Therapeutic Practice Research Articles

“Healing is having faith in Allah, the healer, and the medicine”: An exploratory qualitative study of Islamic-based healing practices in Northern Ghana

Faith-based healing practices are becoming widespread in Ghana. Charismatic churches, traditional healers, and Mallams provide healthcare services for multitudes nationwide. However, these faith-based healers' guiding philosophies and healing practices are less known. This ethnographic study explores Islamic healing, medical perspectives, therapeutic practices, and how the Dagomba traditional practices and culture influence this medical system. Data were collected from six Islamic-based healers through in-depth individual interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic analysis was employed, and results are reported narratively. The study discovered that religious and faith-based healing practices, including Islamic-based healing, are rising in Ghana. Practitioners of Islamic-based healing among the Dagomba observe that having faith in Allah and trust in His healing powers is the foundation of health. Islamic principles of faith and the Dagomba health beliefs determine these healers’ medical therapy and healing practices. The study found that rituals and sacrifices are significant healing practices with specific gendered perspectives. Spirituality is perceived as both an illness-causal factor and a healing tool. We invite further research to identify the prospects, constraints, and therapeutic possibilities Islamic healing holds for Ghana’s integrative medical system_._

Les pratiques de soin énergétique en France : phénoménologie et processus psychiques dans les thérapies alternatives

AimsIn this paper, we look at energy healing, a relatively under-studied therapeutic approach in France, despite its strong influence on a wide variety of complementary and alternative therapies. This article attempts to clarify the reasons for the success of these approaches by analyzing the psychic processes inherent in them. MethodTwenty-five therapists (energy therapists, magnetic healers, alternative therapists) were recruited to take part in several semi-directive interviews focusing on the phenomenology of energy healing. The corpus of data was analyzed using a psychoanalytical approach in order to highlight the specific features of these practices. ResultsEnergy healing is a set of therapeutic practices with heterogeneous methods based on the representation of a vital energy. These practices are frequently used in contexts of “ordinary misfortune” that combine persistent somatic symptoms, psychological suffering, and critical stages in life. The practice and effectiveness of energy healing seem to be based on unconscious psychic processes. These processes encourage the emergence of non-ordinary states of consciousness that potentiate processes of psychic transformation. In some aspects, this setting could be compared to a form of mediation in which the therapist uses body and object manipulations to induce psychic effects. DiscussionThe apparently “magical” nature of these therapies polarizes the scientific and media debate around the way in which they do or do not comply with the requirements of evidence-based medicine. The model proposed in this article allows us to move away from these issues and take into account the anthropological aspects of alternative therapeutic systems. ConclusionThe approach developed in this article extends and opens up clinical research on exceptional experiences, by showing that the study of alternative therapies, when it is not solely centered on the question of specific proof of efficacy, offers a fruitful perspective for making more explicit the processes of the caregiving relationship.

Выделение и характеристика вирулентных бактериофагов против Klebsiella pneumoniae значимых капсульных типов

The growing proportion of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains raises challenges to the healthcare system and requires the development of alternative treatment options. Bacteriophage therapy is one of such options. The study was aimed to isolate and describe bacteriophages effective against K. pneumoniae strains of clinically significant capsular types. The bacteriophages were isolated from the sewage and river water samples using the enrichment culture technique. The spectrum of lytic activity of the phages was tested on the collection of K. pneumoniae clinical isolates (n = 279). The studied bacteriophages lysed 52.8–100% of K. pneumoniae strains of respective capsular types: phage VKV295 lysed 100% of strains with the capsular type KL1, SAA231 — 52.8 of strains with KL2, NNK-G4 — 100% of strains with KL39, VSG32 — 66.7% of strains with KL41, NKA196 — 87.5% of strains with KL47, Rappa3 — 87.5% of strains with KL57, PEA128 — 95.5% of strains with KL64, and ChM-G5 — 69.6% of strains with KL102. Whole-genome sequencing and subsequent bioinformatic analysis revealed that the phages belong to the Autographiviridae family and are classified into three genera.The lytic spectrum of phages was limited to specific capsular types due to the presence of specific receptor-binding proteins, polysaccharide depolymerases. The isolated bacteriophages were strictly virulent, did not carry harmful genetic determinants, and had a specific host range, making them applicable in therapeutic practice for combating antibiotic-resistant infections caused by K. pneumoniae.

