Health Psychology Research最新文献

Background: Biofield therapies can be administered in person (hands-on treatment) or remotely, and this study focuses on the latter. A literature review did not find any reports on the effectiveness of remote biofield energy /blessing therapy in enhancing cognition and motor function performance in adults.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of distant/remote blessing (biofield energy) therapy on the cognitive and motor functions in adults with self-reported neuropsychological impairments using NIH Toolbox^®.

Methods: The present study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial involving 117 participants with self-reported neuropsychological impairments. These participants were stratified into three distinct groups: control, sham control, and blessing/biofield treatment as the intervention. At baseline (day 0), day 90, and day 180, NIH Toolbox^® was employed to evaluate all participants' cognitive and motor function scores.

Results: In the blessing treatment group, language function score (p <0.01), working memory (p <0.0001), and episodic memory (p <0.0001) scores exhibited statistically significant differences compared to both the naïve control and sham control groups. Moreover, in the blessing intervention group, a substantial improvement was observed in locomotion (p <0.0001), standing balance (p <0.01), dexterity (p <0.01), grip strength (p <0.05), and muscle endurance (p <0.05) compared to the naïve control and sham control groups. Importantly, no adverse effects were reported during the study period.

Conclusion: The study outcomes revealed that distant/remote blessing/biofield energy therapy is safe, non-invasive, and less expensive. It enhances cognitive-motor functions in adults with perceived neuropsychological impairments.

Clinical trial registration: CTRI/2022/07/043736.

Background: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Primary pharmacologic interventions include stimulants and non-stimulants. Diagnosing ADHD is typically more difficult in women due to a range of different symptoms between the sexes. Although ADHD has had more advocacy recently, misdiagnoses are still common, resulting in ADHD being mistaken for other disorders. This study aims to decipher the prevalence of undiagnosed ADHD.

Methods: A web-based survey was administered, comprising of a questionnaire derived from the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-V1.1), and two additional questions formulated to determine whether the individual was initially diagnosed with ADHD and whether they take medications for it. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale is split into two parts where part A determines the symptoms and part B further probes into specific symptoms.

Results: Amongst the cohort of 200, the percentage undiagnosed ADHD was 14%. 61% were women, while 39% were men. The first two questions on the ASRS-V1.1, pertaining to task completion, were the most statistically significant results.

Conclusion: Although advocacy for ADHD has increased in the last twenty years, our study found that 14% of a layperson cohort are undiagnosed with ADHD. It appears that undiagnosed ADHD is more prevalent in women compared to men.

Objective: Are individuals who use hallucinogens self-medicating their mental illness and are they more likely to abuse other illegal substances?

Design setting participants: Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) database was queried for correlations with hallucinogen use. Using age group as a control variable, different variables were run through a crosstab in order to find significant data pointing to the implications of hallucinogen use.

Results: The data from the crosstab analysis showed three key findings about hallucinogen use: Those with mental illness or substance abuse issues were substantially more likely to use hallucinogens, the hallucinogen use greatly increased with the pandemic along with further mental health issues, and those who used hallucinogens were more significantly likely to abuse other illegal substances, primarily in a younger population.

Conclusion: The positive correlation between mental health issues and hallucinogen use emphasizes the need for better mental health services, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.The positive correlation between hallucinogen use and other drug use indicates the widespread drug abuse problem, especially within a younger population in which drugs pose a larger neurological threat.

Background: Problematic TikTok Use (PTU) is a psychological condition marked by compulsive and excessive engagement with the app, often characterized by prolonged scrolling, content interaction, and seeking user feedback.

Methods: This qualitative study, conducted from February to March 2024, explored factors driving TikTok addiction, its consequences, and strategies for mitigation. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and surveys with 56 participants (23 men, 33 women).

Results: Thematic analysis identified key addiction-related factors, including excessive time spent on the app, emotional attachment, and cognitive rumination over viewed content. Women demonstrated a higher likelihood of developing PTU, particularly when using TikTok for over six hours daily and displaying significant emotional and cognitive ties to its content. Despite its addictive potential, participants acknowledged positive aspects of TikTok, such as its capacity to disseminate cultural, educational, and artistic content. However, negative effects, including procrastination, attention deficits, and exposure to harmful content, were also noted.

Conclusion: This study highlights the dual nature of TikTok's impact, emphasizing the need for balanced use and targeted interventions to reduce addiction while leveraging its positive features.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of healthcare employees' emotional competence (EC) on patient loyalty in public and private hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, with a focus on the mediating roles of respect, trust, and rapport.

Method: A survey of 244 patients measured respect, trust, rapport, EC, and patient loyalty using a 5-point Likert scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to assess the relationships between EC and patient loyalty, comparing results between public and private hospitals.

Results: EC significantly enhanced patient loyalty, with respect and rapport serving as key mediators. Private hospitals showed higher EC levels among staff, leading to greater patient loyalty, while public hospitals, impacted by staff fatigue and high patient loads, demonstrated lower EC and reduced loyalty. EC accounted for 58% of service quality variance and 65% of loyalty variance.

Conclusions: Emotional competence is essential for improving patient loyalty in healthcare settings. Training programs targeting EC, especially in public hospitals, could enhance patient satisfaction and long-term loyalty.

