Causal relationship between circulating vitamin C and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and common mental disorders-a Mendelian randomization study

Mental disorders seriously affect people’s health and social stability.This Mendelian randomization(MR)study was designed to investigate the causal relationship between circulating vitamin C(VC)or 25-hydroxyvitamin D(25(OH)D)levels and mental disorders.The data used for the MR analysis were derived from the summary genome-wide association studies(GWAS)database for VC and 25(OH)D and from the Finn Gen consortium for fourteen mental disorders.Based on the inverse variance weighted(IVW)method,we found a potential causal association between circulating VC and anxiety disorders(IVW:OR=1.139,95%CI:1.023-1.269,P=0.018).However,no causal association was found between VC or 25(OH)D and other mental disorders(P>0.05).In the reverse MR analysis,individuals with Alzheimer’s disease was causally associated with higher concentrations of circulating VC(P=0.012),while individuals with anxiety disorders had a negative association between the concentrations of 25(OH)D(P=0.012).However,the current evidence does not support a causal relationship between VC or 25(OH)D and other mental disorders.In addition,there was no causal association between circulating VC and 25(OH)D(P>0.05).Future studies are needed to confirm these findings and to elucidate the mechanisms of potential causality.

Brain Research on Mental Disorders: A Criticism

Objective: To expose the problems and inherent limitations of neuroscience-based brain research on mental disorders. Method: Discussion of the theory underlying brain research on mental disorders, followed by a systematic evaluation of typical studies. Results: The fundamental problem is that brain researchers fail to differentiate between biological mental disorders in which brain processes cause the disorder (notably schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and melancholic depression) and learned mental disorders in which brain processes mediate but do not cause the disorder (which is the case with reactive depression, reactive anxiety, OCD, and PTSD). Researchers have been unsuccessful in identifying mechanisms in the brain that cause biological mental disorders, and will never be able to locate the innumerable specific neural connections that mediate learned mental disorders. Moreover, the author’s review of typical studies in this field shows that they have serious problems with theory, measurement, and data analysis, and that their findings cannot be trusted. Conclusions: Neuroscience-based brain research on mental disorders, unlike other neurological research, has been an expensive failure and it is not worth continuing.

Need for education of psychiatric evaluation of offenders with mental disorders:A questionnaire survey for Japanese designated psychiatrists

BACKGROUND The management of offenders with mental disorders has been a significant concern in forensic psychiatry.In Japan,the introduction of the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act in 2005 addressed the issue.However,numerous psychiatric patients at risk of violence still find themselves subject to the administrative involuntary hospitalization(AIH)scheme,which lacks clarity and updated standards.AIM To explore current as well as optimized learning strategies for risk assessment in AIH decision making.METHODS We conducted a questionnaire survey among designated psychiatrists to explore their experiences and expectations regarding training methods for psychiatric assessments of offenders with mental disorders.RESULTS The findings of this study’s survey suggest a prevalent reliance on traditional learning approaches such as oral education and on-the-job training.CONCLUSION This underscores the pressing need for structured training protocols in AIH consultations.Moreover,feedback derived from inpatient treatment experiences is identified as a crucial element for enhancing risk assessment skills.

Evidence-Based Design Application of Water Landscaping for Rehabilitation Gardens for Patients with Mental Disorders

The aim of the article is to explore the influence of the water landscape design of a rehabilitation garden for patients with mental disorders on the recovery effect of patients,intending to provide a better rehabilitation environment for patients with mental disorders.Based on literature research,this article reviews three aspects of evidence-based design theory,the concept of water landscape in rehabilitation gardens,and the types of water features in rehabilitation gardens.The results show that well-designed water features can significantly improve patients’psychological state and reduce anxiety and stress,and that water landscape design in rehabilitation gardens is an effective rehabilitation tool that can facilitate the recovery process of patients with mental disorders.Future designs should take into full consideration patients’needs and preferences,as well as best practices in waterscape design,to maximize its positive impact on patients’recovery.

Biopsychosocial Review of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses known to occur. Eating disorders directly cause 10,200 deaths each year, which is one death every 52 minutes. About 9% of the global population is affected by eating disorders at some point during their lifetime. This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the factors that contribute to the onset of eating disorders. Specifically, we examine biological factors, such as genetics, family history and the neuroscience behind eating disorders;furthermore, we explore psychological factors including other mental health conditions and their correlation, personality traits and behavioral risk factors;lastly, we consider social factors related to the onset of eating disorders, such as childhood and social environment, the media, and demographic factors.

Adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines in children with mental,behavioral,and developmental disorders:Data from the 2016-2020 National Survey of Children's Health

Background:Adopting a healthy lifestyle during childhood could improve physical and mental health outcomes in adulthood and reduce relevant disease burdens.However,the lifestyles of children with mental,behavioral,and developmental disorders(MBDDs)remains under-described within the literature of public health field.This study aimed to examine adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines among children with MBDDs compared to population norms and whether these differences are affected by demographic characteristics.Methods:Data were from the 2016-2020 National Survey of Children’s Health—A national,population-based,cross-sectional study.We used the data of 119,406 children aged 6-17 years,which included 38,571 participants with at least 1 MBDD and 80,835 without.Adherence to the 24-hour movement guidelines was measured using parent-reported physical activity,screen time,and sleep duration.Results:Among children with MBDDs,20.3%,37.0%,60.7%,and 77.3%met the physical activity,screen time,sleep,and at least 1 of the 24-hour movement guidelines.These rates were lower than those in children without MBDDs(22.8%,46.2%,66.7%,and 83.4%,respectively;all p<0.001).Children with MBDDs were less likely to meet these guidelines(odds ratio(OR)=1.21,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.13-1.30;OR=1.37,95%CI:1.29-1.45;OR=1.29,95%CI:1.21-1.37;OR=1.45,95%CI:1.35-1.56)than children without MBDDs.Children with emotional disorders had the highest odds of not meeting these guidelines(OR=1.43,95%CI:1.29-1.57;OR=1.48,95%CI:1.37-1.60;OR=1.49,95%CI:1.39-1.61;OR=1.72,95%CI:1.57-1.88)in comparison to children with other MBDDs.Among children aged12-17 years,the difference in proportion of meeting physical activity and screen time guidelines for children with vs.children without MBDD was larger than that among children aged 6-11 years.Furthermore,the above difference of meeting physical activity guidelines in ethnic minority children was smaller than that in white children.Conclusion:Children with MBDDs were less likely to meet individual or combined 24-hour movement guidelines than children without MBDDs.In educational and clinical settings,the primary focus should be on increasing physical activity and limiting screen time in children aged 12-17 years who have MBDDs;and specifically for white children who have MBDDs,increasing physical activity may help.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antivirals in hepatitis C virus patients with mental disorders

BACKGROUND It is estimated that 58 million people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis C virus(HCV).Patients with severe psychiatric disorders could not be treated with previously available interferon-based therapies due to their unfavorable side effect profile.This has changed with the introduction of direct-acting antivirals(DAA),although their real-life tolerance and effectiveness in patients with different psychiatric disorders remain to be demonstrated.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of DAA in patients with various mental illnesses.METHODS This was a retrospective observational study encompassing 14272 patients treated with DAA for chronic hepatitis C in 22 Polish hepatology centers,including 942 individuals diagnosed with a mental disorder(anxiety disorder,bipolar affective disorder,depression,anxiety-depressive disorder,personality disorder,schizophrenia,sleep disorder,substance abuse disorder,and mental illness without a specific diagnosis).The safety and effectiveness of DAA in this group were compared to those in a group without psychiatric illness(n=13330).Antiviral therapy was considered successful if serum ribonucleic acid(RNA)of HCV was undetectable 12 wk after its completion[sustained virologic response(SVR)].Safety data,including the incidence of adverse events(AEs),serious AEs(SAEs),and deaths,and the frequency of treatment modification and discontinuation,were collected during therapy and up to 12 wk after treatment completion.The entire study population was included in the intent-to-treat(ITT)analysis.Per-protocol(PP)analysis concerned patients who underwent HCV RNA evaluation 12 wk after completing treatment.RESULTS Among patients with mental illness,there was a significantly higher percentage of men,treatmentnaive patients,obese,human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus-coinfected,patients with cirrhosis,and those infected with genotype 3(GT3)while infection with GT1b was more frequent in the population without psychiatric disorders.The cure rate calculated PP was not significantly different in the two groups analyzed,with a SVR of 96.9% and 97.7%,respectively.Although patients with bipolar disorder achieved a significantly lower SVR,the multivariate analysis excluded it as an independent predictor of treatment non-response.Male sex,GT3 infection,cirrhosis,and failure of previous therapy were identified as independent negative predictors.The percentage of patients who completed the planned therapy did not differ between groups with and without mental disorders.In six patients,symptoms of mental illness(depression,schizophrenia)worsened,of which two discontinued treatments for this reason.New episodes of sleep disorders occurred significantly more often in patients with mental disorders.Patients with mental illness were more frequently lost to follow-up(4.2%vs 2.5%).CONCLUSION DAA treatment is safe and effective in HCV-infected patients with mental disorders.No specific psychiatric diagnosis lowered the chance of successful antiviral treatment.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 as an underlying,comorbid or consequent state of mental disorders

