Advancements in cancer treatment have led to increasing life expectancy. Few studies have been conducted on sexual anxiety in women affected by gynecologic cancers who suffer from physical (pain, drugs, & surgery) and psychological (shame, fear, & anxiety) consequences. This study aimed to compare Emotion Regulation Therapy (ERT) versus Guided Imagery Therapy (GIT) on sexual anxiety in these women. A randomized parallel clinical trial was conducted on 64 eligible women who were randomly assigned into either ERT (intervention 1 = 32) or GIT groups (intervention 2 = active control group = 32). Each group received eight 60-min online counseling sessions. The main outcome variable of sexual anxiety was investigated via the Davis questionnaire at baseline, in week 8, and the follow-up in week 12. The secondary outcome variable, i.e., husband's satisfaction with sexual relationship, was measured in weeks 8 and 12. Intra-group comparison of sexual performance anxiety showed significant decrease in week 12 compared to baseline (ERT: 35.97 ± 5.84, & 61.16 ± 13.84; P = 0.001) (GIT: 35.55 ± 4.79, & 59.84 ± 11.54; P = 0.001), respectively. Inter-group comparison of sexual performance anxiety showed that the scores decreased in both groups in week 12 (ERT: 35.97 ± 5.84 versus GIT: 35.55 ± 4.79) without significant difference (P = 0.297). Intra-group comparison of husband's satisfaction indicated that it was high in both groups without significant difference (ERT week 8: 8.77 ± 1.61, week 12: 9.00 ± 1.41; P = 0.412), (GIT week 8: 8.74 ± 1.00, week 12: 9.16 ± 0.78; P = 0.130), respectively. Inter-group comparison between week 8 (P = 0.297) and week 12 (P = 0.910) showed no significant difference. Online ERT and GIT were both able to improve sexual anxiety with appropriate partner's satisfaction in these women. Such interventional supports provide more options for better quality of life, especially for women who are unwilling to take psychiatric medications or in other anxiety-provoking situations to reduce anxiety. The application of the findings in the clinical context is related to its usefulness in the integration of care guidelines and treatment plans for these women, as well as by sex therapists, health providers, and health policy-makers. To conduct the research, the code of ethics: IR.SSU.REC.1401.014 was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee of Shahid Sadoughi University dated 05/18/2022; the study protocol was obtained from IRCT dated 06/11/2022 with the registration ID: IRCT20220526054996N1.

Neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxia (CA) is a movement disorder caused by progressive cell death in the cerebellum. Motor imagery represents a potential therapeutic tool to improve motor function by "exercising" brain regions associated with movement, without the need for overt activity. This study assessed the feasibility of combining motor imagery with real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rt-fMRI-NF) to improve motor function in CA. During finger tapping conditions, 16 participants with CA pushed a button at the same frequency in time with cross flashing at 1 Hz or 4 Hz, and this information was used to train the model. During motor imagery, participants imagined finger tapping while undergoing rt-fMRI-NF with visual feedback, steering them toward activating their motor circuit. Afterwards, they completed finger tapping again. FMRI analysis compared successful motor imagery trials versus all other imagery events. Brain activity on successful trials was covaried with pre-post rt-fMRI-NF tapping improvement scores. Tapping was more accurate at 1 Hz than 4 Hz, and larger tapping error rates correlated with greater movement impairments. While not significant at the group level, 9 of the 16 participants improved tapping accuracy following rt-fMRI-NF. The size of motor improvements correlated with successful motor imagery activity at 1 Hz in the frontal lobe, insula, parietal lobe, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Motor improvements were not associated with neurological impairment severity, mood, cognition, or imagery vividness. Feasibility was demonstrated for motor imagery therapy with neurofeedback to potentially improve fine motor precision in people with CA. Brain regions relevant to this process may be considered for targets of non-invasive therapeutic interventions.

