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Neuroscience Bulletin Jun 2024
PubMed: 38662273
DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01203-4 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2024
PubMed: 38645691
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1403768 -
The International Journal on Drug Policy May 2024The ongoing overdose and drug toxicity crisis in North America has contributed momentum to the emergence of safer supply prescribing and programs in Canada as a means of...
The ongoing overdose and drug toxicity crisis in North America has contributed momentum to the emergence of safer supply prescribing and programs in Canada as a means of providing an alternative to the highly volatile unregulated drug supply. The implementation and scale-up of safer supply have been met with a vocal reaction on the part of news media commentators, conservative politicians, recovery industry representatives, and some prominent addiction medicine physicians. This reaction has largely converged around several narratives, based on unsubstantiated claims and anecdotal evidence, alleging that safer supply programs are generating a "new opioid epidemic", reflecting an emerging alignment among key institutional and political actors. Employing situational analysis method, and drawing on the policy studies and social science scholarship on moral panics, this essay examines news media coverage from January to July 2023, bringing this into dialogue with other existing empirical sources on safer supply (e.g. Coroner's reports, program evaluations, debates among experts in medical journals). We employ eight previously established criteria delineating moral panics to critically appraise public dialogue regarding safer supply, diverted medication, and claims of increased youth initiation to drug use and youth overdose. In detailing the emergence of a moral panic regarding safer supply, we trace historic continuities with earlier drug scares in Canadian history mobilized as tools of racialized poverty governance, as well as previous backlashes towards healthcare interventions for people who use drugs (PWUD). The essay assesses the claims of moral entrepreneurs against the current landscape of opioid use, diversion, and overdose among youth, notes the key role played by medical expertise in this and previous moral panics, and identifies what the convergence of these narratives materialize for PWUD and healthcare access, as well as the broader policy responses such narratives activate.
Topics: Humans; Canada; Mass Media; Morals; Opioid-Related Disorders; Harm Reduction; Opioid Epidemic; Drug Overdose; Prescription Drug Diversion; Adolescent; Substance-Related Disorders; Narration
PubMed: 38642543
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104423 -
Acta Psychologica Jun 2024The study's significance lies in the multitude of challenges facing individuals today, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, military conflicts like the war in Ukraine, and the... (Review)
Review
The study's significance lies in the multitude of challenges facing individuals today, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, military conflicts like the war in Ukraine, and the escalating rates of cancer morbidity and mortality. These factors contribute to the onset of anxiety and depressive disorders, disrupting various aspects of individuals' mental functioning and social interactions. Addressing these disorders effectively necessitates a comprehensive approach, combining pharmacological interventions with psychotherapeutic strategies under the guidance of specialized professionals. In this regard, the study is aimed at identifying aspects and features of the development of psychological problems and personality disorders in the modern world filled with various stressors. The leading methods of studying this problem are analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, comparison, experiment and systematisation of approaches that will help determine a wide range of mental disorders. Theoretical methods were used to analyze the literature and summarize theoretical material on anxiety and depressive disorders. Diagnostic methods were used to assess the psychological state of the study population. The study examines significant clinical syndromes and vegetative disorders that disrupt normal lifestyle, hinder daily activities, and impede professional growth. It evaluates the roles of psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers in assisting individuals with anxiety disorders. It outlines preventive measures for anxiety and depression, while also delving into various types of anxiety disorders. The research proposes diverse methods to prevent emotional anxiety and instability. It underscores the importance of devising novel strategies for diagnosis and therapy, emphasizing a comprehensive approach involving psychotherapeutic support, medical intervention, and adaptive behavioral techniques. The findings of the study hold both practical and theoretical significance for professionals in psychology, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and sociology who provide support for individuals with anxiety and depressive disorders. Furthermore, the insights provided may be pertinent to researchers and scholars investigating the psychological well-being of contemporary society amidst adverse external circumstances.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Anxiety Disorders; Depressive Disorder; Personality Disorders
