Body, Mind & Spirit Articles and Latest News

Forgive and let live.

Newsweek. 2004 Sep 27;144(13):52

Authors: Lewis J, Adler J

PMID: 18441636 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Randomized and Non-randomized Prospective Controlled Cohort Studies in Matched Pair Design for the Long-term Therapy of Corpus uteri Cancer Patients with a Mistletoe Preparation (Iscador).

Eur J Med Res. 2008 Mar 31;13(3):107-20

Authors: Grossarth-Maticek R, Ziegler R

Background: Mistletoe preparations such as Iscador are in common use as complementary/anthropo?sophic medications for many cancer indications, particularly for solid cancers. Efficacy of this complementary therapy is still discussed controversially. - Objective: Does the long-term therapy with Iscador show any effect on survival or psychosomatic self-regulation of patients with corpus uteri cancer? - Patients and Methods: Prospective recruitment and long-term follow-up in the following 4 controlled cohort studies. (1) Two randomized matched-pairs studies: corpus uteri cancer patients without (30 pairs) and with distant metastases (26 pairs) that never used any kind of mistletoe therapy were matched for prognostic factors. By pairwise random allocation, one of the patients was suggested mistletoe therapy to be applied by the attending physician. (2) Two non-randomized matched-pairs studies: corpus uteri cancer patients without (103 pairs) and with distant metastases (95 pairs) that already received mistletoe (Iscador) therapy were matched by the same criteria to control patients without Iscador therapy. - Results: Concerning overall survival in the randomized studies, a significant effect in favour of Iscador therapy was present only in the first study, the second showed no evidence for an effect: estimate of the hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval: 0.36 (0.16, 0.82) and 1.00 (0.46, 2.16) respectively. In the non-randomized studies, the results that adjusted for relevant prognostic variables were: 0.41 (0.26, 0.63), and 0.61 (0.39, 0.93). The effect of therapy with Iscador within 12 months on psychosomatic self-regulation as a measure of autonomous coping with the disease shows a significant rise in the Iscador group against the control group in the randomized as well as in the non-randomized study on patients with corpus uteri cancer without metastases: estimate of the median difference and 95% confidence interval: 0.40 (0.15, 0.70) and 0.70 (0.25, 1.15) respectively. - Conclusion: The mistletoe preparation Iscador in these studies has the effect of prolonging overall survival of corpus uteri cancer patients. Psychosomatic self-regulation as a measure of autonomous coping with the disease, rises significantly more under Iscador therapy than under conventional therapy alone.

PMID: 18499556 [PubMed - in process]

[Read more →]

[Hypnosis for rehabilitation of immunological status in neoplasia]

Vopr Onkol. 2007;53(6):699-703

Authors: Bukhtoiarov OV, Kozhevnikov VS, Samarin DM, Solov’ëva IG, Pronkina NV, Shishikova IV, Kozlov VA

The study group included 21 patients with malignant melanoma stage II-IV, aged 25-67, and 25 patients, aged 28-68, (control) with stomach tumors stage I-IV. All patients received individually-tailored hypnosis. Our newly-developed methods used batteries of suggestive images to deal with non-psychotic disorders and to map out strategies to support immunocompromised patients. In group 1, suggestion stimulated the “devouring” effect of the “patroling” cells. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of immunocompetent cells of peripheral blood were assessed by flow cytometry, immuno-enzymatic analysis and other procedures to evaluate immunological status. Correlation analysis of data on group 1 identified 7 negative coefficients (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) exactly in the monocytic macrophageal link thus suggesting the modulating effect of hypnosis. Our results support evidence available on the potential of hypnosis for cancer patient immunity and point for the first time to feasibility of differentiated targeting specific links of the immune system.

PMID: 18416141 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

[Pathological gambling: review of the recent research trends]

Psychiatr Hung. 2007;22(5):344-65

Authors: Körmendi A, Kuritárné IS

The aim of this paper is to reduce a significant gap in the gambling literature in Hungary by presenting existing models and available treatments. Although theoretical models of pathological gambling all have strengths and weaknesses, they do provide valuable insights into the development of pathological gambling. Evidence now exist that psychological, biological and social factors are all relevant in pathological gambling but as yet a comprehensive theoretical model that could adequately account for the complex interaction of the factors has to be developed. Some methodological problems in the area of research are highlighted, and suggestions for future research are included. It is hoped this paper will stimulate future research work in this field and support the work of clinical psychologists.

PMID: 18421097 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Altered states.

Newsweek. 2004 Sep 27;144(13):76-7

Authors: Noonan D

PMID: 18441646 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Alexithymia and cognitive behaviour therapy outcome for subthreshold depression.