Background: Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) strokes are among the most disabling types of cerebrovascular injuries, frequently resulting in profound motor deficits of the upper limb. These impairments disrupt essential daily tasks such as reaching, grasping, lifting, and manipulating objects. Traditional rehabilitation often focuses on physical task practice; however, many MCA-stroke patients struggle to execute meaningful movements due to weakness, poor motor planning, and sensory-loss. Motor Imagery (MI) the cognitive simulation of movement without actual execution—activates motor networks using internal rehearsal. Recent neuroscience research demonstrates that MI engages primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, supplementary motor areas, cerebellum, and parietal regions even in the absence of muscular activity. This makes MI a promising therapeutic strategy for individuals unable to generate effective voluntary movement early after stroke. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of Motor Imagery Therapy (MI) with a conventional Task-Oriented Training (TOT) program on upper-limb motor recovery in patients with MCA stroke. Methods: Thirty-six MCA stroke patients were randomly assigned into two groups: MI (N=18) and TOT (N=18). Both groups underwent a structured 12-week rehabilitation program, receiving daily sessions under therapist supervision. Upper-limb recovery was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Grip Strength testing, and the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) for functional disability. Results: The MI group demonstrated significantly larger improvements in FMA-UE scores, grip strength, and functional independence (mRS) compared to the TOT group. Statistical analysis confirmed a clear advantage of MI across all outcome domains. Conclusions: Motor Imagery Therapy is an effective, low-cost, accessible, and neurophysiologically powerful intervention for improving upper-limb recovery after MCA stroke. It is particularly valuable for patients with limited physical movement ability, as it stimulates motor circuits even when overt movement is not possible.

User experience (UX) is essential for the success of interactive products such as virtual reality (VR) applications. VR is a technology or tool in multimedia created to induce user experience characteristics, allowing users to feel a sense of presence and immersion during their interaction with the VR tool. In medicine and health, VR has been utilised to treat psychological disorders with VR exposure therapy. Stress is also considered as a type of psychological disorder. One of the traditional psychotherapy methods for managing stress is Guided Imagery Therapy (GIT). Accordingly, this study proposes an approach for self-therapy using Image-Based VR (IBVR) that applies the GIT technique. With this approach, users with mild and moderate stress levels can undergo the therapy on their own without direct intervention from an actual therapist. This paper focuses on the user evaluation of the IBVR self-therapy tool, highlighting the user experience throughout their navigation in the virtual environment. The results indicate that the IBVR self-therapy tool can provide a good user experience and positively affect the user's psychology in managing stressful situations. Nevertheless, further investigation is recommended to improve the effectiveness and user experience of the IBVR self-therapy.

Sleep is one of the basic biological needs of humans that is very important for maintaining physiological and psychological functions. Good quality sleep supports overall health, including immunity, brain function, and emotional stability. Sleep disorders in the elderly are influenced by various factors such as physiological changes, chronic medical conditions, and psychosocial factors. Non-pharmacological approaches are a safer and recommended alternative. Two complementary therapies that are increasingly being used are Yasmin flower aromatherapy and guided imagery relaxation therapy. The purpose of this study is to determine which therapy is more effective between Yasmin flower aromatherapy and guided imagery in reducing Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores in the elderly. This study is a quantitative study with a quasi-experimental design using a two-group pretest-posttest model without a control group. The aim is to compare the effectiveness of jasmine aromatherapy and guided imagery relaxation on improving sleep quality in the elderly. The sample was selected using purposive sampling. The research instrument, the Indonesian version of the PSQI, was used to measure the respondents' sleep quality and had 7 components with a score range of 0–21. A score > 5 indicated sleep disturbance. The results showed that both interventions, Yasmin aromatherapy and guided imagery therapy, obtained a p-value of 0.001 (p < 0.05) using a paired t-test, indicating a significant effect on improving the sleep quality of the elderly. However, the results of the independent t-test between the two groups showed that the Yasmin aromatherapy group had a greater effect than the guided imagery group. Thus, Yasmin aromatherapy proved to be more effective than guided imagery in improving the sleep quality of the elderly. The effectiveness of Yasmin aromatherapy was influenced by the characteristics of the elderly. Conceptually and practically, Yasmin aromatherapy is a non-pharmacological intervention that is more effective, efficient, and easily accepted by the elderly.

