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Problem-solving therapy for psychological distress in Japanese cancer patients: preliminary clinical experience from psychiatric consultations.

Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2008 Dec;38(12):867-70

Authors: Akechi T, Hirai K, Motooka H, Shiozaki M, Chen J, Momino K, Okuyama T, Furukawa TA

Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a brief, structured psychological treatment. Preliminary clinical findings regarding the effectiveness of PST for treating psychological distress experienced by Japanese cancer patients are presented. Our actual clinical experience in administering PST to four consecutive distressed cancer patients was reviewed. All of the patients were breast cancer survivors who were referred to us after undergoing surgery. Three cases received six PST sessions each and one case received three PST sessions. The depression and anxiety scores decreased after PST. Our preliminary experience suggests that PST is an effective treatment for alleviating psychological distress in Japanese cancer patients and that this treatment should be further examined in a clinical trial.

PMID: 19008215 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Successful treatment of head shaking by use of infrared diode laser deflation and coagulation of corpora nigra cysts and behavioral modification in a horse.

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2008 Nov 15;233(10):1610-2

Authors: Berger JM, Bell SA, Holmberg BJ, Madigan JE

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 15-year-old Saddlebred gelding used for competitive pleasure driving had a 1-year history of head shaking while pulling a cart. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The horse had cystic corpora nigra in both eyes and concomitant classic and operant conditioned responses to wearing a bridle with bilateral eye covers (blinkers). TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Deflation and coagulation of the cysts with an infrared diode laser and behavior modification consisting of desensitization and counter-conditioning were used to successfully restore performance. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Behavioral changes in horses can result from a combination of physical and psychologic causes. A combination of appropriate medical treatment of physical abnormalities and a behavioral modification plan is necessary to successfully treat behavioral problems in these patients.

PMID: 19014298 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Croatian psychodermatology on international erudition september 25-28, 2008, zagreb, croatia.

Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2008;16(4):243

Authors: Vurnek M, Situm M

The 2nd Croatian Congress of Psychodermatology with International Participation was held in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, organized by University Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital, under the auspices of the Croatian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Croatian Dermatovenereological Society of the Croatian Medical Association and European Society of Dermatology and Psychiatry. The Congress was dedicated to and promoted the interdisciplinary approach in psychodermatology. Psychodermatology is focused on the boundary between dermatology, psychology and psychiatry. There are three main categories of psychodermatological disorders. Psychophysiological disorders are skin conditions that can be triggered or exacerbated by emotional states such as stress. Primary psychiatric disorders include psychiatric conditions that result in self-induced cutaneous manifestations such as trichotillomania and delusion of parasitosis. Secondary psychological or psychiatric problems are associated with disfiguring skin disorders. Disfigurement results in psychological problems such as decreased self-esteem, depression or social phobia. This Congress emphasized the importance of collaborative team approach of experts in different fields in recognizing and helping patients with skin diseases. The program of the Congress was divided into eight main sessions: Psychodermatology, Psychoneuroimmunology in dermatology, Research in dermatology, Imperative of beauty, Psychotropic drugs and psychotherapy in dermatology, Psychological aspects of dermatological disorders, Psychological aspects of STDs, and Cutaneous associations of psychiatric disorders and self-inflicted dermatoses. The Congress gathered many experts in the field of psychodermatology from Croatia and abroad. We were happy to welcome dermatologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, general practitioners, immunologists and school medicine experts. There were around 150 participants from nine European countries, including many leading scientists in the field. Dennis Linder from Italy, Secretary General of the European Society of Dermatology and Psychiatry, discussed the importance of research in psychodermatology and its influence on clinical work. Professor John Weinman, psychologist from St. Thomas and Guy’s Hospital in London, gave an outstanding lecture about the influence of psychological stress on the process of wound healing. Professor Linda Papadopuolos, health psychologist from London Metropolitan University, talked about the maladaptive schemes in dermatology patients and discussed the possible therapy options. Our guest from Poland, Professor Jacek Szepietowski gave two interesting lectures: one on the role of neuropeptides in psoriatic pruritus and the other on the importance of the quality of life in dermatologic patients. It is also important to mention some of the Croatian presenters with outstanding lectures: Professor Danijel Buljan, psychiatrist, gave a very interesting and systematic overview of the use of psychotropic drugs in dermatology, and there was an extremely successful session on cutaneous associations of psychiatric disorders moderated by our colleagues Professors Aleksandra Basta-Juzbasić and Mihael Skerlev from University Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Zagreb University Hospital Center. There were also many colleagues from Rijeka University Hospital Center and Osijek University Hospital, and we appreciate their great contribution to our Congress. Especially interesting and lively was the Balint Group Workshop moderated by Dr. Vedran Bilić. Eight interesting posters were presented in Poster Section. This Congress was enriched by another important event; opening ceremony was followed by promotion of the university textbook entitled Psychodermatology (Psihodermatologija), by Danijel Buljan, Mirna Situm, Marija Buljan and Maja Vurnek-Zivković. The textbook was presented by Professor Franjo Gruber and Asst. Professor Krunoslav Matesić as reviewers. This textbook is as important as the Congress for the development of the field of psychodermatology, and we hope that it will encourage many other colleagues to enter this interesting and important new field.

