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Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation Apr 2015The purpose of this article is to describe the current evidence regarding the prevalence and significance of concerns about body image in transplant recipients and organ... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
The purpose of this article is to describe the current evidence regarding the prevalence and significance of concerns about body image in transplant recipients and organ donors.
RECENT FINDINGS
Body image and organ integration concerns have been reported as main themes in the psychological adaptation to transplantation. Their prevalence, severity, description and impact vary wildly. There is a lack of validated instruments to measure body image or organ integration in transplant patients. For organ recipients, satisfaction with body image depends on the organ, genre, pretransplant medical illness, time since transplantation and post-transplant medication regimen. Complete or partial denial of the graft is frequently reported. For organ donors, body image is influenced by the type of surgical incision. There is little evidence that body image or organ integration impact medical or psychological outcomes after transplantation or organ donation.
SUMMARY
Body image is becoming a significant component of measuring the quality of life in transplant patients. Body image may become a factor in decisions about if and when to pursue transplant for nonlife-threatening conditions (e.g. face transplantation), about the type of incision or about the immunosuppressant regimen. For mental health professionals, understanding the complexities of body image and organ integration will help enhance the assistance provided before and after transplant or donation.
Topics: Body Image; Graft Survival; Humans; Kidney Transplantation; Living Donors; Quality of Life; Transplant Recipients
PubMed: 25856182
DOI: 10.1097/MOT.0000000000000165 -
Developmental Psychology Aug 2014Although a fair amount is known about young children's production of negation, little is known about their comprehension. Here, we focus on arguably the most complex...
Although a fair amount is known about young children's production of negation, little is known about their comprehension. Here, we focus on arguably the most complex basic form, denial, and how young children understand denial, when it is expressed in response to a question with gesture, single word, or sentence. One hundred twenty-six children in 3 age groups (Ms = 1 year 9 months, 2 years 0 months, and 2 years 4 months) witnessed an adult look into 1 of 2 buckets and then, in response to a question about whether the toy was in there, communicate either something positive (positive head nod, "yes," "it is in this bucket") or negative (negative head shake, "No," "It's not in this bucket"). The youngest children did not search differently in response to any of the communicative cues (nor in response to an additional cue using both gesture and single word). Children at 2 years 0 months searched at above-chance levels only in response to the negative word and negative sentence. Children at 2 years 4 months were successful with all 3 types of cues in both positive and negative modalities, with the exception of the positive sentence. Young children thus seem to understand the denial of a statement before they understand its affirmation, and they understand linguistic means of expressing denial before they understand gestural means.
Topics: Child Development; Communication; Comprehension; Cues; Female; Gestures; Humans; Infant; Male; Motion Perception; Psychological Tests; Speech Perception
PubMed: 24911566
DOI: 10.1037/a0037179 -
American Journal of Physical... Jan 2016Questions about our origin as a species are universal and compelling. Evolution-and in particular human evolution-is a subject that generates intense interest across the... (Review)
Review
Questions about our origin as a species are universal and compelling. Evolution-and in particular human evolution-is a subject that generates intense interest across the world, evidenced by the fact that fossil and DNA discoveries grace the covers of major science journals and magazines as well as other popular print and online media. However, virtually all national polls indicate that the majority of Americans strongly reject biological evolution as a fact-based, well-tested, and robust understanding of the history of life. In the popular mind, no topic in all of science is more contentious or polarizing than evolution and media sources often only serve to magnify this polarization by covering challenges to the teaching of evolution. In the realm of teaching, debates about evolution have shaped textbooks, curricula, standards, and policy. Challenges to accepting and understanding evolution include mistrust and denial of science, cognitive obstacles and misconceptions, language and terminology, and a religious worldview, among others. Teachers, who are on the front lines of these challenges, must be armed with the tools and techniques to teach evolution in formal education settings across grades K-16 in a straightforward, thorough, and sensitive way. Despite the potentially controversial topic of human evolution, growing research is demonstrating that a pedagogical focus on human examples is an effective and engaging way to teach core concepts of evolutionary biology.
Topics: Anthropology, Physical; Biological Evolution; Denial, Psychological; Humans; Teaching; United States
PubMed: 26808108
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22910 -
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology Sep 2021Child abuse is a global public health concern Injuries from physical abuse may be clinically occult and not appreciable on physical examination. Imaging is therefore... (Review)
Review
Child abuse is a global public health concern Injuries from physical abuse may be clinically occult and not appreciable on physical examination. Imaging is therefore critical in identifying and documenting such injuries. The radiologic approach for a child who has potentially been abused has received considerable attention and recommendations according to decades of experience and rigorous scientific study. Nonetheless, fringe beliefs describing alternative explanations for child abuse-related injuries have emerged and received mainstream attention. Subsequently, imaging findings identified in abused children have been attributed to poorly supported underlying medical conditions, clouding the evidence basis for radiologic findings indicative of nonaccidental trauma. Fringe beliefs that attribute findings seen in child abuse to alternate pathologies such as genetic disorders, birth trauma, metabolic imbalances, vitamin D deficiency, and short-distance falls typically have limited evidence basis and lack professional society support. Careful review of the scientific evidence and professional society consensus statements is important in differentiating findings attributable to child abuse from fringe beliefs used to discount the possibility that a child's constellation of injuries is consistent with abuse. This review refutes fringe beliefs used to provide alternative explanations in cases of suspected child abuse and reinforces the key literature and scientific consensus regarding child abuse imaging.
