Association between court-ordered corrective statements and smoking cessation among individuals with depression or anxiety

In 2006, a US federal court mandated tobacco companies to disseminate corrective messages to address tobacco-related misperceptions perpetuated by the tobacco industry. This study sought to evaluate the impact of exposure to these messages on tobacco cessation among smokers with depression and/or anxiety. Data were obtained from the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey. A total of 606 were current adult smokers. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to explore the relationship between exposure to anti-smoking messages and quitting tobacco among smokers with mental disorders (n ​= ​209) and those without mental disorders (n ​= ​397). Prevalence of exposure to court-ordered corrective messages was 51% among the US adults with depression and/or anxiety and 61.9% among current smokers with depression and/or anxiety. Exposure to multiple antismoking messages was not associated with intentions (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.28–7.86; p ​= ​0.663) or attempts to quit cigarette smoking (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.20–5.42; p ​= ​0.817) among individuals with (61.2% vs 58.5%; p ​= ​0.678) depression or anxiety. Further work is needed to identify psychological and motivational elements that substantially impact smoking behavior change among mental health populations such that these can be included in future industry funded media campaigns

Cannabis use and medication nonadherence in bipolar disorder: A nationwide inpatient sample database analysis.

BACKGROUND: Medication nonadherence among bipolar disorder (BD) is often linked with comorbid substance use disorders. This study aims to investigate cannabis use disorder (CUD) association with medication noncompliance in hospitalized BD patients. METHODS: Using data on 266,303 BD hospitalizations between 2010 and 2014 from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, we obtained medication noncompliance rates stratified by demographics and CUD. Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with medication noncompliance. RESULTS: Overall mean age, the prevalence of CUD, and medication nonadherence were 41.58 (± 0.11) years, 15.0% and 16.1%, respectively. There were 56.6% females in the overall population. There was a significant difference in the characteristics of those in the medication nonadherence vs adherence groups, including age, sex, race, comorbid substance use, income, insurance type, hospital region, and hospital teaching status (p \u3c 0.001). After adjusting for other variables using multivariate analysis, there remained a statistically significant association of medication nonadherence in BD hospitalization and CUD (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.36-1.48). LIMITATION: Confounding multiple substance use could not be accounted for, and the retrospective nature of the database which includes only inpatients is prone to possible selection and reporting bias. CONCLUSION: CUD statistically predicts increased rates of medication nonadherence among patients with BD. Given the possible association of CUD with medication nonadherence among BD patients, collaborative work between general adult psychiatry and addiction services is imperative in improving the management outcome of patients with BD and comorbid CUD

Access to online patient portals among individuals with depression and anxiety

Online patient portals are technology-based platforms that offers patients access to their personal medical data. Patient portals have the potential to improve clinical outcomes. Despite their increasing role in the delivery of healthcare, less is known about portal use in mental health populations. This study sought to evaluate online portal use among people with depression and anxiety drawing from a large nationally representative sample. Data was pooled from 4 iterations of the Health Information National Trends Survey (2017–2020). We calculated descriptive statistics to determine the prevalence, reasons, and barriers for portal use. Weighted logistic regression analysis was performed to identify sociodemographic predictors of portal usage among those with depression/anxiety. Of the 3194 individuals with self-reported depression and/or anxiety, less than half (47.2%) reported using their online portal, and portal use increased from 36.3% in 2017 to 50.4% in 2020. Significant sociodemographic predictors of portal usage included gender, age, income, race/ethnicity and education level. Barriers to portal adoption among the study population include personal preferences, concerns about privacy, and operational reasons. Findings highlight the barriers to portal use as well as sub-groups of individuals within mental health contexts that may benefit from targeted interventions to encourage portal adoption

Bridging science and spirituality: the intersection of religion and public health in the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had global impacts on social interactions and religious activities, leading to a complex relationship between religion and public health policies. This article reviews impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religious activities and beliefs in relation to the spread of the virus, as well as the potential of religious leaders and faith communities in mitigating the impact of the pandemic through public health measures and community engagement.MethodsA literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar, with search terms including “religion,” “COVID-19,” “pandemic,” “coronavirus,” and “spirituality.” We included English articles published between January 2020 and September 2022, focusing on intersection of religion and COVID-19.ResultsWe identified two main themes emerging, with the selected 32 studies divided in 15 studies focused on the relationship between religious practices, beliefs, and the spread of COVID-19, while 17 studies explored the role of religious leaders and faith communities in coping with and mitigating the impact of COVID-19. Religious activities were found to correlate with virus spread, particularly in early days of the pandemic. The relationship between religiosity and adherence to government guidelines was mixed, with some studies suggesting increased religiosity contributed to misconceptions about the virus and resistance to restrictions. Religious beliefs were also associated with vaccine hesitancy, particularly conservative religious beliefs. On the other hand, religious leaders and communities played a crucial role in adapting to COVID-19 measures, maintaining a sense of belonging, fostering emotional resilience, and upholding compliance with public health measures. The importance of collaboration between religious leaders, institutions, and public health officials in addressing the pandemic was emphasized.ConclusionsThis review highlights the essential role of religious leaders, faith-based organizations, and faith communities in promoting education, preparedness, and response efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Engaging with religious leaders and communities can improve pandemic control and prevention efforts. Collaboration between religious leaders, governments, and healthcare professionals is necessary to combat vaccine hesitancy and ensure successful COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. The insights from this review can guide future research, policy development, and public health interventions to minimize the impact of the pandemic and improve outcomes for individuals and communities affected