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Life (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Stress is recognized as a significant trigger and exacerbator of various medical conditions, particularly in the field of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Given that heart... (Review)
Review
Stress is recognized as a significant trigger and exacerbator of various medical conditions, particularly in the field of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Given that heart rate variability (HRV) offers insight into the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and has been identified as a predictive factor for increased cardiovascular mortality, exploring the correlation between stress and HRV is pertinent. We systematically reviewed trials where researchers investigated the effects of stress-reducing interventions on biomarkers and time-domain/frequency-domain parameters of HRV in CVD. Eligible studies underwent meta-analysis utilizing a random-effects model. The meta-analysis showed overall beneficial effects of stress-reducing interventions on HRV for the standard deviation of Normal-to-Normal intervals (SDNN) in short-term and 24 h assessments, as well as for the low-frequency power (LF) in short-term assessment. Overall effect sizes were notably high and showed significant -values (short-term SDNN: MD = 6.43, = 0.01; 24 h SDNN: MD = 10.92, = 0.004; short-term LF: MD = 160.11, < 0.001). Our findings highlight the significant impact of stress-reducing interventions in modulating HRV by influencing short-term SDNN and LF parameters, as well as the 24 h assessment of SDNN. These results emphasize the importance of stress-reducing measures in lowering the risk of further progression in CVD and improving patient outcomes.
PubMed: 38929732
DOI: 10.3390/life14060749 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024Globally, there are around 1.3 billion cigarette consumers, indicating it to be the second highest risk factor for early death and morbidity. Meanwhile, psychological... (Review)
Review
Globally, there are around 1.3 billion cigarette consumers, indicating it to be the second highest risk factor for early death and morbidity. Meanwhile, psychological therapy offers tools based on its different models and techniques, which can contribute to smoking cessation. In this context, this study gathers scientific evidence to identify psychological therapies that can be used to reduce cigarette consumption. A systematic review of controlled clinical studies was conducted, implementing the PRISMA methodology. Search queries were performed with terms extracted from MESH (Medical Subject Headings) and DECS (Descriptors in Health Sciences). Subsequently, the search was queried in the scientific databases of Medline/PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Science Direct, ProQuest, and PsycNet, with subsequent verification of methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. The selected documents revealed that cognitive behavioral therapy prevails due to its use and effectiveness in seven publications (25%). The cognitive approach with mindfulness therapy is found in 4 publications (14%), the transtheoretical model with motivational therapy in 4 publications (14%), brief psychological therapy in 3 publications (10%), and the remaining 10 documents (37%) correspond with others. Intervention studies refer to cognitive behavioral therapy as the most used in reducing cigarette consumption; in terms of the duration of abstinence, scientific evidence shows beneficial effects with short-term reduction.
Topics: Humans; Smoking Cessation; Cigarette Smoking; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Psychotherapy
PubMed: 38929001
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060753 -
Genes May 2024Deficits in theory of mind (ToM), known as the ability to understand the other's mind, have been associated with several psychopathological outcomes. The present... (Review)
Review
Deficits in theory of mind (ToM), known as the ability to understand the other's mind, have been associated with several psychopathological outcomes. The present systematic review aims to summarize the results of genetic studies that investigated gene polymorphisms associated with mentalization performance tasks in children and adults. The systematic review was carried out following PRISMA guidelines, and the literature search was conducted in PubMed and EBSCOhost using the following keywords: 'theory of mind, mentalizing, mindreading' and 'gene, genetic basis'. Nineteen studies met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. Most of the literature focused on the role of , , , , , , , , , , , and the family of genes in influencing ToM. However, controversial results emerged in sustaining the link between specific genetic polymorphisms and mentalization abilities in children and adults. Available data show heterogeneous outcomes, with studies reporting an association between the same family genes in subjects of the same age and other studies reporting no correlation. This does not allow us to draw any solid conclusions but paves the way for exploring genes involved in ToM tasks.