Somatic disturbances that occur in parallel with psychiatric diseases are a major challenge in clinical practice.Various factors contribute to the development of mental and somatic disorders.Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is a significant health burden worldwide,and the prevalence of diabetes in adults is increasing.The comorbidity of diabetes and mental disorders is very common.By sharing a bidirectional link,both T2DM and mental disorders influence each other in various manners,but the exact mechanisms underlying this link are not yet elucidated.The potential mechanisms of both mental disorders and T2DM are related to immune and inflammatory system dysfunction,oxidative stress,endothelial dysfunction,and metabolic disturbances.Moreover,diabetes is also a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction that can range from subtle diabetesassociated cognitive decline to pre-dementia and dementia.A complex relationship between the gut and the brain also represents a new therapeutic approach since gut-brain signalling pathways regulate food intake and hepatic glucose production.The aim of this minireview is to summarize and present the latest data on mutual pathogenic pathways in these disorders,emphasizing their complexity and interweaving.We also focused on the cognitive performances and changes in neurodegenerative disorders.The importance of implementing integrated approaches in treating both of these states is highlighted,along with the need for individual therapeutic strategies.

Psychological and Physiological Health Benefits of a Structured Forest Therapy Program for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders

Mental health conditions in children and adolescents can be improved by slow mindful nature connection known as forest therapyor bathing.Forest therapy has recently received growing attention as an enabler of relaxation and preventive health care withdemonstrated clinical efficacy.However,it is not well-known that forest therapy also decreases mental health issues amongindividuals with mental health disorders.This study explored the psychological and physiological health benefits of structuredforest therapy programs for children and adolescents with mental health disorders.A one-group pre-test-posttest design wasemployed for our study participants.Twelve participants(aged 9–14 years)engaged in two one-hour guided standard sequenceforest therapy experiences.A Mindful Attention Awareness Scale(MAAS),Connectedness to Nature Scale(CNS),Profile ofMood States(POMS),place meanings(e.g.,functional,emotional,and cognitive attachment to the forest)questionnaire,andphysiological health assessment were administered to the participants.Our results showed that negative mood states weresignificantly reduced and that a positive mood state was significantly improved after the structured forest therapy programs.Also,mindfulness,nature connection,place meanings,and physiological health were significantly boosted after theinterventions.The results demonstrate substantial psychological and physiological health and well-being outcomes ofstructured forest therapy for similar individuals.

Progress in Application of CBT Therapy in Patients with Post-stroke Mental Disorders

The application effects of CBT therapy in patients with post-stroke mental disorders were summarized to better understand the application effects of CBT therapy in patients with post-stroke mental disorders,so as to provide reference suggestions for better providing psychological treatment to patients with post-stroke mental disorders.

The Relationship between Mental Disorders and Personality of Outpatients in a Psychiatric Clinic in Nanjing, China

Psychosis has increasingly become a social problem,emphasizing the need to understand the relationship between mental disorders and personality.This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental disorders and personality among psychiatric outpatients based on real-world data.Symptom Checklist 90(SCL-90)and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPQ)were used to evaluate the personality and psychopathological symptoms of patients(n=8409)in the Psychiatric Outpatient Department at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital.t-test was used to compare scores between patients and national norms.Pearson’s correlation coefficient and path analysis were used to explore the relationship between mental health status and personality.The correlation coefficient between the neuroticism(N)score and each factor score of the SCL-90 test,as well as the correlation between psychoticism(P)and hostility and paranoia,exceeded 0.4.Path analysis revealed that the standardized path coefficients of N score and SCL-90 were all higher than 0.4.In addition,the standardized path coefficient of hostility and paranoia on P score were 0.313 and 0.280,respectively.Interpersonal sensitivity,depression and obsessive-compulsive symptoms were affected by extraversion(E)score,with standardized path coefficients of-0.149,-0.138,and-0.105,respectively.The path analysis also showed the direct and indirect effects of age,gender,education,and marital status on SCL-90.Patients characterized as melancholic had higher scores in all factors of SCL-90.In conclusion,mental health was related to personality traits of neuroticism,psychoticism and introversion.