A brain abscess is an accumulation of pus in the tissue from a local or systemic infection. Management of brain abscesses in the form of medical and surgical management. After surgery, it makes a person feel uncomfortable such as pain. Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience, which is associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Efforts to reduce the pain non-pharmacologically are guided imagery. Guided Imagery is imagining a pleasant place or situation so that the individual will find his or her relaxing point. The purpose of this study is to determine the application of guided imagery therapy to reduce pain. This research is descriptive in the form of a case study with a nursing process approach including assessment to evaluation which was carried out on July 23-26, 2025. The therapy provided is guided imagery intervention to overcome pain problems and pain intensity measurement using Numeric Scale (0-10). The conclusion of the results of this study shows that there is a decrease in the pain scale carried out for 3 days from a scale of 8 to a scale of 3.

Motor imagery technique is used to improve motor learning and support neurological rehabilitation in stroke patients. Neurologic disorders like stroke, brain injury, and neurodegenerative conditions cause motor dysfunctions like physical disability and distressed feelings due to the impairments. Motor imagery mental practice (MIMP) is a nonpharmacological and cognitive intervention recognized to stimulate motor-related brain capacities without any motor movement. This systematic review explores how MIMP contributes to neurologic rehabilitation by improving motor function, neural plasticity, and patient engagement. The study synthesizes empirical and conceptual literature produced between 2020 and 2024 by thoroughly examining peer-reviewed publications and clinical reports from key academic databases like PubMed, Scopus, IEEE, and Web of Science. MIMP helps to promote motor recovery, patient motivation and the benefits of physiotherapy. This research addresses the structure of the intervention and the mechanisms of the neural response, and obstacles faced in integrating the clinical aspect. MIMP technique was a cost-effective alternative to conventional care since neurologic impairment is closely linked to decreased quality of life and long-term disability. Functional outcomes were enhanced with the use of structured imagery sessions, guided visualization, and motor rehearsal, which are exercised through motor pathways. Motor imagery is employed throughout the healing process, enabling patients to resume exercise even in cases of flaccid paralysis. The impact of motor imagery therapy on strokes is used to evaluate more randomized clinical studies. This review describes ideal therapies, evaluation models, and methods of incorporating MIMP into standard neurologic rehabilitation. These findings offer motor imagery that is used to supplement more conventional rehabilitation methods to improve functional outcomes and quality of life for stroke patients when paired with other therapeutic strategies.

Abstract A large proportion of family caregivers of people living with dementia experience negative impacts of caregiving on their mental health, including increased anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Online peer support groups provide an important forum for social interaction and connection for these caregivers that may help alleviate these symptoms. However, although many individuals experience peer support groups as beneficial, some find peer support groups to be unhelpful. There is little quantitative research into mechanisms that determine why some groups are effective at alleviating caregiver distress, and others are not. We aimed to study the impact of chat post sentiment within mobile application text-based chatrooms on the mental health of older adult family caregivers of dementia patients (mean age 68.5). We analyzed 3,021 chat messages using natural language processing across 29 chatrooms, which were provided as part of a randomized, controlled trial of caregiver skills with or without mentalizing imagery therapy. Outcomes included assessments of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Results showed that overall average positive sentiment within chatrooms, but not the sentiment of individual user posts, was significantly correlated with decreased depressive symptoms (p = 0.01), decreased perceived stress (p = 0.03), increased self-compassion (p = 0.05), and increased mindfulness (p = 0.05). These findings suggest that overall positivity within peer support chatrooms might be a mechanism by which caregivers experience clinical improvements. Increasing positivity within chatrooms might be a therapeutic target to improve caregiver mood and enhance positive psychological traits.

