Emotional Pain Research Articles

Autolesiones en jóvenes universitarios sobrevivientes del suicidio

Self-injurious behaviors often arise as an attempt to regulate emotions and temporarily alleviate emotional and social pain, potentially leading to suicidal attempts over time—a complex phenomenon that demands a profound and diverse understanding of intense emotional distress and an urgent need for help and support. Thus, this article aimed to explore self-injurious experiences in survivors of suicide attempts during university years through a systematic review methodology using the PRISMA protocol, identifying and critically evaluating the quality of 24 studies spanning a period from 2003 to 2024, using keywords such as self-injury, non-suicidal self-injury, university students, adolescents, young adults, and others in databases like Web of Science, Redalyc, and Dialnet. It was found that self-injurious experiences in university students include cuts, burns, blows, pinches, falls, bites, scratches, and more, resulting from depression, anxiety, stress, impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, avoidant coping styles, psychoactive substance use, bullying, academic pressure, history of violence, existential void, fatalistic attitudes, low self-esteem, cognitive rumination, family dysfunction, negative sexual experiences, and more. The above reveals that these experiences require specialized management that includes institutional and family care and support protocols, encompassing emotional, social, and personal factors, which implies the creation of early intervention programs, continuous psychological support, and awareness campaigns to reduce the stigma associated with self-injury and suicide.

Is personalization of psychological pain treatments necessary? Evidence from a Bayesian variance ratio meta-analysis.

This is the first study to empirically determine the potential for data-driven personalization in the context of chronic primary pain (CPP). Effect sizes of psychological treatments for individuals with CPP are small to moderate on average. Aiming for better treatment outcomes for the individual patient, the call to personalize CPP treatment increased over time. However, empirical evidence that personalization of psychological treatments can optimize treatment outcomes in CPP is needed. This study seeks to estimate heterogeneity of treatment effect for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as the psychological treatment approach for CPP with the greatest evidence base. For this purpose, a Bayesian variance ratio meta-regression is conducted using updated data from 2 recently published meta-analyses with randomized controlled trials comparing CBT delivered face-to-face to treatment-as-usual or waiting list controls. Heterogeneity in patients with CPP would be reflected by a larger overall variance in the post-treatment score compared with the control group. We found first evidence for an individual treatment effect in CBT compared with the control group. The estimate for the intercept was 0.06, indicating a 6% higher variance of end point values in the intervention groups. However, this result warrants careful consideration. Further research is needed to shed light on the heterogeneity of psychological treatment studies and thus to uncover the full potential of data-driven personalized psychotherapy for patients with CPP.A Bayesian variance ratio meta-regression indicates empirical evidence that data-driven personalized psychotherapy for patients with chronic primary pain could increase effects of cognitive behavioral therapy.

Psychological Pain, Hopelessness and Suicide Ideation in Female Patients with Fibromyalgia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate if psychache and hopelessness may serve as reliable predictors of suicidal ideation among female fibromyalgia (FM) patients. This was a cross-sectional study of 50 women with FM, examining the relationship between psychological pain, hopelessness, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. FM diagnosis was confirmed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Demographic data, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI 7.0.2), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Psychache Scale were utilized to assess these relationships and their predictive value for suicidality. The mean age of the participants was 50.2 years (±8.7). Thirty-two (64%) patients had current major depression, 11 (22%) had bipolar disorder, 20 (40%) presented passive suicidal ideation and 14 (28%) presented active suicidal ideation. Psychological pain correlated with both depressive symptoms (p<0.01; r= 0.648) and hopelessness (p=0.029; r=0.312) but did not predict suicidal ideation. Logistic regression analyses revealed depressive symptom severity as a predictor of passive suicidal ideation (odds ratio = 1.486; 95% CI: 1.017 - 2.170), while hopelessness predicted active suicidal ideation (odd ratio = 1.356; 95% CI, 1.049 - 1.753). FM female patients showed increased prevalence of suicidal ideation. Hopelessness predicts active suicidal ideation but psychological pain did not serve as predictive factor for suicide ideation among female FM patients.

