افسردگی

Video and digital games have been the focus of sustained public and scientific debate since their commercial emergence in the late 1970s, particularly regarding their effects on children and adolescents. Early public and scientific discourse frequently portrayed gaming as a source of physical injury, addiction, aggression, social isolation, academic problems, and moral decline. However, subsequent empirical research has produced a substantially more differentiated picture of both the benefits and risks of gaming. This review examines the historical foundations of controversies surrounding video and digital games and synthesizes contemporary evidence concerning their cognitive, emotional, social, therapeutic, and physical effects. . Research indicates that moderate, purposeful gaming may improve visuospatial abilities, attentional control, problem-solving, mood regulation, social connection, and selected educational outcomes. Gaming-based interventions have also demonstrated therapeutic potential, particularly for depressive symptoms and attention-related difficulties among young people. At the same time, important risks remain, especially when gaming becomes excessive, compulsive, or disruptive to everyday functioning. These include repetitive-strain injuries, sleep disruption, problematic gaming, and adverse mental-health and academic outcomes. Evidence concerning violent games and serious real-world aggression remains more contested, with recent research emphasizing relatively small effects and the importance of individual and contextual factors. Overall, the evidence suggests that the developmental consequences of gaming for children and adolescents depend less on gaming itself than on the duration, content, context, and pattern of engagement.

بازی‌های ویدیویی و دیجیتال از زمان ظهور تجاری خود در اواخر دهه ۱۹۷۰، همواره موضوع بحث‌های عمومی و علمی مداوم بوده‌اند، به‌ویژه در خصوص تأثیرات آن‌ها بر کودکان و نوجوانان. گفتمان‌های عمومی و علمی اولیه اغلب بازی کردن را منبع آسیب‌های جسمی، اعتیاد، پرخاشگری، انزوای اجتماعی، مشکلات تحصیلی و افول اخلاقی معرفی می‌کردند. با این حال، پژوهش‌های تجربی بعدی تصویری به‌مراتب متمایزتر از فواید و خطرات بازی کردن ارائه داده‌اند. این مرور به بررسی مبانی تاریخی مناقشات پیرامون بازی‌های ویدیویی و دیجیتال می‌پردازد و شواهد معاصر مربوط به اثرات شناختی، هیجانی، اجتماعی، درمانی و جسمی آن‌ها را جمع‌بندی می‌کند. پژوهش‌ها نشان می‌دهند که بازی کردن متوسط و هدفمند می‌تواند توانایی‌های دیداری-فضایی، کنترل توجه، حل مسئله، تنظیم خلق، ارتباط اجتماعی و برخی پیامدهای آموزشی را بهبود بخشد. مداخلات مبتنی بر بازی نیز پتانسیل درمانی خود را نشان داده‌اند، به‌ویژه برای علائم افسردگی و مشکلات مرتبط با توجه در میان جوانان. در عین حال، خطرات مهمی نیز وجود دارد، به‌ویژه زمانی که بازی کردن بیش از حد، اجباری یا مختل‌کننده عملکرد روزمره شود. این خطرات شامل آسیب‌های تکراری، اختلال خواب، بازی کردن مسئله‌ساز و پیامدهای نامطلوب سلامت روان و تحصیلی است. شواهد مربوط به بازی‌های خشونت‌آمیز و پرخاشگری جدی در دنیای واقعی همچنان مورد مناقشه است و پژوهش‌های اخیر بر اثرات نسبتاً کوچک و اهمیت عوامل فردی و زمینه‌ای تأکید دارند. در مجموع، شواهد نشان می‌دهند که پیامدهای رشدی بازی کردن برای کودکان و نوجوانان کمتر به خود بازی وابسته است و بیشتر به مدت، محتوا، زمینه و الگوی مشارکت بستگی دارد.

