Body, Mind & Spirit Articles and Latest News

Related Articles

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Basic Documentation for Psycho-Oncology, a tool for standardized assessment of cancer patients.

J Psychosom Res. 2008 Apr;64(4):373-81

Authors: Knight L, Mussell M, Brandl T, Herschbach P, Marten-Mittag B, Treiber M, Keller M

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the Basic Documentation for Psycho-Oncology (PO-Bado), an expert rating scale designed for the comprehensive assessment of psychosocial and physical distress in cancer patients. While there are many self-report measures (usually used for screening purposes), the PO-Bado is the first standardized clinician-administered instrument to guide professionals in a focused and structured psycho-oncological assessment. METHODS: The validation procedure was performed in 596 patients from different settings of cancer care, including all cancer sites and stages of the disease. The psychometric evaluation included (a) determination of the factorial structure, (b) homogeneity of scales and interrater reliability, (c) convergent and discriminant validities, and (d) examination of sensitivity to change. RESULTS: The final version of the PO-Bado includes two scales: the physical distress scale (four items) and the psychological distress scale (eight items). A manual and an interview guideline were developed alongside. The psychometric properties suggest that the PO-Bado is a reliable and valid tool used to assess and to differentiate the distress of patients with cancer, as well as treatment-related changes in distress. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the PO-Bado is a useful tool that is applicable in different oncology settings. It complements self-report measures and provides a structured format for focused psycho-oncological assessment and intervention. The two-dimensional structure allows differentiation between physical and psychological problems, assisting professionals in their diagnostic efforts and in providing appropriate support or treatment. When used consistently across professions and settings, the PO-Bado can form the basis for audit and interdisciplinary communication.

PMID: 18374736 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

The older population is growing rapidly, and the aging of the “baby boomers,” born between 1946 and 1964 (and who begin turning age 65 in 2011), will accelerate this growth. Healthy Aging Month was designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older. Many older Americans use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to improve their health and maintain wellness. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) conducts and supports research on many conditions associated with aging and provides information on how to be an informed consumer.

[Read more →]

The older population is growing rapidly, and the aging of the “baby boomers,” born between 1946 and 1964 (and who begin turning age 65 in 2011), will accelerate this growth. Healthy Aging Month was designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older. Many older Americans use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to improve their health and maintain wellness. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) conducts and supports research on many conditions associated with aging and provides information on how to be an informed consumer.

[Read more →]

The FDA has lifted its advice to consumers to avoid eating jalapeno and Serrano peppers grown, harvested or packed in Mexico.

[Read more →]

In early 2007, FDA became aware of reports of elevated lead levels in certain vitamins, which became an issue of concern to FDA, Congress, and the public. This survey was conducted to determine the content of lead (Pb) in vitamins labeled for women and children.

[Read more →]

Related Articles

Genetic analysis of MAPT haplotype diversity in frontotemporal dementia.

Neurobiol Aging. 2008 Aug;29(8):1276-8

Authors: Laws SM, Friedrich P, Diehl-Schmid J, Müller J, Ibach B, Bäuml J, Eisele T, Förstl H, Kurz A, Riemenschneider M

The H1 haplotype of the tau gene, MAPT, has been linked to the sporadic tauopathies corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy; however, there have been inconsistent findings regarding association with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We investigated MAPT haplotype diversity, in 171 sporadic FTD and 186 healthy controls individuals, and report no single marker or haplotype association with increased risk or changes in age at onset. These findings do not support an association of MAPT with FTD but do not rule out its association with other tauopathies.

PMID: 17386961 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Related Articles

Frequency and effects of psychosocial interventions additional to olanzapine treatment in routine care of schizophrenic patients.

