Psychosocial Interventions Research Articles

The impact of earthquakes on women: assessing women's mental health in aftermath of the Kahramanmaraş-centred earthquake in Türkiye.

Earthquakes disproportionately affect women and exacerbate gender and social inequalities. This study aims to investigate the psychological impact of the earthquake in Türkiye on women and the associated factors. This is a survey-based study. We collected data from 498 women residing in cities most affected by the earthquake. Participants' mean age was 27.72±5.4. Over 78% of the participants lost at least one family member, and 43.7% lost at least one child due to the earthquake. The mean average of Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) scores was 100.8 (SD=8.37), and the Global Severity Index was 1.9 (SD=0.16). Regression analysis showed that higher education levels predicted poor outcomes across most BSI dimensions. Losing a family member and shelter and injury status were also predictors for several mental health outcomes of the BSI subscales. Earthquakes significantly impact women's well-being and may have a broader impact on the whole family. There is an urgent need to provide psycho-social interventions in the response and recovery phases of the crisis to meet the affected women's needs. This includes providing basic needs with attention to women-specific needs, restoring social networks, addressing gender-based violence and providing gender-sensitive specialized interventions for those who need further support.

Abstract PO2-25-09: The hidden costs of beauty: An evaluation of breast cancer risk for Black women

Abstract The Black identity, hair product use, and breast cancer scale (BHBS) was developed and previously validated to evaluate the relationship between identity, hair product use, and breast cancer risk for Black women. Black women are disproportionately affected by breast cancer compared to other racial/ethnic groups, with a mortality rate of 40% higher than all other groups. Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are present in many hair care products and have been linked to several health issues including breast cancer. Due to these health inequities and the complexity of how cultural norms shape Black women’s hair product usage, the purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of the BHBS for intervention planning and evaluate the hazard scores of hair products used by Black women. Methods: Participants were recruited using purposive convenience sampling techniques. The 11-item BHBS includes two subscales: five items measuring sociocultural perspectives about hair and identity (S1) and six items assessing perceived breast cancer risk related to hair product use (S2). To determine reliability, the BHBS was administered twice over a three-week period with sociodemographic factors obtained in the initial data collection phase. All statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics and test-retest reliability (Pearson correlations) were conducted using SPSS version 26. The Environmental Working Group's (EWG's) Skin Deep® database was used to determine hazard scores of hair products used by participants. Products are rated on a 10-point scale with low (0-2), moderate (3-6), and high hazard (7-10) scores. Results: Twenty-three (86.9% African, African American & Caribbean; 13% multiracial) female participants completed the study. Their age ranged from 18-63 years (30.78, SD= 15.40), 47.8% reported an income of less than $25,000, and 34.8% completed some college education. Both subscales demonstrated highly significant and strong reliability (S1: r=.82, p< .001; S2: r=.88, p< .001). Participants primarily used conditioners (91.3% used wash out and 60.9% used leave-in), and professional hair dyes (34.8%). There was also a high frequency of non-use (91.3%) of do-it-yourself relaxers and hair dye kits. We evaluated 40 products across three categories including wash out conditioners, leave-in conditioners and other hair products (e.g., styling gels, shampoo, and hair oils), of which most had a moderate hazard rating of 5 denoting ingredients of health concerns (e.g., parabens, fragrance, and phenoxyethanol). Additionally, of the 22 company brands analyzed, only 10 (45%) are Black owned or founded. Conclusions: The BHBS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess sociocultural perspectives about hair, identity and perceived breast cancer risk. Black women use hair products including relaxers, hair dyes, and conditioners that contain EDCs that may be harmful to their health including risk for breast cancer. The BHBS will be used to evaluate psychosocial interventions that address the unique needs of Black women including exposure to EDCs from hair product use and breast cancer risk. Citation Format: Nicole Sarkaria, Marissa Ericson, Abigail Lopez, Dede Teteh. The hidden costs of beauty: An evaluation of breast cancer risk for Black women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-25-09.

