Social Cognitive Intervention Research Articles

Qualitative Evaluation of a Social Cognitive Training Program for Parents of Children with Autism from Hong Kong

A key feature of autism spectrum disorder is a dysfunction in social participation. This study aimed to explore the parents’ perceptions and experiences of social cognitive training for their child with autism in the Hong Kong context. Using a qualitative narrative approach, twenty-three parent participants were interviewed using purposive sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using content analysis method. Three themes included: Improvements and changes in children’s social participation across different settings; Challenges in the implementation of and engagement in the social cognitive training; and Parents’ views and suggestions about the training. The findings supported that there were parent perceived improvements in their child’s social skills and social participation. The interviews also revealed generalization of social skills and behaviors across home, school and community settings. The results of this study can inform therapists to design appropriate social cognitive intervention and improve social participation for this population group.

Profiles of partner health linked to a partner-focused intervention following patient initial implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

This study examined differential responses among partners who participated in a RCT designed to compare two social cognitive theory interventions, one designed for patients only (P-only) and one for patients and their intimate partners (P + P). The interventions were delivered following the patient receiving an initial ICD implant. Partner health outcomes were examined longitudinally from baseline at hospital discharge to 3, 6, and 12months. Outcomes included 6 measures: partner physical and mental health status (Short-Form-36 PCS and MCS), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), caregiver burden (Oberst Caregiver Burden Scale), and self-efficacy in ICD management (Sudden Cardiac Arrest Self-efficacy scale). Growth mixture and mixed effect modeling were used to identify and compare trajectories of 6 health outcomes within the P-only and P + P arms of the study. Partners (n = 301) were on average 62years old, female (74.1%) and Caucasian (83.4%), with few co-morbidities (mean Charlson Co-morbidity index, 0.72 ± 1.1). Two types of profiles were observed for P-only and P + P, one profile where patterns of health outcomes were generally better across 12months and one with outcome patterns that were generally worse across time. For PCS, no significant partner differences were observed between P-only or P + P in either the better (p = 0.067) or the worse (p = 0.129) profile types. Compared to P-only, partners in the worse profile improved significantly over 12months in MCS (p = 0.006), caregiver burden P + P (p = 0.004) and self-efficacy P + P (p = 0.041). Compared to P-only, P + P partners in the low anxiety profile improved significantly (p = 0.001) at 3months. Partners with more psychosocial distress at hospital discharge benefited most from the P + P intervention. Among partners with generally low levels of anxiety, those in the P + P intervention compared to P-only showed greater improvement in anxiety over 12months.

An Online Physical Activity Intervention for Youth With Physical Disabilities: A Pilot Study.

Background: Physical activity (PA) interventions are limited in number and reach for youth with physical disabilities (YPD) who experience systemic barriers that may preclude their in-person participation. Further, a lack of theory in the development and evaluation of PA interventions impedes our understanding and replication of active components of behavior change. These limitations pose challenges in the effective promotion of PA in YPD. Theory-based and more inclusive methods of PA intervention delivery must be explored in our efforts to promote PA and overall health in YPD.Methods: A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of an online, 4-week social cognitive theory-based PA intervention for YPD. Intervention feasibility (implementation fidelity, intervention compliance, and intervention acceptability) was evaluated through manual documentation, weekly feedback questionnaires, and open-ended feedback at 1-month post-intervention. Targeted social cognitive (outcome expectations, self-efficacy [task, self-regulatory, barrier] and self-regulation) and PA behavior outcomes were self-reported at baseline and 1-week and 1-month post-intervention.Results: Sixteen YPD (Mage = 17.4 ± 2.7 years, 69% female) completed the study. Intervention feasibility was supported by high implementation fidelity (100%), high intervention compliance (>90%), and positive ratings on indicators of acceptability for all weeks of the intervention (weekly feedback questionnaire means ranging from 5.74 to 6.19 out of 7). Through open-ended feedback, participants indicated the intervention was easy to use and understand, favorably shifted their self-awareness and personal meaning of PA, and provided value and potential for future use pertaining to the learned self-regulation skills and strategies. Participants also provided formatting and content recommendations for intervention improvement. Repeated measures ANOVAs showed significant and large effect sizes for changes in participants' task (p = 0.01, n2p = 0.28) and barrier (p = 0.02, n2p = 0.24) self-efficacy, goal-setting and planning and scheduling behaviors (ps < 0.001, n2ps = 0.42), and self-reported PA behavior (p = 0.02, n2p = 0.26).Conclusions: An online PA intervention for YPD is feasible and may offer potential benefit through the enhancement of self-efficacy, self-regulation, and PA behavior. Continued research is necessary to understand the efficacy and longer-term outcomes of online, theory-based interventions for YPD as a PA promotion strategy.

