Implementing Mobile HRV Biofeedback as Adjunctive Therapy During Inpatient Psychiatric Rehabilitation Facilitates Recovery of Depressive Symptoms and Enhances Autonomic Functioning Short-Term: A 1-Year Pre–Post-intervention Follow-Up Pilot Study

Abstract Introduction: Depressive and anxiety disorders are considered the main cause of emotional suffering and decrease of quality of life among older adults. It has been suggested that the practice of physical exercise can be a treatment option for anxiety and depression. Alternative approaches such serious games show promise for reducing depression symptoms. Objective: To compare the effect of virtual reality, in the form of commercially available interactive Kinect Adventures video games, compared to a standard physical exercise program on depressive symptoms of older adults. Method: This is a pilot study, parallel group, single-blind randomized controlled pilot trial that recruited two intervention groups: Interactive Video Game Kinect Adventures (IVG, n=8) versus usual physical exercise program (PEP, n=6). The two groups completed a seven week program with a total of fourteen 60-minute sessions divided into two sessions a week. The IVG completed individual training sessions using the Microsoft Xbox Kinect Adventures games and the PEP performed a group exercise program. Depression symptoms were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). This measure was assessed pre-intervention, post intervention and at 30-day follow-up. Results: There was a significant effect of assessment without group effect or interaction between factors, in the GDS-15 (RM-ANOVA, P < 0.0001). Both groups showed improvement in the GDS-15 post intervention assessment that was maintained after 30-day follow-up (Bonferroni post hoc test, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that both Interactive Kinect Adventures video games and physical exercise provide beneficial effects on depressive symptoms of older adults.

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Cathartic Effect of Suicide Attempts Not Limited to Depression

Crisis ◽

10.1027//0227-5910.24.2.73 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 73-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Yves Sarfati ◽

Blandine Bouchaud ◽

Marie-Christine Hardy-Baylé

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Rating Scales ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

World Health ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Short Term

Summary: The cathartic effect of suicide is traditionally defined as the existence of a rapid, significant, and spontaneous decrease in the depressive symptoms of suicide attempters after the act. This study was designed to investigate short-term variations, following a suicide attempt by self-poisoning, of a number of other variables identified as suicidal risk factors: hopelessness, impulsivity, personality traits, and quality of life. Patients hospitalized less than 24 hours after a deliberate (moderate) overdose were presented with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression and Impulsivity Rating Scales, Hopelessness scale, MMPI and World Health Organization's Quality of Life questionnaire (abbreviated versions). They were also asked to complete the same scales and questionnaires 8 days after discharge. The study involved 39 patients, the average interval between initial and follow-up assessment being 13.5 days. All the scores improved significantly, with the exception of quality of life and three out of the eight personality traits. This finding emphasizes the fact that improvement is not limited to depressive symptoms and enables us to identify the relative importance of each studied variable as a risk factor for attempted suicide. The limitations of the study are discussed as well as in particular the nongeneralizability of the sample and setting.

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Aromatherapy with ylang ylang for anxiety and self-esteem: a pilot study

Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP ◽

10.1590/s0080-623420140000300015 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 492-499 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Juliana Rizzo Gnatta ◽

Patricia Petrone Piason ◽

Cristiane de Lion Botero Couto Lopes ◽

Noemi Marisa Brunet Rogenski ◽

Maria Júlia Paes da Silva

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Essential Oil ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Physiological Parameters ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Temperature Method ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Perception Of Self ◽

Cutaneous Application

Objective: To verify if the use of ylang ylang essential oil by cutaneous application or inhalation alters the anxiety and self-esteem perception and physiological parameters as blood pressure and temperature. Method : A pilot study with 34 professionals from a nursing group randomized in three groups: one received the ylang ylang essential oil by cutaneous application, the second received through inhalation and the third (placebo) received the ylang ylang essence through cutaneous application. The assessment was done by an Anxiety Inventory (IDATE) and the Dela Coleta self-esteem scale, applied on baseline, after 30, 60 and 90 days and after 15 days post-intervention (follow up). Results : In the pre and post-intervention intergroup analysis, there was a significant difference in self-esteem for the three groups (p values: G1=0.014; G2=0.016; G3=0.038). There were no differences in the analysis between groups for anxiety or for physiological parameters. Conclusion : It was found significant alterations only to the intergroup perception of self-esteem for the three groups. 