Topics: Child Abuse; Denial, Psychological; Diagnostic Imaging; Female; Humans; Infant; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Radiology; Reproducibility of Results; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 33908266
DOI: 10.2214/AJR.21.25655 -
Blood Advances Apr 2023Caregivers of patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) must cope with substantial caregiving burden, high rates... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Caregivers of patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) must cope with substantial caregiving burden, high rates of psychological distress, and diminished quality of life (QOL). However, data describing coping strategies before HSCT and the association between coping, QOL, and psychological outcomes in this population are lacking. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected during a multisite randomized clinical trial of a supportive care intervention in HSCT recipients and their caregivers. Caregivers completed the Brief COPE, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Caregiver Oncology Quality of Life Questionnaire to measure coping strategies, psychological distress, and QOL, respectively. We grouped coping into 2 higher-order domains: approach-oriented (ie, emotional support and active coping) and avoidant (ie, self-blame and denial). We used the median split method to describe the distribution of coping and multivariate linear regression models to assess the relationship between coping and caregiver outcomes. We enrolled 170 caregivers, with a median (range) age of 53 (47-64) years. Most were White (87%), non-Hispanic (96%), and female (77%). Approach-oriented coping was associated with less anxiety (β = -0.210, P = .003), depression symptoms (β = -0.160, P = .009), and better QOL (β = 0.526, P = .002). In contrast, avoidant coping was associated with more anxiety (β = 0.687, P<.001), depression symptoms (β = 0.579, P < .001), and worse QOL (β = -1.631, P < .001). Our findings suggest that coping is related to distress and QOL among caregivers of HSCT recipients even before transplant. Hence, caregivers of patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing HSCT may benefit from resources that facilitate adaptive coping with the demands of caregiving.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Caregivers; Quality of Life; Depression; Adaptation, Psychological; Hematologic Neoplasms; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
PubMed: 36398978
DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022008281 -
Artificial Organs Mar 2022After the rehabilitation program, patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) are discharged home, but the adaption to the daily life with the implant is... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
After the rehabilitation program, patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) are discharged home, but the adaption to the daily life with the implant is challenging, both with practical and psychological consequences. Literature is lacking detailed information about the quality of life of LVAD patients and caregivers after discharge to home.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed at evaluating the post-discharge outcomes of both LVAD patients and their caregivers in terms of quality of life, affectivity, and psychological health.
METHODS
In this observational follow-up study, LVAD dyads discharged home from 1 year to 6 years were re-contacted by phone and received by mail an envelope with self-report questionnaires. Responses of 39 complete dyads of patients (mean age 68.59 ± 4.31; males: 92.31%) and their caregivers (mean age 61.59 ± 11.64; males: 17.95%) were analyzed.
RESULTS
Patients and caregivers reported the moderate levels of anxiety, depression, and caregiver strain, and Illness denial and conscious avoidance were associated between them. The couples often reported that the LVAD has impairments for their sleep and for their affective-sexual relationship. Caregivers often reported impairment in social life and self-care.
DISCUSSIONS
Despite the satisfaction for the medical and territorial assistance, patients showed psychological difficulties such as anxious and depressive symptoms and caregivers tend to neglect themselves. Even after a long time from discharge to home, the psychological distress of LVAD patients and caregivers is still considerable. Structured and continuous psychological interventions are required to support their psychological health overtime after the discharge to home.
Topics: Aged; Anxiety; Attitude to Health; Caregivers; Denial, Psychological; Depression; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart-Assist Devices; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 34519060
DOI: 10.1111/aor.14071 -
European Archives of Psychiatry and... Jun 2021
Topics: Denial, Psychological; Humans; Mental Disorders
PubMed: 33942147
DOI: 10.1007/s00406-021-01272-w -
L'Encephale Jun 2020Emerging infectious diseases like Covid-19 cause a major threat to global health. When confronted with new pathogens, individuals generate several beliefs about the...
