Mindfulness for Paranoid Beliefs: Evidence from Two Case Studies

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyn Ellett

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that mindfulness can be beneficial for people with distressing psychosis. This study examined the hypothesis that for people with persecutory delusions in the absence of voices, mindfulness training would lead to reductions in conviction, distress, preoccupation and impact of paranoid beliefs, as well as anxiety and depression. Method: Two case studies are presented. Participants completed measures of mindfulness, anxiety and depression at baseline, end of therapy and 1 month follow-up, and bi-weekly ratings of their paranoid belief on the dimensions of conviction, preoccupation, distress and impact. Results: Ratings of conviction, distress, impact and preoccupation, and measures of anxiety and depression, reduced for both participants from baseline to end of intervention. Improvements in mindfulness of distressing thoughts and images occurred for both participants. These gains were maintained at 1 month follow-up. Conclusions: Findings suggest that mindfulness training can impact on cognition and affect specifically associated with paranoid beliefs, and is potentially relevant to both Poor Me and Bad Me paranoia.

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Newman Taylor ◽  
Sean Harper ◽  
Paul Chadwick

Background: There is a small body of research indicating that mindfulness training can be beneficial for people with distressing psychosis. What is not yet clear is whether mindfulness effects change in affect and cognition associated with voices specifically. This study examined the hypothesis that mindfulness training alone would lead to change in distress and cognition (belief conviction) in people with distressing voices. Method: Two case studies are presented. Participants experienced long-standing distressing voices. Belief conviction and distress were measured twice weekly through baseline and mindfulness intervention. Mindfulness in relation to voices was measured at the start of baseline and end of intervention. Results: Following a relatively stable baseline phase, after 2–3 weeks of mindfulness practice, belief conviction and distress fell for both participants. Both participants' mindfulness scores were higher post treatment. Conclusion: Findings show that mindfulness training has an impact on cognition and affect specifically associated with voices, and thereby beneficially alters relationship with voices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 900.1-900
Author(s):  
L. Diebold ◽  
T. Wirth ◽  
V. Pradel ◽  
N. Balandraud ◽  
E. Fockens ◽  
...  

Background:Among therapeutics used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Tocilizumab (TCZ) and Abatacept (ABA) are both biologic agents that can be delivered subcutaneously (SC) or intravenously (IV). During the first COVID-19 lockdown in France, all patients treated with IV TCZ or IV ABA were offered the option to switch to SC administration.Objectives:The primary aim was to assess the impact of changing the route of administration on the disease activity. The second aim was to assess whether the return to IV route at the patient’s request was associated with disease activity variation, flares, anxiety, depression and low physical activity during the lockdown.Methods:We conducted a prospective monocentric observational study. Eligibility criteria: Adult ≥ 18 years old, RA treated with IV TCZ or IV ABA with a stable dose ≥3 months, change in administration route (from IV to SC) between March 16, 2020, and April 17, 2020. The following data were collected at baseline and 6 months later (M6): demographics, RA characteristics, treatment, history of previous SC treatment, disease activity (DAS28), self-administered questionnaires on flares, RA life repercussions, physical activity, anxiety and depression (FLARE, RAID, Ricci &Gagnon, HAD).The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a DAS28 variation>1.2 at M6. Analyses: Chi2-test for quantitative variables and Mann-Whitney test for qualitative variables. Factors associated with return to IV route identification was performed with univariate and multivariate analysis.Results:Among the 84 patients who were offered to switch their treatment route of administration, 13 refused to change their treatment. Among the 71 who switched (48 TCZ, 23 ABA), 58 had a M6 follow-up visit (13 lost of follow-up) and DAS28 was available for 49 patients at M6. Main baseline characteristics: female 81%, mean age 62.7, mean disease duration: 16.0, ACPA positive: 72.4%, mean DAS28: 2.01, previously treated with SC TCZ or ABA: 17%.At M6, the mean DAS28 variation was 0.18 ± 0.15. Ten (12.2%) patients had a DAS28 worsening>1.2 (ABA: 5/17 [29.4%] and TCZ: 5/32 [15.6%], p= 0.152) and 19 patients (32.8%) had a DAS28 worsening>0.6 (ABA: 11/17 [64.7%] and TCZ: 8/32 [25.0%], p= 0.007).At M6, 41 patients (77.4%) were back to IV route (26 TCZ, 15 ABA) at their request. The proportion of patients with a DAS28 worsening>1.2 and>0.6 in the groups return to IV versus SC maintenance were 22.5%, 42.5% versus 11.1% and 22.2% (p=0.4), respectively. The univariate analysis identified the following factors associated with the return to IV route: HAD depression score (12 vs 41, p=0.009), HAS anxiety score (12 vs 41, p=0.047) and corticosteroid use (70% vs 100%, p=0.021), in the SC maintenance vs return to IV, respectively.Conclusion:The change of administration route of TCZ and ABA during the first COVID-19 lockdown was infrequently associated with a worsening of RA disease. However, the great majority of the patients (77.4%) request to return to IV route, even without disease activity worsening. This nocebo effect was associated with higher anxiety and depression scores.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 893
Author(s):  
Rita Moretti ◽  
Paola Caruso ◽  
Mauro Giuffré ◽  
Claudio Tiribelli