Coping with emotional pain: An experimental comparison of acceptance vs. avoidance coping

The present study compared multi-methodically and multi-dimensionally the effects of acceptance and avoidance coping with emotional pain, both between and within-group. Convenience sampling was used, with 88 participants included (81.8% females; Mage = 21.75 years) and being randomly assigned to one of two instructed groups: (a) Acceptance followed by avoidance of pain sensations and thoughts, and (b) Avoidance followed by acceptance. All participants underwent an emotional pain induction procedure three times involving negative autobiographical recall and an emotional-pain standardized script. In the first emotion induction, no instructions were given whereas in the other two, participants were instructed to use the techniques they were trained in. On both autobiographical and emotional-pain script tasks, participants who used firstly avoidance and secondly acceptance exhibited significantly lower mean heart rate and higher mean heart rate variability RR index across time. Also, in the last emotional pain induction, on both tasks, acceptance resulted in lower physiological activation than avoidance. No significant differences were found for the self-report of negative affect. Overall, acceptance vs. avoidance differences were mostly found in the physiological outcomes, suggesting the importance of including objective measures when examining coping techniques. Our findings suggest that ACT's concept of creative hopelessness is supported, as participants may have to use firstly use ineffective coping strategies to better understand what methods are most effective for managing pain. To our knowledge, this study is the first study to compare acceptance vs. avoidance coping with emotional pain both between and within-group, using a multi-method and multi-dimensional approach.

A novel study on the quality of life index in canine chronic kidney disease treated with incremental intermittent hemodialysis.

In veterinary medicine, health-related quality-of-life index (QOLi) measurements are becoming increasingly important because they are a multifaceted concept that represents not only patients' physical well-being but also clients' emotional health. This study assessed QOLi in dogs receiving incremental intermittent hemodialysis (i-IHD) with high- and low-flux dialyzers. Thirty dogs diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage IV were randomly divided into two groups of 15 dogs each. A high-flux dialyzer was used in Group I, whereas a low-flux dialyzer was used in Group II. i-IHD was performed on days 0, 2, 4, 19, and 34, whereas QOLi evaluation was performed on days 0, 15, 30, and 45. Both groups exhibited considerable decreases in post-dialysis creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and phosphorus levels, while Group I experienced notable reductions in post-dialysis triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Dialysis adequacy did not show any significant difference between the clearance rates of high- and low-flux dialyzers. The QOLi assessment showed better post-dialysis scores in all categories except for water balance in Group I, while Group II demonstrated a worsening trend in scores for mental status, appetite, mobility, general health, and pain. In the first three sessions of i-IHD, dogs with CKD should be treated every other day, and the schedule can be extended by 15 days after that. A high-flux membrane, which effectively decreases triglyceride and cholesterol levels more than a low-flux membrane, warrants consideration for dogs with cardiovascular complications undergoing dialysis. The dialysis-related QOLi aids in clinical decision-making and encourages client engagement.

Social Media Use and Consumption of Prescription-Free Medications for Anxiety, Sleep, and Pain among Norwegian University Students.

A relationship has been recognized between social media use and health issues. However, no studies have explored the potential link between social media use and consumption of over-the-counter (OTC) medications. We examined social media use, self-reported anxiety, depression, sleep problems, pain, and OTC medications use among Norwegian university students. The goal was to gain insights that would guide preventive health strategies for this target group. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with an online questionnaire distributed to university student Facebook groups in Norway. A total of 132 completed surveys were analyzed. Among the respondents, 28% experienced anxiety, 35% depression, 64% sleep problems, 71% headaches, and 78% musculoskeletal pain. Moreover, 56% reported using OTC analgesics or sleep aids, mostly purchased from community pharmacies. No statistically significant correlation was found between social media use and headache, musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbances, or consumption of OTC medications among university students in Norway. The findings, however, demonstrated a positive trend, highlighting the need for further research with larger, more diverse samples, and potentially employing a qualitative or longitudinal design. We propose increased awareness of the potential negative effects of social media among university students, the inclusion of social media and health topics in study curricula, and the more proactive engagement of community pharmacists with young clients concerning the consumption of OTC medications.

