Journal of Medical Psychology - Volume 25, issue 1

Authors: Gersch, Hannah G. | Robinson, Fulton A. | Cartwright, Jake K. | DeFelice, Bryan A. | Kadam, Rajesh S.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Factitious disorder (FD) imposed on self is a psychiatric disorder characterized by the intentional feigning of symptoms or the self-inflicted production of symptoms in the absence of an obvious external reward. Case: This report describes a severe case of FD imposed on self in a 31-year-old male who frequently presented to several regional Emergency Departments with intentional ingestion of foreign objects, ultimately requiring 32 esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and 28 gastroscopy procedures over two years. Significant history of frequent suicide attempts via medication overdose and clinical suspicion of drug-seeking behavior complicated the case. Motivating factors for the patient’s behavior, …suicidality in FD, and thepatient’s treatment and outcome to date will be discussed. Conclusion: There is no well-established treatment for FD documented in the literature. High-quality studies and additional reports of FD could help clinicians when managing such a challenging diagnosis. Show more

Keywords: Factitious disorders, foreign bodies, suicide, substance-related disorders

DOI: 10.3233/JMP-220039

Citation: Journal of Medical Psychology, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 1-5, 2023

Authors: Umeh, K. | Adaji, S. | Graham, L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Historically, previous research demonstrating associations between self-rated health (SRH) and metabolic anomalies have rarely controlled for metabolic covariates. Thus, there is currently poor understanding of the unique contribution of SRH to metabolic syndrome (MetS) over and beyond diagnostic cardiometabolic abnormalities. Objective: This study explored unique associations between SRH and multiple cardiometabolic factors, after controlling for metabolic covariates. Methods: This study was based on an analysis of archived population-based data from the 2019 Health Survey for England. A total of 352 MetS cases were extracted from 10299 participants in the survey. Bootstrapped adjusted regression methods were …used to predict MetS status and cardiometabolic abnormalities (HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, waist/hip ratio, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)) from SRH. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to explore direct and indirect associations between SRH and cardiometabolic factors, with SRH treated as a mediating factor. Results: SRH predicted MetS status but this was negated after cardiometabolic adjustments. Poor SRH independently predicted HDL cholesterol deficiency, and elevated waist/hip ratio, BMI, and HbA1c, even after cardiometabolic adjustments. SEM generated two models with equivalent fit indices, but different structural pathways. In one model SRH mediated relations between anthropometric risk factors (waist/hip ratio and BMI). Conclusions: SRH can help identify people at risk of developing MetS, irrespective of cardiometabolic abnormalities. Poor SRH may represent a non-intrusive easily measurable risk factor for adiposity in MetS, especially where direct measurement of body fat is impractical or socially challenging. Show more

Keywords: Health, perception, syndrome, risk

DOI: 10.3233/JMP-220040

Citation: Journal of Medical Psychology, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 7-22, 2023

Authors: Jefferies, Philip | Dixon, Alina | Ungar, Michael

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: mHealth apps are showing promise as an accessible means to improve mental health and wellbeing. However, there is limited evidence for their efficacy, particularly in periods after their initial usage, and in non-Western cultures. Objective: In this study, we explored the impact of eQuoo , an emotional fitness application which gamifies self-reflection and learning, in terms of its ability to build resilience in a sample of young people in Vietnam. Materials and Methods: Individuals (n  = 264, M  = 25.65 years, SD  = 4.84; 52% female) completed self-reports consisting of three different measures of resilience (the Rugged Resilience …Measure, Adult Resilience Measure, Brief Resilience Scale). Assessments were taken at the start and end of a five-week use period, and also three months after baseline. Results: Comparison tests indicated various improvements in resilience between baseline and five weeks and at three months, depending on the subgroup of participants (whether male or female or younger or older), as well as in terms of the way resilience was operationalised (e.g., ability to ‘bounce back’ or the protective factors associated with managing adversity). Conclusion: The study indicates that eQuoo can build resilience and can therefore provide a convenient means of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young adults. Show more

Keywords: Mental health, resilience, case series, mHealth, gamification

DOI: 10.3233/JMP-220041

Citation: Journal of Medical Psychology, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 23-32, 2023