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Adjustment to illness of cancer patients treated by complementary therapy along with conventional therapy.

This pilot study compares the adjustment to illness, i.e. psychosocial and psychological distress, of 29 cancer patients being treated by complementary therapy along with conventional therapy, with a control group of 29 patients being treated by conventional therapy only. The findings indicate statistical differences in the brief symptom inventory scale (BSI), namely, the psychological distress of patients who received conventional therapy only was more severe than those being treated by complementary therapy with conventional therapy. No statistical differences, however, were found between the two groups in terms of psychosocial adjustment to the illness (PAIS). The findings lead to a recommendation that complementary therapy should be offered by public medical facilities as part of the standard treatment for cancer patients in order to ease psychological distress.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

The influence of rehabilitation on behaviour modification in COPD.

Psychological and social factors are important in functioning and well-being of patients with chronic lung disease. While a rehabilitation programme of 4-10 weeks may optimise physical function, maintenance of results of rehabilitation depends for a substantial part on psychological factors such as mood, coping and lifestyle. Behavioural research suggests that modifying behavioural patterns and coping styles takes time and improvement of depressive state or symptoms may also take months. While no clear recommendations can be abstracted from the present literature concerning composition and duration of psychosocial programmes, we would suggest a duration of the programme of at least 3 months with inclusion of structured psychosocial elements aiming at behaviour modification. Regular physical and social activities in the post-rehabilitation period are necessary for relapse prevention. Evidence for this approach, however, is up to now only circumstantial. Further research should focus on maintaining results of rehabilitation and in particular on the role of psychological factors.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Psychological and functional profiles in select subjects with low back pain.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Some researchers have found a correlation of poor treatment outcomes in patients with low back pain and abnormal psychological profiles, whereas others have failed to confirm this correlation. A critical feature of this debate has been whether abnormal psychological profiles seen in patients with back pain are the result of the ongoing back pain or whether pre-existing psychological features predispose to a poor clinical outcome. PURPOSE: To determine the relationship of psychometric testing scores to the presence and duration of back pain of differing causes. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: This was a prospective observational study of the psychological profiles of groups of patients with low back pain and controls. PATIENT SAMPLE: Subjects having a variety of painful back conditions (n=310) were compared with a control group of subjects without low back complaints who had undergone cervical spine surgery (n=73). OUTCOMES MEASURES: Psychometric testing (Modified Zung and Modified Somatic Pain Questionnaire) was performed along with pain scores (visual analog scale [VAS]), a standardized Low Back Pain Questionnaire, and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire in the evaluation of back pain and control subjects. METHODS: The subjects with painful back conditions included patients with presumed discogenic pain undergoing discography (n=95); patients with symptomatic isthmic spondylolisthesis coming to fusion (n=61); patients with chronic vertebral osteomyelitis before diagnosis and treatment (n=39). There was also a nonpatient group of soldiers with chronic low back pain not seeking medical care (n=115). The control subjects without low back pain consisted of a group who had undergone cervical spine surgery (n=73). Psychometric testing was performed and compared in the evaluation of subjects having these different painful back conditions. Analysis was done comparing pain scores, function scores, and psychological testing scores between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. RESULTS: The VAS maximum in last week score for the entire group was 7.1, and scores were not significantly different in all low back pain groups. The Oswestry scores were poorest in the discography group compared to spondylolisthesis and osteomyelitis. Functional scores were similar in the soldiers with low back pain and controls without low back pain. Both Depression and Somatic Pain scores were most abnormal in the discogenic low back pain group. Only 21% of this group had normal scores, compared with 71% of the spondylolisthesis group, 79% of osteomyelitis group, and 88% of the group with chronic low back pain not seeking treatment (p<.001 in all groups). The asymptomatic control group had 85% normal scores. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar pain levels and pain duration, patients with the discographic diagnosis of discogenic back pain have poorer functional scores and very abnormal psychological scores compared with other subjects with chronic low back pain resulting from spondylolisthesis requiring surgery or chronic pyogenic osteomyelitis. Chronic moderately severe mechanical low back pain in healthy subjects was not associated with abnormal psychological scores or functional disability.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Anxiety level and responses to stress caused by air raids among patients with ischemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to examine the short-term responses of patients with ischemic heart disease to life-threatening events such as war. METHODS: This retrospective study included 75 persons with ischemic heart disease who were admitted to the Cardiac policlinic for a control check-up immediately after the suspension of air raids. Two-thirds of them were male (average age 62 +/- 10). Data were obtained using a specially conceived questionnaire based on recall. RESULTS: Almost 40% of patients estimated that they were very anxious the week before the attacks began, but the anxiety decreased after the beginning of the air raids. Frequency of anginal pains increased after the start of the air raids, but the difference was not statisticaly significant. The intensity of pains drastically increased in the first week of war. Consequently, the average number of pain killers consumed increased from the week before the attacks to the first week of the attacks, and it reached the highest value the week after the suspension of the attacks (1.39, 1.87, and 3.02 pain pills per week, respectively). The average weekly number of medications was 3.50 in the week prior to the air raids, increased to 5.05 during the first week of air raids, and rose to 6.06 in the week after the suspension. CONCLUSION: The adjustment on the psychological level was rapid but physical symptoms increased. This implies that physical adaptation to stress could be slower, or that the stress of the war provoked permanent changes in physical status.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

The psychological dimension of informed consent: dissonance processes in genetic testing.

