Question

Journal Article: Direct and indirect effects of mindfulness, PTSD, and depression on self-stigma of mental illness in OEF/OIF veterans.

Barr, N., Davis, J. P., Diguiseppi, G., Keeling, M., & Castro, C. (2019). Direct and indirect effects of mindfulness, PTSD, and depression on self-stigma of mental illness in OEF/OIF veterans. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000535

1. write a brief summary of the Critical Rapid Appraisal tool for this article

2. Level of Evidence (hierarchy of evidence)

Answer 1

1 .

Two of the most common and costly mental health diagnosis among military veterans who served in the post 9/11 conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are post traumatic stess disorder ( PTSD) and depression , but over half of veterans who screen positive for these problems do not seek treatment. A key barrier is self-stigma of mental illness. Mindfulness has shown promise as an explanatory variable in the context of mental health symptoms and self stigma, but these associations are under explored in the veterans literature. This study examines direct ad indirect effects among mindfulness, PTSD and depression and self stigma of mental illness in OEF/OIF veterans.

Mindfulness was associated with less PTSD and depression and indirectly with less self-stigma through the PTSD pathway. PTSD was associated with more depression and self-stigma and , depression was not significantly associated with self-stigma. So, the PTSD is strongly associated with self-stigma in military veterans, many of whom do not seek mental health treatment. Findings show that, mindfulness is a promising intervention target for reducing symptoms of PTSD directly and reducing associated self-stigma of mental illness indirectly.

2.

Levels of Evidence

Level l :- Evidence from a systematic review or meta-analysis of all relevant RCTs ( randomised controlled trials) or evidence based clinical practice

Level ll - Evidence obtained from atleast one well designed RCT ( eg:- large multi-site RCT )

Level lll - Evidence obtained from well designed controlled trials without randomisation ( ie, Quasi experimental)

Level lV :- Evidence obtained from well designed case control / cohort studies

Level V :- Evidence obtained from systematic reviews of descriptive and qualitative studies.

Level VI :- Evidence obtained from a single descriptive / qualitative study.

Level VII :- From openion of authorities or reports of expert committees.

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