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Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been used in different medical fields, but its effectiveness in burn wound healing remains debatable. In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available evidence on burn patients treated with PRP to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the treatment.Randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of PRP in patients with burn injuries were selected. Eligible retrospective studies were abstracted and assessed for the risk of bias by two reviewers and results of mean time to complete epithelization and wound closure rate in the included studies were analyzed. Studies on the correlation between PRP and burn wound healing published in English or Chinese before March 2020 were retrieved from PubMed.Eight studies (including 449 patients) met our inclusion criteria. Qualitative analysis revealed that compared with the control group, the PRP group had significantly better wound closure rates at weeks 2 (mean difference (MD): 12.79 [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.08, 18.49]; I2: 0%; p0.0001) and 3 (MD: 12.66 [95% CI: 5.97, 19.34]; I2: 55%; p = 0.0002) and time to complete epithelialization (MD: -3.45 [95% CI: -4.87, -2.04] (days); I2: 0%; p0.00001). There was no significant difference in infection rate or graft take rate.PRP application can accelerate wound closure, however, it has no effect on the rates of wound infection and graft take rate.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy is based on the premise that psychedelic substances can act as catalysts or adjuncts to psychotherapeutic processes. Recent clinical trials involving psychedelic-assisted therapy have generally employed a similar three-part structure consisting of preparation, support during the dosing sessions, and subsequent “integration.” However, the content of these sessions and the frame through which the therapists approach participants and understand the clinical process has thus far been inconsistent among studies. In designing a manualized therapy protocol for a small clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder, our group sought to delineate an explicit and replicable, evidence-based model that intentionally builds upon both the neurobiological actions of the medication and the phenomenology of the drug experience. Having identified considerable concordance in proposed mechanisms of change between Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and psilocybin therapy, we employed ACT as an overarching psychotherapeutic framework. We hypothesize that the psilocybin experience can provide direct experiential contact with ACT processes that increase psychological flexibility, and that these deeply felt experiences may in turn be reinforced during ACT-informed follow-up therapy sessions. In this paper, we describe the rationale for selecting ACT, areas of potential synergism between ACT and psilocybin-therapy, the basic structure of our treatment model, and limitations to this approach.

Scientific research on the therapeutic use of psychedelics has rapidly expanded over the past decade and, over the next decade, they may be approved for clinical use. Psychedelics have been used for centuries in ritual, community, and spiritual contexts and yet the potential for a scientific approach to these drugs has possibly never been greater than it is now. Modern well controlled trials show preliminary efficacy in relation to a range of different psychological problems. In this introduction we outline the aims of this special issue, present the case for integrating psychedelics and contextual behavioral science, and provide an overview of the papers in the issue.

This work proposed the development of a game with a robot, built with Lego pieces, to make the rehabilitation treatment of children with Cerebral Palsy more effective. The aim of the game is to stimulate the motor coordination, cognition, memory and attention level of children, and to complement the activities carried out by the Neuropsychomotor Rehabilitation Program of the Nucleus of Occupational Therapy of NAMI (Nucleus of Integrated Medical Attention) of UNIFOR (The University of Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil). The interaction between the child and the robot takes place through an Android remote control app installed on a smartphone. To validate the proposed method, five children were submitted to various sessions of activities with the robot, over a two-month period. A brain wave sensor, responsible for measuring the level of attention during the activities was employed. In addition, a questionnaire was applied to the professionals and parents of the children, in order to validate the tool proposed here. After analyzing the results, it was concluded that the robot is an effective and very promising complementary tool to assist in the rehabilitation treatment of children with Cerebral Palsy.

Tetraplegia resulting from cervical injury is the most frequent neurologic category after spinal cord injury and causes substantial disability. The residual strength of partially paralyzed muscles is an important determinant of independence and function in tetraplegia. Small improvements in upper extremity function can make a clinically significant difference in daily activities. Major advances in rehabilitation technologies over the past 2 decades have allowed testing of robotic devices in rehabilitation of motor impairments. This literature assessment provides an overview of robotic-assisted training research for improving arm and hand functions after cervical spinal cord injury.

Donkeys are used in animal-assisted therapy (AT) for mental disorders or motor disabilities in elderly people and children, but tests for selecting donkeys for AT have not been studied. The aim of this work was to characterize donkey's reaction to sensory (tactile and sound) and temperament (fearfulness and reactivity to human) tests in order to select donkeys for AT. Sound test, tactile tests (stifle-haunch axis test, von Frey filament test and a novel test described by the authors), fearfulness (novel object, surprise and crossing an unknown surface tests) and reactivity to human (unfamiliar passive and active human tests) were evaluated in thirty-six Andalusian donkeys. Descriptive analysis was performed and differences between groups were determined. Donkeys were not very reactive to sound stimuli. Donkeys were more reactive to thinner filaments and instruments, with no body side laterality detected. A cutaneous sensitivity mapping was also established. In relation to temperament tests, donkeys were more reactive to visual than sound stimuli. Donkeys appear to be markedly cautious and an unexpected stimulus disrupts their routine longer time than a stimulus that approaches slowly and gradually. Moreover, donkeys seem to have a reserved character. Age affected human interaction tests, since longer time was needed to finish some tests in older donkeys. In conclusion, aforementioned tests can be used for AT selection, allowing to discard donkeys with undesired traits. Further studies are necessary to investigate age or breed effect on aptitude for AT.

Research findings suggest that computer-assisted therapy (CAT) has the potential to play a significant role in mental health care. Psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral, and systematic desensitization strategies appear most amendable to CAT approaches. Potential advantages of CAT include an increased number of treatment options, low cost, privacy, consistency and individualization of care, and ease of data collection. Although CAT appears promising, clinician resistance and failure to adequately monitor clients may hamper its use. Moreover, precautions will need to be taken to insure that CAT programs have been well-designed and tested. Nurses should become involved in the development, testing, and implementation of CAT software.

Ethical and professional issues associated with computer-assisted therapy (CAT) are discussed in this article. Some of these issues are unique to CAT, while others have been of concern to psychologists for decades. A succinct overview of CAT is followed by an examination of whether CAT can be considered psychotherapy. Issues associated with CAT self-help software and CAT software in general, such as independent use, validation of effectiveness, and restricted access, are discussed. Clinician resistance to CAT is explored, including Weizenbaum's (1976, 1977, 1980) oft-quoted objections and Colby's (1980, 1986) retorts. The issue of client acceptance of CAT is examined, and suggestions for dealing with technoanxious and computerphobic clients are offered. The impact of CAT on ethical standards (American Psychological Association, 1989) is also discussed. It is recommended that guidelines for users, developers, publishers, and distributors of CAT software be developed along the lines of those instituted for computer-assisted assessment (American Psychological Association, 1986).

Ninety mild to moderately overweight women participated in a study examining the potential utility of a hand-held computer in the treatment of overweight. The study compared the use of a computer with one introductory session; computer therapy with four additional group support sessions; and a therapist conducted weight loss program, in a randomized design. The weight losses in all three groups were modest being approximately half of that expected. No differences in weight losses were found between groups to one-year follow-up, nor were differences found on process measures, suggesting that ambulatory computer treatment is as effective, in terms of education and outcome, as therapist conducted treatment. The computer without group support was significantly more cost-effective at immediate outcome than the other two groups. There was some indication, however, that group support may enhance long-term maintenance of weight loss, thus the cost advantage for the computer alone group declined over the follow-up period. Further developmental work is needed to ascertain whether robust weight losses can be achieved with a hand-held computer or whether this method has inherent limitations.