scholarly journals Balneotherapy Together with a Psychoeducation Program for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal: A Feasibility Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. De Maricourt ◽  
P. Gorwood ◽  
Th. Hergueta ◽  
A. Galinowski ◽  
R. Salamon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Efficacy Outcome ◽  
Benzodiazepine Use ◽  
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal ◽  
The Impact

Benzodiazepines should be prescribed on a short-term basis, but a significant proportion of patients (%) use them for more than 6 months, constituting a serious public health issue. Indeed, few strategies are effective in helping patients to discontinue long-term benzodiazepine treatments. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and the impact of a program including cognitive behavioural therapy, psychoeducation, and balneotherapy in a spa resort to facilitate long-term discontinuation of benzodiazepines. We conducted a prospective multicentre cohort study. Patients with long-term benzodiazepine use were recruited with the aim of anxiolytic withdrawal by means of a psychoeducational program and daily balneotherapy during 3 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome measure was benzodiazepine use 6 months after the program, compared to use at baseline. A total of 70 subjects were enrolled. At 6 months, overall benzodiazepine intake had decreased by 75.3%, with 41.4% of patients completely stopping benzodiazepine use. The results also suggest a significantly greater improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms among patients who discontinued benzodiazepines compared to patients who only reduced their use. Our findings suggest that balneotherapy in association with a psychoeducative program is efficient in subjects with benzodiazepine addiction.

scholarly journals Strategies for discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use

2006 ◽  
Vol 189 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard C. Oude Voshaar ◽  
Jaap E. Couvée ◽  
Anton J. L. M. Van Balkom ◽  
Paul G. H. Mulder ◽  
Frans G. Zitman
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Stepped Care ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Minimal Intervention ◽  
Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Benzodiazepine Use

BackgroundThe prevalence of benzodiazepine consumption in European countries remains at 2–3% of the general population despite the well-documented disadvantages of long-term use.AimsTo review systematically the success rates of different benzodiazepine discontinuation strategies.MethodMeta-analysis of comparable intervention studies.ResultsTwenty-nine articles met inclusion criteria. Two groups of interventions were identified; minimal intervention (e.g. giving simple advice in the form of a letter or meeting to a large group of people; n=3), and systematic discontinuation (defined as treatment programmes led by a physician or psychologist; n=26). Both were found to be significantly more effective than treatment as usual: minimal interventions (pooled OR=2.8, 95% CI 1.6–5.1); systematic discontinuation alone (one study, OR=6.1, 95% CI 2.0–18.6). Augmentation of systematic discontinuation with imipramine (two studies, OR=3.1, 95% CI 1.1–9.4) or group cognitive-behavioural therapy for patients with insomnia (two studies, OR=5.5, 95% CI 2.3–14.2) was superior to systematic discontinuation alone.ConclusionsEvidence was found for the efficacy of stepped care (minimal intervention followed by systematic discontinuation alone) in discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use.

scholarly journals Tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use with or without group cognitive-behavioural therapy: three-condition, randomised controlled trial

2003 ◽  
Vol 182 (6) ◽  
pp. 498-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard C. Oude Voshaar ◽  
Wim J. M. J. Gorgels ◽  
Audrey J. J. Mol ◽  
Anton J. L. M. Van Balkom ◽  
Eloy H. Van De Lisdonk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Benzodiazepine Use ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Group Cbt

BackgroundBenzodiazepine withdrawal programmes have never been experimentally compared with a nonintervention control condition.AimsTo evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice, and to evaluate the value of additional group cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT).MethodA 3-month randomised, controlled trial was conducted in which 180 people attempting to discontinue long-term benzodiazepine use were assigned to tapering off plus group CBT, tapering off alone or usual care.ResultsTapering off led to a significantly higher proportion of successful discontinuations than usual care (62% v. 21%). Adding group CBT did not increase the success rate (58% v. 62%). Neither successful discontinuation nor intervention type affected psychological functioning. Both tapering strategies showed good feasibility in general practice.ConclusionsTapering off is a feasible and effective way of discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice. The addition of group CBT is of limited value.

