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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Nutrition Status Of Primary Care Patients With Depression And Anxiety, Adrienne K. Forsyth, Peter G. Williams, Frank P. Deane Dec 2012

Nutrition Status Of Primary Care Patients With Depression And Anxiety, Adrienne K. Forsyth, Peter G. Williams, Frank P. Deane

Frank Deane

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutrition status of people referred to a nutrition and physical activity program for the management of mental health in a general practice.


Dealing With Uncertainty In Life Commitment: Deciding On A Career, Victoria Alexander, Richard Hicks, Dee Bartrum Oct 2012

Dealing With Uncertainty In Life Commitment: Deciding On A Career, Victoria Alexander, Richard Hicks, Dee Bartrum

Richard Hicks

Resilience and resourcefulness are needed in dealing with major life issues. One such issue faced by all young people is that of career choice, because the effects are life-long in terms of satisfaction, wellbeing and lifestyle choice. This chapter looks at how resilient young people feel (degree of career certainty or uncertainty , or indecision), and what internal resources there are that help or hinder them in those choices. Resourcefulness is thought to be related to optimism and emotional intelligence, and to emotional wellbeing and stability. The situation which young people face represents challenges for them, as they are often …


Study Protocol: A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Computer-Based Depression And Substance Abuse Intervention For People Attending Residential Substance Abuse Treatment, Peter J. Kelly, Frances Kay-Lambkin, Amanda Baker, Frank P. Deane, Adam C. Brooks, Alexandra Mitchell, Sarah Marshall, Meredith Whittington, Genevieve A. Dingle Oct 2012

Study Protocol: A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Computer-Based Depression And Substance Abuse Intervention For People Attending Residential Substance Abuse Treatment, Peter J. Kelly, Frances Kay-Lambkin, Amanda Baker, Frank P. Deane, Adam C. Brooks, Alexandra Mitchell, Sarah Marshall, Meredith Whittington, Genevieve A. Dingle

Frank Deane

"Background: A large proportion of people attending residential alcohol and other substance abuse treatment have a co-occurring mental illness. Empirical evidence suggests that it is important to treat both the substance abuse problem and co-occurring mental illness concurrently and in an integrated fashion. However, the majority of residential alcohol and other substance abuse services do not address mental illness in a systematic way. It is likely that computer delivered interventions could improve the ability of substance abuse services to address co-occurring mental illness. This protocol describes a study in which we will assess the effectiveness of adding a computer delivered …


Joining The Dots: Neurobiological Links In A Functional Analysis Of Depression, Christopher F. Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika Sep 2012

Joining The Dots: Neurobiological Links In A Functional Analysis Of Depression, Christopher F. Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika

Vicki Bitsika

Depression is one of the major contributors to the Total Disease Burden and afflicts about one-sixth of Western populations. One of the most effective treatments for depression focuses upon analysis of causal chains in overt behaviour, but does not include brain-related phenomena as steps along these causal pathways. Recent research findings regarding the neurobiological concomitants of depressive behaviour suggest a sequence of structural and functional alterations to the brain which may also produce a beneficial outcome for the depressed individual--that of adaptive withdrawal from uncontrollable aversive stressors. Linking these brain-based explanations to models of observable contingencies for depressive behaviour can …


The Impact Of Students' 'Internally' Versus 'Externally' Oriented Coping Strategies Upon Anxiety And Depression: Implications For Counselling Processes, Vicki Bitsika, Christopher Sharpley, Aspasia Aroutzidis, Dimity Smith Sep 2012

The Impact Of Students' 'Internally' Versus 'Externally' Oriented Coping Strategies Upon Anxiety And Depression: Implications For Counselling Processes, Vicki Bitsika, Christopher Sharpley, Aspasia Aroutzidis, Dimity Smith

Vicki Bitsika

As a preliminary investigation of the implications for counselling practice of Purpose in Life (PIL), Search for Neotic Goals (SONG) and Conscientiousness (CON) as potential buffers against anxiety and depression among university student clients, 398 students from a university in eastern Australia completed measures of these constructs. Results indicated that, although having a clear PIL and being conscientious were negatively associated with anxiety and depression, SONG was positively linked with these disorders. More importantly for counselling processes, up to 10% of those students whose anxiety and depression would make them most likely to seek counselling showed inverse relationships between PIL, …


Is Depression 'Evolutionary' Or Just 'Adaptive'? A Comment, Christoper F. Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika Sep 2012

Is Depression 'Evolutionary' Or Just 'Adaptive'? A Comment, Christoper F. Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika

