Depression Across Cultures: Exploring Cultural Variations in the Experience, Expression and Treatment of Depression

Objective: This abstract aims to critically examine the impact of cultural and cross-cultural variations on the prevalence, presentation, and treatment of depression to identify the cultural factors that contribute to diverse experiences of depression. Introduction: Depression is a complex mental health condition with variations across cultures and societies. Cultural and cross-cultural factors influence how depression is experienced, expressed, and understood by individuals. Understanding these cultural variations is essential for providing culturally sensitive and effective interventions to address the diverse needs of individuals experiencing depression worldwide. Method: The following data were obtained by using keywords such as “depression,” “culture,” and “cross-cultural variations” on google scholar, and 25 research papers were reviewed for the obtained information. Result: Comparing older adults in the United States with elderly individuals in Oriental societies reveals higher mean depressive symptom scores among the former. Significant depression prevalence varies across living situations: 0.9% to 9.4% in private households, 14% to 42% in institutional living, and 1% to 16% for elderly in private households or institutions. Clinically significant depressive symptom cases range from 7.2% to 49%. Predictors of depressive disorders include female gender, somatic illness, cognitive and functional impairment, lack of social contacts, and a history of depression. Racial discrimination and stigma may lead to under-diagnosis in Afro-American populations, while White Western populations may experience potential over-diagnosis due to cultural norms. These findings emphasize the importance of considering cultural factors and addressing biases in diagnosing and treating depression in diverse populations. Discussion: This abstract highlights the importance of considering cultural and cross-cultural variations in understanding depression. Cultural factors significantly shape an individual’s experiences, expressions, and perceptions of depression, influencing its prevalence, manifestation, and treatment outcomes.Through the recognition and respect of cultural diversity, the development of more effective and culturally sensitive approaches to address depression can be achieved. Further research is needed to explore the intricate interplay between cultural contexts, individual beliefs, and social norms to ensure the development of comprehensive and inclusive mental health interventions. Improving mental health outcomes on a global scale necessitates the embracing of cultural variations as an essential factor

Insomnia and Heart Health: A Complex Relationship

This comprehensive review meticulously examines the empirical evidence regarding the intricate relationship between cardiovascular disease and insomnia, emphasizing insomnia's independent impact beyond traditional coronary risk factors. Insomnia, affecting about 10% of the population, is scrutinized by synthesizing evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies, firmly establishing its autonomous role in elevating cardiovascular disease and mortality risk. Compelling correlations emerge between subjective sleep complaints and heart-related incidents, emphasizing the significance of established cardiovascular risk factors. Importantly, men reporting sleep disturbances exhibit increased heart-related mortality risk, even after adjusting for variables. Concurrently, dissatisfaction with sleep aligns with abbreviated sleep durations and heightened use of sleep aids, particularly among men. Furthermore, this investigation unveils a robust association between feelings of melancholy, sleep disturbances, and elevated mortality risk. Notably, the use of sleep aids has negligible influence on mortality risk. These findings illuminate the intricate interplay of sleep-related factors on cardiovascular health. Regarding hypertension, this study reveals significant insights. Subjective sleep disturbances, notably difficulties in sleep initiation (DIS), profoundly link to hypertension risk. Brief sleep durations, especially around 5 hours, exacerbate hypertension risk, primarily in individuals aged 32 to 59. Interestingly, insomnia symptoms robustly predict cardiovascular disease and heightened hypertension risk. Paradoxically, subjective DIS predicts reduced hypertension risk among men. Combining insomnia symptoms and truncated sleep durations synergistically amplifies hypertension risk. Additionally, the investigation delves into the relationship between nighttime systolic blood pressure, altered autonomic activity, and insomnia, elucidating complex interactions within cardiovascular health