Emerging infectious diseases like Covid-19 cause a major threat to global health. When confronted with new pathogens, individuals generate several beliefs about the epidemic phenomenon. Many studies have shown that individual protective behaviors largely depend on these beliefs. Due to the absence of treatment and vaccine against these emerging pathogens, the relation between these beliefs and these behaviors represents a crucial issue for public health policies. In the premises of the Covid-19 pandemic, several preliminary studies have highlighted a delay in the perception of risk by individuals, which potentially holds back the implementing of the necessary precautionary measures: people underestimated the risks associated with the virus, and therefore also the importance of complying with sanitary guidelines. During the peak of the pandemic, the salience of the threat and of the risk of mortality could then have transformed the way people generate their beliefs. This potentially leads to upheavals in the way they understand the world. Here, we propose to explore the evolution of beliefs and behaviors during the Covid-19 crisis, using the theory of predictive coding and the theory of terror management, two influential frameworks in cognitive science and in social psychology.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Attitude to Health; Betacoronavirus; Brain; COVID-19; Communicable Disease Control; Coronavirus Infections; Culture; Denial, Psychological; Fear; Guideline Adherence; Guidelines as Topic; Health Behavior; Health Risk Behaviors; Humans; Hygiene; Models, Psychological; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Protective Devices; Risk Management; Risk Reduction Behavior; SARS-CoV-2; Universal Precautions
PubMed: 32517998
DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2020.05.012 -
Military Medicine Jul 2019While previous studies have examined the stress of the military training environment, studies have not systematically examined the stress associated with attending the...
INTRODUCTION
While previous studies have examined the stress of the military training environment, studies have not systematically examined the stress associated with attending the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC). Service members assigned to DLIFLC endure intense academic pressure to succeed while meeting military requirements. Thus, not only are traditional academic stressors likely to be of concern but there are other academic and military-related stressors that have to managed by students. The goal of the present study was to characterize the stressors facing military students, document their mental health status and well-being, and identify mitigating factors such as coping, social support, time management, and the classroom environment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey administered in March of 2016. Study participants were 759 active-duty U.S. soldiers enrolled in DLIFLC, with a consent rate of 87.7%. Surveys were administered in classroom settings. Survey topics included demographics, student experience (e.g., classroom hours, stressors), mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, hazardous alcohol use) and burnout, and mitigating factors (e.g., coping, social support, time management, classroom environment). Multiple logistic regressions were used to identify which variables in the predictor set were significantly associated with each of the five outcomes while controlling for the presence of all other variables.
RESULTS
In terms of behavioral health, 7.2% met screening criteria for depression, 9.4% for anxiety, and 17.1% for hazardous alcohol use; 43.4% reported high/very high levels of burnout. About one-third of the sample who had taken a test failed at least one (32.2%). In terms of common stressors more than half reported high or very high-stress levels from meeting academic expectations, not getting enough sleep, and pressure to succeed from civilian language instructors. For depression and anxiety, regression results found that denial coping was a risk factor whereas positive social interaction and classroom climate were protective factors. For hazardous alcohol use, denial coping and higher rank were risk factors and acceptance and time management were protective factors. In terms of academic burnout, in-class and military work hours were risk factors, whereas time management and classroom climate were protective. Finally, lower educational attainment, time spent in the classroom and times spent on military duties predicted exam failure.
CONCLUSION
Individual coping, social connection, and classroom climate are each associated with better DLIFLC student adjustment. Denial coping appears to impede individuals from assembling the personal resources needed to study a foreign language. In contrast, acceptance appears to support healthier adjustment, perhaps freeing individuals to focus on the task at hand rather than expend valuable energy resisting the demands being placed on them. Positive social interaction also appears to provide an important resource for students, and positive classroom climate is also associated with better mental health. These findings suggest that there are measures that individuals and the school can take to improve the DLIFLC experience and support students as they manage a myriad of stressors given the significance of their success to individual students and to the larger organization.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Burnout, Professional; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Status; Humans; Language; Logistic Models; Male; Military Personnel; Social Support; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 30690460
DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usy359 -
European Journal of Cardiovascular... Apr 2023To identify and provide clarity on factors that influence coping and the type of coping strategies used by patients with heart failure (HF) to improve health-related... (Review)
Review
AIMS
To identify and provide clarity on factors that influence coping and the type of coping strategies used by patients with heart failure (HF) to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
METHODS AND RESULTS
The Arksey and O'Malley template framed this scoping review guided by the stress and coping model. Five databases were explored: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Keywords included HF, quality of life, coping, and influencing factors. Eligibility criteria involved patients with HF, reported on coping strategies and HRQoL, and published in English. Thirty-five studies were included (4 randomized controlled trials, 27 cross-sectional, and 4 qualitative/mixed methods). Active emotional coping (e.g. acceptance) and problem-focused (e.g. seeking social support) coping strategies were linked to better HRQoL, while avoidant emotional coping (e.g. denial) was linked to worse HRQoL. In the presence of the stressor of HF severity, key factors that influenced the types of the coping strategy included sex, age, social support, income, education, spiritual beliefs, and illness duration. However, the evidence on the effectiveness of the type of coping on HRQoL remains inadequate due to the majority of studies being cross-sectional.
CONCLUSION
Problem-focused and active emotional coping strategies are associated with improved HRQoL. However, their effect is inconclusive due to the lack of experimental studies. Additional predictive studies will enhance the understanding of coping among HF patients.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adaptation, Psychological; Heart Failure; Emotions
PubMed: 35950340
DOI: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvac042