Antonina Mikocka-Walus

Bio: Antonina Mikocka-Walus is an academic researcher from Deakin University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Anxiety & Mental health. The author has an hindex of 32, co-authored 150 publications receiving 3773 citations. Previous affiliations of Antonina Mikocka-Walus include University of Leeds & Health Science University.

Controversies Revisited : A Systematic Review of the Comorbidity of Depression and Anxiety with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although mental health concerns are known to occur commonly for those with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), the nature of this comorbid relationship has not been systematically reviewed to date. A review in 2007 identified 5 controversies regarding anxiety/depression rates and various comparators between and within IBD. We aimed to systematically analyze and critique the current evidence regarding this comorbidity, providing an update to the 5 controversies. METHODS: Ebscohost Medline, CINAHL, Embase, and PsychINFO were searched between 2005 and 2014 using systematic review methodology. Controlled quantitative studies examining either symptoms or diagnoses of anxiety and depression in IBD were included in the review, with study quality assessed using a scale developed a priori to evaluate observational research. RESULTS: (1) IBD versus healthy controls (pooled mean proportions) (n = 13 studies): anxiety 19.1% versus 9.6%, depression 21.2% versus 13.4%; (2) IBD inactive versus IBD active disease (n = 26): anxiety 28.2% versus 66.4%, depression 19.9% versus 34.7%; (3) ulcerative colitis versus Crohn's disease (n = 28): anxiety 31% versus 37%, depression 22% versus 24.4%; (4) IBD versus other chronic medical conditions (n = 17): anxiety 41.9% versus 48.2%, depression 14.5% versus 28.4%; (5) onset of anxiety/depression before or after IBD onset (n = 2): adults more likely to develop anxiety/depression before IBD onset, but a substantial proportion develops depression after onset; an increased risk for children of developing anxiety/depression after IBD onset. CONCLUSIONS: The high rates of anxiety and depression for those with IBD, particularly when disease is active, warrant a systemic approach to screening and treatment.

Predictors of postconcussive symptoms 3 months after mild traumatic brain injury.

Abstract: Objective: There is continuing controversy regarding predictors of poor outcome following mildtraumatic brain injury (mTBI). This study aimed to prospectively examine the influence of preinjuryfactors, injury-related factors, and postinjury factors on outcome following mTBI. Method: Participantswere 123 patients with mTBI and 100 trauma patient controls recruited and assessed in the emergencydepartment and followed up 1 week and 3 months postinjury. Outcome was measured in terms ofreported postconcussional symptoms. Measures included the ImPACT Post-Concussional SymptomScale and cognitive concussion battery, including Attention, Verbal and Visual memory, ProcessingSpeed and Reaction Time modules, pre- and postinjury SF-36 and MINI Psychiatric status ratings, VASPain Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, PTSD Checklist–Specific, and Revised SocialReadjustment Scale. Results: Presence of mTBI predicted postconcussional symptoms 1 week postin-jury, along with being female and premorbid psychiatric history, with elevated HADS anxiety aconcurrent indicator. However, at 3 months, preinjury physical or psychiatric problems but not mTBImost strongly predicted continuing symptoms, with concurrent indicators including HADS anxiety,PTSD symptoms, other life stressors and pain. HADS anxiety and age predicted 3-month PCS in themTBI group, whereas PTSD symptoms and other life stressors were most significant for the controls.Cognitive measures were not predictive of PCS at 1 week or 3 months. Conclusions: Given the evidentinfluence of both premorbid and concurrent psychiatric problems, especially anxiety, on postinjurysymptoms, managing the anxiety response in vulnerable individuals with mTBI may be important tominimize ongoing sequelae.Keywords: traumatic brain injury, concussion, outcome assessment

Long-Term Outcomes after Uncomplicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Comparison with Trauma Controls

