Age of onset and cumulative risk of mental disorders: a cross-national analysis of population surveys from 29 countries.

Background: Information on the frequency and timing of mental disorder onsets across the lifespan is of fundamental importance for public health planning. Broad, cross-national estimates of this information from coordinated general population surveys were last updated in 2007. We aimed to provide updated and improved estimates of age-of-onset distributions, lifetime prevalence, and morbid risk.

Severe mental illness and ophthalmic health: A linked administrative data study.

Background: While evidence has emerged highlighting the potential benefits of the eye as a window to the central nervous system, research on severe mental illness (SMI) and eye health is rare.

Aims: We examine the association of SMI with a range of ophthalmic health outcomes, and whether any relationship is modified by age.

Methods: We used linked administrative data from general practitioner (GP), hospital and ophthalmic records to examine receipt of any Health and Social Care (HSC) eye-test; and (based on eligibility recorded for a sight test) any glaucoma, any diabetes, and any blindness among the Northern Ireland (NI) hospital population between January 2015 and November 2019 (N = 798,564).

Occupation type, family demands and mental health: analysis of linked administrative data.

Background: While employment generally promotes positive health and wellbeing, some jobs may be less salutogenic than others. Few studies have examined mental health across a range of broadly defined occupation types using a large population sample.

Aims: To examine the prevalence of mental health problems across a wide range of occupation types, and further examine the association of family demands, controlling for key social determinants and health-related factors.

Exploring the effects of socio-economic inequalities on health and disability in Northern Irish adolescents: evidence from a nationally representative longitudinal study.

Although a negative association between socio-economic inequalities and health has been established, there is a dearth of robust longitudinal studies examining this relationship in adolescents. This study used a large, nationally representative longitudinal data set to investigate the association between socio-economic inequality, subjective health status and disabilities among young people in Northern Ireland over a ten-year period. Data were from the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study, a census-based record linkage study (N = 46,535).

Mind the gap: an administrative data analysis of dental treatment outcomes and severe mental illness.

Background: Oral health of people with severe mental illness (SMI) remains an important public health issue, despite evidence pointing suboptimal dental health outcomes in this population.

Aims: We test the hypotheses that individuals with SMI have lower contact with dental services and higher levels of fillings and extractions. We also examine effect modification by age-group.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Psychiatric Symptoms Among Older People in England During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Latent Class Analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health and social connections. Older people may be disproportionately affected, placing them at increased risk for complex mental ill-health outcomes and quality of life undermined by anxiety and depression. Understanding gender differences in the determinants of anxiety and depression symptoms is crucial to policy and practice.

Mental ill-health among health and social care professionals: an analysis using administrative data.

Objective: Health and Social Care (HSC) workers are at high risk of job-related stress, and mental ill-health. This study examines differences in self-reported mental health and psychotropic medication uptake across HSC occupational groups.

Method: Northern Ireland (NI) data linkage study of people working in the Health and Care sector, aged between twenty and sixty-four years, enumerated at the 2011 Northern Ireland Census and living in private households, and their uptake of prescribed psychotropic medications during 2011-2012 (using data derived from routine electronically captured information on prescriptions issued within the NHS and linked at an individual level using a NI-specific Health and Care key identifier).

The impact of reduced working on mental health in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from the Understanding Society COVID-19 study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated an unpredictable economic crisis, currently affecting daily life for millions of workers. We examined the mental health impact of reduced working in a nationally representative sample of employees.

Method: We used Wave one (April 2020) of the Understanding Society UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) COVID-19 study, with linkage to baseline mental health data from the UKHLS annual survey (January 2017- December 2018).

Prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression in older adults: Gender differences in psychosocial indicators.

Background: With increasing numbers of people living into old age, health functioning and good quality of life are central to public health policy in aging. However, quality of life for many elders is undermined by anxiety and depression. Understanding gender differences in the determinants of anxiety and depression symptoms is crucial to policy and practice.

Using Mobile Technology to Provide Personalized Reminiscence for People Living With Dementia and Their Carers: Appraisal of Outcomes From a Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: Dementia is an international research priority. Reminiscence is an intervention that prompts memories and has been widely used as a therapeutic approach for people living with dementia. We developed a novel iPad app to support home-based personalized reminiscence.

Exposure to Trauma and Mental Health Service Engagement Among Adults Who Were Children of the Northern Ireland Troubles of 1968 to 1998.

Northern Ireland is an appropriate region to examine the impact of traumatic experiences, owing to the many years of civil violence that have characterized its recent history, known colloquially as the "Troubles." Given the prominence of traumatic experiences among the aging population of Northern Ireland (NI), an evidence base is required to inform the planning and provision of effective mental health and other services. We analyzed the follow-up interviews (n = 225) of individuals from the Northern Ireland Study of Health and Stress (NISHS), aged 45 years and older, who experienced one or more conflict-related traumatic events.

Childhood adversities and post-traumatic stress disorder: evidence for stress sensitisation in the World Mental Health Surveys.

Although childhood adversities are known to predict increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traumatic experiences, it is unclear whether this association varies by childhood adversity or traumatic experience types or by age.To examine variation in associations of childhood adversities with PTSD according to childhood adversity types, traumatic experience types and life-course stage.Epidemiological data were analysed from the World Mental Health Surveys ( = 27 017).

Caregiving, volunteering or both? Comparing effects on health and mortality using census-based records from almost 250,000 people aged 65 and over.

Background: the health impacts of caregiving and volunteering are rarely studied concurrently, despite the potential for both synergies and conflicts. This population-based study examines the association of these activities on health and subsequent mortality.

Method: a census-based record-linkage study of 244,429 people aged 65 and over, with cohort characteristics, caregiving and volunteering status, and presence of chronic health conditions derived from the Census returns.

The Economic Burden of PTSD in Northern Ireland.

The objective of this study was to estimate the economic costs of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the Northern Ireland (NI) adult population. The authors present a prevalence-based, bottom-up study based primarily on data from 1,986 participants in the Northern Ireland Study of Health and Stress (NISHS). Both direct costs of treatment and indirect costs of productivity losses were included.

Associations between mental disorders and subsequent onset of hypertension.

Background: Previous work has suggested significant associations between various psychological symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, anger, alcohol abuse) and hypertension.