Does a Computerized Social Cognitive Intervention Improve Implicit or Explicit Theory of Mind in Individuals With Psychosis?

Theory of mind (ToM) is a component of social interaction used to understand the behavior of others and one’s own, it can be measured explicitly or implicitly. Computerized targeted social cognitive training (TSCT) interventions have produced improvements in social cognition but changes in explicit versus implicit ToM have not been assessed directly. This study measured changes in implicit and explicit ToM in individuals with schizophrenia to evaluate the effect of TSCT on ToM as well as the relationship in social functioning.

The differential impact of severe childhood trauma on emotion recognition in males and females with first-episode psychosis

IntroductionChildhood trauma increases social functioning deficits, which in turn negatively impact social inclusion in those experiencing first-episode psychosis (FEP). Associations between aberrant higher-order social cognitive processes such as emotion recognition (ER) and trauma severity may be one pathway by which trauma negatively impacts social functioning.ObjectivesGiven sex differences identified in the experience of childhood trauma, it is pertinent to evaluate how trauma severity may differentially impact ER in males and females.MethodsEighty-three FEP participants (52 males, 31 females) and 69 nonclinical controls (49 males, 20 females) completed the CogState Research Battery. FEP participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. A sex × group (FEP, controls) ANOVA examined ER differences and was followed by two-way ANCOVAs investigating the effects of sex and childhood trauma severity (none, low, moderate, severe) on ER and global cognition in FEP.ResultsFEP participants had significantly lower ER scores than controls (p = .035). In FEP, a significant interaction emerged between sex and childhood trauma severity (F(3, 72) = 6.382, p = .001), selective to ER, while controlling for age at onset. Simple effects analyses revealed that females in the severe trauma category exhibited superior ER capacity relative to males.ConclusionsThe differential impact of trauma severity on ER in males and females with FEP may be theoretically interpreted as the distinct way that hypervigilance affects the sexes. Early intervention services should refine social cognitive interventions in male and female trauma survivors to facilitate social functioning improvements.DisclosureFunding: This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (#68961) to M.L. and A.M. Salary awards include: The Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé to M.L. and R.J., the James McGill Professorship to M.L., and the Canada Research Cha

Autobiographical Memory and Social Identity in Autism: Preliminary Results of Social Positioning and Cognitive Intervention.

Autobiographical memory (AM) is closely linked to the self-concept, and fulfills directive, identity, social, and adaptive functions. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are now known to have atypical AM, which may be closely associated with social communication difficulties. This may result in qualitatively different autobiographical narratives, notably regarding social identity. In the present study, we sought to investigate this concept and develop a cognitive intervention targeting individuals with ASD. First, 13 adolescents with ASD and 13 typically developing adolescents underwent an AM interview featuring an original coding system designed to analyze the social self. We observed that the narratives produced by the ASD group focused more on the family than on extended social spheres, compared with those of the comparison group. Moreover, participants with ASD did not include themselves in the social groups they mentioned, and produced more references to others, compared with typically developing participants. Second, we designed a cognitive intervention program consisting of individual and group sessions that targeted AM. We conducted a pilot study among three adolescents with ASD aged 12, 16, and 17 years. Preliminary results showed that the program increased extra-family narrative references by the two youngest adolescents, who produced more social integration markers. Our study of autobiographical narratives yielded interesting findings about social positioning in ASD and showed how AM can be targeted in rehabilitation programs as a vector of social interaction.