Clinical Profile of Women with Mental Disorders in Dakar Hospitals

Introduction: In Senegal, knowledge of the clinical profile of mental disorders in women has not been the subject of many studies, even though it is of vital importance to those involved in mental health. Thus, the aim of our study was to describe the clinical aspects of psychiatric disorders in women hospitalized at Fann. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective, and descriptive study over a five-year period. We identified 402 cases that met the selection criteria. The data collection form provided information on aspects of the clinical profile of mental disorders, such as medical, surgical, gynecological, obstetrical and psychiatric history, instigator of the request for care, diagnosis, duration and number of hospitalizations. ICD-10 was used for the various pathologies identified. Results: Asthma was noted in 7% of patients, as was hypertension. Gynecological surgery was found in 43 patients (11%). Eight patients were menopausal (2%). The mean number of gestations was 2.09, with a standard deviation of 2.257 and extremes between 0 and 10 gestations. Patients with a history of abortion numbered 58 (14%). The decision to hospitalize the patients was made by 96% (384 patients) of those around them. Hetero aggression was the most recurrent reason for hospitalization (19%). Pathology group F20-29 (schizophrenia, schizotypal disorder, and delusional disorders) was the majority group. Conclusion: The clinical profile of the mentally ill woman in Dakar is a woman in her mid-forties who most often presents with a personal psychiatric history, and her hospitalization is prompted by hetero-aggression and/or logorrhea. She usually suffers from schizophrenia and related disorders. Hospitalization usually lasts between 11 and 20 days.

Epidemiological Profile of Women with Mental Disorders in Hospital in Dakar

Introduction: Women are currently more likely than men to suffer from mental health problems. The prevalence of mental health problems among women is also increasing. However, few studies conducted in Africa provide epidemiological data on women. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of women with mental health problems in Dakar. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive study over a five-year period, from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021. It concerned all women hospitalised for psychiatric reasons at the Psychiatry Department of Fann Hospital, Dakar, Senegal. The data collection form provided information on the sociodemographic profile, i.e., age, current address, marital status, ethnicity, religion, level of education, professional activity, and use of psychoactive substances. Results: The prevalence of mental disorders was 34.9% and concerned the following ICD-10 pathology groups [F00 - 09], [F10 - F19], [F20 - F29], [F30 - F39], [F40 - 48], [F50 - F59] and [F60 - F69]. The mean age of the patients was 37 years, with a standard deviation of 13 and extremes from 16 to 74 years. Most patients were unmarried (56%). Among the married patients, the monogamous regime was in the majority in our study: 56% compared with 44% for the polygamous regime. Women had to attend French school in 74% of cases. In our study, 32% of patients had reached university level. The majority were unemployed (67%). The notion of mourning was found in 214 patients (30.2%). The birth of one or more children marked the lives of 184 patients (26%). Divorce was noted in 103 patients (14.5%). Marital conflicts were experienced by 94 patients (13.3%). Twenty percent of the patients had used psychoactive substances. Conclusion: The epidemiological profile of a woman with a mental disorder in Dakar is that of a single woman in her forties who had attended university and was a housewife. She does not use psychoactive substances and has experienced at least one mourning in her life.

Psychedelic Drug Therapy for Mental Disorders?

Objective: Psychedelic drug therapy is banned in all countries of the world except Australia, where the government regulatory watchdog, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, is planning to allow approved psychiatrists, as of July 1, 2023, to prescribe psilocybin to treat depression and MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, a move precipitated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s designation of these two drugs as “breakthrough therapy”. The objective of the present article is to demonstrate that the evidence on which the FDA and then the TGA relied is irretrievably flawed and should be dismissed. Method: Expert review of psychedelic therapy clinical trials and specifically of the methodology and measures used. Results: The present review demonstrates that the studies the U.S. FDA and the Australian TGA relied on to approve these two psychedelic drugs for therapy are irretrievably flawed. All future trials will follow the same procedure and are therefore bound to be flawed as well. Conclusions: Psychedelic drug studies have so far provided no trustworthy evidence of their effectiveness for treating mental disorders and are not likely to produce this evidence in the future. Psychedelic drug therapy is in any event impractical because of its specialized training requirements and very high treatment costs. It is also dangerous because false publicity about its effectiveness will almost certainly lead to unsupervised self-dosing with drugs that not only are illegal but have an unacceptably high addiction rate.

