online survey (N = 2,608) undertaken in July 2020. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: COVID-19 threat appraisal, trust in COVID-19 information sources, and fear of COVID-19 are all significant predictors of COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Together they explain 26.7% of the variance of this variable. COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs significantly negatively predict COVID-19 threat appraisal (R2 = 0.206) and trust in COVID-19 information sources (R2 = 0.190). COVID-19 threat appraisal contributes significantly and directly to the explanation of the fear of COVID-19 (R2 = 0.134). Directly, as well as mediated by COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, threat appraisal predicts trust in COVID-19 information sources (R2 = 0.190). The relationship between COVID-19 threat appraisal and COVID-19 preventive behaviors is partially mediated by fear of COVID-19 (indirect effect 28.6%) and trust in information sources (15.8%). Socio-demographic variables add very little in prediction of COVID-19 preventive behavior. Conclusions: The study results demonstrate that COVID-19 threat appraisal is the most important factor associated with COVID-19 preventive behavior. Those Latvian residents with higher COVID-19 threat appraisal, experienced higher levels of fear of COVID-19, had more trust in COVID-19 information sources, and were more actively involved in following COVID-19 preventive behaviors. COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs negatively predict COVID-19 threat appraisal and trust in COVID-19 information sources, but not the COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Socio-demographic factors do not play an important role here.
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    Prevalence of Distress and Depression and Related Health and Behavioural Factors in the Student Population of Latvia during the COVID-19 Outbreak
    (2023-02-01) Vorobjova, Julija; Pilaga, Sindija Mairita; Gustsone, Beatrise Elizabete; Rancans, Elmars; Smirnova, Daria; Fountoulakis, Konstantinos N.; Vrublevska, Jelena; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology; Institute of Public Health
    The COVID-19 pandemic, which has spread across the world, has made an impact on every student's ordinary life and mental health, from studying conditions, internship, employment to freedom of movement. This was a cross-sectional study where Latvian university and college students were asked to fill the self-report online questionnaire developed as part of an international study. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and investigate clinical depression, distress and identify the predicting factors. Depression and distress were determined using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) with a previously developed algorithm and cut-off scores. The statistical analysis included the Pearson's chi-square test and binomial logistic regression. The study included 1047 students. The prevalence of distress was 18% (n =188) and prevalence of depression was 33.8% (n = 354). Depression was more common among women-35.9 % (n = 298). Risk factors for depression were poor quality of sleep (OR = 8.31), unemployment (OR = 1.42), excessive internet usage (OR = 7.17), thoughts about death (OR = 12.14), and suicidal behaviour (OR = 4.99). Physical activities operated as a protective measure to prevent depression. This study potentially could help to develop a plan in the future for dealing with psychological support for the student population.
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    Prevalence, impact and treatment of generalised anxiety disorder in bipolar disorder : A systematic review and meta-analysis
    (2016-08) Preti, Antonio; Vrublevska, Jelena; Veroniki, Areti Angeliki; Huedo-Medina, Tania B.; Fountoulakis, Konstantinos N.; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology
    Question Recent data suggest that anxiety disorders are as often comorbid with bipolar disorder (BD) as with unipolar depression; however, less attention has been paid to comorbidity of anxiety disorders with BD. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders that is highly comorbid with other mental disorders. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the degree of comorbidity between GAD and BD. Study selection and analysis We searched for all studies, which included primary data concerning the existence of GAD in patients with BD. The literature search strategy, selection of publications and the reporting of results have been conducted with PRISMA guidelines. The meta-analysis calculated prevalence estimates using the variance-stabilising Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation. We applied the inverse variance method using both fixed-effects and random-effects models to estimate summary effects for all combined studies. Heterogeneity was assessed and measured with Cochran’s Q and I2 statistics, respectively. Findings The current meta-analysis analysed data from 28 independent studies and a total of 2975 patients from point prevalence studies and 4919 patients from lifetime studies. The overall random-effects point prevalence of GAD in patients with BD was 12.2% (95% CI 10.9% to 13.5%) and the overall random-effects lifetime estimate was 15.1% (95% CI 9.7% to 21.5%). Both estimates reported significant heterogeneity (94.0% and 94.7%, respectively). Conclusions Published studies report prevalence rates with high heterogeneity and consistently higher than those typically reported in the general population. It is believed that comorbid GAD might be associated with a more severe BD course and increased suicidality, and it is unknown how best to treat such conditions. The current meta-analysis confirms that GAD is highly prevalent in BD and the rate is higher in comparison to those in the general population.