Storing Complementary Therapy Knowledge to Expand Nursing Roles

Incorporating complementary therapy into nursing care is common in clinical practice. Complementary therapy is a non-pharmacological approach used to help address symptoms that cannot be alleviated entirely by medication. These complementary therapies often serve specific purposes, and nurses are the ideal candidates to administer them due to their patient care expertise. However, before applying any complementary therapy, it is essential to understand the potential medical safety, ethical, and legal considerations involved in the therapeutic process. Furthermore, administrators should strengthen their knowledge and implementation of these therapies to ensure safety during use. Complementary therapy facilitates the management of symptoms that are not manageable by medication alone. For example, aromatherapy and light therapy are employed in clinical settings to alleviate anxiety, depression, insomnia, and pain (Farrar & Farrar, 2020; Fong et al., 2023), while acupuncture, acupressure, and qigong are utilized to relieve pain in cancer patients (Behzadmehr et al., 2020). Although complementary therapy is gradually gaining acceptance in clinical practice for mitigating patient discomfort, it has yet to achieve widespread adoption, with the culture within healthcare institutions and the attitudes of healthcare professionals being significant factors influencing adoption willingness. Research findings indicate that the primary factor influencing the use of complementary therapy by nurses is lack of relevant knowledge (Siedlecki, 2021). Elements of complementary therapy have been incorporated into the blueprint of the National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurse in Western countries. Thus, nursing education programs in the United States are now required to integrate complementary therapy into their curricula (Helms, 2006). The above emphasizes the importance of equipping nursing professionals with crucial knowledge and skills related to complementary therapy. When integrated appropriately and safely into patient care, complementary therapy not only enhances the quality and status of nursing but also demonstrates the irreplaceable role of nurses in assisting patients manage symptoms that are not fully manageable by medication alone. As modern medical technology and treatment modalities continue to grow in complexity, nursing professionals must maintain an open-minded perspective and be willing to adapt to and learn the diverse knowledge and skills required in today's era of interdisciplinary. Implementing complementary therapy requires relevant healthcare knowledge for symptom relief as well as familiarity with the related principles and skills. Complementary therapy often involves more extended contact with the recipients of care, making it safer and more appropriate when administered by nursing professionals who have received medical training. In this column, three articles discuss common complementary therapeutic practices such as aromatherapy, the non-invasive Chinese medicine meridian-and-acupoint intervention, and light therapy. Each article introduces the principles of these therapies and their application in nursing. It is hoped that the information provided on these three complementary therapies will help nursing professionals find reference points for expanding and strengthening their interdisciplinary nursing practices. Thus, the inherent advantages of the nursing profession may be leveraged to further enhance and implement the professional nursing process and to maximize the roles and capabilities of the nursing profession.

Could Artificial Intelligence be a Therapeutic for Mental Issues?

The utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) possesses the capacity to fundamentally transform the landscape of mental health care through the provision of very valuable therapeutic interventions. AI possesses the capacity to evaluate extensive quantities of data, enabling it to aid in the identification of early signs of mental health concerns and provide tailored solutions that cater to specific requirements. The utilization of virtual therapists powered by AI has the potential to provide a secure environment for persons experiencing social anxiety or worries associated with stigma. This form of therapy offers continuous support and diminishes the obstacles that hinder individuals from seeking assistance. In addition, AI algorithms possess the capability to effectively identify and analyze patterns and trends derived from many sources, including social media posts and smartphone usage. This enables the assessment of an individual’s mental health and facilitates the provision of timely solutions. Through the utilization of natural language processing and sentiment analysis, AI has the potential to augment current therapeutic practices by proficiently monitoring patient advancements and analyzing therapeutic dialogues. Therefore, the incorporation of AI into the realm of mental health intervention holds promise in enhancing accessibility, cost, and efficacy, while mitigating the strain on conventional healthcare systems.

