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Storylines of Family Medicine is a 12-part series of thematically linked essays with accompanying illustrations that explore the many dimensions of family medicine, as interpreted by individual family physicians and medical educators in the USA and elsewhere around the world. In 'V: ways of thinking-honing the therapeutic self', authors present the following sections: 'Reflective practice in action', 'The doctor as drug-Balint groups', 'Cultivating compassion', 'Towards a humanistic approach to doctoring', 'Intimacy in family medicine', 'The many faces of suffering', 'Transcending suffering' and 'The power of listening to stories.' May readers feel a deeper sense of their own therapeutic agency by reflecting on these essays.

Introduction: Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR) serve as an instrument for identifying and classifying specific psychosomatic syndromes that are not adequately encompassed in standard nosography. The present study aimed at measuring the prevalence of DCPR syndromes in different clinical settings and exploring factors associated to such diagnoses. Methods: A cross-sectional and nationwide study recruited 6,647 patients in different clinical settings: 306 were diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM), 333 with irritable bowel syndrome, 1,109 with migraine, 2,550 with coronary heart disease (CHD), and 2,349 with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Participants underwent DCPR diagnostic interview and were assessed for depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale), and subjective well-being (World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index). The PsychoSocial Index was used to evaluate global well-being, stress, and abnormal illness behavior. The prevalence of DCPR diagnoses was calculated, and factors associated to such diagnoses were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: Alexithymia (64.47%), irritable mood (20.55%), and demoralization (15.60%) were the most prevalent psychosomatic syndromes, with demoralization being most common in FM (49.02%). The factors associated to DCPR diagnoses encompassed high anxiety or abnormal illness behavior, and poor well-being. Notably, stress was found to be associated specifically to FM and T2D, with OR of 1.24 (95% CI: 1.06–1.46) and 1.26 (95% CI: 1.18–1.36), respectively. Conclusion: DCPR is a clinically helpful complementary assessment tool in need of being widely implemented in clinical settings in order to have a comprehensive picture of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Managing treatment and symptoms of chronic diseases without accepting the illness is challenging. This study aimed to determine the relationship between pain acceptance and the acceptance of illness in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: In this descriptive study of 123 people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), data were collected through a questionnaire. The questionnaire included a Patient Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ), and Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). Results: The mean chronic pain acceptance score of individuals with RA was 55.32 ± 12.96, and the mean acceptance of illness score was 25.00 ± 8.02. A statistically significant relationship existed between levels of pain measured by VAS and CPAQ (r = -0.184, P = .042). A statistically significant correlation existed between AIS and CPAQ total score (r = 0.284, P = .001). Conclusion: As the levels of pain acceptance increased in RA patients, the levels of pain decreased, and the levels of acceptance of the illness increased. Patients must first acknowledge and accept their illness to follow their treatment plan effectively. Considering that the pain acceptance of individuals diagnosed with RA affects the level of acceptance of illness, it is essential to evaluate patients' pain and disease acceptance processes and support patients to increase treatment success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited knowledge exists regarding patients' denial of myocardial infarction (MI) before hospitalization for an MI. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of denial of MI in the prehospital phase of a confirmed MI. Methods: This secondary analysis included 166 hospitalized patients (mean [SD] age, 54.1 [10.5] years) who developed MI outside a healthcare facility and had high congruence between their experienced and expected symptoms. Measurements included the Denial subscale of the Brief COPE Inventory, the modified Response to Symptoms Questionnaire, and a Likert scale measuring perceived risk for MI. Patients who arrived at a hospital at least 1 hour after the onset of their symptoms were considered to have prolonged prehospital delay. Results: Despite their high symptom congruence, 77% of patients denied the possibility of having an MI before hospitalization. The lower denial group was characterized by cardiac history, whereas the higher denial group was distinguished by nonsmoking, a lower perceived risk of MI, less anxiety at symptom onset, and more concerns about seeking medical help. Compared with the lower denial group, patients in the higher denial group were more likely to underestimate the seriousness of their symptoms and delay seeking medical help. The higher denial group responded to symptoms in a more passive manner (eg, waiting), whereas the lower denial group showed a more problem-solving approach (eg, contacting emergency services). Conclusions: Denial of MI is highly prevalent in the prehospital phase and is negatively linked with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to MI symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic pain often clusters in families, where parents and their offspring both experience chronic pain conditions. Young children of parents with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) represent an at-risk group for the development of abdominal pain, disability, and excess health care visits in later childhood. Parental solicitous responses to children's expressions of discomfort and maternal modeling of their own illness behavior contribute to a greater focus on somatic sensations, leading to illness behaviors in children. This randomized controlled trial will test the effectiveness of an early preventive web-based psychosocial intervention (REACH)[TM] vs. an educational web-based safety comparison condition delivered to parents with IBS to alter parental responses and lead to improved child health and decreased health care costs. Methods: Parents with IBS who have children ages 4–7 years are recruited via community-based approaches (e.g., social media advertisements, school electronic distribution, research networks) and health care providers. The target sample is 460 parents randomized to REACH, a web-based social learning and cognitive behavior therapy (SLCBT) intervention or an educational web-based safety comparison condition (EC). Participants will be assessed at baseline, 6-week (immediate post-intervention), 6-month, 12-month, and 18-month follow-up periods (months post-completion of intervention). The primary outcome is change in parental solicitous/protective behaviors. Secondary outcomes include parent risk and protective factors, child health and symptom outcomes, and health care utilization and cost savings. Discussion: This study adapts a validated, parent-delivered intervention to treat chronic pain in children to a web-based application designed to prevent the development of chronic pain in very young, high-risk children. If successful, this strategy can both