Abstract Caregivers play a critical role in supporting older adults, yet they often face significant emotional, physical, and logistical challenges. This symposium presents innovative research on technology-based interventions designed to empower caregivers and optimize care delivery. Dr. Sara Czaja will provide an overview of digital solutions for family caregivers, discussing mobile applications, web-based platforms, and sensing systems and share findings on the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of these tools in improving caregiver outcomes. Taekyung Kim MS will present research on the adoption of AI-assisted care technologies among formal care providers, highlighting key factors such as social influence and effort expectancy that shape technology acceptance and use in real-world caregiving environments. Dr. Felipe Jain will discuss findings from an 8-week randomized controlled trial examining the impact of mentalizing imagery therapy (MIT) delivered via a mobile app on daily happiness and stress in family caregivers of people living with dementia. Dr. Xin Yao Lin will share results from a scoping review of app-based interventions for caregivers, identifying common design features, benefits, and research gaps that must be addressed to improve intervention effectiveness. Finally, Dr. Katherine Carroll Britt will present qualitative findings from caregivers and dementia care experts to inform the development of an AI chatbot designed to support cognitive care planning for individuals living with dementia and their care partners. By showcasing these diverse approaches, this symposium will explore the potential of digital innovations to create smarter, more connected caregiving solutions that enhance well-being and care quality for both caregivers and older adults.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect over seven million Americans. Family members who provide care and assistance to their relatives often experience psychological burden and emotional distress, including elevated rates of depression. Caregiver response to depression treatment is highly variable, resulting in delays and inefficacious interventions for many, but there are no validated biomarkers to guide therapy. Overall brain function and depression treatment response is thought to be determined in part by the strength of large-scale brain connectivity networks. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can estimate these connectivity strengths. In a pilot study, we examined whether baseline connectivity could predict depressive symptom improvement following Mentalizing Imagery Therapy (MIT) or control conditions in family caregivers of people living with dementia (N = 43). Participants underwent resting-state fMRI and completed a depression measure before and after treatment. Independent Component Analysis extracted 45 functional connectivity components per participant. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression with 10-fold cross-validation identified features associated with changes in QIDS scores. SHAP values were obtained to determine feature strength. Permutation testing (1,000 iterations) assessed statistical significance. Connectivity patterns within several networks—including the dorsal and ventral default mode networks, a somatosensory network, and central executive network—were significantly associated with symptom change in combination with baseline depression and treatment group (R2=0.71; p < 0.05). These findings suggest that pre-treatment brain network connectivity may serve as a biomarker for identifying caregivers most likely to benefit from intervention. Such neurobiologically informed predictions might help personalize depression treatment for family caregivers.

Abstract Family caregivers of people living with dementia are at high risk for depression and stress. Several caregiver interventions have been found to reduce symptoms of depression and stress on pre-to-post outcomes testing, but few have characterized impacts on day-to-day caregiver symptoms. Mentalizing imagery therapy (MIT) is a mindfulness and guided imagery approach that provides tools to relax and improve understanding of others (including the person living with dementia). Using ecological momentary assessments (EMA), we studied the effects of MIT on day-to-day experiences of happiness and stress of family caregivers of people living with dementia. We conducted an 8-week randomized, controlled trial of caregiver skills (CS) training with and without MIT delivered by the MGH CareDoc mobile application platform. Interventions consisted of mobile applications and optional weekly virtual groups with content tailored toward each group. EMA ratings of happiness and overall stress over the prior 24 hours were obtained daily through CareDoc from days 1 to 56. 110 caregivers were randomized (n = 55 in each arm). 101 completed the trial (with no difference in attrition between groups). Group X Time analyses found that those assigned to CS with MIT exhibited improvements in daily ratings of happiness (p<.0001) and stress (p<.001) relative to the CS only arm. In this randomized, controlled trial, MIT with CS exhibited superior effects to CS alone on improving daily happiness and stress. This study contributes needed data on MIT’s impacts on day-to-day experiences and is among the first to show improvements in daily symptoms in family caregivers.

