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ObjectivesIncreasingly diverse caregiver populations have prompted studies examining culture and caregiver outcomes. Still, little is known about the influence of sociocultural factors and how they interact with caregiving context variables to influence psychological health. We explored the role of caregiving and acculturation factors on psychological distress among a diverse sample of adults.DesignSecondary data analysis of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).ParticipantsThe 2009 CHIS surveyed 47,613 adults representative of the population of California. This study included Latino and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) caregivers and non-caregivers (n = 13,161).MeasurementsMultivariate weighted regression analyses examined caregiver status and acculturation variables (generational status, language of interview, and English language proficiency) and their associations with psychological distress (Kessler-6 scale). Covariates included caregiving context (e.g., support and neighborhood factors) and demographic variables.ResultsFirst generation caregivers had more distress than first-generation non-caregivers (β=0.92, 95% CI: (0.18, 1.65)); the difference in distress between caregivers and non-caregivers was smaller in the third than first generation (β=-1.21, 95% CI: (-2.24, -0.17)). Among those who did not interview in English (β=1.17, 95% CI: (0.13, 2.22)) and with low English proficiency (β=2.60, 95% CI: (1.21, 3.98)), caregivers reported more distress than non-caregivers.ConclusionsNon-caregivers exhibited the "healthy immigrant effect," where less acculturated individuals reported less distress. In contrast, caregivers who were less acculturated reported more distress.

Recent clinical trials have found that the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin effectively alleviates anxiodepressive symptoms in patients with life-threatening illnesses when given in a supportive environment. These outcomes prompted Canada to establish legal pathways for therapeutic access to psilocybin, coupled with psychological support. Despite over one-hundred Canadians receiving compassionate access since 2020, there has been little examination of these real-world patients. We conducted a prospective longitudinal survey which focused on Canadians who were granted Section 56 exemptions for legal psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. Surveys assessing various symptom dimensions were conducted at baseline, two weeks following the session (endpoint), and optionally one day post-session. Participant characteristics were examined using descriptive statistics, and paired sample t-tests were used to quantify changes from baseline to the two-week post-treatment endpoint. Eight participants with Section 56 exemptions (four females, Mage = 52.3 years), all with cancer diagnoses, fully completed baseline and endpoint surveys. Significant improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms, pain, fear of COVID-19, quality of life, and spiritual well-being were observed. Attitudes towards death, medical assistance in dying, and desire for hastened death remained unchanged. While most participants found the psilocybin sessions highly meaningful, if challenging, one reported a substantial decrease in well-being due to the experience. These preliminary data are amongst the first to suggest that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy can produce psychiatric benefits in real-world patients akin to those observed in clinical trials. Limited enrollment and individual reports of negative experiences indicate the need for formal real-world evaluation programs to surveil the ongoing expansion of legal access to psychedelics.

Abstract: Identifying and promoting students’ social-emotional strengths is essential in building their mental health. Covitality, representing the co-occurrence of psychological strengths, is a helpful framework for characterizing students’ well-being. This study used latent profile analysis to identify adolescents’ (n = 11,217; 50.3% female, 37.8% male; grades 9 [33.7%], 10 [21.0%], 11 [28.9%], and 12 [16.5%]) covitality patterns across 12 social-emotional health domains. We investigated whether student demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, parent educational attainment, ethnic identification) were related to profile membership. We further examined profiles’ relations to students’ proximal academic and mental health outcomes, including self-reported grades, school connectedness, life satisfaction, and psychological distress. Four covitality profiles were identified—High, Moderate-High, Moderate-Low, and Low. Profile membership was statistically significantly related to students’ sex and socioeconomic circumstances but with small effect sizes. We identified consistent differences across covitality profiles on student self-reported proximal outcomes. Overall, students in profiles with higher covitality levels (High and Moderate-High) reported (a) higher grades, school connectedness, and life satisfaction and (b) less psychological distress, with students in the High profile reporting the most favorable outcomes. Assessing students’ strengths and providing interventions focused on building strengths across domains are recommended.