The endorsement of conspiracy theories may be increased by subjectively perceived stress. Yet, it is not known whether this correlation is caused by the effects of the acute stress reaction on the brain or other psychological, social, or methodological factors. The effect of an experimentally induced acute stress reaction on conspiracy thinking was tested on a sample (n = 115) of students of medicine. Although the stress procedure caused a substantial increase in salivary cortisol, there was no significant effect on endorsing conspiracy theories or adopting conspiracy interpretations of novel information. The results confirmed no effect of the acute stress reaction on conspiracy thinking, suggesting it may be absent or weaker than expected. The study demonstrated the viability of psychophysiological experimental design in conspiracy research and may inspire further examination of the physiological mechanisms underlying susceptibility to conspiracy theories.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- hydrokortison analýza metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- psychický stres * psychologie MeSH
- sliny chemie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Youth mental health is a growing concern, with reports of psychiatric diagnoses becoming increasingly prevalent. Among other factors, psychiatrization may inflate the observed prevalence by interpreting experiences previously understood as adversities inherent to human life as symptoms of psychopathology. The current study explores the pathologization of behaviors typical of adolescence by asking contemporary psychiatrists to diagnose and treat a character from a novel who is considered a prototypical teenager of the 19th century: Tom Sawyer. METHODS: A one-page vignette was distributed either in sealed envelopes or via email to 57 psychiatrists who had obtained their license for independent practice between 2021 and 2023 in the Czech Republic. In total, 47 psychiatrists took part, yielding an overall response rate of 82%. The number and frequency of diagnostic conclusions, prescribed medications, and recommended interventions are reported. RESULTS: Most respondents diagnosed the boy described in the vignette with a psychiatric disorder (94%; CI = 81-98%) and recommended an intervention within the healthcare system (89%; CI =76-96%). Two thirds (62%, CI = 46-75%) recommended pharmacotherapy: antidepressants (27%), antipsychotics (22%), stimulants (13%), and anxiolytics (2%); 68% (53-80%) recommended psychotherapy. Nonmedical interventions (e.g., counseling, social services) were recommended by 49%. CONCLUSIONS: The experiences of an adolescent boy, once interpreted as normative "adventures" in the 19th century, were recognized by newly certified psychiatrists as psychiatric disorder. These findings illustrate the extent of psychiatrization over time and suggest that expert diagnoses may substantially contribute to the overinterpretation of problems of living as psychiatric disorders.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Low temporal stability may complicate the interpretation of survey measures of conspiracy theories (CTs). Current study examines the stability of endorsement of CTs on a popular set of items addressing COVID-19-related CTs. An online survey tapping two CTs about COVID-19 was administered to 179 students of general medicine. The same items were presented twice in March 2022 and once in May 2022. The mean endorsement of the CTs did not differ between March and May. The correlation between answers provided in March and May was low (.5 < r < .7). Most of those reporting agreement with CTs in March reported disagreement in May. Conspiracy believers' responses did not change between two measurements in March but were different in May, suggesting that the low temporal stability was due to situational factors rather than erroneous or random answers. Poor temporal stability of responses endorsing CTs may problematize interpretation of survey data. Respondents' endorsement of CTs may be affected by situational factors, inflating agreement with CTs, and correlations with other survey-based measures.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * epidemiologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Psychiatrizace je příčinou i následkem společenských změn ve vnímání lidského utrpení. Jakožto společenský posun psychiatrizace ovlivňuje jak epidemiologické ukazatele, tak skutečnou prevalenci duševních obtíží, skrze slabé, ale setrvale a plošně působící vlivy na jejich prožívání. Přehled shrnuje současný výzkum psychiatrizace a ilustruje jeho relevanci na příkladu diskuse o nárůstu duševních obtíží u českých adolescentů. Kvantifikace vlivu psychiatrizace a rozlišení jejích příčin a následků v oblasti duševního zdraví vyžaduje další výzkum, který navrhujeme v závěru textu.
Psychiatrization is both, a cause and a consequence of social changes in the perception of human suffering. Psychiatry affects the epidemiological indicators and the actual prevalence of mental problems by weak yet population-wide and persistent influences on how mental struggles are experienced. The review summarizes current research on psychiatrization, illustrating its relevance on the example of recent discussion on the increase in mental problems among Czech adolescents. Quantifying the influence of psychiatrization and distinguishing its causes and consequences related to mental health requires further research, which we propose at the end of the text.
