Psychological Interventions Research Articles

"It's like I used to share a room with self-injury, but now it lives next door": Exploring experiences of naturalistic improvement in non-suicidal self-injury.

Many people who engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) do not access support from health services, and evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions is mixed. Despite this, NSSI prevalence rates decrease from adolescence into adulthood. Little is known about what helps alleviate difficulties with NSSI beyond psychological or medical intervention. This study sought to understand factors influencing naturalistic improvements in NSSI. Semi-structured interviews were conducted over video call with 16 participants who believed their difficulties with NSSI had improved due to factors not attributed to psychological or medical intervention. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. A reflexive thematic analysis revealed four main themes. Increased insight into NSSI experiences promoted self-compassion and self-acceptance and enabled participants to reflect on the conflicting role of NSSI. Safe and supportive relationships helped alleviate loneliness, and developing alternative coping strategies enhanced feelings of control over self-injury. Creating a life guided by personal values promoted independence, choice, and self-esteem. The findings of the study highlight several internal and external naturalistic processes deemed meaningful in improving difficulties with NSSI. Clinical implications include the importance of developing and embedding these approaches within services and interventions to improve outcomes for individuals who self-injure while promoting a person-centred approach.

Research Review: A review of the past decade offamily and genomic studies on adolescent mentalhealth.

Mental health problems and traits capturing psychopathology are common and often begin during adolescence. Decades of twin studies indicate that genetic factors explain around 50% of individual differences in adolescent psychopathology. In recent years, significant advances, particularly in genomics, have moved this work towards more translational findings. This review provides an overview of the past decade of genetically sensitive studies on adolescent development, covering both family and genomic studies in adolescents aged 10-24 years. We focus on five research themes: (1) co-occurrence or comorbidity between psychopathologies, (2) stability and change over time, (3) intergenerational transmission, (4) gene-environment interplay, and (5) psychological treatment outcomes. First, research shows that much of the co-occurrence of psychopathologies in adolescence is explained by genetic factors, with widespread pleiotropic influences on many traits. Second, stability in psychopathology across adolescence is largely explained by persistent genetic influences, whereas change is explained by emerging genetic and environmental influences. Third, contemporary twin-family studies suggest that different co-occurring genetic and environmental mechanisms may account for the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology, with some differences across psychopathologies. Fourth, genetic influences on adolescent psychopathology are correlated with a wide range of environmental exposures. However, the extent to which genetic factors interact with the environment remains unclear, as findings from both twin and genomic studies are inconsistent. Finally, a few studies suggest that genetic factors may play a role in psychological treatment response, but these findings have not yet been replicated. Genetically sensitive research on adolescent psychopathology has progressed significantly in the past decade, with family and twin findings starting to be replicated at the genomic level. However, important gaps remain in the literature, and we conclude by providing suggestions of research questions that still need to be addressed.

The role of psychology and communication skills in orthodontic practice: a systematic review

Effective communication and psychological strategies are integral to orthodontic practice, influencing patient satisfaction, adherence, and overall treatment outcomes. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024560432), examined the role of these strategies in orthodontic care and their integration into educational curricula. A comprehensive search identified studies focusing on communication and psychological interventions in orthodontics. The findings emphasize that patient-centered communication enhances understanding, adherence, and satisfaction. Structured approaches, such as personalized follow-up reminders and digital tools like social media, have shown significant improvements in patient engagement. Psychosocial factors, including anxiety and body image concerns, were identified as critical barriers to adherence, necessitating tailored psychological support and empathy-based communication. Additionally, gaps in orthodontic education were identified, with recommendations for integrating simulations, interprofessional education, and ongoing training into curricula to address these challenges. This review underscores the importance of addressing the psychological and communicative dimensions of orthodontic care, providing actionable recommendations for enhancing patient outcomes and optimizing educational practices. Future research should explore the long-term impact of these strategies and assess their effectiveness across diverse populations.