Topics: Humans; Theory of Mind; Polymorphism, Genetic; Child; Adult; Mentalization
PubMed: 38927653
DOI: 10.3390/genes15060717 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Classic psychedelics and MDMA have a colorful history of recreational use, and both have recently been re-evaluated as tools for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Classic psychedelics and MDMA have a colorful history of recreational use, and both have recently been re-evaluated as tools for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Several studies have been carried out to assess potential long-term effects of a regular use on cognition, delivering distinct results for psychedelics and MDMA. However, to date knowledge is scarce on cognitive performance during acute effects of those substances. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigate how cognitive functioning is affected by psychedelics and MDMA during the acute drug effects and the sub-acute ("afterglow") window. Our quantitative analyses suggest that acute cognitive performance is differentially affected by psychedelics when compared to MDMA: psychedelics impair attention and executive function, whereas MDMA primarily affects memory, leaving executive functions and attention unaffected. Our qualitative analyses reveal that executive functioning and creativity may be increased during a window of at least 24 h after the acute effects of psychedelics have subsided, whereas no such results have been observed for MDMA. Our findings may contribute to inform recommendations on harm reduction for recreational settings and to help fostering differential approaches for the use of psychedelics and MDMA within a therapeutic framework.
Topics: Humans; Hallucinogens; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; Cognition; Executive Function; Attention; Memory
PubMed: 38926480
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65391-9 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024(1) Background: While medication and various forms of psychotherapy are common treatments for severe mental illness, peer support programs have also proven to be... (Review)
Review
(1) Background: While medication and various forms of psychotherapy are common treatments for severe mental illness, peer support programs have also proven to be effective in managing mental disorders. These programs, which involve individuals with similar experiences in navigating mental health challenges, aim to improve coping skills and foster supportive community networks. However, despite the prevalent mention of peer support programs, especially those with supervision, there has been no systematic review or meta-analysis of peer support supervision. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the forms and effectiveness of peer support programs for individuals with severe mental illnesses. (2) Methods: A literature search focusing on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between February 2003 and January 2024 was conducted. (3) Results: Sixteen RCTs meeting the inclusion criteria and involving a total of 4008 participants were reviewed. These studies utilized various peer support program strategies, with eight studies included in the qualitative analysis. The combined effect sizes for depressive symptoms (d = 0.12; 95% CI, -0.14, 0.37; = 0.37), empowerment (d = 1.17; 95% CI, -0.81, 3.15; = 0.25), quality of life (d = 0.70; 95% CI, -0.12, 1.52; = 0.09), psychiatric symptoms (d = -0.05; 95% CI, -0.20, 0.10; = 0.54), and self-efficacy (d = 0.20; 95% CI, 0.05, 0.36; = 0.01) were assessed. (4) Conclusions: Our analysis emphasizes the need for further studies on peer support programs for individuals with severe mental illness, particularly those focused on self-efficacy outcomes across diverse geographic locations involving more countries and with larger scales to bolster the strength of the evidence.
PubMed: 38921293
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12121179 -
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Psychotherapy for individuals with psychosis is an effective treatment that promotes recovery in various ways. While there is strong quantitative evidence across... (Review)
Review
Psychotherapy for individuals with psychosis is an effective treatment that promotes recovery in various ways. While there is strong quantitative evidence across modalities, less is known from the patient's perspective. There are many varied forms of psychotherapy, and gaining the patient's perspective can improve understanding of salient elements of psychotherapy and increase engagement, ultimately improving recovery rates. The purpose of this review is to identify and integrate data from published studies of patient perspectives of psychotherapy for psychosis to understand essential elements across approaches, differences between approaches, and how psychotherapy impacts recovery. We aimed to understand further: what are the perceptions about individual psychotherapy from the perspective of individuals with psychosis? The current study was a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines of studies that included qualitative interviews with persons with experiences of psychosis who participated in psychotherapy. All three authors participated in the literature search using Pubmed, APA PsycInfo, and Psychiatry Online. We identified = 33 studies. Studies included cognitive therapies, acceptance and mindfulness approaches, trauma therapies, metacognitive therapy, and music therapy. All studies reported participants' perceived benefit with the therapeutic relationship as especially salient. Participants described diverse aspects of objective (e.g., symptoms, functioning) and subjective (e.g., self-experience or quality of life) recovery improvements, with perceived mechanisms of change, and with music therapy having some unique benefits. Participants also reported challenges and suggestions for improvement. Study findings highlight the salient aspects of psychotherapy identified by patients that may help therapists to individualize and improve approaches to psychotherapy when working with individuals experiencing psychosis. Overall, findings support the potential for integrative psychotherapy approaches for maximal treatment personalization.