Abstract: The question as to whether mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) results in persisting sequelae over and above those experienced by individuals sustaining general trauma remains controversial. This prospective study aimed to document outcomes 1 week and 3 months post-injury following mTBI assessed in the emergency department (ED) of a major adult trauma center. One hundred and twenty-three patients presenting with uncomplicated mTBI and 100 matched trauma controls completed measures of post-concussive symptoms and cognitive performance (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing battery; ImPACT) and pre-injury health-related quality of life (SF-36) in the ED. These measures together with measures of psychiatric status (the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview [MINI]) pre- and post-injury, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Visual Analogue Scale for Pain, Functional Assessment Questionnaire, and PTSD Checklist-Specific, were re-administered at follow-up. Participants with mTBI showed significantly more severe post-concussive symptoms in the ED and at 1 week post-injury. They performed more poorly than controls on the Visual Memory subtest of the ImPACT at 1 week and 3 months post-injury. Both the mTBI and control groups recovered well physically, and most were employed 3 months post-injury. There were no significant group differences in psychiatric function. However, the group with mild TBI was more likely to report ongoing memory and concentration problems in daily activities. Further investigation of factors associated with these ongoing problems is warranted.

Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses—Part II

Abstract: Background Quality of life (QoL) is commonly assessed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); the relationship of QoL within IBD states and relative to others has not been comprehensively evaluated. This systematic review, published across 2 papers, evaluates 5 key QoL comparisons. Part I, presented here, examines between-disease comparisons: (1) IBD/healthy(general) population and (2) IBD/other medically ill groups. Part II examines within-disease comparisons: (3) active/inactive disease, (4) ulcerative colitis/Crohn's disease, and (5) change over time. Outcomes using generic vs IBD-specific QoL measures were also examined. Methods Adult and pediatric studies were identified through systematic searches of 7 databases from the 1940s (where available) to October 2015. Results Of 6173 abstracts identified, 466 were selected for final review based on controlled design and validated measurement; 30 unique studies (23 adult, 7 pediatric) addressed the between-disease comparisons. The pooled mean QoL scores were (1) lower in adult and pediatric IBD samples compared with healthy controls (n = 19), and for both mental and physical QoL, where measured; and (2) higher but not significant for those with IBD compared with various medically ill controls (n = 15). Findings were consistent across IBD-specific and generic QoL measures. Study quality was generally low to moderate. The most common measures of QoL were the disease-specific Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and generic SF-36 (adults), and the generic PedsQL (children). Conclusions There was robust confirmation that QoL for individuals with IBD was poorer than for healthy individuals, for both adults and children. QoL in IBD may be better relative to some other gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI medical conditions for children.

Health Belief Model

Abstract: This article presents an introduction to the Health Belief Model (HBM). The HBM states that the perception of a personal health behavior threat is influenced by at least three factors: general health values, interest and concern about health; specific beliefs about vulnerability to a particular health threat; and beliefs about the consequences of the health problem. Once an individual perceives a threat to his health and is simultaneously cued to action, if his perceived benefits outweighs his perceived costs, then the individual is most likely to undertake the recommended preventive health action. Key words: health promotion, health belief model, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, self-efficacy. Content available only in Romanian.

Traumatic brain injury: integrated approaches to improve prevention, clinical care, and research

Abstract: Additional co-authors: Endre Czeiter, Marek Czosnyka, Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, Jens P Dreier, Ann-Christine Duhaime, Ari Ercole, Thomas A van Essen, Valery L Feigin, Guoyi Gao, Joseph Giacino, Laura E Gonzalez-Lara, Russell L Gruen, Deepak Gupta, Jed A Hartings, Sean Hill, Ji-yao Jiang, Naomi Ketharanathan, Erwin J O Kompanje, Linda Lanyon, Steven Laureys, Fiona Lecky, Harvey Levin, Hester F Lingsma, Marc Maegele, Marek Majdan, Geoffrey Manley, Jill Marsteller, Luciana Mascia, Charles McFadyen, Stefania Mondello, Virginia Newcombe, Aarno Palotie, Paul M Parizel, Wilco Peul, James Piercy, Suzanne Polinder, Louis Puybasset, Todd E Rasmussen, Rolf Rossaint, Peter Smielewski, Jeannette Soderberg, Simon J Stanworth, Murray B Stein, Nicole von Steinbuchel, William Stewart, Ewout W Steyerberg, Nino Stocchetti, Anneliese Synnot, Braden Te Ao, Olli Tenovuo, Alice Theadom, Dick Tibboel, Walter Videtta, Kevin K W Wang, W Huw Williams, Kristine Yaffe for the InTBIR Participants and Investigators