Therapy Program Research Articles

Changes in Dispositional Mindfulness Predict Veterans’ Symptom Severity After an Intensive Cognitive Processing Therapy Program with Mindfulness Components

Changes in Dispositional Mindfulness Predict Veterans’ Symptom Severity After an Intensive Cognitive Processing Therapy Program with Mindfulness Components

Approbation of the Program of Occupational Therapy of young men who specialize in Wrestling, after treatment of knee joint injuries

It is known that during the educational and training process and during participation in competitions, sportsmen and women who specialize in wrestling often receive injuries of various kinds, which negatively affects the indicators of their sportsmanship. This, in turn, requires qualified medical assistance and the subsequent organization of an effective and balanced System of Occupational Therapy. What in the future will ensure a quick and safe introduction of wrestlers to systematic training in the chosen sport and increase the indicators of Competitive Activity. The main goal of the study is to adjust and approve an Experimental Program of Occupational therapy for young men aged 17-19 who specialize in Sambo wrestling after treatment of knee joint injuries. The study was carried out in accordance with the Plan of the Initiative Scientific Project "Ergo Therapy of knee joints". In the process of Research and Analytical work, the following Research Methods were used: abstraction, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, modeling, mathematical and statistical analysis. As a Result of an Empirical Study, the members of the Research Group developed and tested an Experimental Program of Occupational Therapy for young men aged 17-19 who specialize in Sambo wrestling after treatment of knee joint injuries. The Experimental Program developed by us was implemented during three stages: Theoretical-Adaptive, Corrective and Engaging. Prospects for Further Research in the chosen field of Scientific Research include the development of an Occupational Therapy Program for women who specialize in Combat Sports after treatment of knee joint injuries.

Occupational Therapy Program for young men who Specialize in wrestling sports after treatment of knee joint injuries

Today, Martial Arts are an effective means of forming a reliable reserve of defenders of Ukraine. During systematic training in a chosen type of Martial Art, an individual develops basic Physical Qualities, develops leadership Qualities, as well as psychological resistance to adverse environmental factors. The Analysis of the latest Research and publications in the chosen field of Scientific Research shows that insufficient number of Scientific works are devoted to the topical issue of the organization of the Occupational Therapy System of young men who Specialize in Martial Arts after treatment of knee joint injuries. This emphasizes the relevance, timeliness and Practical component of the chosen direction of Scientific Research. The Research was carried out according to the Plan of the initiative Scientific Project "Ergo Therapy of knee joints". Research methods: idealization, formalization, axiomatic, historical and logical, descent from concrete. As a Result of Theoretical Research, we have developed an Experimental Program of occupational Therapy for young men who Specialize in wrestling Sports after treatment of knee joint injuries. The Results of the study are implemented in the Occupational Therapy System of wrestlers, members of National teams of Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine. The Occupational Therapy Program involves the use of the following tools (components): kinesiological taping, elements of TRX, elements of basic Sambo etc. Prospects for further Research in the chosen field of Scientific Research include the organization of a Pedagogical Experiment to test the effectiveness of the Occupational Therapy Program for young men who Specialize in Sambo Wrestling after treatment of knee joint injuries.

Percutaneous bone marrow concentrate and platelet products versus exercise therapy for the treatment of rotator cuff tears: a randomized controlled, crossover trial with 2-year follow-up

