scholarly journals Psychological and physiological effects of emotion focused training for self-compassion and self-protection

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Júlia Halamová ◽  
Jana Koróniová ◽  
Martin Kanovský ◽  
Mária Kénesy Túniyová ◽  
Nuriye Kupeli
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Active Control Group ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Self Protection

Emotion Focused Training for Self-Compassion and Self-Protection (EFT-SCP) is a novel intervention developed on the basis of the latest findings on self-criticism from Emotion-focused therapy and existing programs designed to cultivate compassion. EFT-SCP is designed to encourage participants to cultivate self-compassion and protective anger as a way of reducing selfcriticism. Our goal was to investigate the effect of this group-based intervention on self-criticism, self-protection, and self-compassion. A total of 73 students were assigned to the EFT-SCP intervention (n=19), no-treatment control (n=34) or to an active control group (n=20). The intervention group met weekly for 1.5 hours and were instructed to incorporate EFT-SCP tasks into their daily life for 12 weeks. Whilst the no-treatment group did not undergo an intervention, the active control group completed an adapted expressive writing task once a week. In addition to the assessment of heart rate variability during imagery tasks, participants also completed self-reported measures of self-compassion and self-criticism before and after the intervention. Compared with both control groups, the intervention group showed a significant increase in heart rate variability following EFT-SCP (during self-critical imagery, P=.049; probability of superiority was .63, and during self-compassionate imagery P=.007; probability of superiority was .62, both effect sizes were medium) and significant decreases in self-criticism (Hated Self P=.017; .34 and Inadequate Self P<.001; .33) and selfuncompassionate responding (P<.001; .39). All three effect sizes were small. Participating in EFT-SCP had a positive effect on psychological and physiological outcomes.

scholarly journals Heart rate variability is enhanced during mindfulness practice: A randomized controlled trial involving a 10-day online-based mindfulness intervention

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0243488
Author(s):  
Ulrich Kirk ◽  
Johanne L. Axelsen
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Cardiovascular Effects ◽  
Mindfulness Practice ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Active Control Group ◽  
Training Effects ◽  
Mindfulness Intervention

Objectives The goal of the present study was to probe the effects of mindfulness practice in a naturalistic setting as opposed to a lab-based environment in the presence of continuous heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. The specific experimental goals were to examine the effects of a brief 10-day online-based mindfulness intervention on both chronic and acute HRV responses. Method We conducted a fully randomized 10-day longitudinal trial of mindfulness practice, explicitly controlling for practice effects with an active-control group (music listening) and a non-intervention control group. To assess chronic cardiovascular effects, we asked participants in the 3 groups to complete 2-day HRV pre- and post-intervention measurement sessions. Using this experimental setup enabled us to address training effects arising from mindfulness practice to assess physiological impact on daytime as well as nighttime (i.e. assessing sleep quality) on the underlying HRV response. To assess acute cardiovascular effects, we measured HRV in the 2 active intervention groups during each of the 10 daily mindfulness or music sessions. This allowed us to track the development of purported training effects arising from mindfulness practice relative to the active-control intervention in terms of changes in the HRV slope over the 10-day time-course. Results Firstly, for the acute phase we found increased HRV during the daily practice sessions in both the mindfulness and active-control group indicating that both interventions were effective in decreasing acute physiological stress. Secondly, for the chronic phase we found increased HRV in both the day- and nighttime indicating increased sleep quality, specifically in the mindfulness group. Conclusion These results suggest causal effects in both chronic and acute phases of mindfulness practice in formerly naïve subjects and provides support for the argument that brief online-based mindfulness interventions exert positive impact on HRV.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Study on the Impact of First Steps—A Peer-led Educational Intervention for People Newly Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Soundy ◽  
Johnny Collett ◽  
Sophie Lawrie ◽  
Shelly Coe ◽  
Helen Roberts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Active Control Group ◽  
The Impact