PubMed: 38642453
DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104285 -
Journal of Anxiety Disorders Jun 2024First responders and other public safety personnel (PSP) experience high rates of mental health problems and face barriers to accessing mental healthcare.... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
First responders and other public safety personnel (PSP) experience high rates of mental health problems and face barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) is an effective and accessible treatment for various mental health concerns. Canadian PSP report favorable attitudes toward ICBT, and preliminary outcomes demonstrate that they benefit from it. Expanding on this research, the current study consisted of a longitudinal observational study of 560 Canadian PSP who participated in ICBT. It was designed to assess the longer term effectiveness of ICBT and moderators of outcomes by gender, linguistic and occupational group, and years of occupational experience. We evaluated symptom change at 8, 26, and 52 weeks post-enrollment, and results among PSP who had elevated clinical scores, showed large reductions (Hedges' g) in symptoms of depression (g = 1.3), anxiety (g =1.48), posttraumatic stress (g =1.24), panic (g =1.19), and anger (g =1.07) and moderate reductions in symptoms of social anxiety (g =.48-.56). Moderator analyses revealed modest differences in pre-treatment symptoms among certain groups but no group differences in symptom change over time. Clients showed good completion of treatment materials and reported high treatment satisfaction. The results suggest further study of ICBT tailored to PSP is warranted, including evaluating ICBT tailored for PSP in other countries.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Longitudinal Studies; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Adult; Middle Aged; Internet; Canada; Treatment Outcome; Depression; Internet-Based Intervention; Anxiety; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
PubMed: 38640867
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2024.102861 -
International Journal of Infectious... Aug 2024
Topics: Humans; Influenza in Birds; Animals; Influenza, Human; Pandemics; Birds; Mass Media; Global Health
PubMed: 38631509
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107062 -
PloS One 2024Anxiety disorders are common and debilitating which is why treatment is so important. According to the guidelines, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has the highest...
BACKGROUND
Anxiety disorders are common and debilitating which is why treatment is so important. According to the guidelines, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has the highest level of effectiveness among psychotherapeutic treatments and is the recommended procedure. However, not everyone responds well or at all to CBT which makes a wider range of therapy options valuable. Positive Psychotherapy (PPT) comes to mind as an alternative with its strength-based approach focusing on enhancing well-being and life satisfaction. Additionally, it has not yet been extensively studied how the processes that occur during treatment sessions and between treatment sessions effect treatment outcome. Thus, to lessen the lack of evidence regarding the efficacy of PPT as an anxiety treatment the planned study examines and compares the effectiveness of CBT and PPT as well as the effect of intrasession and intersession processes of the two therapy approaches.
METHOD
The study is in the planning stage and consists of an efficacy and a process study. The efficacy study is a randomized controlled comparative study of patients with anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia) with two active treatment conditions (PPT and CBT) and a control group (CG; positive psychotherapy with minimal therapeutic supervision) in an online group setting. There are three measurement time points: before treatment begins (T0), at the end of the ten-week treatment (T1), and a follow-up after three months (T2). The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of PPT and CBT in the treatment of anxiety disorders, and to compare the efficacy of online-based PPT with minimal therapeutic supervision and online-based PPT with intensive therapeutic supervision in the treatment of anxiety disorders. The process study will be used to evaluate both the intrasession processes and the intersession processes of the therapy in the two intervention groups. In addition, the process variables that predict the success of the therapy and the extent to which PPT and CBT differ in the therapy processes will be tested. The study is registered at the German Clinical Trial Register (№ DRKS00027521).
DISCUSSION
To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled comparative study to examine the effectiveness of CBT and PPT for anxiety disorders in an online group setting.
