scholarly journals Does Psychedelic Therapy Have a Transdiagnostic Action and Prophylactic Potential?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Kočárová ◽  
Jiří Horáček ◽  
Robin Carhart-Harris
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Predictive Processing ◽  
Major Advance ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Psychotherapeutic Approach ◽  
Therapeutic Context

Addressing global mental health is a major 21st-century challenge. Current treatments have recognized limitations; in this context, new ones that are prophylactic and effective across diagnostic boundaries would represent a major advance. The view that there exists a core of transdiagnostic overlap between psychiatric disorders has re-emerged in recent years, and evidence that psychedelic therapy holds promise for a range of psychiatric disorders supports the position that it may be transdiagnostically effective. Here, we propose that psychedelic therapy's core, transdiagnostically relevant action lies in its ability to increase neuronal and mental plasticity, thus enhancing the potential for change, which we consider to be a key to its therapeutic benefits. Moreover, we suggest that enhanced plasticity via psychedelics, combined with a psychotherapeutic approach, can aid healthy adaptability and resilience, which are protective factors for long-term well-being. We present candidate neurological and psychological markers of this plasticity and link them with a predictive processing model of the action of psychedelics. We propose that a model of psychedelic-induced plasticity combined with an adequate therapeutic context has prophylactic and transdiagnostic potential, implying that it could have a broad, positive impact on public health.

The impact of intergenerational programs on children and older adults: a review

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Rosaria Gualano ◽  
Gianluca Voglino ◽  
Fabrizio Bert ◽  
Robin Thomas ◽  
Elisa Camussi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Intergenerational Programs ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Final Selection ◽  
Reporting Data

ABSTRACTBackground:Elderly are at particular risk of social isolation. This condition significantly affects health; on the contrary, social involvement can be extremely advantageous. In this context, intergenerational programs improve interactions between different ages. Then, we conducted a review regarding intergenerational programs, to summarize the effects of these activities on both elderly and children.Methods:Our review followed the PRISMA statements. We considered papers reporting data about intergenerational programs involving children (preschool and elementary) and elderly.Results:The final selection obtained 27 sources. Ten studies evaluated children's outcomes outlining the positive impact of intergenerational programs upon children's perception of elderly. The effects on older participants were variegated considering well-being, depression, self-reported health, and self-esteem. Moreover, the retrieved studies outlined the importance of a careful organization and of a specific training for all staff members. The staff involved in similar programs appeared, overall, highly satisfied.Discussion:The positive impact on children of intergenerational programs is proved at both short- and long-term. Moreover, despite the different outcomes considered and the variable results, these programs resulted overall beneficial on elderly participants. Finally, similar activities resulted feasible even in case of older adults with dementia.

scholarly journals Conventional Habitual Nutritional Changes can lead to the Several Health Condition Disorders

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-150
Author(s):  
Nasim Habibzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Early Death ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Conventional Foods ◽  
Brown Bread ◽  
Specific Culture ◽  
Regulatory Functions

Nutrition is a well-balanced of nutrients for good – health and overall healthy life. Conventional foods are thefoods that is devoted to each country or specific culture which differ from one to another. However,maintaining the habitual dietary is not always possible. Thus, at a particular period of time changing the traditional diets due to the, cultural, social, economic and environmental factors impacts can be a real challenge. Consequently, alteration in traditional or conventional diets can lead to the ill-health conditions or an early death. Changing the traditional habit and replacing it with modern diet can seriously impairs body physiological regulatory functions at different body organs. As result, short – term or long – term ill-health can be the outcome of consuming un-healthy diet in various unexpected states. Nonetheless, consuming habitual food is not always possible and so using a healthy and an uncomplicated food (i.e., a piece of brown bread with cheese, vegetable and some fruits) can have positive impact on overall health and general well-being this kind of the occasions. Individual also are needed to be educated from early life that required worldwide andglobal attempts.

scholarly journals Psilocin acutely disrupts sleep and affects local but not global sleep homeostasis in laboratory mice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Thomas ◽  
Cristina Blanco-Duque ◽  
Benjamin Bréant ◽  
Guy M. Goodwin ◽  
Trevor Sharp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Slow Wave Activity ◽  
Sleep Homeostasis

AbstractSerotonergic psychedelic drugs, such as psilocin (4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), profoundly alter the quality of consciousness through mechanisms which are incompletely understood. Growing evidence suggests that a single psychedelic experience can positively impact long-term psychological well-being, with relevance for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, including depression. A prominent factor associated with psychiatric disorders is disturbed sleep, and the sleep-wake cycle is implicated in the regulation of neuronal firing and activity homeostasis. It remains unknown to what extent psychedelic agents directly affect sleep, in terms of both acute arousal and homeostatic sleep regulation. Here, chronic in vivo electrophysiological recordings were obtained in mice to track sleep-wake architecture and cortical activity after psilocin injection. Administration of psilocin led to delayed REM sleep onset and reduced NREM sleep maintenance for up to approximately 3 hours after dosing, and the acute EEG response was associated primarily with an enhanced oscillation around 4 Hz. No long-term changes in sleep-wake quantity were found. When combined with sleep deprivation, psilocin did not alter the dynamics of homeostatic sleep rebound during the subsequent recovery period, as reflected in both sleep amount and EEG slow wave activity. However, psilocin decreased the recovery rate of sleep slow wave activity following sleep deprivation in the local field potentials of electrodes targeting medial prefrontal and surrounding cortex. It is concluded that psilocin affects both global vigilance state control and local sleep homeostasis, an effect which may be relevant for its antidepressant efficacy.

