Psychological Aspects of Outbreaks Scale (PAOS) : A Validation Study

Aim: The aim of this study was set to develop a measurement tool to understand adults’ attitudes towards pandemic and to provide evidence of its validity and reliability. Material and Method: Items developed from a pool of 59 items were applied to 798 adults. The exploratory factor analysis was made on the data collected, and the size of the measurement tool with factor extraction techniques was analyzed using SPSS and R statistical environment. In an iterative analysis of principal components, items that did not meet predefined criteria were removed and the 16-item final version of the Psychological Aspects of Outbreaks Scale was obtained. The final four-factor solution obtained with principal component analysis was also confirmed by the Exploratory Graph Analysis and Parallel Analysis. The second data collection was carried out by distributing the measurement tool to a group of 62 adults. Data were used to analyze the criterion validity and test-retest reliability of the measurement tool. Results: The following names were given to the dimensions: fear of harm, considerations on precautions, intolerance of uncertainty, appreciation. PAOS’s significant relationships with other relevant constructs such as health anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and health cognitions supported criterion-related validity support its criterion-based validity. PAOS items had adequate level of internal consistency (α = .77) and test-retest reliability (r = .76). Discussion: The Psychological Aspects of Outbreak Scale (PAOS) was a valid and reliable tool for evaluating people’s behavior, beliefs, and attitudes during the COVID-19 period

Prevalence and Comorbidity of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder Among Teacher Candidate University Students

Bu araştırmanın amacı Türkiye'deki genç yetişkinlerden oluşan bir örneklemde dikkat eksikliği ve hiperaktivite bozukluğu (DEHB) ile sosyal anksiyete bozukluğunun (SAB) yaygınlığını ve komorbiditesini incelemektir. 21-24 yaş arasındaki üniversite öğrencileri araştırma ekibi tarafından hazırlanan sosyo-demografik formu, Yetişkin DEB/DEHB DSM IV Temelli Tarama ve Değerlendirme Ölçeği ile Liebowitz Sosyal Anksiyete Ölçeğini doldurmuştur. Sona erme noktası üzerinde puan alan katılımcılar, DEHB ve SAD için DSM-IV kriterlerini gözeten deneyimli psikiyatristler tarafından teşhis amaçlı bir görüşmeye davet edilmiştir. Tüm katılımcıların yüzde 30'u (152/494) tarama ölçeklerindeki sona erme noktası üzerinde bir puan almış ve bu katılımcıların yüzde 60'ı (92/152) klinik görüşmeye katılmıştır. Klinik görüşmeye katılan katılımcıların yüzde 38'i (35/92) DEHB ve/veya SAB teşhisi almıştır. Tüm örneklem içinde DEHB ve SAB yaygınlık oranı DEHB için 3.23% (16/494) ve SAB için 4.45% (22/494) olarak belirlenmişken katılımcıların 0.6% (3/494)'sının komorbid DEHB ve SAB'na sahip olduğu saptanmıştır. Burada sunulan bulgular SAB ve DEHB'nin oldukça yaygın komorbiditeler olduğunu belirten literatür çalışmalarını destekler niteliktedir. Sosyal Anksiyete Bozukluğu olan öğretmen adaylarına teklif edilen profesyonel yardımın reddedilmesi ise daha fazla araştırılması gereken bir konudur. Resmi bir teşhis ile etiketlenmekten ve mesleki hayatlarında tedavi görmekten duyulan korku ve endişenin kültüre özgü bir yaklaşımla incelenmesi gerekmektedir.To investigate prevalence and comorbidity of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) in a Turkish community sample of young adult population. University students aged 21-24 years completed a socio-demographic form developed by the study team; Adult ADD/ ADHD DSM IV- Based Diagnostic Screening and Rating Scale and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Subjects, who scored above the cut off points in each scales, were invited for a diagnostic interview conducted by experienced psychiatrists using DSM-IV criteria for ADHD and SAD. 30 percent (152/494) of all participants had a score above of the cutoff point in screening scales and 60 percent of them attended clinical interview. 38 percent (35/92) of those who had clinical interview received diagnoses of ADHD and/or SAD. Prevalence of ADHD and SAD among the whole sample was 3.23% for ADHD (16/494) and 4.45% for SAD (22/494), whilst 0.6 % (3/494) had comorbid ADHD and SAD. Findings presented here support the existing literature that SAD and ADHD are relatively common comorbidities. Rejection of professional help offered to the teacher candidates with Social Anxiety Disorder need further analysis. Their fear of stigmatization and concerns about the impact of a formal diagnosis and having treatment on their professional career needs to be addressed in a culture-specific approach

Parental psychological distress associated with COVID-19 outbreak: A large-scale multicenter survey from Turkey

Aims: Pandemics can cause substantial psychological distress; however, we do not know the impact of the COVID-19 related lockdown and mental health burden on the parents of school age children. We aimed to comparatively examine the COVID-19 related the stress and psychological burden of the parents with different occupational, locational, and mental health status related backgrounds. Methods: A large-scale multicenter online survey was completed by the parents (n = 3,278) of children aged 6 to 18 years, parents with different occupational (health care workers—HCW [18.2%] vs. others), geographical (İstanbul [38.2%] vs. others), and psychiatric (child with a mental disorder [37.8%]) backgrounds. Results: Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that being a HCW parent (odds ratio 1.79, p <.001), a mother (odds ratio 1.67, p <.001), and a younger parent (odds ratio 0.98, p =.012); living with an adult with a chronic physical illness (odds ratio 1.38, p <.001), having an acquaintance diagnosed with COVID-19 (odds ratio 1.22, p =.043), positive psychiatric history (odds ratio 1.29, p <.001), and living with a child with moderate or high emotional distress (odds ratio 1.29, p <.001; vs. odds ratio 2.61, p <.001) were independently associated with significant parental distress. Conclusions: Parents report significant psychological distress associated with COVID-19 pandemic and further research is needed to investigate its wider impact including on the whole family unit. © The Author(s) 2020