prevent adverse sequelae of this condition from developing as well as be widely accessible. Furthermore, the availability of a prevention model for parent training could result in significant short- and long-term health benefits across a broad spectrum of conditions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05730491. Registered on February 15, 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Medicinae et Sociologica (AMS) is the property of University of Debrecen and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. Illness representations determine a patient's successful adaptation in the context of chronic somatic illness. Objective. The study had its purpose to investigate and compare the illness representations in the patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma. Study Participants. The study involved 109 respondents: 51 patients with acute leukemia aged 18 to 64 years (Mage = 35.12; SD = 12.90; 28 women) and 58 patients with lymphoma aged 19 to 64 years (Mage = 42.22; SD = 11.17; 41 women). Methods. The study implemented the following methods: “Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised” (IPQ-R), “Health Anxiety Inventory” (HAI), “Cognitions About Body and Health Questionnaire” (CABAH), and the “Scale of Assessment of Illness Behavior” (SAIB). Descriptive statistics and group comparison methods (Student's t-test) were used to process quantitative data. Results. A comparative analysis of the data obtained showed that patients with acute leukemia have more difficulty in identifying the disease, were more certain about the negative impact of the disease and its unstable course, were more likely to overestimate symptom severity, and paid more attention to implementing treatment- and medication-related behaviors compared to patients with lymphomas. Conclusion. The main targets of psychological work with patients with acute leukemia are their ideas about the disease identity, its unstable course and negative consequences, their tendency to overestimate the symptom severity and underestimate the importance of preventive behavior associated with treatment and medication. Common targets of psychological work with patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma are their ideas about the short-term course of the disease and negative emotional experiences about their disease.

Introduction: Longitudinal data on how acute respiratory illness (ARI) affects behavior, namely school or work participation, and nonpharmaceutical intervention (NPI) usage before and during the COVID-19 pandemic is limited. The authors assessed how ARIs and specific symptoms affected school, work, and health-related behaviors over time. Methods: From November 2019 to June 2021, participating households with children in King County, Washington, were remotely monitored for ARI symptoms weekly. Following ARIs, participants reported illness-related effects on school, work, and NPI use. Using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations, the authors examined associations between symptoms and behaviors. Results: Of 1,861 participants, 581 (31%) from 293 households reported 884 ARIs and completed one-week follow-up surveys. Compared with the prepandemic period, during the period of the pandemic pre–COVID-19 vaccine, ARI-related school (56% vs 10%, p

Edwin S Meresh,1 Sarah Xu,2 Angelina Palomino,2 Hewa Artin,2 Julia Padiyara,3 Conrad Stasieluk,1 Abid Khurshid4 1Department of Psychiatry, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA; 2Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA; 3Loyola Medicine Center for Sleep Disorders, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA; 4Pulmonary Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, 60153, USACorrespondence: Edwin S Meresh, Email emeresh@lumc.eduBackground: This pilot study measures pain perception, somatosensory amplification and its relationship to health anxiety in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and patients with FM and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); this study also examines the effects of OSA on pain perception in patients with FM.Methods: In this pilot study, patients diagnosed with FM or FM and OSA, completed three self-reported questionnaires: Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS), and Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ). Sleep study results were analyzed. Scores were summarized using medians and interquartile ranges and are compared using Wilcoxon rank sum tests.Results: Overall FM (n = 25), female n=23 male n=3 mean age, 57.48 years. OSA n=17 (68%) and 8 (32%) were not. The SF-MPQ Sensory sub-scale scores and the SF-MPQ overall scores differed significantly between patients with and without OSA. The SF-MPQ Sensory sub-scale scores were significantly lower for patients with OSA (p=0.03), as were SF-MPQ overall scores (p=0.04). SSAS overall scores and IBQ overall scores did not differ significantly by OSA diagnosis. Correlations of the different dimensions of IBQ with SSAS and mean number of diagnoses in FM and FM+OSA, mean number of diagnoses in problem list of SSAS ≤ 30 was 29.5, mean number of diagnoses in SSAS ≥ 30 was 34.9.Discussion: Developing a better understanding of the effects of OSA on pain perception in patients with FM is needed for improved health status. More research is needed to see if higher pain perception and SSAS score lead to increased health care utilization and to evaluate the relationship between untreated disordered sleeping and pain perception in patients with FM.Conclusion: Our findings highlight the need for more research to evaluate the relationship between treated and untreated disordered sleeping, pain perception, somatization and illness behavior in the health status of individuals with FM.Keywords: fibromyalgia, obstructive sleep apnea, pain perception, symptom amplification, illness behavior

Background: Working despite feeling ill – presenteeism – is a widespread behavioral phenomenon. Previous research has shown that presenteeism is influenced by various work-related and personal factors. It's an illness behavior leading to a range of negative but also positive consequences. Due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, remote work has become the “new normal” for many employees. But so far, little is known about presenteeism in remote work. This study aims to investigate presenteeism in remote work by looking at the extent of remote presenteeism, differences to presenteeism in on-site work, and associated factors. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Germany with N = 233 participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and correlation analysis. Results: The results reveal that presenteeism is prevalent in remote work x̅ = 4.13 days (Md = 3; D = 2; s = 4.95). A low ability to detach from work (r = -.17; p = .005) and low supervisor support (r = -.14; p = .02) is associated with more remote presenteeism days. Remote working conditions seem to facilitate presenteeism. Conclusion: This study provides empirical insights into a subject area of great societal relevance. The results show that awareness should be raised for presenteeism in remote work. It should be regarded as a behavior that can be functional or dysfunctional, depending on the individual situation. Supervisor support and detachment should be fostered to help reduce dysfunctional presenteeism. Promotion of health literacy might help remote workers to decide on a health-oriented illness behavior. Further research is vital to analyze to what extent and under which circumstances presenteeism in remote work is (dys)functional and to derive clear recommendations.

