Ricarda Mewes
Biographic Data
| ID | 109490 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ricarda Mewes |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ricarda |
| FAMILY NAME | Mewes |
| SIGNATURE | MEWES R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Vienna |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4724-9597 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 17 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 5 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 17 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
‘It Simply Required Far Too Many Steps and Made You Feel You Were Just a Number’. Family Caregivers' Experiences With Assisted Suicide in Austria
INTRODUCTION: This study examines the lived experiences of family caregivers navigating the legal and emotional complexities of Austria's newly enacted Dying Decree Law. METHODS: A qualitative interview study was conducted with nine family caregivers (eight women) of people seeking assisted suicide (PSAS) in Austria. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling through multiple recruitment channels. Interviews were analysed using themat…
Trauma, post-migration stress, and mental health among forcibly displaced people in Germany
BACKGROUND: Forcibly displaced people represent a highly resilient population, but research has predominantly focused on risk factors that render them more vulnerable to mental health difficulties, such as traumatic experiences and post-migration stress. While previous studies have reported potential protective factors such as resilience and religiosity, little is known about their actual impact on risk factors. AIMS: This research examines the i…
Associations Between Reading About Enacted Stigma, State Anxiety, and State Depression in Gay Men and Lesbians
Previous research has found that enacted stigma is linked to mental health symptoms in sexual minority individuals. This project experimentally tests whether reading about enacted stigma is associated with state symptoms in gay men and lesbians. In Study 1, N = 420 gay men read about enacted physical and sexual stigma (EPSS) directed at gay men or a control text. In Study 2, N = 451 lesbians read about EPSS directed at lesbians, enacted verbal st…
Carrying what came after
This study uses baseline data from a registered randomized controlled trial (DRKS00021536)
Recent developments on psychological factors in medically unexplained symptoms and somatoform disorders
Somatic symptoms which are not fully explained by a medical condition (medically unexplained symptoms) have a high relevance for the public health. They are very common both in the general population and in patients in health care, and may develop into chronic impairing conditions such as somatoform disorders. In recent years, the relevance of specific negative psychological factors for the diagnosis and the stability of somatoform disorders and …
Psychobiological Mechanisms in Somatic Symptom Disorder and Depressive Disorders
OBJECTIVE: Persistent somatic symptoms cause strong impairment in persons with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and depressive disorders (DDs). Specific negative psychological factors (NPFs), such as catastrophizing, negative affectivity, and behavioral avoidance, are assumed to contribute to this impairment and may maintain symptoms via dysregulations of biological stress systems. We examined the associations between NPF and somatic symptoms in th…
Does childhood trauma impact daily psychobiological stress in somatic symptom disorder? An ambulatory assessment study
This study provides preliminary evidence for elevated daily stress and blunted sympathetic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in individuals with somatic symptom disorder and depressive disorders. Further studies will help to uncover the conditions under which these dysregulations develop into medically unexplained vs. depressive symptoms
Coping with Trauma and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Asylum-seekers are at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to frequent exposure to trauma. We investigated the coping intentions and lay beliefs about appropriate coping strategies among asylum-seekers from Sub-Saharan Africa in Germany. The study applied a methodological triangulation strategy with a vignette describing symptoms of PTSD. In a quantitative part, asylum-seekers (n = 119) that were predominantly from Er…
Relational Spirituality and Transgenerational Obligations
Context: Diasporic Cameroonians are increasingly leading a transnational life in which family members are sustained through networks of relations and obligations. However, before arriving in Europe, the vast majority of African migrants who take the Mediterranean route are exposed to trauma and hardship. Moreover, the joint occurrence of forced displacement, trauma, and extended separation from families has a significant impact on mental health. …
What Mediates the Relationship Between Ethnic Discrimination and Stress? Coping Strategies and Perceived Social Support of Russian Immigrants in Germany
The present study revealed that Russian immigrants encounter different forms of ethnic discrimination, and that this is associated with higher levels of stress. This association was partly explained by coping and social support, illustrating possibilities for interventions aimed at improving the use of adaptive coping strategies and promoting social support-seeking for Russian immigrants
Why is this happening to me? – a comparison of illness representations between Iranian and German people with mental illness