scholarly journals Life101 Enhances Healthy Lifestyle Choices in Pre-Health Undergraduate Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 41-58
Author(s):  
Mahtab Jafari ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Stress levels in college students are increasing at an alarmingly fast pace. To combat this rising tide, universities need effective tools to promote student well-being and help them to recognize and manage their stress. One approach is to teach students basic lifestyle skills to cope with stress and achieve wellness. This is important as it not only increases students’ retention within a chosen field of study, but assists them to achieve personal and academic success. To inspire our undergraduate students to adopt healthy lifestyle choices, a once-weekly course titled “Life101” was developed with topics that focused on students’ wellness such as stress management, emotional intelligence, financial management, nutrition, and exercise. Classes were taught through a combination of lecture, multimedia videos, and discussions. Here, we share our observational findings outlining the potential benefits (short- and long-term) for students participating in Life101. Based on pre- and post-course survey data from students, both in-class and online, Life101 had a significant positive impact on the lifestyle of our students. The main outcomes from this study were: 1) both in-class and online courses resulted in positive lifestyle changes in our students; 2) online students showed greater mastery of course topics compared to their in-class peers; and 3) long-term benefits from the course were reported after a one-year follow-up. Although, this collective positive impact may suggest that offering Life101 to undergraduate students can serve to improve students’ mental and physical health, a prospective study is needed to confirm these findings.

scholarly journals Psychiatric emergency admissions during and after COVID-19 lockdown: short-term impact and long-term implications on mental health

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Ambrosetti ◽  
Laura Macheret ◽  
Aline Folliet ◽  
Alexandre Wullschleger ◽  
Andrea Amerio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Psychiatric Emergency ◽  
Psychomotor Agitation ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The ‘lockdown’ measures, adopted to restrict population movements in order to help curb the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, contributed to a global mental health crisis. Although several studies have extensively examined the impact of lockdown measures on the psychological well-being of the general population, little is known about long-term implications. This study aimed to identify changes in psychiatric emergency department (ED) admissions between two 8-week periods: during and immediately after lifting the lockdown. Methods Socio-demographic and clinical information on 1477 psychiatric ED consultations at the University Hospital of Geneva (HUG) were retrospectively analyzed. Results When grouped according to admission dates, contrary to what we expected, the post-lockdown group presented with more severe clinical conditions (as measured using an urgency degree index) compared to their lockdown counterparts. Notably, after the lockdown had been lifted we observed a statistically significant increase in suicidal behavior and psychomotor agitation and a decrease in behavior disorder diagnoses. Furthermore, more migrants arrived at the HUG ED after the lockdown measures had been lifted. Logistic regression analysis identified diagnoses of suicidal behavior, behavioral disorders, psychomotor agitation, migrant status, involuntary admission, and private resident discharge as predictors of post-lockdown admissions. Conclusions Collectively, these findings can have implications concerning the prioritization of mental health care facilities and access for patients at risk of psychopathological decompensation in time of confinement policies, but above all, provide a foundation for future studies focusing on the long-term impact of the pandemic and its associated sanitary measures on mental health. Trial registration Research Ethics Committee of Geneva, Registration number 2020–01510, approval date: 29 June 2020.

Art Activities in Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 000841742110644
Author(s):  
Evelyne Durocher ◽  
Janet Njelesani ◽  
Emily Crosby
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Art Activities ◽  
Health And Well Being

Background: Outcomes of using art in therapy overlap with goals of occupational therapy with older adults in long-term care, which include improving and maintaining health and well-being through engagement in occupations. There is a lack of evidence about how art activities could complement or inform occupational therapy. Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review is to map existing literature about how art activities are used in long-term care. Methods: Six electronic databases were searched. Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria and were analyzed to identify patterns and discrepancies. Findings: The analysis suggests art activities can contribute to well-being by improving mood, promoting communication and reminiscence, and supporting the development and deepening of social relationships. Implications: Occupational therapists should consider incorporating art activities as these offer therapeutic benefits and can be adapted to individual strengths and preferred type and level of participation.

scholarly journals Sand Dams as a Potential Solution to Rural Water Security in Drylands: Existing Research and Future Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Ritchie ◽  
Jessica A. Eisma ◽  
Alison Parker
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Harvesting Technique