BACKGROUND: The number of deaths, causes, and frequency measures are crucial in determining the health of a country's population. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to estimate deaths, causes of death, and their frequency for Saudi nationals in 2017. METHODS: In this descriptive study, we used data from the 2017 Population Characteristics Survey (n = 14,215,901) and performed secondary data analysis between November 2021 and February 2022. We used a total number of survey samples to compute the deaths. The cause of death was determined by dividing the total number of fatalities according to sex. We calculated the overall population-, administrative region-, and gender-wise percentages, rates per 1,000 people per year, the ratios for mortality, and their reasons. RESULTS: There were 58,915 (0.4%) total deaths, including 0.3% and 0.2% deaths among females and males, respectively. The illness was the most frequent cause of mortality (46.5% or 465 per 1,000 population/year), notably in women (52.5% or 525 per 1,000 population/year). The fatality rate was higher due to traffic accidents (a total of five in every female and four males in every female). CONCLUSION: In 2017, illness—especially in women—was the cause of death. Road car accidents had a high mortality rate, especially among males. Saudi Arabia has lower death rates than other Arab nations and high-, moderate-, and low-income nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Approximately 6.5 million adults have chronic heart failure (HF), the number one cause of 30-day hospital readmission. Managing HF and its symptoms is critical for patients. Hospitalization may impact patients’ perceptions of illness control, which can affect illness management. However, how hospital readmissions are perceived as related to one’s ability to control their HF and its symptoms has not been examined. Objective The purpose was to explore the experiences of people with HF in managing their illness (i.e., illness control), understand their perceptions of illness control after recent hospital readmission, and clarify the concept of illness control in people with chronic HF. Methods A qualitative approach, applied thematic analysis was employed. Purposive sampling was used to identify participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 10 participants’ homes. Ongoing, concurrent, and comparative data analysis was used with ATLASti© data management software. Results Two themes were identified, strategies to control HF and barriers to controlling HF. Strategies to control HF included four subthemes: managing dietary intake and medications; self- advocacy; monitoring symptoms; and support. Barriers to control also had four subthemes: healthcare systems issues; health care professional relationships and interactions; personal characteristics; and knowledge deficits. Conclusion People use many different strategies to control HF. Control comes from both within and outside of the individual. The desire to control HF and its symptoms was evident, but implementing strategies is challenging and takes time, experience, and trial and error. Individuals did not view readmission negatively but as necessary to help them control their symptoms.

