47 research outputs found
sj-pdf-1-prx-10.1177_00332941211040437 - Supplemental material for Investigating the Association Between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptom Subtypes and Health Anxiety as Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
No full textSupplemental material, sj-pdf-1-prx-10.1177_00332941211040437 for Investigating the Association Between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptom Subtypes and Health Anxiety as Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study by Athanasios Hassoulas, Katja Umla-Runge, Abeer Zahid, Olivia Adams, Madeline Green, Antonia Hassoulas and Eliana Panayiotou in Psychological Reports</p
Remediating rigid rule-following in subclinical obsessive-compulsive disorder using a brief mindfulness task: A case-control pilot study
No full textA pioneering experiment by Hayes et al. (1986) demonstrated the influence of instructional control and rule-governed behaviour on sensitivity to alternating reinforcement schedules. Hassoulas et al. (2017) replicated the same experimental design in a sample of participants exhibiting obsessive-compulsive behavioural (OCB) traits, supporting the results reported by the original study but also providing further insights into the maintenance of rigid rule following in OCB. The current pilot study replicated the same experimental design and procedure once again, however in considering whether a brief mindfulness-based intervention would facilitate contact with schedule contingencies in a group of participants exhibiting OCB traits. A total of 78 participants were recruited, 38 of whom exhibited OCB traits as measured using the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI). The results revealed a significant difference in sensitivity to changing schedules between the group of participants exhibiting OCB traits and those with few such traits (n=40), dependent on the degree of instructional accuracy they were provided with. The findings of the current study provide insights into the proposed concomitant administration of mindfulness-based interventions, alongside traditional first-line therapeutic modalities currently administered in the management of obsessive-compulsive disorder
The modernisation of assessment in HE: AI as a disruptive catalyst for change
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the truly disruptive effect that external forces can have on teaching and assessment in higher education, on a truly global scale. The pandemic also highlighted how such global events can serve as powerful catalysts, or accelerants, of innovation in higher education. Merely a few years post-pandemic, higher education is confronted with yet another global force: the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), with implications that will resonate far beyond education alone. As we navigate this AI era, it is vital to consider its potential impact and applications in teaching and assessment. The popularity of open-access generative AI platforms, notably marked by ChatGPT's debut in November 2022, has initiated a transformative moment for assessment in higher education. It is essential that educators embrace AI to prepare both undergraduates and professional postgraduates for an evolving workplace. AI integration into assessment and teaching offers opportunities for innovation that can fundamentally reshape student preparation for professions demanding new skills and insights. This chapter addresses the challenges universities face in light of these emerging technologies, examining authenticity and academic integrity. We discuss the role of updated information literacy and digital competency strategies, focusing on AI, for both students and staff. Embracing new platforms and intelligent tools may enhance learning experiences through more authentic, less stressful evaluations of academic and vocational skills. AI integration will redefine both how and what we assess, requiring careful, ethical use to safeguard academic integrity while equipping graduates for contemporary professional demands
The role of stress in health and disease
No full textStress is a physiological and psychological response that is a fundamental component of human existence crucial to survival. The stress response is mediated by the hypothalamus and involves the activation of neural and endocrine systems. It plays a role in the normal, but at times pathological, functioning of immunological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neurohormonal and nervous systems.
This chapter explores the adaptive stress response and considers the role that chronic stress plays in the pathophysiology of mental and physical illness
The MSc Psychiatry at Cardiff University: introduction of new modules further supporting continuing professional development in psychiatry
No full textThe MSc Psychiatry at Cardiff University is an established postgraduate programme offering students a sound theoretical basis in psychiatry as a medical science and specialty. The programme currently offers six taught modules (focusing on mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis, old age psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, substance misuse, and child and adolescent psychiatry), as well as a dissertation module that students complete towards the end of the programme. In catering for the professional needs of clinical students and students pursuing careers in academia, two additional taught modules have been proposed exploring Leadership and Management in Psychiatry and Advances in Psychiatric Research. Feedback on the proposed introduction of the new modules was collated from the current full-time and part-time student cohorts
Memantine for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a systematic review and narrative synthesis
No full textObjective
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric condition for which a substantial proportion of patients do not respond adequately to first-line treatments. This review thus aimed to critically appraise the clinical literature examining memantine in obsessive-compulsive disorder, with a particular focus on individual study design, dosing strategies, tolerability, and methodological limitations.
Methods
A structured literature search of MEDLINE was conducted in March 2024 from database inception to March 2024. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened against predefined inclusion criteria, and relevant studies were synthesised narratively. A second, identical literature search was conducted in August 2025 covering March 2024 to August 2025. In total, 10 studies were included in the narrative synthesis.
Results
Our findings suggest that memantine may offer therapeutic benefits for OCD. Methodological issues, however, such as small sample sizes, strong geographical clustering, the exclusion of dropout data and limited use of intention-to-treat analyses, restrict the generalisability of the reported outcomes. Tolerability varied significantly by dose, with higher doses being associated with increased side effects while lower doses appeared better tolerated but elicited a poorer efficacy, although evidence was mixed. Only one study rigorously assessed treatment-refractory OCD and reported significant symptomatic improvement following longer-term memantine administration. Baseline severity, treatment expectancy, and concurrent cognitive-behavioural therapy were also identified as factors that may mediate these effects.