Songwriting versus recreational music therapy in adults with alcohol use disorder: A cluster-randomized study measuring readiness to change

ABSTRACT Background There is a lack of studies differentiating music therapy interventions by measuring potential between-group differences and within-group improvements in detoxification settings. Objective The purpose of the study was to compare group motivational-educational songwriting (MESW) and group recreational music therapy (RMT) as measured by readiness to change in adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who were hospitalized on a detoxification unit. Method Participants were 91 adults with AUD on a detoxification unit who were cluster-randomized by session to a single group MESW or group RMT session. Participants completed the 24-item University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) at pre- and posttest. Results Two-way repeated measures analyses of variance indicated significant within-group improvements from pre- to posttest in measures of contemplation, action, and total readiness to change. Although between-group differences did not reach significance, posttest means were consistently more favorable in the MESW condition. Conclusions Despite the temporal challenges of single sessions that are often the norm in detoxification settings, MESW and RMT may be ideal psychosocial treatments to augment people’s readiness to change and ultimately result in a higher likelihood of recovery. Implications for clinical practice, limitations, and suggestions for future research are provided.

“CLIMBING IS MY WEAPON” – A PSYCHOSOCIAL BOULDERING INTERVENTION FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF ADOLESCENTS IN LEBANON

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Previous research highlights the positive effects of physical activity, also climbing therapy, on mental health, including benefits on depression and self-esteem. Recognising the mental health challenges faced by young people in Lebanon, particularly in the context of multiple crises and forced displacement, this interventional study explores the benefits of a psychosocial climbing programme in eastern Lebanon. METHODS In collaboration with the non-profit organisation ClimbAID, this waitlist-controlled, partially randomised, mixed-methods study examines the effects of an eight-week psychosocial bouldering group intervention on overall mental well-being, levels of psychological distress, self-efficacy and social cohesion among a group of host and refugee youth in the Bekaa Valley. Qualitative interviews with 40 participants provide insights into their experiences, lessons learned and subjective outcomes. The intervention, delivered by 2 trained facilitators and up to 2 volunteers, took place weekly for 2 hours with groups of up to 12 young people. RESULTS With 233 participants, the trial had a dropout rate of approximately 33%. The intervention group showed significant improvements in overall mental well-being and psychological distress compared with the waitlist groups. Group allocation was the only significant predictor of improved mental well-being, in addition to baseline scores. While no significant differences in self-efficacy and social cohesion were observed, qualitative analysis revealed that participants highly valued the non-judgmental approach, highlighting significant benefits in interpersonal relationships and mental well-being. CONCLUSION In the challenging humanitarian context of forced displacement, the psychosocial bouldering intervention effectively enhanced well-being and reduced psychological distress among host and refugee youth in Bekaa, Lebanon. As a group intervention, bouldering emerges as a valuable option for supporting host and refugee populations in low-income countries.

Business case for psychosocial interventions in clinics: potential for decrease in treatment discontinuation and costs

Business case for psychosocial interventions in clinics: potential for decrease in treatment discontinuation and costs

Piloting a psychosocial intervention for perinatal depression, the Thinking Healthy Programme-Peer delivered (THPP), in a primary care setting in Lilongwe District, Malawi.

Despite the evidence for the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for perinatal depression, their uptake is low in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Reasons for this include the lack of contextually adapted interventions and mental health specialists to deliver them. This study aimed to test the acceptability and feasibility of a psychosocial intervention for perinatal depression, the Thinking Healthy Programme-Peer Delivered, adapted for use in rural Malawi. A multi-method evaluation of feasibility and acceptability of the intervention was conducted using a one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design and an exploratory qualitative study. Pre-post intervention change in depression scores (paired t-test) and recruitment, retention and session adherence rates were calculated. Qualitative data were collected through 29 in-depth interviews (22 mothers and 7 peer volunteers) and 1 Focus Group Discussion (18 mothers). Thematic analysis approach was used to analyse qualitative data. Seven (7) out of 8 peer volunteers were successfully trained to deliver the intervention. A total of 31 pregnant women with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ≥12 were offered intervention, of whom 24 were enrolled (recruitment rate 77.4%). Out of these 24 women, 22 completed the intervention (retention rate 91.6%). Mean difference between pre- and post-test EPDS scores one week after 8th session was 7.59 (95% CI 4.98 to 10.19), p<0.001. Qualitative evaluation showed that the intervention was acceptable despite some challenges including stigma and issues around incentivization of peer volunteers. The Thinking Healthy Programme-Peer Delivered, adapted for use in Malawi, was feasible to deliver and acceptable to its target population. The intervention may be useful in management of perinatal depression in primary care settings in Malawi. However, definitive trials are needed to evaluate its effectiveness.

