Samantha K Brooks

King's College London | KCL · Department of Psychological Medicine

Infectious disease outbreaks can be distressing for everyone, especially so for those deemed to be particularly vulnerable, such as pregnant women who have been named a high-risk group in the current COVID-19 pandemic. This rapid review aimed to summarise existing literature on the psychological impact of infectious disease outbreaks on women who w...

Background Emergency school closures are often used as public health interventions during infectious disease outbreaks to minimise the spread of infection. However, if children continue mixing with others outside the home during closures, the effect of these measures may be limited.AimThis review aimed to summarise existing literature on children's...

The December, 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak has seen many countries ask people who have potentially come into contact with the infection to isolate themselves at home or in a dedicated quarantine facility. Decisions on how to apply quarantine should be based on the best available evidence. We did a Review of the psychological impact of quaranti...

Objectives The January 2020 outbreak of coronavirus has once again thrown the vexed issue of quarantine into the spotlight, with many countries asking their citizens to ‘self-isolate’ if they have potentially come into contact with the infection. However, adhering to quarantine is difficult. Decisions on how to apply quarantine should be based on t...

Objective: To conduct a systematic literature review to identify social and occupational factors affecting the psychological wellbeing of healthcare workers involved in the SARS crisis. Methods: Four literature databases were searched and data extracted from relevant papers. Results: 18,005 papers were found and 22 included in the review. The...

This scoping review synthesises published literature on the experiences of professional and amateur performing artists during COVID-19 and their perceptions of the challenges and opportunities faced. Six electronic databases were searched for published English-language articles containing primary data on this topic; twenty-one studies were reviewed...

Background Seafaring has frequently been reported to be a ‘risky occupation’ in terms of both physical and mental health. Individuals working in seafaring professions are exposed to various stressors in the workplace, including social isolation, exposure to poor physical conditions and long work hours. This systematic review aimed to update previou...

This scoping review synthesises published literature on the experiences of professional and amateur performing artists during COVID-19 and their perceptions of the challenges and opportunities faced. Six electronic databases were searched for published English-language articles containing primary data on this topic; twenty-one studies were reviewed...

Many people experience potentially traumatic events in their lifetime, which can be distressing in the short term and may also lead to longer-term mental health consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder. In this chapter, we discuss the range of symptoms people might experience in the weeks after a potentially traumatic event and identify...

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic caused countries across the globe to impose restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, with people instructed to stay at home and reduce contact with others. This reduction in social contact has the potential to negatively impact on mental health and wellbeing. The restrictions are particularly concerning for peo...

Objective The 2019–2020 outbreak of novel coronavirus has raised concerns about nosocomial transmission. This review’s aim was to explore the existing literature on emerging infectious disease outbreaks to identify factors associated with compliance with infection control measures among healthcare staff. Methods A rapid evidence review for primary...

Background: Experiencing a potentially traumatic event can put individuals at risk for both short-term and long-term mental health problems. While many psychological interventions exist for those who have experienced potentially traumatic events, there remains controversy about the best ways to support them. Objective: This review explores the effe...

Objective To summarize existing literature on the mental health impact of the Flint Water Crisis. Methods In March 2020, we searched 5 databases for literature exploring the psychological consequences of the crisis. Main findings were extracted. Results 32 citations were screened and 11 included in the review. Results suggest a negative psycholog...

A ‘culture of celebrity’ began to emerge in the twentieth century, profoundly impacting the social world. Recent years have seen the publication of an increasing wealth of literature focusing on people who are enthralled with celebrities – often to the point of obsession – termed ‘celebrity worshippers’. The current paper systematically reviews thi...

Objectives Infectious disease outbreaks can be distressing for everyone, especially those deemed to be particularly vulnerable such as pregnant women, who have been named a high-risk group in the current COVID-19 pandemic. This paper aimed to summarise existing literature on the psychological impact of infectious disease outbreaks on women who were...

Being wrongfully accused of criminal offences can lead to serious negative consequences to those wrongfully accused and their families. However, there is little research on the psychological and psychosocial impacts of wrongful accusations. We conducted a systematic literature review to collate the existing literature, searching four electronic lit...