PMID: 19111152 [PubMed - in process]

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Psychoeducation with patients at-risk for schizophrenia-An exploratory pilot study.

Patient Educ Couns. 2008 Dec 24;

Authors: Hauser M, Lautenschlager M, Gudlowski Y, Ozgürdal S, Witthaus H, Bechdolf A, Bäuml J, Heinz A, Juckel G

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a psychoeducational program for patients of at-risk mental state and its preliminary evaluation. METHODS: The psychoeducational program was designed as a purely informative intervention and consisted of seven 1-h sessions. Sixteen at-risk mental state patients (mean age 26+/-4.9 years, 12 males/4 females, mean score on prodromal psychopathology (Bonn Scale for Assessment of predictive Basis Symptoms [BSABS-P] 18.6+/-13.3) were investigated. RESULTS: Comparisons of means before and after psychoeducation showed a significant reduction in psychopathology and fatalistic LoC as well as an improvement in knowledge, global functioning and various areas of QoL. A qualitative evaluation of the psychoeducational program also showed advantages from patients’ perspectives. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides empirical evidence for benefits of psychoeducation with patients of at-risk mental state for schizophrenia but is exploratory and has some limitations, e.g. the small sample size. Therefore the results have to be replicated in a randomized controlled trial in order to be able to demonstrate conclusively the effectiveness of psychoeducation in the pre-psychotic phase. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Results from this preliminary study suggest that psychoeducation is a promising intervention for patients of at-risk mental state for schizophrenia, and therefore worthy of more investigations.

PMID: 19111429 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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[Quality improvement of multiple choice examinations : In psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, psychotherapy, and neurology.]

Nervenarzt. 2008 Dec 24;

Authors: Weih M, Harms D, Rauch C, Segarra L, Reulbach U, Degirmenci U, de Zwaan M, Schwab S, Kornhuber J

We describe a continuous improvement process in planning, performance, and evaluation of multiple choice examination questions in psychiatry, neurology, psychosomatic medicine, and psychotherapy. We analyzed 640 multiple choice questions of 1,419 students during a period of 4 years. Crucial changes concerned the abolishment of problematic question types, implementation of validated new question formats, extension of case-based questions, elongation of question stems, quantitive evaluation of item difficulty, discriminatory value, and the introduction of a peer review system. Consequences of these improvements were greater item difficulty (average 18%) and discriminatory value (average 67%) and reduced post hoc analysis times. Introduction of peer reviews resulted in longer preparation time, which was however appreciated by the peers due to a clear improvement in item quality.

PMID: 19104765 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Cognitive-affective correlates and predictors of superficial dyspareunia.

J Sex Marital Ther. 2009;35(1):1-24

Authors: Brauer M, ter Kuile MM, Laan E, Trimbos B

This study investigated the role of cognitive-affective variables related to sexuality, chronic pain, individual and relational well-being in superficial dyspareunia. Although symptomatic women (n = 80) differed from complaint-free controls (n = 62) on all variables, sexuality related measures had the most important contribution into the prediction of group membership. Dyspareunia subgroups based on the presence/absence of a concomitant diagnosis of provoked vestibulodynia were only distinguishable on pain intensity but not on variables related to sexuality and psychological well-being. The present findings underscore the relevance of psychosexual factors in women with superficial dyspareunia.

PMID: 19105077 [PubMed - in process]

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One-week Short-Term Life Review interview can improve spiritual well-being of terminally ill cancer patients.

Psychooncology. 2008 Sep;17(9):885-90

Authors: Ando M, Morita T, Okamoto T, Ninosaka Y

PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the Short-Term Life Review on the spiritual well-being, as well as anxiety, depression, suffering, and happiness of terminally ill cancer patients. METHOD: Thirty patients reviewed their lives in the first session and they confirmed the contents in the album based on the life review in the second session. Duration of the treatment was one week. Measurement instruments included Functional Assessment Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual (FACIT-Sp), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Numeric Rating Scales of Suffering (from 0 to 6) and Happiness (from 1 to 7). RESULTS: After the therapy, the mean FACIT-Sp scores increased from 16+/-8.2 to 24+/-7.1, anxiety score significantly decreased from 6.8+/-4.7 to 3.0+/-2.2, depression score significantly decreased from 10.2+/-4.7 to 6.6+/-4.1, suffering score significantly decreased from 3.4+/-1.9 to 1.8+/-1.4, and happiness score significantly increased from 4.6+/-1.9 to 5.6+/-1.6. Total HADS scores significantly decreased from 17+/-8.6 to 9.5+/-5.4. CONCLUSION: The Short-Term Life Review is feasible and may be effective in improving the spiritual and psychosocial well-being of terminally ill cancer patients.

