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Spine Jan 2016A systematic review with meta-analysis. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
STUDY DESIGN
A systematic review with meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation following lumbar fusion surgery (LFS).
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA
LFS for the management of lower back pain, with(out) neurogenic leg pain, is increasing as the population ages. Clinical outcomes commonly lag behind surgical outcomes and 40% of patients experience significant back-related disability 12 months after LFS. Identifying rehabilitation strategies to improve function and quality of life following LFS is important.
METHODS
A systematic review of databases were searched, including MEDLINE, CINAHL, and grey literature. Studies identified were screened for inclusion by title and abstract. Full text of eligible/potentially eligible studies was evaluated against predetermined eligibility criteria. Included studies were subjected to critical appraisal and risk of bias evaluation. The GRADE approach to quality of evidence was utilized. A meta-analysis comparing usual care with "complex rehabilitation," comprising exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy, for outcomes relating to pain, disability, fear of movement, and mental health was conducted at short and longer term (<3 and >12 months postsurgery) time points.
RESULTS
Three studies were identified for the systematic review and 2 included in the meta-analysis (n = 237, female = 62%, mean age = 55). Low-quality evidence suggests that "complex rehabilitation" provides short-term improvement in disability [effect size, -0.85, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), -1.41 to -0.29] and fear avoidance behavior (-1.07, 95% CI -1.33, -0.80), compared with usual care. Low-quality evidence exists favoring "complex rehabilitation" over usual care for longer term disability (-0.84, 95% CI -1.11 to -0.58) and fear avoidance behavior (-1.40, 95% CI -1.69 to -1.12).
CONCLUSIONS
A small number of low-quality studies suggest that "complex rehabilitation" reduces short and long-term disability and fear avoidance behavior following LFS. More, high-quality research is required to confirm the effectiveness of "complex rehabilitation" programs.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; Middle Aged; Physical Therapy Modalities; Quality of Life; Spinal Fusion; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 26555833
DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001132 -
L'Encephale Feb 2015Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a third generation of cognitive-behavioral therapies. The point is to help patients to improve their psychological flexibility... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a third generation of cognitive-behavioral therapies. The point is to help patients to improve their psychological flexibility in order to accept unavoidable private events. Thus, they have the opportunity to invest energy in committed actions rather than struggle against their psychological events.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
(i) To present the ACT basic concepts and (ii) to propose a systematic review of the literature about effectiveness of this kind of psychotherapy.
METHOD
(i) The core concepts of ACT come from Monestès (2011), Schoendorff (2011), and Harris (2012); (ii) we conducted a systematic review of the literature using the PRISMA's criteria. The research paradigm was « acceptance and commitment therapy AND randomized controlled trial ». The bases of the MEDLINE, Cochrane and Web of science have been checked.
RESULTS
Overall, 61 articles have been found, of which, after reading the abstracts, 40 corresponded to the subject of our study. (I) Psychological flexibility is established through six core ACT processes (cognitive defusion, acceptance, being present, values, committed action, self as context), while the therapist emphasizes on experiential approach. (II) Emerging research shows that ACT is efficacious in the psychological treatment of a wide range of psychiatric problems, including psychosis, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trichotillomania, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders. ACT has also shown a utility in other areas of medicine: the management chronic pain, drug-dependence, smoking cessation, the management of epilepsy, diabetic self-management, the management of work stress, the management of tinnitus, and the management of multiple sclerosis. Meta-analysis of controlled outcome studies reported an average effect size (Cohen's d) of 0.66 at post-treatment (n=704) and 0.65 (n=580) at follow-up (on average 19.2 weeks later). In studies involving comparison between ACT and active well-specified treatments, the effect size was 0.48 at post (n=456) and 0.62 at follow-up (n=404). In comparisons with waist list, treatment as usual, or placebo treatment, the effect sizes were 0.99 at post (n=248) and 0.71 at follow-up (n=176). Furthermore, ACT studies pointed out learning specific skills, such as decreasing experiential avoidance, increasing cognitive defusion, acceptance and contact with the present moment. Finally, all ACT studies showed an improved quality of life.