Conclusion
Overall, current evidence does not support the routine use of memantine for OCD. However, it does highlight specific methodological considerations and priorities for future rigorous investigation. Future randomised controlled trials with larger samples, longer follow-ups, and standardised dosing protocols are needed to clearly determine memantine’s role in OCD management
Improving public awareness of climate anxiety: A medical student led initiative
No full textAims:
Climate change, and the effects thereof, present challenges in all domains of life. Mental wellbeing is an often-overlooked area when considering the direct and indirect impact of climate uncertainty. Worrying about the outcome of current and future climate events and experiencing distress at the perceived lack of action taken by world leaders has given rise to reports of climate anxiety. Whilst not a diagnosable psychiatric illness, individuals experiencing climate anxiety report to experience excessive worry and fear that may impair activities of daily living. In addition, anxiety over the climate and environmental matters may exacerbate existing conditions such as generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
Methods:
In an effort to raise public awareness of climate anxiety, a leaflet was designed by medical students for dissemination in General Practice surgeries, along with an interactive electronic version of the leaflet being made available for online dissemination. The World Health Organization's (WHO) guidance on health literacy in empowering communities and diverse audiences was adopted in the design of the leaflet. Key information was reported using interactive means that enabled the audience to engage with the content of the leaflet and to consider the impact of climate anxiety on mental wellbeing. A survey was embedded at the end of the leaflet, using a QR code, to collate feedback from the public and from clinicians on the usefulness and educational value of the leaflet.
Results:
The leaflet was shared with General Practitioners affiliated with the School of Medicine at Cardiff University, to disseminate at their surgeries, and was promoted by online and social media channels affiliated with the School of Medicine. Members of the public reported that the leaflet highlighted the importance of mental health considerations in relation to the climate crisis and provided a good overview of climate anxiety. Clinicians also reported the overall usefulness of the leaflet as a resource of information on climate anxiety.
Conclusion:
Climate anxiety is a relatively new phenomenon that most people are not familiar with or know little about. Raising public awareness of the impact the climate crisis might have on mental wellbeing is crucial. Of equal importance is improving clinical awareness of climate anxiety as a risk or perpetuating factor of existing anxiety and/or mood disorders, such as GAD
A systematic review of estrogen modulators as augmentation to antipsychotics for the treatment of post- and perimenopausal psychosis [Abstract]
No full textAims
To investigate if estrogen agents as an adjunct to antipsychotic medication are effective at treating psychosis in post-and perimenopausal females.
Methods
A digital search focusing on controlled clinical trials was conducted. Studies were assessed for quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and GRADE system. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools were used to critically appraise articles. The total Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) scores were synthesised using a meta-analysis.
Results
Of the studies obtained (n = 11), two used estrogen HT as an augmentation agent, and nine used the SERM Raloxifene. Quality review and critical appraisal found inconsistencies in data and publication bias favouring trials that include Raloxifene. Meta-analysis results indicate Raloxifene plus antipsychotic did perform better than placebo [Std diff in means total = 0.340 (95% CI) p = 0.001] with a small effect size (g = 0.3392).
Conclusion
Though research appears promising, recommendations for the use of estrogen agent augmentation cannot be made at this time as more clinical trials that include a diverse range of treatments are needed
Stigma, Secrecy and Masculine Norms: A Systematic Review of How Perinatal Mental Illness in Men and Their Partners Is Experienced by Males
No full textIn recent years, fathers have become increasingly involved in pregnancy and childcare and the concept of paternal perinatal mental illness (PMI) has gained research interest. There has been increased recognition of the impact of parenthood on the mental health of males, particularly in first time fathers where feelings of helplessness and marginalisation are common. Prevalence of paternal PMI is thought to be 10–16%, with higher risk demonstrated when their partner too experiences PMI. The importance of this topic was highlighted in the NHS long term plan, which recognised the disparity in service provision between males and females and the need to address this. Aim: To conduct a systematic review to establish the knowledge, beliefs, and experiences of males with PMI and whose partners had PMI, and to understand the barriers associated with help-seeking for paternal PMI. Five databases including EMBASE, Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus and PsycINFO were searched for qualitative studies investigating the experiences of males affected by PMI personally or through their partner's illness. The research question and inclusion criteria were determined using the PICOSS (population, intervention, comparison, outcome, setting, study design) method. 11 studies met criteria for inclusion and were appraised for quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme and Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative checklists. Evidence was synthesised using thematic analysis and study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR 2) checklist and Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) too. 5 main themes and 17 sub-themes were identified, and demonstrated lack of knowledge and preparation for fatherhood, and distress and isolation experienced by males with PMI. Males were reluctant to seek help, and factors including stigma and lack of awareness regarding PMI and available support services were identified as barriers. The option to remain anonymous, flexibility of appointments and an emphasis on peer support were considered facilitators to engagement. Unhelpful and potentially damaging stereotypes regarding masculinity and PMI still exist, prohibit help-seeking for PMI and promote the marginalisation of males in perinatal settings. Support for males with PMI is warranted but lacking, and effective communication and education regarding paternal PMI for both professionals and the public is needed to allow successful expansion of services to include males
