Efficacy Of Psychological Interventions Research Articles

Brief psychological intervention for suicide prevention based on problem-solving applied in different formats to people over 50 years old: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSuicide is a major public health problem, especially among individuals over 50 years old. Despite the suitability of this life stage for prevention, research on the efficacy of psychological interventions is scarce and methodologically limited, affecting their clinical utility and efficacy. Brief, flexible interventions that can be applied both in-person and remotely are needed. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a brief problem-solving-based suicide prevention program applied through various modalities to individuals over 50 years old.MethodsA randomized controlled trial will be conducted. A sample of 212 adults aged 50 or older with suicidal ideation will be randomly assigned to a problem-solving-based psychological intervention administered face-to-face (PSPI-P; n = 53), by telephone multiconference (PSPI-M; n = 53), via a smartphone app (PSPI-A; n = 53), or to a usual care control group (UCCG; n = 53). The intervention will be delivered in 7 sessions or modules of 90 min each. Blind trained evaluators will conduct assessments at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome will be suicidal ideation evaluated using the Suicidal Ideation Scale (SSI) and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Secondary outcomes will include hopelessness, anxiety and depression symptoms, reasons for living, impulsivity, problem-solving skills, social support, anger syndrome, gratitude, personality, dropouts, treatment adherence, and satisfaction with the intervention.DiscussionThis study will provide evidence of the efficacy of a brief problem-solving-based intervention for suicide prevention in individuals over 50 years old, administered face-to-face, by telephone multiconference, and via a smartphone app. If results are favorable, it will indicate that an effective, accessible, clinically and socially useful suicide prevention intervention has been developed for affected individuals, families, and communities.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06338904. Registered April 1, 2024.

A consulting room with a view: Psychotherapy and the ecological context.

The field of psychotherapy is witnessing a lively debate today. The literature on the efficacy of psychological interventions has grown exponentially, but the assumptions of the prevailing research paradigms have been criticised from many points of view. One of the main concerns is that of a too often simplistic conception of psychotherapy, viewed as a set of specific methods for the treatment of point-like problems or symptoms. Instead, emerging perspectives are trying to promote a more complex view on psychotherapy, as a process based on the therapeutic potential of relationships, which takes place in relevant social and cultural contexts. Even the ecological context is taken in greater consideration, as growing evidence exists about the detrimental effects of ecological threats-such as climate change and other environmental challenges-on mental health. Psychotherapists and psychotherapy associations are now paying due attention to such issues, as well as to social justice and other dimensions that no longer can be thought of as mere elements of the scenario in which psychotherapy is practiced. Rather they are dimensions that exert a strong influence on psychological well-being, and thus must be properly acknowledged and assessed to connect clinical work with the communities and ecological contexts in which people live.

'Let's talk about sleep health' within primary care: a qualitative study of patients' willingness to engage in psychological interventions for insomnia.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is recommended as the first-line treatment for insomnia yet remains underutilised in general practice. Understanding patient motivations and barriers to engaging in psychological interventions for insomnia is critical. Theoretical frameworks, such as the theory of planned behaviour, are needed to identify variables related to intentions and behaviour change. To explore key influences that motivate individuals' intention to engage with psychological interventions for insomnia. Qualitative study consisting of an online survey and interviews with 20 community-dwelling participants with insomnia aged 26-75 years residing in Victoria, Australia. Guided by the theory of planned behaviour, reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify factors influencing participants' intention to engage with psychological interventions for insomnia. Participants reported positive attitudes towards psychological interventions for insomnia, stemming from negative beliefs about pharmacological sleep aids and the perceived benefits of a structured and evidence-based intervention. Important others positively influenced participants' intention to engage; however, the GP influence was less consistent and often indirect. Participants believed in the efficacy of psychological interventions, but several barriers hampered their ability to benefit from them. Accessibility was identified as a key facilitator, whereas lack of knowledge and clear referral pathways were the main barriers having an impact on uptake. This study highlights key factors influencing patients' intention to engage in psychological interventions for insomnia as well as opportunities for GPs to support uptake and engagement. Routine conversations about sleep health are essential to reduce the burden of untreated insomnia in the community, and the active promotion of evidence-based psychological interventions is needed.

