The Association Between Chronic Disease and Psychological Distress: An Australian Twin Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 322-329
Author(s):  
Jessica Tyler ◽  
Janine Lam ◽  
Katrina Scurrah ◽  
Gillian Dite
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Distress Scale

AbstractThere is a commonly observed association between chronic disease and psychological distress, but many potential factors could confound this association. This study investigated the association using a powerful twin study design that can control for unmeasured confounders that are shared between twins, including genetic and environmental factors. We used twin-paired cross-sectional data from the Adult Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire collected by Twins Research Australia from 2014 to 2017. Linear regression models fitted using maximum likelihood estimations (MLE) were used to test the association between self-reported chronic disease status and psychological distress, measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). When comparing between twin pairs, having any chronic disease was associated with a 1.29 increase in K6 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.66; p < .001). When comparing twins within a pair, having any chronic disease was associated with a 0.36 increase in K6 (95% CI: 0.002, 0.71; p = .049). This within-pair estimate is of most interest as comparing twins within a pair naturally controls for shared factors such as genes, age and shared lived experiences. Whereas the between-pair estimate does not. The weaker effect found within pairs tells us that genetic and environmental factors shared between twins confounds the relationship between chronic disease and psychological distress. This suggests that associations found in unrelated samples may show exaggerated estimates.

scholarly journals A Behavioral Genetic Analysis of the Cooccurrence Between Psychopathic Personality Traits and Criminal Behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Lewis ◽  
Eric J. Connolly ◽  
Danielle L. Boisvert ◽  
Brian B. Boutwell
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Psychopathic Personality ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Behavioral Genetic ◽  
National Longitudinal Study ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Mz Twins

A developed line of research has found that psychopathic personality traits and criminal behavior are correlated with one another. Although there is little question about the association between psychopathic personality traits and criminal behavior, what remains less clear is whether psychopathic traits exert a direct effect on criminal behavior. An alternative possibility is that previously unmeasured genetic and shared environmental factors account for much of the association between the two. Understanding the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence the covariance between psychopathic personality traits and criminal behavior can further our understanding of individual differences in propensity to engage in antisocial behavior. The current study analyzes 872 twins (MZ twins = 352, DZ twins = 520) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine the magnitude of genetic and environmental effects on the covariation between psychopathic personality and criminal behavior. Results from bivariate behavioral genetic analyses revealed that the correlation between psychopathic personality traits and criminal behavior was accounted for by common additive genetic (58%) and nonshared environmental (42%) influences. Fixed-effect linear regression models, however, suggested that psychopathic personality traits were not significantly associated with criminal behavior once common genetic and environmental influences were taken into account.

Moral distress in undergraduate nursing students

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 2325-2339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simoní Saraiva Bordignon ◽  
Valéria Lerch Lunardi ◽  
Edison Luiz Devos Barlem ◽  
Graziele de Lima Dalmolin ◽  
Rosemary Silva da Silveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Moral Distress ◽  
Intensity Level ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing Students ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Distress Scale

Background: Moral distress is considered to be the negative feelings that arise when one knows the morally correct response to a situation but cannot act because of institutional or hierarchal constraints. Objectives: To analyze moral distress and its relation with sociodemographic and academic variables in undergraduate students from different universities in Brazil. Method: Quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. Data were collected through the Moral Distress Scale for Nursing Students, with 499 nursing students from three universities in the extreme south of Brazil answering the scale. The data were analyzed in the statistical software SPSS version 22.0, through descriptive statistical analysis, association tests (t-test and analysis of variance), and linear regression models. Ethical considerations: Approval for the study was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande. Findings: The mean intensity of moral distress in the constructs ranged from 1.60 to 2.55. As to the occurrence of situations leading to moral distress in the constructs, the frequencies ranged from 1.21 to 2.43. The intensity level of moral distress showed higher averages in the more advanced grades of the undergraduate nursing course, when compared to the early grades of this course (between 5 and 10 grade, average = 2.60–3.14, p = 0.000). Conclusion: The demographic and academic characteristics of the undergraduate nursing students who referred higher levels of moral distress were being enrolled in the final course semesters, were at a federal university, and had no prior degree as an auxiliary nurse/nursing technician.

scholarly journals Suicidal Ideation and Predictors of Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Eswatini: A Population-Based Household Telephone Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6700
Author(s):  
Mduduzi Colani Shongwe ◽  
Song-Lih Huang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Telephone Survey ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Psychological Distress Scale ◽  
The Government ◽  
Distress Scale

The unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic can induce psychological distress in individuals. We investigated perceived stressors, prevalence of psychological distress and suicidal ideation, and predictors of psychological distress among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Eswatini. This study was a cross-sectional, population-based household telephone survey of 993 conveniently sampled adults (18+ years) from all the four administrative regions of Eswatini. Data were collected between 9 June and 18 July 2020 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the country was under a partial lockdown. COVID-19-related psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler 6-item Psychological Distress Scale (K6). We performed weighted modified Poisson regression analyses to identify significant predictors of moderate/severe psychological distress (K6 scores: ≥5). The weighted prevalences of moderate (K6 scores: 5–12) and severe psychological distress (K6 scores: ≥13) were 41.7% and 5.4%, respectively. Participants reported several perceived COVID-19-related stressors, including worries and fears of the contagion-specific death, serious need for food and money, and concerns about loss of income or business. The weighted prevalence of suicidal ideation was 1.5%. Statistically significant predictors of increased risk for moderate/severe psychological distress included living in the Hhohho and Manzini regions; feeling not well informed about COVID-19; feeling lonely; having received COVID-19 food or financial relief from the government; feeling burdened by the lockdown; being married; and being youth (18–24 years). The results call for the government to urgently augment the provision of mental health services during the pandemic. Mental health practitioners and programs may use several stressors and risk factors identified in this study to inform interventions and government policies aimed at reducing psychological distress induced by the pandemic.

Patients’ Awareness of Advanced Disease Status, Psychological Distress and Quality of Life Among Patients With Advanced Cancer: Results From the APPROACH Study, India

2021 ◽  
pp. 104990912110428
Author(s):  
Aanchal Satija ◽  
Sushma Bhatnagar ◽  
Semra Ozdemir ◽  
Eric Finkelstein ◽  
Chetna Maholtra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Advanced Disease ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Solid Cancer ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Prognostic disclosure to patients with advanced cancer facilitates treatment decisions and goals of care discussions. However, the perspectives of patients, families and physicians differ in this regard across different cultures. Non-disclosure of cancer diagnosis or prognosis is commonly observed in family-centric cultures such as India. Aim: To assess the prevalence of and factors associated with cancer patients’ awareness of advanced disease status; and its with quality of life and psychological distress. Methods: Patients for this cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey were recruited from oncology and palliative medicine clinics at a tertiary cancer hospital in India from January 2017 to June 2018. Patients aged ≥ 21 years, aware of cancer diagnosis and receiving oncology treatment for Stage IV solid cancer were included in the study after obtaining written informed consent. Results: Two hundred patients were enrolled, of which 146 (73%) were not aware of the stage of their malignancy and 9 (4.5%) believed that their disease was at stage I, II or III. Those who were aware of their advanced cancer stage had more years of education (9.9 years vs 8.1 years, p = .05) and had poorer spiritual wellbeing in the faith domain (adjusted difference −1.6, 95% confidence interval −3.1 to −0.1, p = .03) compared to those who were unaware. Conclusion: It is recommended that future studies may explore prognostic understanding in Indian patients according to their socio-cultural, spiritual and educational background.

Exploring the association between genetic and environmental factors and molar incisor hypomineralization: evidence from a twin study

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael José Pio Barbosa Teixeira ◽  
Natália Silva Andrade ◽  
Lisanca Carvalho Cavalcante Queiroz ◽  
Fausto Medeiros Mendes ◽  
Marcoeli Silva Moura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Molar Incisor Hypomineralization ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

scholarly journals Genetic and Environmental Influences on Smoking Behavior across Adolescence and Young Adulthood in the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development and the Transitions to Substance Abuse Follow-Up

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth K. Do ◽  
Elizabeth C. Prom-Wormley ◽  
Lindon J. Eaves ◽  
Judy L. Silberg ◽  
Donna R. Miles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Smoking Behavior ◽  
Smoking Initiation ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Adolescence And Young Adulthood ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
The Relationship

Little is known regarding the underlying relationship between smoking initiation and current quantity smoked during adolescence into young adulthood. It is possible that the influences of genetic and environmental factors on this relationship vary across sex and age. To investigate this further, the current study applied a common causal contingency model to data from a Virginia-based twin study to determine: (1) if the same genetic and environmental factors are contributing to smoking initiation and current quantity smoked; (2) whether the magnitude of genetic and environmental factor contributions are the same across adolescence and young adulthood; and (3) if qualitative and quantitative differences in the sources of variance between males and females exist. Study results found no qualitative or quantitative sex differences in the relationship between smoking initiation and current quantity smoked, though relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors changed across adolescence and young adulthood. More specifically, smoking initiation and current quantity smoked remain separate constructs until young adulthood, when liabilities are correlated. Smoking initiation is explained by genetic, shared, and unique environmental factors in early adolescence and by genetic and unique environmental factors in young adulthood; while current quantity smoked is explained by shared environmental and unique environmental factors until young adulthood, when genetic and unique environmental factors play a larger role.

scholarly journals App-Based Delivery of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques: Cross-Sectional Study of App User Self-Ratings (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawson Church ◽  
Peta Stapleton ◽  
Debbie Sabot
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Emotional Intensity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Emotional Freedom Techniques ◽  
Distress Scale