Social Cognitive Intervention: Improving Coping Ability of Rural Adolescents with Educational Stress

Educational Stress affects the both students’ mental health and physical health. Mounting demand of thesociety, and various academic requirements make some students to perceive education as stressful task.Particularly conditions of the students from the rural area are most vulnerable as they getlack of guidanceand academic related support from their family. Students usually perceive high educational stress when theythink that academic demands are unattainable or above their capacity. Objective of the current study is to findout the efficacy of social cognitive intervention in improving the coping ability of rural adolescent studentswith the educational stress. 100 students were selected as a sample from the rural area of Coimbatore district,Tamil Nadu by using purposive sampling method. Single group pre-test, post-test and follow up researchdesign were used. Statistics used include mean, SD, repeated measure ANOVA and post-hoc were used toanalyze the data. Results showed that rural adolescent students had gained their coping ability in educationalstress after the social cognitive intervention.

A randomized controlled trial comparing community lifestyle interventions to improve adherence to diet and physical activity recommendations: the VitalUM study

Worldwide, adherence to national guidelines for physical activity (PA), and fruit and vegetable consumption is recommended to promote health and reduce the risk for (chronic) disease. This study reports on the effectiveness of various social-cognitive interventions to improve adherence to guidelines and the revealed adherence predictors. Participants (n = 1,629), aged 45–70 years, randomly selected and recruited in 2005–2006 from 23 Dutch general practices, were randomized (centralized stratified allocation) to four groups to receive a 12-month lifestyle intervention targeting guideline adherence for PA and fruit and vegetable consumption. Study groups received either four computer-tailored print communication (TPC) letters (n = 405), four telephone motivational interviewing (TMI) sessions (n = 407), a combined intervention (two TPC letters and two TMI sessions, n = 408), or no intervention (control group, n = 409). After the baseline assessment, all parties were aware of the treatment groups. Outcomes were measured with self-report postal questionnaires at baseline, 25, 47 and 73 weeks. For PA, all three interventions were associated with better guideline adherence than no intervention. Odds ratios for TPC, TMI and the combined intervention were 1.82 (95% CI 1.31; 2.54), 1.57 (95% CI 1.13; 2.18), and 2.08 (95% CI 1.50; 2.88), respectively. No pedometer effects were found. For fruit and vegetable consumption, TPC seemed superior to those in the other groups. Odd ratio for fruit and vegetable consumption were 1.78 (95% CI 1.32; 2.41) and 1.73 (95% CI 1.28; 2.33), respectively. For each behaviour, adherence was predicted by self-efficacy expectations, habit strength and stages of change, whereas sex, awareness and the number of action plans predicted guideline adherence for fruit and vegetable intake. The season predicted the guideline adherence for PA and fruit consumption. The odds ratios revealed were equivalent to modest effects sizes, although they were larger than those reported in systematic reviews. This study indicated that less resource intensive interventions might have the potential for a large public health impact when widely implemented. The strengths of this study were the participation of lower educated adults and evaluation of maintenance effects. (Trial NL1035, 2007-09-06).