A feasibility and pilot study of a “lifelong learning” intervention for people with dementia

BackgroundDeveloping evidence for the use of psychosocial interventions for people with dementia is a research priority. This pilot study aimed to provide variability estimates for a set of outcome measures that would inform the development of a more extensive controlled study. The larger study will seek to explore the effect of attending a lifelong learning intervention for people with dementia compared to receiving treatment as usual. This pilot and feasibility stage also analysed how data collectors and researchers evaluated the use of the outcome measures in a sample of people with mild to moderate dementia.MethodsBefore initiating the pilot study, a participant consultation was conducted with people with dementia, who attend a lifelong learning service known as a dementia school, and their teachers. From this consultation, the research outcomes identified were the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Quality-of-Life Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and the Friendship scale. The following study was divided into two steps. In step 1, participants were people with dementia attending a dementia school (intervention group) or usual services (control group). The participants were tested at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up. Data were collected between November 2018 and July 2019. In step 2, feasibility and acceptability issues with the recruitment of participants, data collection process, and outcome measures, identified in step 1, were evaluated through a data collector focus group.ResultsFifty-five people with dementia were included in the analysis. Step 1 provided estimates of changes from baseline to follow-up, and ancillary standard deviations were supplied for all outcome measures. Step 2 provided reflections on the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, data collection, and outcome measures. This included views on how people with dementia experience participating in a test situation.ConclusionsThis study provided estimates of change and variability in the outcome measures. Additionally, issues regarding data collection were identified and should be addressed in future studies. The project demonstrated how to support people with dementia to participate in research that is meaningful to them.Trial registrationAccording to national legislation, registration with a database of clinical studies was optional, as the study evaluated existing activities rather than a clinical intervention.

Treatment Approaches for Altered Facial Expression: A Systematic Review in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy and Other Neurological Diseases.

Facial weakness is a key feature of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and may lead to altered facial expression and subsequent psychosocial impairment. There is no cure and supportive treatments focus on optimizing physical fitness and compensation of functional disabilities. We hypothesize that symptomatic treatment options and psychosocial interventions for other neurological diseases with altered facial expression could be applicable to FSHD. Therefore, the aim of this review is to collect symptomatic treatment approaches that target facial muscle function and psychosocial interventions in various neurological diseases with altered facial expression in order to discuss the applicability to FSHD. A systematic search was performed. Selected studies had to include FSHD, Bell's palsy, Moebius syndrome, myotonic dystrophy type 1, or Parkinson's disease and treatment options which target altered facial expression. Data was extracted for study and patients' characteristics, outcome assessment tools, treatment, outcome of facial expression and or psychosocial functioning. Forty studies met the inclusion criteria, of which only three studies included FSHD patients exclusively. Most, twenty-one, studies were performed in patients with Bell's palsy. Studies included twelve different therapy categories and results were assessed with different outcomes measures. Five therapy categories were considered applicable to FSHD: training of (non-verbal) communication compensation strategies, speech training, physical therapy, conference attendance, and smile restoration surgery. Further research is needed to establish the effect of these therapies in FSHD. We recommend to include outcome measures in these studies that cover at least cosmetic, functional, communication, and quality of life domains.

비만치료의 정신심리적 개입 방법

Obesity is a major global public health crisis, and the severity of obesity is known to have a negative impact on mental health. Individuals who are overweight or obese are more likely to experience mood disorders such as depression. Interestingly, depression itself is also a risk factor for the development of obesity. Due to this connection, it is crucial to include psychosocial assessment and intervention when dealing with obesity. Additionally, food addiction is a condition that affects a significant portion (25%-30%) of overweight or obese individuals. It is characterized by the impulsive and compulsive consumption of pleasurable foods in excessive amounts. This addiction is associated with high levels of impulsivity and shares similar neural mechanisms with other addictive disorders, including high activation in the striatum. Consequently, food addiction may contribute to obesity and should be given careful attention and further research. This article will explore obesity from the perspective of food addiction and discuss various psychological interventions that are both essential and effective in treating obesity. By doing so, we aim to underscore the importance of psychosocial interventions in obesity treatment and draw the attention of mental health professionals to the need for additional research.

A Review of Mobile App-Based Psychosocial Intervention for Personal and Clinical Recovery for People With Psychosis

Objectives: The social and economic costs of severe mental illness, including psychosis, are increasing, and methods to reduce costs such as a mobile app-based approach have been tried more than ever. This study aims to explore and analyze the methods that have been used in previous studies for mobile app-based psychosocial interventions for personal and clinical recovery of psychosis.Methods: To identify mobile apps associated with psychosis, psychotic disorder, and other related terms, we searched for literature published from 2017 to 2023 (n=21). After classifying them into personal and clinical recovery, we qualitatively analyzed each study’s topics, objectives, measurement tools, results, and other aspects.Results: For personal recovery, the focus was mainly on improving daily living, self-management, and cognitive and social function improvement, and for clinical recovery, the focus was mainly on preventing symptom recurrence and managing symptoms. Mobile apps for improving daily living functions, cognitive functions, and relapse prevention have significant effects. While mobile apps for improving social function and symptom management mainly reported smaller effects.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that mobile app-based psychosocial interventions for personal and clinical recovery of psychosis are likely to be utilized. Finally, the significance and limitations of the studies were discussed.

