Body, Mind & Spirit Articles and Latest News

People with fibromyalgia may benefit from practicing tai chi, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by muscle pain, fatigue, and other symptoms. People with fibromyalgia have chronic widespread pain, as well as "tender points" on areas of the body, which hurt when slight pressure is applied.

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Outcome of inpatient opiate detoxification treatment in immigrants as compared to native Germans.

Eur Psychiatry. 2010 May;25(4):242-8

Authors: Specka M, Buchholz A, Kuhlmann T, Haasen C, Scherbaum N

BACKGROUND: Immigration is a factor with effects on the course of substance abuse and treatment response, however there is little consistent data regarding outcome of inpatient opiate detoxification treatment in immigrants as compared to native patients. METHODS: Patient history and the success of current detoxification treatment were systematically documented in a multicenter study in Germany which included 10 psychiatric hospitals with specialized detoxification wards. RESULTS: Out of 893 patients, 240 (27%) had a migration history. We further analyzed the three main groups (German, n=653; Turkish, n=58; Russian origin, n=103). There were significant differences between groups regarding sociodemographic data, drug history, treatment experience and success of current treatment. However, considering the younger age of patients with Russian origin, analysis of younger patients (<31 years) detected only minor group differences. In multiple logistic regressions age and center showed statistically significant associations with all outcome variables (early dropout, achievement of drug-free urine screen, regular completion of detoxification treatment, and referral to further treatment), while (Russian) origin was associated only with premature termination of treatment. CONCLUSION: Young men were the main problem group regardless of origin. Significant center effects raise doubts regarding results from monocenter research.

PMID: 19577436 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Patients’ pretreatment beliefs about recovery influence outcome of a pain rehabilitation program.

Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2009 Sep;45(3):391-401

Authors: Merrick D, Sjölund BH

AIM: The aim of this study was to monitor the outcome of a five-week cognitive-behavioral interdisciplinary rehabilitation program for patients disabled by chronic pain, utilizing data collected for a national quality registry. METHODS: The study included 255 consecutive patients from a university hospital setting. Demographic data and patient beliefs about recovery recorded on a five-category scale were collected before the program. Pain intensity (VAS), Disability Rating Index (DRI) and life satisfaction (LiSat-11) were collected before, immediately after and one year after the program. Partial respondents and non-respondents were excluded;168 patients remained. RESULTS: Pain intensity decreased (”pain now”; Friedman’s test, P<0.0001) by 13 mm (median) after the program, (Dunn’s test; P<0.001) and by 5 mm after one year (P<0.05). Only one of twelve DRI items (activity), ”participating in exercise/sports” improved significantly after rehabilitation (Wilcoxon’s test; P=0.0009), and remained improved one year later (P=0.0144). Life satisfaction in the physical and psychological domains increased after the program. A clinically meaningful reduction in pain intensity (10 mm) was reported by 43% of patients at the one-year follow-up. This group had significant increases in life satisfaction. Only patients with positive beliefs about recovery before rehabilitation showed a decrease in pain intensity at the one-year follow-up (P<0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The program influenced the pain, life satisfaction and, to a small extent, activity. A clinically relevant pain reduction and an increase in life satisfaction were related. Patients’ pretreatment beliefs about recovery influenced the long-term decrease of pain intensity, indicating that more attention should be focused on patients’ pretreatment beliefs.

PMID: 19773732 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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A multimodal interface device for online board games designed for sight-impaired people.

IEEE Trans Inf Technol Biomed. 2010 Mar;14(2):248-54

Authors: Caporusso N, Mkrtchyan L, Badia L

Online games between remote opponents playing over computer networks are becoming a common activity of everyday life. However, computer interfaces for board games are usually based on the visual channel. For example, they require players to check their moves on a video display and interact by using pointing devices such as a mouse. Hence, they are not suitable for visually impaired people. The present paper discusses a multipurpose system that allows especially blind and deafblind people playing chess or other board games over a network, therefore reducing their disability barrier. We describe and benchmark a prototype of a special interactive haptic device for online gaming providing a dual tactile feedback. The novel interface of this proposed device is able to guarantee not only a better game experience for everyone but also an improved quality of life for sight-impaired people.