DISCUSSION
The loss of psychological flexibility is the origin of the pain caused by psychiatric disorders and chronic diseases. This is why other studies are needed to investigate ACT's full potential.
Topics: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Adaptation, Psychological; Humans; Life Change Events; Mental Disorders; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
PubMed: 24262333
DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2013.04.017 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jun 2016Young women, especially adolescents, often lack access to modern contraception. Reasons vary by geography and regional politics and culture. The projected 2015 birth... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Young women, especially adolescents, often lack access to modern contraception. Reasons vary by geography and regional politics and culture. The projected 2015 birth rate in 'developing' regions was 56 per 1000 compared with 17 per 1000 for 'developed' regions.
OBJECTIVES
To identify school-based interventions that improved contraceptive use among adolescents
SEARCH METHODS
Until 6 June 2016, we searched for eligible trials in PubMed, CENTRAL, ERIC, Web of Science, POPLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov and ICTRP.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We considered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assigned individuals or clusters. The majority of participants must have been 19 years old or younger.The educational strategy must have occurred primarily in a middle school or high school. The intervention had to emphasize one or more effective methods of contraception. Our primary outcomes were pregnancy and contraceptive use.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We assessed titles and abstracts identified during the searches. One author extracted and entered the data into RevMan; a second author verified accuracy. We examined studies for methodological quality.For unadjusted dichotomous outcomes, we calculated the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). For cluster randomized trials, we used adjusted measures, e.g. OR, risk ratio, or difference in proportions. For continuous outcomes, we used the adjusted mean difference (MD) or other measures from the models. We did not conduct meta-analysis due to varied interventions and outcome measures.
MAIN RESULTS
The 11 trials included 10 cluster RCTs and an individually randomized trial. The cluster RCTs had sample sizes from 816 to 10,954; the median number of clusters was 24. Most trials were conducted in the USA and UK; one was from Mexico and one from South Africa.We focus here on the trials with moderate quality evidence and an intervention effect. Three addressed preventing pregnancy and HIV/STI through interactive sessions. One trial provided a multifaceted two-year program. Immediately after year one and 12 months after year two, the intervention group was more likely than the standard-curriculum group to report using effective contraception during last sex (reported adjusted ORs 1.62 ± standard error (SE) 0.22) and 1.76 ± SE 0.29), condom use during last sex (reported adjusted ORs 1.91 ± SE 0.27 and 1.68 ± SE 0.25), and less frequent sex without a condom in the past three months (reported ratios of adjusted means 0.50 ± SE 0.31 and 0.63 ± SE 0.23). Another trial compared multifaceted two-year programs on sexual risk reduction and risk avoidance (abstinence-focused) versus usual health education. At 3 months, the risk reduction group was less likely than the usual-education group to report no condom use at last intercourse (reported adjusted OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.96) and sex without a condom in the last three months (reported adjusted OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.95). At 3 and after 15 months, the risk avoidance group was also less likely than the usual-education group to report no condom use at last intercourse (reported adjusted ORs 0.70, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.93; and 0.61, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.85). At the same time points, the risk reduction group had a higher score than the usual-education group for condom knowledge. The third trial provided a peer-led program with eight interactive sessions. At 17 months, the intervention group was less likely than the teacher-led group to report oral contraceptive use during last sex (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.91). This difference may not have been significant if the investigators had adjusted for the clustering. At 5 and 17 months, the peer-led group had a greater mean increase in knowledge of HIV and pregnancy prevention compared with the control group. An additional trial showed an effect on knowledge only. The group with an emergency contraception (EC) session was more likely than the group without the EC unit to know the time limits for using hormonal EC (pill) and the non-hormonal IUD as EC.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Since most trials addressed preventing STI/HIV and pregnancy, they emphasized condom use. However, several studies covered a range of contraceptive methods. The overall quality of evidence was low. Main reasons for downgrading the evidence were having limited information on intervention fidelity, analyzing a subsample rather than all those randomized, and having high losses.