Video and digital games have been the focus of sustained public and scientific debate since their commercial emergence in the late 1970s, particularly regarding their effects on children and adolescents. Early public and scientific discourse frequently portrayed gaming as a source of physical injury, addiction, aggression, social isolation, academic problems, and moral decline. However, subsequent empirical research has produced a substantially more differentiated picture of both the benefits and risks of gaming. This review examines the historical foundations of controversies surrounding video and digital games and synthesizes contemporary evidence concerning their cognitive, emotional, social, therapeutic, and physical effects. . Research indicates that moderate, purposeful gaming may improve visuospatial abilities, attentional control, problem-solving, mood regulation, social connection, and selected educational outcomes. Gaming-based interventions have also demonstrated therapeutic potential, particularly for depressive symptoms and attention-related difficulties among young people. At the same time, important risks remain, especially when gaming becomes excessive, compulsive, or disruptive to everyday functioning. These include repetitive-strain injuries, sleep disruption, problematic gaming, and adverse mental-health and academic outcomes. Evidence concerning violent games and serious real-world aggression remains more contested, with recent research emphasizing relatively small effects and the importance of individual and contextual factors. Overall, the evidence suggests that the developmental consequences of gaming for children and adolescents depend less on gaming itself than on the duration, content, context, and pattern of engagement.

بازی‌های ویدیویی و دیجیتال از زمان ظهور تجاری خود در اواخر دهه ۱۹۷۰، همواره موضوع بحث‌های عمومی و علمی مداوم بوده‌اند، به‌ویژه در خصوص تأثیرات آن‌ها بر کودکان و نوجوانان. گفتمان‌های عمومی و علمی اولیه اغلب بازی کردن را منبع آسیب‌های جسمی، اعتیاد، پرخاشگری، انزوای اجتماعی، مشکلات تحصیلی و افول اخلاقی معرفی می‌کردند. با این حال، پژوهش‌های تجربی بعدی تصویری به‌مراتب متمایزتر از فواید و خطرات بازی کردن ارائه داده‌اند. این مرور به بررسی مبانی تاریخی مناقشات پیرامون بازی‌های ویدیویی و دیجیتال می‌پردازد و شواهد معاصر مربوط به اثرات شناختی، هیجانی، اجتماعی، درمانی و جسمی آن‌ها را جمع‌بندی می‌کند. پژوهش‌ها نشان می‌دهند که بازی کردن متوسط و هدفمند می‌تواند توانایی‌های دیداری-فضایی، کنترل توجه، حل مسئله، تنظیم خلق، ارتباط اجتماعی و برخی پیامدهای آموزشی را بهبود بخشد. مداخلات مبتنی بر بازی نیز پتانسیل درمانی خود را نشان داده‌اند، به‌ویژه برای علائم افسردگی و مشکلات مرتبط با توجه در میان جوانان. در عین حال، خطرات مهمی نیز وجود دارد، به‌ویژه زمانی که بازی کردن بیش از حد، اجباری یا مختل‌کننده عملکرد روزمره شود. این خطرات شامل آسیب‌های تکراری، اختلال خواب، بازی کردن مسئله‌ساز و پیامدهای نامطلوب سلامت روان و تحصیلی است. شواهد مربوط به بازی‌های خشونت‌آمیز و پرخاشگری جدی در دنیای واقعی همچنان مورد مناقشه است و پژوهش‌های اخیر بر اثرات نسبتاً کوچک و اهمیت عوامل فردی و زمینه‌ای تأکید دارند. در مجموع، شواهد نشان می‌دهند که پیامدهای رشدی بازی کردن برای کودکان و نوجوانان کمتر به خود بازی وابسته است و بیشتر به مدت، محتوا، زمینه و الگوی مشارکت بستگی دارد.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic created social disruptions, leading to high levels of mental health problems for adolescents. Interpersonal stressors, such as lack of familial support, peer victimization, and discrimination, may have further exacerbated teen mental health issues. Yet, the psychological impact of interpersonal stressors and their interactive effects with high levels of loneliness remains unknown. In this pre-registered study , conducted in November and December 2020 (approximately eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic), we used a diverse sample of adolescents from across 43 U.S. states with elevated depressive symptoms (n = 2,452, ages 13–16) to examine how familial support, peer victimization, and discrimination are concurrently associated with mental health outcomes. Results indicated that perceived discrimination was the strongest standardized correlate across continuous internalizing outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and hopelessness), whereas lack of familial support was the primary correlate of suicidal ideation; if youth reported a lack of familial support, they were over three times as likely to report suicidal ideation. Loneliness significantly moderated the cross-sectional links between lack of familial support and depressive symptoms, as well as perceived discrimination and hopelessness. Simple slope probing demonstrated a distress ceiling effect: interpersonal stressors were most strongly associated with elevated distress among youth reporting low baseline loneliness, whereas youth experiencing high loneliness exhibited consistently elevated distress regardless of stressor exposure. These findings underscore interpersonal stressors and loneliness as high-priority targets for youth prevention and intervention programs, particularly during periods of widespread social disruption.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the internalised stigma and self-esteem in adult outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) attending a psychiatric outpatient clinic in Iraq, and to explore the relationship between these variables. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study among 120 adults with MDD who attended psychiatric outpatient clinics of Azadi Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk, Iraq. All participants filled out a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient and simple linear regression. Results: The overall mean ISMI score was 2.90 (SD = 0.42), with the highest scores for stereotype endorsement (M = 3.16) and alienation (M = 3.14) and the lowest for stigma resistance (M = 2.19). The overall mean RSES score was 2.29 (SD = 0.38). There was a negative correlation between internalised stigma and self-esteem (r = −0.338, p < 0.001). Self-esteem was statistically associated with internalised stigma (β = −0.338, t = −3.897, p < 0.001), explaining 11.4% of the variance (R² = 0.114) in simple linear regression. Conclusions: In this single-centre sample of adults with MDD, internalised stigma and self-esteem were inversely related. Since the study is a cross-sectional design, the association observed cannot be considered a causal relationship. The results provide a basis for consideration of the psychosocial aspects of routine psychiatric care (stigma and self-esteem) and for further longitudinal and multicentre research to establish temporal relationships and to determine potentially modifiable factors.