EFFECTIVENESS OF CAREGIVER MEDIATED PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ON BEHAVIOUR, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER AT SELECTED SETTINGS

Background: The children with ADHD struggle to acquire extended behavioural sequences, especially when it comes to response location. Aim and objective: To assess the effectiveness of the caregiver mediated psychosocial intervention on behaviour and academic performance of the caregivers of children with ADHD. Materials and Methods: A quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design was chosen for the study involving 30 caregivers who were selected using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. The paediatric symptom checklist and Du Pauls academic performance rating scale was used as the data collection tool. Results: It was revealed that in the experimental group 100% had maladaptive behaviour score in pretest and in post-test it was 66.67% had adaptive behaviour score. However, in control group 100.00% had maladaptive behaviourscore both in pretest and post-test. In experimental group 46.67% had poor academic performance score in pretest and in post-test 86.67% had good academic performance score. However, in control group 53.33% had poor academic performance score in pretest and in post-test 54.33% had poor academic performancescore. Conclusion: The study concluded that the caregiver mediated psychosocial intervention was effective in enhancing behaviour and increasing the academic performance of children with ADHD.

Psychosocial and medication interventions to stop or reduce alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Despite the known harms, alcohol consumption is common in pregnancy. Rates vary between countries, and are estimated to be 10% globally, with up to 25% in Europe. To assess the efficacy of psychosocial interventions and medications to reduce or stop alcohol consumption during pregnancy. We searched the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group Specialised Register (via CRSLive), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, from inception to 8 January 2024. We also searched for ongoing and unpublished studies via ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). All searches included non-English language literature. We handsearched references of topic-related systematic reviews and included studies. We included randomised controlled trials that compared medications or psychosocial interventions, or both, to placebo, no intervention, usual care, or other medications or psychosocial interventions used to reduce or stop alcohol use during pregnancy. Our primary outcomes of interest were abstinence from alcohol, reduction in alcohol consumption, retention in treatment, and women with any adverse event. We used standard Cochrane methodological procedures. We included eight studies (1369 participants) in which pregnant women received an intervention to stop or reduce alcohol use during pregnancy. In one study, almost half of participants had a current diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD); in another study, 40% of participants had a lifetime diagnosis of AUD. Six studies took place in the USA, one in Spain, and one in the Netherlands. All included studies evaluated the efficacy of psychosocial interventions; we did not find any study that evaluated the efficacy of medications for the treatment of AUD during pregnancy. Psychosocial interventions were mainly brief interventions ranging from a single session of 10 to 60 minutes to five sessions of 10 minutes each. Pregnant women received the psychosocial intervention approximately at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, and the outcome of alcohol use was reassessed 8 to 24 weeks after the psychosocial intervention. Women in the control group received treatment as usual (TAU) or similar treatments such as comprehensive assessment of alcohol use and advice to stop drinking during pregnancy. Globally, we found that, compared to TAU, psychosocial interventions may increase the rate of continuously abstinent participants (risk ratio (RR) 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14 to 1.57; I2 =0%; 3 studies; 378 women; low certainty evidence). Psychosocial interventions may have little to no effect on the number of drinks per day, but the evidence is very uncertain (mean difference -0.42, 95% CI -1.13 to 0.28; I2 = 86%; 2 studies; 157 women; very low certainty evidence). Psychosocial interventions probably have little to no effect on the number of women who completed treatment (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.02; I2 = 0%; 7 studies; 1283 women; moderate certainty evidence). None of the included studies assessed adverse events of treatments. We downgraded the certainty of the evidence due to risk of bias and imprecision of the estimates. Brief psychosocial interventions may increase the rate of continuous abstinence among pregnant women who report alcohol use during pregnancy. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of psychosocial interventions and other treatments (e.g. medications) for women with AUD. These studies should provide detailed information on alcohol use before and during pregnancy using consistent measures such as the number of drinks per drinking day. When heterogeneous populations are recruited, more detailed information on alcohol use during pregnancy should be provided to allow future systematic reviews to be conducted. Other important information that would enhance the usefulness of these studies would be the presence of other comorbid conditions such as anxiety, mood disorders, and the use of other psychoactive substances.