Adaptation and Psychometric Features of the Korean Medical Academicians Stress Questionnaire for Iranian Medical Academicians

Background: Stress is a major factor affecting the mental health and academic performance of medical academicians, which necessitates the use of valid and reliable tools to measure it within their specific cultural and educational contexts. Given the unique circumstances of Iranian medical academicians, it is essential to adapt and validate the Korean Medical Academicians Stress Questionnaire (KMSSQ) to ensure it accurately captures the stressors they experience. Objectives: This study aimed to adapt and validate the KMSSQ for use among Iranian medical academicians, ensuring its cultural relevance and accuracy in reflecting the unique stressors they face. Methods: This study, focused on psychometric evaluation, included 900 medical academicians selected using stratified sampling from universities in Tehran. Participants completed both the KMSSQ and the occupational stress inventory (OSI). Face validity, content validity, concurrent validity, structural validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were evaluated using SPSS (version 21) and LISREL (version 8.8). The cut-off point of the questionnaire was determined using the ROC curve. Results: The KMSSQ demonstrated high face, content, and concurrent validity (r = 0.91). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified six factors that explained 60.41% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a six-dimensional construct. The questionnaire exhibited high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.93) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.91). The cut-off point was set at 120, with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 85.23%. Conclusions: The KMSSQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing stress among Iranian medical academicians. It can be used for educational planning and psychological interventions, offering a culturally adapted measure that addresses the unique challenges faced by this group.

Psilocybin increases emotional empathy in patients with major depression.

Empathy plays a crucial role in interpersonal relationships and mental health. It is decreased in a variety of psychiatric disorders including major depression. Psilocybin, a promising candidate for treating depression, has been shown to acutely increase emotional empathy in healthy volunteers. However, no study has investigated this effect and its relevance for symptom improvement in a clinical population. This study examines the enduring effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on empathy in depressed patients using a randomized, placebo-controlled design. Fifty-one depressed patients were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of psilocybin (0215 mg/kg body weight) or a placebo embedded in a 4-week psychological support intervention. Empathy was measured using the Multifaceted Empathy Test at baseline and 2 days, 1 week, and 2 weeks after substance administration. Changes in empathy were compared between treatment conditions. Patients who received psilocybin showed significant improvements in explicit emotional empathy driven by an increase in empathy towards positive stimuli compared to the placebo group for at least two weeks. This study highlights the potential of psychedelics to enhance social cognition in individuals living with depression and contributes to a better understanding of the psychological mechanisms of action of psychedelics. Further studies are necessary to investigate the interaction between social cognition and clinical efficacy.The trial is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03715127) and KOFAM (Identifier: SNCTP000003139).

Impact of COVID-19 on nurse outcomes in the private sector of South Africa: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThis study explored and described the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurse outcomes in the private sector of South Africa. National research shows that nurses had poor nurse outcomes prior to the pandemic, amidst these issues the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, with nurses having to play a key role in the public health response. International studies have shown that although nurses were willing to serve in this manner, they experienced moderate to high burnout, anxiety, depression, fear and exhaustion. However, this topic has received comparatively little attention in African countries.MethodsA cross-sectional survey design was conducted. Multistage sampling was applied in selection of provinces, hospital groups, hospitals, units, and nursing personnel. Valid and reliable tools were used to measure nurse outcomes. Data was collected from April 2021 until January 2022.ResultsNurses described having high levels of compassion satisfaction, moderate levels of compassion fatigue, and high levels of burnout. Nurses appeared satisfied with their job and career. Almost a quarter of nurses reported the intention to leave their job, and of those about a fifth indicated that they intended to leave the profession. The nurses who routinely cared for COVID-19 patients had a small statistically significant increase in compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, emotional exhaustion and, job turnover intention, and a small statistically significant decrease in job satisfaction. Increased exposure to death and dying showed small correlations with emotional exhaustion and career turnover intentions.ConclusionThe results of this study show that nurses were impacted by COVID-19 and death and dying during the pandemic, and that follow-up studies are needed post-pandemic.Implications of studyIt is important that burnout and compassion fatigue be addressed on an organizational level, as nurse outcomes were already negative prior to the pandemic, and all global evidence points to the worsening of these outcomes post-pandemic. There were many psychological support interventions with proven effectiveness that should be explored and applied for the South African context.

