Nationalism as a structural obstacle to democratization of Bosnia and Herzegovina society

The aim of this paper is to investigate the intensity and dispersion of nationalism among young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina at two time points - in the period of late socialism (1989) and in the period of consolidated post-socialist transformation (2012). In addition, our intention is to investigate the determinants of nationalism in the socialist and post-socialist period and compare them to determine whether there are different mechanisms of generating nationalism in two different systems of social reproduction, or they are in fact active long-term factors lasting longer than various social systems. The starting premise is that nationalism was not widespread in the period of socialism, and that its expansion and deep rooting started in the Post-Daytonian Bosnia and Herzegovina society. This creates a structural obstacle to the transition from formal to higher form of democracy (the so-called effective democracy). In the empirical part of the research, we rely on instruments for measuring nationalism that have been used on several occasions in empirical research in Serbia and Croatia. The data we use was collected in the survey called ?Social Structure and Quality of Life?, conducted in 1989 in all the republics of Yugoslavia, and the ?Value Orientation and Attitude Towards Social Changes?, conducted in 2012 in the Doboj region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data in these two surveys is completely comparable.

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Life Outcomes of Anterior Temporal Lobectomy

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/neu.0000000000000145 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 73 (6) ◽

pp. 1018-1025 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jana E. Jones ◽

Jacquelyn B. Blocher ◽

Daren C. Jackson

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Independent Living ◽

Temporal Lobectomy ◽

Life Outcomes ◽

Financial Independence ◽

Anterior Temporal Lobectomy ◽

Time Points

Abstract BACKGROUND: At 3 time points, this study examined long-term psychosocial life outcomes of individuals who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy in comparison with individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy who were medically managed. OBJECTIVE: To examine seizure frequency, employment, driving, independent living, financial independence, mental health, and quality of life at each follow-up assessment, as well as predictors of outcomes. METHODS: All participants were diagnosed with medically intractable complex partial seizures of temporal lobe origin with or without secondary generalization. A structured clinical interview was used at all 3 time points. Information was obtained regarding seizure frequency, antiepilepsy medications, employment, driving status, financial assistance, and independent living. Additionally, questions regarding quality of life, satisfaction with surgery, and the presence of depression or anxiety were included. Participants were, on average, 17 years postsurgery. RESULTS: Surgery resulted in significantly improved and sustained seizure outcomes. At the first, second, and third follow-ups, 67%, 72%, and 67% of participants in the surgery group remained seizure-free in the year before the follow-up interview. At each follow-up, 97%, 84%, and 84% reported that they would undergo surgery again. Seizure freedom predicted driving outcomes at all 3 time points, but was not a significant predictor for employment, independent living, or financial independence. Psychosocial life outcomes in the surgical group were improved and maintained over time in comparison with the medically managed group. CONCLUSION: This systematic long-term investigation provides strong support for the positive impact of anterior temporal lobectomy on psychosocial life outcomes including driving, employment, independent living, and financial independence.

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Tapering of prescribed opioids in patients with long-term non-malignant pain (TOPIO)—efficacy and effects on pain, pain cognitions, and quality of life: a study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial with a 12-month follow-up

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-021-05449-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Grelz Henrik ◽

Midlöv Patrik ◽

Håkansson Anders ◽

Jakobsson Ulf ◽

Rivano Fischer Marcelo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Control Group ◽

Time Points ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Pain Cognitions ◽

Opioid Tapering

Abstract Background Opioids are still widely prescribed to long-term pain patients although they are no longer recommended for long-term treatments due to poor evidence for long-term efficacy, risks of serious side effects, and the possibility of inducing opioid hyperalgesia. In a Cochrane study from 2017, the authors identified an urgent need for more randomized controlled trials investigating the efficiency and effects of opioid tapering. The study aimed to assess (1) the efficiency of a structured intervention in causing stable reductions of opioid consumption in a population with long-term non-malignant pain and (2) effects on pain, pain cognitions, physical and mental health, quality of life, and functioning in response to opioid tapering. Methods The study is a randomized controlled trial. The sample size was set to a total of 140 individuals after estimation of power and dropout. Participants will be recruited from a population with long-term non-malignant pain who will be randomly allocated to (1) the start of tapering immediately or (2) the control group who return to usual care and will commence tapering of opioids 4 months later. A 12-month follow-up is included. When all follow-ups are closed, data from the Swedish drug register of the National Board of Health and Welfare will be collected and individual mean daily opioid dose in morphine equivalents will be calculated at three time points: baseline, 4 months, and 12 months after the start of the intervention. At the same time points, participants fill out the following questionnaires: Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ-8), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and RAND-36. At baseline and follow-up, a clinical assessment of opioid use disorder is performed. Discussion A better understanding of the efficiency and effects of opioid tapering could possibly facilitate attempts to taper opioid treatments, which might prove beneficial for both the individual and society. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03485430. Retrospectively registered on 26 March 2018, first release date. “Tapering of Long-term Opioid Therapy in Chronic Pain Population. RCT with 12 Months Follow up (TOPIO).” First patient in trial 22 March 2018.

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Thinking Beyond Language: Intervention for Severe Aphasia

Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders ◽

10.1044/nnsld19.1.15 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 15-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nina Simmons-Mackie

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Communication Training ◽

Language Intervention ◽

Specific Training ◽

Environmental Support ◽

Total Communication ◽

Communication Partners

Abstract Purpose: This article addresses several intervention approaches that aim to improve life for individuals with severe aphasia. Because severe aphasia significantly compromises language, often for the long term, recommended approaches focus on additional domains that affect quality of life. Treatments are discussed that involve increasing participation in personally relevant life situations, enhancing environmental support for communication and participation, and improving communicative confidence. Methods: Interventions that have been suggested in the aphasia literature as particularly appropriate for people with severe aphasia include training in total communication, training of communication partners, and activity specific training. Conclusion: Several intervention approaches can be implemented to enhance life with severe aphasia.

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