BackgroundSurgical repair is recommended for the treatment of high-grade partial and full thickness rotator cuff tears, although evidence shows surgery is not necessarily superior to non-surgical therapy. The purpose of this study was to compare percutaneous orthobiologic treatment to a home exercise therapy program for supraspinatus tears.MethodsIn this randomized-controlled, crossover design, participants with a torn supraspinatus tendon received either ‘BMC treatment’, consisting of a combination of autologous bone marrow concentrate (BMC) and platelet products, or underwent a home exercise therapy program. After three months, patients randomized to exercise therapy could crossover to receive BMC treatment if not satisfied with shoulder progression. Patient-reported outcomes of Numeric Pain Scale (NPS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, (DASH), and a modified Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) were collected at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Pre- and post-treatment MRI were assessed using the Snyder Classification system.ResultsFifty-one patients were enrolled and randomized to the BMC treatment group (n = 34) or the exercise therapy group (n = 17). Significantly greater improvement in median ΔDASH, ΔNPS, and SANE scores were reported by the BMC treatment group compared to the exercise therapy group (-11.7 vs -3.8, P = 0.01; -2.0 vs 0.5, P = 0.004; and 50.0 vs 0.0, P < 0.001; respectively) after three months. Patient-reported outcomes continued to progress through the study’s two-year follow-up period without a serious adverse event. Of patients with both pre- and post-treatment MRIs, a majority (73%) showed evidence of healing post-BMC treatment.ConclusionsPatients reported significantly greater changes in function, pain, and overall improvement following BMC treatment compared to exercise therapy for high grade partial and full thickness supraspinatus tears.Trial registrationThis protocol was registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01788683; 11/02/2013).

Influence of Music Therapy on the Improvement of Perceived Well-Being Indices in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Hormonal Treatment

ABSTRACT Background Although there are a growing number of studies investigating the benefits of music therapy interventions with patients diagnosed with cancer, few studies have taken an approach that specifically examines indices of perceived well-being in women with breast cancer. Overcoming these challenges can be an important step in the recovery process. Purpose The purpose of our study was to know the positive influence of responsive music therapy through gong sounds, emitted live, on different areas of well-being of women with breast cancer. Methods Four individual sessions of responsive music therapy with live gong sounds were conducted in which three women (M = 54; SD = 5.57) participated both in the music therapy program and in the completion of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Breast (FACT-B) and a semi-structured interview with ad hoc designed questions about perception of qualitative aspects. Results The results showed that the music therapy sessions significantly improved, p = .043 < 0.05, various domains of perceived well-being in women with breast cancer. Discussion This article highlights several key benefits associated with music therapy and various indices of well-being in women with breast cancer, identifies the limitations of the study, and discusses the findings. It is considered necessary to replicate this practice in future studies that include a larger sample and age range over longer follow-up periods. Translation for Health Education Practice The text highlights the importance of considering music therapy as a complementary intervention in comprehensive cancer care programs, which may be relevant to health educators when considering intervention and support approaches for cancer patients. Health education interventions targeting the enhancement of cancer patients’ well-being should incorporate music therapy techniques.

Doubling down on dosage: exploring the interplay between dosage effects, antisocial traits, treatment attitudes, and recidivism-related therapy outcomes

Purpose Studies evaluating the external validity of theoretically informed (risk-need-responsivity [RNR]) cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs have not systematically assessed antisocial personality traits as a source of variability in outcomes. The purpose of this brief report is to examine antisocial traits as a potential source of variability in outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Using longitudinal, program-evaluation data (a sample of incarcerated men who were exposed to RNR-informed CBT), the authors examined how antisocial personality traits, attitudes toward treatment and dosage impacted treatment outcomes. A linear regression assessed the relationship between antisocial personality traits and attitudes toward treatment. A latent profile analysis identified participants with elevated antisocial traits and negative attitudes toward treatment. Treatment dosage groups (0, 5, 10 and 15 weeks) were used to assess treatment response per pro-criminal attitudes, skills and rates of recidivism. Findings Antisocial traits predicted negative attitudes toward treatment. Elevated antisocial traits and negative treatment attitudes predicted less change in criminal attitudes among those who completed 15 weeks of treatment; higher dosage did not significantly improve rates of recidivism. Variable-centered post hoc analyses largely corroborated these findings. These results suggest RNR-informed CBT may need to be modified for justice-involved persons with elevated antisocial traits. Originality/value Few studies have empirically examined the sources of variability in treatment effects for justice-involved persons with antisocial personality traits. This brief report provides a structured examination of factors that may impact treatment outcomes in this population, and therefore aims to inform future research on the effectiveness of empirically supported interventions for people in the legal system.

Efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and interrupted serial casting in children with spastic diplegia

ObjectivesThis research was aimed at comparing the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with interrupted serial casting (SC) versus SC alone on various aspects of lower limb function in children with diplegic cerebral palsy. SC is a clinical technique used to increase passive range of motion (ROM), decrease hypertonicity, and improve walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP). MethodsThis randomized comparative trial involved 33 children with diplegic CP, who were randomly assigned to group A or group B at recruitment. Group A received SC along with a customized physical therapy program, whereas group B received the same interventions as group A along with NMES applied through cast windows during casting. Evaluations were based on ROM, the Modified Tardieu Scale, handheld dynamometer measurements, and the Observational Gait Scale. Assessments were conducted before and after 8 weeks of intervention. ResultsBoth groups exhibited significant improvements in dorsiflexion ROM, popliteal angle, gastrocnemius dynamic spasticity, and hamstring dynamic spasticity after the intervention (P = 0.0001 for all). However, significant differences (P < 0.05) in dorsiflexor strength, knee extensor strength, and observational gait scale score were observed between groups after the intervention, favoring group B. ConclusionsThe use of NMES during SC may help overcome the substantial decrease in strength resulting from casting, thus achieving less reduction of tone, improving ROM without significantly decreasing strength, and attaining greater improvements in gait function.

The status of ultrasound imaging education in Doctor of Physical Therapy program curricula: results of a national survey

BackgroundThis investigation evaluated the state of ultrasound imaging (USI) education in entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program curricula in the USA, including faculty perceptions and qualifications regarding USI and identification of potential barriers to inclusion or expansion of USI education. A review of published literature reveals that the inclusion of USI education in entry-level DPT program curricula has not been systematically investigated and is largely unknown.MethodsInvestigators created an online survey developed in QualtricsXM and distributed through email an electronic link to the program chair/director at all 258 accredited entry-level DPT programs in the USA with instructions to complete and or share with faculty.ResultsThe overall response rate was 24% (65/269) and represented 54 programs from 28 of the 50 states; 70% reported including USI education in their program’s curriculum, with 91% spending < 10 h on instruction throughout their curriculum; 44% reported plans to expand USI education in their curriculum, with 85% citing expanding scope of practice and curriculum as primary reasons; 79% cited the lack of qualified instructors, lack of knowledge/training, and equipment cost as the largest barriers to the inclusion of USI education in their program’s curriculum. Whether USI is an entry-level skill was evenly split among respondents.ConclusionsRespondents from a representative sample of entry-level DPT programs across the USA provided survey responses. Despite most respondents being knowledgeable about USI, most do not use this point-of-care imaging modality in clinical practice. Based on the results of this survey, overcoming perceived barriers is necessary to expand USI education in entry-level DPT program curricula, namely, lack of qualified instructors, lack of knowledge/training, and cost of equipment. This national survey provides original data that may stimulate discussion about innovative ways to include USI education in entry-level DPT program curricula to meet the emerging needs of our profession.

Evaluation of a digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme for prison residents with histories of substance misuse (“Breaking Free”): Comparison of delivery models employed in the United Kingdom and the United States

Substance misuse is a criminogenic risk factor—however, substance-involved prison residents may have limited access to support and services that might be able to help them overcome their substance misuse. Research around the efficacy of the “Breaking Free” digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme for substance-involved prison residents demonstrates that this digital technology may overcome barriers to support. Breaking Free is the first digital programme for substance misuse that has been implemented in prisons. In the United Kingdom (U.K.) the programme is delivered via secure desktop and laptop computers in staff-facilitated group sessions, and in the United States (U.S.) is delivered via individual secure tablets that prison residents can access independently, without staff support. This study compares U.K. and U.S. prison residents who have engaged with Breaking Free on a number of baseline measures (sociodemographic factors, types of problem substances reported, clinical complexity, and criminogenic risk factors). The delivery models employed in these two jurisdictions are compared in relation to their associations with prison residents’ engagement with the programme and the clinical outcomes experienced. Differences between U.K. and U.S. prison residents in baseline clinical and psychosocial factors were identified, including greater clinical complexity in the U.K. group. U.K. prison residents, who were supported by staff when using Breaking Free, demonstrated higher levels of engagement with the programme than U.S. prison residents who were not supported by staff. The different delivery models employed in the United Kingdom and United States appeared to be associated with group differences in clinical outcomes. Guidance for the optimal implementation of Breaking Free, based on findings from this study, is provided. Further analyses will explore how the different approaches to the delivery of Breaking Free might interact with the differences in prison resident characteristics identified in this study (sociodemographic, clinical and criminogenic), in order to influence prison resident engagement with the programme and clinical outcomes.

Evaluation and Rehabilitation after Adult Lumbar Spine Surgery

Purpose: With an increase in the proportion of elderly patients, the global burden of spinal disease is on the rise. This is gradually expected to increase the number of surgical procedures all over the world in the near future. As we know, rehabilitation following spine surgery is critical for optimal recovery. However, the current literature lacks consensus regarding the appropriate post-operative rehabilitation protocol. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the optimal protocol for rehabilitation after lumbar spine surgery in adults. Materials and Methods: The goals of rehabilitation after lumbar spine surgery are to improve physical and psychosocial function and may include multiple modalities such as physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, specialized instruments, and instructions to be followed during activities of daily living. In recent years, not only are a greater number of spine surgeries being performed, but various different techniques of lumbar spine surgery and spinal fusion have also emerged. (1) Our review summarizes post-operative rehabilitation under the following headings—1. Historical aspects, 2. Subjective functional outcomes, and (3) Actual rehabilitation measures, including balance. Results: Physical therapy programs need to be patient-specific and surgery-specific, such that they consider patient-reported outcome measures and take into consideration the technique of spinal fusion used and the muscle groups involved in these surgeries. By doing so, it is possible to assess the level of functional impairment and then specifically target the strengthening of those muscle groups affected by surgery whilst also improving impaired balance and allowing a return to daily activities. Conclusions: Rehabilitation is a multi-faceted journey to restore mobility, function, and quality of life. The current rehabilitation practice focuses on muscle strengthening, but the importance of spinal balance is less elaborated. We thus equally emphasize muscle strengthening and balance improvement post-lumbar spine surgery.

An Internet-Based Intervention to Increase the Ability of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People to Cope With Adverse Events: Single-Group Feasibility Study.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people are at higher risk of mental health problems due to widespread hetero- and cisnormativity, including negative public attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to combating social exclusion at the societal level, strengthening the coping abilities of young LGBTQ+ people is an important goal. In this transdiagnostic feasibility study, we tested a 6-week internet intervention program designed to increase the ability of nonclinical LGBTQ+ participants to cope with adverse events in their daily lives. The program was based on acceptance and commitment therapy principles. The program consists of 6 web-based modules and low-intensity assistance for homework provided by a single care provider asynchronously. The design was a single-group assignment of 15 self-identified LGB community members who agreed to participate in an open trial with a single group (pre- and postintervention design). Before starting the program, participants found the intervention credible and expressed high satisfaction at the end of the intervention. Treatment adherence, operationalized by the percentage of completed homework assignments (32/36, 88%) was also high. When we compared participants' pre- and postintervention scores, we found a significant decrease in clinical symptoms of depression (Cohen d=0.44, 90% CI 0.09-0.80), social phobia (d=0.39, 90% CI 0.07-0.72), and posttraumatic stress disorder (d=0.30, 90% CI 0.04-0.55). There was also a significant improvement in the level of self-acceptance and behavioral effectiveness (d=0.64, 90% CI 0.28-0.99) and a significant decrease in the tendency to avoid negative internal experiences (d=0.38, 90% CI 0.09-0.66). The level of general anxiety disorder (P=.11; d=0.29, 90% CI -0.10 to 0.68) and alcohol consumption (P=.35; d=-0.06, 90% CI -0.31 to 0.19) were the only 2 outcomes for which the results were not statistically significant. The proposed web-based acceptance and commitment therapy program, designed to help LGBTQ+ participants better manage emotional difficulties and become more resilient, represents a promising therapeutic tool. The program could be further tested with more participants to ensure its efficacy and effectiveness. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05514964; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05514964.