Abstract Peer support groups serve as a vital resource for family caregivers of people living with dementia. Smartphone apps provide opportunities for convenient, asynchronous interaction, without the need to travel or plan for meetings. However, the value of text-based chat peer support groups for family caregivers is unclear. We aimed to determine the feasibility of a mobile App peer support chatroom embedded within a randomized, controlled trial of caregiver skills with or without mentalizing imagery therapy. Participants received the MGH CareDoc application over 24 weeks, which provided daily learning modules alongside peer support chat. For the first 8 weeks, caregivers could opt to receive weekly telehealth groups that provided psychoeducation on study topics. Caregivers were divided into chatgroups of 4-6 participants based on their telehealth group assignment and on dementia severity of the relatives, to encourage small-group participation and similarity of caregiving experiences. Feasibility and acceptability were determined based on chatroom posts and semi-structured interviews. The trial included 110 participants (mean age 68.8), divided into 29 chat groups. High variability in chatgroup activity was observed, with an average of 104 messages per chatgroup (range 1 to 904). Individual users posted an average of 29 messages (range 1 to 299). Although some participants found the chatgroups to be supportive and helpful, several participants expressed that their chat group did not fully establish cohesion. Findings highlight both potential and challenges of mobile chatrooms, and caregiver feedback on ways to improve the structure of the chatgroups.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of motor imagery and action observation in context of functional rehabilitation and analyse their impact on different functional parameters.Data SourcesA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by means of bibliographic searches in the PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and PEDro databases until May 2025.Review MethodsRandomized clinical studies with participants older than 18 years with functional problems or limitations and combining action observation and motor imagery therapies were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) 2.0 tool, Covidence and R platform v4.4.2 were used to assess the quality of the included articles, selection of studies and data analysis, and meta-analysis. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (No. CRD42024552072).ResultsNine articles were ultimately selected. The health conditions addressed included neurological and ageing-related disorders, as well as trauma. Compared with each therapy alone or with conventional therapies, the combination of motor imagery and action observation demonstrated benefits in lower and upper limb functionality, mobility, gait speed and fear of movement. Treatment protocols used varied in dosage (time and repetitions) and frequency (number of sessions per week).ConclusionsCombination of motor imagery and action observation therapies is beneficial for improving functionality, suggesting its potential value as an effective tool in the treatment of acute and chronic symptoms associated with various pathologies. However, clear standards regarding the dosages of these combined therapies are lacking.

Background and Objectives: Around 80% of Stroke survivors have motor impairments of the upper limbs that affect their ability to perform activities of daily living and their social participants. Most widely Interventions used for improving upper limb function are Modified constraint induced movement therapy and Task specific motor imagery technique. MCIMT intensively trains the affected limb by restraining the unaffected one, fostering neuroplasticity, while Task-Specific Motor Imagery activates neural circuits through mental rehearsal. There was sufficient evidence on efficacy of both Modified constraints induced movement therapy and Task specific motor imagery technique in improving upper limb function. But there were no comparative studies available between these two protocols and more studies should be done on establishing their effectiveness. Methods: A Quasi Experimental study conducted at KIMS General Hospital, KIMS & RF, Amalapuram, 60 subjects were recruited based on convenient sampling, divided into 2 groups, 30 members in Group A (MCIMT) and 30 members in Group B (TSMIT). For Both the groups interventions were given 1 hour per day ,5 days per week, for 5 weeks. The outcome measure was ACTION RESEARCH ARM TEST (ARAT). Result: Unpaired Paired T test was used to assess the statistical significance between pre and post test scores between groups. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that MCIMT exercise group has more statistical significance than the TSMIT exercise group. Conclusion: Both Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (MCIMT) and Task-Specific Motor Imagery Therapy (TSMIT) effectively improve upper limb function in stroke survivors. However, MCIMT yielded significantly greater functional gains, surpassing the Minimal Clinically Important Difference, indicating not only statistical but also clinically meaningful improvements. These results suggest that MCIMT may be the more effective intervention for enhancing hand function in hemiparetic stroke patients.