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    Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the general population (COMET-G) study
    (2022-01) Fountoulakis, Konstantinos N.; Karakatsoulis, Grigorios; Abraham, Seri; Adorjan, Kristina; Ahmed, Helal Uddin; Alarcón, Renato D.; Arai, Kiyomi; Auwal, Sani Salihu; Berk, Michael; Bjedov, Sarah; Bobes, Julio; Bobes-Bascaran, Teresa; Bourgin-Duchesnay, Julie; Bredicean, Cristina Ana; Bukelskis, Laurynas; Burkadze, Akaki; Abud, Indira Indiana Cabrera; Castilla-Puentes, Ruby; Cetkovich, Marcelo; Colon-Rivera, Hector; Corral, Ricardo; Cortez-Vergara, Carla; Crepin, Piirika; De Berardis, Domenico; Zamora Delgado, Sergio; De Lucena, David; De Sousa, Avinash; Stefano, Ramona Di; Dodd, Seetal; Elek, Livia Priyanka; Elissa, Anna; Erdelyi-Hamza, Berta; Erzin, Gamze; Etchevers, Martin J.; Falkai, Peter; Farcas, Adriana; Fedotov, Ilya; Filatova, Viktoriia; Fountoulakis, Nikolaos K.; Frankova, Iryna; Franza, Francesco; Frias, Pedro; Galako, Tatiana; Garay, Cristian J.; Garcia-Álvarez, Leticia; García-Portilla, Maria Paz; Gonda, Xenia; Gondek, Tomasz M.; González, Daniela Morera; Gould, Hilary; Grandinetti, Paolo; Grau, Arturo; Groudeva, Violeta; Hagin, Michal; Harada, Takayuki; Hasan, Tasdik M.; Hashim, Nurul Azreen; Hilbig, Jan; Hossain, Sahadat; Iakimova, Rossitza; Ibrahim, Mona; Iftene, Felicia; Ignatenko, Yulia; Irarrazaval, Matias; Ismail, Zaliha; Ismayilova, Jamila; Jakobs, Asaf; Jakovljević, Miro; Jakšić, Nenad; Javed, Afzal; Kafali, Helin Yilmaz; Karia, Sagar; Kazakova, Olga; Khalifa, Doaa; Khaustova, Olena; Koh, Steve; Kopishinskaia, Svetlana; Kosenko, Korneliia; Koupidis, Sotirios A.; Kovacs, Illes; Kulig, Barbara; Lalljee, Alisha; Liewig, Justine; Majid, Abdul; Malashonkova, Evgeniia; Malik, Khamelia; Malik, Najma Iqbal; Mammadzada, Gulay; Mandalia, Bilvesh; Marazziti, Donatella; Marčinko, Darko; Martinez, Stephanie; Matiekus, Eimantas; Mejia, Gabriela; Memon, Roha Saeed; Martínez, Xarah Elenne Meza; Mickevičiūtė, Dalia; Milev, Roumen; Mohammed, Muftau; Molina-López, Alejandro; Morozov, Petr; Muhammad, Nuru Suleiman; Mustač, Filip; Naor, Mika S.; Nassieb, Amira; Navickas, Alvydas; Okasha, Tarek; Pandova, Milena; Panfil, Anca Livia; Panteleeva, Liliya; Papava, Ion; Patsali, Mikaella E.; Pavlichenko, Alexey; Pejuskovic, Bojana; Pinto Da Costa, Mariana; Popkov, Mikhail; Popovic, Dina; Raduan, Nor Jannah Nasution; Ramírez, Francisca Vargas; Rancans, Elmars; Razali, Salmi; Rebok, Federico; Rewekant, Anna; Flores, Elena Ninoska Reyes; Rivera-Encinas, María Teresa; Saiz, Pilar; de Carmona, Manuel Sánchez; Martínez, David Saucedo; Saw, Jo Anne; Saygili, Görkem; Schneidereit, Patricia; Shah, Bhumika; Shirasaka, Tomohiro; Silagadze, Ketevan; Sitanggang, Satti; Skugarevsky, Oleg; Spikina, Anna; Mahalingappa, Sridevi Sira; Stoyanova, Maria; Szczegielniak, Anna; Tamasan, Simona Claudia; Tavormina, Giuseppe; Tavormina, Maurilio Giuseppe Maria; Theodorakis, Pavlos N.; Tohen, Mauricio; Tsapakis, Eva Maria; Tukhvatullina, Dina; Ullah, Irfan; Vaidya, Ratnaraj; Vega-Dienstmaier, Johann M.; Vrublevska, Jelena; Vukovic, Olivera; Vysotska, Olga; Widiasih, Natalia; Yashikhina, Anna; Prezerakos, Panagiotis E.; Smirnova, Daria; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology; Institute of Public Health
    Introduction: There are few published empirical data on the effects of COVID‐19 on mental health, and until now, there is no large international study. Material and methods: During the COVID-19 pandemic, an online questionnaire gathered data from 55,589 participants from 40 countries (64.85% females aged 35.80 ± 13.61; 34.05% males aged 34.90±13.29 and 1.10% other aged 31.64±13.15). Distress and probable depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm respectively. Statistical analysis: Descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables. Results: Probable depression was detected in 17.80% and distress in 16.71%. A significant percentage reported a deterioration in mental state, family dynamics and everyday lifestyle. Persons with a history of mental disorders had higher rates of current depression (31.82% vs. 13.07%). At least half of participants were accepting (at least to a moderate degree) a non-bizarre conspiracy. The highest Relative Risk (RR) to develop depression was associated with history of Bipolar disorder and self-harm/attempts (RR = 5.88). Suicidality was not increased in persons without a history of any mental disorder. Based on these results a model was developed. Conclusions: The final model revealed multiple vulnerabilities and an interplay leading from simple anxiety to probable depression and suicidality through distress. This could be of practical utility since many of these factors are modifiable. Future research and interventions should specifically focus on them.