Psychological therapy for the prevention of suicide in prison: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundSuicide is the leading cause of preventable death in prisons. Deaths from suicide in prison are significantly, and persistently, elevated compared to those living in the community. Psychological therapies have been shown to be a potentially effective means of alleviating suicidal thoughts, plans and behaviours, but patients located in prison often have no access to evidence-based psychological interventions targeting suicide. The objectives of this programme of research are to investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of a new psychological therapy programme delivered to male prisoners at risk of suicide.MethodsThe PROSPECT trial is a two-armed single blind, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial and will recruit a target sample size of 360 male prisoners, identified as at-risk of suicide, across 4 prisons in the North of England. Participants will be randomised to receive a psychological talking therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Suicide Prevention, CBSP) plus treatment as usual, or treatment as usual alone. Co-primary outcomes (Suicide Ideation and Suicide Behaviours), as well as related secondary outcomes, will be assessed at baseline and at 6-months follow-up. An intention to treat analysis will be conducted with primary stratification based on prison site and lifetime history of suicide attempt (yes/no). A nested qualitative process evaluation will investigate the nature and context in which the intervention is delivered, with specific focus upon the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of the therapy within prisons.DiscussionThe key outputs from this trial will be to determine whether a psychological therapy for suicidal prisoners is clinically and cost effective; and to generate a project implementation platform that identifies how best to implement the new intervention across the broader prison estate.Trial registrationISRCTN (reference ISRCTN14056534 https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN14056534; 24th September 2021). Registration confirmed prior to participant recruitment commencing. Modifications to protocol are listed on the study website at ISRCTN.

A network approach to understanding occupational psychological distress: linking depression, anxiety, and burnout among Chinese healthcare professionals

ObjectivesAs a population at high risk for psychological distress, healthcare workers typically experience varying degrees of anxiety, depression, and burnout. Studies have found that depression and anxiety have a negative impact on the mental health domain of burnout in healthcare workers. However, little is known about the symptom-to-symptom interactions between these psychological outcomes. This study aims to elucidate the characteristics of depression, anxiety, and burnout networks among healthcare workers.MethodsWe recruited 846 healthcare workers from March to April 2023 from three hospitals. A total of 826 healthcare workers completed the General Information Scale, the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology–Self-Report (QIDS-SR16), the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire (BCSQ)-36. The network models were constructed using network analysis. The expected influence and the bridge expected influence of nodes were calculated. The stability and accuracy of the network was assessed.ResultsThe results showed that the core symptoms in the symptom network mainly included QIDS8 (Energy/Fatigability), SAS3 (Easily upset or frightened), SAS11 (Dizzy), SAS8 (Tiredness), SAS10 (Tachycardia) and BCSQ3 (Worn-out), and the key nodes connecting these symptoms were QIDS2 (Sad mood), SAS20 (Have nightmares), BCSQ3 (Worn-out), SAS8 (Tiredness), QIDS8 (Energy/Fatigability), QIDS4 (Concentration/decision-making) and SAS4 (Madness).ConclusionUnique pathways of association between burnout, depression, and anxiety were found to exist. Interventions targeting core symptoms can maximize the improvement of depression, anxiety, and burnout, provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between the three conditions, and provide a target and basis for psychological interventions to improve the emotional wellbeing of healthcare workers and enhance their mental health.

Coping and Emotional Development for Adolescents to Reduce Stress (CEDARS): pilot test of a school-based positive psychological intervention for adolescents

IntroductionThis study tested the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of Coping and Emotional Development for Adolescents to Reduce Stress (CEDARS) a positive psychological intervention (PPI), tailored for adolescents and administered in a classroom setting, in boosting CEDARS skill use and emotional well-being.MethodAdolescents (N = 102, 45% female) aged 13–15, in four physical education classes at the same school were randomly assigned by classroom to either receive the CEDARS intervention (n = 59) or engage in the usual class activities (n = 44). Participants completed self-report measures at three time points assessing use of intervention skills, positive and negative affect, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress.Results and conclusionGroups differed significantly on race with 57% of the intervention group compared to 75% of the control group identifying as Asian or Pacific Islander. Race-adjusted analyses revealed that both groups improved on intervention skill use, negative affect, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress. The group by time interaction was significant such that the CEDARS group increased skill use from pre- to post- intervention and this difference persisted at follow-up. Contrary to hypotheses, there were also significant group by time interactions indicating that the control group had a steeper decline in depression and perceived stress from pre- to post-intervention. Students reported high acceptability and feasibility and suggested key changes to increase engagement. The current study expands on the existing PPI literature focused on adolescents and highlights the need for larger and more diverse samples, as well as developmentally- and culturally-tailored interventions.

Self-Guided vs Clinician-Guided Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Clinician-guided online self-help based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective at decreasing symptom severity for people with atopic dermatitis (AD). A brief online self-guided CBT intervention could be more cost-effective and allow for easy implementation and broader outreach compared with more comprehensive clinician-guided interventions. To investigate whether a brief online self-guided CBT intervention is noninferior to a comprehensive online clinician-guided CBT treatment. This single-blind randomized clinical noninferiority trial was conducted at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Adult individuals with AD were enrolled from November 2022 to April 2023. The last postintervention data were collected in December 2023. Participants randomized to the self-guided group had access to a self-guided online CBT intervention for 12 weeks without clinician support. Participants randomized to the clinician-guided group received online CBT for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was change in score from baseline to postintervention to 12-week follow-up on the self-reported Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM). The predefined noninferiority margin was 3 points on POEM. Of 168 randomized participants, 142 (84.5%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 39 (10.5) years. A total of 86 participants were randomized to the self-guided group and 82 were randomized to the clinician-guided group. A total of 151 (90.0%) completed the main outcome postintervention assessment. Postintervention, the clinician-guided group had improved 4.20 points (95% CI, 1.94-6.05) on POEM and the self-guided group improved 4.60 points (95% CI, 2.57-6.64), corresponding to an estimated mean difference in change of 0.36 points (1-sided 97.5% CI, -∞ to 1.75), which was below the noninferiority margin of 3 points. No serious adverse events were reported. In the clinician-guided group, clinicians spent a mean (SD) of 36.0 (33.3) minutes (95% CI, 29.2-41.7) on treatment guidance and 14.0 (6.0) minutes (95% CI, 12.9-15.6) on assessments compared to 15.8 (6.4) minutes on assessments in the self-guided group. In this randomized clinical noninferiority trial, a brief self-guided CBT intervention was noninferior to clinician-guided CBT. Given the limited clinical resources required to deliver self-guided CBT, this treatment might be a promising means to disseminate evidence-based psychological treatment for patients with AD. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05517850.

Comparison between clinician and machine learning prediction in a randomized controlled trial for nonsuicidal self-injury

BackgroundNonsuicidal self-injury is a common health problem in adolescents and associated with future suicidal behavior. Predicting who will benefit from treatment is an urgent and a critical first step towards personalized treatment approaches. Machine-learning algorithms have been proposed as techniques that might outperform clinicians’ judgment. The aim of this study was to explore clinician predictions of which adolescents would abstain from nonsuicidal self-injury after treatment as well as how these predictions match machine-learning algorithm predictions.MethodsData from a recent trial evaluating an internet-delivered emotion regulation therapy for adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury was used. Clinician predictions of which patients would abstain from nonsuicidal self-injury (measured using the youth version of Deliberate Self-harm Inventory) were compared to a random forest model trained on the same available data from baseline assessments.ResultsBoth clinician (accuracy = 0.63) and model-based (accuracy = 0.67) predictions achieved significantly better accuracy than a model that classified all patients as reaching NSSI remission (accuracy = 0.49 [95% CI 0.41 to 0.58]), however there was no statistically significant difference between them. Adding clinician predictions to the random forest model did not improve accuracy. Emotion dysregulation was identified as the most important predictor of nonsuicidal self-injury absence.ConclusionsPreliminary findings indicate comparable prediction accuracy between clinicians and a machine-learning algorithm in the psychological treatment of nonsuicidal self-injury in youth. As both prediction approaches achieved modest accuracy, the current results indicate the need for further research to enhance the predictive power of machine-learning algorithms. Machine learning model indicated that emotion dysregulation may be of importance in treatment planning, information that was not available from clinician predictions.Trial RegistrationNCT03353961||https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/, registered 2017–11-21.Preregistration at Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/vym96/.