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2008 May;43(5):373-9

Authors: Linden M, Pyrkosch L, Hundemer HP

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia recommend the combination of pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions. There is a lack of data on the utilization and effects of psychosocial interventions additional to neuroleptic treatment in routine care of schizophrenic patients. METHOD: In a drug utilization study 495 psychiatrists documented patient and disease characteristics of 1,711 schizophrenic outpatients treated with olanzapine. Data were recorded at five visits during an observation period of 6 months. RESULTS: Psychosocial interventions were reported in 30% of all patients. Compared to patients who were treated with olanzapine alone (nPSI), patients receiving psychosocial interventions (PSI) were more likely to be unmarried and unemployed, and showed significantly higher impairment on relevant psychopathological and psychosocial parameters (e.g. PANSS, GAF, LQLP). After 6 months of treatment with olanzapine patients improved significantly in respect to their schizophrenic symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life. Patients receiving psychoeducation showed a higher degree of improvement than the other patients. They were more ill at the beginning of the study, but less ill at the end of the study. Patients receiving psychoeducation showed a trend to better medication compliance. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that psychosocial interventions are a frequently used mode of treatment especially for severe cases of schizophrenia Psychoeducation appears to be especially effective for this patient group with a positive impact not only on psychosocial but also on psychopathological criteria of outcome.

PMID: 18264806 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Related Articles

Crisis homes for adult psychiatric patients.

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2008 May;43(5):403-9

Authors: Aagaard J, Freiesleben M, Foldager L

INTRODUCTION: Inspired by the Crisis Home programme in Madison, we have adapted and evaluated the programme at the Community Mental Health (CMH) Centre in Tønder, Denmark. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Procedures and schedules from the Crisis Home programme were applied in this open trial. Questionnaire data concerning satisfaction with the stay and registration data concerning the admissions and bed days two years before and two years after the first stay were obtained. RESULTS: During four years, 52 different patients had a total of 187 stays in a crisis home. Twenty (38.5%) of the patients were attached to the ACT team. The average duration of the stays was 4.0 days. The number of readmissions and bed days after the first stay showed a significant downward tendency for the subgroup of patients with a more severe mental disorder, but not for the whole group. The patients, the crisis homes families and the referrers were very satisfied with the programme and the treatment. CONCLUSION: Crisis home stays represent a quality improvement in the treatment package, especially for patients with a more severe mental disorder. Further documentation will require a controlled study.

PMID: 18273531 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Related Articles

Impact of music on pediatric oncology outpatients.

Pediatr Res. 2008 Jul;64(1):105-9

Authors: Kemper KJ, Hamilton CA, McLean TW, Lovato J

Music is widely used to enhance well-being. We wished to assess music’s effect on pediatric oncology outpatients. Patients who had leukemia and were in maintenance or consolidation outpatient treatment served as their own control at two visits. At visit 1, children rested for 20 min; at visit 2, for 20 min they listened to music designed to increase vitality and improve heart rate variability (HRV). At both visits, parents completed before and after treatment visual analog scales (VAS) of their child’s relaxation, well-being, vitality, anxiety, stress, and depression; patients’ heart rates were monitored during treatments to calculate HRV. The 47 patients with complete VAS data and 34 patients with usable HRV data were similar. At baseline, VAS scores for negative states were low (average <2.5 of 10) and positive states were high (average 7> of 10). Relaxation improved more with music than rest (p < 0.01). The HRV parasympathetic parameter was significantly lower with music than rest. No other differences were significant. Further studies are needed to better delineate the relationship between subjective and objective measures of well-being among patients who are not in severe distress.

PMID: 18391850 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Related Articles

A pilot study of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme evaluated by four adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Occup Ther Int. 2008;15(2):114-32

Authors: Norweg A, Bose P, Snow G, Berkowitz ME

The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyse participants’ perceptions of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme, which combined occupational therapy with physical therapy. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from four adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who attended an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme in New York City. Features of the occupational therapy programme reported to be valuable were biofeedback and clinician support. Participants reported more control of dyspnoea, improved mental health and confidence in performing daily activities, less fatigue, more physically active lifestyles and hope for the future. Limitations of the study were that participants were interviewed only once and themes were not verified with participants. The study results also cannot be generalized. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy in promoting self-management and coping skills and restoring occupational performance in adults with COPD. Participants’ responses provide additional support for developing cognitive-behavioural protocols in occupational therapy and measuring their effectiveness in relieving anxiety symptoms and promoting dyspnoea management.

PMID: 18465754 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]