Sand dams, a rainwater harvesting technique, are small dams constructed across ephemeral streams. During the rainy season, water is stored in the sand that accumulates behind the dam. Sand dams provide communities in drylands with water during the dry season via scoop holes, pools, and shallow wells. Whilst many studies portray sand dams as a positive solution to the growing threat of dryland water insecurity, others highlight their challenges, including poor water quality, evaporation and leakage from some dams, and the contested failure rate and ability of dams to provide water year-round. This article reviews the peer-reviewed and gray literature on sand dams discovered through Scopus and Google Scholar searches, reference lists, and personal contacts. Findings from the collected literature were reviewed and categorized into sand dam hydrology, health and well-being impacts, economic cost and benefits, and water quality topics. In most numerical simulations, sand dams supply water to the local community throughout much of the dry season and exhibit a long-term positive impact on groundwater. Accounts of water storage and loss based on field measurements, conversely, often show that most water is lost due to evapotranspiration and seepage from the sand reservoir rather than community use. Furthermore, the positive impact on local groundwater storage, while variable, is likely seasonal. Sand dams are relatively affordable to build; construction estimates range from 6,000 to 8,500 EUR. However, existing literature suggests that sand dams are likely not a cost-efficient means of supplying water. Nevertheless, successful sand dams can significantly increase water availability and use, whilst reducing traveling time for water collection, subsequently providing a host of secondary benefits from improved hygiene, economic opportunity, and education. Positive impacts, however, are not equally shared and depend on variables, such as abstraction method, catchment, and household location. Furthermore, their water quality is variable, with high microbiological levels detected especially in scoop holes. Whilst sand dams can increase water security and resilience, they may not be an inclusive solution for all. More research is needed to assess the long-term sustainability of sand dams while accounting for the uncertainty of a changing climate.

scholarly journals The impact of diet during early life and its contribution to later disease: critical checkpoints in development and their long-term consequences for metabolic health

2009 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. Symonds ◽  
Sylvain P. Sebert ◽  
Helen Budge
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Maternal Diet ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Large Animal Models ◽  
The Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Leptin Sensitivity ◽  
The Impact

Changes in maternal diet at different stages of reproduction can have pronounced influences on the health and well-being of the resulting offspring, especially following exposure to an obesogenic environment. The mechanisms mediating adaptations in development of the embryo, placenta, fetus and newborn include changes in the maternal metabolic environment. These changes include reductions in a range of maternal counter-regulatory hormones such as cortisol, leptin and insulin. In the sheep, for example, targeted maternal nutrient restriction coincident with the period of maximal placental growth has pronounced effects on the development of the kidney and adipose tissue. As a consequence, the response of these tissues varies greatly following adolescent-onset obesity and ultimately results in these offspring exhibiting all the symptoms of the metabolic syndrome earlier in young adult life. Leptin administration to the offspring after birth can have some long-term differential effects, although much higher amounts are required to cause a response in small compared with large animal models. At the same time, the responsiveness of the offspring is gender dependent, which may relate to the differences in leptin sensitivity around the time of birth. Increasing maternal food intake during pregnancy, either globally or of individual nutrients, has little positive impact on birth weight but does impact on liver development. The challenge now is to establish which components of the maternal diet can be sustainably modified in order to optimise the maternal endocrine environment through pregnancy, thus ensuring feto–placental growth is appropriate in relation to an individual's gender and body composition.

Improving Feeding Outcomes in the NICU: Moving From Volume-Driven to Infant-Driven Feeding

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 68-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine S. Shaker
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Dynamic Systems ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Dynamic Systems Theory ◽  
Feeding Problems ◽  
Care Giving ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
Extremely Preterm Infants

Current research on feeding outcomes after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) suggests a need to critically look at the early underpinnings of persistent feeding problems in extremely preterm infants. Concepts of dynamic systems theory and sensitive care-giving are used to describe the specialized needs of this fragile population related to the emergence of safe and successful feeding and swallowing. Focusing on the infant as a co-regulatory partner and embracing a framework of an infant-driven, versus volume-driven, feeding approach are highlighted as best supporting the preterm infant's developmental strivings and long-term well-being.

Intraindividual Variability and Stability of Affect and Well-Being

GeroPsych ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Röcke ◽  
Annette Brose
Keyword(s):  
Age Differences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Regulatory Processes ◽  
Functional Implications ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
Underlying Processes

Whereas subjective well-being remains relatively stable across adulthood, emotional experiences show remarkable short-term variability, with younger and older adults differing in both amount and correlates. Repeatedly assessed affect data captures both the dynamics and stability as well as stabilization that may indicate emotion-regulatory processes. The article reviews (1) research approaches to intraindividual affect variability, (2) functional implications of affect variability, and (3) age differences in affect variability. Based on this review, we discuss how the broader literature on emotional aging can be better integrated with theories and concepts of intraindividual affect variability by using appropriate methodological approaches. Finally, we show how a better understanding of affect variability and its underlying processes could contribute to the long-term stabilization of well-being in old age.

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