PMID: 18050243 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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The effect of group cohesion on rehabilitation outcome in cancer survivors.

Psychooncology. 2008 Sep;17(9):917-25

Authors: May AM, Duivenvoorden HJ, Korstjens I, van Weert E, Hoekstra-Weebers JE, van den Borne B, Mesters I, van der Schans CP, Ros WJ

OBJECTIVE: Group-based physical training interventions have been shown to be effective in increasing quality of life in cancer survivors. Until now, however, the impact of cohesion within the group on intervention outcome has not been investigated. METHODS: We examined self-reported individual group cohesion ratings collected in the first half of a 12-week rehabilitation programme for cancer survivors (N=132). Four dimensions of group cohesion were measured, i.e. the bond with the group as whole, the bond with other members, cooperation within the group and the instrumental value. Quality of life, physical functioning and fatigue were assessed before and after the intervention using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30. Linear multiple multivariate regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between group cohesion and intervention outcome. RESULTS: The relationship between group cohesion and outcome was significantly modified by gender. Higher ratings of cooperation within the group predicted better post-intervention quality of life and physical functioning and less fatigue in men, and better quality of life and physical functioning in women. Additionally, women who reported a stronger bond with other members showed a lower quality of life after the intervention. No relationship was found between the instrumental value and the outcome variables. CONCLUSION: Some dimensions of group cohesion seem to be associated with intervention outcome. The underlying mechanisms need to be unravelled.

PMID: 18095262 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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British Society for Sexual Medicine guidelines on the management of erectile dysfunction.

J Sex Med. 2008 Aug;5(8):1841-65

Authors: Hackett G, Kell P, Ralph D, Dean J, Price D, Speakman M, Wylie K,

INTRODUCTION: UK primary care physicians are required to follow authoritative endorsed guidelines as part of their terms of service. The major influence on the management of erectile dysfunction in primary and secondary care between 1999 and 2007 has been Department of Health “guidance on good practice,” a non-evidence-based document, essentially defining patients who qualify for government-funded treatment. AIM: To provide clinically based guidelines relevant to UK primary and secondary healthcare professionals in their daily practice. METHODS: A multidisciplinary panel of seven UK experts including two primary care physicians from the British Society for Sexual Medicine met for two full day meetings between September 2006 and April 2007, with each member allocated to disease areas related to their specialty. Feedback and approval of all sections between panel members was facilitated by the chairman. Source information was obtained from peer reviewed articles, meetings and presentations. Articles were chosen from electronically searching the Cochrane Library, Medline and Embase for randomized controlled clinical trials and graded according to level of evidence. RESULTS: Patient-reported sexual activity, satisfaction with sexual activity (Male Sexual Health Questionnaire), and treatment expectations; urologists’ subjective assessment of the importance given by their patients to ED; the timing they propose for starting ED treatment. RESULTS: After the second full day meeting in January 2007, the final version was approved by panel members and made available for healthcare professions by download from http://www.bssm.org and from http://www.eguidelines.co.uk CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive evidence-based guideline has been developed that is highly relevant for primary and secondary care professionals enabling them to work within the unique requirements of the UK healthcare system.

PMID: 18298470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Relationship factors in the development and maintenance of ED: implications for treatment effectiveness.

J Sex Med. 2008 Aug;5(8):1795-804

Authors: McCabe MP

INTRODUCTION: With the advent of effective medical treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED), there has been a reduced focus in recent years on the role of relationship in the development of this disorder. AIM: This article examines the contribution of relationship factors to the success or otherwise of different treatment approaches for ED. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The results of findings in the literature on the association between relationship factors and the development and maintenance of ED. Methods. This article reviews and evaluates the literature that relates to the role of relationship factors in the development and maintenance of ED. RESULTS: The current review demonstrates that relationship dynamics are frequently dysfunctional among men with ED. Research demonstrates that addressing these problems is likely to improve the effectiveness of therapy. However, there have been limited studies conducted in this area; many of these studies are methodologically flawed, and so it is difficult to determine the effectiveness of these interventions. CONCLUSIONS: There needs to be further research on the association between relationship factors and ED. Suggestions for future research that include combined medical and psychological interventions for ED are proposed.

PMID: 18564151 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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