Pain From a Distance: Can Third-Person Self-Talk Mitigate Pain Sensitivity and Pain Related Distress During Experimentally Induced Pain?

Pain is self-immersive, leading to a narrow, egocentric focus on the self in the here and now. Preliminary evidence suggests that distancing oneself from the pain can reduce experimentally induced pain. The primary aim of this experimental study was to examine whether a hitherto unexplored, simple self-distancing strategy - "third-person self-talk" - has an analgesic effect on physiological and psychological pain variables. Participants (N = 292) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions (third-person self-talk, first-person self-talk, and two control conditions). Pain was induced with a cold pressor apparatus and pain tolerance, pain intensity, negative affect and blood pressure were measured for each group. While in pain, participants engaged in strategic self-talk aided by cue-cards. Data were analyzed with univariate planned comparisons. Few significant differences emerged for the third-person self-talk versus the other conditions. It is concluded that third-person self-talk does not seem to have a meaningful effect on physiological and psychological pain variables, although a small effect size could not be ruled out. Practical implications are discussed.The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05511857.

ANGUISH, TRAUMA AND RESPONSIBILITY: ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE ON ONTOLOGICAL NARRATIVE FORMATION

This article discusses the issue of anguish from a philosophical perspective combining it with the issues of trauma, responsibility and ethics. It is argued that anguish is a painful emotion that has ontological roots and can be etched into a positive form of either arts or writing, which helps to express this particular emotion, according to Maurice Blanchot’s philosophical viewpoint. Further, the article focuses on the ethical narrative formation regarding the victim and the nature of trauma. The paper refers to Julia Kristeva’s notion of the abject to explain that the abuser’s narrative is usually abjected by the society by excluding the abuser from the ethical narrative, while the victim is seen as deficient due to the trauma experience. The article suggests that the trauma narrative can be reformed and changed in such a way as to include both the victim and the abuser into it. The text argues that demystification and dialogical relationship between the victim and abuser, as well as the reduction of the role of narcissism in the abuser’s narrative, can help create an ethical narrative that allows to humanize both the victim and the abuser. The article further argues that the abuser has to take the responsibility for the wrongdoings, which usually falls too often on the victim. There is a further argument about a shift in narrative formation in the society which creates certain values, meanings and socially accepted emotions. The article also emphasizes that empathy and love are important for considering trauma narratives in order to learn to accept new accounts of trauma.

Molecular mechanism of basolateral amygdala involved in electroacupuncture-induced amelioration of cancer pain and concomitant depression based on transcriptomics techniques.