Culture is a way of thinking that has changed from the past to the present and forms the identity of the society with its unique art, belief, customs and behaviors. In this respect, it includes all material and spiritual elements that are revealed, valued and shared in society. Culture guides the individual on how to perceive or behave. At this point, culture has an important point in the perception and explanation of the disease states faced by the individual. Culture has a decisive role in all stages such as catching the disease, experiencing the disease, carrying the roles of the disease, trying to cope with the disease, complaining about the disease. Therefore, in this study, it is aimed to examine the interaction between culture and disease theoretically. As a result of the study, it is seen that individuals try to have information on diseases according to culture and develop behaviors towards the disease. In this respect, it has been concluded that culture creates a placebo and nocebo effect. While the placebo effect is perceived as a healing power on individuals, it is seen that the nocebo effect creates a pathological condition on individuals. For this reason, it is important for health professionals to determine the source of the disease by considering the cultures of the individuals while providing health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the association between the level of acceptance of illness and medication adherence, metabolic control, and risk of diabetic foot in patients with diabetes. This descriptive study was conducted with 298 patients with diabetes. The questionnaire comprised the demographic characteristics of the patients, Modified Morisky Scale and the Acceptance of Illness Scale. The study data were collected by the researchers through direct interviews using the questionnaire. Acceptance of illness in patients with diabetes was statistically significantly higher in the group with a higher level of knowledge of medication adherence (p < 0.001). Moreover, the acceptance of illness had a statistically significant negative correlation with fasting plasma glucose (r = −0.198; p < 0.001) and glycated hemoglobin (r = −0.159; p = 0.006) levels in individuals with diabetes. Levels of acceptance of illness had a statistically significant association with the risk of diabetic foot (p < 0.01). The study found that the level of acceptance of illness was associated with the level of knowledge about medication adherence, metabolic control, and risk of diabetic foot in individuals with diabetes. It may be recommended to conduct clinical trials to determine the effect of evaluating the level of acceptance of the illness on diabetes management and to increase this level. • Diabetic foot is associated with inadequate knowledge and poor practices. • Acceptance of illness is crucial in the management of diabetes. • Nurses should evaluate the acceptance of the illness in individuals with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Illness denial pertains to medical patients who do not acknowledge the presence or severity of their disease or the need of treatment. Objective: This systematic review was performed to clarify the clinical role and manifestations of illness denial, its impact on health attitudes and behavior, as well as on short- and long-term outcomes in patients with medical disorders. Methods: The systematic search according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Results: The initial search yielded a total of 14,098 articles; 176 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Illness denial appeared to be a relatively common condition affecting a wide spectrum of health attitudes and behavior. In some cases, it may help a person cope with various stages of illness and treatment. In other situations, it may determine delay in seeking treatment, impaired adherence, and reduced self-management, leading to adverse outcomes. The Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR) were found to set a useful severity threshold for the condition. An important clinical distinction can also be made based on the DCPR for illness denial, which require the assessment of whether the patient has been provided with an adequate appraisal of the medical situation. Conclusions: This systematic review indicates that patients with medical disorders experience and express illness denial in many forms and with varying degrees of severity. The findings suggest the need for a multidimensional assessment and provide challenging insights into the management of medical disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 6.5 million adults have chronic heart failure (HF), the number one cause of 30-day hospital readmission. Managing HF and its symptoms is critical for patients. Hospitalization may impact patients' perceptions of illness control, which can affect illness management. However, how hospital readmissions are perceived as related to one's ability to control their HF and its symptoms has not been examined. Objective: The purpose was to explore the experiences of people with HF in managing their illness (i.e., illness control), understand their perceptions of illness control after recent hospital readmission, and clarify the concept of illness control in people with chronic HF. Methods: A qualitative approach, applied thematic analysis was employed. Purposive sampling was used to identify participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 10 participants' homes. Ongoing, concurrent, and comparative data analysis was used with ATLASti© data management software. Results: Two themes were identified, strategies to control HF and barriers to controlling HF. Strategies to control HF included four subthemes: managing dietary intake and medications; self- advocacy; monitoring symptoms; and support. Barriers to control also had four subthemes: healthcare systems issues; health care professional relationships and interactions; personal characteristics; and knowledge deficits. Conclusion: People use many different strategies to control HF. Control comes from both within and outside of the individual. The desire to control HF and its symptoms was evident, but implementing strategies is challenging and takes time, experience, and trial and error. Individuals did not view readmission negatively but as necessary to help them control their symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual attitudes and behavior related to health and disease are major components of clinical encounters. These factors shape lifestyle, presentation of symptoms, access to patient care, interactions between patients and physicians, adherence to medical advice, response to treatment. Health attitudes and behavior may range from anxiety and worry about illness, to various forms of denial, such as delay of seeking care and lack of adherence to treatment. When attitudes result in health-damaging behavior they may be particularly difficult to understand and become a source of frustration to both physicians and patients. Devising appropriate responses by health care providers may contribute to improving final outcomes and decrease health care costs. In particular, health behavior is likely to play a major role in the process of convalescence, in self-management of chronic conditions, in determining a state of recovery, and whenever a rehabilitation process is involved. Understanding the spectrum of health attitudes and behavior is also crucial for motivating people to make beneficial changes (lifestyle medicine), as well as for implementing safety procedures in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Enfermagem Brasil is the property of Atlantica Editora and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Objective Young children experience physical complaints, like abdominal pain or minor injuries from playing, almost every day. These experiences may shape how they deal with health issues later in life. While models exist to explain illness perception in adults, information is lacking on the perspective of young children. This qualitative study aimed to explore important themes in the experience of everyday physical complaints in four- and five-year-old children, using children as informants. Study design 30 semi-structured interviews were performed in which four- and five-year-old children were questioned about their experiences with everyday physical complaints. The interviews were double coded using Atlas.ti and subsequently qualitative content analysis was used to define themes. Results All participating children were able to elaborate on their experiences with physical complaints. Three themes emerged from the interviews: causes of complaints, appraisal of complaints, and implications of complaints. In their appraisal of complaints, four- and five-year-old children made a distinction between visible and invisible complaints and real or pretended complaints. Conclusion Four- and five-year-old children can already give details about their experiences with everyday physical complaints. They have developed ideas about the causes and implications of complaints and try to make an appraisal.