Systematic Changes in Gait Pursuant to Choir Participation for Caregivers and Persons With Dementia

Choir interventions confer psychological benefits for persons with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers. However, less is known about whether physiological function also exhibits improvements pursuant to such social-cognitive interventions. The present study, based upon a subsample of the Voices in Motion (ViM) project, explored whether participation in an intergenerational choir results in systematic improvements in gait velocity (indexed using a GAITRite computerized walkway) for both informal caregivers (n=14; 71.4% female) and PwD (n=14; 64.3% female). Longitudinal burst data from the first of three cohorts spanning 4 assessments over 3.5 months was analysed using multilevel modeling. Whereas caregivers exhibited significant improvements (p<.05) in gait velocity, PwD showed no improvement. Ongoing analyses are exploring additional cohorts, and whether improvements in gait dynamically covary with reductions in comorbidities (e.g., neuropsychological function, caregiver burden, depressive affect). These results underscore the potential of choir for facilitating both psychosocial and physiological function for caregivers and PwD.

Lifestyle Interventions for Persons with Dementia: Singing your Way Toward Wellness

Arts-based interventions represent an inexpensive, non-pharmacological, and non-invasive approach to help mitigate negative symptoms and improve quality of life for persons with dementia (PwD). The present study examined whether a social singing intervention can modulate patterns of cognitive change and whether select biopsychosocial indicators exhibit concomitant within-person time-varying covariation. Participants with dementia (n=32, mean age=79.6 years; 53% female) engaged weekly in the Voices in Motion project, an intergenerational, social-cognitive choral intervention spanning up to 18 months and 9 individual assessments. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), gait velocity, and positive and negative affect were assessed using an intensive repeated-measures design, with multilevel models of change employed to disaggregate both between- and within-person effects. Across months of the social intervention, several significant within-person time-varying associations were observed; on occasions when a given individual performed one unit faster on gait velocity (p<.05) or one unit lower on negative affect (p<.01), relative to their personal average, there were corresponding improvements in cognitive function. Notably, in contrast, MMSE change remained relatively stable over the course of the 18-month intervention (-0.105, p=0.12), with little between-subject variability in rates of change. These findings imply that, within-persons, reducing comorbidities associated with dementia (e.g., elevated negative affect and its corresponding impact on cognitive resource competition) through participation in a lifestyle intervention may facilitate increases in cognitive, physiological, and psychological function. Implications are discussed with regard to the merits of invoking virtual lifestyle interventions for socially isolated individuals (e.g., PwD and those in residential care).

The Magic of Music for Improving Psychological Health for Those With Dementia and Their Caregivers

Arts-based interventions for person’s with dementia and their caregivers represent an inexpensive, non-invasive, and non-pharmacological intervention with the potential to improve psychological function as well as reduce healthcare costs. The paper presents an overview of Voices in Motion (ViM), and the impact of this social-cognitive intervention on changes in psychological function for those with dementia and their caregivers (current n=26 dyads). Choir rehearsals were held on a weekly basis, and included a social discussion component. A range of outcomes (neuropsychological and physiological function, neural activation) were assessed using an intensive repeated measures design that facilitates both between- and within-person analyses, including nuanced evaluation of whether psychological function improves post intervention relative to an individual’s personal average, yielding a conservative within-person test of the benefits of intervention. Discussion focuses on the promise of such interventions for mitigating dementia symptoms and facilitating the psychological health of caregivers.

Math Is for Me: A Field Intervention to Strengthen Math Self-Concepts in Spanish-Speaking 3rd Grade Children.

Children’s math self-concepts—their beliefs about themselves and math—are important for teachers, parents, and students, because they are linked to academic motivation, choices, and outcomes. There have been several attempts at improving math achievement based on the training of math skills. Here we took a complementary approach and conducted an intervention study to boost children’s math self-concepts. Our primary objective was to assess the feasibility of whether a novel multicomponent intervention—one that combines explicit and implicit approaches to help children form more positive beliefs linking themselves and math—can be administered in an authentic school setting. The intervention was conducted in Spain, a country in which math achievement is below the average of other OECD countries. We tested third grade students (N = 180; Mage = 8.79 years; 96 girls), using treatment and comparison groups and pre- and posttest assessments. A novelty of this study is that we used both implicit and explicit measures of children’s math self-concepts. For a subsample of students, we also obtained an assessment of year-end math achievement. Math self-concepts in the treatment and comparison groups did not significantly differ at pretest. Students in the treatment group demonstrated a significant increase in math self-concepts from pretest to posttest; students in the comparison group did not. In the treatment group, implicit math self-concepts at posttest were associated with higher year-end math achievement, assessed approximately 3 months after the completion of the intervention. Taken together, the results suggest that math self-concepts are malleable and that social–cognitive interventions can boost children’s beliefs about themselves and math. Based on the favorable results of this feasibility study, it is appropriate to formally test this novel multicomponent approach for improving math self-concepts using randomized controlled trial (RCT) design.

Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Diet Quality in 6 Rural Native American Communities

ObjectiveTo identify psychosocial and household environmental factors related to diet quality among Native Americans (NA). DesignAnalysis of baseline data from a community-randomized obesity prevention trial. SettingSix rural NA communities in the Midwest and the Southwestern US. ParticipantsA total of 580 tribal members, aged 18–75 years old (mean 45 years), 74% female, self-identified as the main household food purchaser. Variables MeasuredDiet quality (Healthy Eating Index–2015 [HEI]) was derived from a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Sociodemographic, psychosocial, and home food environment factors were assessed via interviewer-administered questionnaires. AnalysisOne-way ANOVA, linear regression models, and 2-tailed t tests compared HEI scores among sociodemographic categories. Multiple linear regression models assessed the relationship between psychosocial factors, home food environment, and HEI. ResultsPrevalence of obesity was 59%. Mean HEI–2015 score was 49.3 (SD = 8.1). Average HEI scores were 3.0 points lower in smokers than nonsmokers (P < 0.001), and 2.2 points higher in females than males (P < 0.01). Higher self-efficacy (β = 0.97; P < 0.001) and healthier eating intentions (β = 0.78; P < 0.001) were positively associated with HEI. Healthier household food patterns score was associated with higher HEI (β = 0.48; P < 0.01). Conclusions and ImplicationsPsychosocial factors were associated with diet quality, a finding that supports the use of social-cognitive intervention approaches in rural NA communities in the Midwest and Southwest, and warrants evaluation in other locations. There remains a need to elucidate the association between the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and diet quality.

Abstract 14331: Patient Outcomes Enhanced by Partner Involvement in Social Cognitive Interventions After an Initial Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Background: Research points to reciprocal influences that patients and partners may have on one another’s recovery in cardiac illness, yet interventions to enhance recovery after an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are usually directed only toward the patient. Purpose: To compare 2 social cognitive (SC) intervention conditions (patient only or P-only, and patient + partner or P+P) from the Patient + Partner RCT. Patient physical symptoms and depression were compared with partner caregiver burden over 12 months post initial ICD. Methods: The study included 301 patient-partner dyads (151=P-only; 150=P+P) who participated in 1 of 2 nurse-led SC interventions delivered by telephone in the first 3 months after the patient received an ICD. Patient symptoms were measured with the PCA, depression with the PHQ-9, and partner caregiver burden with the OCBS, at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Parallel process growth modeling and mixed effects models were used to compare intervention outcomes. Results: Patients were on average 64±12 years old, male (74%), white (91%), and most received an ICD for primary prevention (60%). Partners were on average 62±12 years, female (74%), and white (88%). In the first 3 months, decline in patient depression was significantly associated with decline in partner caregiver burden in P+P (β=0.93; p&lt;0.001), but not in P-only (β= -0.14; p=0.54). Decline in physical symptoms was more strongly associated with decline in partner caregiver burden in P+P (β=0.93, p&lt;0.001) than P-only (β=0.58, p=0.02). At 3 months, there were no significant differences in patient physical (p=0.59) and depressive symptoms (p=0.27) for P+P vs P-only. Partner caregiver burden was significantly lower in P+P vs P-only (p=0.01). At 12 months, patient physical and depressive symptoms and partner caregiver burden were significantly lower in P+P vs P-only (p=0.043, p=0.008, p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: A SC intervention that included intimate partners (P+P) showed greater reductions in patient physical and depressive symptoms and partner caregiver burden and reflected greater reciprocal influence than the P-only intervention. Dyadic SC interventions can provide added support for patients after an ICD and may improve partner caregiver burden.