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) on cancer pain and concomitant negative emotion in cancer pain model mice, and to explore its molecular mechanisms in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) by using transcriptomics techniques. C57BL/6 mice were randomized into sham operation, model and EA groups, with 10 mice in each group. The cancer pain model was established by injecting PBS suspension containing Lewis lung cancer cells into the femur. The mice in the EA group received EA stimulation(1 mA, 2 Hz) on ST36 and SP6 from the 10th day after modeling, 20 min per day for 12 successive days. The bone damage of the distal femur was observed with X-ray and H.E. staining, respectively. The mechanical pain threshold (MPT) was detected by using von Frey. The depression-like behavior was detected by using sucrose-preference test (sucrose preference index in 12 h), and the immobility (feeling of despair) duration of forced swimming within 4 min. The BLA tissue was extracted for RNA sequencing (RNA library construction, and screening differential gene profiling by transcriptomic sequencing) and bioinformatics analysis. The real-time PCR was used to validate the mRNA expression of differentially expressed genes：tumor necrosis factor superfamily 8 (Tnfsf8), bone marrow stromal cell antigen 1 (Bst1), prodynorphin (Pdyn) and voltage-gated sodium channelβ4 (Scn4b). H.E. staining and X-ray showed significant bone damage in the distal femur in cancer pain mice. In contrast to the sham operation group, the MPT on the 1st , 4th, 7th , 10th, 14th and 21st day after modeling and sucrose preference index were significantly decreased (P<0.001, P<0.000 1), and the immobility time of the forced swimming was considerably increased in the model group (P<0.001). In contrast to the model group, the MPT values on the 14th and 21st day and sucrose preference index were obviously increased (P<0.000 1, P<0.05), and the immobility time was strikingly decreased in the EA group (P<0.01). RNA sequencing showed that a total of 404 differentially expressed genes (205 up-regulated, 199 down-regulated) were screened in the model group compared with the sham operation group, and a total of 329 differentially expressed genes (206 up-regulated and 123 down-regulated) were screened in the EA group compared with the model group. Venn diagram analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed that 45 up-regulated and 28 down-regulated genes in the model group were completely reversed by EA. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of the screened differentially expressed genes revealed that the above differential genes were mainly enriched in the ligand receptor activity, cytokine receptor binding, and cytokine activity related to neuro-inflammation, as well as in neuropeptide signaling pathways related to neuronal excitability, and calcium ion mediated signal transduction. The analysis of KEGG pathway showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the inflammation-related pathways, such as interleukin-17 pathway. Validation analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed that the expression levels of Tnfsf8 and Bst1 were significantly up-regulated in the model group compared with the sham operation group (P<0.01, P<0.05), and down-regulated by EA (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the expression levels of Pdyn and Scn4b were down-regulated in the model group in comparison with the sham operation group (P<0.01), and up-regulated by EA (P<0.05, P<0.01), which was consistent with the changing trend of the gene sequencing results. Acupuncture of ST36 and SP6 can significantly relieve cancer pain and concomitant negative emotion in cancer pain mice, which may be related to its functions in alleviating neuro-inflammation and relieving the abnormal activities of specific neurons in the BLA.

Cortical Tagged Synaptic Long-Term Depression in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex of Adult Mice.

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a key cortical region for pain perception and emotion. Different forms of synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), have been reported in the ACC. Synaptic tagging of LTP plays an important role in hippocampus-related associative memory. In this study, we demonstrate that synaptic tagging of LTD is detected in the ACC of adult male and female mice. This form of tagged LTD requires the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1 (mGluR1). The induction of tagged LTD is time-related with the strongest tagged LTD appearing when the interval between two independent stimuli is 30 min. Inhibitors of mGluR1 blocked the induction of tagged LTD; however, blocking N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors did not affect the induction of tagged LTD. Nimodipine, an inhibitor of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, also blocked tagged LTD. In an animal model of amputation, we found that tagged LTD was either reduced or completely blocked. Together with our previous report of tagged LTP in the ACC, this study strongly suggests that excitatory synapses in the adult ACC are highly plastic. The biphasic tagging of synaptic transmission provides a new form of heterosynaptic plasticity in the ACC which has functional and pathophysiological significance in phantom pain.

Exploring the Relationship between Self-Compassion and Psychological Pain: A Canonical Correlation Analysis.

This study investigated the association between self-compassion and psychological pain across various demographic variables. Using canonical correlation analysis, we observed an inverse relationship between the combined factors of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and the Orbach and Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale (OMMP-8). Subgroup analyses revealed differences in SCS subscales among demographic groups with females, individuals with mental health diagnoses, and non-athletes displaying higher scores on negative SCS subscales and PsyPn. Injury status did not significantly affect self-compassion levels, although injured individuals scored higher on the irreversibility subscale of PsyPn. Negative SCS factors exhibited larger group differences and stronger correlations with PsyPn, indicating the potency of negative thinking in influencing psychological pain. These findings underscore the importance of self-compassion in mental health and suggest potential implications for intervention strategies.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training During Pregnancy: Effects on Mental State, Delivery and Labour Pain - a Prospective Study.