Vicki Bitsika

Some recent explanations of depression have suggested that it may be “evolutionary” in that there are advantages to the depressed individual which arise from some aspects of depressive symptomatology. While the depressive behaviour of withdrawal from the adverse environment may provide some immediate benefits to the depressed individual, thus making it potentially “adaptive” in the short-term, this does not fit the biological definition of “evolutionary”. In fact, depression does not meet two of the three required criteria from natural selection in order to be evolutionary. Therefore, while some depressive behaviour may be advantageous for the depressed individual, and is therefore …


The Specific Environmental Antecedents Of Anxiety And Depression Among Australian University Students: Development Of The Effects Of University Study On Lifestyle Questionnaire, Vicki Bitsika, Christoper Sharpley, Leslie Hartley Sep 2012

The Specific Environmental Antecedents Of Anxiety And Depression Among Australian University Students: Development Of The Effects Of University Study On Lifestyle Questionnaire, Vicki Bitsika, Christoper Sharpley, Leslie Hartley

Vicki Bitsika

A 60-item scale of stressors that had been developed from interviews with 32 individual students was evaluated by administration to 402 students at an Australian university. As well as data that showed frequency of stressor occurrence to be a more powerful predictor of anxiety and depression than degree of discomfort that the stressor induced, psychometric data from this participant sample enabled refinement of the original scale by deleting several items, thus producing a 42-item scale for further investigation. Implications for use of the scale to identify the "causal" stressors which students experience and which lead to anxiety and depression, are …


Variability In Anxiety And Depression Over Time Following Diagnosis In Patients With Prostate Cancer, Christoper Sharpley, David Christie, Vicki Bitsika Sep 2012

Variability In Anxiety And Depression Over Time Following Diagnosis In Patients With Prostate Cancer, Christoper Sharpley, David Christie, Vicki Bitsika

Vicki Bitsika

To determine the presence and nature of variability in anxiety and depression in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) over 3 years following diagnosis, 442 patients with PCa completed standardized anxiety and depression inventories via survey between 1 and 36 months after receiving their initial diagnosis. Data were analyzed from a series of 3-month cohorts, and results indicated that total scores and incidence of clinically significant anxiety and depression varied over time, but that this variability was restricted to specific subfactors of anxiety and depression. Provision of effective psychological treatment to patients with PCa is discussed.


Incidence And Nature Of Anxiety-Depression Comorbidity In Prostate Cancer Patients, Christoper Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie Sep 2012

Incidence And Nature Of Anxiety-Depression Comorbidity In Prostate Cancer Patients, Christoper Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

Background: The aim of this study was to measure the incidence of anxiety-depression comorbidity among a sample of prostate cancer (PCa) patients and to investigate the total score, factor score and scale item differences across subgroups defined according to the presence of anxiety and/or depression. Methods: 491 PCa patients who had received their initial diagnosis between 1 and 113 months previously completed a survey of background variables, as well as the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Depression Scales (SAS, SDS). Results: Incidence of anxiety-depression comorbidity was nearly 16%, and higher than that previously reported in other samples. Although the directional differences …


Gender Differences In Factor Scores Of Anxiety And Depression Among Australian University Students: Implications For Counselling Interventions, Vicki Bitsika, Christopher Sharpley, Therese Melhem Sep 2012

Gender Differences In Factor Scores Of Anxiety And Depression Among Australian University Students: Implications For Counselling Interventions, Vicki Bitsika, Christopher Sharpley, Therese Melhem

Vicki Bitsika

Anxiety and depression inventory scores from 200 male and female university students attending a private university in Australia were examined for their factor structure. Once established, the two sets of factors were tested for gender-based differences, revealing that females were more likely than males to report symptomatology associated with pain and fatigue, sleeping and digestive problems, psychomotor agitation, confusion, and pessimism. Implications for counsellors are discussed.


What Stresses University Students: An Interview Investigation Of The Demands Of Tertiary Studies, Vicki Bitsika, Christoper Sharpley, Vira Rubenstein Sep 2012

What Stresses University Students: An Interview Investigation Of The Demands Of Tertiary Studies, Vicki Bitsika, Christoper Sharpley, Vira Rubenstein

Vicki Bitsika

Although several previous scales have been developed to measure the presence and effects of the stressful demands encountered by university students, most of these have been validated with samples drawn from US universities, commonly using only undergraduate psychology students. In addition, many of the items used are from scales designed for application within general adult populations, with little focus upon the specific stressors met by students. In order to identify what are the major changes these students encounter that they find stressful, a sample of 32 university students from different degree areas within an Australian university was individually interviewed using …


The Role Of Melancholia In Prostate Cancer Patients' Depression, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie Sep 2012

The Role Of Melancholia In Prostate Cancer Patients' Depression, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

Background: Although it is well established that prostate cancer (PCa) patients are more likely to experience clinical depression than their age-matched non-prostate cancer peers, and that such depression can have negative effects upon survival, little is known about the underlying nature of the depressive symptomatology that these men experience. In particular, the incidence of melancholic symptoms of depression, which are signs of increased risk of suicide and resistance to treatment, has not previously been reported in PCa patients. The present study aimed to measure the incidence and nature of Melancholia in PCa depression.