Abstract 13085: Post-icd Implant Intervention: Secondary Prevention and Partner Support Associated With Improved Physical and Psychological Outcomes

Introduction: Health characteristics and symptoms of patients with an ICD differ based on ICD indication (primary or secondary prevention). The purpose of this study was to examine for differential effects of ICD indication on health outcomes in 2 post-implant interventions: a patient-only intervention (P-only) and a patient intervention that included the patient’s partner (P+P). Hypothesis: Intervention effects on patient health outcomes will be influenced by ICD indication. Methods: A prospective RCT (N = 301) compared the 2 interventions on: Physical Function (SF-36 Physical functioning , Vitality and Physical Component Score - PCS; physical health, Patient Concerns Assessment - PCA) and Psychological Adjustment (SF-36 Social Functioning and Mental Component Score - MCS; State Anxiety, STAI; and Depression, PHQ-9). Study participants were randomized to intervention condition, blocked by comorbidities and ICD indication. The 2 nurse-led social cognitive theory interventions (P-only or P+P) were delivered by telephone during the first 12 weeks post implant. Health outcomes were measured at baseline, 3, and 12 months. Using repeated measures ANOVA, comparisons were made among 4 study groups, defined by ICD indication (primary vs secondary) and intervention condition (P-only vs P+P). Results: The sample was primarily white (91%), male (88%), average age 64±11.90 years, BMI = 29.57±6.17, EF = 34.08±14.33, Charlson Comorbidity = 2.29±1.49, with 60% receiving ICD for primary prevention. Secondary, compared to primary, prevention patients in both interventions showed improved physical functioning, vitality, physical health, and depression (F = 8.5, P = &lt;0.001; F = 5.75, P = 0.001; F = 6.15, P = &lt; 0.001; F = 4.09, P = 0.007, respectively). The greatest improvements were observed at 3 months (end of interventions) and maintained or improved at 12 months. Secondary prevention patients participating in P+P showed the greatest improvement in vitality and depression across 12 months. Conclusion: Patients who received an ICD for secondary prevention and were also in the P+P intervention showed greatest improvement across recovery, indicating promising health outcomes for patients in intervention programs that include the partner.

Abstract 12802: Trajectory of Recovery Following Sudden Cardiac Arrest After an Initial Icd in a Social Cognitive Theory Intervention

Introduction: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survivorship results in unique issues in return to physical &amp; psychological functioning. The purpose of this study was to examine trajectories of recovery between SCA survivors &amp; other patients who received an initial secondary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) &amp; participated in a social cognitive theory (SCT) intervention. Hypothesis: One-year recovery trajectories will differ for SCA survivors vs others who received an ICD for secondary prevention. Methods: 168 (129 men, 39 women) who received an ICD for secondary prevention [VF cardiac arrest (N=65), ICD other reason (N=103)] were randomized to a SCT intervention (N=85) or usual care (N=83). The SCT intervention consisted of 8 weeks of nurse led telephone coaching &amp; self-management strategies to enhance recovery over 1 year. Outcomes measured at baseline hospital discharge, 1, 3, 6, &amp; 12 months included: 1) Physical Function [Patient Concerns Assessment (PCA), SF-36 (PCS)]; 2) Psychological Adjustment [State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), CES-D depression, SF-36 (MCS)]; &amp; 3) Self-Efficacy [SCA Self-Efficacy (SCA-SE), Self-management behaviors (SMB), Outcome Expectations (OE)]. Outcome differences were compared over 12 months by intervention group (SCT vs UC) &amp; by SCA vs. ICD-other groups, using general estimating equations (GEE), adjusting for baseline age, gender, &amp; ethnicity. Results: Participants were Caucasian (89%), averaged 63.95±12.3 years, EF% 33.95±13.9, BMI 28.19±6.2, &amp; Charlson Index 4.27±2.3. No significant demographic differences were noted between groups. Physical function (PCS) remained low &amp; anxiety (STAI) high in all groups over time. Self-efficacy (SCA-SE) was lower in SCA survivors compared to others. Physical symptoms (PCA) decreased significantly (Wald X 2, 8.38, p=0.04) for SCA survivors vs. ICD-others over 1 year; Psychological Adjustment (MCS) was significantly lower in SCA survivors in the SCT intervention at 6 months &amp; recovered at 12 months (Wald X 2 , 7.25, p=0.05); OEs were significantly lower for SCA survivors in the SCT intervention (Wald X 2 , 6.99, p=0.008). Conclusion: SCA survivors had fewer physical symptoms, lower levels of mental health &amp; OE over 12 months, despite a SCT intervention.