Given the COVID-19 outbreak, these unprecedented times pose many urgent dilemmas about how to support the mental health of communities. The goal of this research is to summarize existing literature on the mental health impact of the recent Flint Water Crisis. In March 2020, we searched five databases for literature exploring the psychological conse...

Purpose Research fatigue occurs when an individual or population of interest tires of engaging with research, consequently avoiding further participation. This paper considers research fatigue in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, to identify contributory factors and possible solutions for future post-disaster research. Design/methodolo...

The 2019-2020 outbreak of novel coronavirus has raised concerns about nosocomial transmission; that is, transmission within healthcare settings. Research from previous outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases suggests a major cause of nosocomial transmission is healthcare professionals' poor compliance with recommended personal protective behaviou...

Background: Individuals who conduct disaster relief work overseas are exposed to a variety of traumatic events that can cause distress and trigger psychological illnesses. Identification of which disaster relief workers may be at risk of experiencing psychological distress or mental health disorders is frequently carried out through pre-employment...

The use of mobile phone devices leaves digital traces which include personal data of the user’s location and can be used to produce aggregated and anonymised location data. There is widespread interest in utilising different types of mobile phone location data to optimise emergency health responses within a range of settings, however until now ther...

Background Emergency school closures are often used as public health interventions during infectious disease outbreaks in an attempt to minimise the spread of infection. However, if children continue to mix with others outside the home during the closures, these measures are unlikely to be effective. Objectives This review aimed to summarise existi...

Objectives: The January 2020 outbreak of coronavirus has once again thrown the vexed issue of quarantine into the spotlight, with many countries asking their citizens to self-isolate if they have potentially come into contact with the infection. However, adhering to quarantine is difficult. Decisions on how to apply quarantine should be based on th...

Background Emergency school closures are often used as public health interventions during infectious disease outbreaks in an attempt to minimise the spread of infection. However, if children continue to mix with others outside the home during the closures, these measures are unlikely to be effective. Objectives This review aimed to summarise existi...

Objectives: The January 2020 outbreak of coronavirus has once again thrown the vexed issue of quarantine into the spotlight, with many countries asking their citizens to ‘self-isolate’ if they have potentially come into contact with the infection. However, adhering to quarantine is difficult. Decisions on how to apply quarantine should be based on...

The December, 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak has seen many countries ask people who have potentially come into contact with the infection to isolate themselves at home or in a dedicated quarantine facility. Decisions on how to apply quarantine should be based on the best available evidence. We did a Review of the psychological impact of quaranti...

Background: The aim of this systematic review was to identify predictors of actual or intended adherence with malaria chemoprophylaxis amongst travellers from non-endemic countries visiting endemic countries. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Global Health databases for studies publi...

Background: Disasters are becoming more prevalent across the world and people are frequently exposed to them as part of their occupational groups. It is important for organisations to understand how best to support employees who have experienced a trauma such as a disaster. The purpose of this study was to explore employees' perceptions of workpla...

Background: Peer support at work may support psychological resilience by enhancing coping skills and providing social support. The current study aimed to examine how a workplace peer support program, “Sustaining Resilience at Work” (StRaW), may support employee mental health from the perspective of the trained peer supporter. Method: Nine individua...

Background: Many people who experience a disaster will do so as part of an occupational group, either by chance or due to the nature of their role. Sources of data: This review is based on literature published in scientific journals. Areas of agreement: There are many social and occupational factors, which affect post-disaster mental health. I...

Background: When organisations are exposed to traumatic situations, such as disasters, often staff are not prepared for the potential psychological impact which can negatively affect their wellbeing. Aims: To conduct a systematic review of the literature on psychological interventions aimed at improving staff wellbeing during or after disasters. Me...

As disasters become increasingly prevalent, and reported on, a wealth of literature on post-disaster mental health has been published. Most published evidence focuses on symptoms of mental health problems (such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety) and psychosocial factors increasing the risk of such symptoms. However, a recent...

Background: There is evidence that “Type II trauma” (TTT) - repeated exposure to traumatic events - can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). TTT frequently occurs in occupational groups working with children who are themselves victims of trauma. Aim: To conduct a systematic review identifying risk factors for/protective...

Mental health stigma and barriers to care (BTC) have been reported as impeding help-seeking among UK military personnel. A deeper understanding of the impact of stigma and BTC on help-seeking may be accessible via the perceptions of UK military health service providers. Secondary thematic analysis of interviews with 21 UK Army Welfare Officers and...