Stress-related emotional disturbances in patients with cardiovascular diseases

Acute and chronic stress, as well as emotional disturbances as a consequence of stressful situations, are significant risk factors for the development and progression of some of acute and chronic non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), among which the most common are arterial hypertension, chronic heart failure and atherosclerotic CVD. Specific emotional disturbances that arise after exposure to significant traumatic or stressful situations include acute and post-traumatic stress disorder. When a stress factor does not reach high intensity or significance, adjustment disorder may develop. Stress-related emotional disturbances significantly affect other CVD risk factors, reduce patients’ adherence to healthy lifestyle changes and drug therapy, deteriorate quality of life and increase the risk of disability. The urgency of identifying and managing post-stress emotional disturbances in the practice of internists is caused by high frequency of these disturbances in outpatient patients. It is especially important to manage and prevent these disturbances in patients with CVD due to increased number of adverse outcomes resulting from this combination. Treatment of emotional disturbances resulting from stressful situations includes both drug and non-drug methods. Antidepressants and benzo-diazepine anxiolytics are the main classes among the drugs used to treat post-stress emotional disorders. However, the prescription of these drugs requires taking into account a wide range of possible side effects, especially in patients with CVD. The choice of drugs with a favourable safety profile and a rapid onset of sedative and anti-anxiety effects is a key element in the modern effective patient management strategy. Tofisopam and buspirone are the most advanced of this group of drugs in therapeutic and cardiological practice.

Necessary conjunctions: Hawkspur Camp and the transdisciplinary roots of therapeutic community

PurposeThis paper aims to tell something of the story of the “Hawkspur Experiment” (1936–1941), a therapeutic camp organised early in the modern history of therapeutic community as an intervention into the lives of young men who were viewed to be at risk of delinquency (Wills, 1967). Although it was to have a remarkable influence on group and therapeutic community practice and theory, the authors argue that its influence is not as well-remembered nor incorporated into contemporary therapeutic understanding and discussion as it should be.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is a historical reflection based on systematic examination of the clinical and administrative records of Hawkspur Camp for men, and supporting documents held in the Planned Environment Therapy Archive. In addition, the authors use published primary and secondary sources.FindingsHawkspur Camp was a cross-disciplinary enterprise which brought together psychoanalytic thinking, social work, an interest in groups, political activism, a concern with the dynamics and working of democracy and the application of emergent social science methods. It was overtly an intervention into the criminal justice system but was also an intentional exploration of the therapeutic benefits of community living and of a “pioneering” lifestyle; a rigorous experiment in how psychoanalytic ideas might be used in group residential settings; and a politically grounded exploration of participative democracy as a fundamental therapeutic principle.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper presents the first findings from a systematic study of the records of Hawkspur Camp.

Impact of Virtual Reality Therapy on Social Anxiety

This quantitative look at investigated the impact of Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) on social tension, inspecting changes in signs and functional consequences among one hundred fifty members. Participant demographics found out a various but balanced pattern with a mean age of 28. Four, an same gender distribution, and ranging intervals of social tension diagnosis. Utilizing the Social Anxiety Scale (SAS), results indicated a sizeable discount in social anxiety signs and symptoms put up-VRT, with mean scores decreasing from sixty five. Eight at baseline to fifty three.2 publish-intervention and further to 48.7 at one-month observe-up. The Functional Outcome Questionnaire (FOQ) highlighted enhancements in each day functioning, with suggest ratings increasing from 32.5 at baseline to 38. Nine publish-intervention and persevering with to forty-one.2 at follow-up. The declining widespread deviations across exams underscored the consistency of nice consequences. These findings endorse that VRT no longer simplest successfully mitigated social tension signs however additionally undoubtedly impacted contributors' practical abilities. The sustained improvements discovered at observe-up imply the potential durability of VRT's healing outcomes. While acknowledging study limitations, this research contributes treasured insights into the promising role of VRT in comprehensive social anxiety remedy, calling for further exploration and integration into mainstream therapeutic practices.

Advances in Thyroid Function Tests: Precision Diagnostics and Clinical Implications.

This narrative review explores the evolving field of thyroid function testing, explicitly highlighting the significance of precision diagnostics and their substantial impact on clinical practice. Commencing with a comprehensive examination of the historical progression of thyroid diagnostics, the discourse proceeds to explore recent developments, highlighting the paramount importance of accuracy in testing methods. The primary issue under consideration is the crucial requirement for accuracy in the field of therapeutic practice. The review critically examines the problems related to the interpretation, standardization, and ethical considerations in examining advanced laboratory techniques, novel biomarkers, and state-of-the-art technologies like immunoassays, molecular testing, and automation. The focus on the paradigm shift towards precision diagnostics brings attention to the complex connection between test results and their direct influence on patient care. This investigation expands upon the incorporation of imaging and molecular diagnostics, highlighting the rising significance of precision in customizing treatment strategies. In summary, the study provides a prospective viewpoint, recognizing the persistent obstacles and highlighting the want for dependable, uniform methodologies in thyroid diagnostics. This narrative's primary objective is to guide physicians, researchers, and stakeholders in effectively navigating the intricate nature of contemporary thyroid function tests, with a particular emphasis on resolving the fundamental issue of precision.

Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR) Australian Staphylococcus aureus Surveillance Outcome Program (ASSOP) Bloodstream Infection Annual Report 2022.

From 1 January to 31 December 2022, fifty-five institutions across Australia participated in the Australian Staphylococcus aureus Surveillance Outcome Program (ASSOP). The aim of ASSOP 2022 was to determine the proportion of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) isolates in Australia that were antimicrobial resistant, with particular emphasis on susceptibility to methicillin and on characterisation of the molecular epidemiology of the methicillin-resistant isolates. A total of 3,214 SAB episodes were reported, of which 77.5% were community-onset. Overall, 15.0% of S. aureus were methicillin resistant. The 30-day all-cause mortality associated with methicillin-resistant SAB was 21.4%, which was significantly different to the 16.8% all-cause mortality associated with methicillin-susceptible SAB (p = 0.02). With the exception of the β-lactams and erythromycin, antimicrobial resistance in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus was rare. However, in addition to the β-lactams, approximately 31% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were resistant to ciprofloxacin; 30% to erythromycin; 13% to tetracycline; 11% to gentamicin; and 2% to co-trimoxazole. One MRSA isolate, with a daptomycin MIC of 1.5 mg/L, harboured the A302V mprF and A23V cls2 mutations. When applying the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints, teicoplanin resistance was detected in one MRSA isolate. Resistance to vancomycin or linezolid was not detected. Resistance to non-β-lactam antimicrobials was largely attributable to the healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) clone ST22-IV [2B] (EMRSA-15), and to the community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) clone ST45-V [5C2&5] which has acquired resistance to multiple antimicrobials including ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, and tetracycline. The ST22-IV [2B] (EMRSA-15) clone is the predominant HA-MRSA clone in Australia. Nonetheless, 86% of methicillin-resistant SAB episodes were due to CA-MRSA clones. Although polyclonal, approximately 72% of CA-MRSA clones were characterised as ST93-IV [2B] (Queensland clone); ST5-IV [2B]; ST45-V [5C2&5]; ST1-IV [2B]; ST30-IV [2B]; ST97-IV [2B]; ST953-IV [2B]; and ST8-IV [2B]. As CA-MRSA is well established in the Australian community, it is important to monitor antimicrobial resistance patterns in community- and healthcare-associated SAB as this information will guide therapeutic practices in treating S. aureus bacteraemia.

A Network Pharmacology Prediction and Molecular Docking-Based Strategy to Explore the Potential Pharmacological Mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus for Glioma.

Glioma treatment in traditional Chinese medicine has a lengthy history. Astragalus membranaceus, a traditional Chinese herb that is frequently utilized in therapeutic practice, is a component of many Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas that have been documented to have anti-glioma properties. Uncertainty persists regarding the molecular mechanism behind the therapeutic effects. Based on results from network pharmacology and molecular docking, we thoroughly identified the molecular pathways of Astragalus membranaceus' anti-glioma activities in this study. According to the findings of the enrichment analysis, 14 active compounds and 343 targets were eliminated from the screening process. These targets were mainly found in the pathways in cancer, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, protein phosphorylation, inflammatory response, positive regulation of phosphorylation, and inflammatory mediator regulation of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels. The results of molecular docking showed that the active substances isoflavanone and 1,7-Dihydroxy-3,9-dimethoxy pterocarpene have strong binding affinities for the respective targets ESR2 and PTGS2. In accordance with the findings of our investigation, Astragalus membranaceus active compounds exhibit a multicomponent and multitarget synergistic therapeutic impact on glioma by actively targeting several targets in various pathways. Additionally, we propose that 1,7-Dihydroxy-3,9-dimethoxy pterocarpene and isoflavanone may be the main active ingredients in the therapy of glioma.

