An anxiety regulation framework with a positive emotion-guided strategy: Integrating EEG neurofeedback and music intervention.

ANTICIPATED REWARD IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

The effectiveness of school-based mental health programmes for adolescents has been well established before the COVID-19 pandemic, but their impact at different adolescent stages and during global crises remains underexplored. This study assessed a brief intervention (five 1-hour sessions) delivered during the pandemic, comparing its effects in early and middle adolescence. Using a quasi-experimental pre-post design, 190 students (35% girls) from two schools participated, with 133 in the intervention group and 57 in the control group. The programme incorporated positive psychology techniques to enhance mental health. Outcomes measured included positive and negative affect, self-esteem, anxiety, and academic performance, with comparisons between early (n = 67) and middle (n = 66) adolescence. Results showed that the intervention group experienced significant increases in positive affect and self-esteem, and reductions in anxiety, compared to controls. The programme was particularly effective for students in middle adolescence. These findings support the implementation of brief psychoeducational interventions in schools to strengthen adolescents’ mental health and coping skills during challenging periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previous research has shown that self-focused writing interventions produce increases in positive affect. This paper examines whether writing about someone else will produce similar increases in positive affect in college students. In Experiment 1, participants wrote about their ideal future, the ideal future of a loved one, or their daily activities. In Experiment 2, participants wrote about three good things or three neutral things that happened either to themselves or to others. In both experiments, participants who wrote about positive outcomes reported increases in positive affect greater than the control group regardless of whether they wrote about themselves or wrote about others. In Experiment1, the increase in positive affect was greater for those who wrote about themselves than those who wrote about others. No such difference was found in Experiment 2. Negative affect change scores did not differ across the groups in either experiment. Implications of these findings are discussed.

This study aimed to examine the impact of a pilgrimage on the Way of St. James on psychological distress and subjective well-being, and to compare these outcomes with a control group on non-pilgrimage vacations. Additionally, the study explored psychological process variables that may mediate the pilgrimage's beneficial effects. A nonrandomized pretest-posttest design was used, involving 444 pilgrims and 124 controls. Participants completed baseline and post-experience self-reported measures of psychological distress, subjective well-being, and psychological processes (i.e., mindfulness, nonattachment, engaged living). A 3-month follow-up was conducted only in the pilgrim group. Mediation analyses examined psychological processes as potential mediators of pre-post change in the pilgrim group (vs. control). Within-group analyses revealed that the pilgrim group experienced improvements in psychological distress, subjective well-being, and psychological processes immediately post-experience, with most measures sustaining improvement at the 3-month follow-up. Compared to the control group, pilgrims showed significantly greater increases in positive affect, life satisfaction, and valued living, alongside greater reductions in anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Valued living partially mediated the relationship between pilgrimage and positive affect, and fully mediated the effects on perceived stress, negative affect, life satisfaction, and subjective happiness. Pilgrimage on the Way of St. James effectively reduced psychological distress and enhanced subjective well-being, with greater benefits observed compared to a non-pilgrimage vacation control group. Consistent with the concept of pilgrimage as a transformative experience, significant improvements in valued living were noted, which mediated some of the positive outcomes post-pilgrimage. The Way of St. James may serve as a valuable complementary approach for alleviating distress and promoting well-being. Further studies exploring the effects of this pilgrimage on specific populations and using more robust study designs are warranted.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04141813.

Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients.

Music therapy in cancer patients: fact or fiction?

Children of mothers with a history of depression are at heightened risk for developing depression and other maladaptive outcomes. Deficits in parenting are one putative mechanism underlying this transmission of risk from mother to child. The present study evaluated whether a brief intervention with mothers with a history of depression produced greater use of positive parenting behaviors and an increase in observed positive affect in their 8- to 10-year-old children. Mothers with a history of depression (n = 65) were randomly assigned to either a positive parenting intervention or an attention control intervention condition. In addition, a comparison group of 66 mothers with no history of depression was evaluated one time. Results revealed significant increases in positive parenting behaviors (e.g., active listening, praise) immediately postintervention in mothers randomized to the positive parenting intervention as compared to those in the attention control condition. Children of mothers in the positive parenting intervention showed increases in positive affect as compared to children of mothers in the attention control intervention. Increases in mothers' active listening and smiling/laughing significantly predicted increases in children's positive affect. The intervention did not increase the rate of children's moment-by-moment positive affect contingent on mothers' positive parenting behaviors. This study showed the short-term effectiveness of a brief parenting intervention for enhancing interactions between mothers with a history of depression and their children by directly targeting mothers' positive parenting and, indirectly, children's expressions of positive affect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Religiosity in late life has been linked to psychological well-being outcomes. However, there has been insufficient attention to complex associations between different domains of religiosity and domains of psychological wellbeing. We explored associations between religious identity, religious participation, religious coping (trust in God), and mental health indicators of depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and positive/negative affect among 797 independent, retirement community-dwelling older adults. At baseline, religious identity (expressed as self- concept) and religious participation (church attendance) each were associated with fewer depressive symptoms (b=-0.47, p<0.05; b=-0.19, p<0.05). Religious identity, however, was significantly associated with both life satisfaction and positive affects but not with negative affect. Religious coping was associated with greater life satisfaction and positive affect. Our longitudinal analysis documented a statistically significant decline in depressive symptoms, and increase in life satisfaction and positive affect, with corresponding increase in religious identity over time. However, changes in religious identity did not lead to significant changes in negative affect over time. Religious coping and church attendance fully explained the influence of religious identity on changes in life satisfaction. Although the influence of religious identity on depressive symptoms and positive affect was weakened, its significant influence was maintained even after the consideration of religious coping and church attendance. Beyond religious identity, we also observed a significant increase in positive affect with a corresponding increase in religious coping. Overall, our findings support expectations that religious identification and practices are associated with greater psychological well-being among community dwelling old- old adults.