Method: A sample of 507 …


'What Made Me Unhappy'. Experiences Of, And Responses To, Lifestyle Changes In Breast Cancer Patients, Vicki Bitsika, Christoper Sharpley, David Christie Sep 2012

'What Made Me Unhappy'. Experiences Of, And Responses To, Lifestyle Changes In Breast Cancer Patients, Vicki Bitsika, Christoper Sharpley, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

Sixteen breast cancer patients were interviewed about any lifestyle changes they had experienced and their reactions to those changes. Data were collected and analysed via content analysis and then summary tabulations of patient responses until replication of responses was verified across patients. Results indicated that most patients suffered a reduction in recreation activities, unpleasant physical side effects from treatment and loss of feminine appearance characteristics, all of which were seen as decreases in previously available and valuable sources of social support and self-esteem. In response to these losses, patients reported a common coping strategy of avoidance or escape similar to …


Religion, Religiosity And Depression: Re-Assessing Their Relationship, Maximo Rossi, Shoshana Neuman, Natalia Melgar Aug 2012

Religion, Religiosity And Depression: Re-Assessing Their Relationship, Maximo Rossi, Shoshana Neuman, Natalia Melgar

Maximo Rossi

We provide evidence on the significant effect of religiosity (measured by attendance to religious services) on reducing depression. In particular, it is found a significant negative effect of religiosity on the probability of being depressed. Findings of previous studies are extended by showing that while the religious denomination seems to have a non-significant effect on the probably of depression, other aspects of religiosity, in particular the religious diversity of the country of residence does affect the prospects of depression. The probability of being depressed is higher, the lower the religious diversity. Other personal socio-economic variables have the expected and documented …


Depression And Quality Of Life In Cancer Survivors: Is There A Relationship With Physical Activity?, Nancy Humpel, Donald Iverson Jun 2012

Depression And Quality Of Life In Cancer Survivors: Is There A Relationship With Physical Activity?, Nancy Humpel, Donald Iverson

Don C. Iverson

Background Evidence is growing on the benefit of physical activity to improve well-being following a cancer diagnosis. This study examined changes in physical activity from pre to post diagnosis and explored this relationship with quality of life and depression. Methods Participants were recruited by posters and by letter of invitation. The questionnaire was completed by 59 prostate and 32 breast cancer survivors. Results Physical activity decreased by 72 minutes per week from pre to post diagnosis, although 20.9% reported having increased activity post diagnosis. Over 30% were considered depressed. Breast cancer participants who increased physical activity post diagnosis reported higher …


Childhood Sexual Abuse And Substance Abuse In Relation To Depression And Coping, Sonja Lee, Michael Lyvers, Mark Edwards Jan 2012

Childhood Sexual Abuse And Substance Abuse In Relation To Depression And Coping, Sonja Lee, Michael Lyvers, Mark Edwards

Mark Edwards

Relationships between Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA), substance abuse, substance abuse relapse, depression and coping styles were examined in an Australian sample. Participants were 79 adults actively seeking treatment for substance abuse or CSA. CSA and substance use history were assessed using a purpose built questionnaire. Depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II), and coping styles were evaluated using the Coping Scale for Adults. Among substance abusers, self-reported CSA history was associated with (1) severe depression; (2) less optimistic coping; (3) longer duration of substance abuse; and (4) the use of drugs to alleviate negative moods. A …


The Study Of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Efficacy On The Amount Of High School Student’S Depression And Suicide Thoughts In Rasht City, Iran, Mona Samadzadeh, Nasirodin Javidi Jan 2012

The Study Of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Efficacy On The Amount Of High School Student’S Depression And Suicide Thoughts In Rasht City, Iran, Mona Samadzadeh, Nasirodin Javidi

university of science & culture

The main objective of this study was to identify non-drug approaches to reduce rates of depression among high school girl students; therefore, this study aims to consider dialectical behavior therapy efficacy on the amount of high school student’s depression and suicide thinking in Rasht city, Iran .The research methodology in this study is experimental and statistical community includes high school adolescents aged 15-18 years old o that Efaf high school was firstly chosen among girl high schools in Rasht city in the selection stage, which 1000 students were studying in two shifts, then ten classes were selected and all students …