The current paper contributes to a deeper understanding of cross-cultural differences in illness representations regarding mental disorders. Nevertheless, further research is needed to confirm current findings and to further elaborate on the relationships found
Cross-cultural validation of the German and Turkish versions of the PHQ-9
PHQ-9 sum scores can be compared between Turkish immigrants and Germans without a migration background without any adjustments, regardless of whether they complete the German or the Turkish version
It's That Route That Makes Us Sick”
Many asylum seekers have been confronted with traumatizing events, leading to high prevalence rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Within the diagnostic context, clinicians should take into account patients' culturally shaped presentation of symptoms. Therefore, we sought to provide insights into beliefs about causes of PTSD held by Sub-Saharan African asylum seekers living in Germany. To this aim, we used a quantitative and qualitativ…
Screening for DSM-5 Somatic Symptom Disorder
OBJECTIVE: The new DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder was introduced to improve the diagnosis of persons experiencing what used to be called somatoform disorders. So far, it is unclear whether existing self-report measures are useful to detect the new somatic symptom disorder. This study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of three self-report questionnaires that measure somatic complaints (15 item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-15]) and psycholo…
Motivation for Psychotherapy and Illness Beliefs in Turkish Immigrant Inpatients in Germany
Evaluating New Proposals for the Psychiatric Classification of Patients With Multiple Somatic Symptoms
OBJECTIVES: The current DSM-IV classification of somatoform disorders has been criticized, and several new proposals for classification have been suggested (e.g., DSM-V work group: complex somatic symptom disorder [CSSD]). Our aim was to empirically validate and compare new proposals for the classification of people with multiple somatic complaints. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-one participants were selected from a general population sample of m…
Are Psychological Features Useful in Classifying Patients With Somatic Symptoms
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate psychological characteristics that could be used for the classification of somatic syndromes requesting medical care. Positive psychological classification criteria are needed to justify the classification of somatic syndromes as Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- or International Classification of Diseases-10 section F/mental disorders diagnosis. METHODS: From a population-based sample of 2510 people, s…
Motivation for Psychotherapy and Illness Beliefs in Turkish Immigrant Inpatients in Germany
What Mediates the Relationship Between Ethnic Discrimination and Stress? Coping Strategies and Perceived Social Support of Russian Immigrants in Germany
The present study revealed that Russian immigrants encounter different forms of ethnic discrimination, and that this is associated with higher levels of stress. This association was partly explained by coping and social support, illustrating possibilities for interventions aimed at improving the use of adaptive coping strategies and promoting social support-seeking for Russian immigrants
Are Psychological Features Useful in Classifying Patients With Somatic Symptoms
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate psychological characteristics that could be used for the classification of somatic syndromes requesting medical care. Positive psychological classification criteria are needed to justify the classification of somatic syndromes as Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- or International Classification of Diseases-10 section F/mental disorders diagnosis. METHODS: From a population-based sample of 2510 people, s…
Evaluating New Proposals for the Psychiatric Classification of Patients With Multiple Somatic Symptoms
OBJECTIVES: The current DSM-IV classification of somatoform disorders has been criticized, and several new proposals for classification have been suggested (e.g., DSM-V work group: complex somatic symptom disorder [CSSD]). Our aim was to empirically validate and compare new proposals for the classification of people with multiple somatic complaints. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-one participants were selected from a general population sample of m…
Motivation for Psychotherapy and Illness Beliefs in Turkish Immigrant Inpatients in Germany
Screening for DSM-5 Somatic Symptom Disorder
OBJECTIVE: The new DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder was introduced to improve the diagnosis of persons experiencing what used to be called somatoform disorders. So far, it is unclear whether existing self-report measures are useful to detect the new somatic symptom disorder. This study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of three self-report questionnaires that measure somatic complaints (15 item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-15]) and psycholo…
Why is this happening to me? – a comparison of illness representations between Iranian and German people with mental illness
The current paper contributes to a deeper understanding of cross-cultural differences in illness representations regarding mental disorders. Nevertheless, further research is needed to confirm current findings and to further elaborate on the relationships found
Cross-cultural validation of the German and Turkish versions of the PHQ-9
PHQ-9 sum scores can be compared between Turkish immigrants and Germans without a migration background without any adjustments, regardless of whether they complete the German or the Turkish version
