scholarly journals Open-Label Placebo Interventions With Drinking Water and Their Influence on Perceived Physical and Mental Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Rathschlag ◽  
Stefanie Klatt
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Pain Treatment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
The Other ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Treatment Level ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Performance Capability ◽  
Mental Well Being

In recent years, the postulation that deception is necessary for placebos to have an effect on pain relief or increased well-being has come into question. Latest studies have shown that an openly administered mock drug works just as well as a deceptively administered placebo on certain complaints. This open-label placebo effect has primarily been used in the area of pain treatment so far. This study is the first to examine the effect of such placebos on healthy individuals with the use of drinking water. In two experiments, participants were required to use certain specified water bottles for their daily drinking water consumption. At the beginning of Experiment 1, all participants (N = 68) received one bottle of water, which they were asked to refill themselves each day during a 2-week intervention period. In Experiment 2, participants (N = 75) received a new sealed water bottle every day. In both experiments, participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: no treatment (control group CG), open-label placebo without rationale (OPR–), open-label placebo with rationale (OPR+), and open-label placebo with additional rationale in a suggested relaxed state (group OPR++). We conducted baseline and post-treatment measurements of the subjective perceived physical and mental well-being of the participants. In Experiment 1, only the OPR++ group reported enhanced vitality at the post-treatment level compared to the other groups. In Experiment 2, post-treatment measurements showed improvements for the OPR++ group in the Physical Performance Capability, Mental Performance Capability, Emotional Balance, Overall Recovery, Negative Emotional State, and Overall Stress categories compared to the other groups. Our results support the idea that placebos with an additional rationale in a suggestive relaxed state are more effective than with just a rationale in a normal state. Furthermore, our study shows the tendency that OLP++ in the form of water with health claims may be more effective when the water is given in several sealed bottles separately than in one sealed but refillable bottle.

Efficacy of ‘Foundations’, a Digital Mental Health App to Improve Mental Well-Being, during COVID-19: A Proof-of-Principle Randomised Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvina Catuara-Solarz ◽  
Bartlomiej Skorulski ◽  
Inaki Estella ◽  
Claudia Avella-Garcia ◽  
Sarah Shepherd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
World Health ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Proof Of Principle

BACKGROUND Against a long-term trend of increasing demand, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global rise in common mental disorders. Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for scalable, evidence-based interventions to support mental well-being. OBJECTIVE The aim of this proof-of-principle study was to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile-based app in adults with self-reported symptoms of anxiety and stress in a randomised control trial that took place during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. METHODS Adults with mild to severe anxiety and moderate to high levels of perceived stress were randomised to either the intervention or control arm. Participants in the intervention arm were given access to the app, Foundations, for the duration of the 4-week study. All participants were required to self-report a range of validated measures of mental well-being (10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience scale [CD-RISC-10]; 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]; Office of National Statistics Four Subjective Well-being Questions [ONS-4]; World Health Organisation-5 Well-Being Index [WHO-5]) and sleep (Minimal Insomnia Scale [MISS]) at baseline and weeks 2 and 4; and, in addition, on perceived stress weekly (10-item Perceived Stress Score [PSS]). RESULTS 136 participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis. The intervention group (n=62) showed significant improvements compared to the control group (n=74) on measures of anxiety (GAD-7 score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -1.35 [SD 4.43]; control group: -0.23 [SD 3.24]; t134= 1.71 , P=.04), resilience (CD-RISC score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: 1.79 [± SD 4.08]; control group: -0.31 [± SD 3.16]; t134 -3.37, P<.001), sleep (MISS score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -1.16 [± SD 2.67]; control group: -0.26 [± SD 2.29]; t134= 2.13, P=.01), and mental well-being (WHO-5 score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: 1.53 [5.30]; control group: -0.23 [± SD 4.20]; t134= -2.16, P=.02) within 2 weeks of using Foundations, with further improvements emerging at week 4. Perceived stress was also reduced within the intervention group, although the results did not reach statistical significance relative to the control group (PSS score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -2.94 [± SD 6.84]; control group: -2.05 [± SD 5.34]; t134= 0.84, P=.20). CONCLUSIONS This study provides proof-of-principle that the digital mental health app, Foundations, can improve measures of mental well-being, anxiety, resilience, and sleep within 2 weeks of use, with greater effects after 4 weeks. It therefore offers potential as a scalable, cost-effective, and accessible solution to enhance mental well-being, even during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the best vaccination regimen against Gumboro disease, based on the histopathologic lesions of bursa of Fabricius, in broilers