Psychological intervention for gambling disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Increasingly, gambling features migrate into non-gambling platforms (e.g., online gaming) making gambling exposure and problems more likely. Therefore, exploring how to best treat gambling disorder (GD) remains important. Our aim was to review systematically and quantitatively synthesize the available evidence on psychological intervention for GD. Records were identified through searches for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating psychological intervention for GD via six academic databases without date restrictions until February 3, 2023. Study quality was assessed with the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2). Primary outcomes were GD symptom severity and remission of GD, summarized as Hedges' g and odds ratios, respectively. The study was preregistered in PROSPERO (#CRD42021284550). Of 5,541 records, 29 RCTs (3,083 participants analyzed) were included for meta-analysis of the primary outcomes. The efficacy of psychological intervention across modality, format and mode of delivery corresponded to a medium effect on gambling severity (g = -0.71) and a small effect on remission (OR = 0.47). Generally, risk of bias was high, particularly amongst early face-to-face interventions studies. The results indicate that psychological intervention is efficacious in treating GD, with face-to-face delivered intervention producing the largest effects and with strongest evidence for cognitive behavioral therapy. Much remains to be known about the long-term effects, and investigating a broader range of treatment modalities and digital interventions is a priority if we are to improve clinical practice for this heterogeneous patient group.

Psychological Approaches for Migraine Management.

Migraine headaches are among the most prevalent and disabling pain conditions worldwide. Best-practice migraine management is multidisciplinary and includes the psychological approaches to address cognitive, behavioral, and affective factors that worsen pain, distress, and disability. The psychological interventions with the strongest research support are relaxation strategies, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and biofeedback, though the quality of clinical trials for all psychological interventions needs continued improvement. The efficacy of psychological interventions may be improved by validating technology-based delivery systems, developing interventions for trauma and life stress, and precision medicine approaches matching treatments to patients based on specific clinical characteristics.

Efficacy of Psychological Intervention on Emotional Intelligence among Adolescents in Selected Schools at Erode, India

Context: Adolescence is a period of heightened emotionality. Boys are found to be more aware of their weakness than girls. Methods: Prior to the collection of data, permission was obtained from the concerned authority in selected schools at Erode. The research design used for the present study was true experimental design. Simple random sampling technique was used to recruit the study subjects. Study subjects was assigned randomly to either experimental group (n=75) or control group (n=75). Pretest was conducted by using demographic variables and Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test. Experimental group received psychological intervention for 30-45 minutes, twice a week for the period of 1 month. Psychological intervention comprises of VI sessions viz Introduction, SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis, Recognize emotions, Controlling mood and self-expression, Positive interpersonal relationships, Adaptability and decision Making and Feedback sessions. Control group received standard methods of care. Posttest was conducted at the end of 1st month, by using the same assessment techniques in experimental and control group. Results: Wilcoxon signed rank test and Mann-Whitney U test showed statistical significance in augmenting emotional intelligence in experimental group comparatively to the control group among adolescents.

Efficacy of Psychological Interventions in Reducing the Prevalence and Intensity of Depression in Patients with Long-Term Hemodialysis

Efficacy of Psychological Interventions in Reducing the Prevalence and Intensity of Depression in Patients with Long-Term Hemodialysis

Some misconceptions about psychological treatment efficacy in perpetrators of IPVAW: A Comment to Redondo et al. (2019)

The comments of Redondo et al. (2019) on the change induced by treatment have no empirical support. The two-cluster typology stability is questioned. Concerning the psychological intervention efficacy in men convicted for a crime of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women (IPVAW), the study shows from a starting error by not considering the absence of a control group. That is, the change in one or more groups receiving the treatment and in at least one control group not participating in that treatment must be compared. There are also other control group options, for example, for different groups to go through different treatment programs. Or, even when the participants in the treatment belong to a single group, quasi-experimental designs can be carried out. An example is to complement the study of means with that of cases.

Biological and cognitive theories explaining panic disorder: A narrative review.

The current narrative review summarizes and examines several theories of panic disorder (PD) including biological theories, encompassing neurochemical factors, metabolic and genetic theories, respiratory and hyperventilation theories and cognitive theory. Biological theories have informed the development of psychopharmacological treatments; however, they may be limited in their utility given the efficacy of psychological treatments. In particular, behavioral and, more recently, cognitive models have garnered support due to the efficacy of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) in treating PD. The role of combination treatments has been found to be superior in the treatment of PD in particular cases, lending support for the need for an integrated approach and model for PD given that the etiology of PD is complex and multifactorial.

Unraveling the central and bridge psychological symptoms of people living with HIV: A network analysis.