University students who live away from their families may experience loneliness and depressive symptoms, while perceived social support may alter this relationship. This study examined the associations among loneliness, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms and tested whether perceived social support moderated the loneliness-depressive symptoms relationship. A cross-sectional quantitative design involved 396 university students living in boarding houses in Yogyakarta. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and moderated multiple regression. Perceived social support was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Loneliness was also significantly associated with depressive symptoms, but the direction was negative and therefore did not support the proposed positive hypothesis. The interaction between loneliness and perceived social support was significant, indicating that the loneliness slope differed across levels of support. The findings highlight the relevance of perceived social support for student mental health while also showing that the unexpected loneliness pattern requires cautious interpretation and replication.

Abstract Background Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic process relevant to common mental health problems in primary care. RNT-ACT is a brief acceptance and commitment therapy-based protocol targeting RNT in two sessions. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of RNT-ACT compared with therapist-supported internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) in Swedish primary care. Methods Thirteen participants were randomised: 7 to RNT-ACT and 6 to iCBT. The primary feasibility outcomes were recruitment rate, intervention non-completion, and patient satisfaction measured with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8). Symptom and process measures were secondary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 1- and 3-month follow-ups. Analyses were descriptive and exploratory, based on available observations without imputation of missing data. Results Thirteen of 20 eligible individuals were enrolled (65%), corresponding to 35% of all 37 individuals screened. All participants in the RNT-ACT group completed the intervention, whereas 4 of 6 participants in the iCBT group did not complete the intervention. Mean CSQ-8 scores were 27.8 (SD 3.7; n = 5) in the RNT-ACT group and 23.0 (SD 0.0; n = 2) in the iCBT group. Conclusions The small sample size and high iCBT non-completion limit between-group comparisons. Further investigation of recruitment, treatment engagement, and patient and therapist experiences is needed before determining whether and how to proceed to a full-scale RCT. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05946382 registered July 14, 2023.

The present study investigated the predictive role of trait mindfulness in relation to depression, anxiety, and stress among Pakistani young adults. The following hypotheses were formulated: H1: Trait mindfulness will significantly and negatively predict depression among Pakistani young adults. H2: Trait mindfulness will significantly and negatively predict anxiety among Pakistani young adults. H3: Trait mindfulness will significantly and negatively predict stress among Pakistani young adults. A sample of 405 participants (189 males, 216 females; aged 18–30 years, M = 22.39, SD = 2.823) completed an online survey including the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Reliability and normality assessments confirmed the adequacy of the measures. Linear regression analyses revealed that trait mindfulness significantly and negatively predicted depression (R² = .237, p < .001), anxiety (R² = .210, p < .001), and stress (R² = .201, p < .001). These findings were consistent with the hypotheses formulated and the theoretical perspectives. The study adds value to global evidence in relation to the Pakistani context, highlighting trait mindfulness as a preventive factor against negative emotions and emphasizing the need for culturally adapted mindfulness-based interventions to enhance psychological resilience among young adults.