It's That Route That Makes Us Sick”
Many asylum seekers have been confronted with traumatizing events, leading to high prevalence rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Within the diagnostic context, clinicians should take into account patients' culturally shaped presentation of symptoms. Therefore, we sought to provide insights into beliefs about causes of PTSD held by Sub-Saharan African asylum seekers living in Germany. To this aim, we used a quantitative and qualitativ…
What Mediates the Relationship Between Ethnic Discrimination and Stress? Coping Strategies and Perceived Social Support of Russian Immigrants in Germany
The present study revealed that Russian immigrants encounter different forms of ethnic discrimination, and that this is associated with higher levels of stress. This association was partly explained by coping and social support, illustrating possibilities for interventions aimed at improving the use of adaptive coping strategies and promoting social support-seeking for Russian immigrants
Relational Spirituality and Transgenerational Obligations
Context: Diasporic Cameroonians are increasingly leading a transnational life in which family members are sustained through networks of relations and obligations. However, before arriving in Europe, the vast majority of African migrants who take the Mediterranean route are exposed to trauma and hardship. Moreover, the joint occurrence of forced displacement, trauma, and extended separation from families has a significant impact on mental health. …
Recent developments on psychological factors in medically unexplained symptoms and somatoform disorders
Somatic symptoms which are not fully explained by a medical condition (medically unexplained symptoms) have a high relevance for the public health. They are very common both in the general population and in patients in health care, and may develop into chronic impairing conditions such as somatoform disorders. In recent years, the relevance of specific negative psychological factors for the diagnosis and the stability of somatoform disorders and …
Psychobiological Mechanisms in Somatic Symptom Disorder and Depressive Disorders
OBJECTIVE: Persistent somatic symptoms cause strong impairment in persons with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and depressive disorders (DDs). Specific negative psychological factors (NPFs), such as catastrophizing, negative affectivity, and behavioral avoidance, are assumed to contribute to this impairment and may maintain symptoms via dysregulations of biological stress systems. We examined the associations between NPF and somatic symptoms in th…
Does childhood trauma impact daily psychobiological stress in somatic symptom disorder? An ambulatory assessment study
This study provides preliminary evidence for elevated daily stress and blunted sympathetic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in individuals with somatic symptom disorder and depressive disorders. Further studies will help to uncover the conditions under which these dysregulations develop into medically unexplained vs. depressive symptoms
Coping with Trauma and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Asylum-seekers are at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to frequent exposure to trauma. We investigated the coping intentions and lay beliefs about appropriate coping strategies among asylum-seekers from Sub-Saharan Africa in Germany. The study applied a methodological triangulation strategy with a vignette describing symptoms of PTSD. In a quantitative part, asylum-seekers (n = 119) that were predominantly from Er…
Associations Between Reading About Enacted Stigma, State Anxiety, and State Depression in Gay Men and Lesbians
Previous research has found that enacted stigma is linked to mental health symptoms in sexual minority individuals. This project experimentally tests whether reading about enacted stigma is associated with state symptoms in gay men and lesbians. In Study 1, N = 420 gay men read about enacted physical and sexual stigma (EPSS) directed at gay men or a control text. In Study 2, N = 451 lesbians read about EPSS directed at lesbians, enacted verbal st…
Carrying what came after
This study uses baseline data from a registered randomized controlled trial (DRKS00021536)
‘It Simply Required Far Too Many Steps and Made You Feel You Were Just a Number’. Family Caregivers' Experiences With Assisted Suicide in Austria
INTRODUCTION: This study examines the lived experiences of family caregivers navigating the legal and emotional complexities of Austria's newly enacted Dying Decree Law. METHODS: A qualitative interview study was conducted with nine family caregivers (eight women) of people seeking assisted suicide (PSAS) in Austria. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling through multiple recruitment channels. Interviews were analysed using themat…
Trauma, post-migration stress, and mental health among forcibly displaced people in Germany
BACKGROUND: Forcibly displaced people represent a highly resilient population, but research has predominantly focused on risk factors that render them more vulnerable to mental health difficulties, such as traumatic experiences and post-migration stress. While previous studies have reported potential protective factors such as resilience and religiosity, little is known about their actual impact on risk factors. AIMS: This research examines the i…
Clinical Psychology (13 works) · Psychology (13 works) · Psychiatry (12 works) · Medicine (9 works) · Clinical Psychology (8 works) · Migration, Health and Trauma (8 works) · Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments (7 works) · Mental health (6 works) · Population (6 works) · Social Psychology (6 works)