scholarly journals Effectiveness and Predictors of Outcome for Psychotherapeutic Interventions in Clinical Settings Among Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Gergov ◽  
Nina Lindberg ◽  
Jari Lahti ◽  
Jari Lipsanen ◽  
Mauri Marttunen

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions for clinically referred adolescents, as well as to examine whether sociodemographic, clinical, or treatment-related variables and patients’ role expectations predict treatment outcome or are possible predictors of treatment dropout.MethodThe study comprised 58 adolescents (mean age 14.2, 65.5% female) suffering from diverse psychiatric disorders referred to psychotherapeutic interventions conducted in outpatient care. The outcome measures, The Beck Depression Inventory, and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure were filled in at baseline and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Possible predictors were assessed at baseline.ResultsThe results indicate that the mean level of symptoms and psychological distress decreased during the treatment, most reduction occurring in the first 6 months. The frequency of treatment sessions was the strongest predictor of good outcome. Adolescents with a higher level of externalizing problems or lower level of expectations for their own active role in treatment seem to have a higher risk of dropping out.ConclusionOffering intensive treatment for a shorter period might be the most efficient way to gain symptom reduction and decrease psychological distress in psychotherapeutic interventions with adolescents. Being aware of externalizing behavior and increasing the adolescents’ own agency during the assessment could strengthen commitment and result in the adolescent benefiting more from treatment.

1970 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-77
Author(s):  
Rukshana Ahmed ◽  
Shamim Ara

Pathological changes in the prostate gland occur commonly with advancing age including inflammation, atrophy, hyperplasia and carcinoma and a change in volume is also evident. Estimation of volume of prostate may be useful in a variety of clinical settings. A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed to see the changes in volume of the prostate with advancing age and done in the Department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from August 2006 to June 2007. The study was performed on 70 post-mortem human prostates collected from the unclaimed dead bodies that were under examination in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka. The samples were divided into three age groups; group A (10-20 years), group B (21-40 years) and group C (41-70 years). Volume of the sample was measured by using the ellipsoid formula. The mean ± SD volume of prostate was 7.68 ± 3.64 cm3 in group A, 10.61 ± 3.99 cm3 in group B and 15.40 ± 6.31 cm3 in group C. Mean difference in volume between group A and group C, group B and group C were statistically significant (p<0.001). Statistically significant positive correlation was found between age and volume of prostate (r = + 0.579, p < 0.001). Key Words: Prostate; volume; Bangladeshi. DOI: 10.3329/imcj.v4i2.6501Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2010; 4(2): 74-77


Drones ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Jiwei Fan ◽  
Xiaogang Yang ◽  
Ruitao Lu ◽  
Xueli Xie ◽  
Weipeng Li

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and related technologies have played an active role in the prevention and control of novel coronaviruses at home and abroad, especially in epidemic prevention, surveillance, and elimination. However, the existing UAVs have a single function, limited processing capacity, and poor interaction. To overcome these shortcomings, we designed an intelligent anti-epidemic patrol detection and warning flight system, which integrates UAV autonomous navigation, deep learning, intelligent voice, and other technologies. Based on the convolution neural network and deep learning technology, the system possesses a crowd density detection method and a face mask detection method, which can detect the position of dense crowds. Intelligent voice alarm technology was used to achieve an intelligent alarm system for abnormal situations, such as crowd-gathering areas and people without masks, and to carry out intelligent dissemination of epidemic prevention policies, which provides a powerful technical means for epidemic prevention and delaying their spread. To verify the superiority and feasibility of the system, high-precision online analysis was carried out for the crowd in the inspection area, and pedestrians’ faces were detected on the ground to identify whether they were wearing a mask. The experimental results show that the mean absolute error (MAE) of the crowd density detection was less than 8.4, and the mean average precision (mAP) of face mask detection was 61.42%. The system can provide convenient and accurate evaluation information for decision-makers and meets the requirements of real-time and accurate detection.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehrdad Abdullahzadeh ◽  
Narjes Khosravi

Abstract PurposeThe family of leukemia patients, due to their caring role, often feel psychological distress. This paper describes the efficacy of a designed family-need-based program on relieving depression, anxiety, and stress of family caregivers of leukemia patients by meeting the specific psychological needs of caregivers.MethodsIn this clinical trial, 64 family caregivers of leukemia patients referring to a medical center in Iran were recruited by convenience sampling and divided into study and control groups randomly. The study group attended a designed need-based program. The control group did not receive the intervention. Stress, anxiety, and depression before, right after, and one month after the intervention in family caregivers were compared using DASS-42. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics; the significance level adopted was 5%.ResultsBefore the intervention, the mean score of depression, anxiety, and stress scale in both study and control groups showed no considerable difference (P > 0.05). After the intervention, the mean score of DASS-42 revealed a significant difference between the two groups and the study group did better on outcomes (P < 0.001).ConclusionThis family-need-based program can decrease the level of stress, anxiety, and depression of the family caregivers of leukemia patients and may potentially alleviate the psychological distress of family caregivers over their caring role.Trial registration number: IRCT2013093011895N2. Date of registration: 2014-05-06