Engaging Mental Health Service Providers to Recognize and Support Conversion Practice Survivors Through Their Journey to Recovery

Conversion practices include a range of efforts that attempt to change or suppress LGBTQA+ individuals’ sexual or gender identity. Formal versions of these practices are occurring less frequently in Western settings, yet informal versions and the ideology underpinning them continue to cause psychological and spiritual harm to people who are subjected to them. As evidence for the harmful nature of conversion practices increases, and some governments and professional bodies are responding with measures that restrict their use, there is a growing need for the mental health sector to be engaged with these issues so that practitioners are appropriately prepared to recognize and support survivors in ways that are effective and affirming of sexual and gender diversity. In this paper, we review the state of the evidence concerning associated harms and their lack of efficacy in changing sexuality or gender identity, and highlight the changing nature of research in this space to focus on the negative impacts of conversion practices on survivors. We then discuss the evidence around mental health practitioners’ knowledge and support capacity for conversion practices survivors. We close by commenting on specific features of therapeutic practices that can guide practitioners as they support survivors through the recovery process.

Unraveling the anti-primary dysmenorrhea mechanism of Ainsliaea fragrans Champ. extract by the integrative approach of network pharmacology and experimental verification

BackgroundThe plant Ainsliaea fragrans Champ. (A. fragrans) named "Xingxiang Tuerfeng", is a traditional herb with a long history of therapeutic practice in southern China in the treatment of gynecological diseases. PurposeThe anti-inflammatory extract of Ainsliaea fragrans Champ. (AF-ext) exhibited anti-primary dysmenorrhea (PD) activity in oxytocin-induced mice. This study aimed to unravel the underlying mechanisms of AF-ext on PD by the integrative approach of network pharmacology and experimental verification. MethodsFirst, the therapeutic targets of AF-ext are predicted using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods. Second, activity screening and immunoblotting methods were used for target validation. Then, the therapeutic effect of AF-ext on PD was evaluated using oxytocin-induced mice and uterine strips model. ResultsAF-p1, and AF-p2, the active ingredients of AF-ext, showed inhibitory effects on COX1/2 and EGFR, and all five active components showed antagonistic activity on TRPV1. AF-ext (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) could significantly reduce the number of writhing times and prolong writhing latencies in a dose-dependent manner. AF-ext inhibited spasmolytic activity in uterine strips induced by oxytocin and Ca2+ stimulation. AF-ext inhibited NF-κB/COX-2/PG pathway and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in PD mice. It significantly downregulated the PD-induced overexpression of p-p65/p65, p-IκBα, and COX-2 by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. Moreover, the overexpression of NLRP3, p20/pro-Caspase 1, and p17/pro-IL-1β was greatly downregulated. ConclusionsAF-ext demonstrated anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and spasmolytic activity in the treatment of PD. It inhibited the NF-κB/COX-2/PG pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in PD mice with a multi-target approach.

A pilot qualitative study of a person-centered approach to eating distress in women

ABSTRACT Person-centered experiential (PCE) psychotherapists work with the phenomenology of client experience from within their client’s frame of reference. Consequently, PCE theory does not provide proscriptions or prescriptions of therapeutic practice for helping clients with discrete forms of psychological distress. This research study provides a phenomenological account using person-centered theory for how the complex experiences of eating distress can be understood without relying on the medicalized diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. A pilot qualitative research study was conducted to explore participants’ experiences of eating distress. An inductive and deductive thematic analysis was employed to construct themes within the data; four main themes were identified. Inductive analysis was used to code participant’s experiences, and PCE theory was used to provide a deductive coding of those participant experiences. The data suggested eating distress can be understood as an expression of incongruence, linked to the theory of conditions of worth within the self-concept, characterized by the presence of a dominant inner critic and is often accompanied by intense feelings of shame.