Understanding aggressive behaviour in patients with schizophrenia through social cognitive theory: a narrative literature review

Background/AimsStudies have shown that some people diagnosed with schizophrenia are more predisposed to distress than others because of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, leading to aggressive and violent behaviour. Moreover, there is no conclusive evidence to substantiate the reasons for the causes of aggression and what suitable interventions can be used. The aim of this study was to explore evidence-based literature through social cognitive theory to find effective strategies to manage aggression among patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.MethodsA background literature review search was conducted from the following databases: Medline, Cinhal and PsychInfo. The Boolean operator OR was used to search for Aggression OR Violence OR Cognitive theory OR Interventions OR Mental illness OR Schizophrenia OR Self-control OR Self-efficacy OR Social learning theory. Suitable papers were hand searched and seven papers were selected.ResultsResearch studies are in favour of social cognitive interventions to manage aggression in patients with schizophrenia as they have fewer side effects and can be used alongside other pharmacological interventions as the second line of treatment. However, findings from these studies should be viewed with caution, resulting from the contradiction that still exists in whether psychotic symptoms are correlated to aggression and violent behaviours among patients with schizophrenia.ConclusionsSocial cognitive models can enable health care professionals to explore the causes of aggression from a broad perspective, using appropriate risk assessment tools to design appropriate strategies.

Improving visual perspective-taking performance in children with autism spectrum conditions: Effects of embodied self-rotation and object-based mental rotation strategies.

When answering how the same object might appear to others in different locations, people can provide answers by mentally putting themselves into another person's location using the embodied self-rotation strategy or by rotating the target object toward themselves using the object-based mental rotation strategy. In this study, after learning the embodied self-rotation or object-based mental rotation strategies, autistic children improved their visual perspective-taking performance, which is believed to be impaired or delayed in autistic individuals. We recruited 34 autistic children and an equal number of ability-matched typical children and examined their visual perspective-taking performance at baseline and after learning the embodied self-rotation and object-based mental rotation strategies. As previous visual perspective-taking and other social cognition interventions for autistic individuals have primarily focused on the embodied self-rotation strategy, showing moderate effectiveness and limited generalizability, we explored the effects of both embodied self-rotation and object-based mental rotation strategies for improving perspective-taking performance and discussed their implications in this study. The results showed that autistic children had a lower performance at baseline compared with typical children; however, they were still sensitive to both embodied self-rotation and object-based mental rotation strategies. Unlike typical children, who gained more from the embodied self-rotation strategy, autistic children benefited similarly from the two strategies. This suggests that there are multiple ways to helping autistic children overcome their difficulty in perspective-taking tasks. Future interventions for autistic children could consider combining various strategies that better suit their autistic traits.

Social cognitive intervention following an initial implantable cardioverter defibrillator: Better treatment response for secondary versus primary prevention.