People living with HIV (PLWH) experience multiple psychological symptoms. Few studies have provided information on central and bridge psychological symptoms among PLWH. This information has implications for improving the efficiency and efficacy of psychological interventions. Our study aimed to identify the central and bridge psychological symptoms of PLWH and to explore the interconnectedness among symptoms and clusters. Our study used data from the HIV-related Symptoms Monitoring Survey, a multisite, cross-sectional study conducted during 2017-2021. We used R to visualize the network of 16 symptoms and analyzed the centrality and predictability indices of the network. We further analyzed the bridge symptoms among the three symptom clusters. A total of 3,985 participants were included in the analysis. The results suggested that sadness had the highest strength (r S = 9.69) and predictability (70.7%) compared to other symptoms. Based on the values of bridge strength, feeling unsafe (r bs = 0.94), uncontrollable worry (r bs = 0.82), and self-abasement (r bs = 0.81) were identified as bridge symptoms. We also found a strong correlation between sadness and self-abasement (r = 0.753) and self-loathing and self-blame (r = 0.744). We found that sadness was the central psychological symptom of PLWH, indicating that sadness was the center of the psychological symptom network from a mechanistic perspective and could be a target for intervention. Deactivating bridge symptoms, including "feeling unsafe," "self-abasement," and "uncontrollable worry," could be more effective in preventing symptom activation from spreading (e.g., one symptom activating another).

Meta-analysis on the efficacy of psychological interventions in minor refugees

Meta-analysis on the efficacy of psychological interventions in minor refugees

Verbal interaction pattern analysis in clinical psychology.

Recent developments in pattern analysis research have made this methodology suitable for the study of the processes that are set in motion in psychological interventions. Outcome research, based on the comparison between clinical results from treatment and control groups, has leveraged our empirical knowledge about the efficacy of psychological interventions. However, these methods of research are not precise enough for the analysis of these processes. On the contrary, pattern analysis could be a powerful tool to study moment-to-moment interactions typical of psychological interventions. This is methodology is relevant because clinical psychology is experiencing a paradigm shift from a protocol for syndrome perspective to a principle-based and person-centered intervention. This evidence-based, theory-grounded, and process-oriented paradigm of clinical intervention needs new research methods to thrive (i.e., pattern analysis). The analysis of the therapeutic relationship built into the verbal interaction between the clinician and the client is one of the cornerstones of this new era of research. So, the purpose of this article is three-fold: (1) to discuss the role of the verbal interaction pattern analysis in the clinical context to the development of the principle-based clinical psychology, (2) to analyze the patterns of verbal interaction in a clinical case, and (3) to compare the results using two different methods. To reach these purposes, using the observational methodology, we have coded the verbal interaction of 16 clinical sessions with a person diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder. We have analyzed the data using sequential analysis (GSEQ) and pattern recognition algorithms (i.e., T-Pattern detection). We have been able to detect typical patterns during different phases of psychological intervention (i.e., evaluation, explanation, treatment, and consolidation). Finally, the conceptual, methodological, and empirical implications of this study will be discussed within the realms of pattern analysis research and principle-based clinical psychology.

Views of Schizophrenia Among Future Healthcare Professionals: Differences in Relation to Diagnostic Labelling, Causal Explanations, and Type of Academic Degree Program.

ObjectiveStereotyped beliefs about schizophrenia are well-established in the society and relatively common among healthcare professionals and students. The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions about the causes, treatment, and outcome of schizophrenia among healthcare students.MethodUndergraduate nursing and psychology students completed selected items of the Opinion on Mental Illness Questionnaire after reading a clinical vignette of undiagnosed schizophrenia.ResultsStudents who labelled the description as schizophrenia were more pessimistic regarding full recovery from the disorder. Those who acknowledged greater relevance to biogenetic risk factors were more convinced of the efficacy of medications. Respondents’ opinions on the efficacy of psychological interventions were more positive among psychology students than among nursing students.ConclusionsThe study confirmed the associations of schizophrenia labelling with prognostic pessimism and beliefs about the efficacy of pharmacological treatment among future healthcare professionals. Students’ opinions were less influenced by differences between academic degree programs. Information about current recovery rate and comprehensive care for schizophrenia may support future healthcare professionals in the relationship and the clinical management of PWS.