Restrictions related to COVID-19 changed the daily behavior of people, including the expression of violence. Although an increased incidence of violent behavior, especially domestic violence, was expected during the pandemic, retrospective analyses have yielded mixed results. Records of ambulance departures to address injuries caused by assaults in the Pilsen region, Czech Republic, during the restrictive measures during the national state of emergency were compared to data from 3 previous years using general linear models. The number and severity of assaults were analyzed for the whole sample and separately for patients of either sex, for residential or nonresidential locations, and for domestic violence. Controlling for the seasonal effects, the number of assaults decreased by 39% during the pandemic restrictions compared to the 3 previous years. No difference was found between the effects of restrictions on assaults resulting in an injury of a male or female patient. The decrease was specifically pronounced in the sample of assaults in nonresidential locations, while no effect of restrictions was observed in assaults in residential locations and domestic assaults. Pandemic restrictions were associated with a decreased incidence of violent assaults that required ambulance services. Although the incidence decreased especially in those assaulted outside of their homes, we found no support for an increase in domestic violence or violence against women. Pandemic restrictions may have served as a protective rather than a risk factor for assaults severe enough to warrant a call for ambulance services.
- MeSH
- agrese MeSH
- COVID-19 * epidemiologie MeSH
- domácí násilí * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pandemie MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
OBJECTIVES: The primary aim was to test the hypothesis that physical interpersonal violence is decreased during the lockdown period in comparison with comparable control periods. The secondary aims were to explore the effects of gender and alcohol consumption on the violence during the lockdown. METHODS: Nationwide records of hospitalizations secondary to an assault were analyzed using quasipoisson regression. Assault rates in two lockdown periods, defined as a national emergency state, were compared to baseline data between 2017 and 2020, controlling for seasonal fluctuations and pandemic-related effects other than lockdown. To validate the findings on independent data, differences between lockdown and baseline in Police records of violent criminality between 2017 and 2021 were examined using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The rates of hospitalizations secondary to an assault decreased substantially during lockdowns (IRR = .43; P < .001) and the duration of lockdown did not affect assault rates (P = .07). The decrease in assault rates was more pronounced in males than females (IRR = .77; P < .05) and was weakened in patients with history of alcohol abuse (IRR = 1.83; P < .001). Violent crime rate decreased by 19% during the lockdowns compared to prepandemic baseline (P < .001). CONCLUSION: We found that physical interpersonal violence decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown periods. The reduction is significantly greater in males. Emerging evidence suggests an increased risk of alcohol use and intoxication during the lockdowns. Violent crime rate decreased during the lockdown.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * epidemiologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- hospitalizace statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- karanténa psychologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- násilí * statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- pití alkoholu epidemiologie MeSH
- registrace * statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- sexuální faktory MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: The excessive covid-related mortality of psychiatric patients was reduced by vaccination. The vaccine uptake in patients diagnosed with different mental health disorders is, however, not fully described. AIMS: A nationwide, record-based retrospective cross-sectional study examines the effect of substance use, psychotic, affective, anxiety, and personality disorders on COVID-19 vaccination rates in August and December 2021. Further, it quantifies the effect of receiving mental healthcare on vaccine uptake. METHODS: The COVID-19 vaccine rates of mental healthcare users in August and December 2021 were examined using logistic regression models adjusted for sex and age on a sample of 7,235,690 adult inhabitants of the Czech Republic. The probability of vaccine uptake in the week following mental healthcare appointment or hospitalization on any day in the fall 2021 was compared to the general probability of getting vaccinated during that week. RESULTS: The vaccination rate in August 2021 was related to history of hospitalization due to substance use (OR = 0.71), personality (OR = 0.87), psychotic (OR = 0.92), and anxiety (OR = 1.15) disorders, while mood disorders had no effect (OR = 1.00). Compared to general population, mental healthcare users were undervaccinated in August but not in December 2021. Vaccine uptake was low in those with history of psychiatric hospitalizations but higher in those utilizing inpatient or outpatient mental healthcare recently, predominantly for affective disorders. Increased vaccine uptake was observed following utilization of mental healthcare as well as in those with repeated psychiatric hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: The vaccination rates of mental healthcare users relative to general population largely differ across nosological categories and during the vaccination campaign. Psychiatrists were successful in promoting vaccination against COVID-19.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * prevence a kontrola MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- služby péče o duševní zdraví * MeSH
- vakcinace MeSH
- vakcíny proti COVID-19 MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