Labor is the process of expelling the products of conception, namely the fetus and placenta, after reaching full term and being viable in the womb. There are two types of delivery: normal delivery and caesarean section (SC). Caesarean section (SC) is a surgical procedure performed through an incision in the uterine wall to deliver the fetus. Caesarean delivery is indicate in cases of cephalopelvic disproportion, breech or transverse fetal position, fetal weight exceeding 4,000 grams, or maternal health conditions that may endanger the mother and fetus. One of the common complications following caesarean delivery is pain. Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. An intervention that can be applied to reduce post SC pain is Guided Imagery Therapy. Guided imagery therapy is a non-pharmacological intervention aimed at reducing and controlling pain by creating pleasant and relacing thoughts, focusing on breathing, and visualizing positive scenarios. This study employed a descriptive case study design using the nursing process from assessment to evaluation. The study was conducted on two patients with moderate pain (pain scale 4-6) after SC at TK II Putri Hijau Hosiptal Medan. The results showed that after the application of guided imagery therapy for three days with a duration of 40 minutes per session, pain levels decreased to mild (pain scale 1-3). In ptient I, pain decreased from a score of 5 to 3, an in patient 2, from a score of 6 to 3. In conclusion, guided imagery therapy was successfully applied in reducing post -SC pain levels and can serve as a reference for further research on pain reduction following caesarean section.

Introduction: Adolescence is an important developmental phase that is prone to identity crises, emotional instability, and pressure from social and academic environments. Academic stres is one of the main problems that affects mental health, academic achievement, and the quality of life of adolescents. One effective method of coping with stres is guided imagery therapy. Objective: The purpose of this activity is to identify and reduce stres levels among adolescents. Method: The methods used were lectures, discussions, guided imagery therapy demonstrations, pre-tests, and post-tests. The media used were PowerPoint, booklets, LCD, and projectors. The target was ninth-grade students in class C at SMP Negeri 9 Purwokerto. The therapy was conducted three times a week for 10–15 minutes. Result: The results of the study proved effective in reducing students' academic stres. The pre-test results showed that the majority of students experienced moderate stres (82.9%), while the post-test showed a decrease to the mild stres category (68.6%). The average stres score decreased from 44.34% to 36.02%. Statistical analysis using a paired t-test showed a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores (p < 0.001), confirming the effectiveness of guided imagery therapy in reducing academic stres. Conclusion: Guided imagery has been proven to provide relaxation, reduce academic stres, and can be practiced independently by students.

IntroductionChronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent global condition that significantly impairs quality of life, reduces work productivity and imposes substantial healthcare burdens. Approximately 70% of adults worldwide experience at least one episode of low back pain during their lifetime. Central sensitisation, a common complexity of CLBP, involves heightened responsiveness of the central nervous system, resulting in amplified neural signalling and increased pain sensitivity. This phenomenon suggests that pain in CLBP extends beyond purely biomedical origins, involving multiple factors such as neural adaptation. Graded Motor Imagery (GMI) is a progressive, exercise-based therapeutic approach designed to retrain the brain’s representation of the body and has shown promise in managing pain associated with central sensitisation.Methods and analysisThis randomised controlled trial aims to assess the efficacy of remote GMI therapy compared with conventional in-clinic therapy in CLBP patients exhibiting pain sensitisation. Adults aged 20–50 years with persistent low back pain for at least 6 months will be included. Exclusion criteria comprise significant spinal pathology, recent spinal surgery, severe mental disorders, other major chronic pain conditions, high baseline pain levels (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS >7), neurological motor disorders and pregnancy. Eligible participants will be randomised into either an online therapy group or a control group. The online therapy group will engage in GMI exercises using the ‘Recognise’ app, encompassing tasks such as left/right discrimination, explicit motor imagery and mirror therapy, performed twice daily for 10 min each. The control group will participate in equivalent exercises supervised by a physical therapist, employing physical aids for cognitive tasks and mirror therapy. Both groups will undergo an intensive 6-week therapy phase followed by a 6-month maintenance phase involving weekly sessions to reinforce progress and prevent relapse. Primary outcomes, including pain intensity (VAS) and functional disability (Oswestry Disability Index), alongside secondary measures of pain sensitivity and quality of life, will be assessed at baseline and at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol has been approved by the Shanghai University of Sport Scientific Research Ethics Committee. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Study results will be disseminated through publications in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at academic conferences.Trial registration numberChiCTR2400084205.