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Effect of an occlusal splint on sleep bruxism in children in a pilot study with a short-term follow up

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies ◽

10.1016/j.jbmt.2013.01.001 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 418-422 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Lilian Chrystiane Giannasi ◽

Israel Reis Santos ◽

Thays Almeida Alfaya ◽

Sandra Kalil Bussadori ◽

Luis Vicente Franco de Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Sleep Bruxism ◽

Occlusal Splint ◽

Short Term

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Developing a reliable and cost-effective follow-up programme after a short-term head and neck reconstructive mission in Ethiopia: a pilot study

British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.10.124 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (10) ◽

pp. e175

Author(s):

Daniel Bradley ◽

Calum Honeyman ◽

Vinod Patel ◽

Julian Zeolla ◽

Lucy Lester ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Short Term

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Effects of the Digital Game “Fit, Food, Fun” on Nutritional Knowledge: A Pilot Study among German Children and Adolescents

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1017/s0029665120004747 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽

Author(s):

Sophie Laura Holzmann ◽

Hanna Schaefer ◽

Georg Groh ◽

David Alexander Plecher ◽

Gudrun Klinker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Digital Health ◽

Potential Effect ◽

P Value ◽

Nutritional Knowledge ◽

Short Term ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Lifestyle Behaviour ◽

The Mean

AbstractIntroduction:Serious games are a novel and entertaining approach for digital health education in the younger population. Aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of the serious game “Fit, Food, Fun” (FFF) among a subset of children and adolescents in Germany with regard to nutritional knowledge.Materials and Methods:Two Bavarian secondary schools were each allocated to one intervention arm. The gameplay intervention (gameplay group; GG) consisted of a 15-minute gameplay session for each of three days (Tuesday to Thursday), while the teaching intervention (teaching group; TG) was performed as a 15-minute classic lecture for the same number of days. Given nutritional information was based on the recommendations of the “German Nutrition Society e.V.” and was identical for both intervention groups. Nutritional knowledge was evaluated through a standardised questionnaire at baseline (Monday) and post-intervention (Friday). Lifestyle behaviour (diet; physical activity) and anthropometrics (height; weight) were assessed once at baseline. Inclusion criteria were sufficient German language skills and parental consent form. Statistical analyses were performed using the statistical software R (R Core Team, 2018).Results:In total, 47 students (62% male) were assigned to the GG and 47 students (72% male) to the TG. The mean age was 13.5 years in the GG and 12.8 years in the TG. The mean body mass index was in the normal range (GG: 24.4 kg/m2; TG: 22.0 kg/m2). Data at baseline and post-intervention are analysed for 36 participants in the GG and for 40 participants in the TG. Compared to baseline, results revealed significant improvements (p-value < 0.001) in nutritional knowledge in both intervention groups. There was a between-group difference with significantly (p-value = 0.0139) higher increase of nutritional knowledge in the TG.Discussion:This pilot study provides evidence for the short-term efficacy of both game-based and traditional education approaches on the improvement of nutritional knowledge; however, further research in warranted to assess the potential effect of a digital gameplay intervention on nutritional behaviour. Finally, the FFF game might be considered as an appropriate educational tool for imparting nutritional knowledge in an entertaining and effective format among children and adolescents.

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New Scheme of Intermittent Benznidazole Administration in Patients Chronically Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: a Pilot Short-Term Follow-Up Study with Adult Patients

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00745-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 60 (2) ◽

pp. 833-837 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

María Gabriela Álvarez ◽

Yolanda Hernández ◽

Graciela Bertocchi ◽

Marisa Fernández ◽

Bruno Lococo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Adverse Effects ◽

Liver Enzymes ◽

Main Criterion ◽

Short Term ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

End Of Treatment ◽

Chronic Chagas Disease

ABSTRACTThere is a clinical need to test new schemes of benznidazole administration that are expected to be at least as effective as the current therapeutic scheme but safer. This study assessed a new scheme of benznidazole administration in chronic Chagas disease patients. A pilot study with intermittent doses of benznidazole at 5 mg/kg/day in two daily doses every 5 days for a total of 60 days was designed. The main criterion of response was the comparison of quantitative PCR (qPCR) findings prior to and 1 week after the end of treatment. The safety profile was assessed by the rate of suspensions and severity of adverse effects. Twenty patients were analyzed for safety, while qPCR was tested for 17 of them. The average age was 43 ± 7.9 years; 55% were female. Sixty-five percent of treated subjects showed detectable qPCR results prior to treatment of 1.45 (0.63 to 2.81) and 2.1 (1.18 to 2.78) parasitic equivalents per milliliter of blood (par.eq/ml) for kinetoplastic DNA (kDNA) qPCR and nuclear repetitive sequence satellite DNA (SatDNA) qPCR, respectively. One patient showed detectable PCR at the end of treatment (1/17), corresponding to 6% treatment failure, compared with 11/17 (65%) patients pretreatment (P= 0.01). Adverse effects were present in 10/20 (50%) patients, but in only one case was treatment suspended. Eight patients showed mild adverse effects, whereas moderate reactions with increased liver enzymes were observed in two patients. The main accomplishment of this pilot study is the promising low rate of treatment suspension. Intermittent administration of benznidazole emerges a new potential therapeutic scheme, the efficacy of which should be confirmed by long-term assessment posttreatment.