BACKGROUND The burgeoning area of mobile health (mHealth) has experienced rapid growth in mobile apps designed to address mental health issues. Although abundant apps offer strategies for managing symptoms of anxiety and stress, information regarding their efficacy is scarce. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the effect of an mHealth app on user self-ratings of psychological distress in a sample of 270,461 app users. The Tapping Solution App guides users through the therapeutic protocols of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), an evidence-based psychophysiological intervention that combines acupressure with elements of cognitive and exposure therapies. METHODS App users provided self-ratings of emotional intensity before and after app sessions (termed “tapping meditations”) using an 11-point Subjective Units of Distress scale. App user data for 23 tapping meditations, which addressed psychological symptoms of anxiety and stress, were gathered between October 2018 and October 2019, totaling 380,034 completed app sessions. RESULTS Across 12 anxiety-tapping meditations, the difference in emotional intensity ratings from presession (mean 6.66, SD 0.25) to postsession (mean 3.75, SD 0.30) was statistically significant (<i>P</i>&lt;.001; 95% CI −2.92 to −2.91). Across 11 stress-tapping meditations, a statistically significant difference was also found from presession (mean 6.91, SD 0.48) to postsession (mean 3.83, SD 0.54; <i>P</i>&lt;.001; 95% CI −3.08 to −3.07). The results are consistent with the literature on the efficacy of Clinical EFT for anxiety and stress when offered in conventional therapeutic formats. CONCLUSIONS The findings provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of the mHealth app in the immediate reduction of self-rated psychological distress. As an adjunct to professional mental health care, the app promises accessible and convenient therapeutic benefits.

scholarly journals Corneal fluorescence in relation to genetic and environmental factors: a twin study

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 508-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Line Kessel ◽  
Jesper Leth Hougaard ◽  
Kirsten Ohm Kyvik ◽  
Birgit Sander ◽  
Thorkild I. A. Sørensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

scholarly journals Prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors among adult tuberculosis patients attending public health institutions in Dire Dawa and Harar cities, Eastern Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tegegn Mulatu Ayana ◽  
Kedir Teji Roba ◽  
Myrla Obejero Mabalhin
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Eastern Ethiopia ◽  
Tuberculosis Patients ◽  
Dire Dawa ◽  
Related Stigma ◽  
Health Institutions ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In developing countries, the prevalence of psychological distress was higher among tuberculosis patients. Patients with tuberculosis infection were more prone to psychological distress than peoples without tuberculosis. However, little studies were conducted on psychological distress among tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia, particularly in the Eastern Ethiopian health institutions. Methods Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted. Based on the TB burden, four hospitals and six health centers were selected from Dire Dawa and Harar cities. Socio-demographic factors, psychological distress, TB related stigma experience, and alcohol use data were collected by face to face interview while TB and HIV related variables collected from TB registration book. All TB patients from the first month of TB treatment initiation through 6 were consecutively interviewed by trained data collectors from January to February 2018. The collected data were entered into Epi Data Version 3.1 software and exported into SPSS window version 20 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression was carried out. All variables with P-value ≤0.25 were taken into the multivariate model. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were estimated, and variables with P-value less than 0.05 in the final model were taken as significant predictors of psychological distress. Results The prevalence of psychological distress among tuberculosis in this study population was 63.3% (95% CI: 58.1, 68.1). Being from rural residence (AOR: 1. 98; 95% CI: 1.01,3.86), co-infection TB- HIV (AOR: 2.15; 95% CI:1.02, 4.56), presence of at least one chronic disease (AOR:3.04; 95% CI:1.59,5.79), experience of stigma (AOR: 1.71; 95% CI:1.01, 2.90), Pulmonary and MDR-TB (AOR:2.53; 95% CI:1.50,4.28) and smoking cigarette (AOR:2.53; 95% CI:1.06,6.03) were associated with psychological distress. Conclusions In this study, almost two-thirds of the tuberculosis patients had psychological distress. Chronic disease morbidity, HIV-TB co-infection and experienced TB related stigma were associated with psychological distress. Attention should be given to chronic diseases including HIV/AIDS diagnosis and referring to chronic disease units to prevent the impact on mental health. Consideration should be given for psychological distress and linking moderate to severe form of the disease to the Psychiatric clinics to hinder its effects.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Changes in Resting Metabolic Rates with Aging Are Accelerated by Diseases

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3061
Author(s):  
Marta Zampino ◽  
Majd AlGhatrif ◽  
Pei-Lun Kuo ◽  
Eleanor Marie Simonsick ◽  
Luigi Ferrucci
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Resting Metabolic Rate ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Baltimore Longitudinal Study ◽  
Over Time

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) declines with aging and is related to changes in health status, but how specific health impairments impact basal metabolism over time has been largely unexplored. We analyzed the association of RMR with 15 common age-related chronic diseases for up to 13 years of follow-up in a population of 997 participants to the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. At each visit, participants underwent measurements of RMR by indirect calorimetry and body composition by DEXA. Linear regression models and linear mixed effect models were used to test cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of RMR and changes in disease status. Cancer and diabetes were associated with higher RMR at baseline. Independent of covariates, prevalent COPD and cancer, as well as incident diabetes, heart failure, and CKD were associated with a steeper decline in RMR over time. Chronic diseases seem to have a two-phase association with RMR. Initially, RMR may increase because of the high cost of resiliency homeostatic mechanisms. However, as the reserve capacity becomes exhausted, a catabolic cascade becomes unavoidable, resulting in loss of total and metabolically active mass and consequent RMR decline.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document