Investigation of Admitted Cases with Telepsychiatry Service in the COVID-19 Pandemic Process: A Child Psychiatry Clinic Experience

Objectives:The aim of our study is to evaluate the admissions of children, adolescents and families, the general well-being of children and their daily functionality, with the Coronavirus Support Program (KORDEP) psychological support service infrastructure, which is a telemedicine service in the pandemic.Materials and Methods:The sample for our study consisted of every child and adolescent between the ages of 0-18 who was referred to us through the KORDEP computer-based system between May 2020-February 2021. Children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were interviewed for general psychiatric evaluation and possible psychiatric diagnoses and has been Clinical Global Impressions, Children’s Global Assesment Scale, Kiddie-schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia-present and lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). Clinically relevant questions were asked of diagnoses that couldn’t be tested with K-SADS-PL and children under age of six.Results:It was determined that 81.6% of the 77 applications evaluated had a psychiatric diagnosis.The most common diagnosis was specific phobia (28.6%). It was followed by generalized anxiety disorder (24.7%), attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (24.7%), depression (19.5%), dysthymia (18.2%), oppositional defiant disorder (15.6%), social phobia (15.6%), obsessive compulsive disorder (13%), separation anxiety disorder (13%), misophonia (9.1%), enuresis (6.5%), tic disorder (6.5%), panic disorder (5.2%). When the clinical diagnoses and reasons for admission of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-positive, isolated patients were compared to those of COVID-19-negative, not isolated patients, there was no significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion:Since children and adolescents are a vulnerable group in terms of mental health, the use of telepsychiatry in challenging situations like pandemics would assist lessen the burden of mental health problems. There is a need to enhance telepsychiatry services for crisis circumstances where the demand for mental health services increases in the future

Living with COVID-19: Depression, anxiety and life satisfaction during the new normal in Turkey

Background: Current findings suggest that many people experience high levels of anxiety, depression and life dissatisfaction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the effects of the pandemic and life changes during the new normal of social restrictions in Turkey are yet to be examined. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, correlates and predictors of anxiety, depression and life satisfaction during the new normal of ongoing social restrictions. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted online with 352 participants living in Turkey. Measures included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Satisfaction with Life Scales. Sociodemographic variables and questions relating to the COVID-19 were collected. Results: The results showed that low social communication and the sense of being restricted were significant predictors of probable depression, anxiety symptoms and life dissatisfaction. Of the participants, 91.5% were dissatisfied with their lives during the new normal of social restrictions. In addition, nearly half of the participants showed depression (55.7%) and generalized anxiety symptoms (54.3%). Conclusion: The present study suggested that social communication might be a key factor to improve psychological wellbeing. Considering the long-term effects of the pandemic on public mental health, developing effective preventive measures and intervention strategies are crucial

Parental psychological distress associated with COVID-19 outbreak: A large-scale multicenter survey from Turkey

Aims Pandemics can cause substantial psychological distress; however, we do not know the impact of the COVID-19 related lockdown and mental health burden on the parents of school age children. We aimed to comparatively examine the COVID-19 related the stress and psychological burden of the parents with different occupational, locational, and mental health status related backgrounds. Methods A large-scale multicenter online survey was completed by the parents (n = 3,278) of children aged 6 to 18 years, parents with different occupational (health care workers—HCW [18.2%] vs. others), geographical (İstanbul [38.2%] vs. others), and psychiatric (child with a mental disorder [37.8%]) backgrounds. Results Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that being a HCW parent (odds ratio 1.79, p < .001), a mother (odds ratio 1.67, p < .001), and a younger parent (odds ratio 0.98, p = .012); living with an adult with a chronic physical illness (odds ratio 1.38, p < .001), having an acquaintance diagnosed with COVID-19 (odds ratio 1.22, p = .043), positive psychiatric history (odds ratio 1.29, p < .001), and living with a child with moderate or high emotional distress (odds ratio 1.29, p < .001; vs. odds ratio 2.61, p < .001) were independently associated with significant parental distress. Conclusions Parents report significant psychological distress associated with COVID-19 pandemic and further research is needed to investigate its wider impact including on the whole family unit.Q2WOS:0006261922000012-s2.0-850954439663314809

Reducing test anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy

Educational assessments can affect students' mental health, particularly during a pandemic. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are widely efficacious for reducing test anxiety, as well as general anxiety and rumination. However, the effectiveness of these two therapies for students during COVID-19 is unclear. We measured the effectiveness of ACT and CBT for managing test anxiety, general anxiety, and rumination during COVID-19 for 77 students taking Türkiye's national university entrance exam, assigned to either the ACT or CBT psychoeducation programs. Both programs reduced test anxiety, general anxiety, and rumination, and showed similar levels of effectiveness. This suggests that ACT and CBT are both important for improving students' mental health during COVID-19 and either may be beneficial