The number of depressed Malaysian university students has sharply increased over the past ten years. What started as a localized academic issue has now become a major national mental health crisis, but the true experiences of those affected remain elusive. Therefore, the purpose of the research is to comprehend the authentic experiences of students in Malaysian universities who are experiencing depression. This research employed a qualitative methodology via a phenomenological framework involving five participants female university students who are diagnosed clinically with depression. Information was accessed via semi-structured interviews that were digitally audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and translated to English to analyse the information. The results indicate that there are six major themes that describe the experience of having depression. They are high-achieving students losing their academic identity because they entered the survival mode, a bitter fight between seeking the help of professional assistance and turning to drug use or self-harm in order to cope, the pressure of being a normal, fearing to be seen as a burden, the contradiction between familial beliefs and attributing depression to lack of spirituality, the physically isolated nature of staying in the room because of the need to avoid social interaction, and the impact of past sexual abuse as an underlying factor of psychological trauma. The themes indicate that student depression is not just a medical problem but they are very much influenced by intrapersonal, social, cultural, and spiritual demands. It is thus recommendable to provide necessary support that will alleviate the deep-seated experience of depression, especially in the university.

Background: Body image dissatisfaction (BID) is an emerging public health concern among college students due to its association with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Sociocultural pressures during the transition to adulthood increase vulnerability. Evidence from Western Gujarat remains limited. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of BID and identify its sociodemographic and psychological predictors among undergraduate students in Western Gujarat. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 297 undergraduate students (18–24 years) from a medical college in Western Gujarat. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, including MBSRQ-AS, BDI-II, HAM-A, and RSES. BMI was calculated using standard anthropometric measurements. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25 with chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of BID was 58.2%. Females reported significantly higher dissatisfaction than males (66.1% vs. 48.5%, p < 0.001). Higher BID was observed among overweight/obese students (75.4%) and underweight students (66.7%). Multivariate analysis identified female gender (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.13-3.37), overweight/obesity (AOR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.85-6.97), higher depression scores (AOR = 1.05 per unit), and lower self-esteem (AOR = 0.89 per unit) as independent predictors (Nagelkerke R² = 0.398). Conclusion: BID is highly prevalent among undergraduate students in Western Gujarat, particularly among females and those with higher BMI, depression, and low self-esteem. Targeted campus-based interventions promoting body positivity, self-esteem, and mental well-being are warranted.