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a 12-week physical activity intervention for caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Method: Family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia were recruited and randomized into either a physical activity group (n = 31) or a control group (n = 31). The 12-week "Physical Activity Program" consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up activities as the initial segment, 20 minutes of rhythmic exercises as the activity segment, 10 minutes of cool-down exercises as the final segment, and 40 minutes of free walking. The physical activity program was designed to accommodate the ergonomics and physiological structure of the caregiver. The program consisted of 12 sessions. The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to the physical activity and control groups before the program's implementation. Results: A total of 62 caregivers were randomized to the intervention (n = 31) or control group (n = 31). Postintervention measurement was completed by 61 caregivers, and all the caregivers completed the intervention. Mean scores of Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale score and Beck Depression Inventory score in the physical activity group of caregivers at postintervention, significantly reduced at <.05 level than their mean baseline scores. Conclusions: Engagement in a 12-week physical activity intervention can improve the perceived burden of caregiving and symptoms of depression. Future research should examine with larger sample groups, carry out interventions, and apply the physical activity intervention by targeting caregivers, along with different interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Shortness of breath occurs in 10%-70% of oncology patients. Very little is known about interindividual variability in its severity and distress and associated risk factors. Using latent profile analyses (LPAs), purpose was to identify subgroups of patients with distinct severity and distress profiles for shortness of breath as single symptom dimensions. In addition, a joint LPA was done using patients severity AND distress ratings. For each of the three LPAs, differences among the shortness of breath classes in demographic, clinical, symptom, stress, and resilience characteristics were evaluated. METHODS: Patients completed ratings of severity and distress from shortness of breath a total of six times over two cycles of chemotherapy. All of the other measures were completed at enrollment (i.e., prior to the second or third cycle of chemotherapy). Separate LPAs were done using ratings of severity and distress, as well as a joint analysis using severity AND distress ratings. Differences among the latent classes were evaluated using parametric and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: For severity, two classes were identified (Slight to Moderate [91.6%] and Moderate to Severe [8.4%]). For distress, two classes were identified (A Little Bit to Somewhat [83.9%] and Somewhat to Quite a Bit [16.1%]). For the joint LPA, two classes were identified (Lower Severity and Distress [79.9%] and Higher Severity and Distress [20.1%]). While distinct risk factors were associated with each of the LPAs, across the three LPAs, the common risk factors associated with membership in the worse class included: a past or current history of smoking, poorer functional status, and higher comorbidity burden. In addition, these patients had a higher symptom burden and higher levels of cancer-specific stress. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians can use the information provided in this study to identify high-risk patients and develop individualized interventions.

Although studies on the dual-continua model have demonstrated that distress and well-being are two separate but interrelated factors of mental health, only limited research exists regarding these concepts for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual+ (LGBTQIA+) individuals. The present study aimed to investigate the factor structure of mental health in the LGBTQIA+ community. The second aim was to investigate whether different correlates are relevant for the prediction of well-being and psychological distress in LGBTQIA+ individuals when these mental health outcomes are considered separately. LGBTQIA+ individuals from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland were recruited via collaborating organizations and social media to participate in a cross-sectional survey. Participants (n = 1,686, Mage = 27.74) completed self-report measures of well-being and psychological distress. Included correlates were self-esteem, social support, resilience, and various minority stress factors. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and latent regression analyses. A very strong correlation at the latent level (r = −.82) suggested that well-being and psychological distress refer to opposite poles of mental health in the LGBTQIA+ sample. Different minority stress factors were relevant for the prediction of well-being and distress when these factors were disentangled. The present study highlights the close inverse relation between well-being and distress in LGBTQIA+ individuals. Several correlates were found that could inform tailored counseling for LGBTQIA+ community members, irrespective of whether the focus is on positive or negative aspects of mental health. Public Significance Statement: This study indicates that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual+ (LGBTQIA+) individuals do not view their mental health independently of their problems. Well-being and psychological distress in this LGBTQIA+ sample showed a strong negative relationship. Tailored treatments that reduce the distress of LGBTQIA+ individuals may simultaneously increase their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We examined the role of personal identity vis-à-vis COVID-related outcomes among college students from seven U.S. campuses during spring/summer 2021. Participants: The present sample consisted of 1,688 students (74.5% female, age range 18-29). The