Therapists' and counsellors' perceptions and experiences of offering online therapy during COVID‐19: A qualitative survey

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this research was to understand counsellors' and therapists' perceptions and experiences of working online during the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodFive hundred and ninety clinicians, mostly UK‐based, responded to an online qualitative survey, which allowed data to be gathered from a broader range of participants than is typical for qualitative interviews or focus group studies, and provided a wide‐angle lens. The survey generated over 130,000 words, on which a five‐staged framework analysis was conducted. Seven superordinate themes were identified.ResultsIn this paper, three of these superordinate themes specifically addressing online therapeutic practice with individual adult clients are presented. Therapists' accounts addressed the diverse ways in which the online space changed how they thought about the therapy relationship and their interactions with clients. Respondents described instances where online therapy had been beneficial for facilitating and cultivating the therapeutic process and relationship as well as how online therapy could have a potentially disruptive impact on therapeutic practice.ImplicationsFor practitioners who continue to deliver therapy solely online and/or offer hybrid services, this study identifies the specific knowledge and skills required for effective and safe online therapeutic work.

Docetaxel in hormone-sensitive advanced prostate cancer; GENESIS-SEFH evaluation reporta

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common urogenital malignancy in older men and the second leading cause of death by cancer in men in Europe. Current therapeutic practice considers Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) as first line treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer at high-risk, either locally advanced or metastatic. ADT can be achieved through orchiectomy (surgical castration), luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, or through complete androgen blockade (LHRH agonist combined with an anti-androgen). Docetaxel in combination with prednisone or prednisolone is indicated for the treatment of patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer. The CHAARTED and STAMPEDE clinical trials studied the effect of bringing forward the use of docetaxel added on to ADT in the context of hormone-sensitive patients. The CHAARTED clinical trial showed a significant increase in a variable with maximum relevance such as Overall Survival (OS), with a difference of 13.6 months between medians. There was also clinical benefit in the secondary variables: median time until castration-resistant disease or until clinical progression. In the STAMPEDE clinical trial, which included 39% of non-metastatic patients, a 10-month difference between medians was demonstrated in OS, and 17 months in the primary co-variable of Progression Free Survival. The most frequent adverse events were: neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, leucopenia, and general disorders such as asthenia, lethargy or fever. According to data from the CHAARTED and STAMPEDE studies, and the incremental cost of € 3 196.98 for adding on docetaxel to standard treatment, the estimated additional cost for each year of life gained is compatible with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio between € 2 26736 and € 3 851.78. In view of the efficacy and safety results, the proposed positioning is: to advance the use of docetaxel added to androgen deprivation therapy to first-line metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, regardless of metastatic volume, in those patients who meet the CHAARTED study criteria.

The Northfield Experiments and the therapeutic community task

PurposeThis study aims to raise awareness of the importance of the sociological aspects of therapeutic community work, including clarity about the nature of the task, the power of informal interactions between participants and the relevance of leadership.Design/methodology/approachApplying insights from historical research to present-day practice.FindingsThe Northfield experiments offer a number of insights into present-day practice of therapeutic communities and enabling environments. These include clarity about the task, the relevance of participant interactions outside of specifically therapeutic work and the importance of leadership.Social implicationsThe therapeutic community/enabling environments approach has relevance to a wider sector of society than solely the therapeutic. More attention needs to be paid to leadership issues in the therapeutic community movement, as well as the therapeutic power of the mutual support networks amongst those receiving care.Originality/valueThrough the lens of the Northfield experiments, this paper offers a broadening of the sociological nature of therapeutic community practice, arguing that the purpose is to enable greater social adaptability, thereby enhancing relationships and deepening our awareness of ourselves. Implicit in this perspective is the recognition of the power of non-formal interrelationships in the service as well as the importance of leadership. It is also suggested that our experience in this way of working has a value in other organisations such as work places or schools. However, to achieve this, we need to adapt our language appropriately.