Objectives: Chronic disease is a condition that is susceptible to deterioration both physically, psychologically and socially, so protective measures are needed to control this vulnerability, namely by flourishing. This research is aimed at identifying biological, psychological and social factors that influence the proliferation of chronic health.

Methods and analysis: This research was carried out in five stages by identifying questions according to PCC and searching for qualitative, quantitative and mixed method studies published from 2010 to 2024 that measured the flourishing of various chronic health conditions. The search strategy used the word flourishing and several appropriate terms on Sciencedirect, IEEE Xplore, Emerald, Taylor & Francis, and Oxford Academics as well as Google Scholar as gray literature. 1,550 studies were found from 6 databases and the final selection results found 19 studies to be analyzed. Two reviewers performed data extraction based on the protocol and underwent quality assessment. Results reporting is categorized based on biological, psychological, social and demographic factors that can influence flourishing.

Results: There are biological, psychological and social factors that can influence the proliferation of chronic health, each of which influences the health condition of a person with a chronic health condition.

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of AI treatment research for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from 2007 to 2023, focusing on global contributions across countries, institutions, authors, and keywords. The United States leads with 164 documents and 4988 citations, highlighting its central role in advancing AI technologies for ASD therapies, followed by significant contributions from China (90 documents, 1190 citations) and India (65 documents, 564 citations). Institutions like Stanford University and McGill University demonstrate substantial research output, while authors such as Dennis Wall are prominent with contributions that make diagnosing Autism much more efficient with the use of AI. Keywords like "Machine learning", "Autism spectrum disorder", and "Children" dominate, reflecting ongoing efforts to leverage technology for ASD interventions. Overall, this analysis underscores a dynamic global effort to enhance ASD treatment methodologies through collaborative research and technological innovations.

Background: This review aims to examine scientific evidence, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes achieved through the use of Virtual Reality (VR) in the context of Eating Disorders.

Method: We conducted a systematic search (PRISMA) and selected articles published in databases such as PubMed, Health and Medical Collection, and Science Direct Elsevier Journal.

Results: Numerous pieces of evidence demonstrate that VR is a valuable tool in treating anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Additionally, it proves effective in addressing components of Eating Disorders (EDs), such as attentional bias related to body image and Body Image Disturbance. Specifically, the following treatments have emerged: VR Cue Exposure, Body Swapping, AB Modification Training via VR, and repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation combined with VR. Virtual environments and embodiment in virtual bodies also allow for the assessment of variables related to EDs.

Conclusion: This review highlights how VR, with its specific characteristics, serves as an excellent ally to enhance both assessment and treatment for EDs. Future research should focus on filling existing gaps and delving into aspects not yet explored. One potential development could involve creating guidelines for VR use in EDs.

Background: Fentanyl is a powerful opioid. The abuse and overdoses related to Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl (IMF) have become more prevalent. The majority of clinical studies on fentanyl have focused on its medical and biological aspects, particularly its addictive properties. Few studies have delved into the psychological aspects of illicit fentanyl use, and there is currently no comprehensive review providing a structured psycho-social profile of the population groups most vulnerable to its effects. The goal of this Scoping Review was to construct a psychological and social profile of individuals at risk of using illicit fentanyl. This profile will serve as a guiding force for shaping behavioral policies and public health prevention efforts necessary to face the recent pandemic.

Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines we conducted a Scoping Review focused on the following research question: What are the practical psycho-social implications of illicit fentanyl use in the global population?

Results: The bibliographic research was carried out in the databases of Medline, Scopus, and PsycNet. The articles resulting from the research phase in the databases listed above produced a total of 17737 reports. After the screening process, 10 studies were included in the scoping review.

Discussion and conclusion: This scoping review was the first to consistently and systematically outline the psychosocial implications of fentanyl dependence. Users of IMF are consistently younger than other drug users. People using fentanyl have a relatively low perception of risk. On the psycho-social levels, there is a significant correlation between fentanyl use and mental disorders such as suicidal thoughts, anxiety disorders, and depression. The development of psychotherapy, along with digital tools such as apps and online platforms, can be an initial step in addressing this challenge.

Background: The pandemic of 2019 has created large scale disruption around the globe. It has posed extraordinary hurdles for Chinese health workers, affecting their mental health with respect to situations in the present as well as the future. Recognising the dynamic features of these mental health issues among health professionals is critical for developing effective support systems.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the dual impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of health professionals in China, both during and after the pandemic; to explore the probable underlying factors causing these mental health issues; to identify both adaptive and maladaptive coping behaviours employed by the health personnel; and to assess the organisational and social support to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the mental health of the Chinese health professionals.

Method: To address these objectives an explorative qualitative research design has been adopted involving analysis of previous researches in the relevant field.

Results: The study confirms anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, PTSD, and burnout among medical personnel as immediate shock and residual stress, along with its demographic variations. Few maladaptive coping behaviours have been identified that can lead to delayed psychological effects even after a pandemic.

Conclusion: The key findings underscore the complicated interaction of immediate and delayed mental health challenges among health professionals, advocating for the deployment of tailored treatments and policy modifications to address the ever changing needs of this vital workforce.