Children ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Sung Hyun Kim ◽  
In Young Sung ◽  
Eun Jae Ko ◽  
Jieun Park ◽  
Nayoung Heo

This study aimed to evaluate the stress levels of caregivers and children with developmental disorders who were receiving rehabilitation treatment. The relationships between stress levels and factors such as early rehabilitation and home rehabilitation were quantified. Methods: This study was conducted in children with development disorders, aged from 1.5 years to 18 years, who were undergoing rehabilitation. The Korean version of the Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) and the Adult Self-Report (K-ASR) were used to evaluate stress levels in children and caregivers, respectively. Results: Questionnaires were provided to 150 caregivers who agreed to participate. However, only 76 copies of the K-CBCL and 75 copies of the K-ASR were collected. The mean K-CBCL and K-ASR t scores were in the normal range. The K-CBCL score correlated positively with the K-ASR score (p value < 0.5). K-CBCL externalizing problems score correlated positively with the age at the start of rehabilitation, and the K-CBCL and K-ASR externalizing problems scores correlated negatively with home treatment delivered by caregivers. Conclusions: Stress levels of children and caregivers were closely related. Home rehabilitation provided by caregivers reduced stress in both caregivers and children. Early rehabilitation did not impart additional psychological burden on caregivers or children.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moussa Chalah ◽  
Samar Ayache

Among the most prevalent psychiatric conditions stand anxiety and depression. Psychotherapy and medications are considered effective treatments in these clinical settings. However, pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy (i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)) administered in monotherapy or in a combined regimen do not result in satisfactory outcomes in all patients. Therefore, finding new treatments would be of great help. In the last three decades, noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has emerged as a safe tool to improve several neuropsychiatric symptoms. The following work revisits the available reports that assessed the add-on value of NIBS techniques when combined to psychotherapy (CBT or related interventions) in mood and anxiety disorders. The available protocols targeted the prefrontal cortex, a region that was previously found to have an enhanced activity or functional connectivity after psychotherapeutic interventions. Promising yet scarce evidence exists on this matter. A discrepancy exists among the available reports regarding the type and duration of interventions, the patients’ clinical profiles, and the presence of a sham intervention. NIBS may have acted by enhancing psychotherapy effects on the top-down cognitive control of emotions. Combining both therapies may result in promising effects, but future large-scale trials are needed to judge the utility of this combination in psychiatric populations.


2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 207-209
Author(s):  
Adam Moreton ◽  
Andrew Collier

Aims and methodTo determine the provision of teaching in psychiatry for foundation doctors up to the point of making specialty applications. Data for the cohort of foundation doctors entering training in 2010 were collected from teaching programmes across the Mersey Deanery and North Western Foundation Schools.ResultsIn the 17 hospitals that provided data, ‘protected teaching’ totalled 2354 h; 1.8% of time was dedicated to psychiatry, with 4 hospitals providing no teaching on mental health topics. The mean duration of psychiatry teaching was higher in university teaching hospitals (3 h 34 min) than district general hospitals (2 h 57 min); and almost a quarter of teaching sessions were titled only ‘psychiatry’.Clinical implicationsFor many foundation doctors their only experience of psychiatry will be through teaching sessions, and this is potentially the only time to change opinions and build interest in the specialty. Psychiatrists need to take a more active role in the provision of high-quality teaching for foundation doctors and become the visible role models which are currently lacking.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Hu ◽  
Maya M. Lapinski ◽  
Gavin Mischler ◽  
Robert H. Allen ◽  
Amir Manbachi ◽  
...  