Aim: The dual aim of this research was to consider the impact of providing the First Steps program on the stories of people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and to investigate the psychosocial and emotional mechanisms which may explain this impact. Methods: A qualitative study using a subtle realist paradigm and hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was undertaken. A single semi-structured interview was used to consider the impact and experiences of people with PD who completed either the intervention (2-day peer-led behavior intervention using storytelling 6–8 weeks apart) or received telephone support calls as part of the active control group. Descriptive statistics and a narrative analysis were undertaken on the results. Results: Forty-two participants were invited to participate, forty of whom completed the interview. This included 18 from the intervention group and 22 from the active control group. The intervention group identified the value of the program as worth-while, demonstrating improved exercise behavior and coping mechanisms following the intervention. Three major stories (the affirmed, the validated and the transformed story) identified the impact of the intervention. Three internal mechanisms (perceived control, hope and action, and the individual’s mind set) alongside three social mechanisms (social comparison, social control and the first opportunity to share with peers) appeared to explain this impact. Conclusion: This study provides exciting and novel evidence of the impact of a peer-led psycho-educational intervention for people newly diagnosed with PD. Further research is needed to consider the impact of stories-based approaches on participants and consider a critical evaluation of the mechanisms which may explain changes in stories and self-reported behaviour.

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

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 333-343 ◽  
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.

The Effects of the Medical Pause on Physiological Stress Markers among Health Care Providers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 019394592110276
Author(s):  
Ebru Cayir ◽  
Tim Cunningham ◽  
Ryne Ackard ◽  
Julie Haizlip ◽  
Jeongok Logan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
The Impact

Contemplative practices promote well-being, work engagement and resilience among health care providers. We examined the impact of The Pause, a brief contemplative intervention, on health care providers’ physiological stress response. Participants were randomly assigned to either The Pause or the control group. They participated in a high-fidelity, stressful medical simulation. Following the simulation, intervention group practiced The Pause. Outcome measures were heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure. We adjusted for baseline physiological variables, sociodemographic variables, self-care practices, and perceived stress. Participants in the intervention group had a standard deviation of the normal-to-normal RR intervals (heart rate variability indicator) that was 13.8 (95% CI 4.0, 23.5; p < .01) points higher than those in the control group. There were no significant effects of The Pause on heart rate or blood pressure. The Pause may reduce stress reactivity, increase heart rate variability, and enhance resilience in health care providers.

scholarly journals The effect of spinal manipulative therapy and home stretching exercises on heart rate variability in patients with persistent or recurrent neck pain: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Galaasen Bakken ◽  
Andreas Eklund ◽  
David M. Hallman ◽  
Iben Axén
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Neck Pain ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Spinal Manipulative Therapy ◽  
The Other ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Manipulative Therapy ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Stretching Exercises

Abstract Background Persistent or recurrent neck pain is, together with other chronic conditions, suggested to be associated with disturbances of the Autonomic Nervous System. Acute effects on the Autonomic Nervous System, commonly measured using Heart Rate Variability, have been observed with manual therapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect on Heart Rate Variability in (1) a combination of home stretching exercises and spinal manipulative therapy versus (2) home stretching exercises alone over 2 weeks in participants with persistent or recurrent neck pain. Methods A randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in five multidisciplinary primary care clinics in Stockholm from January 2019 to April 2020. The study sample consisted of 131 participants with a history of persistent or recurrent neck. All participants performed home stretching exercises daily for 2 weeks and were scheduled for four treatments during this period, with the intervention group receiving spinal manipulative therapy in addition to the home exercises. Heart Rate Variability at rest was measured at baseline, after 1 week, and after 2 weeks, with RMSSD (Root mean square of successive RR interval differences) as the primary outcome. Both groups were blinded to the other group intervention. Thus, they were aware of the purpose of the trial but not the details of the “other” intervention. The researchers collecting data were blinded to treatment allocation, as was the statistician performing data analyses. The clinicians provided treatment for participants in both groups and could not be blinded. A linear mixed-effects model with continuous variables and person-specific random intercept was used to investigate the group-time interaction using an intention to treat analysis. Results Sixty-six participants were randomized to the intervention group and sixty-five to the control group. For RMSSD, a B coefficient of 0.4 (p value: 0.9) was found, indicating a non-significant difference in the regression slope for each time point with the control group as reference. No statistically significant differences were found between groups for any of the Heart Rate Variability indices. Conclusion Adding four treatments of spinal manipulation therapy to a 2-week program of daily stretching exercises gave no significant change in Heart Rate Variability. Trial Registration: The trial was registered 03/07/2018 at ClinicalTrials.gov, registration number: NCT03576846. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31606042/)