Purpose: This study assessed the prevalence of sleep disturbance and associated factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional survey enrolled 230 patients undergoing HAIC combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (July–November 2025). Sleep, psychological distress, pain, appetite, and quality of life were assessed using the PSQI, HADS, NRS, VAS, and EORTC QLQ-C30, respectively, along with prior HAIC cycles. Logistic regression identified factors associated with sleep disturbance. Results: The prevalence of sleep disturbance (PSQI > 5) was 72.6% (167/230). Univariate analysis identified a greater number of prior HAIC cycles, higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and lower quality of life and appetite as significant factors. In multivariate analysis, four factors remained independently associated with sleep disturbance: prior HAIC cycles (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.25– 2.20, P < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.12– 1.44, P < 0.001), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.03– 1.47, P = 0.021), and appetite sensations (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.91– 0.96, P < 0.001), which showed an inverse association with sleep disturbance. The model showed an apparent area under the ROC curve of 0.92 (95% CI 0.87– 0.96), with an optimism-corrected AUC of 0.91 after bootstrap resampling. Conclusion: Sleep disturbance was highly prevalent and was independently associated with cumulative treatment burden, psychological distress and impaired appetite. These cross-sectional findings support routine sleep screening together with psychological and nutritional assessment in this population; whether modifying these factors improves sleep quality requires prospective interventional studies. Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, sleep disturbance, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about consequences extending beyond the health crisis itself, particularly affecting the mental health of the adult population in Latin America—a region where structural inequalities and healthcare deficiencies exacerbated the emotional impact of lockdowns, economic uncertainty, and the fear of infection. This study aimed to identify and analyze the psychological factors linked to stress levels experienced by adults in the region following the health emergency, utilizing a systematic literature review conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The process began with 543 records identified in databases such as PubMed, SciELO, and Elsevier, from which 30 publications covering the 2022–2026 period were selected. Findings revealed that anxiety, depression, emotional fatigue, and post-traumatic stress were the predominant manifestations, associated with social isolation, economic instability, academic and work-related overload, and low socioeconomic status. Resilience and family support served as protective factors against these manifestations. The study concludes that post-pandemic stress has a multifactorial origin and that its effects can persist over time, highlighting the need to strengthen public mental health policies for the adult population.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms frequently co-occur during adolescence. Physical activity is associated with adolescent mental health at the scale-score level, but its links with individual symptoms and their temporal ordering remain less clear. This study examined contemporaneous and one-year prospective associations between physical activity and individual anxiety/depression symptoms, evaluated the robustness of pooling three annual wave-pair cohorts, and compared network patterns between male and female adolescents. Three adjacent annual wave-pair cohorts (2020–2021, 2021–2022, and 2022–2023) from a Chinese national adolescent health survey were analyzed ( N = 13,785 wave-pair records). Physical activity was measured with the PAQ-A and anxiety/depression symptoms with the SCL-90. Gaussian graphical models and cross-lagged panel networks (CLPNs) were estimated. Annual-cohort invariance, missingness, centrality, bridge centrality, accuracy, stability, and male/female differences were examined. Annual-cohort comparisons showed no detectable network-structure differences (M = 0.07–0.08, p = 0.120–0.270) or global-strength differences (ΔS = 0.12–0.32, p = 0.150–0.320). Little’s test was nonsignificant (χ² = 79.39, df = 89, p = 0.531), providing no evidence against a completely-at-random missingness mechanism. In the pooled contemporaneous network, physical activity had negative partial correlations with low motivation (weight = -0.0732), low energy (-0.0651), and nervousness (-0.0532). Worthlessness (expected influence [EI] = 1.39), tension (EI = 1.38), and nervousness (EI = 1.34) were influential nodes. Panic had the highest reported bridge EI (0.659). In the CLPN, physical activity was prospectively associated with lower low motivation ( β = -0.0602) and low mood ( β = -0.0561), while nervousness was associated with lower subsequent physical activity ( β = -0.0539). Male and female networks differed in structure (M = 0.112, p < 0.001) but not global strength (ΔS = 0.19, p = 0.709). Physical activity occupied a peripheral position in the contemporaneous network but showed small prospective associations with selected anxiety and depressive symptoms. These temporal associations do not establish causality. The stable annual-cohort pattern and male/female-specific edge configuration support further confirmatory work using designs that can address unmeasured confounding and within-person change.

ABSTRACT Disasters caused by the eruption of Mount Semeru not only cause physical damage but also affect the mental condition of the victims, especially teenagers as one of the vulnerable groups who are going through psychosocial development in their lives. Teenagers after a disaster can experience anxiety, stress, depression, and even PTSD. This community service aims to improve stress management skills, rebuild a sense of safety, and enhance social connections within the community. This community service applied a psychosocial intervention method to improve knowledge, stress management skills, and peer support using growth focus resilience questionsare. From the analysis of measurement results from 19 respondents who underwent psychosocial interventions, there was a tendency for their psychological conditions to improve. This is evidenced by the average score increasing from 66.11 to 75.00 out of a maximum score of 80, indicating the potential of REM-JIWA in enhancing the adaptive ability and psychological resilience of post-disaster adolescents. Psychosocial interventions can reduce stress levels in teenagers and improve their knowledge of stress management and resilience in adolescents. Keywords: Semeru Eruption, Psychosocial Intervention, Semeru Eruption, Post- Disaste, Adolescents.