Anxiety among youth with food allergy.

Anxiety is among the major psychological concerns for children living with food allergy (FA). Yet research exploring the variables driving anxiety symptoms in FA remains sparse, and most studies still utilize homogeneous samples to assess anxiety symptoms. The current study seeks to evaluate the rates of clinically significant anxiety symptoms among a diverse sample of youth with FA and examine whether a heightened risk perception of FA outcomes and FA burden (vs. FA medical history) is associated with anxiety in youth. 94 youth ages 10-14 and their parents were recruited from FA clinics at a mid-Atlantic children's hospital. Both youth and parents completed demographic and FA medical history questionnaires, the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, and the Food Allergy Independent Measure as part of a longitudinal study about FA adjustment and adherence. Over a third (37%) of youth scored above clinical cut-offs for overall anxiety symptoms. At least 25% of youth reported clinically significant scores on panic disorder, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, separation anxiety, and school avoidance subscales. Perception of risk of adverse FA outcomes and burden-but not FA medical history-were associated with total anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and school avoidance symptoms, but not social anxiety and separation anxiety. Having more FAs was associated with higher social anxiety scores but not with other anxiety subscales. Youth with FA might benefit from psychosocial interventions that address FA risk perception management and promote appropriate FA vigilance to cope with anxiety symptoms.

Preliminary Impact of Group-Based Interventions on Stigma and the Mental Health of Caregivers of Adolescents Living with HIV in Uganda.

This study examined the preliminary impact of group-cognitive behavioral therapy (G-CBT) and a family-strengthening intervention delivered via multiple family groups (MFG-FS) on HIV stigma, parenting stress, and the mental health of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV. We analyzed data from the Suubi4Stigma study (2020-2022), a two-year pilot randomized clinical trial for adolescents and their caregivers (N = 89 dyads), recruited from nine health clinics in Uganda. Adolescent-caregiver dyads were randomized to three intervention conditions delivered over three months, with data collected at baseline, three and six-months follow-up. We fitted mixed-effects linear regression models to test the effect of the interventions on caregiver outcomes over time. At six months, caregivers randomized to the MFG-FS condition reported lower levels of stigma by association (mean difference = -1.45, 95% CI = -2.52 - -0.38, p = 0.008), and stigma and discrimination attitudes (mean difference = -3.84, 95% CI = -4.63 - -3.05, p < 0.001), compared to Usual care condition. In addition, caregivers of adolescents randomized to the G-CBT condition reported lower levels of stigma and discrimination attitudes at three months (mean difference = -5.18, 95% CI = -9.13 - -1.22, p = 0.010), and at six months (mean difference = -6.70, 95% CI = -9.28 - -4.12, p < 0.001). Caregiver mental health and parenting stress significantly reduced over time regardless of intervention condition. Findings point to the importance of incorporating stigma reduction components within psychosocial interventions targeting adolescents and families impacted by HIV.

An experimental study on psychosocial Interventions for Chinese bank employees during the COVID-19: a cognitive-behavioral therapy based on Confucian cultivation ethics

An experimental study on psychosocial Interventions for Chinese bank employees during the COVID-19: a cognitive-behavioral therapy based on Confucian cultivation ethics

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy-Associated Neurobehavioral Difficulties: Insights from Clinical Practice

Background: Emerging evidence underscores the high prevalence of neurobehavioral difficulties like ADHD, ASD and OCD, in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The substantial impact of these complex behavioral challenges in addition to motor function decline on the well-being of affected individuals and their families is increasingly evident. However, a uniform approach for effective screening, assessment and management of the neurobehavioral symptoms remains elusive. Objective: We explored strategies used by healthcare professionals with clinical expertise in DMD to address neurobehavioral symptoms, in order to uncover diverse practices and to identify potential directions for clinical approaches in managing DMD neurobehavioral symptoms. Methods and results: Twenty-eight respondents from 16 different countries completed an online survey. Only 35% of the centers systematically screened for neurobehavioral difficulties in their DMD population. Predominant screening methods included history taking and clinical observation. Common neurobehavioral difficulties encompassed learning challenges, dependency from adults, anxiety, concentration difficulties, and social deficits. The participating centers frequently employed parental counseling and liaison with psychosocial healthcare professionals for psychosocial intervention. Conclusion: This study underscores the complex behavioral landscape in DMD, highlighting the need for validated screening, assessment and management strategies and collaborative efforts in implementing these. We advocate for international consensus recommendations for screening, assessment and management of neurobehavioral difficulties in DMD to enhance patient care and communication across healthcare settings.