Topics: Adolescent; Condoms; Contraception; Contraception Behavior; Contraception, Postcoital; Female; Humans; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Adolescence; Program Evaluation; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; School Health Services; Schools; Sex Education; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Young Adult
PubMed: 27353385
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012249 -
Psychiatry Research Mar 2020Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in the general population and associated with high rates of impairment and disability. This burden highlights the need to identify...
Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in the general population and associated with high rates of impairment and disability. This burden highlights the need to identify risk factors that individuals can modify without professional intervention. A systematic review was conducted to identify studies that examined modifiable risk and protective factors for anxiety disorders among adults in the general population. Searches were conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO and MEDLINE using medical subject headings and text words related to risk factors, protective factors, and each anxiety disorder. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by three study authors. Modifiable risk and protective factors from 19 studies across seven countries were identified. Risk factors identified included cigarette smoking, alcohol use, cannabis use, negative appraisals of life events, avoidance, and occupational factors. Protective factors included social support, coping, and physical activity. Cigarette smoking was the most studied risk factor. Support was found for cigarette smoking as a risk factor for agoraphobia and panic disorder. Mixed results were found for generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobia. Across disorders, smoking frequency was associated with greater risk. Results indicate an important gap in the literature in that few studies have examined modifiable risk factors for anxiety disorders.
Topics: Adult; Agoraphobia; Anxiety Disorders; Avoidance Learning; Cigarette Smoking; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Occupational Health; Panic Disorder; Prevalence; Protective Factors; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 31839417
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112705 -
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology Nov 2021Patients with vitiligo experience reduced quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Patients with vitiligo experience reduced quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To comprehensively describe the available evidence for psychosocial burden in vitiligo.
METHODS
A systematic review of observational studies and clinical trials identified using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane databases was performed through 1 March, 2021, to assess psychosocial comorbidities in vitiligo. Two independent reviewers performed an assessment of articles and extracted data for qualitative synthesis.
RESULTS
Included studies (N = 168) were published between 1979 and 1 March, 2021; 72.6% were published since 2010. Disorders including or related to depression (41 studies, 0.1-62.3%) and anxiety (20 studies, 1.9-67.9%) were the most commonly reported. The most prevalent psychosocial comorbidities were feelings of stigmatization (eight studies, 17.3-100%), adjustment disorders (12 studies, 4-93.9%), sleep disturbance (seven studies, 4.6-89.0%), relationship difficulties including sexual dysfunction (ten studies, 2.0-81.8%), and avoidance or restriction behavior (12.5-76%). The prevalence of most psychosocial comorbidities was significantly higher vs healthy individuals. Factors associated with a significantly higher burden included female sex, visible or genital lesions, age < 30 years (particularly adolescents), and greater body surface area involvement, among others. The most commonly reported patient coping strategy was lesion concealment.
LIMITATIONS
Available studies were heterogeneous and often had limited details; additionally, publication bias is possible.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this systematic review show that vitiligo greatly affects psychosocial well-being. The extent of psychosocial comorbidities supports the use of multidisciplinary treatment strategies and education to address the vitiligo-associated burden of disease.
PROTOCOL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO (CRD42020162223).