Covid-19 In Man: A Very Dangerous Affair.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Lisco ◽  
Vito A. Giagulli ◽  
Giovanni De Pergola ◽  
Anna De Tullio ◽  
Edoardo Guastamacchia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Immune System Dysfunction ◽  
Data Support ◽  
Systemic Spread ◽  
The Impact

Background: The novel pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has becoming a public health issue since March 2020 considering that more than 30 million people were found to be infected worldwide. Particularly, recent evidences suggested that men may be considered as at higher risk of poor prognosis or death once the infection occurred and concerns surfaced in regard of the risk of a possible testicular injury due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: Several data support the existence of a bivalent role of testosterone (T) in driving poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19. On one hand, this is attributable to the fact that T may facilitate SARS-CoV-2 entry in human cells by means of an enhanced expression of transmembrane serine-protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). At the same time, younger man with normal testicular function compared to women of similar age are prone to develop a blunted immune response against SARS-CoV-2, being exposed to less viral clearance and more viral shedding and systemic spread of the disease. Conversely, low levels of serum T observed in hypogonadal men predispose them to a greater background systemic inflammation, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and immune system dysfunction, hence driving harmful consequences once SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred. Finally, SARS-CoV-2, as a systemic disease, may also affect testicles with possible concerns for current and future testicular efficiency. Preliminary data suggested that SARS-CoV-2 genome is not normally found in gonads and gametes, therefore sex transmission could be excluded as a possible way to spread the COVID-19. Conclusion: Most data support a role of T as a bivalent risk factor for poor prognosis (high/normal in younger; lower in elderly) in COVID-19. However, the impact of medical treatment aimed to modify T homeostasis for improving the prognosis of affected patients is unknown in this clinical setting. In addition, testicular damage may be a harmful consequence of the infection even in case it occurred asymptomatically but no long-term evidences are currently available to confirm and quantify this phenomenon. Different authors excluded the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sperm and oocytes, thus limiting worries about both a potential sexual and gamete-to-embryos transmission of COVID-19. Despite these evidence, long-term and well-designed studies are needed to clarify these issues.

scholarly journals Nutritional psychiatry: the present state of the evidence

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Marx ◽  
Genevieve Moseley ◽  
Michael Berk ◽  
Felice Jacka
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Reverse Causality ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural

Mental illness, including depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, accounts for a significant proportion of global disability and poses a substantial social, economic and heath burden. Treatment is presently dominated by pharmacotherapy, such as antidepressants, and psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy; however, such treatments avert less than half of the disease burden, suggesting that additional strategies are needed to prevent and treat mental disorders. There are now consistent mechanistic, observational and interventional data to suggest diet quality may be a modifiable risk factor for mental illness. This review provides an overview of the nutritional psychiatry field. It includes a discussion of the neurobiological mechanisms likely modulated by diet, the use of dietary and nutraceutical interventions in mental disorders, and recommendations for further research. Potential biological pathways related to mental disorders include inflammation, oxidative stress, the gut microbiome, epigenetic modifications and neuroplasticity. Consistent epidemiological evidence, particularly for depression, suggests an association between measures of diet quality and mental health, across multiple populations and age groups; these do not appear to be explained by other demographic, lifestyle factors or reverse causality. Our recently published intervention trial provides preliminary clinical evidence that dietary interventions in clinically diagnosed populations are feasible and can provide significant clinical benefit. Furthermore, nutraceuticals including n-3 fatty acids, folate, S-adenosylmethionine, N-acetyl cysteine and probiotics, among others, are promising avenues for future research. Continued research is now required to investigate the efficacy of intervention studies in large cohorts and within clinically relevant populations, particularly in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar and anxiety disorders.

scholarly journals Pain in Patients with Panic Disorder: Relation to Symptoms, Cognitive Characteristics and Treatment Outcome

2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 134-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman B Schmidt ◽  
Helen T Santiago ◽  
John H Trakowski ◽  
J Michael Kendren
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Outcome ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Joint Pain ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Stomach Pain ◽  
Pain Symptoms