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
B. BOUYIOUKLIS (Π. ΜΠΟΥΓΙΟΥΚΛΗΣ) ◽  
S. LEKKAS (Σ. ΛΕΚΚΑΣ) ◽  
I. GEORGOPOULOU (Ι. ΓΕΩΡΓΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ) ◽  
P. IORDANIDIS (Π. ΙΟΡΔΑΝΙΔΗΣ)
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Disease Virus ◽  
Vaccine Strain ◽  
The Other ◽  
Field Strain ◽  
Bursa Of Fabricius ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Vaccination Regimen ◽  
Experimental Animals ◽  
Gumboro Disease

For the evaluation of the best vaccination regimen against Gumboro disease using the vaccine strain D-78, based on the histopathologic lesions of bursa of Fabricius, 5 groups of experimental animals (A, B, C, D, E) of 15 chicks each were used. The chicks of group Β received the D-78 vaccine strain with the drinking water at the age of 14 days, those of C at the age of 8 and 11 days, and those of D at the age of 8 and 16 days, while the chicks of the other groups (A and E) remained unvaccinated. In the following, the chicks of the A, B, C and D groups were infected with a field strain of Gumboro disease virus, while those of E remained unvaccinated and uninfected as a control group. After 10 days, all chicks were killed and their bursae examined histological. It was established that the histopathologic lesions to the bursae of group C chicks were of a slighter degree than those of all the other challenged groups and therefore the protection to bursa of Fabricius against the disease is better with this vaccination regimen.

scholarly journals Acceptability of a physiotherapeutic pain school treatment in trauma-affected populations in the Middle Eastern & Northern African region

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 43-60
Author(s):  
Anne-Mette Karrer ◽  
Ane Kirstine Viller Hansen ◽  
Linda Nordin ◽  
Marie-Louise Drivsholm Oestergaard
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Treatment Effects ◽  
Pain Treatment ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Treatment Manual ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Final Conclusion ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Building Program ◽  
And Training

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of a physiotherapeutic pain treatment (Pain School), focusing on patient education, physical exercises and self-reliance, and a capacity building program developed for MENA based physiotherapists working with pain and trauma-affected populations.Method: The perceived benefits and challenges of the physiotherapy Pain School treatment were evaluated through qualitative interviews with seven physiotherapists participating in the Pain School training program. The acceptability and feasibility of the treatment manual and training program of the physiotherapists was evaluated. The preliminary results of the Pain School treatment were also analyzed with a paired-sample t-test pre- and post-treatment in 38 patients suffering from persistent pain and trauma-related stress in the MENA region. Results: The qualitative analysis showed good feasibility and high acceptance among the participating physiotherapists of this physiotherapeutic treatment and training program. The pre- to post-treatment evaluation of Pain School, also gave an indication of positive treatment effects. Monitoring and evaluation of treatment was found useful, but indications of mental health status were evaluated to be missing. Due to other limitations, such as author biases (authors carrying out training, interviews and analyzing qualitative results) and no control group, the results from this study do not provide a final conclusion on the training program nor treatment effects. Nevertheless, this study is an important first step to offer evidence-based standardized treatment for pain and trauma-affected populations in the MENA region.

Transgender Youth and Social Support: A Survey Study on the Effects of Good Relationships on Well-being and Mental Health

Young ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-216
Author(s):  
Katarina Alanko ◽  
Heidi Lund
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gender Conflict ◽  
Transgender Youth ◽  
Mental Well Being

Positive gender-supportive relationships have been found to promote well-being of transgender youth. The present study investigates how the quality of relationships to parents, friends and partners affects the mental well-being of transgender youth. An online survey was used for data collection. The sample consisted of 1,613 Finnish youth between 15 and 25 years of age. Youths who were identified as a transgender ( n = 370) were compared to cisgender (= no gender conflict, n = 1,243, mostly sexual minority youth) on measures of relationship quality and positive well-being. Transgender youth reported poorer well-being and relationships to parents than the control group did. Relationship quality predicted well-being of all participants, and there were no significant interactions between gender identity and relationship quality. Social support is important for transgender youth and has an impact on the well-being of youth regardless of gender identification.

scholarly journals Justice Sensitivity and Mental Well-Being among Male Juvenile Offenders