Current holistic admission review practices of U.S. doctor of physical therapy programs

BackgroundThe social, cultural, and ethnic diversity of healthcare workers should match that of the U.S. population to improve health outcomes and decrease health disparities. The population’s diversity is increasing, though many health care professions lack diversity in their academic programs. The holistic admissions (HA) process considers an applicant’s unique experiences, achievements, and traits in addition to academic metrics when making admission decisions. HA has been shown to be an effective strategy to increase cohort diversity by considering the whole person instead of focusing on academic metrics.PurposeThis study explored the extent to which U.S. Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs are implementing HA in their admissions process to diversify their admitted cohorts. The study further examined how programs defined diversity.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional, descriptive research design, 272 accredited DPT programs were invited to complete an online survey to collect data on admissions practices. Cross-tabulation was used to analyze coded responses. Inductive thematic analysis was used for open-ended responses.ResultsThirty-five (71.4%) of the 52 respondents reported they were currently or were planning to use HA in their respective DPT program. Most respondents (88.6%) reported a positive experience, including an increase in student cohort diversity without a decrease in graduation rate. Four themes emerged as the definition of diversity: ethnicity (i.e., under-represented minorities), other demographics, life experiences, and challenges overcome.ConclusionAlthough this study represents a sample of DPT programs, the data show most programs using HA and have experienced increased diversity without a risk to academic performance.

The Mental Health Toll of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adolescents Receiving Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment.

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of depression and anxiety among children and adolescents significantly increased, along with the number of visits to emergency departments due to suicidality and/or suicide attempts. Relatedly, health care workers experienced significant burnout and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder during this time. However, the corresponding impact on psychiatric inpatient treatment has not yet been researched. We hypothesized that during the pandemic, adolescents hospitalized in an acute care psychiatric inpatient unit had increased incidents of suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviors and of aggressive behaviors toward others, resulting in greater use of constant observation and restraints. Method: This study was a retrospective chart review based on electronic medical record data examining use of restraints and constant observation one year before the pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020) and 1 year following the onset of the pandemic (March 2020 to February 2021) in an acute-care adolescent (12 to 17 years old) psychiatric inpatient unit. Results: There were 571 admissions during the year before the pandemic and 500 admissions during the pandemic. The number of patients who were restrained (χ2 = 7.86, p = 0.005), number of patients who were placed on constant observation (χ2 = 13.41, p < 0.001), and number of constant observation orders per patient (χ2 = 91.90, p < 0.001) were all significantly greater during the pandemic. Conclusion: Psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents during the pandemic received more intensive interventions such as restraints and constant observation. Severe patient psychopathology and staff shortages, as well as limitations of and decreases to the dialectical behavior therapy program, may have been the contributing factor.

Dance movement psychotherapy’s impact on emotional well-being in severe mental disorders: a quantitative study

Dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) is a technique rooted in the mind-body connection, utilising bodily movement to facilitate relational integration, personal and interpersonal functioning, and effective emotional regulation. A dance therapy program of six sessions was investigated to measure changes in the mood, health, and general well-being in 20 adults with Severe Mental Disorders (SMD), including mostly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Divided into a control group focusing on positive emotions, and an experimental group exploring negative emotions, a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental and correlational design with a test-retest procedure was employed. Findings revealed significant differences for both groups in all factors of the EVEA Scale and PERMA-Profiler Questionnaire, except for the ‘Meaning’ variable. Additionally, intra-group correlations indicated unfavourable concordance scores during the test-retest phase and an increase in health construct scores was evident.

Predicting the Effectiveness of a Mindfulness Virtual Community Intervention for University Students: Machine Learning Model.