sample was ethnically diverse, and 57.3% were first-generation students. Procedures: Students completed an online survey assessing personal identity synthesis and confusion, COVID-related worries, general internalizing symptoms, positive adaptation, and general well-being. Results: Personal identity synthesis was negatively related to COVID-related worries and general internalizing symptoms, and positively related to positive adaptation, both directly and indirectly through life satisfaction and psychological well-being. Personal identity confusion evidenced an opposing set of direct and indirect associations with outcome variables. Conclusions: Personal identity may potentially be protective against pandemic-related distress among college students, in part through its association with well-being. Reducing identity confusion and promoting identity synthesis are essential among college students during this and future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusionsClinical ImplicationsOur understanding of elder abuse (EA) phenomena has largely been shaped from the perspective of researchers and professionals whose conceptualizations often differ from the perceptions of older adults who experience mistreatment. This study sought to understand the most distressing aspects of EA victimization from the perspective of survivors.Using a descriptive phenomenological approach, individual interviews were conducted with a diverse sample (n = 32) of EA survivors, recruited from EA support and Adult Protective Services programs in New York City and Los Angeles. Analysis followed a constant comparison process involving two independent coders to understand distressing aspects of EA victimization.The following themes emerged as the most distressing aspects of EA victimization: fear, disbelief, disrespect, concern for perpetrator and other family members, feelings of loss, and incongruity between survivor wishes and systemic responses. Distressing aspects of EA victimization spanned personal, relational, and systemic levels of ecological influence.Findings from this study advance basic knowledge on EA phenomena and carry direct implications for programs designed to support and meet the needs of survivors.Findings identify particularly distressing psycho-emotional aspects of EA victimization for clinicians interacting with survivors that can serve as targets of intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionMethods and designDiscussionRegistrationBest practice guidelines state that psychosocial interventions should be the first line of treatment for people with dementia who are experiencing distress. However, little research explores psychosocial support for those experiencing the most complex symptoms of distress in inpatient mental health wards. Music therapy may reduce behaviours of distress and staff report it to be helpful, yet interventions are not common in the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, and the type and method of delivery vary.This study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, will co-develop and pilot a standardised protocol and guide, MELODIC (Music Therapy Embedded in the Life Of Dementia Inpatient Care), for music therapy in NHS inpatient mental health dementia wards. Two reviews, using realist and systematic methods, will be conducted to increase understanding of the current evidence base. Focus groups will then be facilitated to explore experiences of distress and the use of music on wards. MELODIC v1 will then be co-designed with experts by experience and stakeholders, and piloted on two NHS wards with differing experiences of music therapy. Mixed methods data collection will support protocol and theory refinement and establish the appropriateness of the methods to inform a future trial. Ethical approval has been received for all research activities.The protocol and findings will be disseminated in academic, clinical and public spaces. MELODIC can then be tested for feasibility and acceptability, with clinical and cost-effectiveness ultimately established in a definitive randomised controlled trial.Realist review: CRD42023409635; systematic review: CRD42023429983. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Design Methods Results Conclusions The healthcare work environment has numerous stressors that can contribute to distress and poor health outcomes among nurses. The impact of distress can be detrimental, resulting in nurses leaving the profession. Thus, it is critical to explore factors in the work environment that contribute to the distress symptoms and behaviors that promote nurses' health.This study aimed to examine the constructs associated with the conceptual model of distress, such as the work environment, specifically workload and the practice environment (quality of care, salary, staffing, time, and satisfaction) and associations with psychological distress, sleep disturbance, and health promotion behaviors in nurses, using structural equation modeling.This study was a cross‐sectional survey design collected as part of the Nurse Worklife and Wellness Study (NWWS) using balanced stratified sampling methods.A confirmatory factor analysis tested the factorial structure of the latent constructs using weighted least squares estimation with missing data (WLSMV) for the sample (n = 1170). A structural equation modeling approach examined the direct and indirect associations between workload, practice environment, health promotion behaviors, psychological distress symptoms, sleep disturbance, and health.Based on the confirmatory factor analysis, the measurement model reported adequate model fit (CFI = 0.96; TLI = 0.95; SRMR = 0.048 and RMSEA = 0.039). The structural model showed that the