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adjustment Disorders; Age Factors; Body Surface Area; Clinical Trials as Topic; Comorbidity; Female; Humans; Male; Observational Studies as Topic; Personality Disorders; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Social Stigma; Vitiligo
PubMed: 34554406
DOI: 10.1007/s40257-021-00631-6 -
Behavioural Brain Research Aug 2023In clinical research, aberrant avoidance behavior and inhibitory control deficit have a high comorbidity in different psychopathological disorders. Therefore, avoidance... (Review)
Review
In clinical research, aberrant avoidance behavior and inhibitory control deficit have a high comorbidity in different psychopathological disorders. Therefore, avoidance and impulsive and/or compulsive behaviors might be classified as transdiagnostic traits, where the assessment through animal models could address evidence of their contribution as neurobehavioral mechanisms in psychopathology. The objective of the present review has been to assess the avoidance trait and the implication of inhibitory control behaviors, through studies using passive and active avoidance tests in rodents, and a preclinical model using selective breeding of high- or low-avoidance Roman rats (RHA, RLA). A systematic search strategy was carried out in the PubMed and Web of Science databases, where a total of 40 studies were accepted in the qualitative synthesis. The results of the different studies reviewed pointed to a relation between a reduced avoidance profile in passive avoidance (PA) with impulsive decision making and novelty-seeking behaviors; an increased avoidance profile in PA with compulsive drinking; a high active avoidance profile, including RHA rats, with different types of impulsivity and novelty- seeking behaviors; and regarding compulsivity depending on its measure, a low active avoidance profile, including RLA rats, has been associated with increased anxiety in the EPM and increased grooming, while a high active avoidance profile, including RHA rats, has been associated with increased rearing, compulsive drinking including alcohol, and cognitive inflexibility. The results have been discussed in terms of environmental factors and the underlying mechanisms between these possible transdiagnostic traits in psychopathology.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Avoidance Learning; Exploratory Behavior; Models, Animal; Phenotype; Ethanol; Behavior, Animal
PubMed: 37207979
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114500 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jul 2019Increasing pressure on limited healthcare resources has necessitated the development of measures promoting early discharge and avoiding inappropriate hospital...
Increasing pressure on limited healthcare resources has necessitated the development of measures promoting early discharge and avoiding inappropriate hospital (re)admission. This systematic review examines the evidence for interventions in acute hospitals including (i) hospital-patient discharge to home, community services or other settings, (ii) hospital discharge to another care setting, and (iii) reduction or prevention of inappropriate hospital (re)admissions. Academic electronic databases were searched from 2005 to 2018. In total, ninety-four eligible papers were included. Interventions were categorized into: (1) pre-discharge exclusively delivered in the acute care hospital, (2) pre- and post-discharge delivered by acute care hospital, (3) post-discharge delivered at home and (4) delivered only in a post-acute facility. Mixed results were found regarding the effectiveness of many types of interventions. Interventions exclusively delivered in the acute hospital pre-discharge and those involving education were most common but their effectiveness was limited in avoiding (re)admission. Successful pre- and post-discharge interventions focused on multidisciplinary approaches. Post-discharge interventions exclusively delivered at home reduced hospital stay and contributed to patient satisfaction. Existing systematic reviews on tele-health and long-term care interventions suggest insufficient evidence for admission avoidance. The most effective interventions to avoid inappropriate re-admission to hospital and promote early discharge included integrated systems between hospital and the community care, multidisciplinary service provision, individualization of services, discharge planning initiated in hospital and specialist follow-up.
Topics: Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Patient Discharge; Patient Readmission
PubMed: 31295933
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16142457 -
Journal of Neuro-oncology Jul 2023We systematically reviewed the current landscape of hippocampal-avoidance radiotherapy, focusing specifically on rates of hippocampal tumor recurrence and changes in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
We systematically reviewed the current landscape of hippocampal-avoidance radiotherapy, focusing specifically on rates of hippocampal tumor recurrence and changes in neurocognitive function.
METHODS
PubMed was queried for studies involving hippocampal-avoidance radiation therapy and results were screened using PRISMA guidelines. Results were analyzed for median overall survival, progression-free survival, hippocampal relapse rates, and neurocognitive function testing.
