Background Since the middle of March, the COVID-19 outbreak has been well contained in China. The prevention and control measures for the outbreak have been downgraded to a normalized level. However, until now, the change in level of psychological health amongst perinatal women during the remission phase of the COVID-19 outbreak has not been investigated in China. The aim of this current study was to assess the symptoms of anxiety, depression, insomnia and quality of life (QOL) in perinatal women and to identify potential risk factors associated with these symptoms. Methods This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based survey conducted between March 25 th till June 5 th , 2020 in southern China. Convenient sampling method was adopted. Women’s anxiety, depression, insomnia symptoms and QOL was examined through standardized measurements. Multivariate logistic regression and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted for the same. Results A total of 625 perinatal women completed the study; of them, 195 women (31.2%, 95%CI=27.56%–34.84%) reported anxiety, 120 (19.2%, 95%CI=16.10%–22.30%) reported depression, and 87 (13.9%, 95%CI=11.20%–16.64%) experienced symptoms of insomnia. Previous adverse experiences during pregnancy was a significant risk factor for anxiety (OR=1.628, 95%CI=1.069–2.480, P=0.023), depression (OR=1.853, 95%CI=1.153–2.977, P=0.011), and insomnia (OR=2.160, 95%CI=1.290-3.616, P=0.003). Participants having infected friends/families/colleagues were more likely to report anxiety (OR=2.195, 95%CI=1.245–3.871, P=0.007) and depression (OR=2.666, 95%CI=1.482–4.794, P=0.001). Those women whose regular check-ups were severely interrupted by the COVID-19 were also more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety (OR=2.935, 95%CI=1.701–5.062, P<0.001) and insomnia (OR=2.195, 95%CI=1.098–4.390, P=0.026). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic does affect the mental health and well being of perinatal women. Increased attention should be paid to women who have infected friends/families/colleagues and those with previous adverse experiences during pregnancy. Coping strategies that relieve psychological stress during the COVID-19 outbreak should be provided to prevent adverse outcomes for women and their infants.

Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is common among cancer patients and of high clinical relevance. This study explores the prevalence and correlates of FCR in Chinese newly diagnosed cancer population.Methods: This is a multicentre, cross-sectional study that includes 996 patients with mixed cancer diagnosis. All recently diagnosed patients completed a questionnaire consisting of the following: Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Univariate analyses, multivariate logistic regression analyses, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to examine the association between tested variables and FCR.Results: Of the 996 patients, 643 (64.6%) reported high FCR (scored ≥ 34 in the FoP-Q-SF). Chemotherapy (OR = 1.941), Childhood severe illness experience (OR = 2.802), depressive (OR = 1.153), and anxiety (OR = 1.249) symptoms were positively associated with high FCR, while higher monthly income (OR = 0.592) was negatively associated with high FCR. SEM indicated that emotional disturbances (anxiety and depression) directly influenced FCR, while emotional disturbances partly mediated the association between personal monthly income and FCR. Conclusion:High FCR is a frequently reported problem among newly diagnosed cancer patients. Various factors increased the likelihood of the development of FCR. Flexible psychological interventions are needed for patients with high FCR.

The present study suggests that the Chinese version Fear of Cancer Recurrence Questionnaire-7 (FCR-7) is a reliable and valid measurement for assessing patient's recurrence fear. Additionally, patients with low income, family cancer history and those who had gone through chemotherapy are more likely to report higher fears. Therefore, specific and flexible psychological interventions are needed for these high-risk populations.

Background This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with counselling and psychotherapy service use among Chinese sexual minority populations. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional study was performed using snowball sampling method, which led to the inclusion of 18,193 participants. Participants’ sociodemographic background, clinical, and psychological data were gathered. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore any associated factors. Results There were 2007 participants who had used counselling and psychotherapy service out of the total population. Among those who had used psychotherapy services, 80.2% participants perceived discrimination, 1.1% reported that they had been refused treatment by a counsellor and/or psychotherapist, 1.6% had experienced verbal harassment, and 8.4% reported that their counsellor and/or psychotherapist lacked knowledge and experience in treating sexual minorities. In addition, regression analyses indicated that those who were divorced/widowed, had religious beliefs, and those who had experienced discrimination, verbal harassment, and rejection for treatment by health professionals all had an increased likelihood of utilising counselling and psychotherapy service. Conclusions Service providers and policy makers in China should improve the quality and availability of counselling and psychotherapy services to address the mental health needs of sexual minority populations.

