Papers by Vitaly Klymchuk
This cross-sectional study explores the prevalence of alcohol use problems, depression/anxiety sy... more This cross-sectional study explores the prevalence of alcohol use problems, depression/anxiety symptoms, and suicidal ideations among patients of the opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programs in Ukraine and their co-occurrence. AUDIT, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to measure mental health conditions. In addition, the number of missed visits on site for substitute medication for the last month was counted, and blood alcohol levels were recorded (Drager Alcotest 6820, Draeger, Lübeck, Germany). Data were collected from October 2021 to January 2022 (before the full-scale Russian invasion) based on OAT centers in Kyiv, Sumy, and Lviv. The sample size was 999 patients. The overall rate of signs of alcoholrelated problems (AUDIT), depression symptoms (PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms (GAD-7) in the sample was 3.8 (SD 5.424),-7.42 (SD 5.336), and 5.058 (SD 4.264), respectively. For alcohol-related problems, 16.4% of the participants reported harmful drinking (one-month prevalence). Depression symptoms from moderate to severe were found in 26.73% of cases, and generalized anxiety symptoms from moderate to severe levels were found in 14.71% of patients (2-week prevalence). The 2-week suicide ideation prevalence was 24.9% (a quarter of all OAT patients). General co-occurrence of depression and anxiety symptoms was equal to 13.31% of all patients who participated in the study (32.13% of all patients having depression or anxiety symptoms). There was an increase in the general co-occurrence ratio with an increase in the severity of alcohol-related problems from 10.66% to 54.55%.
Academia Mental Health and Well-Being, Apr 30, 2024
Purpose The paper explores the prevalence of alcohol use problems, depression, anxiety symptoms ... more Purpose The paper explores the prevalence of alcohol use problems, depression, anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation among the patients of the Opioid Agonist Treatment programs in Ukraine and their co-occurrence. Design/methodology/approach For measuring mental health conditions, AUDIT, GAD-7 and PHQ-9 were used. In addition, the number of missed visits on site for substitute medication for the last month was counted, and blood alcohol levels were recorded with the breath-alcohol measuring instrument (Drager Alcotest 6820). Data were collected from October 2021 to January 2022 (before the full-scale Russian invasion) based on Opioid Agonist Treatment centres in Kyiv, Sumy and Lviv. All the data collection was done by the staff of OAT centres using individual screenings during patients’ appointed visits for medication. Findings For alcohol-related problems, 16,4 % of the participants had harmful drinking (one-month prevalence). Depression from moderate to severe was found in 26,73% of cases, and generalised anxiety, from moderate to severe levels, was reported by 14,71% of patients (two-week prevalence). The 2-week suicide ideation prevalence is 24,9% (a quarter of all OAT patients). Nearly every day, 3,3% of patients had suicidal ideation. General co-occurrence of depression and anxiety was equal to 13,31% of all patients who participated in the study (32,13% of all patients having depression or anxiety symptoms). There was a tendency to increase the general co-occurrence ratio with an increase in the severity of alcohol-related problems from 10,66% to 54,55% of general co-occurrence. The depression level significantly elevated as the level of alcohol-related problems increased, from 6,98 (SD 5,114) for the absence of problems to 13,864 (SD 6,081) for severe levels of problems. The same situation was observed for anxiety (elevation of the means from 4,663 (SD 4,073) to 10,636 (SD 5,123)). The number of missed visits increased to 2,5 (SD 4,262) at the most severe levels of alcohol use problems. Originality The paper is original in terms of its topic and content.
Mental Health and Social Inclusion
Purpose This paper aims to discuss current work and further steps of the psychological hotline la... more Purpose This paper aims to discuss current work and further steps of the psychological hotline launched by the National Psychological Association of Ukraine (NPA), along with a call for action to mental health professionals worldwide. Design/methodology/approach This paper describes the training and support of the NPA’s hotline staff as well as reflections on the hotline’s work from June 2022 to April 2023. Findings With broad international support, the NPA’s psychological hotline currently operates in 21 countries providing psychological assistance and referrals to other service providers within Ukraine and abroad. The authors propose further steps of its work, including international collaboration. Originality/value Providing citizens of Ukraine with broad public access to evidence-based remote psychological support through NPA’s hotlines is a high priority considering the war’s negative impact on mental health diverse and the limited capacity of the state mental health system.
World Journal of Psychiatry
A condition of exposure to multiple stressors resulting in a mixed clinical picture spanning conv... more A condition of exposure to multiple stressors resulting in a mixed clinical picture spanning conventional categories without meeting any of them in full, encompasses a risk for a list of comorbidities preventing appropriate prevention and treatment. New transformative transdiagnostic approaches suggest changes spanning conventional categories. They base their systems of classification on biomarkers as well as on brain structural and functional dysregulation as associated with behavioral and emotional symptoms. These new approaches received critiques for not being specific enough and for suggesting a few biomarkers for psychopathology as a whole. Therefore, they put the value of differential diagnosis at risk of avoiding appropriate derived prevention and treatment. Multiplicity of stressors has been considered mostly during and following catastrophes, without considering the resulting mixed clinical picture and life event concomitant stressors. We herewith suggest a new category wit...
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Papers by Vitaly Klymchuk