A Meta-Analysis of Pension Models for Patients with Mental Disorders

Objective:To analyze the pension models available for patients with mental disorders and design a more suitable one.Methods:A total of 135 pieces of literature in the database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)published from August 11,1970,to November 17,2022,were classified and analyzed.A knowledge map was drawn and the research context was sorted out from the aspects of temporal distribution,spatial distribution,research hotspots,and evolutionary trend,so as to reveal the research status and development trend in the field of pension for patients with mental disorders.Results:The temporal distribution of the literature in this review involved 20 disciplines,41 papers,2 information articles,40 authors,13 research levels,and 20 research institutions.In terms of research hotspots and evolutionary trends,the keywords“disability pension,”“pension institutions,”and“patients with mental disorders”play a fundamental role in the dynamic evolution and diversification of research topics in the field of the mental disorder pension model.Conclusion:There has been not much research on elderly care for patients with mental disorders,and it is still in the exploratory stage without a sustainable and stable research theme.In recent years,keywords such as“the combination of medical care,”“community care for the elderly,”and“intelligent care”for the elderly have become prominent and the number of related studies has increased,and the research quality in this field has also improved.Intelligent medical care for elderly patients with mental disorders will become the trend of future research.

Recent advances in anxiety disorders:Focus on animal models and pathological mechanisms

Anxiety disorders have become one of the most severe psychiatric disorders,and the incidence is increasing every year.They impose an extraordinary personal and socioeconomic burden.Anxiety disorders are influenced by multiple complex and interacting genetic,psychological,social,and environmental factors,which contribute to disruption or imbalance in homeostasis and eventually cause pathologic anxiety.The selection of a suitable animal model is important for the exploration of disease etiology and pathophysiology,and the development of new drugs.Therefore,a more comprehensive understanding of the advantages and limitations of existing animal models of anxiety disorders is helpful to further study the underlying pathological mechanisms of the disease.This review summarizes animal models and the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders,and discusses the current research status to provide insights for further study of anxiety disorders.

Infectious, atopic and inflammatory diseases, childhood adversities and familial aggregation are independently associated with the risk for mental disorders: Results from a large Swiss epidemiological study

AIM To examine the associations between mental disorders and infectious, atopic, inflammatory diseases while adjusting for other risk factors.METHODS We used data from PsyC oL aus, a large Swiss Population Cohort Study(n = 3720; age range 35-66). Lifetime diagnoses of mental disorders were grouped into the following categories: Neurodevelopmental, anxiety(early and late onset), mood and substance disorders. They were regressed on infectious, atopic and other inflammatory diseases adjusting for sex, educational level, familial aggregation, childhood adversities and traumatic experiences in childhood. A multivariate logistic regression was applied to each group of disorders. In a complementary analysis interactions with sex were introduced via nested effects. RESULTS Associations with infectious, atopic and other chronic inflammatory diseases were observable together with consistent effects of childhood adversities and familial aggregation, and less consistent effects of trauma in each group of mental disorders. Streptococcal infections were associated with neurodevelopmental disorders(men), and measles/mumps/rubella-infections with early and late anxiety disorders(women). Gastric inflammatory diseases took effect in mood disorders(both sexes) and in early disorders(men). Similarly, irritable bowel syndrome was prominent in a sex-specific way in mood disorders in women, and, moreover, was associated with early and late anxiety disorders. Atopic diseases were associated with late anxiety disorders. Acne(associations with mood disorders in men) and psoriasis(associations with early anxiety disorders in men and mood disorders in women) contributed sex-specific results. Urinary tract infections were associated with mood disorders and, in addition, in a sex-specific way with late anxiety disorders(men), and neurodevelopmental and early anxiety disorders(women).CONCLUSION Infectious, atopic and inflammatory diseases areimportant risk factors for all groups of mental disorders. The sexual dimorphism of the associations is pronounced.