Progressive muscle relaxation is a widely used technique for relaxation, but studies are rare about efficacy on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Aim of our study was to determine whether progressive muscle relaxation affects anxiety and depression levels of pregnant women, pregnancy outcomes, labour pain and analgesic requirements. 156 pregnant women were enrolled in a prospective non-randomized controlled cohort study. The control group received standard antenatal care and classes only, while the intervention group additionally received progressive muscle relaxation training once a week for six weeks. Anxiety, depression and current strain were measured in a pretest-posttest experimental design using self-report scales at baseline (1 st survey), 5 weeks later (2 nd survey) and during puerperium (3 rd survey). Numeric Rating scales were used for measuring labour pain and satisfaction with analgesic treatment in the 3 rd survey. Fifty complete questionnaires from each group were analysed. There were no differences in mental status between the groups at baseline. Progressive muscle relaxation training significantly reduced depression levels. Trait anxiety, reflecting a person's basic anxiety decreased significantly in both groups during puerperium. No differences in pregnancy outcomes, labour pain and analgesic requirements could be shown within both groups in general. Nonetheless, women attending more than five progressive muscle relaxation courses reported significantly less labour pain within the group and compared to controls. Pregnant women could benefit from progressive muscle relaxation training if used continuously. Relaxation methods should be a substantial part of prenatal care and available for everyone.

A measure to gauge psychological pain: Assessing convergent construct validity and internal consistency of the Psychache Scale in the Cambodian context

The following study was conducted in order to assess convergent construct validity and internal consistency of a Khmer-language adaptation of the Psychache Scale, a 13-item self-report instrument used to assess subjective experiences of psychological pain. The Psychache Scale (PAS) was translated into Khmer and back-translated to verify accurate meaning. The Khmer translation was corrected to address cultural and linguistic nuances for the Cambodian population and piloted among 121 students and recent graduates. The final Khmer version of the PAS showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.928). Results also showed that scores on the Psychache Scale were strongly associated with related concepts of depression (r2 = 0.545, p = 0.000), anxiety (r2 = 0.438, p = 0.000), stress (r2 = 0.459, p = 0.000), and Baksbat, a Cambodian-specific cultural concept of distress (r2 = 0.549, p = 0.000). Contrary to a priori hypotheses, the Psychache Scale was also negatively and statistically significantly associated with age (Kruskal-Wallis χ2 = 20.561, df = 4, p = 0.000) and was negatively statistically significantly related to education level (Kruskal-Wallis χ2 = 13.053, df = 2 p = 0.001). Given these results, the Psychache Scale shows potential clinical utility in the Cambodian context, though future research may consider how psychological pain differs according to age and education levels.

Experiences and perceptions of palliative care patients receiving virtual reality therapy: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

BackgroundThe combination of virtual reality (VR) and palliative care potentially represents a new opportunity for palliative care. Many previous studies have evaluated the application of VR therapy to patients with advanced disease receiving palliative care. However, patient-perspective reviews to comprehensively understand the actual experiences and feelings of patients and provide practical guidance for designing future studies are currently lacking. This review of qualitative evidence aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of patients receiving VR therapy in palliative care.MethodsThis study was conducted in accordance with the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) statement guidelines. Ten databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, OVID MEDLINE, Scopus, John Wiley, ProQuest, CNKI, WANFANG DATA, and SinoMed, were searched, and qualitative and mixed studies from the establishment of each database to June 30, 2023 were included. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The data included in the literature were analyzed and integrated by “thematic synthesis” to formalize the identification and development of themes.ResultsThe nine selected studies altogether included 156 participants from seven hospice care facilities of different types and two oncology centers. Three key themes were identified: experiences of palliative care patients in VR therapy, the perceived value that palliative care patients gain in VR therapy, and perspectives of palliative care patients toward using VR therapy.ConclusionsThe patients’ feedback covered discomfort caused by VR devices, good sense of experiences, and situations that affected the interactive experience. Some patients were unable to tolerate VR therapy or reported newer forms of discomfort. The findings indicated that VR therapy may be an effective approach to relieve patients’ physical and psychological pain and help them gain self-awareness. Moreover, patients showed a preference for personalized VR therapy.