PMID: 19858031 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Wearable assistant for Parkinson’s disease patients with the freezing of gait symptom.

IEEE Trans Inf Technol Biomed. 2010 Mar;14(2):436-46

Authors: Bächlin M, Plotnik M, Roggen D, Maidan I, Hausdorff JM, Giladi N, Tröster G

In this paper, we present a wearable assistant for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with the freezing of gait (FOG) symptom. This wearable system uses on-body acceleration sensors to measure the patients’ movements. It automatically detects FOG by analyzing frequency components inherent in these movements. When FOG is detected, the assistant provides a rhythmic auditory signal that stimulates the patient to resume walking. Ten PD patients tested the system while performing several walking tasks in the laboratory. More than 8 h of data were recorded. Eight patients experienced FOG during the study, and 237 FOG events were identified by professional physiotherapists in a post hoc video analysis. Our wearable assistant was able to provide online assistive feedback for PD patients when they experienced FOG. The system detected FOG events online with a sensitivity of 73.1% and a specificity of 81.6%. The majority of patients indicated that the context-aware automatic cueing was beneficial to them. Finally, we characterize the system performance with respect to the walking style, the sensor placement, and the dominant algorithm parameters.

PMID: 19906597 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Establishing remission and good clinical functioning in schizophrenia: predictors of best outcome with long-term risperidone long-acting injectable treatment.

Eur Psychiatry. 2010 May;25(4):220-9

Authors: Lambert M, De Marinis T, Pfeil J, Naber D, Schreiner A

OBJECTIVE: To measure symptomatic and functional remission in patients treated with risperidone long-acting injectable (RLAI). METHODS: Stable patients with psychotic disorders requiring medication change were switched to open-label RLAI in the switch to risperidone microspheres (StoRMi) trial. In this post-hoc analysis of the trial extension, follow-up was <or=18 months. Symptomatic remission was based on improvement in positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores and global remission (best outcome) was based on symptomatic remission, functional level, and mental-health quality of life. Predictive factors were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 529 patients from seven European countries, mean participation duration was 358.7+/-232.4 days, with 18 months completed by 39.9% of patients. Symptomatic remission lasting >or=6 months occurred at some point during treatment in 33% of patients; predictors included comorbid disease, country, baseline symptom severity, baseline functioning, type of antipsychotic before switching, and duration of untreated psychosis. Best outcome occurred in 21% of patients; predictors included baseline symptom severity, baseline functioning, country, schizophrenia type, and early positive treatment course. CONCLUSIONS: One in three patients with stable schizophrenia switching to RLAI experienced symptomatic remission, with combined symptomatic, functional, and quality-of-life remission in one in five patients. Symptomatic remission was predicted by better baseline symptom severity and country of origin, with a significantly greater likelihood of remission occurring among patients in Estonia/Slovenia compared with Portugal. Relapse was predicted by higher mode doses of RLAI, additional use of psychoactive medications, male gender, and country of origin, with relapse occurring most frequently in France and least frequently in Portugal. RLAI dose, additional use of psychoactive medications, and country of origin predicted best outcome, with best outcome occurring most frequently in Estonia/Slovenia and least frequently in Portugal.

PMID: 19926263 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Empowering citizens for well-being and chronic disease management with wellness diary.

IEEE Trans Inf Technol Biomed. 2010 Mar;14(2):456-63

Authors: Mattila E, Korhonen I, Salminen JH, Ahtinen A, Koskinen E, Särelä A, Pärkkä J, Lappalainen R

Chronic conditions closely related to lifestyles are the major cause of disability and death in the developed world. Behavior change is the key to managing well-being and preventing and managing chronic diseases. Wellness diary (WD) is a mobile application designed to support citizens in learning about their behavior, and both making and maintaining behavior changes. WD has been found acceptable, useful, and suitable for long-term use as a part of an intervention. When used independently, however, it does not seem to have enough engaging and motivating features to support adoption and long-term commitment. The main improvement needs identified based on a review of WD-related studies were: personalization of the application to individual needs, increasing motivation during early use, maintaining motivation, and aiding in relapse recovery in long-term use. We present concepts to improve the personalization of WD as well as improvements to the feedback and interpretation of the self-observation data. We also present usage models on how this type of mobile application could be utilized.