workload was related to significantly increased psychological distress (β = 1.47, p < 0.001), sleep disturbance (β = 1.22, p < 0.01), and decreased overall health (β = −1.36, p < 0.01). Similarly, a positive practice environment was associated with significantly higher psychological distress (β = 1.61, p < 0.001), sleep disturbance (β = 1.31, p < 0.01), and lower overall health (β = −1.51, p < 0.01). Workload and the practice environment were associated with significantly increased health promotion behaviors such as interpersonal relations, spiritual growth, stress management, physical activity, and nutrition. A statistically significant indirect relationship was found between workload and psychological distress, mediated by health promotion behaviors. Psychological and physical health promotion had restorative effects in relation to decreasing the impact of distress and sleep disturbance while increasing overall health.Our results highlight the need to improve the work environment by decreasing the nurses' workload and using health promotion behaviors to mitigate nurses' psychological distress. Future studies should focus on exploring distress in the context of non‐pandemic work conditions and finding ways to promote coping behaviors in nurses. In addition, healthcare organizations should develop policies and strategies to incentivize nurses' participation in health promotion behaviors to promote their well‐being and ultimately stabilize the nursing workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Diabetes ranks among the most common chronic conditions in childhood and adolescence. It is unique among chronic conditions, in that clinical outcomes are intimately tied to how the child or adolescent living with diabetes and their parents or carers react to and implement good clinical practice guidance. It is widely recognized that the individual's perspective about the impact of trying to manage the disease together with the burden of self‐management should be addressed to achieve optimal health outcomes. Standardized, rigorous assessment of behavioural and mental health outcomes is crucial to aid understanding of person‐reported outcomes alongside, and in interaction with, physical health outcomes. Whilst tempting to conceptualize person‐reported outcomes as a focus on perceived quality of life, the reality is that health‐related quality of life is multi‐dimensional and covers indicators of physical or functional health status, psychological well‐being and social well‐ being.In this context, this Consensus Statement has been developed by a collection of experts in diabetes to summarize the central themes and lessons derived in the assessment and use of person‐reported outcome measures in relation to children and adolescents and their parents/carers, helping to provide a platform for future standardization of these measures for research studies and routine clinical use.This consensus statement provides an exploration of person‐reported outcomes and how to routinely assess and incorporate into clincial research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined internet users aged 18–24 years based on their generalised (i.e. internet and smartphone) and specific (i.e. gaming, frequency of gaming, time spent in video game sessions) problematic internet use behaviours, and their relations with sociodemographic variables and psychosocial risk factors. The sample included 851 Italian young adults (51.9% females; Mage = 21.62 ± 1.58 years). Five different profiles of young adults characterised by unique patterns of generalised and specific problematic internet use were identified through the latent profile analysis (LPA): (1) non-problematic internet users, (2) normative internet and gaming users, (3) non-problematic gamers, (4) problematic internet users, and (5) problematic gamers. Significant differences were observed among profiles on several auxiliary variables, with problematic internet users and problematic gamers displaying higher levels of psychological distress, emotion dysregulation, dissociative experiences, attachment insecurity and loneliness, as well as lower levels of satisfaction of basic psychological needs, self-esteem, and perceived social support. The study findings support the view that a relatively small subgroup of internet users may need tailored intervention to reduce their maladaptive use of internet services and improve their psychological well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract:Introduction: Informal caregiving can lead to burnout. The relationship between burnout and negative states has been the subject of extensive research. This study analyzes the mediation role of a positive psychological variable – the quality of the carer-patient relationship – between psychological distress and informal carers' burnout. Methods: We recruited Portuguese informal carers of adult cancer patients online (N = 92) to answer the Quality of Carer-Patient Relationship Scale gauging relationship quality, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales assessing psychological distress, and the Maslach Burnout Interview-Human Services Survey evaluating the dimensions of burnout, depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and reduced personal accomplishment. The cross-sectional data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, correlations, multiple regressions, and simple mediation analysis. Results: Our results show that psychological distress variables directly affect burnout dimensions, and that relationship quality has a significant indirect effect on each burnout dimension, suggesting that relationship quality partially mediates the association between each distress dimension – depression, anxiety, and