To explore the efficacy of Taiji imagery therapy (TIT), a combination of Taiji and imagery therapy, in treating stroke patients. Suitable studies for the meta-analysis were retrieved from 8 research databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed, China Wanfang, Chongqing VIP Information, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE (date of retrieval: October 26, 2024). Articles were searched manually and independently by 2 researchers. Other researchers evaluated the included articles using the modified Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Using STATA software (version 14.0) for data analysis, the combined effect size was used to calculate forest plots, sensitivity analysis was used to explore the source of heterogeneity, and Egger test was used to detect publication bias. The literature-based meta-analysis included 422 stroke patients from 7 studies. The findings revealed that TIT significantly increased upper limb motor function (mean difference [MD] = 2.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.33-3.44, P < .001, I2 = 0%), lower limb motor function (MD = 3.98, 95% CI: 0.45-7.52, P = .027, I2 = 95.1%), and activities of daily living (MD = 10.65, 95% CI: 3.82-17.49, P < .001, I2 = 95.0%). The sources of heterogeneity can be explained by the frequency, time, and duration of the study. No publication bias was observed in this study. TIT positively affected upper limb motor function, lower limb motor function, and activities of daily living in stroke patients. In future, we aim to include TIT in randomized controlled trials of the same type to increase the overall number of studies.

Background: Guided imagery therapy is a technique that uses an individual's imagination with the specific aim of achieving control and relaxation. Relaxation can have a direct effect on bodily functions. The effects of relaxation include reducing muscle tension, improving concentration, lowering respiratory rate and pulse, as well as decreasing blood pressure. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of Guided Imagery therapy in reducing blood pressure among hypertensive patients at Kartini General Hospital Karanganyar. Methods: This study employed a descriptive case study approach, involving two hypertensive patients at Kartini General Hospital Karanganyar who had high blood pressure. The therapy was administered once daily for 20 minutes over a period of one day. Results: After undergoing Guided Imagery therapy for one day (one session of 20 minutes conducted in the afternoon), both respondents showed a reduction in blood pressure. Conclusion: Guided Imagery therapy has proven effective in helping to lower blood pressure among hypertensive patients and can be recommended as a management strategy for reducing blood pressure in hospital settings and the broader community.

Objectives: To investigate whether a Multimodal Rehabilitation Program (MRP) affects the change in visual-spatial abilities, especially attention, information-processing speed, visual-spatial learning, the severity of depression, and strategies for coping with pain in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) participants. Methods: The study was conducted between October 2021 and February 2023, with a 4-week rehabilitation program that included individual physiotherapy, manual and physical therapy, and psychological intervention such as psychoeducation, relaxation, and Graded Motor Imagery therapy. Twenty participants with CRPS and twenty healthy participants, forming a control group, were enlisted. The study was a 2-arm parallel: a CRPS group with MRP intervention and a healthy control group matched to the CRPS group according to demographic variables. Before and after, the MRP participants in the CRPS group were assessed for visual-spatial learning, attention abilities, severity of depression, and pain-coping strategy. The healthy control group underwent the same assessment without intervention before two measurements. The primary outcome measure was Reproduction on Rey-Osterrieth's Complex Figure Test assessing visual-spatial learning. Results: In the post-test compared to the pre-test, the participants with CRPS obtained a significantly high score in visual-spatial learning (p < 0.01) and visual information-processing speed (p = 0.01). They made significantly fewer omission mistakes in visual working memory (p = 0.01). After the MRP compared to the pre-test, the CRPS participants indicated a decrease in the severity of depression (p = 0.04) and used a task-oriented strategy for coping with pain more often than before the rehabilitation program (p = 0.02). Conclusions: After a 4-week MRP, the following outcomes were obtained: an increase in visual-spatial learning, visual information-processing speed, a decrease in severity of depression, and a change in the pain-coping strategies-which became more adaptive.