Breast cancer radiotherapy can be an emotionally difficult experience. Despite this, few studies have examined the effectiveness of psychological interventions to reduce negative affect, and none to date have explicitly examined interventions to improve positive affect among breast cancer radiotherapy patients. The present study examined the effectiveness of a multimodal psychotherapeutic approach, combining cognitive-behavioral therapy and hypnosis (CBTH), to reduce negative affect and increase positive affect in 40 women undergoing breast cancer radiotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either CBTH or standard care. Participants completed weekly self-report measures of positive and negative affect. Repeated and univariate analyses of variance revealed that the CBTH approach reduced levels of negative affect [F(1, 38)=13.49; p=.0007, omega(2)=.56], and increased levels of positive affect [F(1, 38)=9.67; p=.0035, omega(2)=.48], during the course of radiotherapy. Additionally, relative to the control group, the CBTH group demonstrated significantly more intense positive affect [F(1, 38)=7.09; p=.0113, d=.71] and significantly less intense negative affect [F(1, 38)=10.30; p=.0027, d=.90] during radiotherapy. The CBTH group also had a significantly higher frequency of days where positive affect was greater than negative affect (85% of days assessed for the CBTH group versus 43% of the Control group) [F(1, 38)=18.16; p=.0001, d=1.16]. Therefore, the CBTH intervention has the potential to improve the affective experience of women undergoing breast cancer radiotherapy.

Daily intra-individual variability of positive but not negative affect impacts moderate to vigorous physical activity

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of neurofeedback (NFB) andcomputer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation (CACR) on the relative brain wave ratios andactivities of daily living (ADL) of stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Forty-fourparticipants were randomly allocated to the NFB (n=14), CACR (n=14), or control (CON)(n=16) groups. Two expert therapists provided the NFB, CACR, and CON groups withtraditional rehabilitation therapy in 30-minute sessions, 5 times a week, for 6 weeks. NFBtraining was provided only to the NFB group and CACR training was provided only to theCACR group. The CON group received traditional rehabilitation therapy only. Before andafter 6 weeks of intervention, brain wave and ADL evaluations were performed, and theresults were analyzed. [Results] The relative ratio of beta waves, only showed asignificant increase in the frontal and parietal areas of the NFB group. Significantchanges in ADL were shown by all three groups after the intervention. However, there wereno significant differences between the NFB and CACR groups and the CON group. [Conclusion]Our results suggest that CACR and NFB are effective at improving cognitive function andADL of stroke patients.

The benefits of physical exercise on state anxiety: Exploring possible mechanisms

Effect of virtual reality and music therapy on anxiety and perioperative pain in surgical extraction of impacted third molars

Chronic dermatological conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, hair fall and acne often come with a range of psychosocial issues, including mental health challenges and sexual health dysfunction. These concerns are exacerbated by the stigma associated with visible skin diseases, leading to reduced quality of life and treatment adherence. By integrating teledermatology services with positive psychology and sexual health counselling, this study offers a comprehensive model for addressing the multifaceted needs of patients. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a holistic intervention programme combining teledermatology services, positive psychology and sexual health counselling in improving dermatological outcomes, emotional wellbeing and sexual health in patients with chronic skin conditions. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 60 patients diagnosed with chronic dermatological conditions. Participants were divided into two groups: an intervention group (n = 30) receiving teledermatology consultations, positive psychology exercises and sexual health counselling, and a control group (n = 30) receiving standard in-person care. Primary outcomes were measured using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire (SQoL) and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests and Anova to compare pre- and postintervention results. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in the intervention group. DLQI scores improved by an average of 32% (P &amp;lt; 0.01), with patients experiencing fewer dermatology-related restrictions in daily activities. PANAS results showed a 25% increase in positive affect and a 20% reduction in negative affect (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Sexual health outcomes also improved, with SQoL scores increasing by 28% compared with a 10% improvement in the control group (P &amp;lt; 0.01). The intervention group saw a 40% reduction in sexual health-related anxiety, with relationship satisfaction increasing in 45% of patients. Teledermatology reduced logistical barriers by 35%, leading to higher retention and adherence rates, especially in remote areas. The integration of teledermatology, positive psychology and sexual health support in psychodermatology significantly improves both physical and psychosocial outcomes in patients with chronic skin conditions. This comprehensive model not only addresses dermatological symptoms but also enhances emotional resilience and sexual wellbeing, leading to improved treatment adherence and overall quality of life. These findings underscore the importance of holistic, patient-centred care in dermatology, particularly for patients in underserved areas.

Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in people with cancer.