Abstract Background Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the leading cause of disability globally and is a major concern in public health. However, there is limited evidence on the prevalence and correlates of disability among adults in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, this study aimed at determining factors influencing disability among adult patients with CLBP in KwaZulu-Natal. Methods This analytical cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among adult CLBP patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Data on disability, fear avoidance beliefs and illness behavior were gathered from 554 adult participants using self-administered questionnaires. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with disability. Statistical significance was set at p

Purpose: To describe the characteristics of sick role adaptation and understand the differences in young and middle-aged colorectal cancer (CRC) patients., Methods: 225 colorectal cancer patients aged 18-59 admitting to a specialized oncology hospital in Guangzhou, China were involved from January to April 2022. Socio-demographic characteristics, disease-related characteristics, scores of Illness Behavior Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire were applied to collect quantitative data. Latent profile analysis (LPA) of illness behavior, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple logistic regression were performed., Results: Three latent classes of illness behavior were identified: low maladaptive illness behavior group, moderate maladaptive illness behavior group, and high maladaptive illness behavior group. Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences among the three latent classes with respect to education level, anxiety and depression, illness perception, uncertainty in illness and coping modes. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that marital status, family history of cancer, education level, family monthly income, anxiety and depression, illness perception, uncertainty in illness and coping modes were predictors of maladaptive illness behaviors among young and middle-aged CRC patients., Conclusions: The results of the study raise a concern of maladaptive illness behaviors in young and middle-aged colorectal cancer patients, highlighting the need for age-appropriate psychosocial care approaches to promote adjustment of the illness behaviors followed by the diagnosis and treatment of CRC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declared that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence this work., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: In response to contracting an infection, individuals usually display a suite of external signs (including sickness behavior) as an outward indication of illness. This context-dependent phenomenon seems to weigh the benefits and costs of eliciting sympathy by indicating sickness versus hiding signs of illness to avoid exposing others to potential infection. In a dynamically social species like humans, non-kin may be as likely to respond to these signs with care as family members, particularly fellow church members. We explore the relative contributions of religiosity and familism in shaping self-reported sickness signaling styles as two dimensions central to human altruism using latent class analysis (LCA)., Methods: LCA was used to characterize the signaling styles of the study participants. Data come from a large 2018 survey (n = 1259) of sickness and health behaviors among US adults. We used denomination public (church attendance) and private religiosity (time spent in prayer, meditation, etc.) and the God Locus of Health Control scale to assess the impact of God on health. Sickness signaling style was assessed with the SicknessQ and three additional items. Covariates included age, gender, education, and income., Results: We identified four classes (Familiar, Moderate, Gregarious, and Stoic) tied to signaling styles. The Familiar Signaling class displayed sickness verbally to familiar others, were the oldest, and were least guided by an internal sense of religion. The Moderate Signaling class was younger and had lower public and private religiosity (except regarding health issues) than the Stoic and Gregarious Signaling classes. The Gregarious class signaled to both close others and strangers and scored highest in familism and religiosity. The Stoic class did not verbally signal but indicated sickness worsening when around both close others and strangers, were less likely to be married or endorse private religiosity, and were least likely to recall recent illness as severe., Conclusion: The signaling classes strongly resembled aspects of the introvert-ambivert-extrovert spectrum. We conclude that variation is important at multiple levels, including personality types, and potentially prevents the loss of immunological diversity., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is common in medical settings but has been underdiagnosed. Stigma related to psychiatric illness was one of the barriers to making the diagnosis. More and more SSD patients who visited psychiatric clinics with physical complaints identify themselves as having 'autonomic dysregulation' in Taiwan. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients with a subjective diagnosis of 'autonomic dysregulation'. Method: We assessed the sociodemographic profile, medical/psychiatric diagnoses, subjective psychiatric diagnoses, perceived psychiatric stigma, help-seeking attitude, and healthcare utilization of 122 participants with SSD. Participants who identified themselves as having 'autonomic dysregulation' (n = 84) were compared to those who did not (n=38). Results: Participants with a subjective diagnosis of 'autonomic dysregulation' were younger and had a higher education level than those who did not have such a subjective diagnosis. They also had higher scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) and Health Anxiety Questionnaire (HAQ), whereas comorbid psychiatric diagnoses were similar in the two groups. Participants with and without a subjective diagnosis of 'autonomic dysregulation' did not have a significant difference in perceived psychiatric stigma and help-seeking attitude/behaviors. In a multiple logistic regression model, only age was associated with having a subjective diagnosis of 'autonomic dysregulation'. Conclusion: Among SSD patients, those who identify themselves as having 'autonomic dysregulation' tend to have higher somatic distress and health anxiety than those who do not. 