Comparing Accelerometer and Self-Reported Treatment Effects in a Technology-Supported Physical Activity Intervention

2020 ◽  
pp. 109019812097119
Author(s):  
Whitney A. Welch ◽  
Caroline P. Groth ◽  
Siobhan M. Phillips ◽  
Bonnie Spring ◽  
Juned Siddique
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Measurement Methods ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Active Control Group ◽  
Intervention Effect

Background and Aims To estimate and compare the change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) between an accelerometer and technology-supported physical activity (PA) log across a 3-week PA intervention. Method Participants ( N = 204, 77% female, age = 33 ± 11 years, body mass index = 28.2 ± 7.1 kg/m2) were randomized to one of two activity-related intervention arms: (1) increase MVPA intervention or (2) decrease sedentary behavior active control. Participants wore an accelerometer while simultaneously completing a technology-based PA log every day for 5 weeks: a 2-week baseline assessment phase and a 3-week intervention phase. Bivariate linear mixed-effects models and correlations were used to characterize the relationship of MVPA between measurement methods throughout the intervention. Effect sizes were calculated to determine the intervention effect by measurement method. Results At baseline, PA log MVPA was 28 minutes greater than accelerometer-based minutes of MVPA in the active control group. This difference was 35 minutes (95% CI [23.7, 46.1]) greater at follow-up than at baseline measurement in the MVPA intervention group. In the active control group, there was a significant 16-minute (95% CI [6.0, 26.5]) increase between the two measures from baseline to follow-up. The intervention effect size based on the PA log was 0.27 (95% CI [0.14, 0.39]) and 0.42 (95% CI [0.28, 0.56]) when using the accelerometer. Discussion and Conclusions Our results indicate that PA log MVPA and accelerometer MVPA estimate significantly different minutes per day of MVPA. It is important researchers use caution when comparing MVPA intervention outcomes from different measurement methods.

Fish Consumption and Heart Rate Variability

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita L. Hansen ◽  
Lisbeth Dahl ◽  
Lene Bakke ◽  
Livar Frøyland ◽  
Julian F. Thayer
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Biological Marker ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

The present study investigates the impact of seafood intake on biological markers in blood such as the marine very long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), in addition to heart rate variability (HRV), which is an important biological marker of good health, both physical and mental. A total of 53 male inmates from a Norwegian prison were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups, although attrition reduced some comparisons at the end of the study to 13 (intervention group (n = 6) and control group (n = 7). The intervention group received seafood (mainly fatty fish, > 8% fat) for dinner three times per week for a period of 6 months. Both groups were requested to eat their usual diet provided by the prison. Blood samples were collected and HRV (high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) power) was measured before and after the study period. Overall, the intervention group showed significant increase in levels of 25(OH)D and HF-power, and a significant reduction in the sympathovagal balance (LF/HF). The present findings may have important implications with regard to health improvement.