Adapting Psychosocial Interventions Using Participatory Methods: Lessons Learned for Family Nursing.

Adapting Psychosocial Interventions Using Participatory Methods: Lessons Learned for Family Nursing.

Children of South Asian-Origin Parents in the Diaspora: Dance, Resilience, and Prosociality

ABSTRACT Diaspora children of South Asian-origin immigrant parents experience issues of acculturation, identity concerns and general wellbeing that influence their psychosocial development. Within the domain of culturally-attuned interventions for immigrant children, art forms are gaining prominence. This article reports a study on the impact of customized dance lessons for children (aged 10–13-years) of South Asian-origin parents in the diaspora on resilience and prosocial behaviors, compared to a waitlist control group. The dance lessons were effective and female children, participants whose primary caregivers had postgraduate or professional degrees, who were familiar with at least one language other than English, who attended 21–40 (>50%) dance lessons, and who completed 21–40 (>50%) dance homework lessons, gained more on resilience and prosociality outcomes. The need for promotive and preventive psychosocial interventions for immigrant children, and particularly those from low- and middle-income or crisis-prone geographies to high-income destination lands, is highlighted.

A novel psychosocial virtual reality intervention (BMT-VR) for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Pilot randomized clinical trial design and methods

BackgroundAlthough patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) must cope with psychological distress and isolation during an extended transplant hospitalization, psychosocial interventions to address these unmet needs are lacking. Virtual reality offers an innovative modality to deliver a patient-centered psychosocial intervention to address psychosocial needs of patients undergoing HSCT. However, there are currently no supportive care interventions leveraging virtual reality in patients undergoing HSCT. ObjectiveTo describe the methods of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a self-administered, virtual reality-delivered psychosocial intervention (BMT-VR) to improve psychological distress and quality of life (QOL) for patients hospitalized for HSCT. MethodsThis study entails a single-center RCT of BMT-VR compared to usual transplant care in 80 patients hospitalized for HSCT. Adult patients with hematologic malignancies hospitalized for autologous or allogeneic HSCT are eligible. BMT-VR includes psychoeducation about the HSCT process, psychosocial skill building to promote effective coping and acceptance, and self-care and positive psychology skills to promote post-HSCT recovery. The primary aim is to assess the feasibility defined a priori as ≥60% of eligible patients enrolling in the study, and of those enrolled and randomized to the BMT-VR, ≥ 60% completing 4/6 BMT-VR modules. Secondary objectives include assessing the preliminary effects on psychological distress and QOL. DiscussionThis is the first RCT of a virtual reality-delivered psychosocial intervention for the HSCT population. If deemed feasible, a future larger multi-site clinical trial can evaluate the efficacy of BMT-VR on outcomes for patients hospitalized for HSCT.

Race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status as predictors of outcome following family therapy in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis.

There is limited research on the effects of sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors on treatment outcomes in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHRp). This study examined sociodemographic factors that may affect functional outcomes within this population. Specifically, we investigated the influence of race/ethnicity (dichotomized as non-Hispanic whites [NHW] vs. people of colour [POC]), socioeconomic status (SES; operationalized as parental years of education), and their interaction on change in psychosocial functioning and symptoms over 6 months in a randomized trial of family-focused therapy. CHRp youth (N = 128) participated in a randomized trial of family therapy (18 sessions of family therapy vs. 3 sessions of family psychoeducation). Sixty-four participants who self-identified as POC and 64 self-identified NHW participants completed baseline and 6-month follow-up measures of positive and negative symptoms and psychosocial (global, role, and social) functioning. Multiple regression models were conducted to test the main effect of race/ethnicity on changes in positive and negative symptoms and functioning, and whether this effect was moderated by parental education. There was a significant interaction between race/ethnicity and parental education, such that higher parental education was associated with greater improvement in global functioning in NHW participants, but there was no relationship between parental education and global functioning in POC. Additionally, higher parental education was associated with a decrease in negative symptoms in NHW participants but not in POC. There were no significant effects of race/ethnicity or parental education on positive symptoms, nor on social or role functioning. Clinicians may consider tailoring psychosocial treatments according to the needs of diverse families who vary in sociodemographic factors such as educational attainment and race/ethnicity.