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    Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the health professionals (COMET-HP) study : depression, suicidal tendencies and conspiracism
    (2023-09) N Fountoulakis, Konstantinos; N Karakatsoulis, Grigorios; Abraham, Seri; Adorjan, Kristina; Ahmed, Helal Uddin; Alarcón, Renato D; Arai, Kiyomi; Auwal, Sani Salihu; Bobes, Julio; Bobes-Bascaran, Teresa; Bourgin-Duchesnay, Julie; Bredicean, Cristina Ana; Bukelskis, Laurynas; Burkadze, Akaki; Cabrera Abud, Indira Indiana; Castilla-Puentes, Ruby; Cetkovich, Marcelo; Colon-Rivera, Hector; Corral, Ricardo; Cortez-Vergara, Carla; Crepin, Piirika; de Berardis, Domenico; Zamora Delgado, Sergio; de Lucena, David; de Sousa, Avinash; di Stefano, Ramona; Dodd, Seetal; Elek, Livia Priyanka; Elissa, Anna; Erdelyi-Hamza, Berta; Erzin, Gamze; Etchevers, Martin J; Falkai, Peter; Farcas, Adriana; Fedotov, Ilya; Filatova, Viktoriia; Fountoulakis, Nikolaos K; Frankova, Iryna; Franza, Francesco; Frias, Pedro; Galako, Tatiana; Garay, Cristian J; Garcia-Álvarez, Leticia; García-Portilla, Paz; Gonda, Xenia; Gondek, Tomasz M; Morera González, Daniela; Gould, Hilary; Grandinetti, Paolo; Grau, Arturo; Groudeva, Violeta; Hagin, Michal; Harada, Takayuki; Hasan, Tasdik M; Azreen Hashim, Nurul; Hilbig, Jan; Hossain, Sahadat; Iakimova, Rossitza; Ibrahim, Mona; Iftene, Felicia; Ignatenko, Yulia; Irarrazaval, Matias; Ismail, Zaliha; Ismayilova, Jamila; Jacobs, Asaf; Jakovljević, Miro; Jakšić, Nenad; Javed, Afzal; Yilmaz Kafali, Helin; Karia, Sagar; Kazakova, Olga; Khalifa, Doaa; Khaustova, Olena; Koh, Steve; Kopishinskaia, Svetlana; Kosenko, Korneliia; Koupidis, Sotirios A; Kovacs, Illes; Kulig, Barbara; Lalljee, Alisha; Liewig, Justine; Majid, Abdul; Malashonkova, Evgeniia; Malik, Khamelia; Iqbal Malik, Najma; Mammadzada, Gulay; Mandalia, Bilvesh; Marazziti, Donatella; Marčinko, Darko; Martinez, Stephanie; Matiekus, Eimantas; Mejia, Gabriela; Memon, Roha Saeed; Meza Martínez, Xarah Elenne; Mickevičiūtė, Dalia; Milev, Roumen; Mohammed, Muftau; Molina-López, Alejandro; Morozov, Petr; Muhammad, Nuru Suleiman; Mustač, Filip; Naor, Mika S; Nassieb, Amira; Navickas, Alvydas; Okasha, Tarek; Pandova, Milena; Panfil, Anca-Livia; Panteleeva, Liliya; Papava, Ion; Patsali, Mikaella E; Pavlichenko, Alexey; Pejuskovic, Bojana; Pinto da Costa, Mariana; Popkov, Mikhail; Popovic, Dina; Raduan, Nor Jannah Nasution; Vargas Ramírez, Francisca; Rancans, Elmars; Razali, Salmi; Rebok, Federico; Rewekant, Anna; Reyes Flores, Elena Ninoska; Rivera-Encinas, María Teresa; Saiz, Pilar A; Sánchez de Carmona, Manuel; Saucedo Martínez, David; Saw, Jo Anne; Saygili, Görkem; Schneidereit, Patricia; Shah, Bhumika; Shirasaka, Tomohiro; Silagadze, Ketevan; Sitanggang, Satti; Skugarevsky, Oleg; Spikina, Anna; Mahalingappa, Sridevi Sira; Stoyanova, Maria; Szczegielniak, Anna; Tamasan, Simona Claudia; Tavormina, Giuseppe; Tavormina, Maurilio Giuseppe Maria; Theodorakis, Pavlos N; Tohen, Mauricio; Tsapakis, Eva-Maria; Tukhvatullina, Dina; Ullah, Irfan; Vaidya, Ratnaraj; Vega-Dienstmaier, Johann M; Vrublevska, Jelena; Vukovic, Olivera; Vysotska, Olga; Widiasih, Natalia; Yashikhina, Anna; Prezerakos, Panagiotis E; Berk, Michael; Levaj, Sarah; Smirnova, Daria; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology
    Introduction: The current study aimed to investigate the rates of anxiety, clinical depression, and suicidality and their changes in health professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak. Materials and methods: The data came from the larger COMET-G study. The study sample includes 12,792 health professionals from 40 countries (62.40% women aged 39.76 ± 11.70; 36.81% men aged 35.91 ± 11.00 and 0.78% non-binary gender aged 35.15 ± 13.03). Distress and clinical depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm, respectively. Statistical analysis: Descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses, and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables. Results: Clinical depression was detected in 13.16% with male doctors and ‘non-binary genders’ having the lowest rates (7.89 and 5.88% respectively) and ‘non-binary gender’ nurses and administrative staff had the highest (37.50%); distress was present in 15.19%. A significant percentage reported a deterioration in mental state, family dynamics, and everyday lifestyle. Persons with a history of mental disorders had higher rates of current depression (24.64% vs. 9.62%; p < 0.0001). Suicidal tendencies were at least doubled in terms of RASS scores. Approximately one-third of participants were accepting (at least to a moderate degree) a non-bizarre conspiracy. The highest Relative Risk (RR) to develop clinical depression was associated with a history of Bipolar disorder (RR = 4.23). Conclusions: The current study reported findings in health care professionals similar in magnitude and quality to those reported earlier in the general population although rates of clinical depression, suicidal tendencies, and adherence to conspiracy theories were much lower. However, the general model of factors interplay seems to be the same and this could be of practical utility since many of these factors are modifiable.
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    Students' mental health during the pandemic : results of the observational cross-sectional COVID-19 MEntal health inTernational for university Students (COMET-S) study
    (2023) Fountoulakis, Konstantinos N.; Alias, Nor Aziah; Bjedov, Sarah; Fountoulakis, Nikolaos K.; Gonda, Xenia; Hilbig, Jan; Jakovljević, Miro; Kulig, Barbara; Mahale, Girija; Manafis, Alexandros; Mohammed, Muftau; Nadareishvili, Ilia; Navickas, Alvydas; Patsali, Mikaella E.; Pavlichenko, Alexey; Pilaga, Sindija Mairita; Razali, Salmi; Romanov, Dmitry; Rossitza, Iakimova; Salihu, Auwal Sani; Sinauridze, Ana; Stoyanova, Maria; Thosar, Ketaki; Vorobjova, Julija; Vrublevska, Jelena; Rancans, Elmars; Javed, Afzal; Theodorakis, Pavlos N.; Breda, Joao; Smirnova, Daria; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology; Institute of Public Health
    Introduction: The aim of the study was to search rates of depression and mental health in university students, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: This is an observational cross-sectional study. A protocol gathering sociodemographic variables as well as depression, anxiety and suicidality and conspiracism was assembled, and data were collected anonymously and online from April 2020 through March 2021. The sample included 12,488 subjects from 11 countries, of whom 9,026 were females (72.2%; aged 21.11 ± 2.53), 3,329 males (26.65%; aged 21.61 ± 2.81) and 133 “non-binary gender” (1.06%; aged 21.02 ± 2.98). The analysis included chi-square tests, correlation analysis, ANCOVA, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analysis and Relative Risk ratios. Results: Dysphoria was present in 15.66% and probable depression in 25.81% of the total study sample. More than half reported increase in anxiety and depression and 6.34% in suicidality, while lifestyle changes were significant. The model developed explained 18.4% of the development of depression. Believing in conspiracy theories manifested a complex effect. Close to 25% was believing that the vaccines include a chip and almost 40% suggested that facemask wearing could be a method of socio-political control. Conspiracism was related to current depression but not to history of mental disorders. Discussion: The current study reports that students are at high risk for depression during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified specific risk factors. It also suggested a role of believing in conspiracy theories. Further research is important, as it is targeted intervention in students' groups that are vulnerable both concerning mental health and conspiracism.