Integrative Therapy for Youth with Cannabis Use Disorder Targeting Attachment Insecurity and Emotion Dysregulation: A Process-Based Case Study

Regular cannabis use during adolescence can have cognitive, psychological, and social consequences, leading to significant distress. Although psychological interventions are the primary treatment for cannabis use disorder, their efficacy in adolescents remains limited. This case study presents a comprehensive overview of a process-based conceptualization and treatment approach, Integrated Therapy for Adolescent Cannabis Misuse (ITACM), tailored for a young female patient with concurrent severe cannabis use and emotional symptoms. ITACM is an individual, brief intervention that includes family sessions, targeting emotion dysregulation and interpersonal difficulties, both of which have been empirically linked to cannabis use disorder in young people. The treatment integrates motivational interviewing, cognitive and behavioral therapy (including psychoeducation, promoting alternative behaviors, and relapse prevention) and an attachment-based therapy (addressing emotion regulation, relational processes, and promoting corrective attachment experiences). A thorough assessment of psychiatric symptoms and psychological processes was conducted at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and at a 2-month follow-up. At the end of the treatment, the patient reported a significant decrease in her cannabis use, anxiety, and depression, as well as improvements in emotion regulation strategies. The case study underscores significant outcomes following a 10-week course of psychotherapy addressing cannabis use, emotional dysregulation, and interpersonal difficulties in a young patient. The treatment protocol appears promising and warrants further investigation through a randomized controlled trial.

Unwanted or negative treatment reactions in digital psychological interventions for adolescents with chronic pain.

Reports of pain clinical trials evaluating psychological treatments often lack sufficient details on the potential and actual harm resulting from intervention. We aimed to understand how frequent and intense treatment reactions, conceptualized as unwanted symptoms, were in three clinical trials of digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for adolescents with: (1) chronic primary pain, (2) sickle cell disease, and (3) chronic pancreatitis. We also aimed to understand any differences by demographic and clinical variables. Analyses were conducted with 246 youths (12-18 years old) experiencing chronic pain and one of their caregivers. 66% of the total sample was female. The number, intensity, and type of treatment reactions experienced were assessed post treatment. T-tests and Chi-squared tests were conducted to explore whether certain treatment reactions were more frequent as a function of baseline or clinical characteristics. 9% of participants experienced some negative treatment reaction. The average intensity of those events was very low on a 0-3 scale (M = 0.1, SD = 0.4). There were no differences in the prevalence or intensity as a function of participant's sex, age, race, or baseline pain intensity. However, baseline anxiety [t = -2.4 (244); p < .05] and baseline pain interference [t = -2.2 (223); p < .05] were significantly higher in those who experienced negative treatment reactions. A small number of participants reported experiencing negative treatment reactions, with a low intensity level. Those experiencing negative treatment reactions showed higher baseline anxiety and pain interference. Future research may build from our example to standardize collection of harms data in trials of psychological interventions.