The patient + partner (P+P) is a patient/partner-focused social cognitive intervention with demonstrated efficacy to improve outcomes following an initial implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Little is known about how the patient response may differ by ICD implant indication. The aim of this study was to examine the response to intervention for patients with an initial ICD by reasons for primary versus secondary ICD indication. A longitudinal secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial testing the P+P intervention examined patient health outcomes over 12 months, stratified by the indication for the ICD: primary prevention without cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) (1o No CRT, n=100), primary prevention with CRT (1o CRT, n=78), secondary prevention after cardiac arrest (2° Cardiac Arrest, n=66), and secondary prevention for other arrhythmias (2o Other, n=57). Outcomes included physical and mental health status (Short-Form-36 Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary), physical symptoms (Patient Concerns Assessment), depression (Patient-Health-Questionniare-9), and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory). Participants (n=301) were on average 64 years old, primarily male (73.7%) and Caucasian (91%) with reduced ejection fraction (34%). There were no baseline differences between ICD groups for all outcomes (P>.05). Patients in the 2° Cardiac Arrest group showed greater improvement from baseline to 3 months in physical and mental health outcomes. The 2° Cardiac Arrest group had better physical (F=11.48, P=.004) and mental health (F=4.34, P=.038) and less severe physical (z=2.24, P=0.013) and depressive symptoms (z=2.71, P=.003) at 12 months compared to the 1o No CRT group. The P+P intervention was more effective for promoting physical and psychological health outcomes for individuals receiving an ICD for 2o prevention after cardiac arrest.

Practice and Sociodemographic Factors Influencing Self-Monitoring of Blood Pressure in Ghanaians with Hypertension.

Background In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of hypertension has assumed epidemic levels and currently accounts for numerous complications such as stroke, heart failure, and kidney damage. Management of hypertension involves both drug and nonpharmacological approaches. Self-monitoring of blood pressure is an important nonpharmacological approach that facilitates early detection of deteriorating blood pressures and complications. Aims We determined the practice and sociodemographic factors influencing self-monitoring of blood pressure among Ghanaians with hypertension. Methods In a cross-sectional design, we recruited four hundred and forty-seven (447) Ghanaians with hypertension receiving care at the hypertensive Outpatient Department (OPD) Clinics of the Medical Department at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). The respondents were sampled using a simple random sampling technique of balloting without replacement. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data on the practice of self-monitoring of blood pressure and sociodemographic factors influencing self-monitoring in the respondents. We also measured some anthropometric and haemodynamic indices of the respondents. The data was entered in Microsoft Excel 2010 and exported into SPSS 21.0 to aid with the data analysis. A chi-square test and Student's t-test analysis were done to determine the relationship between the practice of self-monitioring and other sociodemographic variables. Data analayses were conducted at a significant level (alpha 0.05) and power of 95% confidence. Thus, p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The practice of self-monitoring of blood pressure was 25.3% with more female respondents claiming to practice self-monitoring as compared to their male counterparts (28.6% vs. 20.7%). Awareness of self-monitoring of blood pressure was associated with increased practice of self-monitoring of blood pressure. Health workers (46.8%), colleague patients (39.8%), relatives/spouses (6.7%), and the media (6.7%) were identified as the sources of information about self-monitoring of blood pressure. Awareness of self-monitoring, level of education, valid health insurance, occupation, income levels, and marital status had a significant relationship with self-monitoring of blood pressure among the respondents. Thus, respondents with higher education, awareness of self-monitoring, valid health insurance, formal employment, and higher income were likely to monitor their blood pressure. Conclusion Several sociodemographic factors influence the practice of self-monitoring of blood pressure in Ghanaians with hypertension. Thus, targeted hypertension education and social-cognitive interventions should focus on these sociodemographic factors so as to improve self-monitoring of blood pressure in order to reduce the complications of hypertension.