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.B. Astanina
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Offenders ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Other ◽  
Justice Sensitivity ◽  
Mental Well Being

The research explores the link between mental well-being and justice sensitivity among male juvenile offenders. 171 adolescents aged from 13 to 18 years (82 offenders and 89 law-abiding adolescents) were interviewed. The following methods were used: Justice Sensitivity Inventory (M. Schmitt), including 4 scales which measures justice sensitivity from different roles, and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale. Revealed, that offenders were significantly more sensitive to justice than law-abiding adolescents. Mental well-being of offenders is positively associated with all types of justice sensitivity: victim sensitivity, as well as the other three roles– observer sensitivity, beneficiary sensitivity, perpetrator sensitivity, which are the components of prosocial justice sensitivity. In the group of law-abiding adolescents significant relationship among mental well-being and justice sensitivity was not found.

scholarly journals Improve Management of Mental Well-being and Empathy in Chinese Medical Students: A Randomized Controlled Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Rong ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Zihao Dai ◽  
Jingli Gu ◽  
Weiying Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Chinese Medical Students ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Interventional Group ◽  
Mental Well Being

Abstract Background: The Chinese medical students suffer from high prevalent mental health-related issues and low empathy. Effective strategies to improve the situations are lacking. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of the well-designed interventional courses to enhance the mental health and empathy of the senior Chinese medical students. Methods: A total of 146 3rd and 4th year medical students were randomized to intervention group (n=74) and control group (n=72). A pilot study including 5 pre-clinical students and 5 interns was first carried out to determine the themes and contents of the interventional courses. The designed courses were delivered in the intervention group once a month for three times, while the control group had no specific intervention. Five self-assessment questionnaires including the General Self-Efficacy (GSE), Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 8 (SF-8), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Care Provider Student version (JSE-HPS) that separately evaluated the level of self-efficacy (SE), quality of life (QoL), depression, burnout, and empathy were completed by the students before and one month after the courses. Qualitative data were collected via e-mails two year after the intervention.Results: Compared to the control group, the interventional group showed significantly higher scores of the empathy (111.0 [IQR 102.0, 118.0] vs 106.0 [IQR 93.0, 111.5]; P = .01) and QoL (32.0 [IQR 28.0, 35.0] vs 29.5 [IQR 26.0, 34.0]; P = .04). The rate of depression was significantly decreased in the interventional group compared to that in the control group (13.5% vs 29.2%; Chi-square test, P = .02). However, no significant differences of self-efficacy (25.6 ± 4.8 vs 24.3 ± 6.3; P = .16) and burnout (27.0% vs 34.7%; Chi-square test, P = .31) were observed between the two groups.Conclusions: The well-designed interventional courses had a positive impact on the mental well-being and empathy in senior Chinese medical students, which may help provide novel information for incorporation into the medical school curriculum.

scholarly journals Fluctuations in mental well-being during Study Abroad

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-243
Author(s):  
Jean-Marc Dewaele ◽  
Livia Dewaele
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
The Other ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Large Fluctuations ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Apparent Stability

Abstract This mixed-methods study focuses on the effect of Study Abroad (SA) on the mental well-being of 33 Anglophone students who spent between four and twelve months in Francophone countries. It investigates the relationship between well-being and personality traits. Statistical analyses revealed no significant change in well-being between the start, the middle and the end of the SA. A closer look at individual patterns showed large fluctuations, with half of participants scoring higher and the other half scoring lower between the start and the middle of the SA. The narratives of three participants whose well-being scores increased most were not very different from the three participants whose well-being scores decreased most, and only (lower) Emotional Stability was linked with the increase in well-being. At the group level, well-being was not significantly linked to personality traits. The apparent stability of well-being during SA seems to be the result of upward and downward patterns cancelling each other out.

scholarly journals Gratitude as Mood Mediates the Effects of a 6-Weeks Gratitude Intervention on Mental Well-Being: Post hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernst Bohlmeijer ◽  
Jannis Kraiss ◽  
Marijke Schotanus-Dijkstra ◽  
Peter ten Klooster
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multiple Mediation ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Gratitude Intervention ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Gratitude Interventions