Stroke and Sexual Health: A Systematic Review of Psychological Interventions Aimed at Improving Sexual Health of Stroke Survivors

To systematically review the existing literature on the efficacy of psychological interventions aimed at improving the sexual health of stroke survivors. A database search was conducted at MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, EBSCO (APA PsycINFO and APA PsycArticles), and The Cochrane Library. PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were followed. Manuscripts were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I, Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Tool, and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies (JBI-CACS). From an initial 1053 publications identified, five studies were included in the present study. The study designs of the selected studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, a cross-sectional study, and a case study. The predominant intervention model used in most studies was the PLISSIT model. No studies using a digital-delivered format were identified. This research underscores the potential benefits of tailored interventions for promoting sexual health in stroke survivors and highlights areas for future research.

Exploring the interplay of prurigonodularis: unraveling links with Helicobacter pylori infection and psychological factors

Introduction: Prurigo nodularis (PN), a chronic skin condition causing distressing itching, poses challenges in conventional treatment. This study investigates links between PN, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, and psychological factors.Aims and Objectives:Examining the association between PN and H. pylori infection, the study assesses psychological factors as potential links, offering insights into treatment approaches.Materials and Method:A cross-sectional study involving 30 clinically confirmed PN patients in Ahmedabad from January 2022 to September 2023. Psychological stress significantly associated with H. pylori infection (χ2 = 12.139, p = 0.000494), emphasizing holistic care. Treatment modalities, including pharmacological and psychological interventions, showed promise in managing PN.Conclusion:The study highlights significant correlations between psychological stress, H. pylori infection, and PN progression, emphasizing the importance of tailored, comprehensive care. Future research should establish causal relationships and explore long-term treatment efficacy. Keywords: Prurigo nodularis, H. pylori infection, psychological stress, comprehensive care.

Case report: Depression in an older patient with dysgeusia as the initial symptom

IntroductionDepression is the most common mental illness among older adults, with substantial and persistent mood depression as the main clinical feature, which is unfavorable for improvement. The clinical manifestations can range from melancholy to grief or even numbness. Approximately one-third of older adult patients exhibit physical discomfort as the first symptom; dysgeusia as the first symptom, is very rare in clinical practice. Dysgeusia is a clinical symptom with no specific objective indicator; thus, the likelihood of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis is high.Case presentationIn this study, a 60-year-old female housewife with elementary school as her highest level of education, presented to the outpatient department with dysgeusia, poor sleep, and poor mood persisting for &amp;gt;1 year, which aggravated 2 weeks before hospital visit. Psychiatric examination showed clear consciousness; the patient was cleanly and timely dressed and demonstrated self-care but had a worrisome expression. Using the diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Diseases (10th edition), a diagnosis of a major depressive episode with psychotic symptoms was made. Following pharmacological and psychological treatment, the patient’s condition improved. The patient was compliant to treatment (10 mg/day of escitalopram), had a stable mood, good sleep, and no dysgeusia at &amp;gt;2 years of follow-up as an outpatient. She was able to do housework and take care of her children normally and did not complain about any other issues.ConclusionPhysical discomfort is a very common complaint in older patients with depression. If persistent physical symptoms do not improve after repeated medical treatment, timely assessment of the patient’s mental state or psychiatric referral should be considered to diagnose geriatric depression. Timely pharmacological and psychological therapy are the preferred treatment for older adults.

Efficacy of Auricular Acupressure Combined With Positive Psychological Techniques on Sleep Quality in Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Auricular acupressure (AA) and positive psychological intervention (PPI) are promising sleep improvement methods. To assess and compare the efficacies of combined intervention (CI [AA + PPI]), AA, and PPI in sleep quality enhancement and their potential effects in alleviating negative psychological states in radiotherapy-treated patients with cancer. This study was a 4-arm, placebo-controlled randomized trial. We randomly assigned 120 eligible patients into 4 groups (30 patients per group). The main outcomes included subjective sleep quality, psychological distress, and fear of cancer recurrence, which were measured at baseline, immediate postintervention, and 4 weeks postintervention. Objective sleep quality was measured using Fitbit Charge 3 at baseline and immediate postintervention. The intervention effects were estimated using the linear mixed model. The 4 groups demonstrated significant differences in subjective sleep quality (P < .001), psychological distress (P = .004), and fear of cancer recurrence (P < .001). CI, AA, and PPI had different degrees of positive effects on subjective sleep quality compared with sham control; CI was more effective than AA and PPI, whereas AA was more effective than PPI. CI and PPI showed significant and comparable effects on psychological distress and fear of cancer recurrence reduction. Only CI and AA significantly improved the objective sleep quality. CI, AA, and PPI are recommended as complementary therapies to improve the sleep quality of patients with cancer. In future clinical practice, healthcare workers should assess patients' sleep quality and psychological status and select appropriate interventions.