Vocational Experiences of Korean Women With a High School Diploma: Insights into Work Precarity and Social Marginalization

A college education is a means to achieve upward social mobility and secure decent employment. Yet, college education tends to be accessible for families already part of privileged groups, such as those with financial resources. With attention to systemic oppression and varying degrees of access to education and employment, this study aims to describe the experiences of job-seeking and working among Korean women with a high school diploma as their highest educational attainment. The psychology of working theory, the work precarity framework, and intersectionality informed the study, exploring interview data from 13 Korean women. Findings from the reflective thematic analysis show that struggles in seeking and maintaining employment among the participants were particularly exacerbated by mistreatment, harassment, and disrespect due to having neither college degrees nor male privilege. Participants’ experiences with economic deprivation, lack of societal support and respect, and precarious work conditions led to psychological, social, and physical pain that went neglected. As they confront barriers to employment and undesirable work conditions, they affirm themselves and express the hope that the work society should better meet their fundamental needs as humans. Future research directions and practical implications are discussed.

Skin tone effects on others' pain estimation: Moderation by a colour stereotype

AbstractWe tested whether skin tone would influence pain estimation and whether a colour stereotype (i.e., “darker‐is‐stronger”) moderates the relationship. We manipulated targets' skin tone into three levels (darker/medium/lighter). Participants estimated how much physical or emotional pain the targets would feel in various adverse situations and answered how much they believed objects with darker colours are stronger. Although the differences in estimated pain between the three skin tone conditions were not statistically significant, we found the moderation effect of the colour stereotype on the relationship between skin tone and pain estimation (for physical pain only). Specifically, participants with a stronger colour stereotype expected that darker‐skinned targets would feel less physical pain than lighter skinned ones.

Understanding the Pathology of Major Depression in a Non-clinical Student Sample: The Role of Mental Pain, Cognitive Emotion Regulation, Self-Compassion, and Anxiety

Background: Severe psychological or mental pain is an experience of discomfort that can be associated with mental illness (such as major depression) or loss (such as the death of a child). Objectives: The aim of this study is to understand the pathology of major depression using a non-clinical student sample by assessing the roles of mental pain, cognitive emotion regulation, self-compassion, and anxiety. Methods: This cross-sectional study selected a sample (n = 300) using a multi-stage random cluster sampling method. Data was collected using the Orbach &amp; Mikulincer Mental Pain Questionnaire (OMMP), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BD-II). Results: The results of the forward multiple linear regression model showed significant standardized beta coefficients for the following variables: Anxiety and depression (β = 0.21, P = 0.002), mental pain and depression (β = 0.436, P &lt; 0.001), maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depression (β = 0.21, P = 0.002), negative dimensions of self-compassion and depression (β = 0.082, p = 0.041), adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depression (β = -0.135, P = 0.031), and positive dimensions of self-compassion and depression (β = -0.078, P = 0.042). Additionally, the results indicated that 56% of the variance in depression is explained by mental pain, cognitive emotion regulation, self-compassion, and anxiety (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that therapies focused on emotional regulation and self-compassion can effectively address emotional problems, anxiety, and depression in individuals with depression.

The effect of spiritual emotional freedom technique impact to pain in cervical cancer post-chemoradiation: a review article

Chronic pain that is subjective is experienced by patients with advanced cervical cancer. Simple movements are used in spiritual emotional freedom technique (SEFT) therapy, a therapeutic approach that improves performance and achievement, addresses psychological and physical pain issues, and promotes happiness and serenity in life. In this systematic review study, we evaluate how SEFT affects patients with cervical cancer who have had chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Using databases from 2003 to 2023, including Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, and Ovid, this study employs a systematic review methodology. The keywords “spiritual emotional freedom technique (SEFT)”, “emotional freedom technique (EFT)”, and “cervical cancer” form the basis of the search strategy. Experiments and observational studies with a minimum sample size of two participants involving patients with cervical cancer meet the inclusion criteria. The results show that among patients with post-chemoradiation cervical cancer, SEFT therapy is beneficial in lowering pain, stress, and depression. Cancer patients who experience pain may see a reduction in their quality of life as well as physical health issues. Cervical cancer patients can experience marked improvements in their pain, stress, and depression when the SEFT therapy theory is applied.

