Companions in the Abyss: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study of an Online Therapy Group for Healthcare Providers Working During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction:In the context of the global pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19), healthcare providers (HCPs) have experienced difficult moral and ethical dilemmas. Research is highlighting the importance of moral injury (MI)–a trauma syndrome related to transgressing personal morals and values–in understanding the psychological harm and occupational impairment experienced by HCPs. To date, MI treatments have largely been developed for military personnel and veterans and rely on in-person one-on-one psychotherapy.Purpose:This project aims to explore the feasibility and acceptability of an evidence-informed online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based group therapy for MI in HCPs called “Accepting Moral Pain and Suffering for Healthcare Providers” (AMPS-HCP).Method:This feasibility and acceptability study included three separate phases with the first two phases focused on the development of the psychotherapeutic intervention and the third phase focused on the evaluation of the psychotherapeutic intervention. Eight participants (including registered nurses, practical nurses and respiratory therapists) completed seven 90-min sessions in an online group format. The focus of these sessions included ACT and MI psychoeducation and experientials. Qualitative semi-structured interview data was thematically analyzed while demographic and quantitative self-reported outcome data underwent descriptive analysis and non-parametric testing.Results:Results show that the intervention was highly feasible and acceptable to healthcare providers who worked on the frontline during COVID-19. Feasibility (referrals, eligibility, retention, participation engagement) was strong (8 out of 10 participants; 80% vs. desired >70% eligibility) and overall, 80% of participants completed 71% of the intervention. Data further supported the applicability and acceptability of the intervention. Preliminary data suggests that AMPS-HCP may supports HCPs to address MI.Discussion:This study is the first to report on the development and evaluation of an online MI group intervention for registered nurses, registered practical nurses, and respiratory therapists working during COVID-19. Results showed the use of both the online and group components of the intervention were acceptable and feasible during the third wave of COVID-19.

Clinical - Psychological and Psychotherapeutic Intervention

The purpose of this work was to general familiarize psychiatrists with various aspects and directions of psychotherapeutic methods. It is common knowledge that most couple psychiatrists ignore the value of psychotherapy. This article indicates the importance of psychotherapy in the practice of psychiatrists. A good knowledge of psychotherapeutic methods is necessary for modern and high-quality provision of mental health care to the population.

Criticism in the Parkinson’s Caregiving Relationship: A Key Target for Intervention

Introduction: Caregiver distress is prevalent in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and predictive of negative health outcomes for both people with PD and caregivers. To identify future intervention targets, it is important to better elucidate the specific processes, such as criticism, that perpetuate burden. Objective: Evaluate the frequency and impact of criticism and reactivity to criticism in PD caregiving dyads. Methods: Eighty-three people with PD and their caregivers independently completed measures of criticism and physical and emotional health. Results: Criticism in the caregiving relationship was reported by 71.1% (n = 59) of people with PD and 80.7% (n = 67) of caregivers. Both perceived criticism and emotional reactivity to criticism were significant predictors of caregiver distress, adjusting for PD motor and non-motor symptom severity. In contrast, criticism was not related to PD depression. Conclusion: Criticism in the PD caregiving relationship is a clear target for psychotherapeutic intervention and may improve caregiver health and quality of life.

Behavioral Activation (BA) in the Management of Depression in an Adolescent with Down Syndrome in Dubai

Depression has been commonly treated with psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy for several decades. Ongoing research in the field has suggested promise for behavioral activation (BA), a form of psychotherapeutic intervention, as a means of increasing engagement in adaptive activities and developing skills to counter avoidance in individuals suffering from depression. In this case report, we present the treatment course of BA for an adolescent with Down syndrome (DS), presenting with depression. A multidisciplinary approach was utilized in developing a personalized management plan for the patient since the initial presentation. Sessions at the outpatient psychiatry clinic alternated between in-person visits and virtual ones, due to circumstances associated with physical distancing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents were included as integral parts of the management plan, and education, strategic implementation of BA, and barriers to care were discussed extensively to support the adolescent through the course of her treatment. Within 6 weeks of introducing BA, positive outcomes were noted in the patient, with the resolution of her clinical depression. In this report, we discuss BA further as a potentially effective therapeutic approach to the treatment of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with DS and intellectual disabilities.

Comparative Effect of Traditional Counseling Intervention and Positive Energy Psychotherapeutic Intervention on Positive Mental Health of Adolescents

The study aimed to investigate the comparative effect of positive energy psychotherapeutic intervention and traditional psychotherapeutic intervention on positive mental health of adolescent. For this study independent group design was used. The sample of 60 respondents 30(50%) male and 30(50%) female with the age range (18 to 23) years was taken from Riphah International University from November 11, 2019 to September 1, 2020. Total sample was equally divided into three groups. Two groups were experimental (PEP & TPT) and one was control group. Results of One-Way ANOVA revealed that positive energy psychotherapeutic intervention was more effective in enhancing positive mental health as compared to traditional psychotherapeutic intervention.

CAMINHANDO COM O PSICODRAMA ON-LINE

The general objective of this article is to contextualize Psychodrama in the online psychotherapeutic intervention model, and the specific objective is to demonstrate the viability of online psychodramatic care with adults from the description of sociatric sessions through this modality. The psychodramatic resources used in the highlighted sociatric sessions are Dramatic Games, Internal Psychodrama, Relationship Psychotherapy and Bipersonal Psychodrama with dramatization in an open scene. The results obtained confirm that Psychodrama breaks the need for face-to-face psychotherapy for sociatrics to occur, opening space for new paths.

Psychotherapeutic Interventions in Emotional and Behavioural Problems with Adolescents

Children undergo a variety of interrelated changes in their adolescence and at times most children exhibits difficult behaviours. The problem becomes more severe in adopted children because such status of adoption affects various aspects of the developing personality. Feeling of rejection in early childhood generates a tendency of insecurity and fear in these children and to overcome from these beliefs they adopt aggressive behaviour. Psychotherapy with adolescents is different in a number of substantive ways from adults, because an adolescent is a person who is no longer a child but is not yet an adult. They are special population for whom psychotherapeutic intervention needs to be customized considering the emotional and behavioural exigencies. Identification and changing unhealthy thoughts and behaviours is the central idea of CBT and is becoming the treatment of choice for children and adolescents. The chapter deals with application of CBT in adolescent.