Psychiatria Danubina[JOURNAL]

BACKGROUND: Video footage of terror attacks as distributed over social networks can cause significant emotional distress. Dealing with such stress requires attention to significant personal resources. SUBJECTS AND METHOD... BACKGROUND: Video footage of terror attacks as distributed over social networks can cause significant emotional distress. Dealing with such stress requires attention to significant personal resources. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study examined the relationship between forgiveness and mastery with PTSD symptoms and stress among 249 participants before (T1) and after watching a video clip of a series of terror attacks that were distributed over social networks (T2). RESULTS: The results demonstrated that higher levels of situational forgiveness and mastery at T1 were associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms and stress at T1. Regarding T2, only PTSD symptoms at T1 were positively associated with both PTSD and stress at T2. Stress at T1 was only positively associated with stress at T2. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Among those exposed to traumatic social-media content, it is important to acknowledge previous PTSD symptoms and stress. In addition, attention should be given to gender, situational forgiveness and mastery when coping with the emotional distress following such exposure. Thus, awareness of different trajectories of the emotional distress is recommended allowing for theoretical, practical and clinical implications.

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Integrative psychotherapists working with eco-anxiety: Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore their experiences.

Henry J, Giannouli V

Psychiatr Danub · 2025 May · PMID 40516083 · Publisher ↗

BACKGROUND: Despite a recent surge in mental health research discussing the concept of eco-anxiety, very little qualitative research has been conducted investigating therapist or client experiences, or possible responses... BACKGROUND: Despite a recent surge in mental health research discussing the concept of eco-anxiety, very little qualitative research has been conducted investigating therapist or client experiences, or possible responses to it in psychotherapy. This research aimed to address this gap by conducting a qualitative exploration of the experience of Integrative psychotherapists experiencing and working with clients who present with eco-anxiety. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Semi-structured interviews examined the experiences of 8 Integrative psychotherapists. IPA analysis followed with the assistance of 'Atlas.ti Web'. RESULTS: 7 themes were identified and these themes encompassed what kind of anxiety eco-anxiety represents, what emotions co-occur with the experience of eco-anxiety, how eco-anxiety is upheld, and what responses eco-anxiety elicited in participants and in their clients. Eco-anxiety was reported as an existential anxiety that raises questions about mortality and is a response to a threat to human meaning-making as well as survival. The major emotions and feelings accompanying eco-anxiety were hopelessness, upheld by the awareness of the systemic nature of the ecological crisis, grief, both due to awareness of current losses in biodiversity and for future losses in the natural environment, anger, induced and perpetuated by political inactivity, and guilt stemming from action-value misalignment and participation in an uncaring system. Stigma was seen as worsening eco-anxiety by inducing a sense of alienation. CONCLUSIONS: Working to accept eco-anxiety as a rational response, avoid pathologizing it, and acknowledging the ecological crisis through group participation and open conversation in psychotherapy are important markers in destigmatising eco-anxiety, and fostering meaning-making and agency in clients affected by it.

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The mental health status of Turkish healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk and protective factors.

Ulucan Özkan E, Bekiroğlu S

Psychiatr Danub · 2025 May · PMID 40516082 · Publisher ↗

BACKGROUND: During the pandemic, healthcare professionals were at high risk for both virus transmission and the development of mental disorders. This study aimed to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ment... BACKGROUND: During the pandemic, healthcare professionals were at high risk for both virus transmission and the development of mental disorders. This study aimed to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare professionals working in various healthcare institutions in Turkey. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Between June 1st and 15th 2020, a convenient sample of 343 Turkish healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, dentists, social workers/psychologists, health technicians, and administrative staff) via online Google Forms. Participants completed a structured questionnaire (32 questions), the Turkish version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). RESULTS: The pandemic affected the mental health of almost half of healthcare professionals (47.8 %, GHQ-28 ≥ 5,). The factors significantly affecting the GHQ-28 total score include gender, age, psychiatric medication use, finding adequate workplace measures, workplace psychosocial support, needing psychosocial support, exclusion/stigma, weekly working hours and increased workload. These factors are associated with increased somatic symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, depression and social functioning impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the importance of these factors in understanding and managing the mental health issues of healthcare professionals, particularly those on the front lines staff during the times of global health crises.

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Psychiatria Danubina[JOURNAL]

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