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Background: The manifestations of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), including acne, hirsutism, obesity, uncertain fertility, etc., can make women anxious, worried, or even depressed with their appearance and body. However, little relevant research has been conducted in the Chinese context. This mixed-method study aimed to understand how women with PCOS in China perceive their bodies and to examine the association between body image and depression.Methods: First, 101 PCOS patients participated in a survey using the Body Surveillance subscale of the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale, the Short-form Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, the Appearance Anxiety Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II, which measured participants' self-objectification, illness ambiguity, appearance anxiety, and depression, respectively. Second, fifteen women joined face-to-face semi-structured in-depth interviews, investigating their illness ambiguity, objectified experience, and behaviors to pursue beauty.Results: Results indicated a high level of self-objectification, illness ambiguity, appearance anxiety, and depression among women with PCOS in China and supported the significant associations among the outcomes. Qualitative findings presented a body image of the precarious body, indiscernible identity, and distraught mind.Limitations: A convenient sampling method was used. The generalization of the study results needs further validation. Future longitudinal studies are necessary to clarify the causal relationships among outcomes.Conclusions: This study presented women's body image with PCOS and found the negative impact of body image on their depression levels. This study was of both theoretical and practical significance. Appropriate mind-body therapies were suggested for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Integrative Body-Mind-Spirit and Qigong interventions were effective in reducing perceived stress depression, sleep disturbance, painful and painless somatic symptoms, and increasing holistic well-being for participants. • Integrative Body-Mind-Spirit and Qigong interventions can reduce the interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β levels for persons with both depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance. • A bidirectional relationship between depression and sleep disturbance was supported by longitudinal measurements in this study. • The influence of depression and sleep disturbance on IL-6 and IL-1β was shown to be significant. Depressed people are prone to sleep disturbance, which may in return perpetuate the depression. Both depression and sleep disturbance influence proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL) 6 and 1β. Thus interventions for depression should consider the effect on sleep disturbance, and vice versa. Integrative Body-Mind-Spirit (IBMS) and Qigong interventions have been applied in a wide range of health and mental health conditions, including depression and sleep disturbance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of these two mind–body therapies for persons with both depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance. A three-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted among 281 participants, who were randomly assigned to either IBMS, Qigong or wait list control group. Participants in IBMS and Qigong groups received eight weekly sessions of intervention. Outcome measures were plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL-1β, and a questionnaire containing Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Somatic Symptom Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale and Body-Mind-Spirit Holistic Well-being Scale. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0), immediate post-intervention (T1) and at three-months post-intervention (T2). Besides intervention efficacy analysis, path analysis was performed to explore the relations among perceived stress, depression, sleep disturbance, and IL-6 and IL-1β values. The study found both IBMS and Qigong reduced depression, sleep disturbance, painful and painless somatic symptoms, IL-6 and IL-1β levels, and increased holistic well-being. The effect sizes of IBMS and Qigong, mostly in the medium magnitude range, were approximatively equivalent. Path analysis models revealed a predictive role of perceived stress in depression and sleep disturbance, a bidirectional relationship between depression and sleep disturbance, and significant influence of depression and sleep disturbance on IL-6 and IL-1β. Compared with control, the findings support the efficacy of IBMS and Qigong interventions in relieving depression and sleep disturbance, and in reducing IL-6 and IL-1β levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the effectiveness of a simple, self-administrable moxibustion-cum-massage intervention for relieving chronic pain and improving psychological well-being for older adults in the community. A randomized controlled trial. Seventy-eight participants with chronic pain were randomly assigned to the intervention and waitlist control groups. Participants received two moxa sticks a day to use the moxibustion-cum-massage procedure with the help of trained volunteers or caregivers for five consecutive days. Participates' pain level, sleep quality, depression and subjective well-being were measured before the intervention (T0), immediately after the intervention (T1), and one week after the intervention (T2). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant group × time interaction effect in subjective well-being with a medium effect size. Regarding within-group effects in the intervention group at post-intervention (T1), the subjective pain level was significantly reduced with a small effect size, while sleep quality and depression significantly improved with large effect sizes. The control group showed no significant within-group effects in these variables. Maintenance effects at follow-up (T2) were not significant. Despite the short intervention timeframe of five days, the study revealed preliminary evidence that the moxibustion-cum-massage intervention can be an effective, self-administrable pain relief regime for older adults. A longer period of intervention time is suggested for future studies. • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use in elder Chinese population is rising. • A self-administrable moxibustion-cum-massage intervention can relieve chronic pain. • Sleep quality, depression and well-being can be improved while pain release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]