Tailored internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for depression in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDepression is a common and serious problem in older adults, but few have access to psychological treatments. Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) has the potential to improve access and has been found to be effective in adults with depression. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of tailored ICBT for depression in older adults aged 65 years or older. We also investigated if cognitive flexibility could predict outcome.MethodsFollowing online recruitment from the community, included participants were randomly allocated to either ten weeks of clinician guided ICBT (n = 50) or to an active control group in the form of non-directive support (n = 51). Primary depression outcome was the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Several secondary outcomes were used, such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).ResultsBoth treatment and active control groups significantly reduced their levels of depression, and the treatment group showed significantly greater improvement on the GDS-15 and BDI-II, but not on the PHQ-9. Between-group effect sizes as Cohen’s d were 0.78 (CI95% 0.36–1.20) on the GDS-15 and 0.53 (CI95% 0.11–0.94) on the BDI-II.ConclusionsTailored ICBT is superior to an active control for older adults with depression. Between-group effects were smaller than in previous RCTs, most likely because of the use of an active control condition. Cognitive flexibility did not predict outcome. We conclude that ICBT can be used for older adults with depression, and thus increase access to psychotherapy for this group.Trial registrationThis trial was retrospectively registered in clinicaltrials.gov (no. NCT05269524) the 8th of March 2022.

Interventions to support the psychological empowerment of nurses: a scoping review

BackgroundEstablishing an empowering work environment is significantly contributing to nurse’s job satisfaction, performance, retention, and organizational success. This study aimed to conduct a scoping review to chart and synthesize current research on interventions to support nurses’ psychological empowerment.MethodsTen databases were searched, including PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, EBSCOhost, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and OpenGrey, following the Joanna Briggs Institute’s methodology for scoping reviews. The search encompassed literature from its inception to 5 September 2024. The selection of studies followed predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A manualized systematic quality assessment method was applied to the included studies, and the extracted data were charted using a series of tables.ResultsEleven studies were included. Seven studies reported the theoretical framework used. The interventions are all educational and are divided into two main sections: theoretical learning and applied practice. The duration of the interventions spanned a wide range of hours. The intervention format was based on offline training. The participants included both nurse managers and nurses. The evaluation measures were mostly multiple time points using the Spreitzer Psychological Empowerment Instrument. The interventions were generally effective, although some studies reported different results.ConclusionResearch on psychological empowerment interventions for nurses is still in the developmental phase, with preliminary evidence validating their positive effects. Future research should focus on conducting randomized controlled studies with larger sample sizes, selecting appropriate theoretical frameworks to design interventions, enriching the content and form of interventions, and strengthening evaluation measures to improve the quality of psychological empowerment interventions for nurses.Systematic review registrationOSF, https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/W7ZG6.

Learning About Development from Interventions

In this review, we argue that the role of causally informative evaluations of interventions within developmental psychology should be elevated. Causally informative research on the effects of intervention inputs on medium- and long-term outcomes are sufficiently relevant to developmental psychology to inform or even constrain our theories and to inspire future developmental research. We review several examples of research that yielded developmental insights from such work and discuss a broad theoretical framework for using developmental theory to reason about the effects of interventions and vice versa. Finally, we discuss potential challenges that have inhibited the role of causally informative research on interventions in developmental psychology along with actionable steps researchers can take to integrate such work more deeply into the field.