ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5020-2300
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Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-09-2022
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-04-2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 25-01-2023
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-06-2015
DOI: 10.1007/S13679-015-0166-7
Abstract: Obesity is a major public health concern worldwide. Because in idual-level interventions have been unsuccessful at curbing obesity rates, there is an emphasis on public health approaches. In addition to testing the effectiveness of any public health interventions, it is important to consider the ethical implications of these interventions in order to protect the public's rights and promote overall well-being. In this paper, we review public health approaches to obesity in three broad domains (changes to the socio-communicative environment, changes to the economic environment, and changes to the physical environment/access) and consider the potential ethical issues that arise in each of those domains. We suggest that interventions that target the physical environment/access (making it easier for people to engage in healthy behaviors), that target the entire population (rather than just in iduals with obesity), and that focus on health behaviors (rather than on weight) have the least potential for ethical concerns.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-12-2022
DOI: 10.1186/S12888-022-04471-4
Abstract: The mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been profound. This paper outlines the study protocol for a trial that tests the efficacy of a brief group-based psychological intervention ( Coping with COVID CWC ) , relative to Supportive Counselling, to reduce distress associated with COVID-19 in a young adult population in Bangalore, India. A single-blind, parallel, randomized controlled trial will be carried out via video conferencing in a small group format. Following informed consent, adults that screen positive for levels of psychological distress (Kessler 10 (K-10 score ≥ 20) and have access to a videoconferencing platform will be randomised to an adapted version of CWC ( n = 90) or Supportive Counselling (SC) ( n = 90). The primary outcome will be reduction in psychological distress including anxiety and depression at 2-months post treatment. Secondary outcomes include worry, positive wellbeing, and stress in relation to COVID-19. This treatment trial will assess whether CWC will result in reduced distress relative to Supportive Counselling in a young adult population in Bangalore, India. This study will yield important insights into the role of nonspecific factors versus the intervention’s components in impacting COVID-19 related distress. This trial was prospectively registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621001064897). Ethics approval has been obtained from the participating institution, CHRIST University in Bangalore. Results of the trial will be submitted for publication in peer reviewed journals and findings presented at scientific conferences and to key service providers and policy makers.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2020
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-05-2017
DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2017.1325728
Abstract: There is accumulating evidence that disgust plays an important role in prejudice toward in iduals with obesity, but that research is primarily based on self-reported emotions. In four studies, we examined whether participants displayed a physiological marker of disgust (i.e. levator labii activity recorded using facial electromyography) in response to images of obese in iduals, and whether these responses corresponded with their self-reported disgust to those images. All four studies showed the predicted self-reported disgust response toward images of obese in iduals. Study 1 further showed that participants exhibited more levator activity to images of obese in iduals than to neutral images. However, Studies 2-4 failed to provide any evidence that the targets' body size affected levator responses. These findings suggest that disgust may operate at multiple levels, and that the disgust response to images of obese in iduals may be more of a cognitive-conceptual one than a physiological one.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-2023
DOI: 10.1136/BMJMENT-2023-300737
Abstract: The social restrictions occurring during the pandemic contributed to loss of many sources of reward, which contributes to poor mental health. This trial evaluated a brief positive affect training programme to reduce anxiety, depression and suicidality during the pandemic. In this single-blind, parallel, randomised controlled trial, adults who screened positive for COVID-19-related psychological distress across Australia were randomly allocated to either a 6-session group-based programme based on positive affect training (n=87) or enhanced usual care (EUC, n=87). Primary outcome was total score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale—anxiety and depression subscales assessed at baseline, 1-week post-treatment, 3 months (primary outcome time point) as well as secondary outcome measures of suicidality, generalised anxiety disorder, sleep impairment, positive and negative mood and COVID-19-related stress. Between 20 September 2020 and 16 September 2021, 174 participants were enrolled into the trial. Relative to EUC, at 3-month follow-up the intervention led to greater reduction on depression (mean difference 1.2 (95% CI 0.4 to 1.9)), p=0.003), with a moderate effect size (0.5 (95% CI 0.2 to 0.9)). There were also greater reduction of suicidality and improvement in quality of life. There were no differences in anxiety, generalised anxiety, anhedonia, sleep impairment, positive or negative mood or COVID-19 concerns. This intervention was able to reduce depression and suicidality during adverse experiences when rewarding events were diminished, such as pandemics. Strategies to improve positive affect may be useful to reduce mental health issues. ACTRN12620000811909.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
Publisher: S. Karger AG
Date: 07-12-2021
DOI: 10.1159/000520283
Abstract: b i Introduction: /i /b Anxiety and depression have increased markedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a lack of evidence-based strategies to address these mental health needs during the pandemic. b i Objective: /i /b We aim to conduct a proof-of-concept trial of the efficacy of a brief group-based psychological intervention delivered via videoconferencing for adults in Australia distressed by the pandemic. b i Methods: /i /b In this single-blind, parallel, randomised controlled trial, adults who screened positive for COVID-related psychological distress across Australia were randomly allocated to either a 6-session group-based program based on behavioural principles ( i n /i = 120) or enhanced usual care (EUC, i n /i = 120). Primary outcome was total score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS) anxiety and depression subscales assessed at baseline, 1 week posttreatment, 2 months (primary outcome time point), and 6 months after treatment, as well as secondary outcome measures of worry, sleep impairment, anhedonia, mood, and COVID-19-related stress. b i Results: /i /b Between May 20, 2020, and October 20, 2020, 240 patients were enrolled into the trial. Relative to EUC, at 2 months participants receiving intervention showed greater reduction on anxiety (mean difference, 1.4 [95% CI, 0.3 to 2.6], i /i = 0.01 effect size, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.1 to 0.7]) and depression (mean difference, 1.6 [95% CI, 0.4 to 2.8], p = 0.009 effect size, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.2 to 0.7]) scales. These effects were maintained at 6 months. There were also greater reductions of worry, anhedonia, COVID-19-related fears, and contamination fears. b i Conclusions: /i /b This trial provides initial evidence that brief group-based behavioural intervention delivered via videoconferencing results in moderate reductions in common psychological problems arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. This program may offer a viable and scalable means to mitigate the rising mental health problems during the pandemic.
No related grants have been discovered for Suzanna Azevedo.