SARS-COV-2 is a severe medical condition. Old patients are very vulnerable, but they have been studied only as institutionalized patients. During the lock-down, little attention is dedicated to old, demented patients who lived at home. This study wants to examine their behavioral reactions by video-phone follow-up. We conducted a longitudinal study in subcortical vascular dementia (sVAD) patients. We enrolled 221 sVAD, not institutionalized patients. We divided sVAD patients into low-medium grade sVAD (A) and severe sVAD (B), based on neuroimaging severity degree and executive alterations. At baseline, at the end of lock-down, and two months later, global behavioral symptoms were recorded for each patient. We found significantly higher scores of general behavioral deterioration, anxiety, delusions, hallucinations and apathy after controlling for sVAD severity. The direct consequence was a drastic increment of psychotropic drugs prescribed and employed during the lock-down. Moreover, caregivers’ stress has been evaluated, together with their anxiety and depression levels. During the lock-down, their scores increased and reflected a severe worsening of their behavior. Our data demonstrate that social isolation induces a severe perception of loneliness and abandonment; these fears can exacerbate behavior disturbances in old-aged frail persons. Thus, these can be considered as indirect victims of SARS-COV-2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e000839
Author(s):  
Heather Cassie ◽  
Vinay Mistry ◽  
Laura Beaton ◽  
Irene Black ◽  
Janet E Clarkson ◽  
...  

ObjectivesEnsuring that healthcare is patient-centred, safe and harm free is the cornerstone of the NHS. The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) is a national initiative to support the provision of safe, high-quality care. SPSP promotes a coordinated approach to quality improvement (QI) in primary care by providing evidence-based methods, such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Breakthrough Series Collaborative methodology. These methods are relatively untested within dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact to inform the development and implementation of improvement collaboratives as a means for QI in primary care dentistry.DesignA multimethod study underpinned by the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Kirkpatrick model. Quantitative data were collected using baseline and follow-up questionnaires, designed to explore beliefs and behaviours towards improving quality in practice. Qualitative data were gathered using interviews with dental team members and practice-based case studies.ResultsOne hundred and eleven dental team members completed the baseline questionnaire. Follow-up questionnaires were returned by 79 team members. Twelve practices, including two case studies, participated in evaluation interviews. Findings identified positive beliefs and increased knowledge and skills towards QI, as well as increased confidence about using QI methodologies in practice. Barriers included time, poor patient and team engagement, communication and leadership. Facilitators included team working, clear roles, strong leadership, training, peer support and visible benefits. Participants’ knowledge and skills were identified as an area for improvement.ConclusionsFindings demonstrate increased knowledge, skills and confidence in relation to QI methodology and highlight areas for improvement. This is an example of partnership working between the Scottish Government and NHSScotland towards a shared ambition to provide safe care to every patient. More work is required to evaluate the sustainability and transferability of improvement collaboratives as a means for QI in dentistry and wider primary care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Johansson ◽  
Markus Jansson-Fröjmark ◽  
Annika Norell-Clarke ◽  
Steven J. Linton

Abstract Background The aim of this investigation was to examine the longitudinal association between change in insomnia status and the development of anxiety and depression in the general population. Methods A survey was mailed to 5000 randomly selected individuals (aged 18–70 years) in two Swedish counties. After 6 months, a follow-up survey was sent to those (n = 2333) who answered the first questionnaire. The follow-up survey was completed by 1887 individuals (80.9%). The survey consisted of questions indexing insomnia symptomatology, socio-demographic parameters, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Change in insomnia status was assessed by determining insomnia at the two time-points and then calculating a change index reflecting incidence (from non-insomnia to insomnia), remission (from insomnia to non-insomnia), or status quo (no change). Multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine the aim. Results Incident insomnia was significantly associated with an increased risk for the development of new cases of both anxiety (OR = 0.32, p < .05) and depression (OR = 0.43, p < .05) 6 months later. Incident insomnia emerged also as significantly associated with an elevated risk for the persistence of depression (OR = 0.30, p < .05), but not for anxiety. Conclusions This study extends previous research in that incidence in insomnia was shown to independently increase the risk for the development of anxiety and depression as well as for the maintenance of depression. The findings imply that insomnia may be viewed as a dynamic risk factor for anxiety and depression, which might have implications for preventative work.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nea Boman ◽  
Luis Fernandez-Luque ◽  
Ekaterina Koledova ◽  
Marketta Kause ◽  
Risto Lapatto