Effects of mindfulness-based intervention programs on sleep among people with common mental disorders:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Sleep problems are particularly prevalent in people with depression or anxiety disorder.Although mindfulness has been suggested as an important component in alleviating insomnia,no comprehensive review and meta-analysis has been conducted to evaluate the effects of different mindfulness-based intervention(MBI)programs on sleep among people with depression or anxiety disorder.AIM To compare the effects of different MBI programs on sleep among people with depression or anxiety disorder.METHODS Related publications in Embase,Medline,PubMed and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched from January 2010 to June 2020 for randomised controlled trials.Data were synthesized using a random-effects or a fixed-effects model to analyse the effects of various MBI programs on sleep problems among people with depression or anxiety disorder.The fixed-effects model was used when heterogeneity was negligible,and the random-effects model was used when heterogeneity was significant to calculate the standardised mean differences(SMDs)and 95%confidence intervals(CIs).RESULTS We identified 397 articles,of which 10 randomised controlled trials,involving a total of 541 participants,were included in the meta-analysis.Studies of internet mindfulness meditation intervention(IMMI),mindfulness meditation(MM),mindfulness-based cognitive therapy(MBCT),mindfulness-based stress reduction(MBSR)and mindfulness-based touch therapy(MBTT)met the inclusion criteria.The greatest effect sizes are reported in favour of MBTT,with SMDs of-1.138(95%CI:-1.937 to-0.340;P=0.005),followed by-1.003(95%CI:-1.645 to-0.360;P=0.002)for MBCT.SMDs of-0.618(95%CI:-0.980 to-0.257;P=0.001)and-0.551(95%CI:-0.842 to-0.260;P<0.0001)were reported for IMMI and MBSR in the pooling trials,respectively.Significant effects on sleep problem improvement are shown in all reviewed MBI programs,except MM,for which the effect size was shown to be nonsignificant.CONCLUSION All MBI programs(MBTT,MBCT,IMMI and MBSR),except MM,are effective options to improve sleep problems among people with depression or anxiety disorder.

Health Resource Utilization and Comorbidities in Patients with Mental Disorders: Analysis Based on Health Insurance Claim Data

The number of patients with mental disorders is increasing all over the world and they have a high prevalence of physical complications. To analyze and compare the cost of mental disorders with the total medical costs such as mental disorders and physical disorders, we analyzed the cost that patients with mental disorders incurred. We investigated the distribution of medical costs and the characteristics of diseases by using the health insurance claims of people in City A, Japan from March 2013 to February 2014. The subjects had one or more of 4 mental disorders: schizophrenia, alcohol related disorders, bipolar disorder, and depressive episode. As a result, the total number of patients who met inclusion criteria per year was 7403 (6522 outpatients and 881 inpatients). It was revealed that the hospitalization rate of patients with mental disorders increased with age, and many inpatients stayed in hospital for a long time. Also, it was revealed that many patients with mental disorders were in complicated condition with more than one mental or physical disorders and incurred medical costs for these comorbidities. In conclusion, this analysis indicated that many patients with mental disorders switch from attending the outpatient department to hospitalization as they become older. Further, they incurred a lot of medical expenses for complication management. To improve their QOL, comprehensive assessment of their mental/ physical health, self-management education, coordination of services, and support for decision making regarding treatment are necessary.

Mental health literacy and the anxiety disorders

Context: This study set out to investigate the mental health literacy (MHL) about eight anxiety disorders (ADs), using vignette methodology. Methods: In all 317 British Adult participants completed a questionnaire with vignettes describing eight anxiety disorders including OCD, PTSD, Agoraphobia, Specific Phobias, Social Phobia, Separation Anxiety Disorder, GAD and Panic Disorder. Recognition, beliefs about treatments and perceived life adjustment (happiness, success at work) of specific people with these disorders were assessed. Results: Literacy levels varied across anxiety disorders, with high recognition of OCD (64.67%), but very poor for panic disorder (1.26%), GAD (2.84%) and separation anxiety disorder (5.99%). There were few significant effects of vignette gender on literacy levels. MHL for most anxiety disorders was relatively low;particularly panic disorder, GAD and separation anxiety disorder. Social Phobics were judged as least happy and adjusted and agoraphobics least successful at work and would benefit most from psychological help. Conclusions: Overall recognition of the anxiety disorders was poor. Beliefs about adjustment and treatment varied widely as a function of each disorder. Implications of the research for education of the public and limitations of this research are considered.