RESULTS
Of 3709 search results, 19 articles were included and a total of 1611 patients analyzed. Of these studies, 7 were randomized controlled trials, 4 prospective cohort studies, and 8 retrospective cohort studies. All studies evaluated hippocampal-avoidance whole brain radiation treatment (WBRT) and/or prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in patients with brain metastases. Hippocampal relapse rates were low (overall effect size = 0.04; 95% confidence interval [0.03, 0.05]) and there was no significant difference in risk of relapse between the five studies that compared HA-WBRT/HA-PCI and WBRT/PCI groups (risk difference = 0.01; 95% confidence interval [- 0.02, 0.03]; p = 0.63). 11 out of 19 studies included neurocognitive function testing. Significant differences were reported in overall cognitive function and memory and verbal learning 3-24 months post-RT. Differences in executive function were reported by one study, Brown et al., at 4 months. No studies reported differences in verbal fluency, visual learning, concentration, processing speed, and psychomotor speed at any timepoint.
CONCLUSION
Current studies in HA-WBRT/HA-PCI showed low hippocampal relapse or metastasis rates. Significant differences in neurocognitive testing were most prominent in overall cognitive function, memory, and verbal learning. Studies were hampered by loss to follow-up.
Topics: Humans; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Cranial Irradiation; Brain Neoplasms; Hippocampus
PubMed: 37395975
DOI: 10.1007/s11060-023-04384-6 -
The Journal of Pain Oct 2017Activity pacing is ubiquitous in chronic pain management and aims to reduce pain-contingent avoidance of activity to improve functioning. A meta-analysis, however, has... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
UNLABELLED
Activity pacing is ubiquitous in chronic pain management and aims to reduce pain-contingent avoidance of activity to improve functioning. A meta-analysis, however, has linked pacing with higher levels of pain and disability. One potential explanation is an overlap between existing measures of pacing and avoidance, leading to links with poorer outcomes that are typically associated with avoidance. This study systematically reviews the evidence regarding the relationship between measures of pacing and avoidance. A search was conducted for studies measuring both constructs in adults with chronic pain. A meta-analysis of correlations between pacing and avoidance was conducted; 16 studies were included and a small positive correlation was found (r = .290, P < .001) overall. Single-item and multiple-item measures were also compared; a moderate positive correlation was found for multiple-item measures (r = .410, P < .001), which differed significantly from a small positive correlation found for single-item measures (r = .105, P < .001). Due to limited studies, independent analyses of individual subscales were not possible. Existing measures of pacing-particularly multiple-item measures-may partially confound pacing with avoidance. Further research is required to ensure that a reliable measure of pacing that distinguishes this construct from avoidance is available to adequately evaluate pacing instruction and the effect of pacing on key outcomes in chronic pain.
PERSPECTIVE
This meta-analysis examines the correlation between pacing and avoidance in adults with chronic pain. Results indicate that existing measures may partially confound pacing with avoidance. Directions for future research are proposed to ensure that an adequate measure of pacing exists to evaluate its effect on key outcomes in chronic pain.
Topics: Avoidance Learning; Chronic Pain; Humans; Motor Activity
PubMed: 28479209
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.04.008 -
Archives of Suicide Research : Official... 2020This study aimed to systemically review the literature regarding self-harm, emotion regulation, and experiential avoidance. Articles were identified through systematic...
This study aimed to systemically review the literature regarding self-harm, emotion regulation, and experiential avoidance. Articles were identified through systematic searches of several databases using combinations of the phrases "emotion regulation" AND "experiential avoidance" AND "self-harm," or "self-injury," and "BPD" or "Borderline Personality Disorder." Additional searches were conducted inclusive of terms related to experiential avoidance and emotion regulation, as well as other disorders related to self-harm. 17 articles were identified and reviewed. Results tentatively support the role of experiential avoidance in self-harm; some studies described phenomena similar to experiential avoidance without using the term. Poor emotion regulation was often cited as a reason for engagement in self-harm. Several gaps in the literature were identified and discussed.
Topics: Avoidance Learning; Borderline Personality Disorder; Emotional Regulation; Humans; Self-Injurious Behavior
PubMed: 30636566
DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2018.1563575