OBJECTIVE:Although there has been a link between certain types of pain, notably chest pain, and panic disorder, the relation between pain and panic disorder has not been systematically evaluated. In the present study, the relation between pain symptoms (headache, chest pain, stomach pain, joint pain) and the clinical presentation of patients with panic disorder was evaluated.HYPOTHESES:Pain was generally hypothesized to be related to increased symptoms of anxiety, panic-relevant cognitive domains and treatment outcome. In terms of specific pain domains, headache and chest pain were expected to be more closely related to anxiety-related symptoms.PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS:Patients (n=139) meeting the criteria of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Editionfor panic disorder completed a set of standardized clinician-rated and self-reported measures. Moderator analyses were used in a subset of these patients completing a treatment outcome study.RESULTS:Approximately two-thirds of the participants endorsed at least one current pain symptom. The hypotheses were partially supported, with pain being associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as panic frequency. Pain was also related to several cognitive features, including anxiety sensitivity and panic appraisals. Headache and chest pain were more highly associated with anxiety symptoms than was joint pain. Cognitive measures did not mediate the relation between anxiety and pain, and pain did not significantly moderate outcome in response to cognitive-behavioural therapy.CONCLUSIONS:Co-occurring pain symptoms appear to be more highly related to phenomenology than to treatment response in patients with panic disorder.

The Efficacy of Traditional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depressed Adults with Anhedonia: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 520-544
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
System Therapy ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
The Impact

To date, the impact of traditional cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on anhedonia in major depressive disorder (MDD) has yet been systematically evaluated. This systematic review aims to examine the efficacy of traditional CBT for depressed adults with anhedonia. A literature search for randomised controlled trials of traditional CBT in adults with MDD from inception to July 2020 was conducted in 8 databases. The primary outcome was the levels of anhedonia. Ten studies with adults with MDD met the eligibility criteria. Our results indicate that traditional CBT is as effective as euthymic therapy, positive psychology therapy, self-system therapy,and medications for anhedonia in depression. Besides, our data provide further support for the development of augmented CBT to optimise treatment outcome for depressed adults with anhedonia. Received 11th June 2021; Revised 2nd September 2021; Accepted 20th September 2021

Long-term Effects of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Lithium Therapy on Depression in the Elderly

1995 ◽  
Vol 167 (5) ◽  
pp. 653-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. M. Wilson ◽  
M. Scott ◽  
M. Abou-Saleh ◽  
R. Burns ◽  
J. R. M. Copeland
Keyword(s):  
Maintenance Therapy ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Lithium Therapy ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural

BackgroundWe examine the effects of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) as an adjuvant to acute physical treatment and lithium maintenance therapy in reducing depression severity over a follow-up year in elderly depressed patients.MethodThe study consists of three phases. During the acute treatment and continuation phase, 17 of 31 patients received CBT as an adjuvant to treatment as usual. During the maintenance phase of 1 year, subjects were entered into a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of low-dose lithium therapy.ResultsReceiving adjuvant CBT significantly reduced patients' scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression during the follow-up year (repeated measures analyses of variance; P = 0.007). No significant differences were found between lithium and placebo maintenance therapy.ConclusionsCBT can be adapted as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of severely depressed elderly patients and reduces depression severity during follow-up. The prophylactic failure of long-term lithium therapy may be explained through poor compliance.

scholarly journals ‘Felt security’ as a means of facilitating imagery rescripting in psychosis: a clinical protocol and illustrative case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Newman-Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Imagery Task ◽  
List Type ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Imagery Rescripting ◽  
Illustrative Case Study ◽  
The Impact

Abstract People with psychosis do not have routine access to trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions such as imagery rescripting (IR), partly due to clinical caution. This case study describes the use of a simple imagery task designed to engender ‘felt security’, as a means of facilitating IR with a woman struggling with distressing memory intrusions, linked to her voices and paranoia. We assessed the impact of the felt security task, which was used before IR to enable Kip to engage in reprocessing of her trauma memories, and again after IR so that she would leave sessions feeling safe. The brief imagery task was effective in improving felt security before IR sessions. Felt security then reduced during IR, when distressing material was recalled and reprocessed, and increased again when the task was repeated. It is not yet clear whether trauma-focused interventions such as IR need to be routinely adapted for people with psychosis. In the event that individuals express concerns about IR, if the person’s formulation indicates that high levels of arousal may trigger an exacerbation of voices, paranoia or risk, or where clinicians are otherwise concerned about interventions likely to increase emotional arousal in the short term, the felt security task may facilitate safe and effective reprocessing of trauma memories. This in turn may increase access to trauma-focused CBT for people with psychosis. Key learning aims (1) To understand that people with psychosis need access to trauma-focused CBT. (2) To be familiar with a simple attachment-based imagery task designed to foster ‘felt security’. (3) To learn that this task may facilitate imagery rescripting in people with psychosis.

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