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2008 May 22;

Authors: Spek V, Nyklí&#x10D;ek I, Cuijpers P, Pop V

Objective: Alexithymia is hypothesized to be a stable trait that hinders favourable outcomes of psychotherapy. We tested two hypotheses: i) alexithymia is not stable but changes along with a change in depressive symptoms and ii) pretreatment alexithymia hinders gaining benefits from psychotherapy. Method: A total of 201 participants (mean age = 54 years, SD = 4.4) with subthreshold depression were treated with cognitive behaviour therapy. Outcome was defined as the change in depressive symptoms from pretreatment to post-treatment and to 1-year follow-up. Results: Changes in depressive symptoms were significantly correlated with changes in alexithymia. Baseline alexithymia scores were not correlated with treatment outcome. Conclusion: Alexithymia is less stable than hypothesized: changes in alexithymia were associated with change in depressive symptoms. Furthermore, alexithymia does not hinder cognitive behaviour therapy outcome.

PMID: 18498434 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Read more →]

Two studies on suicidality in the postpartum.

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2008 May 22;

Authors: Pinheiro RT, da Silva RA, Magalhães PV, Horta BL, Pinheiro KA

Objective: Research in the prevalence of and risk factors for suicidality in the postpartum is extremely limited. We present here data on the prevalence of and factors associated with suicidality from two postpartum samples. Method: The first sample (SC) comprised 317 women consecutively screened for a trial of psychotherapy for postpartum depression. The second sample was a population-based (PB) sample of 386 women. We used the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to assess suicidality in the SC sample and the self-harm question of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI9) in the PB sample. Results: According to the MINI and the BDI9, prevalence of high suicide risk was 5.7% and 11.1%, respectively, in the SC sample. Previous suicide attempts and a positive BDI were retained as predictors of suicidality. The BDI9 indicated suicidality in 8.3% of the 386 women in the PB sample; a positive BDI was retained in the multivariate analysis as a risk of suicidality. Conclusion: Clinicians should enquire vigorously about suicidality in women presenting with depressive symptoms or previous suicide attempts in the postpartum.

PMID: 18498435 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Read more →]

Related Articles

Worry, generalized anxiety disorder, and emotion: Evidence from the EEG gamma band.

Biol Psychol. 2008 Apr 15;

Authors: Oathes DJ, Ray WJ, Yamasaki AS, Borkovec TD, Castonguay LG, Newman MG

The present study examined EEG gamma (35-70Hz) spectral power distributions during worry inductions in participants suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and in control participants without a history of psychiatric illness. As hypothesized, the EEG gamma band was useful for differentiating worry from baseline and relaxation. During worry induction, GAD patients showed higher levels of gamma activity than control participants in posterior electrode sites that have been previously associated with negative emotion. Gamma fluctuations in these electrode sites were correlated with subjective emotional experience ratings lending additional support to interpretations of negative affect. Following 14 weeks of psychotherapy, the GAD group reported less negative affect with worry inductions and the corresponding gamma sites that previously differentiated the clinical from control groups changed for the GAD patients in the direction of control participants. These findings suggest converging evidence that patients suffering from GAD experience more negative emotion during worry and that the EEG gamma band is useful for monitoring fluctuations in pathological worry expected to follow successful treatment.

PMID: 18499328 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Read more →]

[Eating disorders in the physician’s office–the first interview may be decisive]

MMW Fortschr Med. 2005 Feb 17;147(7):44-5, 47

Authors: Wunderer E, Schnebel A, Müller E, Pecho E

Physicians are not infrequently the first to be confronted by patients with eating disorders. This means that the doctor has a decisive role in motivating the patient to take further steps to deal with the problem. In order to avoid provoking resistance and termination of the physician-patient relationship, a number of pitfalls during the consultation–for example, a power struggle with the patient, or an alliance with the attachment figure–must be avoided. Since eating disorders are serious psychosomatic illnesses that often have a strong tendency to become chronic, further professional aid is usually indispensable. Here, the internet and advice centers offer a low-threshold entry, and as a next step up, may be followed by inpatient or partially inpatient (e.g. intensive therapeutic live-in groups) measures. Directly following such measures, outpatient treatment makes good sense.

PMID: 18441583 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Related Articles

Training faculty to facilitate communication skills training: development and evaluation of a workshop.

Patient Educ Couns. 2008 Mar;70(3):430-6

Authors: Bylund CL, Brown RF, di Ciccone BL, Levin TT, Gueguen JA, Hill C, Kissane DW

OBJECTIVE: To develop a workshop for training faculty to facilitate small group role play sessions for a communication skills training program and assess the impact of that workshop on the trainees’ self-efficacy about facilitation skills. METHODS: A multi-specialty group of 33 attending physicians at a Comprehensive Cancer Center were trained in a Facilitating Communication Skills Training workshop in order to prepare them to facilitate small group role play with fellows and residents. The workshop curriculum was based on theory and literature on teaching communication skills. RESULTS: The workshop had a significant effect on participants’ self-efficacy in facilitating communication skills training. At least 75% of participants reported feeling comfortable facilitating communication skills training small groups. CONCLUSION: This facilitation workshop was successful in providing participants with confidence to successfully facilitate small group role play sessions in communication skills training. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: In order to evaluate the effectiveness of communication skills training programs, it is important to have trained facilitators who adhere to a set of facilitation guidelines. Workshops on facilitation skills provide the background and practice time necessary as a first step in the training process.

PMID: 18201858 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]