Psychological Interventions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Iranian Randomized Trials.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common health problem, with considerable effects on the individual's quality of life, mental health, work productivity, and financial aspects. Psychological interventions, which are commonly used as adjunct treatments, have received fairly strong empirical support. In Iran, several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have evaluated the efficacy of these treatments; however, the results of these RCTs have not been synthesized yet. Therefore, in this meta-analysis, we aimed to summarize the results of these trials on the efficacy of psychological interventions in Iranian adults with IBS. We searched IranDoc, ElmNet, PubMed, and Scopus for eligible RCTs. The risk of bias was assessed in each trial, according to the Cochrane guidelines, and the random-effect model was used to pool the effect size (EF) across trials. Twenty RCTs met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to the controls, the standardized mean difference (SMD) for psychological interventions was large regarding the severity of IBS symptoms (-1.21; 95% CI: -1.63 to -0.80), anxiety (-0.97; 95% CI: -1.32 to -0.63), and depression (-0.86; 95% CI: -1.28 to -0.44). There was considerable heterogeneity among the included RCTs regarding all three outcomes, which could not be explained by the available information. On the other hand, the EF of health-related quality of life was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.38 to 0.85), with no significant heterogeneity among RCTs. The existing evidence suggests that psychological interventions can be highly effective in improving the severity of IBS symptoms, mental health, and quality of life for Iranian adults with IBS. However, some weaknesses should be considered in the interpretation of the results and future research. The risk of randomization was high or unclear in almost all of the existing trials; there was no single large trial in this area; and there was substantial inconsistency in the EFs, which might be related to methodological or clinical moderators.

Depression Illness Representations Among Arabs in Israel: a Qualitative Study Comparing Younger and Older Adults.

There has been a noticeable increase in the number of studies assessing perceptions regarding depression (illness representations) among people diagnosed with the disorder. However, these studies have examined mainly younger adults (ages 18 to 65), and very little is known about older adults. This study examined illness representations among younger and older Israeli Arabs with depression based on the Self-Regulation Model (SRM). A total of 12 Israeli Arabs (six younger adults aged 18-64 and six older adults aged 65+) diagnosed with depression took part in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The majority of the participants in the younger group were female and married, compared to the older group which has a gender equal ratio, half of which are married. The data were analyzed thematically, guided by the SRM illness representations' dimensions (identity; timeline; cause; consequences; control/cure; cyclical and coherence; and emotional representations). Differences between younger and older adults were found in some of the illness representations. Older adults described depression as a chronic illness associated with somatic symptoms, and did not believe in psychological treatment. Younger adults did not perceive depression as chronic, reported cognitive and emotional symptoms, and believed in the efficacy of psychological treatment. Our findings indicated that participants' perceptions about depression appeared to be associated with their age, along with their unique cultural background as they are traditional but undergoing processes of modernization. This study stress the importance of illness representations in intervention programs tailored for different age groups, and considering their specific cultural needs.

Efficacy of psychological interventions in young individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis: A naturalistic study.

Early detection and intervention in individuals at risk for developing psychosis have become a priority for many clinical services around the world. Limited naturalistic evidence is available on whether detection and intervention for ultra-high risk (UHR) is effective by means of reducing psychosis risk and improving functioning. We compared functioning scores over 5.9 (±7.7) months of time between UHR individuals (n=61) and help-seeking adolescents without a specific UHR profile (general adolescent help-seeking population [HSP]; n=82) aged 12 to 25 years receiving psychological interventions at a specialized UHR service in the Netherlands. Attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS) were evaluated over time within the UHR group. In addition, the impact of duration of treatment, <7 sessions, 8 to 21 sessions and >20 sessions, as well as treatment type, that is, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and CBT + add on treatment, were evaluated. Both UHR and HSP showed an increase in functioning over time (P< .001), with no difference between these groups. The UHR group showed a reduction of APS over time (P< .001). More than 20 treatment sessions was more effective than 1 to 6 treatment sessions (P< .01, partial eta squared=.08) and CBT was equally effective as CBT-add on in improving functioning. The findings of this study suggest that psychological treatment is just as effective in improving functioning in UHR as in HSP. Moreover, it decreases APS in UHR. Improvement in functioning is not affected by treatment type, but positively affected by the duration of treatment.

Effectiveness Of Modeling Videos On Psychological States Of Patients Undergoing Rehabilitation Following ACL Reconstruction

To date, much of the rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has centered on physical components. However, return to sports depends on not only physical recovery but also psychological readiness. According to a systematic review published in 2017, there is limited evidence on the efficacy of psychological interventions. PURPOSE: To examine the effectiveness of modeling videos to reduce preoperative kinesiophobia and fear of reinjury as well as to increase postoperative self-efficacy after ACLR. METHODS: Following baseline assessment of psychological states through ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI), Knee Self Efficacy Scale (K-SES), and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) and knee function (International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC] system), patients scheduled for ACLR were randomly assigned to intervention, placebo, or control group. Six modeling intervention videos were developed by the investigators to represent six different periods: pre-operation, during hospitalization, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post operations. Another six videos were developed to serve as placebo. Intervention and placebo groups watched their respective videos during their follow-up visits while control group did not. All groups completed psychological and functional assessments during their follow-up visits. RESULTS: Ten patients were assigned to intervention group, 11 to placebo group, and 11 to control group. No significant changes in ACL-RSI, K-SES, and TSK scores over six-month period were found among groups (p=0.574, p=0.808, p=0.888, respectively). Although three groups all showed improvement in ACL-RSI, K-SES, and TSK at six months, their improvements were not linear (p=0.467, 0.364, 0.274, respectively). All groups demonstrated temporary decrease in ACL-RSI and TSK scores at three months. CONCLUSIONS: Watching modeling videos compared to placebo and control did not reduce kinesiophobia or fear of reinjury as well as improve self-efficacy after ACLR. However, there may be potential room for psychological intervention at three months, and it is important to recognize psychological readiness for successful return to sports.