'Autonomic dysregulation' is not associated with perceived psychiatric stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anecdotal reports and a small number of research studies suggest possible behavioral improvements in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) during a fever. However, previous studies rely largely on retrospective reports of this phenomenon. Establishing a robust association between fever and reduction of ASD‐related symptoms would promote opportunities for the development of innovative therapeutic interventions for children with ASD. In the current study, prospective data were collected from 141 children with ASD and 103 typically developing (TD) controls using parent responses to an 11‐item behavioral survey. Behaviors when no illness was present, during a fever, the week after a fever, and during non‐febrile illnesses for TD and ASD children were compared. Profiles of cases in which caregivers reported consistent behavioral improvements during fever are described. Data indicated worsening social, emotional/behavioral, and somatic symptoms during a fever regardless of diagnosis, with children with ASD demonstrating greater worsening of behaviors during a fever than TD children. Only three out of 141 children with ASD demonstrated consistent behavioral improvements during a fever; these children had a range of cognitive and adaptive skills. Children with ASD had stronger negative responses to fever than TD children. These findings contradict previous literature suggesting behavioral improvements for children with ASD. While improvements may occur for some children, it does not appear to be a common phenomenon. Additional research is needed to elucidate the nature of behavioral improvements in the subset of children with ASD who may respond positively to fever. Lay Summary: This study examines behavioral changes during fever and other medical events in children with autism compared to behavioral changes in a typically developing control group. Previous research and consistent subjective reports from parents and pediatricians suggest the possibility of behavioral improvements for children with autism during a fever. There is a lack of methodically collected data examining these effects. In the current study, children with autism consistently had stronger and more frequent negative behavior changes during fever than typically developing children (who also primarily showed worsening of behavior during fevers). Three out of 141 autistic children, and no typical children, showed improvements in varied areas during fevers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Young children experience physical complaints, like abdominal pain or minor injuries from playing, almost every day. These experiences may shape how they deal with health issues later in life. While models exist to explain illness perception in adults, information is lacking on the perspective of young children. This qualitative study aimed to explore important themes in the experience of everyday physical complaints in four- and five-year-old children, using children as informants.Study Design: 30 semi-structured interviews were performed in which four- and five-year-old children were questioned about their experiences with everyday physical complaints. The interviews were double coded using Atlas.ti and subsequently qualitative content analysis was used to define themes.Results: All participating children were able to elaborate on their experiences with physical complaints. Three themes emerged from the interviews: causes of complaints, appraisal of complaints, and implications of complaints. In their appraisal of complaints, four- and five-year-old children made a distinction between visible and invisible complaints and real or pretended complaints.Conclusion: Four- and five-year-old children can already give details about their experiences with everyday physical complaints. They have developed ideas about the causes and implications of complaints and try to make an appraisal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the leading cause of disability globally and is a major concern in public health. However, there is limited evidence on the prevalence and correlates of disability among adults in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, this study aimed at determining factors influencing disability among adult patients with CLBP in KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: This analytical cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among adult CLBP patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Data on disability, fear avoidance beliefs and illness behavior were gathered from 554 adult participants using self-administered questionnaires. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with disability. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: Based on the multivariable linear regression, being a female (β = 0.343, p < 0.001) and fear avoidance beliefs about work (β = 0.221, p = 0.044) were significantly associated with greater disability, while, smoking 1 to 10 cigarettes per day (β = -0.106, p = 0.011) and higher illness behaviour scores (β = -0.165, p = 0.024) were significantly associated with less disability The model accounted for 20% of the total variance in Oswestry disability scores.Conclusion: This study has concluded that disability in CLBP is predicted by multiple of factors, with psychosocial factors (fear avoidance beliefs and heavy cigarette smoking) playing a significant role. Manual work was also identified as a significant predictor of CLBP disability. Therefore, guidelines should emphasize on early identification of these yellow flags in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: When examining coping with chronic pain, it is important to consider not only the physical characteristics of pain but also its psychological and social aspects, such as depression or pain catastrophizing. The relationship between pain and the psychological characteristics of patients has been studied in various approaches in previous research. The aim of this study was to separate groups within a clinical sample using a profiling method and to identify risk factors related to illness behaviour., Methods: The study involved 136 patients aged 18 and above diagnosed with chronic pain of various etiologies. Data collection involved the use of psychological questionnaires measuring levels of health literacy, social support, depressive symptoms, and pain catastrophizing, in addition to pain characteristics. Statistical analysis of the data was conducted using independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and K-means cluster analysis., Results: Three clusters significantly different from each other in terms of all grouping variables (p < 0.001 in each case) were identified within the studied sample. These clusters were named “Conscious Worriers” (1st), “Balanced Symptom Perceivers” (2nd), and “Abandoned Catastrophizers” (3rd). We successfully identified the 2nd cluster as a protected group and the 3rd cluster as a risk group., Conclusion: Identified clusters can facilitate the application of group-specific pain therapies by describing the characteristic combinations of risk factors. Our results support the importance of pain education and prevention.