Introduction: Suicidal behaviors among adolescents are increasing globally, yet the differences between educational levels remain unclear, which hinders the design of specific prevention strategies. Objective: To compare suicidal behaviors (ideation, risk factors, and depression) between middle school and high school students in Pachuca and San Agustín Tlaxiaca, Hidalgo, Mexico. Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional, comparative, non-experimental study was conducted with 38 students (20 middle school students, 18 high school students) aged 14 to 18 years. Three instruments were applied: a test to assess the risk level of suicidal ideation and behavior, a risk factor guide, and the PHQ-9 depression questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Middle school students had a higher proportion of high risk for suicidal behaviors (30.00%) compared to high school students (5.56%). A high level of depression was found only in high school seniors (11.11%). Both groups showed similar proportions of high risk based on risk factors (25.00% in middle school and 22.22% in high school). A significant positive correlation (ρ = 0.52) was found between suicidal thoughts and risk factors (p < 0.05). The Mann-Whitney U test revealed no significant differences between groups. (U = 145.5; p = 0.312). Conclusions: Although no statistically significant differences were found between educational levels and the groups were confounded by institution, municipality, and age, a trend toward a higher proportion of high risk for suicidal behaviors was observed in middle school students and of high depression in high school students. These findings should be interpreted with caution and support the need for prevention programs tailored to each educational level, to be confirmed in studies with greater statistical power and adjustment for confounders.

Background While the COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions to social connections and lifestyles, many countries continued the sale of alcohol as an essential commodity. Evidence on change in alcohol use, and its association with mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic is, however, mixed and limited to initial periods of the pandemic. This study aimed to address these research gaps. Methods Data were drawn from the COVID-19 Risks Across the Lifespan (CORAL) Study, a three-wave longitudinal study conducted between May 2020 and April 2021. The present sample included 2,369 participants (age M = 38.81 ± 16.94 years, range = 11–100; 90% females) from the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. Measures included pre-pandemic alcohol use and changes in consumption frequency, quantity, drinking behaviours (e.g., drinking earlier in the day), and motivations (e.g., drinking for enjoyment) during the pandemic. General perceived stress, COVID-19-related stress, loneliness, and symptoms of depression and anxiety were also assessed. Findings Drinking frequency and quantity remained stable across the first year of the pandemic; however, non-linear age associations were found. Young individuals aged between 11 to 20 years, and mid-aged individuals aged between 50 to 70 years, had the highest probability of increased alcohol use frequency and quantity. Drinking behaviours and motivations also remained largely stable, although age- and country-specific differences emerged, potentially reflecting policy differences such as alcohol access restrictions and lockdown measures. Finally, loneliness unidirectionally predicted subsequent alcohol use quantity. Conclusions These findings highlight the heterogeneous alcohol use patterns across age groups and countries during the pandemic, and underscore loneliness as an important public health issue with implications for alcohol misuse.

Abstract Purpose Forced migration increases vulnerability to exploitation. Globally, around 50 million people are affected by human trafficking, which often involves trauma with negative mental health effects. Forced migrants already face elevated risks of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, yet the specific association of trafficking on their mental health remains unclear. Methods Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and overall stress were assessed using standardized screening instruments (PC-PTSD-5, PHQ-4, and the Distress Thermometer). Experiences of human trafficking were measured with a modified version of the Adult Human Trafficking Screening Tool (AHTST) among forced migrants in Germany. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between human trafficking and positive screenings for the respective mental health conditions. Results A total of N = 1108 forced migrants participated in the study. Depending on the imputation model, between 49% and 56% of all participants screened positive for PTSD, 60% to 71% for depression, and 41% to 52% for an anxiety disorder. Among participants who screened positive for these mental health conditions, a positive screen for human trafficking was associated with a 30–40% higher probability of screening positive for PTSD and a 15% to 20% higher probability of screening positive for depression or anxiety disorder. Conclusions Forced migrants with a history of human trafficking are at elevated risk for PTSD, depression, and anxiety than those without, underscoring the need for early identification and tailored psychosocial support.

Abstract Subclinical depression among peacekeeping veterans remains understudied despite its prevalence and potential to progress to major depression. This study examined associations between deployment-related traumatic stressors and subclinical depressive symptoms in 2,258 Finnish peacekeeping veterans. Subclinical depression was measured using the Depression Scale (DEPS) and traumatic stressor exposure via a 16-item questionnaire. Frequent traumatic stressor exposure was associated with an increased risk of subclinical depression, with 5 out of 16 stressors showing significant associations. The strongest predictor was feeling powerless to help sufficiently within one’s role as peacekeeper, suggesting moral injury significantly contributes to the development of subclinical depression. These results highlight the importance of developing post-deployment screening to detect non-danger-based stressors and subclinical conditions that carry the risk of progressing into severe mental health disorders.