Maximizing Cochlear Implant Outcomes with Short-Term Aural Rehabilitation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Marcus Bernstein ◽  
Diane Majerus Brewer ◽  
Matthew H. Bakke ◽  
Anne D. Olson ◽  
Elizabeth Jackson Machmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Study ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Active Control Group ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Aural Rehabilitation ◽  
Profound Deafness

Abstract Background Increasing numbers of adults are receiving cochlear implants (CIs) and many achieve high levels of speech perception and improved quality of life. However, a proportion of implant recipients still struggle due to limited speech recognition and/or greater communication demands in their daily lives. For these individuals a program of aural rehabilitation (AR) has the potential to improve outcomes. Purpose The study investigated the effects of a short-term AR intervention on speech recognition, functional communication, and psychosocial outcomes in post lingually deafened adult CI users. Research Design The experimental design was a multisite clinical study with participants randomized to either an AR treatment or active control group. Each group completed 6 weekly 90-minute individual treatment sessions. Assessments were completed pretreatment, 1 week and 2 months post-treatment. Study Sample Twenty-five post lingually deafened adult CI recipients participated. AR group: mean age 66.2 (48–80); nine females, four males; months postactivation 7.7 (3–16); mean years severe to profound deafness 18.4 (2–40). Active control group: mean age 62.8 (47–85); eight females, four males; months postactivation 7.0 (3–13); mean years severe to profound deafness 18.8 (1–55). Intervention The AR protocol consisted of auditory training (words, sentences, speech tracking), and psychosocial counseling (informational and communication strategies). Active control group participants engaged in cognitive stimulation activities (e.g., crosswords, sudoku, etc.). Data Collection and Analysis Repeated measures ANOVA or analysis of variance, MANOVA or multivariate analysis of variance, and planned contrasts were used to compare group performance on the following measures: CasperSent; Hearing Handicap Inventory; Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire; Client Oriented Scale of Improvement; Glasgow Benefit Inventory. Results The AR group showed statistically significant improvements on speech recognition performance, psychosocial function, and communication goals with no significant improvement seen in the control group. The two groups were statistically equivalent on all outcome measures at preassessment. The robust improvements for the AR group were maintained at 2 months post-treatment. Conclusion Results of this clinical study provide evidence that a short-term AR intervention protocol can maximize outcomes for adult post lingually deafened CI users. The impact of this brief multidimensional AR intervention to extend CI benefit is compelling, and may serve as a template for best practices with adult CI users.

scholarly journals Remotely delivered environmental enrichment intervention for traumatic brain injury: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e039767
Author(s):  
Zorry Belchev ◽  
Mary Ellene Boulos ◽  
Julia Rybkina ◽  
Kadeen Johns ◽  
Eliyas Jeffay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Spatial Navigation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Hippocampal Atrophy ◽  
Active Control Group ◽  
Navigation Group

IntroductionIndividuals with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (m-sTBI) experience progressive brain and behavioural declines in the chronic stages of injury. Longitudinal studies found that a majority of patients with m-sTBI exhibit significant hippocampal atrophy from 5 to 12 months post-injury, associated with decreased cognitive environmental enrichment (EE). Encouragingly, engaging in EE has been shown to lead to neural improvements, suggesting it is a promising avenue for offsetting hippocampal neurodegeneration in m-sTBI. Allocentric spatial navigation (ie, flexible, bird’s eye view approach), is a good candidate for EE in m-sTBI because it is associated with hippocampal activation and reduced ageing-related volume loss. Efficacy of EE requires intensive daily training, prohibitive within most current health delivery systems. The present protocol is a novel, remotely delivered and self-administered intervention designed to harness principles from EE and allocentric spatial navigation to offset hippocampal atrophy and potentially improve hippocampal functions such as navigation and memory for patients with m-sTBI.Methods and analysisEighty-four participants with chronic m-sTBI are being recruited from an urban rehabilitation hospital and randomised into a 16-week intervention (5 hours/week; total: 80 hours) of either targeted spatial navigation or an active control group. The spatial navigation group engages in structured exploration of different cities using Google Street View that includes daily navigation challenges. The active control group watches and answers subjective questions about educational videos. Following a brief orientation, participants remotely self-administer the intervention on their home computer. In addition to feasibility and compliance measures, clinical and experimental cognitive measures as well as MRI scan data are collected pre-intervention and post-intervention to determine behavioural and neural efficacy.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been obtained from ethics boards at the University Health Network and University of Toronto. Findings will be presented at academic conferences and submitted to peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberVersion 3, ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04331392).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document