BackgroundFear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a significant issue for most cancer patients. Until now, a detailed investigation of the structure of FCR and the interaction among its constituent elements is lacking. This study aims to investigate the phenomenon of FCR by means of network analysis in Chinese cancer patients.MethodsThis is a multi-center, cross-sectional study that included 996 cancer patients from southern China. All participants were assessed by the 7-item Chinese version Fear of Cancer Recurrence Scale (FCR-7). Multivariate logistic regression, and network analyses were conducted. Central symptoms (nodes) in the FCR network were identified.ResultsAmong the 996 patients, 543 (54.52%) reported moderate FCR, and 137 (13.76%) reported high FCR. Chemotherapy (OR = 2.954, P = 0.016), and childhood severe illness experience (OR = 2.331, P = 0.016) were positively associated with high FCR, while higher monthly income (OR = 0.403, P = 0.046) was negative associated with high FCR. The node #FCR2 (Worried/anxious about recurrence) was the most central node within the FCR network (Strength = 1.190), while node #FCR6 (Examining for physical signs) was the least central node (Strength = 0.373). The edge FCR1-FCR2 (“Afraid”-“Worried/anxious”) was the thickest and most saturated edge in the network. After controlling for age and gender, an almost identical network was obtained with respect to edges magnitude and strength.ConclusionFear of recurrence is a frequently reported issue among Chinese cancer patients. Patients with chemotherapy and childhood severe illness experience were more vulnerable and should be particularly monitored. Compared to behavioral component (i.e., body checking, overscreening and overtreatment) and cognitive component (i.e., intrusions), emotional component (i.e., worry/anxious) is more central to identify FCR and might be potential targets for further interventions.

Background Pain is one of the most burdensome and prevalent symptoms cancer patient report and it has severe negative impact on patient’s quality of life. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of pain and to test the association between demographic, clinical, psychological factors, and self-assessed pain in Chinese cancer population. Methods A total of 553 cancer patients were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Patient’s basic demographic data was collected by a study-designed information sheet, and patient’s pain, sleep disturbance and psychological distress were assessed by several validated measurements (MPQ-SF, AIS, FoP-Q-SF, PHQ-9, and GAD-7). Descriptive statistics and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. Results Of the 553 patients, 411 (74.32%) patients reported that they experience some degree of pain. Fear of progression, anxiety, insomnia, and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with different subscales and the overall pain score in bivariate correlation matrix. Insomnia, depressive symptoms, and fear of cancer progression were significant independent factors of cancer pain on multivariate analyses. Conclusion Psychological factors play a great role in the relationship between objective pathophysiology and patient’s subjective experience of pain. It is important to evaluate each individual in detail with respect to psychological distress and pain severity when planning treatment and rehabilitation.

Objective: Suicide is one of the main reasons cited behind the death rate of cancer, and suicidal ideation (SI) is the first step toward it. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associates of suicidal ideation in newly-diagnosed Chinese cancer patients. Methods: This multicenter study was conducted from January 2018 to September 2019. Eligible participants were asked to complete a Case Record Form (CRF), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), Fear of Cancer Recurrence Questionnaire (FCRQ-7), and McGill Pain Questionnaire-Visual Analogue Scale (MPQ-VAS). Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted for assessment.

Background: Depression is a commonly seen mental health concern for mothers and fathers during their transition to parenthood. This study aims to provide new insights into the prevalence of maternal and paternal depression, its demographic and clinical correlates, and its symptom network among Chinese pregnant women and their partners. Methods: In this multicenter, cross-sectional study, 769 pregnant women and their partners were assessed by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) from June 15th to Sep 15th, 2020 in southern China. Convenient sampling method was used. Univariate analyses, multivariate logistic regression, and network analyses were conducted. Networks of maternal and paternal depression were compared. Results: In total, 60 (EPDS total score ≥13, 7.80%, 95% CI: 5.90-9.70%) women and 23 (2.99%, 95% CI: 1.78-4.20%) of these women's partners reported depression. Physical comorbidities (OR=2.664, P=0.003) was the only factor that was found to significantly correlate with maternal depression. Network analyses showed that the resulting networks were well connected and that there was significant difference of network structure between maternal and paternal depression (M=0.330, P<0.001). Centrality plot indicated that "sad or miserable" (strength=1.097) was the most central symptom in the maternal depression network, while "scared or panicky" (strength=1.091) was the most central node in the paternal network. The edge between "things have been getting on top of me" -"able to laugh and see the funny side of things" (difference: 0.153, P=0.020), and "scared or panicky" -"the thought of harming myself" (difference: 0.084, P<0.001) was significantly stronger in women's partners than that in pregnant women. Conclusion:Maternal and paternal depression during pregnancy could result in significant negative consequences. Symptoms like "sad or miserable" and "scared or panicky" are critical and might be potential targets for further interventions. Evidence-based treatments, such as pharmacology, psychotherapy, community reinforcement and family training, might be beneficial for parents with depression during and after the pregnancy.