PubMed: 38920792
DOI: 10.3390/bs14060460 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Jun 2024Cancer has emerged as a considerable global health concern, contributing substantially to both morbidity and mortality. Recognizing the urgent need to enhance the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Cancer has emerged as a considerable global health concern, contributing substantially to both morbidity and mortality. Recognizing the urgent need to enhance the overall well-being and quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients, a growing number of researchers have started using online mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in oncology. However, the effectiveness and optimal implementation methods of these interventions remain unknown.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluates the effectiveness of online MBIs, encompassing both app- and website-based MBIs, for patients with cancer and provides insights into the potential implementation and sustainability of these interventions in real-world settings.
METHODS
Searches were conducted across 8 electronic databases, including the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, SinoMed, CINAHL Complete, Scopus, and PsycINFO, until December 30, 2022. Randomized controlled trials involving cancer patients aged ≥18 years and using app- and website-based MBIs compared to standard care were included. Nonrandomized studies, interventions targeting health professionals or caregivers, and studies lacking sufficient data were excluded. Two independent authors screened articles, extracted data using standardized forms, and assessed the risk of bias in the studies using the Cochrane Bias Risk Assessment Tool. Meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager (version 5.4; The Cochrane Collaboration) and the meta package in R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were used to determine the effects of interventions. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework was used to assess the potential implementation and sustainability of these interventions in real-world settings.
RESULTS
Among 4349 articles screened, 15 (0.34%) were included. The total population comprised 1613 participants, of which 870 (53.9%) were in the experimental conditions and 743 (46.1%) were in the control conditions. The results of the meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, the QOL (SMD 0.37, 95% CI 0.18-0.57; P<.001), sleep (SMD -0.36, 95% CI -0.71 to -0.01; P=.04), anxiety (SMD -0.48, 95% CI -0.75 to -0.20; P<.001), depression (SMD -0.36, 95% CI -0.61 to -0.11; P=.005), distress (SMD -0.50, 95% CI -0.75 to -0.26; P<.001), and perceived stress (SMD -0.89, 95% CI -1.33 to -0.45; P=.003) of the app- and website-based MBIs group in patients with cancer was significantly alleviated after the intervention. However, no significant differences were found in the fear of cancer recurrence (SMD -0.30, 95% CI -1.04 to 0.44; P=.39) and posttraumatic growth (SMD 0.08, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.42; P=.66). Most interventions were multicomponent, website-based health self-management programs, widely used by international and multilingual patients with cancer.
CONCLUSIONS
App- and website-based MBIs show promise for improving mental health and QOL outcomes in patients with cancer, and further research is needed to optimize and customize these interventions for individual physical and mental symptoms.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42022382219; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=382219.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Internet; Internet-Based Intervention; Mindfulness; Neoplasms; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38917445
DOI: 10.2196/47704 -
International Journal of Mental Health... Jun 2024Depression among young people is a global health problem due to its rising prevalence and negative physical and social outcomes. The prevalence of depression and the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Depression among young people is a global health problem due to its rising prevalence and negative physical and social outcomes. The prevalence of depression and the treatment gap among young people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is higher than global estimates. Most psychosocial interventions for adolescent and youth depression were developed in high-income countries and less is known about their effectiveness in SSA. Due to contextual differences, findings from High-Income Countries (HICs) are less applicable to SSA. Yet, no systematic review of psychosocial interventions for depression among young people in SSA has been conducted.
METHODS
A systematic literature search of four databases (Medline, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Cochrane library) was conducted. Experimental studies published before May 2024 that evaluated the effect of psychosocial interventions on depressive symptoms among young people (aged 10-24 years) in SSA were included in the systematic review. Effect sizes (Hedge's g (g)) indicating differences between intervention and control groups were calculated using a random effects model.
