scholarly journals A Qualitative Study Comparing the Experiences of the Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification Program with Multi-professional Psychiatric Treatment for Female Outpatients with Mild to Moderate Depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Julian Gross ◽  
◽  
Karin Matko ◽  
Jill Vennemann ◽  
Holger Carl Bringmann ◽  
...  

Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification (MBLM) is a complex eight-week mind-body intervention based on the traditional eight-fold path of classical yoga. MBLM was developed for mental health care, and it combines ethical living, physical yoga, and meditation. In this qualitative study, the subjectively perceived efficacy of MBLM was compared to the perceived efficacy of an individually tailored, multi-professional psychiatric treatment (MPT) in a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Twelve patients were interviewed for this study (six for each condition). All qualitative interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. In total, five main themes with associated subthemes emerged from the data: calmness, increased awareness, interpersonal relationships, depressive symptoms, and difficulties within the therapy. Moreover, our study showed significant differences between the two therapy groups. First, the groups differed regarding the frequency with which various topics were addressed by the patients. Second, the perceived effectiveness of both therapies (MBLM vs. MPT) varied according to descriptions of the perceived changes in each participant. The participants in the MBLM program generally appeared to experience a deeper emotional-experiential integration which contrasted with the more cognitive-behavioral processing of the MPT patients. These findings may guide further research and the implementation of similar complementary therapies in psychiatry.

Author(s):  
Shilo St. Cyr ◽  
Elise Trott Jaramillo ◽  
Laura Garrison ◽  
Lorraine Halinka Malcoe ◽  
Stephen R. Shamblen ◽  
...  

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a common feature in the lives of incarcerated women returning to rural communities, enhancing their risk of mental ill-health, substance use, and recidivism. Women’s experiences of IPV intersect with challenges across multiple social–ecological levels, including risky or criminalizing interpersonal relationships, geographic isolation, and persistent gender, racial, and economic inequities. We conducted quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with 99 incarcerated women in New Mexico who were scheduled to return to micropolitan or non-core areas within 6 months. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed separately and then triangulated to identify convergences and divergences in data. The findings underscore how individual and interpersonal experiences of IPV, substance use, and psychological distress intersect with broad social inequities, such as poverty, lack of supportive resources, and reluctance to seek help due to experiences of discrimination. These results point to the need for a more proactive response to the mutually constitutive cycle of IPV, mental distress, incarceration, and structures of violence to improve reentry for women returning to rural communities. Policy and treatment must prioritize socioeconomic marginalization and expand community resources with attention to the needs of rural women of color.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e044752
Author(s):  
Kaja Heidenreich ◽  
Anne-Marie Slowther ◽  
Frances Griffiths ◽  
Anders Bremer ◽  
Mia Svantesson

ObjectiveThe decision whether to initiate intensive care for the critically ill patient involves ethical questions regarding what is good and right for the patient. It is not clear how referring doctors negotiate these issues in practice. The aim of this study was to describe and understand consultants’ experiences of the decision-making process around referral to intensive care.DesignQualitative interviews were analysed according to a phenomenological hermeneutical method.Setting and participantsConsultant doctors (n=27) from departments regularly referring patients to intensive care in six UK hospitals.ResultsIn the precarious and uncertain situation of critical illness, trust in the decision-making process is needed and can be enhanced through the way in which the process unfolds. When there are no obvious right or wrong answers as to what ought to be done, how the decision is made and how the process unfolds is morally important. Through acknowledging the burdensome doubts in the process, contributing to an emerging, joint understanding of the patient’s situation, and responding to mutual moral duties of the doctors involved, trust in the decision-making process can be enhanced and a shared moral responsibility between the stake holding doctors can be assumed.ConclusionThe findings highlight the importance of trust in the decision-making process and how the relationships between the stakeholding doctors are crucial to support their moral responsibility for the patient. Poor interpersonal relationships can damage trust and negatively impact decisions made on behalf of a critically ill patient. For this reason, active attempts must be made to foster good relationships between doctors. This is not only important to create a positive working environment, but a mechanism to improve patient outcomes.


2021 ◽  
pp. bmjinnov-2020-000498
Author(s):  
Stephanie Aboueid ◽  
Samantha B Meyer ◽  
James R Wallace ◽  
Shreya Mahajan ◽  
Teeyaa Nur ◽  
...  

ObjectiveSymptom checkers are potentially beneficial tools during pandemics. To increase the use of the platform, perspectives of end users must be gathered. Our objectives were to understand the perspectives and experiences of young adults related to the use of symptom checkers for assessing COVID-19-related symptoms and to identify areas for improvement.MethodsWe conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 22 young adults (18–34 years of age) at a university in Ontario, Canada. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsWe identified six main themes related to the decision of using a symptom checker for COVID-19 symptoms: (1) presence of symptoms or a combination of symptoms, (2) knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms, (3) fear of seeking in-person healthcare services, (4) awareness about symptom checkers, (5) paranoia and (6) curiosity. Participants who used symptom checkers shared by governmental entities reported an overall positive experience. Individuals who used non-credible sources reported suboptimal experiences due to lack of perceived credibility. Five main areas for improvement were identified: (1) information about the creators of the platform, (2) explanation of symptoms, (3) personalised experience, (4) language options, and (5) option to get tested.ConclusionsThis study suggests an increased acceptance of symptom checkers due to the perceived risks of infection associated with seeking in-person healthcare services. Symptom checkers have the potential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems and health professionals, especially during pandemics; however, these platforms could be improved to increase use.