Topics: Humans; Anxiety Disorders; Psychotherapy; Anxiety; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Agoraphobia; Treatment Outcome; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38625877
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299803 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Apr 2024Panic disorder is a common and important disease in clinical practice that decreases individual productivity and increases health care use. Treatments comprise... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Panic disorder is a common and important disease in clinical practice that decreases individual productivity and increases health care use. Treatments comprise medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. However, adverse medication effects and poor treatment compliance mean new therapeutic models are needed.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that digital therapy for panic disorder may improve panic disorder symptoms and that treatment response would be associated with brain activity changes assessed with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
METHODS
Individuals (n=50) with a history of panic attacks were recruited. Symptoms were assessed before and after the use of an app for panic disorder, which in this study was a smartphone-based app for treating the clinical symptoms of panic disorder, panic symptoms, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. The hemodynamics in the frontal cortex during the resting state were measured via fNIRS. The app had 4 parts: diary, education, quest, and serious games. The study trial was approved by the institutional review board of Chung-Ang University Hospital (1041078-202112-HR-349-01) and written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
RESULTS
The number of participants with improved panic symptoms in the app use group (20/25, 80%) was greater than that in the control group (6/21, 29%; χ=12.3; P=.005). During treatment, the improvement in the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) score in the app use group was greater than that in the control group (F=7.03; P=.01). In the app use group, the total PDSS score declined by 42.5% (mean score 14.3, SD 6.5 at baseline and mean score 7.2, SD 3.6 after the intervention), whereas the PDSS score declined by 14.6% in the control group (mean score 12.4, SD 5.2 at baseline and mean score 9.8, SD 7.9 after the intervention). There were no significant differences in accumulated oxygenated hemoglobin (accHbO) at baseline between the app use and control groups. During treatment, the reduction in accHbO in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC; F=8.22; P=.006) and the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; F=8.88; P=.005) was greater in the app use than the control group.
CONCLUSIONS
Apps for panic disorder should effectively reduce symptoms and VLPFC and OFC brain activity in patients with panic disorder. The improvement of panic disorder symptoms was positively correlated with decreased VLPFC and OFC brain activity in the resting state.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Clinical Research Information Service KCT0007280; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?seq=21448.
Topics: Humans; Panic Disorder; Mobile Applications; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
PubMed: 38608270
DOI: 10.2196/51428 -
BMC Sports Science, Medicine &... Apr 2024Cancer treatments have many adverse effects on patient's health leading to poor cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular- degeneration, fatigue, loss of strength and...
BACKGROUND
Cancer treatments have many adverse effects on patient's health leading to poor cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular- degeneration, fatigue, loss of strength and physical function, altered body-composition, compromised immune-function, peripheral neuropathy, and reduced quality of life (QOL). Exercise programs can significantly increase functional capacity when tailored to individual needs, thus improving health. Exercise interventions in cancer rehabilitation, when supported by appropriate nutrition can be effective in attaining a healthy weight and body-composition. The successful rehabilitation program should also include psycho-social education aimed to reduce anxiety and improve motivation.
METHODS
The current study aimed to collect information on the post-treatment needs of cancer patients including barriers and expectations facing them, their caregivers and their families through consultation in focus group interviews. Cancer survivors living in the Republic of Ireland were recruited from the University Hospital Galway, community-based cancer centres, cancer support groups and social media platforms to participate in the study and attend a focus group interview. The focus group discussions were designed to obtain information on the collective views of cancer survivors on relevant topics selected. The topics were developed in consultation with a patient and public involvement (PPI) group supporting the study. The topics list was circulated to all participants prior to the focus group. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Focus group transcripts were analysed subjected to a thematic framework analysis using NVivo.
RESULTS
Thirty-six participants took part in 9 focus groups. Our analysis uncovered two main themes. The first theme 'cast adrift with no direction' was grouped into three sub-themes: everything revolves around treatment; panic and fear; and what exercise should I be doing? The second theme 'everybody is different' was clustered into two sub-themes: side effects get in the way; and personalised exercise program.
CONCLUSION
The study highlighted the lack of information and support needed by patients living with and beyond cancer. The study also highlighted the need for a personalised exercise programme designed to target the individual patient symptoms that would be ideal for the mitigation of long term symptoms and in improving QOL.
PubMed: 38605386
DOI: 10.1186/s13102-024-00864-y -
The Journal of Communication Inquiry Apr 2023This research examines how news constructed vulnerability in the coverage of COVID-19 and populations in prisons and jails. Focused on key moments during the moral panic...
This research examines how news constructed vulnerability in the coverage of COVID-19 and populations in prisons and jails. Focused on key moments during the moral panic around the pandemic, the analysis of publications from across the U.S. found substantial reporting earlier in 2020, and a striking absence and ignorance of key developments later into 2021. Six news discourses - journalistic objectivity, blaming and abandonment, vulnerability, compassion, vilification, and absence - were complicated by the climate of demonstrations for racial justice.
PubMed: 38603338
DOI: 10.1177/01968599221141082