Abstract Background A range of factors can reduce the effectiveness of treatment prescribed for the long-term management of chronic health conditions, such as growth disorders. In particular, prescription medications may not achieve the positive outcomes expected because approximately half of patients adhere poorly to the prescribed treatment regimen. Methods Adherence to treatment has previously been assessed using relatively unreliable subjective methods, such as patient self-reporting during clinical follow-up, or counting prescriptions filled or vials returned by patients. Here, we report on a new approach, the use of electronically recorded objective evidence of date, time, and dose taken which was obtained through a comprehensive eHealth ecosystem, based around the easypod™ electromechanical auto-injection device and web-based connect software. The benefits of this eHealth approach are also illustrated here by two case studies, selected from the Finnish cohort of the easypod™ Connect Observational Study (ECOS), a 5-year, open-label, observational study that enrolled children from 24 countries who were being treated with growth hormone (GH) via the auto-injection device. Results Analyses of data from 9314 records from the easypod™ connect database showed that, at each time point studied, a significantly greater proportion of female patients had high adherence (≥ 85%) than male patients (2849/3867 [74%] vs 3879/5447 [71%]; P < 0.001). Furthermore, more of the younger patients (< 10 years for girls, < 12 years for boys) were in the high adherence range (P < 0.001). However, recursive partitioning of data from ECOS identified subgroups with lower adherence to GH treatment ‒ children who performed the majority of injections themselves at an early age (~ 8 years) and teenagers starting treatment aged ≥ 14 years. Conclusions The data and case studies presented herein illustrate the importance of adherence to GH therapy and how good growth outcomes can be achieved by following treatment as described. They also show how the device, software, and database ecosystem can complement normal clinical follow-up by providing HCPs with reliable information about patient adherence between visits and also providing researchers with real-world evidence of adherence and growth outcomes across a large population of patients with growth disorders treated with GH via the easypod™ device.


2014 ◽  
Vol 205 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek K. Tracy ◽  
Dan W. Joyce ◽  
Sukhwinder S. Shergill

Drugs and violence are often observed as bedfellows; both have been associated with psychosis but the nature and timing of their relationships remains unclear. As part of the UK Prisoner Cohort Study, Keers et al prospectively followed up 967 prisoners convicted of sexual or violent offences (about a quarter of whom had a psychotic illness) in the community after release. Schizophrenia was associated with greater rates of violence, but the risk was mediated by untreated psychosis or when presenting with persecutory delusions – and no other definable psychopathology. Interestingly, drug-induced psychosis did not increase the risk of violence per se, once the substance misuse itself was accounted for. Does treatment have an impact on risk of violence in a population-based sample of patients with psychosis? Fazel et al demonstrated reductions in violent crime in patients during the time they were prescribed antipsychotics. Interestingly, the rates of violent crime were also reduced in patients with bipolar disorder who received mood stabilisers. Therefore, in addition to the effects of antipsychotics and mood stabilisers on relapse rates, their potential effects on violence and crime could be used to make decisions about management for these groups of patients. There is a clearer need for the appropriate treatment of prisoners with psychotic illnesses if their risk of violence is to be moderated. Cannabis is one of the most commonly used social drugs worldwide; it increases risk of psychosis, but there has been little to offer pharmacologically to those dependent upon this most prevalent illicit drug, and various trials of mood stabilisers, antidepressants and α2 adrenergic agonists have generally been disappointing. Allsop et al evaluated the novel cannabis extract nabiximols, containing cannabidiol – which has been shown to attenuate paranoia and euphoria – and tetrahydrocannabinol, delivered as a buccal spray. The active drug group showed statistically significant benefits in reduced withdrawal irritability, depression and cravings and remained longer in treatment. However, both placebo and drug groups showed reduced cannabis use at follow-up, with placebo being as effective as nabiximols in promoting longer-term cessation.


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