Geopolitical determinants of mental health and global health inequities.

Geopolitical determinants of health have been well recognized by the World Health Organization and are increasingly being discussed across governments, institutions, academics, policy makers, and across global health sector. Geopolitical determinants of health are events, structures, processes, and factors that influence individual health including mental health, public and population mental health both directly and indirectly. Consequently, nation's responses to these factors will affect short-term and long-term health outcomes.

Migration and mental health problems of older adults: Challenges and proposed solutions.

Due to several geopolitical factors, the number of older migrants increased worldwide with an estimated of 34.3 million in 2020. Older migrants are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems because of their physical health, reduced social networks, and lack of social support.

Geopsychiatry: Climate change, migration, and mental health.

Geopsychiatry, a newly emerging discipline within psychiatry, examines the influence of geopolitical determinants on mental health and mental illness. Geopolitical determinants include conflict and wars, global austerity, climate change, public health crises (such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)), and migration. This study focuses on the two significant areas of climate change and migration.

Exploring the palliative care ecosystem in Thailand: a protocol for a scoping review and bibliometric analysis.

Introduction: Palliative care is an approach that aims to holistically improve the quality of life, care and death of people living with life-limiting conditions as well as their families. In Thailand, palliative care became one of its national strategies as of 2014. However, the access to as well as the quality of palliative care being delivered still varies across the nation, due to multiple factors spanning multiple levels.

Depression among psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees and its associated factors regarding work, social support, and loneliness.

Background: This study aimed to survey the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees (physicians in psychiatric residency training).

Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed Thai psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees from January to February 2023 using an online questionnaire. The questionnaires consisted of (1) the demographic and work-related information; (2) perceptions towards social support and work; (3) the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Thai version; and (4) the 6-item Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale Thai version.

Sex and concepts of sexuality influence sexual problems and help-seeking behaviours of older people.

In this study, we aimed to examine the prevalence, associated factors, and management of sexual problems in older people at a primary care unit. We recruited people aged 60 years old and over, who visited the Primary Care Unit of Songklanagarind Hospital, a tertiary-care and referral centre in Southern Thailand, between June and August 2021, and used a self-administered questionnaire on sexuality, sexual problems, help-seeking behaviours, and clinical consultations for sexual problems in older people. There were 190 participants in this study (120 women, 70 men, mean age = 68.

Psychodynamic Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis in Thailand.

The authors provide an overview of psychiatry and psychodynamic psychotherapy in Thailand, including a discussion of practice patterns, trends, and the cultural context of the delivery of psychotherapy services in this Southeast Asian country. They discuss a way forward in psychodynamic psychotherapy training that is collaborative, self-sustaining, and leads to competence. They address how to culturally adapt psychodynamic psychotherapy and suggest areas of research that would advance the field.

Prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms among patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy in southern Thailand: a university hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Depression in patients with cancer is frequently underestimated and causes major suffering to patients and families. This study purposed to determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, depressive symptoms among Thai patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy. The results could promote and optimize the quality of life for patients with cancer.

A shared decision-making model about care for people with severe dementia: A qualitative study based on nutrition and hydration decisions in acute hospitals.

Objectives: To understand the decision-making processes regarding eating and drinking for hospital patients with severe dementia and use this data to modify a decision-making model about care for people with severe dementia.

Methods: From January to May 2021, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 family carers and hospital staff in England who cared for people with severe dementia during hospital admissions. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using codebook thematic analysis.

Co-design development of a decision guide on eating and drinking for people with severe dementia during acute hospital admissions.

Introduction: Using co-design processes, we aimed to develop an evidence-based decision guide for family carers and hospital professionals to support decision-making about eating and drinking for hospital patients with severe dementia.

Methods: Following a systematic review, we interviewed people with mild dementia, family carers and hospital professionals in England. We then held co-design workshops with family carers and hospital professionals.

Communication between the multidisciplinary team and families regarding nutrition and hydration for people with severe dementia in acute hospitals: a qualitative study.

Background: When a person with severe dementia is in hospital and has eating and drinking difficulties, communication between the multidisciplinary team and families can be challenging and lead to suboptimal care.

Objective: To gain in-depth understanding about the experiences, views and needs of family carers and hospital staff, regarding communication and conversations about nutrition and hydration, for hospital patients with severe dementia.

Design: Qualitative semi-structured interview study.

Sexuality in Older Adults in A Primary Care Unit of Thailand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Objectives: To investigate sexuality in older Thai adults during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the associated factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted on older adults visiting a primary care unit (PCU) in Thailand. A hundred and ninety older adults were enrolled by convenience sampling.

Experiences of Carers and People with Dementia from Ethnic Minority Groups Managing Eating and Drinking at Home in the United Kingdom.

Eating and drinking difficulties, such as loss of appetite and swallowing problems, are common in dementia, but little is known about the experiences of ethnic minority groups who are managing these difficulties at home. The purpose of our study was to explore the meaning of food, the impact of dementia on eating and drinking, and carers' experiences of support. We undertook semi-structured interviews with 17 carers and people with dementia from ethnic minority backgrounds living in England, using thematic analysis to analyse the data.

Practical and emotional preparation for death: A mixed methods study investigating experiences of family carers of people with dementia.

Background: When family carers are more prepared for the end of the life of a person they care for, they report improved bereavement outcomes. Few studies have explored how carers prepare for the death of a person with dementia. We aimed to explore how carers for people with all stages of dementia experience preparing for end of life care and death.

How do people living with dementia perceive eating and drinking difficulties? A qualitative study.

Background: Eating and drinking problems are common among people living with later-stage dementia, yet few studies have explored their perspectives.

Objective: This study aimed to explore how people living with mild dementia understand possible future eating and drinking problems and their perspectives on assistance.

Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.

Emotional disclosure in palliative care: A scoping review of intervention characteristics and implementation factors.

Background: Emotional disclosure is the therapeutic expression of emotion. It holds potential as a means of providing psychological support. However, evidence of its efficacy in palliative settings is mixed.

Family caregivers' and professionals' experiences of supporting people living with dementia's nutrition and hydration needs towards the end of life.

The aim of this paper was to understand the needs of family caregivers and professionals supporting people living with dementia with eating and drinking difficulties towards the end of life and the strategies they use to overcome them. A total of 41 semi-structured interviews with family caregivers (n = 21) and professionals (n = 20) were conducted in London and surrounding areas of England. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Mapping and understanding the decision-making process for providing nutrition and hydration to people living with dementia: a systematic review.

Background: This systematic review aimed to explore the process of decision-making for nutrition and hydration for people living with dementia from the perspectives and experiences of all involved.

Methods: We searched CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases. Search terms were related to dementia, decision-making, nutrition and hydration.

Association between Social Support and Frailty among Older People with Depressive Disorders.

Objectives: This study aimed at examining the association between social support and frailty status, specifically amongst older people with depressive disorders.

Methods: It was conducted in older people, aged 65 and over, with depressive disorders at the Psychiatry Outpatient Unit of Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand. The main independent variable, level of social support, was assessed using the Inventory of Social Support Behaviors (ISSB) - Thai.

Emotional disclosure as a therapeutic intervention in palliative care: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Emotional disclosure (ED) is a term used to describe the therapeutic expression of emotion. ED underlies a variety of therapies aimed at improving well-being for various populations, including people with palliative-stage disease and their family carers. Systematic reviews of ED-based psychotherapy have largely focused on expressive writing as a way of generating ED.