Abstract Suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB) span ideation (SI), attempt (SA), and death (SD), yet the factors distinguishing ideation from attempt remain poorly understood. Genome-wide studies suggest shared yet partially distinct genetic liabilities. However, few analyses have tested the differential contributions of SI-, SA-, and SD-related genetic liability across STB phenotypes, particularly in high-risk mood-disorder populations. We analysed up to 17,622 participants from the Australian Genetics of Depression Study and the Australian Genetics of Bipolar Disorder study, jointly modelling polygenic scores (PGS) for SI, SA, and SD across mutually exclusive STB phenotypes using multinomial regression, alongside dimensional outcomes, age of onset, and the ideation-to-attempt transition. SI-PGS and SA-PGS showed independent and distinct associations: SI-PGS showed reduced odds of SI-only but increased odds of SI + SA, and SA-PGS robustly predicted attempt-related outcomes. Transition models captured the clearest clinical signal: SA-PGS predicted a 23% higher odds of attempt among ideators, with absolute risk differences of 9–12% between the top and bottom deciles—larger than those of the onset models (5–7%). Predictive discrimination improved incrementally (ΔAUC ≈ 0.02–0.03; ΔC ≈ 0.01). SD-PGS showed no robust effects. Sex-stratified analyses yielded broadly consistent findings across sexes. These findings support ideation-to-action models at the genetic level, demonstrating partially distinct polygenic liabilities for ideation and attempt. Although absolute predictive utility remains modest, these results indicate that PGS sharpen the stratification of ideators at risk of attempt, providing incremental value for future integrative risk models that combine genetics with mood disorders and environmental predictors.

Objective. The aim of this paper was to examine the association between appearance-based social comparison and eating disorder symptoms, body satisfaction, depressive symptoms, drive for muscularity, self-esteem, and physical activity in Brazilian college women. Method. The participants were 542 college women aged 18 to 30. A questionnaire was used to collect information on appearance comparisons, eating disorders symptoms, body satisfaction, depressive symptoms, drive for muscularity, self-esteem, and physical activity. A multiple linear regression was conducted adjusted by age, marital status, body mass index, and economic level. Results. The model that best explained the appearance comparisons scores variation included eating disorders symptoms (β= .385; p< .001), body satisfaction (β= -.200; p< .001), depressive symptoms (β= .169; p< .001), and drive for muscularity (β= .091; p< .05). Conclusion. Eating disorders, depressive symptoms, drive for muscularity, and body satisfaction were associated with appearance comparisons.

Background: Brief psychological treatment programmes in primary care are increasingly used to address common mental disorders (CMDs), yet patient outcomes remain heterogeneous. Routine symptom measures may help identify patients who are more or less likely to achieve clinically meaningful change and may support treatment planning within stepped-care systems. This study examined associations between baseline depressive and anxiety symptom severity predicted reliable improvement and reliable recovery following brief psychological treatment in a real-world primary care programme. Methods: This secondary analysis used routinely collected data from 512 adults treated in a real-world primary care psychological intervention programme. Participants were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) before and after brief psychological treatment. Baseline demographic and clinical variables, including age, sex, number of sessions, and PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, were examined according to reliable improvement and reliable recovery status. Logistic regression analyses examined associations between baseline variables and treatment outcomes. Results: Reliable improvement was observed in 73.6% of participants, whereas 53.3% achieved reliable recovery. Higher baseline anxiety severity was associated with reliable improvement (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–1.23), whereas lower depressive severity predicted reliable recovery (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88–0.96). Fewer treatment sessions were associated with both reliable improvement and reliable recovery. Age and sex were not significantly associated with outcomes. Conclusions: Baseline anxiety and depressive symptom severity may be relevant for understanding variability in clinically meaningful outcomes following brief psychological interventions in primary care. Patients presenting with greater depressive symptom burden may benefit from closer monitoring and more intensive or extended treatment pathways within stepped-care models.