Objectives: The current study aims to assess the level of acceptance of their illness in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, determine whether the self-hardiness of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus can serve as a predictive factor for their illness acceptance and health-behaviors, and Explore variations in illness acceptance, health-behaviors, and self-hardiness in relation to socio-demographic factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus., Methodology: A descriptive correlational study was carried out at Al-Rifia Teaching Hospital, and and Imam Al-Qiam Health Center. the study was started from 15th October, 2023 to 3th March, 2024. Purposive sample (non-probability) of 200 patients with type 2 diabetes (male and female). by the used of questionnaire and interviews techniques, data are collected from those who diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. the study instrument consisted of four parts: part one the sociodemographic sheet, part two concerned illness acceptance which composed of 22 items, part three health behaviors which composed of 22 items, and part four concerned self-hardiness which composed of 25 items., Results: The study results revealed that the who participated in this study their age 55-64 years old and constituted 64 (32.0%), more than half of participants were male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus 109 (54.5%), where revealed (79.5%) exhibited that the neutral acceptance level as described by mean score (±SD) = 2.075, health-behaviors among patients with type 2 diabetes, findings illustrated that the (51.0%) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus exhibited that they follow good health-behaviors level, and good Self-Hardiness among Patients with Type 2 diabetes, in addition, there is a high significant relationship between illness acceptance, health behaviors and patients self-hardness at p-value (< 0.005)., Recommendations: should support people with educational initiatives and assist them in accepting their sickness and taking an active role in managing it, Psychological support to resolve disease-related problems, cope with difficulties and develop positive attitudes towards the disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The current study aims to assess the level of acceptance of their illness in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, determine whether the self-hardiness of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus can serve as a predictive factor for their illness acceptance and health-behaviors, and Explore variations in illness acceptance, health-behaviors, and self-hardiness in relation to socio-demographic factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In ectothermic vertebrates, behavioral fever, where an individual actively seeks warmer areas, seems to be a primary response to pathogens. This is considered a broad and evolutionarily conserved response among vertebrates. Recent population declines in amphibians are associated with an increase of infectious disease driven largely by climate change, habitat degradation, and pollution. Immediate action through research is required to better understand and inform conservation efforts. The literature available, does not provide unifying concepts that can guide adequate experimental protocols and interpretation of data, especially when studying animals in the field. The aim of this review is to promote common understanding of terminology and facilitating improved comprehension and application of key concepts about the occurrence of both sickness behavior or behavioral fever in ectothermic vertebrates. We start with a conceptual synthesis of sickness behavior and behavioral fever, with examples in different taxa. Through this discussion we present possible paths to standardize terminology, starting from original use in endothermic tetrapods which was expanded to ectothermic vertebrates, particularly amphibians and reptiles. This conceptual expansion from humans (endothermic vertebrates) and then to ectothermic counterparts, gravitates around the concept of 'normality'. Thus, following this discussion, we highlight caveats with experimental protocols and state the need of a reference value considered normal (RVCN), which is different from experimental control and make recommendations regarding experimental procedures and stress the value of detailed documentation of behavioral responses. We also propose some future directions that could enhance interaction among disciplines, emphasizing relationships at different levels of biological organization. This is crucial given the increasing convergence of fields such as thermal physiology, immunology, and animal behavior due to emerging diseases and other global crises impacting biodiversity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Social withdrawal is a well-established part of sickness behavior, but in some contexts sick animals might gain from keeping close instead of keeping away. For instance, sick individuals are more willing to be near known individuals who can provide care and safety (close others) compared to when healthy. Yet, interactions with some strangers might also be beneficial (i.e., healthcare professionals), but it is not known how sickness interplay with social behavior towards such individuals. Here, we assessed if sickness affects perception of caregivers, and developed a new task, the Caregiver Perception Task (CgPT). Twenty-six participants performed the CgPT, once after an injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.8 ng/kg body weight, n = 24), and once after an injection of saline (n = 25), one hour and forty-five minutes post-injection. During the task, participants watched short video clips of three types of caregivers: a healthcare professional taking care of a sick individual, a healthcare professional not taking care of a sick individual, and a non-healthcare professional taking care of their sick adult child or partner. After each video clip, the likability, trustworthiness, professionalism, and willingness to interact with and receive care from the caregiver were rated on visual analogue scales. Results showed that participants injected with saline rated healthcare professionals who did not take care of a sick individual less positively on all aspects compared to healthcare professionals who took care of a sick individual. Moreover, compared to saline, LPS increased the participants' willingness to receive care from healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals providing care, but not from healthcare professionals not providing care. Thus, our results indicate that sick individuals may approach unknown individuals with potential to provide care and support., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Sickness behavior reflects a state of altered physiology and central nervous system function that occurs during systemic infection or inflammation, serving as an adaptive response to illness. This study aims to elucidate the role of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) in regulating sickness behavior and neuroinflammatory responses in a rat model of systemic inflammation. Adult male Wistar rats were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce sickness behavior. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) pretreatments included aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), an inhibitor of H 2 S synthesis, and sodium sulfide (NaHS), an H 2 S donor. Behavioral assays were conducted, along with the assessment of astrocyte activation, as indicated by GFAP expression in the hypothalamus. Pretreatment with NaHS mitigated LPS-induced behavioral changes, including hypophagia, social and exploratory deficits, without affecting peripheral cytokine levels, indicating a central modulatory effect. AOAA, conversely, accentuated certain behavioral responses, suggesting a complex role of endogenous H 2 S in sickness behavior. These findings were reinforced by a lack of effect on plasma interleukin levels but significant reduction in GFAP expression. Our findings support the central role of H 2 S in modulating neuroinflammation and sickness behavior, highlighting the therapeutic potential of targeting H 2 S signaling in neuroinflammatory conditions. • Hydrogen sulfide eases behavioral impact of lipopolysaccharide in rats. • NaHS counters LPS-induced behavioral changes effectively in rodent models. • AOAA enhances LPS-induced hypophagia, pointing to complex H2S roles. • H2S demonstrates significant neuroprotective actions against LPS in CNS. • NaHS icv use shows no change in cytokine levels LPS-induced, indicating central action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferulic acid (FA) and p-coumaric acid (PCA) are abundantly present in commonly consumed food and beverages. Being polyphenolic compounds, they have been explored for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Based on our previous study, we selected these two compounds to further investigate their potential in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sickness behavior and the ensuing neuroinflammation by specifically focusing on the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Male Swiss albino mice were divided into nine groups (n = 6) consisting of Normal Control, LPS, fluoxetine (FLX), FA40, FA160, FA640, PCA40, PCA160, and PCA640 respectively. Each group received respective FA or PCA treatment except Normal Control and LPS, which received the vehicle, carboxymethylcellulose 0.25% w/v. All groups were challenged with LPS 1.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally except the Normal Control group, which received saline. Behavioral assessments were performed between 1-2 h, and the whole brains were collected at 3 h post-LPS administration. LPS-induced sickness behavior was characterized by significantly reduced spontaneous activity and high immobility time. The expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β was significantly increased, along with the levels of brain IL-1β suggesting the assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Furthermore, the major cytokines involved in sickness behavior, IL-6 and TNF-α were also significantly elevated with the accompanied lipid peroxidation. The results of this study emphasize that within the employed dose ranges of both FA and PCA, both the compounds were effective at blocking the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and thereby reducing the release of IL-1β and the sickness behavior symptoms. There was a prominent effect on cytokine levels and lipid peroxidation as well., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: This longitudinal study explores the relationship between illness identity and well-being in emerging adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), aiming to understand the factors contributing to well-being in individuals with CHD., Method: Dutch-speaking emerging adults with CHD ( N = 254, age range = 24-28 years) participated in a three-wave study, which is part of the I-DETACH 2 project. Cross-lagged analyses examined the directionality of effects between illness identity and well-being. Multivariate latent class growth analysis identified developmental trajectory classes of illness identity. Multigroup latent growth curve modeling investigated differences in the development of well-being among these classes., Results: Bidirectional associations were uncovered between illness identity and well-being. For instance, acceptance predicted better quality of life and less depressive symptoms over time. Three trajectory classes of illness identity were identified: high (i.e., as compared to the sample mean) acceptance and enrichment with low rejection and engulfment (Class 1), high rejection with low levels in the other dimensions (Class 2), and high rejection and engulfment along with high enrichment and low acceptance (Class 3). Individuals in Class 3 experienced the worse well-being. In addition, individuals with complex heart defects were strongly represented in this class., Conclusions: This study demonstrates the significance of illness identity in understanding individual differences in well-being among emerging adults with CHD. Additionally, this study provided valuable insight in the development of illness identity and its longitudinal relationship with well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to extend the mean and maximum lifespan in both preclinical and clinical settings. We have previously demonstrated that CR attenuates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever and sickness behavior. CR also leads to reductions in pro-inflammatory and increases in anti-inflammatory profiles. LPS is a bacterial mimetic; however, few studies have explored this phenomenon utilizing a viral mimetic, such as polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). Dose-dependently, poly I:C induced an increase in core body temperature (T b ), with the largest dose (5000 µg/kg) resulting in a 1.62 °C ( ± 0.23 °C) T b increase at 7 h post-injection in ad libitum mice and was associated with reduced home-cage locomotor activity. We then investigated the effect of 50% CR for 28 days to attenuate fever and sickness behavior induced by a poly I:C (5000 µg/kg) viral immune challenge. CR resulted in the partial attenuation of fever and sickness behavior measures post-poly I:C. The freely fed, control mice demonstrated a 2.02 °C ( ± 0.22 °C) increase in T b at 7 h post-injection compared to the CR poly I:C group which demonstrated an increase in T b of 0.94 °C ( ± 0.27 °C). Locomotor patterns post-injection were different, CR mice displayed a reduction in activity during the light phase, and the control group displayed a reduction during the dark phase. CR moderately attenuated the neuroinflammatory response with a reduction in microglial density in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus. The fever and sickness behavior attenuation seen after CR may be driven by similar anti-inflammatory processes as after LPS; however, further investigation is required., Competing Interests: Declarations of interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)