Students' mental health crisis was recognized before the COVID-19 pandemic. Mindfulness virtual community (MVC), an 8-week web-based mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy program, has proven to be an effective web-based program to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Predicting the success of MVC before a student enrolls in the program is essential to advise students accordingly. The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) whether we can predict MVC's effectiveness using sociodemographic and self-reported features and (2) whether exposure to mindfulness videos is highly predictive of the intervention's success. Machine learning models were developed to predict MVC's effectiveness, defined as success in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress as measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), to at least the minimal clinically important difference. A data set representing a sample of undergraduate students (N=209) who took the MVC intervention between fall 2017 and fall 2018 was used for this secondary analysis. Random forest was used to measure the features' importance. Gradient boosting achieved the best performance both in terms of area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy for predicting PHQ-9 (AUC=0.85 and accuracy=0.83) and PSS (AUC=1 and accuracy=1), and random forest had the best performance for predicting BAI (AUC=0.93 and accuracy=0.93). Exposure to online mindfulness videos was the most important predictor for the intervention's effectiveness for PHQ-9, BAI, and PSS, followed by the number of working hours per week. The performance of the models to predict MVC intervention effectiveness for depression, anxiety, and stress is high. These models might be helpful for professionals to advise students early enough on taking the intervention or choosing other alternatives. The students' exposure to online mindfulness videos is the most important predictor for the effectiveness of the MVC intervention. ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN12249616; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12249616.

A Combined Kundalini Yoga and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the standard conventional treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, recent studies have reported the benefits of yoga for reducing PTSD symptoms including a Kundalini Yoga (KY) intervention. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a novel combined 8-week CBT and KY program for treating PTSD symptoms and improving sleep quality in a single group trial of 26 adults with PTSD. PTSD symptoms (PTSD checklist-5) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were assessed at baseline, post intervention, and at 2-month follow-up. Both CBT and yoga homework compliance were also measured. Total PTSD symptom scores as well as the cluster symptoms (intrusion, avoidance, arousal/reactivity, and negative alterations in cognitions and mood) were significantly improved following the program, all p < .01. The improvements in total PTSD scores, intrusion, avoidance, arousal/reactivity were maintained at follow-up, with all values still less (p < .01) than baseline. The negative alterations in cognitions and mood symptom cluster continued to improve further at follow-up compared to post-intervention values (p < .05). Total sleep score (p < .05) and the subscales of sleep disturbance (p < .01), daytime dysfunction (p < .05), and sleep quality (p < .01) were significantly improved after the program and these improvements were maintained at follow-up compared to baseline. Sleep medication use was decreased (p < .05) and sleep latency was improved (p < .01) at follow-up only compared to baseline. There was a significant positive correlation (p < .05) between the completion of the yoga home practice and post change in total sleep scores. These results show that a combined KY and CBT intervention resulted in decreased PTSD symptoms and improved sleep quality and suggest this program may constitute an additional treatment option for PTSD.

Successful treatment of diplopia using prism correction combined with vision therapy/orthoptics improves health-related quality of life.

To track improvement in diplopia symptoms with strabismus-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire across a treatment consisting of prism correction followed by vision therapy/orthoptics when prism treatment alone has not succeeded. Forty-eight participants with diplopia and a mean age of 62.45 were asked to complete an Adult Strabismus-20 (AS-20) questionnaire and a Diplopia Questionnaire (DQ) before and after prism correction. Inclusion criteria were diplopia reported on the DQ as "sometimes", "often" or "always" at reading or straight-ahead distance. The prism correction was classified as successful if the participant reported "never" or "rarely" on the DQ for reading and straight-ahead distance; and unsuccessful if the perceived diplopia worsened or remained the same. For all participants, mean initial AS-20 scores were compared with mean post-prism correction scores, taking into account AS-20 subscales (reading and general functions, and self-perception and interaction). Participants in the failed prism treatment subgroup subsequently underwent a programme of vision therapy wearing their prism correction, the results of which were again determined by participants' responses on the AS-20 questionnaire, completed before and after the vision therapy. Five of the 48 participants dropped out of the study. Prism correction was classified as successful in 22 of 43 participants (51%), and unsuccessful in 21 (49%). Those participants for whom the prism correction was classified as a success showed a statistically significant improvement (p = 0.01) in both reading and general functions. In the failed treatment subgroup, no significant change in AS-20 score was recorded for any of the domains (p = 0.1). After treatment with vision therapy/orthoptics, however, 13 of the 20 participants in the unsuccessful prism correction subgroup (one of them dropped out the study) achieved binocular vision and statistically significant improvement in reading and general functions (p = 0.01). Although effective prism correction of diplopia is correlated with enhanced HRQOL, prism correction alone is frequently not sufficient to achieve this objective. In these cases, vision therapy/orthoptics treatment as a coadjutant to prism correction is shown to improve HRQOL.