2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Asadollahi ◽  
Hamid Taher Neshat Doost ◽  
Mohammad Reza Abedi ◽  
Hamid Afshar Zanjani

Background: Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is a chronic problem that is more prevalent among women than men. Various studies have revealed that these people experience many problems in their interpersonal relationships, which increase their suffering. Objectives: The present study was done to identify how people suffering from PDD experience interpersonal relationships that often seem troubled and broken. Methods: A phenomenological approach was adopted for this qualitative study. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 individuals with PDD, focusing on exploring their experience and suffering in interpersonal relationships. All interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the transcripts were analyzed using Giorgi’s phenomenological descriptive method. Results: In general, five main themes and 16 sub-themes emerged. The main themes were: (1) Feeling empty of love and compassion; (2) feeling ignored; (3) ignoring others’ needs, conditions, and suffering; (4) feeling of being annoying to others; and (5) feeling confused and helpless in relationships. Conclusions: It seems that all five themes convey the message that these individuals demonstrate less skill in feeling compassion and receiving it from others. Therefore, it appears that long-term compassion-based interventions can effectively reduce the interpersonal suffering of these individuals. It should be noted that although these themes have commonalities in different cultural contexts, the culture can influence the content and intensity of these feelings.


Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Pelletier Beaumont ◽  
Jean Bergeron ◽  
Natalie Alméras ◽  
Angelo Tremblay ◽  
Paul Porier ◽  
...  

Numerous studies have demonstrated improvements in lipid and lipoprotein levels with endurance exercise training and weight loss. However, less is known about the contribution of the enzyme cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) to the response of lipoprotein levels to a physical activity/healthy eating lifestyle modification program. Objective: To examine the effect of a 1-year lifestyle modification program inducing loss of visceral adipose tissue on plasma CETP mass in abdominally obese dyslipidemic men. Methods: Plasma CETP mass concentration was measured by ELISA at baseline and after a 1-year lifestyle modification program in 116 abdominally obese men aged 30 to 65 years without diabetes. Visceral adiposity was assessed by computed tomography and a complete fasting plasma lipoprotein-lipid profile was also obtained at baseline and after the intervention. Results: After 1 year, no significant changes were observed in CETP mass (1.91±0.45 vs.1.93±0.49 mg/l, ns). However, both HDL (81.7±2.1 vs. 83.8±3.1 Å, p<0.0001) and LDL (252.1±3.9 vs. 253.6±3.7 Å, p<0.0001) particle sizes assessed by gradient gel electrophoresis were increased. Whereas no significant correlation between change in HDL size and CETP mass was observed, change in LDL size was significantly correlated with change in CETP mass (r=−0.30, p=0.001). We also divided men into two groups: men who showed no change or an increase in their CETP mass (ΔCETP≥0) and men who decreased their CETP mass (ΔCETP<0). Men who reduced their CETP mass after one year showed a greater increase in LDL size (Δ 2.37±3.18 vs.0.32±3.04 Å, p=0.0006) and a greater decrease in triglyceride levels (Δ-0.70±0.86 vs. −0.34±0.80 mmol/l, p=0.03) than men who showed no change or an increase in CETP mass. A Multivariate analysis revealed that 19% of the variance in the response of LDL size could be attributed to changes in triglyceride levels (15%) and in CETP mass (4%) (p=0.02). Conclusion: Whereas no significant change in CETP mass was observed, our results showed that individual variation in the response of CETP mass contributed to the response of LDL particle size to a 1-yr lifestyle modification program in viscerally obese dyslipidemic men.


2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 610-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diene Monique Carlos ◽  
Maria das Graças Carvalho Ferriani ◽  
Michelly Rodrigues Esteves ◽  
Lygia Maria Pereira da Silva ◽  
Liliana Scatena

Objective: Assess the understanding of adolescents regarding the social support received in situations of domestic violence. Method: A qualitative study with data collection carried out through focus groups with 17 adolescent victims of domestic violence, institutionally welcomed in Campinas-SP, and through semi-structured interviews with seven of these adolescents. Information was analyzed by content analysis, thematic modality. Results: Observing the thematic categories it was found that social support for the subjects came from the extended family, the community, the Guardianship Council, the interpersonal relationships established at the user embracement institution and from the religiosity/spirituality. Conclusion: The mentioned sources of support deserve to be enhanced and expanded. With the current complexity of the morbidity and mortality profiles, especially in children and adolescents, the (re)signification and the (re)construction of health actions is imperative.




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