Abstract Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, and effective interventions for addressing PPH are urgently needed. Uterine balloon tamponade (UBT) is a technique to control PPH. Commercially available UBT devices are expensive and frequently require imaging technology to ensure placement. Condom-catheter uterine tamponade (C-UBT) is a technique appropriate for low-resource settings. Testing of the C-UBT is needed to better understand and optimize this technique for use in a variety of clinical settings including low-resource contexts. We describe here the design, development, and bench-top validation of a reusable C-UBT device optimized for low-resource settings. The device was tested in three differently sized uterine models using a variety of condom balloon configurations. Intrauterine wall pressure application was measured to evaluate the device capacity to apply pressure of at least 90 mmHg, estimating the mean arterial pressure within the uterine vasculature. Bench-top experimental validation of pressure exerted in uterine models demonstrated the device's capability of reaching hemostatic pressure in uterine volumes ranging from 170 to 1740 mL. Device adaptability and versatility were shown through its ability to reach the target pressure of 90 mmHg in different uterine sizes by varying balloon parameters, including condom thickness and condom configuration. The results of this study show the potential of a low-cost, reusable C-UBT device optimized to treat PPH in a variety of clinical settings, including low-resource contexts.


SAGE Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824401881712
Author(s):  
Leila Amirpour ◽  
Mahboubeh Dadfar ◽  
Majid Heydari Charvadeh ◽  
Behrooz Birashk

Paranoid thought is one of the most common symptoms in psychiatric disorders. The Paranoia Checklist is a brief screening and diagnostic tool for clinical and subclinical paranoia. It has been used in research, clinical, and non-clinical settings. The Paranoia Checklist has not had its validity examined in university settings in Iran. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the validation of the Farsi version of Paranoia Checklist in a randomized cluster sample of 365 Iranian volunteer college students selected from the Payame Noor University of Mashhad in Iran. They completed the Paranoia Checklist, the General Paranoia Scale, and the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R). The mean score of the Paranoia Checklist was 35.50 ( SD = 7.21). The Cronbach’s α for the Paranoia Checklist was .87, indicating high internal consistency. The Paranoia Checklist correlated .42 with the General Paranoia Scale, .38 with the SCL-90-R subscales of Anxiety (ANX), Hostility (HOS), and Paranoia Ideation (PAR), and .37 with the Interpersonal Sensitivity (INTS), denoting moderate construct and criterion-related validity. The results of the factor analysis of the Paranoia Checklist identified three factors associated with the paranoid thoughts. The Paranoia Checklist has a multidimensional structure, and adequate validity and reliability. It can be used in the non-clinical, clinical, and research settings to measure paranoia in Iran.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 563-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Samuelsson ◽  
Lars C. Hydén

Nonverbal vocalizations in dementia are important clinically since they generally have been regarded as disruptive behavior that is disturbing. The aim of the present study is to describe the interactional pattern, including the prosodic package, of nonverbal vocalizations in a participant in a late stage of dementia. The acoustic analysis shows that the vocalizations do not differ significantly from the verbal utterances regarding mean fundamental frequency or pitch range. The mean fundamental frequency, F0, of the utterances from Anna was significantly higher than the mean F0 from the other elderly participants. The analysis demonstrates that there is a singing-like type of vocalizations that does not resemble the previously described patterns of nonverbal vocalizations. This pattern of the nonverbal vocalization does not resemble the intonation of Anna’s verbal utterances. The other participants perceive Anna’s vocalizations as potentially meaningful turns. Nonverbal vocalizations in clinical settings should be taken as communicative contributions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1333-1351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheryl L. Olson ◽  
Daniel Ewon Choe ◽  
Arnold J. Sameroff

AbstractPreventing problem behavior requires an understanding of earlier factors that are amenable to intervention. The main goals of our prospective longitudinal study were to trace trajectories of child externalizing behavior between ages 3 and 10 years, and to identify patterns of developmentally significant child and parenting risk factors that differentiated pathways of problem behavior. Participants were 218 3-year-old boys and girls who were reassessed following the transition to kindergarten (age 5–6 years) and during the late school-age years (age 10). Mothers contributed ratings of children's externalizing behavior at all three time points. Children's self-regulation abilities and theory of mind were assessed during a laboratory visit, and parenting risk (frequent corporal punishment and low maternal warmth) was assessed using interview-based and questionnaire measures. Four developmental trajectories of externalizing behavior yielded the best balance of parsimony and fit with our longitudinal data and latent class growth analysis. Most young children followed a pathway marked by relatively low levels of symptoms that continued to decrease across the school-age years. Atypical trajectories marked chronically high, increasing, and decreasing levels of externalizing problems across early and middle childhood. Three-year-old children with low levels of effortful control were far more likely to show the chronic pattern of elevated externalizing problems than changing or low patterns. Early parental corporal punishment and maternal warmth, respectively, differentiated preschoolers who showed increasing and decreasing patterns of problem behavior compared to the majority of children. The fact that children's poor effortful regulation skills predicted chronic early onset problems reinforces the need for early childhood screening and intervention services.


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