Background: The psychological impact of disasters has been well-documented; less attention has been paid to factors affecting the wellbeing of those exposed to disasters as occupational groups. Aims: To conduct a systematic literature review identifying social and occupational factors affecting the wellbeing of disaster-exposed employees; to use...

Background: Most military mental health research focuses on the impact of deployment-related stress; less is known about how everyday work-related factors affect wellbeing. Aims: This systematic narrative literature review aimed to identify non-deployment-related factors contributing to the wellbeing of military personnel. Method: Electronic litera...

Background: Cognitive-behavioural models of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) suggest that personality factors such as perfectionism and high moral standards may contribute to the development of CFS. Aims: To investigate cognitive, behavioural and emotional processing risk factors for CFS. Method: CFS patients (n = 67) at a UK specialist clinic c...

PurposePrevious research has mainly focused on veterans’ mental health problems, especially on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Less is known about the impact that the veteran’s experienced potentially traumatic events (PTEs) might have on their significant others. Therefore, we reviewed the scientific literature to find out what is known abou...

Objectives: The current paper aimed to explore doctor-patients' views about their treatment from the Practitioner Health Programme (PHP), a UK-based service treating health professionals with mental health/addiction problems. Aims were to gain insights into the issues most important to patients and consider whether a service specifically for doctor...

Background When disasters occur, there are many different occupational groups involved in rescue, recovery and support efforts. This study aimed to conduct a systematic literature review to identify social and occupational factors affecting the psychological impact of disasters on responders. Methods Four electronic literature databases (MEDLINE®,...

Background: When disasters occur, humanitarian relief workers frequently deploy to assist in rescue/recovery efforts. Aims: To conduct a systematic review of factors affecting the psychological wellbeing of disaster relief workers and identify recommendations for interventions. Method: We searched MEDLINE®, Embase, PsycINFO® and Web of Science...

Background: TRiM (Trauma Risk Management) has been shown to improve mental health and attitudes towards mental health in high-risk occupational groups; however, there has been no research into how TRiM might work for railway workers. Aims: To assess whether attending a TRiM training course alters mental health and attitudes to mental health-rela...

Most people will experience a traumatic event during their lives. However, not all will develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There have been recent changes in diagnostic criteria for PTSD and there are a number of treatment options available. This review is based on published literature in the field of PTSD, its management and the recentl...

Objective To explore the views of sick doctors on their experiences with the General Medical Council (GMC) and their perception of the impact of GMC involvement on return to work. Design Qualitative study. Setting UK. Participants Doctors who had been away from work for at least 6 months with physical or mental health problems, drug or alcohol prob...

Background: The Practitioner Health Programme (PHP) was developed to provide expert assessment and support to practitioners (doctors and dentists) with mental and physical health problems affecting their ability to work. Aims: This paper examines the treatment outcomes of the practitioner-patients utilising PHP. Method: We assessed outcomes on...

To explore the views of sick doctors on the obstacles preventing them returning to work. Qualitative study. Single participating centre recruiting doctors from all over the UK. Doctors who had been away from work for at least 6 months with physical or mental health problems, drug or alcohol problems, General Medical Council involvement or any combi...

In this paper we consider the role that acceptance plays in fatigue and physical and social functioning. We predicted that lack of acceptance would be positively correlated with fatigue and impairment in functioning; that there would be a significant relationship between perfectionism and acceptance; and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) would in...

Mental ill health is common among doctors. Fast, efficient diagnosis and treatment are needed as mentally ill doctors pose a safety risk to the public, yet they are often reluctant to seek help. To review literature regarding risk factors and potential barriers to help-seeking unique to doctors; to consider the success of interventions by specialis...

The Practitioner Health Programme (PHP) is a service set up to provide expert assessment and support to health professionals with mental and physical health problems affecting their ability to work. The aim of this article is to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of doctor-patients utilising PHP. We report on scores for the CORE-O...

This paper focusses on the discursive practices through which agency is constituted in accounts of disordered eating within a corpus of UK radio phone-ins and discussions recorded between 2004–2007. Data includes a range of participants with eating disorders as well as various professionals and radio hosts. The paper focusses on how accountability...