PMID: 20007055 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Pelvic floor muscle assessment outcomes in women with and without provoked vestibulodynia and the impact of a physical therapy program.

J Sex Med. 2010 Feb;7(2 Pt 2):1003-22

Authors: Gentilcore-Saulnier E, McLean L, Goldfinger C, Pukall CF, Chamberlain S

INTRODUCTION: Physical therapy (PT) may reduce the pain associated with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) based on previous findings that pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (PFMD) is associated with PVD symptoms. AIMS: The goals of this study were: (i) to determine whether women with and without PVD differ on measures of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) behavior; and (ii) to assess the impact of PT treatment for women with PVD on these measures. METHODS: Eleven women with PVD and 11 control women completed an assessment evaluating PFM behavior using surface electromyography (SEMG) recordings and a digital intravaginal assessment. Women with PVD repeated the assessment after they had undergone eight PT treatment sessions of manual therapy, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, dilator insertions, and home exercises. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Superficial and deep PFM SEMG tonic activity and phasic activity in response to a painful pressure stimulus, PFM digital assessment variables (tone, flexibility, relaxation capacity, and strength). RESULTS: At pretreatment, women with PVD had higher tonic SEMG activity in their superficial PFMs compared with the control group, whereas no differences were found in the deep PFMs. Both groups demonstrated contractile responses to the painful pressure stimulus that were significantly higher in the superficial as compared with the deep PFMs, with the responses in the PVD group being higher than those in control women. Women with PVD had higher PFM tone, decreased PFM flexibility and lower PFM relaxation capacity compared with control women. Posttreatment improvements included less PFM responsiveness to pain, less PFM tone, improved vaginal flexibility, and improved PFM relaxation capacity, such that women with PVD no longer differed from controls on these measures. CONCLUSION: Women with PVD demonstrated altered PFM behavior when compared with controls, providing empirical evidence of PFMD, especially at the superficial layer. A PT rehabilitation program specifically targeting PFMD normalized PFM behavior in women with PVD.

PMID: 20059663 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Automatic and controlled aspects of lexical associative processing in the two cerebral hemispheres.

Psychophysiology. 2010 Jul 1;47(4):774-85

Authors: Kandhadai P, Federmeier KD

Associative processing in the cerebral hemispheres was examined using ERPs and visual half-field (VF) methods. Associative strength was manipulated using asymmetrically associated pairs: viewed in one order (forward), there was a strong prime-to-target association, but in the backward order, predictability was weak. N400 priming was greater for forward than backward pairs in both VFs and not different across VF, suggesting similar semantic representations and automatic meaning activation in the two hemispheres. However, a frontal P2 enhancement for forward pairs restricted to the LH suggests that it uses context to predict likely upcoming words. Also, greater late positive complex priming for backward pairs in the LH than the RH reveals a LH advantage for strategically reshaping meaning activation for weakly related and/or non-canonically ordered pairs. The results link asymmetries in word processing with those observed at the sentence level.

PMID: 20136731 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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New treatments for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Nat Rev Urol. 2010 Mar;7(3):127-35

Authors: Strauss AC, Dimitrakov JD

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common condition among men of a wide age range, with detrimental effects on quality of life. The etiology, pathogenesis, and optimal treatment of CP/CPPS remain unknown, although progress has been made in these domains in recent years. A wide variety of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies have been studied in clinical trials, but most have shown limited efficacy in symptom alleviation. CP/CPPS is increasingly viewed as a condition that involves variable degrees of neuropathic pain. Medications such as gabapentin, pregabalin, memantine, and tricyclic antidepressants are often used in other neuropathic pain conditions and, therefore, are considered potential treatments for CP/CPPS. Few studies of these agents in patients with CP/CPPS have been reported, but future clinical trials should help to determine their utility and to characterize the pathogenetic mechanisms of pain in CP/CPPS. Combining treatment trials with biomarker, genomic, and imaging studies, in addition to epidemiologic and symptom-based assessments, will maximize the ability to probe disease etiology and pathogenesis, as well as identify effective treatment.

PMID: 20142810 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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