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    Validation of the generalized anxiety disorder scales (GAD-7 and GAD-2) in primary care settings in Latvia
    (2022-10-06) Vrublevska, Jelena; Renemane, Lubova; Kivite-Urtane, Anda; Rancans, Elmars; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology; Institute of Public Health
    Background: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental disorders in the world and have an important impact on the global burden of disease. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most prevalent anxiety disorder encountered in primary care. There are no available validated anxiety screening tools in primary care in Latvia. We aimed to validate both a seven-item and a two-item generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7 and GAD-2) in the Latvian and Russian languages, to detect generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in primary care settings in Latvia. Methods: During a 1-week period, all patients aged 18 years or older visiting their GP (general practitioners) with any health concern at 24 primary care settings throughout Latvia were invited to complete the GAD-7 in their native language (Latvian or Russian). Criterion validity was assessed against the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Results: The study sample included 1,459 participants who completed the GAD-7 and the MINI. The GAD-7 items showed good internal reliability [Cronbach's alpha 0.87 for Latvian version and 0.85 for Russian version (for Latvia) of the GAD-7]. A cut-off score for detecting GAD of 5 or above was estimated for Latvian version of the GAD-7 (sensitivity 75.4%, specificity 68.9%, respectively) and 7 or above for Russian version of the GAD-7 (sensitivity 73.3%, specificity 84.1%, respectively). The internal reliability of the GAD-2 was lower for both languages (Cronbach's alpha 0.75 for Latvian version and 0.68 for Russian version of the GAD-2). A cut-off score of 2 or above was established for both the Latvian, and Russian versions of the GAD-2 (sensitivity 78.9 and 83.3%; specificity 63.7 and 69.1% for the Latvian and Russian versions of the GAD-2, accordingly) for detecting GAD. Conclusions: This is the first study to report criterion validity of the Latvian and Russian (for Latvia) versions of the GAD-7 and GAD-2, assessed in a nationwide study conducted at the primary care level.
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    Validity of the PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 to screen for depression in nationwide primary care population in Latvia
    (2018-08-02) Rancans, Elmars; Trapencieris, Marcis; Ivanovs, Rolands; Vrublevska, Jelena; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology
    Background: Depression is highly underdiagnosed in primary care settings in Latvia. Screening for depression in primary care is potentially an efficient way to find undetected case s and improve diagnostics. We aimed to validate both a nine-item and two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9 and PHQ-2) in the Latvian and Russian languages in primary care settings using a representative sample in Latvia. Materials and methods: The study was carried out within the framework of the National Research Program BIOMEDICINE to assess the prevalence of mental disorders at 24 primary care facilities. During a 1-week period, all consecutive adult patients were invited to complete the PHQ-9 and PHQ-2. Criterion validity was assessed against the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Results: There were 1467 patients who completed the PHQ-9 and the MINI. Overall, the PHQ-9 items showed good internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.81 for Latvian version and 0.79 for Russian version of the PHQ-9). A cut-off score of 8 or greater was established for the PHQ-9 (sensitivity 0.75 and 0.79, specificity 0.84 and 0.80 for Latvian and Russian languages, respectively). For the PHQ-2, a score of 2 or higher (sensitivity 0.79 and 0.79, specificity 0.65 and 0.67 for Latvian and Russian languages) detected more cases of depression than a score of 3 or higher. Conclusions: We suggest GPs ask patients to respond to the first 2 questions of the PHQ-9. If their score is positive, the patients should then complete the PHQ-9.