Body, Mind & Spirit Articles and Latest News

[Dreams and imaginations in the therapy of eating disordered patients]

Psychiatr Hung. 2009;24(5):320-7

Authors: Gáti A, Abrahám I, Arkovits A

Recently the integrative approach has been applied in the treatment of eating disorders with multicausal origin. In order to achieve long-term therapeutic effect, the psychodynamic interpretation is often needed and favoured as a part of the personal, multimodal therapeutic strategy. The present paper focuses on body image distortion as one of the most decisive and least influenceable symptom of the disorder. The symptom is interpreted along the body image distortion-body boundaries-self boundaries-autonomy line. With illustrative therapy details of dreams, imaginations, the authors aim to demonstrate the therapeutic use of dynamically oriented therapy and dynamically oriented hypnotherapy.

PMID: 20450141 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

[Cognitive behavior therapy in eating disorders]

Psychiatr Hung. 2009;24(5):352-64

Authors: Tölgyes T, Unoka Z

Author’s aim is to give a comprehensive review of the behavioural and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapeutic development in the treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, on the base of the literature as well as on own clinical experiences. Behavioural therapies, currently applied as part of integrative therapies mainly, will be shown, and theoretical background and techniques of classical cognitive behavioural therapy of anorexia and bulimia nervosa will be shortly summarized. Theory and therapeutic techniques of the schema-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, applied in the treatment of eating disorders more frequently in the last few years, will be made acquainted in details. Indications and contraindications of classic cognitive behavioural therapy and schema-focused cognitive behavioural therapy in eating disorders will be discussed. Stress will be laid on the fact, that schema-focused cognitive behaviour therapy is to be chosen mostly in the cases where comorbid dissociation, personality disorder, very low self-esteem or traumatic history diminishes the applicability of traditional cognitive behavioural therapy. Authors emphasize the importance of further controlled efficacy studies in the field of schema-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, to define the indication fields regarding different subgroups of eating disorders.

PMID: 20450144 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

[Binge eating, overweight, obesity. Psychotherapeutical approach of obesity]

Psychiatr Hung. 2009;24(5):365-71

Authors: Perczel FD, Czeglédi E

Obesity is a global epidemic with serious health consequences. Behavior therapy is one of the evidence based methods in the treatment of obesity. According to several studies these programs induce modest (cca. 10%) weight reduction that is associated with statistically and clinically substantial improvements in weight-related health conditions and psychosocial outcomes. Reduced weight is usually maintained for a relatively long time, cca. 2-3 years. Cognitive and affective processes seem to play an important role in weight regain. This led to the development of cognitive behavioral treatment approaches. This paper describes the behavior therapy and cognitive-behavioral treatment of obesity.

PMID: 20450145 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

The positive feedback bias as a response to self-image threat.

Br J Soc Psychol. 2010 Mar;49(Pt 1):207-18

Authors: Harber KD, Stafford R, Kennedy KA

This research examined whether Whites favourably bias their feedback to minorities in order to see themselves as egalitarian. White teacher trainees first had their egalitarian self-images affirmed, left unchanged, or threatened. They then provided feedback on a poorly written essay supposedly authored by either a Black or a White student. As predicted, trainees in the Black writer/self-image threat condition selectively rated essay content more favourably, recommended less time for skill development, provided more favourable copy-editing comments, and generated more equivocating ‘buffers’. In contrast, trainees in the Black writer/self-image boost condition supplied feedback indistinguishable from feedback provided by trainees in the White writer conditions, which was unaffected by the self-image conditions. The implications for minority education and intergroup communication are discussed.

PMID: 19843351 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Related Articles

An individualized dyadic problem-solving education intervention for patients and family caregivers during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a feasibility study.

Cancer Nurs. 2010 Mar-Apr;33(2):E24-32

Authors: Bevans M, Castro K, Prince P, Shelburne N, Prachenko O, Loscalzo M, Soeken K, Zabora J

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) generates multiple problems that vary in complexity and create significant distress for both patients and their caregivers. Interventions that address patient and family caregiver distress during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have not been tested. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of conducting an individualized dyadic problem-solving education (PSE) intervention during HSCT and estimate a preliminary effect size on problem-solving skills and distress. METHODS: The PSE intervention consisted of 4 sessions of the Prepared Family Caregiver PSE model. Data were collected with an interventionist log, subject interviews and standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: Of the 34 adult dyads screened, 24 were ineligible primarily because of being non-English-speaking (n = 11) and inconsistent caregivers (n = 10). Ten dyads (n = 20) were enrolled, and 8 dyads (n = 16) completed the intervention. Of the 31 sessions, 29 were completed (94%). Worsening patient condition was the primary reason for sessions to be incomplete. Patients attended 90% of the sessions; caregivers attended 74%. Reasons for missed sessions included patient symptom distress and limited caregiver availability. Dyads reported being very satisfied (mean, 4.8 [SD, 1.8]; range, 1-5), stating “an opportunity to talk” and “creative thinking” were most beneficial. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that dyads can participate in PSE during HSCT and view it as beneficial. Participants identified the active process of solving problems as helpful. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Targeted interventions that promote effective, meaningful behaviors are needed to guide patients and caregivers through HSCT. Future research recommendations include testing a version of PSE with fewer sessions, including spousal and nonspousal caregivers and those who are non-English speaking.