This paper discusses the issue of the psychological dimension of informed consent. In this paper, the author proposes that informed consent is a continuous variable rather than a dichotomous one. When clients better understand their motives and actual, rather than just perceived degree of choice in pursuing a particular option in a medical setting, their level of informed consent is greater. Findings from existing literature in the field of genetic testing are examined in terms of dissonance theory. These findings suggest that testing candidates sometimes overestimate their coping skills and minimize the threat to psychological integrity that a particular genetic result may pose. Counseling directed towards realistic appraisal of degree of choice in pursuing testing is examined as an aspect of supporting informed consent and possibly reducing the potential for adverse psychological outcome in the longer term.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Using the impact of event scale to evaluate psychological response to being a phenylketonuria gene carrier.

The birth of a child with phenylketonuria (PKU) is almost always a shock to the parents, who are faced with the realities of caring for a child with special needs and the need to cope with the realization that they are obligate carriers of the responsible gene. The Impact of Event Scale (IES) was used to assess the psychological impact of being a PKU gene carrier on 83 parents of children with PKU. IES scores decreased significantly from the time of initial diagnosis of PKU to the current time. The magnitude of the psychological impact did not correlate with the age of the parent, the number of years since the diagnosis of PKU, or the health or development of the child. As more tests become available for detecting the presence of disease-related genes, instruments such as the IES may prove useful in the evaluation of psychological responses to genetic information.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Psychopathology in epilepsy. The role of psychology in altering paradigms of research, treatment, and prevention.

This article offers a brief review of the literature examining epilepsy and abnormal behavior. The generally accepted concept of epilepsy as a high psychiatric risk disorder is reexamined in light of research that has investigated the influence of selection bias. A conceptual model that organizes the known or postulated risk variables (neurological, psychosocial, and medication) is presented, with emphasis on psychology's potential contribution.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Self-esteem, mood, and self-evaluation: changes in mood and the way you see you.

Three studies found that self-esteem moderates the relation between mood and self-evaluation. In Study 1, a standard mood-induction procedure was used to induce positive, negative, or neutral moods in low self-esteem (LSE) Ss and high self-esteem Ss. Afterward, Ss evaluated their specific qualities and characteristics (e.g., How smart are you? How kind are you?). Both self-esteem groups evaluated themselves favorably in a positive mood, but LSE Ss were more apt to lower their self-evaluations in a negative mood. Study 2 found a similar, though weaker pattern using a noncognitive, musical mood induction; Study 3 found that these effects occur with variations in naturally occurring mood over a 6-week period. The authors suggest that the tendency for LSE people to respond to negative moods with self-depreciation contributes to psychological distress.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Why minority group members perceive or do not perceive the discrimination that confronts them: the role of self-esteem and perceived control.

Self-esteem and perceived control were examined to explain why minority group members sometimes perceive discrimination but, more often, minimize the discrimination. Women (Study 1), and Asians and Blacks (Study 2) reacted to negative feedback after information about the probability for discrimination. Minority group members tended to minimize discrimination and attributed their failure to themselves. By perceiving discrimination as a reason for failure, minority group members protected their performance state self-esteem. In contrast, by minimizing discrimination, they protected their social state self-esteem and maintained the perception of control in the performance and social domains. Results suggest that minority group members minimize discrimination because the consequences of doing so are psychologically beneficial.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Social support as a moderator of the relationship between work stressors and psychological dysfunctioning: a longitudinal study with objective measures.

The match hypothesis proposed by S. Cohen and T. A. Wills (1985) is extended, and the buffer effect of social support is tested within a longitudinal study with objective measures (N = 90 male blue-collar workers in the German metal industry). Stressors at work were ascertained by observers and a variant of a peer rating. Psychological, physical, and social stressors at work and leisure time stressors were ascertained. The dependent variables of dysfunctioning were psychosomatic complaints, depression, irritation/strain, and (social) anxiety. There were moderator effects of social support on the relationship between stressors and psychological dysfunctioning. Results are in line with the match hypothesis as social stressors and socially oriented aspects of psychological dysfunctioning were affected most strongly.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Work-family conflict, spouse support, and nursing staff well-being during organizational restructuring.

This study examined work and family conflict, spouse support, and nursing staff well-being during a time of hospital restructuring and downsizing. Data were collected from 686 hospital-based nurses, the vast majority (97%) women. Nurses reported significantly greater work-family conflict than family-work conflict. Personal demographic but not downsizing and restructuring variables predicted family-work conflict; downsizing and restructuring variables but not personal demographics predicted work-family conflict. Spouse support had no effect on work-family conflict but reduced family-work conflict. Both work-family conflict and family-work conflict were associated with less work satisfaction and greater psychological distress.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Childbirth as crisis: a test of Janis's theory of communication and stress resolution.

The relationship between expectation and subjective outcome in childbirth was investigated. Sixty primigravidae responded to a questionnaire before and after labor and delivery. The evaluation of childbirth as favorable or unfavorable was related to whether the experience was rated better or worse than expectation. Anticipation of labor and delivery was positively related to a woman's perception of her mother's experience in childbirth, but was not related to the woman's evaluation of her actual delivery experience. Women receiving extreme communications or no information from their mother reported poorer outcomes than women who received moderate communications. Anxiety, as measured by the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, and denial, as measured by the Self-Criticism Scale of the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, were not related to anticipation or subjective outcome measures. Results were interpreted within Janis's theory of psychological stress.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Gender, coping, and psychological well-being in spouses of older adults with chronic dementia.

Relationships among gender, types of coping strategies, and psychological well-being were examined in 61 spousal caregivers of older adults with chronic dementia. Gender emerged as a significant correlate of well-being (with women reporting higher levels of distress), although not of related coping strategies. Implications for research into interactions among biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to women's psychological distress are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