There is a gap of knowledge about the extent to which gratitude is indeed the working mechanism of change in gratitude interventions aiming to promote mental well-being. This study explores the mediational role of gratitude as mood in the context of a recently conducted randomized controlled trial on the effects of a 6-week gratitude intervention on mental well-being in comparison with a waitlist control group. Gratitude as mood was measured at 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Both simple and multiple mediation models were conducted as well as various sensitivity analyses. Results showed a gradual increase of gratitude as mood during the intervention. The effects of the 6-week gratitude intervention on mental well-being were mediated by increases of gratitude as mood at 4 weeks but not at 2 weeks. These findings suggest a dose-response relationship for gratitude interventions, but more research is warranted.

scholarly journals Analysis of Pain and Analgesia Protocols in Acute Cerulein-Induced Pancreatitis in Male C57BL/6 Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattea Durst ◽  
Theresia Reding Graf ◽  
Rolf Graf ◽  
Mareike Kron ◽  
Margarete Arras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Pancreatitis ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Acute Pain ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Experimental Mouse ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites

Pancreatitis is known to be painful in humans and companion animals. However, the extent of pain in experimental mouse models of acute pancreatitis is unknown. Consequently, the severity classification of acute pancreatitis in mice is controversially discussed and standardized pain management is missing. In this study, we investigated acute Cerulein-induced pancreatitis with pain-specific and well-being orientated parameters to detect its impact on mice. Male C57BL/6J male mice were injected with Cerulein; animals that received saline injections served as control group. The animals were observed for weight change and water intake. To assess pain, behaviors like stretch-and-press and reduced rearing, the Mouse Grimace Scale, and von Frey hypersensitivity were assessed. Fecal corticosterone metabolites and burrowing behavior were assessed to detect changes in the animal’s well-being. Pancreatitis severity was evaluated with amylase and lipase in the blood and pancreas histology. To investigate whether different analgesics can alleviate signs of pain, and if they influence pancreas inflammation, animals received Buprenorphine, Paracetamol in combination with Tramadol, or Metamizole in the drinking water. The calculated intake of these analgesics via drinking reached values stated to be efficient for pain alleviation. While pancreatitis did not seem to be painful, we detected acute pain from Cerulein injections that could not be alleviated by analgesics. The number of inflammatory cells in the pancreas did not differ with the analgesic administered. In conclusion: (1) Cerulein injections appear to be acutely painful but pain could not be alleviated by the tested analgesics, (2) acute pancreatitis induced by our protocol did not induce obvious signs of pain, (3) analgesic substances had no detectable influence on inflammation. Nevertheless, protocols inducing more severe or even chronic pancreatitis might evoke more pain and analgesic treatment might become imperative. Considering our results, we recommend the use of Buprenorphine via drinking water in these protocols. Further studies to search for efficient analgesics that can alleviate the acute pain induced by Cerulein injections are needed.

scholarly journals Impact of Pre-Transplantation Psychological Counseling in Improving the Mental Well-Being of Patients on Hemodialysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianyun Zhao ◽  
Sen Zhang ◽  
Ran Yu
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Transplantation ◽  
Nursing Care ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Counseling ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mental Well Being

Background: Patients who are on hemodialysis (HD) and are waiting for kidney transplantation encounter various psychological issues.Objective: The current research aimed to compare the effectiveness of regular nursing care with that of nursing care coupled with dedicated psychological counseling in patients who were on HD before they underwent kidney transplantation.Methods: Baseline data were collected 1 month before kidney transplantation in patients of both the control (patients who received general nursing care between August 2011 and June 2015) and intervention (patients who received nursing care and psychological counseling between June 2015 and July 2018) groups. The Mental Status Scale in Non-Psychiatric Settings (MSSNS) was administered to assess and record the psychological status. Clinicodemographic and end-stage renal disease (ESRD)-related details, including duration of dialysis, causes for ESRD, the number of dialysis sessions performed before transplantation, and MSSNS scores, were recorded and compared between the groups.Results: A total of 37 patients were enrolled, including 19 in the control group and 18 in the intervention group. The number of dialysis sessions performed before transplantation was 143 (26, 564) and 227.5 (39, 767), and dialysis duration was 20.4 ± 14.5 and 14.4 ± 12.1 months in the intervention and control groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in baseline negative emotions between the two groups (P &gt; 0.05). The psychological intervention group reported significantly lower anxiety, depression, anger, and loneliness scores than the control group (P &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: Psychological counseling before kidney transplantation in patients on HD could reduce their negative emotions and enhance mental well-being.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document