Telepsychiatry: Advancing Mental Health Support through Evolving Paradigms

Telemedicine has revolutionized the healthcare landscape, offering numerous advantages such as cost-effectiveness, convenience, and reduced infection risks.The editorial aims to highlight the potential concern of Telehealth in exacerbating psychiatric conditions.While telemedicine has its merits, the importance of in-person doctor-patient relationships cannot be understated. The bond formed in face-to-face settings fosters trust, empathy, and understanding, which are crucial in supporting patients during vulnerable moments. Limitations of tele-psychiatry, including the challenge of capturing non-verbal cues and prompt crisis management, are explored. Socioeconomic disparities, privacy issues, and limited access to reliable internet connections further add to the complexity of tele-psychiatric care. To enhance tele-psychiatry, hybrid models of care are proposed, combining in-person and telemedicine consultations to establish trust and maintain continuity of care. Innovative approaches, such as Good Psychiatric Management (GPM), Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), and Mentalization- Based Therapy (MBT), have emerged, addressing the limitations of telemedicine. GPM's emphasis on closely monitoring patients' progress and incorporating psychopharmacological interventions and psychotherapy makes it well-suited for tele-psychiatry. CAMS stands out in crisis management, and MBT's focus on enhancing interpersonal skills is valuable in maintaining meaningful connections with patients. Telemedicine offers significant potential in psychiatry, but balancing medical advancements and preserving the human element of care is essential. Policymakers and healthcare professionals must prioritize establishing trusting relationships in face-to-face consultations while leveraging telemedicine for follow-up care. By skillfully integrating telemedicine and evidence-based treatment approaches, we can enhance patient outcomes and maintain the crucial human touch in mental health care

Telepsychiatry: Advancing Mental Health Support through Evolving Paradigms

Telemedicine has revolutionized the healthcare landscape, offering numerous advantages such as cost-effectiveness, convenience, and reduced infection risks. The editorial aims to highlight the potential concern of telehealth in exacerbating psychiatric conditions. While telemedicine has its merits, the importance of in-person doctor-patient relationships cannot be understated. The bond formed in face-to-face settings fosters trust, empathy, and understanding, which are crucial in supporting patients during vulnerable moments. Limitations of telepsychiatry, including the challenge of capturing non-verbal cues and prompt crisis management, are explored. Socioeconomic disparities, privacy issues, and limited access to reliable internet connections further add to the complexity of telepsychiatric care. To enhance telepsychiatry, hybrid models of care are proposed, combining in-person and telemedicine consultations to establish trust and maintain continuity of care. Innovative approaches, such as Good Psychiatric Management (GPM), Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), and Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT), have emerged, addressing the limitations of telemedicine. GPM's emphasis on closely monitoring patients' progress and incorporating psychopharmacological interventions and psychotherapy makes it well-suited for telepsychiatry. CAMS stands out in crisis management, and MBT's focus on enhancing interpersonal skills is valuable in maintaining meaningful connections with patients. Telemedicine offers significant potential in psychiatry, but balancing medical advancements and preserving the human element of care is essential. Policymakers and healthcare professionals must prioritize establishing trusting relationships in face-to-face consultations while leveraging telemedicine for follow-up care. By skillfully integrating telemedicine and evidence-based treatment approaches, we can enhance patient outcomes and maintain the crucial human touch in mental health care.https://psyarxiv.com/vua9x

Morbidity and Mortality of COVID in Relation to Age, Sex and BMI

The United States (US) has been the epicenter of the Coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). The underrepresented minorities which tend to have a higher prevalence of obesity are affected disproportionately. The objective of this study was to assess the early outcomes and characteristics of COVID-19 patients in the US and also investigate whether age, gender, and obesity are associated with worse outcomes. To determine the effect of body mass index, sex, and age on risk for morbidity and mortality of COVID-19. Compressive systematic research was conducted to pool every relevant article that evaluated COVID’s effect on patients with regard to BMI, age, sex, and mortality. Search for articles was conducted in the most widely-used databases such as PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Search terms used for article retrieval included: “BMI,” OR “Obesity,” OR “BMI,” OR “Sex,” OR “Age.” AND “COVID-19 related mortality.” Severe obesity, male sex, and increasing age are associated with a high rate of in-hospital mortality and generally, worse in-hospital prognosis.  </jats:p