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Randomised controlled trial of the new short-term online emotion focused training for self-compassion and self-protection in a nonclinical sample

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-018-9933-4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 333-343 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Júlia Halamová ◽

Martin Kanovský ◽

Karolína Varšová ◽

Nuriye Kupeli

Keyword(s):

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Clinical Population ◽

Control Group ◽

Short Term ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Self Protection

AbstractThe Emotion Focused Training for Self-Compassion and Self-Protection (EFT-SCP) is an intervention developed to increase skills of self-compassion and protective anger with the aim to decrease self-criticism. This novel intervention was developed on the basis of the latest findings on self-criticism from Emotion-focused therapy and previous programs cultivating compassion (namely Compassion Mind Training and Mindful Self-Compassion Program). According to existing research, simply cultivating self-compassion is not always sufficient in reducing self-criticism. Therefore, the EFT-SCP was designed to build self-compassion whilst developing protective anger to combat self-criticism. Our goal was to investigate the efficacy of this new, short-term, online EFT-SCP program in a non-clinical population. A randomized control trial was conducted with pre- and post-intervention measurements and two-month follow-up of self-compassion and self-criticism/reassurance. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants through a snowballing technique on social media. A total of 123 participants were randomly allocated to the EFT-SCP intervention or to a control condition. The intervention group were instructed through emails to complete an EFT-SCP task every day for 14 consecutive days. The control group did not complete any tasks. Out of 123 participants, 31 from intervention group and 20 from control group completed all measurements. There was a significant effect of the EFT-SCP on increasing self-compassion and self-reassurance scores as reported at two-month follow-up. The EFT-SCP was also effective at reducing self-uncompassionate responding and self-criticism (specifically Hated self) with changes evident at two months post-intervention. These findings are encouraging and suggest that interventions designed to enhance self-compassion and decrease self-criticism can be delivered to broader populations without the direct contact with mental health professionals.

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Bereavement in Very Old Age: Impact on Health and Relationships of the Loss of a Spouse, a Child, a Sibling, or a Close Friend

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.2190/om.60.4.a ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 60 (4) ◽

pp. 301-325 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Christian J. Lalive d'Epinay ◽

Stefano Cavalli ◽

Luc A. Guillet

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Functional Status ◽

Old Age ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Great Majority ◽

Close Friend ◽

Short Term ◽

Very Old ◽

Very Old Age

This article deals with the following two questions: In very old age, which are the main sources of bereavement? And what are the consequences of such losses on health and on relationships? The findings are based on the complete set of data compiled in the course of the Swiss Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on the Oldest Old (SWILSOO), which provided a 10-year follow-up of a first cohort (1994–2004) and a 5-year follow-up of a second (1999–2004). The data revealed that, in very old age, the great majority of the dear ones who died were either siblings or close friends. Taken as a whole, the bereaved suffered a marked and lasting increase in depressive symptoms, together with a short-term deterioration in their functional status; those bereft of a spouse or a child saw their functional status worsen and exhibited enduring depressive symptoms but they also benefited from support in the form of increased interaction; those bereft of siblings only suffered from a mild, short-term deterioration in functional status; those who had lost a close friend suffered a very significant increase in depressive symptoms. In the medium term, most of these effects disappeared, lending weight to the claim that the survivors manage to cope with the misfortunes of life.

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A pilot study of a brief intervention program (RECHARGE) to reduce sleep-wake and circadian rhythm disturbances in youth being treated for depression

International Journal of Neuroscience and Research ◽

10.31829/2578-4870/ijnr2017-1(1)-102 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 1-12

Keyword(s):

Circadian Rhythm ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Program Outcomes ◽

Sleep Rhythms ◽

Wake Patterns ◽

Circadian Preference

Aim: Sleep-wake and circadian rhythm disturbances are linked to the emergence and persistence of depression in youth. However, few youth-specific interventions have been developed to address this in clinical settings. We aimed to test the efficacy of a novel program targeted at sleep-wake and circadian rhythm problems in youth with depression. Methods: Adolescents and young adults with depression and sleep-wake disturbances were invited to join the 8-week RECHARGE program. Outcomes of interest were pre- to postintervention changes in self-reported sleep-wake patterns and circadian preference, actigraphy recordings of circadian sleep rhythms, and depressive symptoms. Results: 10 individuals completed the RECHARGE program showed modest improvements in self-reported sleep-wake patterns and circadian rhythmicity as measured by actigraphy; however these did not explain a significant portion of the variance in post-intervention depression scores. Conclusions: Modest trends for some sleep-wake and circadian parameters indicate that future investigation of a modified RECHARGE program is merited.

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