Pharmacy Focus Issue 9 - 2022

Introduction

Food and mood: What’s the connection?

While we know that how we feel goes hand-in-hand with what we choose to eat, (think of that ice-cream you reached for when you were feeling sad), have you ever wondered if it works the other way around? A relatively new, but interesting area of research has discovered that this channel is, in fact, bi-directional and is known as the “gut-brain axis”.

Emotional disorders due to our current reality

Our current global situation with novel experiences is discussed with the association of depression, anxiety and other psychiatric manifestations. Burnout, in terms of the employment and work-related environment is explored. The ramifications of the Russian-Ukrainian War, fuel and economic crises are addressed in terms of the psychiatric sequelae. The mental health aftermath of Covid-19, with its impact on patients and health care workers, is analysed.

Emotional disorders that severely affect the GIT

Hardly a year has passed from one of the most devastating pandemics we have experienced in the modern world. While it came with devastation, we also realised our inner strength and resilience. No doubt, our emotions were stretched to their maximum. One of the highlights that emerged out of the Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of mental health issues. Many people, faced with the prospect of lockdown, had no choice but to confront the state of their emotional lives. This article highlights the important role that emotions play in regulating our gut health, as well as the role that stress plays in initiating and triggering bowel diseases.