PMID: 20142739 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Related Articles

Notes from the net nomad…Second Life.

Comput Inform Nurs. 2010 Mar-Apr;28(2):71

Authors: Perry W

PMID: 20182155 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Related Articles

Classroom performance system use in an accelerated graduate nursing program.

Comput Inform Nurs. 2010 Mar-Apr;28(2):79-85; quiz 86-7

Authors: Grimes C, Joiner Rogers G, Volker D, Ramberg E

Many students who enter accelerated nursing programs have not been exposed to the analysis, prediction, and decision-making skills needed by today’s RN. To foster practice with complex concepts in the classroom and to give teachers immediate feedback about student in-class mastery of core material, use of an audience participation system within the classroom may be useful. This article reports the implementation of a classroom performance system and the results ofa program evaluation project designed to capture the system’s impact on student and faculty satisfaction and student learning outcomes. Project results and implications for further work are presented.

PMID: 20182157 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Related Articles

Body mass index patterns over 5 y in obese children motivated to participate in a 1-y lifestyle intervention: age as a predictor of long-term success.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 May;91(5):1165-71

Authors: Reinehr T, Kleber M, Lass N, Toschke AM

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcome after lifestyle interventions in obese children is largely unknown but important to improving intervention. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to identify predictors of long-term changes in body mass index (BMI) after lifestyle intervention. DESIGN: Annual changes in the BMI SD score (BMI-SDS) over 5 y in 663 obese children (aged 4-16 y) motivated to participate in an outpatient lifestyle intervention were analyzed. Child-specific longitudinal curves based on multilevel growth curve models (MLMs) over 5 y were estimated depending on patient characteristics (age and sex). RESULTS: The mean decrease in BMI-SDS was 0.36 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.39) at the end of the 1-y intervention and 0.46 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.55) 4 y after the intervention. Change in BMI-SDS in the intervention period predicted long-term outcome after 5 y (P < 0.001). MLMs identified age but not sex as a predictor of the outcome: the youngest children (<8 y) at the onset of the intervention had the greatest decrease in BMI-SDS over 5 y, and the oldest children (>13 y) had the least decrease in BMI-SDS (P < 0.05). Whereas there was a larger reduction in BMI-SDS during the intervention in children aged 8-10 y than in children aged 11-12 y, long-term decrease in BMI-SDS was greater in 11-12-y-old children (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Younger age was associated with the best long-term outcome after participation in the lifestyle intervention, which supports the need for early intervention in childhood obesity. Children aged 8-10 y may need modified intervention, because BMI-SDS increased more in the older children in the long term. However, mean BMI-SDS was significantly lower 4 y after the end of the intervention than at baseline in all age groups. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00435734.

PMID: 20219965 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Qualitative findings from a mixed methods evaluation of once-weekly therapeutic community day services for people with personality disorder.

J Ment Health. 2010 Feb;19(1):43-51

Authors: Hodge S, Barr W, Göpfert M, Hellin K, Horne A, Kirkcaldy A

BACKGROUND: This paper presents qualitative findings from a mixed methods study of four one-day-a-week therapeutic communities (TCs) in the north of England for people with personality disorder. Quantitative findings from the study are presented separately. AIMS: The study aimed to ascertain whether one-day-a-week TCs can be effective in addressing the problems associated with personality disorder. METHOD: The qualitative component of the study comprised semi-structured interviews with service users, service user consultants, staff and referrers. This paper reports findings from the interviews with service users. FINDINGS: The qualitative findings indicate underlying changes in thinking that may account for some of the measurable changes in members’ mental health and functioning reported in the quantitative findings. In particular, the services enable individuals to address two main problem areas: relating to others and self-harm. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that once-weekly TCs provide an effective therapeutic approach to the problems associated with personality disorder.

PMID: 20380497 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Service users’ experiences with help and support from crisis resolution teams. A literature review.

J Ment Health. 2010 Feb;19(1):75-87

Authors: Winness MG, Borg M, Kim HS

BACKGROUND: Services for crisis resolution provided by home treatment teams are recent developments in the mental health care scene. There is a lack of systematized reviews in the service users’ responses to these services. AIM: To systematize the existing knowledge regarding the service users’ experiences with crisis resolution and home treatment (CR/HT) teams in order to explore ways to develop this form of service further. METHOD: A systematic review of the periodical literature and research reports on CR/HT was carried out for the period from January 1995 to January 2009. RESULTS: A total of 13 papers, one RCT review and two reports were identified, including both qualitative and quantitative studies. Although these studies provided few in-depth details, three major themes as the characteristics of CR/HT teams are extracted as: (a) access and availability, (b) being understood as “normal” human beings, and (c) dealing with crises in an everyday life context. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the key positive characteristics of help in crisis situations are intrinsically tied to the values and principles undergirding CR/HT services. The commitment to community-based services, the philosophy of partnership, and user-empowerment seem to the base from which these three themes of positive experiences emerged.

PMID: 20380500 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]