Impact of comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms on cancer-related fatigue and complications in adults with leukemia.

Patients not only experience symptoms caused by cancer but also suffer from the accompanying psychological pain. Therefore, these patients do not have high quality of life. According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of leukemia in China in 2020 was 5.1/100000, the mortality rate was 3.3/100000, and the prevalence rate was 16.7/100000. Therefore, it is important to examine the influence of comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms on leukemia patients. To determine the impact of comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms on cancer-related fatigue and complications in leukemia patients, thereby providing a basis for early diagnosis and treatment in clinical practice. A questionnaire survey was conducted among leukemia patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, from August 2022 to December 2023. Patients with a score > 16 on the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders (CCMD-3) and a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of 8-17 were classified as the subthreshold depressive group (n = 95), while 100 leukemia patients admitted during the same period were classified as the control group. Data were collected using Epidata 3.1 software, and comparisons were made between the two groups regarding general clinical data, the Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Numeric Rating Scale for pain assessment, laboratory indicators, and the occurrence of complications. In this survey, 120 leukemia patients with depression were preliminarily screened, 95 patients with subthreshold depression were ultimately selected as the subthreshold depression group, and 100 leukemia patients admitted during the same period were enrolled as the normal group. Comparison of basic clinical data between the two groups revealed no significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, cognitive function, or comorbidity with other chronic diseases. However, there were statistically significant differences in the use of radiotherapy and regular exercise between the two groups (P < 0.05). Comparisons of scales and laboratory indicators revealed no significant differences in albumin or PSQI scores between the two groups, but there were statistically significant differences in pain scores, PSQI scores, PFS scores, hemoglobin levels, and C-reactive protein levels (P < 0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis indicated that cancer-related fatigue was correlated with age, hemoglobin levels, C-reactive protein levels, pain, and regular exercise among leukemia patients with subthreshold depression. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that advanced age, combined radiotherapy, pain, and low hemoglobin levels were risk factors for cancer-related fatigue in leukemia patients with comorbid subthreshold depression, while regular exercise was a protective factor against cancer-related fatigue. Follow-up comparisons revealed a significantly lower overall incidence of complications in the control group (4%) than in the depressive group (24.21%; P < 0.001). Leukemia patients with comorbid subthreshold depressive symptoms experience more severe cancer-related fatigue and a higher incidence of complications. These findings may be related to advanced age, combined radiotherapy, pain, and low hemoglobin levels, while regular exercise may effectively alleviate symptoms.

The Relationship Between Psychological Pain, Spiritual Well-Being, and Social Support in Turkish Women Undergoing Therapeutic or Elective Abortion.

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between psychological pain, spiritual well-being, and social support amongTurkish women undergoing therapeutic or elective abortion. The cross-sectional study was conducted with 342 women who werehospitalized in the gynecology and obstetrics service of a city hospital between March 2021 and December 2022 in Turkey. The mean psychological pain, spiritual well-being and perceived social support scores of women undergoing therapeutic/elective abortion were 26.96 ± 11.21, 110.72 ± 13.09 and 64.09 ± 15.62, respectively. There were a significant negative correlation between psychological pain with spiritual well-being and social support. According to linear regression analysis, spiritual well-being, social support, age, employment status, economic level, history of abortion, number of abortion, current abortion type, and gestational week were statistically significant predictive factors of psychological pain. Therefore, healthcare providers can provide individualized psychosocial-spiritual care and counseling services that decrease psychological pain in women after therapeutic or elective abortion.