Depression, Hope and Social Support Among Older People With Cancer: A Comparison of Muslim Palestinian and Jewish Israeli Cancer Patients

ObjectivesStudies of depression in older Muslim Palestinians diagnosed with cancer are scarce. To gain insight into the psychological response and coping ability of this very large, globally distributed population, we collected data from older Muslim Palestinian people diagnosed with cancer concerning depression hope and perceived social support. Both hope and social support were selected because they can be manipulated through intervention and education, as shown in the geriatric literature. Data were compared to data collected from older Jewish Israeli people diagnosed with cancer. DesignThe study sample comprised 143 Muslim Palestinian and 110 Jewish Israeli people diagnosed with cancer, aged >=65. All participants were either in treatment for active disease or within six months of such treatment. Self-administered measures included depression (the Five-Item Geriatric Depression Scale), perceived social support (Cancer Perceived Agents of Social Support Questionnaire) and hope (Snyder’s Adult Hope Scale). ResultsHope and depression were both found to be significantly higher among the Muslim Palestinian patients than in the Jewish Israeli participants. In both samples, higher levels of hope were associated with lower levels of depression, with this correlation stronger in the Jewish Israeli group. ConclusionTo improve the psychological wellbeing of patients, healthcare providers must exercise cultural sensitivity in their interactions, respecting the perspectives of both the patients and their families. Incorporating the concept of hope into the therapeutic dialogue and language may improve psychological wellbeing and synchronize the needs and expectations of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, resulting in more equitable, effective and value-oriented care.

Depression, Hope and Social support Among Older People with Cancer: A Comparison of Muslim Palestinian and Jewish Israeli Cancer Patients

Objectives: Studies concerning the psychosocial aspects of cancer diagnosis and treatment among older Muslim patients are scarce. The goal of this research was to compare depression, hope, and perceived social support between older Muslim Palestinians and Jewish Israelis diagnosed with cancer. Design: The study sample included 149 Muslim Palestinian and 122 Jewish Israeli cancer patients. Outcome measures: Self-administered measures of depression (5-Item Geriatric Depression Scale) and perceived social support (Cancer Perceived Agents of Social Support Questionnaire). Hope was measured via Snyder’s Adult Hope Scale and 6 specific hope items. Results: General hope was significantly higher among Muslim patients, specific hope items were significantly higher among Jewish patients, and depression was significantly higher among Muslim patients. Hope was the most significant predictor of depression in both samples, particularly among Jewish patients, with higher hope relating to lower depression. Conclusion: Healthcare providers should show cultural sensitivity and incorporate the perspectives of older cancer patients and their families in order to improve patients’ psychological well-being. The inclusion of the concept and language of hope within the therapeutic dialogue may improve psychological wellbeing and synchronize the needs and expectations of patients, caregivers, and health care professionals, resulting in more equitable and value-oriented care.

Affiliation in interpreter-mediated therapeutic talk

The aim of this article is to explore how affiliation (Stivers 2008) with the patient is displayed and interactionally achieved in the context of an interpreter-mediated therapeutic dialogue. More specifically, we focus on the interplay between affiliative listener responses – especially head nods – and gaze in this setting. Interpreter-mediated therapeutic talk is not only a setting that has received very little systematic scrutiny in the literature, but it is also particularly interesting for the study of listener responses. Drawing on the insights from Conversation Analysis, a naturally occurring interpreter-mediated therapeutic session was analysed that had been recorded using mobile eye-tracking technology. This approach allowed for a detailed analysis of the interlocutors’ synchronous gaze behaviour in relation to speech and head nods during the interaction. The results revealed differences in the interpreter’s and the therapist’s affiliative listener responses that were linked to the interactional goals of the encounter and to their social roles. Moreover, we found a strong relationship between mutual gaze and head nods as tokens of affiliation. Thus, these findings provide support for the inclusion of gaze in studies of interpreter-mediated dialogue and, more broadly, in the study of affiliation in social interaction.

Sounding as a Tool for Spiritual Awakening

This article introduces Sounding, a therapeutic, vocal technique that sings sounds (not words) and is largely improvisational. Sounding induces profound shifts of consciousness that lead to deep insights into emotionally-driven behaviour. This serves to help clients rebalance internal mental structures leading to calmness and stability. This article shows the importance of Sounding as a therapeutic technique that has a deep impact on both body and mind. Great care is needed in both one-on-one and group work to assess each client’s emotional and psychological status before going too deep. Having developed Sounding and its use with Yoga Nidra over a period of 15 years, I have grown into an understanding of the power of this work. With an individual, I would not introduce this until I have plenty of context and can understand and feel the client’s sensitivity and vulnerability so I can adjust the wording of the Yoga Nidra and the duration of Sounding to accommodate those sensitivities and vulnerabilities. In one-off group work, especially with people I have not met before, I keep this very light and relaxed so as not to go too deep with both the technique and subsequent therapeutic dialogue. This work is not for people who have fragile/unstable ego states. It needs a certain level of emotional and psychological resilience, which is why, if I am setting up an ongoing group, I will assess clients through an initial questionnaire and then a one-on-one interview. I describe how this technique was developed over the past 15 years since I first started using it during my MA research at CCPE in London in 2004. Various crucial aspects of yoga techniques and philosophy will be outlined that underpin my use of Sounding and how it works in conjunction with Western Transpersonal philosophy. Current scientific research into trauma and anxiety are also explored, and the way Sounding is of benefit in these areas is illustrated. I also look at common features Sounding has with meditation, the use of Ayahuasca, a traditional spiritual medicine, and Near Death Experiences (NDEs). KEYWORDS Koshas, Kleshas, Mind, Near Death Experiences (NDEs), Shamanism’s icaros, Sounding, Spiritual Awakening, Yoga Nidra, Yoga of Sound.