Utilizing Compassion-Focused Therapy Integrated with Mobile Technology: A Therapeutic Approach to Improve Sense of Coherence in Visually Impaired Students

In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of compassion-focused Techniques integrated Mobile Technology implemented to improve the sense of coherence among visually impaired students. The study sample comprised six students (three males and three females) with an average age of 14.30 years and a standard deviation of 1.06. study tools included a sense of coherence scale developed by Al Sadiq and Abbady (2020) and a compassion-focused therapy program specifically designed by the researchers. The results showed statistically significant differences in the average ranks of visually impaired students in the experimental group between pre-measurement and post-measurement on the Sense of Coherence Scale, favoring the post-measurement after the implementation of the therapeutic program. No statistically significant differences were found in the average scores of visually impaired students in the experimental group between post-measurement and follow-up measurements on the Sense of Coherence Scale after implementing the therapeutic program.

The Efficiency of Kinesiotherapy versus Physical Modalities on Pain and Other Common Complaints in Fibromyalgia

Due to its variety of signs and symptoms, there have been numerous attempts to treat fibromyalgia (FM), but a cure has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a complex kinetic therapy program and a combined physical modality program on pain and other common symptoms of FM. Patients and methods: A total of 78 female patients were included in this study; 39 subjects underwent a kinesiotherapy (KT) intervention (combining aerobic and Pilates exercises), and 39 participated in a physical modality (PM) program (including electrotherapy (TENS and low-laser therapy) and thermotherapy). Results: Regarding the parameter of pain assessment, kinesiotherapy demonstrated its superiority both during the treatment period and in the evaluation 3 months after therapy cessation. Both in terms of patient-reported pain (inter-group comparisons: p = 0.000 at T3) and the examination of tender points (inter-group comparisons: p = 0.000 at T3), as well as the algometric assessment, pain was alleviated by the two forms of applied kinetic therapy. The observed functional impairment was statistically significantly influenced (p = 0.001) at the end of the kinetic program application, while for the perceived functional impairment, neither therapy proved superiority over the other at any point of evaluation (inter-group comparisons: p = 0.715 at T3). Regarding the influence of the emotional consequences implied by fibromyalgia, neither the forms of kinesiotherapy nor the chosen physical modalities proved superiority at any point of evaluation (HAQ anxiety inter-group comparisons: p = 0.000 at T3). In conclusion, even though kinesiotherapy had superior influences on fibromyalgia pain in the studied group, the current research lends credence to the significance of non-pharmacological therapy in managing fibromyalgia. Participants demonstrated positive advancements in subjective and objective pain assessments, as well as improvements in functional and emotional well-being.

Efficacy of Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hong Kong University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: This study examined the efficacy of a 10-week internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program “REST Online” for Hong Kong university students with mild to moderate levels of psychological distress. Method: A total of 206 Hong Kong university students were randomized into: (1) web-based and (2) app-based iCBT, and (3) waitlist control (WLC) groups. Results: Compared with the WLC group, the participants in the two iCBT groups showed a significant reduction in psychological distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and negative thoughts and emotions, and significant increase in positive thoughts and emotions, with medium to large effect sizes. The positive effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up test. No significant intervention effects were found between the two iCBT groups except for anxiety symptoms. Discussion: The findings were discussed in terms of program design and service delivery, and suggestions for delivering digital mental health service in Hong Kong universities were proposed.