Factor VIII Is an Endothelial Factor That Promotes Vessel Stability

Background: Hemophilia A (HA) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by the absence or dysfunction of factor VIII (FVIII). Clinical manifestations include spontaneous bleedings that primarily consist of hemarthroses and intracranial hemorrhages. Attenuated microvascular endothelial functionality is observed in HA patients suggesting a dysfunction in endothelial cells (ECs). Current therapeutic practice consists of replacement therapy with recombinant FVIII (rFVIII), either as needed to treat acute hemorrhages, or as prophylaxis to prevent bleeds. It is well established that FVIII is largely secreted by ECs and in particular by sinusoidal endothelial cells in the liver. Healthy and HA ECs can be isolated from the peripheral blood as blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) or can be differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Here we show that, in addition to its role in blood coagulation, FVIII plays a role in endothelial cell functionality. Aims: To elucidate the potential impact of FVIII on EC stability and to investigate the effect of different rFVIII products on the maintenance of EC functionality. Methods: BOECs isolated from HA patients and healthy donors were used. HA BOECs were treated in vitro with B-domain deleted (BDD; simoctocog alfa) or full-length (FL) rFVIII products, and EC functionality was evaluated by tubulogenic, migration, permeability and proliferation assays. The impact of the different rFVIII products on vessel formation and permeability was evaluated in vivo in NOD/SCID γ-Null (NSG) and NOD/SCID γ-Null HA (NSG-HA) mice. Results: In vitro results demonstrated a weakening in tubulogenesis, migration potential and permeability in HA ECs vs healthy ECs and a significant enhancing of tubule network formation in HA BOECs treated with BDD-rFVIII or FL-rFVIII. Quantification of nodes, junctions, branches and the total length of the vessel-like structures confirmed that treatment of HA BOECs with BDD-rFVIII or FL-rFVIII improved HA BOEC function. Moreover, migration assays of HA BOECs treated with BDD-rFVIII or FL-rFVIII showed that the migration ability of HA BOECs was improved after treatment with either of the rFVIII products. We also evaluated whether rFVIII could ameliorate cell permeability. When treated with either rFVIII, the HA BOEC monolayer was less permeable to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran compared with that from non-treated HA BOECs. Vessel permeability assays in vivo demonstrated a significant reduction of dye extravasation in NSG-HA mice treated with rFVIII, with an improvement in mice treated with BDD-rFVIII compared with FL-rFVIII. Conclusion: In conclusion, information about the possible extra-coagulative role of FVIII may be crucial to understand the key molecular targets missing in HA patients at the cellular level that impair EC functionality. Knowledge of the possible effect of different rFVIII products on ECs functionality can lead to new therapeutic approaches potentially resulting in safer and more efficient treatment of HA.

Anthropocentrism, animism and the Anthropocene: decentring the human in psychology

"This article explores the role of anthropocentric ideology, and belief systems in hampering effective individual and collective responses to ecological crises. In the context of the Anthropocene, it considers how anthropocentrism is culturally widespread and habitually reproduced across a range of practices. However, to avoid overly deterministic readings of the power of anthropocentrism, the article considers how humancentred ways of thinking and working are being challenged in many areas of life. It focuses on psychology, psychotherapy and related disciplines, drawing on examples of research, professional practice and everyday life that are actively questioning anthropocentrism. It considers if and how therapeutic practices can engage with human healing whilst meaningfully shifting the focus to the ways in which human health and well-being is entangled with other-than-humans. The article then critically considers whether an animist worldview can effectively frame an alternative to anthropocentrism, exploring if and how animism can be appropriately understood within a non-Indigenous and everyday context. The article concludes by reflecting on the wider ethical and political challenge for psychology of actively unlearning anthropocentrism. Keywords animism, Anthropocene, anthropocentrism, Indigenous Knowledge, posthumanism, trans-species"

Songs of Life: Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Deleuze and Guattari’s ‘Desiring-Production’

This paper argues that practitioners of psychedelic-assisted therapy could learn a great deal from Deleuze and Guattari’s critique of psychoanalysis in Anti-Oedipus, as well as the practice of materialist psychiatry – schizoanalysis – that they offer in its stead. Much of the clinical research on psychedelics (particularly psilocybin) over the past fifteen years has privileged mystical experience, assessed according to a quantifiable scale, as the goal of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and source of cure ( Griffiths et al. 2006 , 2016 ; Barrett and Griffiths 2018 ; Pollan 2018 ). Has ‘mystical experience’ become the ‘imperialism of Oedipus’ within the psychedelic revival, towards which all psychedelic experience and activity of the unconscious is expected to tend? Distressed patients would be better held, I contend, through a therapeutic practice that adopts Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of the unconscious as a desiring-machine and the cure as a completion of the process of desiring-production that is not arrested and reduced to pre-assigned ends. In this mode of working with psychedelics, the embodied memories, visions and sensations of the patient do not in a predetermined way ‘express’ or ‘represent’ a perennial, quantifiable experience (or myth). Rather, they enable the positive task of schizoanalysis of learning what a subject’s desiring-machines are and how they work, and the negative task of identifying and destroying all that stands in the way of their functioning.