Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the general population (COMET-G) study.

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

Educar en derechos humanos : un espacio para el juego

Proyecto Aula Activa: Juegos Cooperativos para la educación para la paz Guía didáctica Colección: Jugando para la paz Material didáctico gratuito Editora Evelyn Cerdas AgüeroEsta guía didáctica titulada “Educar en derechos humanos un espacio para el juego” forma parte del proyecto Aula activa: juegos educativos para la educación para la paz del Instituto de Estudios Latinoamericanos (IDELA). Este proyecto busca fomentar en el estudiantado un proceso de cambio en la aprehensión y vivencia de los derechos humanos de manera que logren reconstruir actitudes, aprender valores y desarrollar habilidades susceptibles de ejercitarse en su interacción diaria, por medio de conductas y actitudes coherentes con el respeto de los derechos humanos y la construcción de una cultura de paz. En este participan estudiantes del curso Espacios Lúdicos para la Educación en Derechos Humanos del Instituto de Estudios Latinoamericanos. Autores: Chacón Campos Stephanie González Camacho Ana Lucía Loría Cubillo Marco Oconitrillo Arce Yuliana Quesada Sancho Fabiola Adrián Barrantes Aguilar Karina Díaz Monge Edith Jiménez Venegas Valeria Moya Pereira Nicolás Salas Ruíz Ericka Sánchez Morera Raúl Hidalgo Perez Stephen Mekbel Ashley Pereira Mónica Cordero Ramírez Jennifer Matarrita Corrales Pamela Brenes Navarro Elvira Mena Brenes Daniela Murillo Orozco Susan Solano Monge Francisco Suarez Pérez Carlos González Leandro Priscilla López Rojas. Carolina Montero Iyara Vargas Lobo Evelyn Figueroa Elizondo Anne Hübner Jacqueline Valencia González Miriam Lizbeth Velázquez Ávila Valerie Calderón Jennifer Campos Jessica Ochoa Monserrath Navarro Ericka Lewis Carolina Rojas Jazmín Arroyo Calderón Melany Arroyo Calderón Mónica Brenes Luna María Sofía Haug Cordero María José Redondo Ríos Ayleen Cascante Zúñiga Marta Azofeifa Matamoros Melanie Guillén Miranda Scarleth Luca Brenes David Valverde Murillo María Castro Arce Natalia Chacón Muñoz Hazel Campos Hernández María José Garita Barahona Raquel González Hernández Laura Ramos Solórzano Gisselle Porras Víquez Pedro ChaverríThis didactic guide entitled "Educating in human rights, a space for play" is part of the project Active Classroom: educational games for peace education of the Institute of Latin American Studies (IDELA). This project seeks to foster in students a process of change in the understanding and experience of human rights so that they can rebuild attitudes, learn values and develop skills that can be exercised in their daily interaction, through behaviors and attitudes consistent with respect for human rights and the construction of a culture of peace. Students from the course Playful Spaces for Human Rights Education of the Institute of Latin American Studies participate in this one. Authors: Chacón Campos Stephanie González Camacho Ana Lucía Loría Cubillo Marco Oconitrillo Arce Yuliana Quesada Sancho Fabiola Adrian Barrantes Aguilar Karina Díaz Monge Edith Jimenez Venegas Valeria Moya Pereira Nicolás Salas Ruíz Ericka Sánchez Morera Raúl Hidalgo Perez Stephen Mekbel Ashley Pereira Mónica Cordero Ramírez Jennifer Matarrita Corrales Pamela Brenes Navarro Elvira Mena Brenes Daniela Murillo Orozco Susan Solano Monge Francisco Suarez Perez Carlos González Leandro Priscilla Lopez Rojas Carolina Montero Iyara Vargas Lobo Evelyn Figueroa Elizondo Anne Hübner Jacqueline Valencia González Miriam Lizbeth Velázquez Ávila Valerie Calderon Jennifer Campos Jessica Ochoa Monserrath Navarro Ericka Lewis Carolina Rojas Jazmin Arroyo Calderon Melany Arroyo Calderon Mónica Brenes Luna María Sofía Haug Cordero María José Redondo Ríos Ayleen Cascante Zúñiga Marta Azofeifa Matamoros Melanie Guillén Miranda Scarleth Luca Brenes David Valverde Murillo María Castro Arce Natalia Chacón Muñoz Hazel Campos Hernández María José Garita Barahona Raquel González Hernández Laura Ramos Solórzano Gisselle Porras Víquez Pedro ChaverríInstituto de Estudios Latinoamericano

Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the general population (COMET-G) study.

IntroductionThere 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 methodsDuring 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 analysisDescriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables.ResultsProbable 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.ConclusionsThe 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

The effect of different degrees of lockdown and self-identified gender on anxiety, depression and suicidality during the COVID-19 pandemic: Data from the international COMET-G study.

INTRODUCTION: During the COVID-19 pandemic various degrees of lockdown were applied by countries around the world. It is considered that such measures have an adverse effect on mental health but the relationship of measure intensity with the mental health effect has not been thoroughly studied. Here we report data from the larger COMET-G study pertaining to this question. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, data were gathered with an online questionnaire 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). Anxiety was measured with the STAI, depression with the CES-D and suicidality with the RASS. Distress and probable depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm respectively. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: It included the calculation of Relative Risk (RR), Factorial ANOVA and Multiple backwards stepwise linear regression analysis RESULTS: Approximately two-thirds were currently living under significant restrictions due to lockdown. For both males and females the risk to develop clinical depression correlated significantly with each and every level of increasing lockdown degree (RR 1.72 and 1.90 respectively). The combined lockdown and psychiatric history increased RR to 6.88 The overall relationship of lockdown with severity of depression, though significant was small. CONCLUSIONS: The current study is the first which reports an almost linear relationship between lockdown degree and effect in mental health. Our findings, support previous suggestions concerning the need for a proactive targeted intervention to protect mental health more specifically in vulnerable groups

Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the health professionals (COMET-HP) study : depression, suicidal tendencies and conspiracism

Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.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.Peer reviewe

Somatic multicomorbidity and disability in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population : a quasi-epidemiological investigation in 54,826 subjects from 40 countries (COMET-G study)

Background The prevalence of medical illnesses is high among patients with psychiatric disorders. The current study aimed to investigate multi-comorbidity in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population. Secondary aims were to investigate factors associated with metabolic syndrome and treatment appropriateness of mental disorders. Methods The sample included 54,826 subjects (64.73% females; 34.15% males; 1.11% nonbinary gender) from 40 countries (COMET-G study). The analysis was based on the registration of previous history that could serve as a fair approximation for the lifetime prevalence of various medical conditions. Results About 24.5% reported a history of somatic and 26.14% of mental disorders. Mental disorders were by far the most prevalent group of medical conditions. Comorbidity of any somatic with any mental disorder was reported by 8.21%. One-third to almost two-thirds of somatic patients were also suffering from a mental disorder depending on the severity and multicomorbidity. Bipolar and psychotic patients and to a lesser extent depressives, manifested an earlier (15–20 years) manifestation of somatic multicomorbidity, severe disability, and probably earlier death. The overwhelming majority of patients with mental disorders were not receiving treatment or were being treated in a way that was not recommended. Antipsychotics and antidepressants were not related to the development of metabolic syndrome. Conclusions The finding that one-third to almost two-thirds of somatic patients also suffered from a mental disorder strongly suggests that psychiatry is the field with the most trans-specialty and interdisciplinary value and application points to the importance of teaching psychiatry and mental health in medical schools and also to the need for more technocratically oriented training of psychiatric residents