RESULTS
Twenty-two eligible studies were identified for the systematic review, of which eighteen randomized control trials (RCTs) involving 2338 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The findings revealed that psychosocial interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms (g = -1.55, 95% CI -2.48, -0.63), although heterogeneity was high (I = 98.8%). Subgroup analysis revealed that efficacy differed significantly by intervention type, with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (9 studies) showing the strongest effect (g = -2.84, 95% CI -4.29; -1.38). While Wise Interventions (a form of positive psychology interventions; 2 studies) had a moderate effect (g = -0.46, 95% C.I -0.53, -0.39), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (2 studies; g = -0.08, 95% CI -1.05, 0.88) and Creative Psychological Interventions (3 studies; g = -0.29, 95% CI -1.38, 0.79) showed smaller, non-significant effects. Sensitivity analysis excluding studies at high risk of bias strengthened the effect size. Few studies assessed factors affecting intervention efficacy and showed mixed effects of age, gender, and adherence levels.
CONCLUSION
Psychosocial interventions, particularly CBT, significantly reduced depressive symptoms among young people in SSA. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the high heterogeneity which likely stems from variations in study populations and intervention delivery modalities. This highlights the need for further research to identify the specific intervention components and delivery methods that work best for distinct subpopulations. Future research should also explore how long intervention effects are maintained and factors affecting efficacy.
PubMed: 38909254
DOI: 10.1186/s13033-024-00642-w -
Noise & HealthThis investigation sought to systematically assess music therapy's impact on aphasia and cognition in patients with post-stroke. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
This investigation sought to systematically assess music therapy's impact on aphasia and cognition in patients with post-stroke.
METHODS
Comprehensive searches were performed across major databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Vip Chinese sci-tech periodicals (VIP), covering publications up to December 2023. After screening and extracting data from the retrieved literature, its quality was appraised, which was followed by a meta-analysis using RevMan software (version 5.4, Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK).
RESULTS
Nine articles, which were published from 2008 to 2022, were covered in this investigation, comprising 309 stroke patients in total. Meta-analysis results from these variations were found to be not statistically significant in the degree of functional communication improvement between the experimental group and the control group (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] (-0.19; 0.77), P > 0.05). These variations were found to be not statistically significant in the improvement of understanding ability in the experimental group compared with that in the control group (SMD = 0.21, 95% CI [-0.66; 1.09], P > 0.05). The degree of improvement in repetitive ability of the experimental group was considerably greater than that of the control group (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI [0.01; 0.76], P < 0.05). These variations were found to be not statistically significant in the improvement of naming ability in the experimental group compared with that in the control group (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI [-0.19; 0.80], P > 0.05). The cognitive score of the experimental group was considerably greater than that of the control group (SMD = 0.75, 95% CI [0.44; 1.06], P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Music therapy can effectively ameliorate the repetition ability of patients with aphasia after stroke. It can also improve the cognitive ability of patients. Thus, music therapy could be further applied to treat this type of patients.
Topics: Music Therapy; Humans; Aphasia; Cognition; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation
PubMed: 38904813
DOI: 10.4103/nah.nah_24_24 -
Research in Psychotherapy (Milano) Jun 2024Therapist responsiveness is an emerging construct in psychotherapy research that still lacks a clear definition and, consequently, a unique operationalization. Indeed,...
Therapist responsiveness is an emerging construct in psychotherapy research that still lacks a clear definition and, consequently, a unique operationalization. Indeed, there is a great overlap between therapist responsiveness and other variables, such as attunement, flexibility, and empathy. This overlap inevitably hinders the assessment of the therapist's responsiveness, although it is crucial for the effectiveness of the treatments. Therefore, the current systematic review aims at exploring the different methodologies of measurement and analysis of therapist responsiveness, including both direct and indirect instruments. The results confirmed difficulties and divergences in the operationalization of the construct, as shown by the great heterogeneity found in the choice and use of the tools. Furthermore, this review provides guidance for future research, clinical practice, and training of therapists.
PubMed: 38904610
DOI: 10.4081/ripppo.2024.751