Predictors of Psychological Outcomes and the Effectiveness and Experience of Psychological Interventions for Adult Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Scoping Review.

ObjectiveCPP affects approximately 15% of women worldwide and has significant psychological, physical and financial impact on the lives of sufferers. Psychological interventions are often recommended as adjuncts to medical treatment for women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). This is as women with CPP experience higher rates of mental health concerns and difficulties coping with their pain.. However, recent systematic reviews have highlighted that the efficacy of psychological interventions is not conclusive in this population. This review aimed to identify predictors of mental health outcomes and effective psychological techniques and interventions in women with CPP to inform the development of future psychological therapies.MethodsScoping review using the method outlined by Arskey & O’Malley (2005). Relevant databases, reference lists and grey literature were searched to identify effective mental health interventions and predictors of psychological outcomes for women with CPP.ResultsMethodological concerns made identifying predictors of mental health outcomes and effective psychological interventions difficult. However, cognitive behavioural therapy and Mensendieck therapy emerged as therapeutic interventions with the best evidence for women with CPP. A number of useful predictors of mental health outcomes and techniques included in effective interventions were identified.ConclusionThe evidence provided in this review has the potential to inform future research directions and the development of targeted psychological interventions for women with CPP.

Efficacy of psychological interventions on psychological outcomes in coronary artery disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.

The benefits of cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) and positive psychology therapy (PPT) in patients with cardiovascular disease are still not well defined. We assessed the efficacy of CBT and PPT on psychological outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Randomized controlled trials evaluating CBT or PPT in CAD patients published until May 2018 were systematically analyzed. Primary outcomes were depression, stress, anxiety, anger, happiness, and vital satisfaction. Random effects meta-analyses using the inverse variance method were performed. Effects were expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean differences (MD) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs); risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane tool. Nineteen trials were included (n = 1956); sixteen evaluated CBT (n = 1732), and three PPT (n = 224). Compared with control groups, depressive symptoms (13 trials; SMD -0.80; 95% CI -1.33 to -0.26), and anxiety (11 trials; SMD -1.26; 95% CI -2.11 to -0.41) improved after the PI, and depression (6 trials; SMD -2.08; 95% CI -3.22 to -0.94), anxiety (5 trials; SMD -1.33; 95% CI -2.38 to -0.29), and stress (3 trials; SMD -3.72; 95% CI -5.91 to -1.52) improved at the end of follow-up. Vital satisfaction was significantly increased at follow-up (MD 1.30, 0.27, 2.33). Non-significant effects on secondary outcomes were found. Subgroup analyses were consistent with overall analyses. CBT and PPT improve several psychological outcomes in CAD patients. Depression and anxiety improved immediately after the intervention while stress and vital satisfaction improve in the mid-term. Future research should assess the individual role of CBT and PPT in CAD populations.

Similarities and Differences Between Migraine in Children and Adults: Presentation, Disability, and Response to Treatment.

This review presents findings from investigations of migraine in children and adults. Similarities and differences in the presentation, related consequences, and treatments between children and adults are reviewed. Significant similarities exist in the presentation, disability, and treatments for migraine between children and adults. Despite such similarities, many adult migraine treatments adapted for use in children are not rigorously tested prior to becoming a part of routine care in youth. Existing research suggests that not all approaches are equally effective across age groups. Specifically, psychological treatments are shown to be somewhat less effective in adults than in children. Pharmacological interventions found to be statistically significant relative to placebo in adults may not be as effective in children and have the potential to present more risk than benefit when used in youth. The placebo effect in both children and adults is robust and is need of further study. Better understanding of treatment mechanisms for all interventions across the age spectrum is needed. Although migraine treatments determined to be effective for adults are frequently adapted for use in children with little evaluation prior to implementation, existing research suggests that this approach may not be the best practice. Adaptation of adult pharmacological treatment for use in youth may present a particular risk in comparison to benefits gained. Because of the known efficacy of psychological treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, more universal use of these interventions should be considered, either as first-line treatment or in combination with pill-based therapies.