stress – and each of the burnout components – depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and personal accomplishment. Discussion/Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of intervening in informal caregiver mental health and patient-caregiver relationships and encourages further investigation into the dynamics of the studied variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are correlated with patient outcomes in cancer. This study aimed to determine associations between the CRP level and the dietary intake, symptoms, and eating-related distress (ERD). Methods: We conducted a multicenter survey among advanced cancer patients. Information on patient characteristics was retrieved from the electronic medical records. Data on patient outcomes were obtained through the questionnaire. Patients were categorized into the low CRP group (<5 mg/dL) and the high CRP group (≥5 mg/dL). Comparisons were calculated using the Mann–Whitney U test or chi-squared test. To assess associations between CRP levels and ERD, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: A total of 191 patients were enrolled and divided into the low CRP group (n = 117) and the high CRP group (n = 74). The high CRP group had a more reduced dietary intake (p = 0.002) and more severe appetite loss (p = 0.008). The total scores of the ERD questionnaire (both the long and short versions) were significantly higher in the high CRP group (p = 0.040 and 0.029). The high CRP group also had significantly higher risks for ERD, as assessed using the long and short versions of the questionnaire (odds ratio [OR] 2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–4.11; OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.05–4.05). Conclusions: High CRP levels were significantly associated with reduced dietary intake, appetite loss, and ERD. A serum CRP value of 5 mg/dL may be a useful indicator for initiating cancer cachexia care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychological distress impacts 35–40% of cancer patients, significantly affecting their quality of life, treatment adherence, and relationships with healthcare professionals. Given this, there is a critical need to enhance nursing competencies to effectively monitor and address psychological distress. Previous studies have highlighted discrepancies in capabilities based on nurses' training status, emphasizing trained nurses' critical role in providing appropriate psycho–social referrals. Objective: To evaluate the impact that trained nurses have on the detection of distress and the timely referral of patients for a psycho–oncology consultation. Methods: A blinded, random, descriptive, monocentric pilot study was conducted. The participants were adult patients in Day Hospital 1 of the National Cancer Institute Regina Elena, Rome, irrespective of illness stage. Tools used included a socio-demographic and clinical data form, distress thermometer (DT), and visual analogic scale (VAS). Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group A, where questionnaires were administered by trained nurses, and Group B, where non-trained nurses administered questionnaires. Nurses indicated whether patients needed a psycho–oncology consultation. All patients were then seen by a psycho–oncology specialist to determine whether the nurse's referral was appropriate. Patients and psycho–oncologists were all unaware of the nurses' training status. The effectiveness of the training was measured by the degree of agreement between evaluators. Results: This study involved 20 patients and four nurses. The average DT score was 5, mainly related to physical and emotional problems. Agreement between evaluators was higher in the trained nurses' group. Conclusions: Specific training on DT enabled nurses to acquire advanced skills to accurately refer patients for psychological consultations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aims Methods Results Conclusion Reporting Method Patient or Public Contribution This study aims to assess the correlation between antipsychotic drug use, psychological distress and cardiovascular risk factors among patients with schizophrenia.A cross‐sectional correlational design was used to obtain data from 143 patients with schizophrenia who were conveniently selected. Data were collected by assessing selected cardiovascular risk indicators blood pressure (BP), random blood sugar (RBS), body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐height ratio (WtHR) and waist circumference (WC). A self‐administered questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, clinical history and the 18‐item Psychological Stress Index for patients with schizophrenia.The use of antipsychotics was associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors including BP, BMI and WtHR. Atypical antipsychotic medications were associated with weight gain and obesity which increase the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Age was significantly correlated with systolic BP (r = 0.31), diastolic BP (r = 0.30) and RBS (r = 0.26). Furthermore, significant correlations were found between the duration of diagnosis with systolic (r = 0.26) and diastolic (r = 0.21) BP. None of the correlations between stress and the other study variables were significant.Screening of antipsychotic side effects is needed in the early phases, and attention must be paid to the cardiovascular risk in patients with schizophrenia, particularly BP, glucose level and BMI. In addition, clinicians should be informed of this evidence to set guidelines for regular monitoring of metabolic parameters.STROBE guidelines were followed in this study.Actively involving patients in data collection, this study ensured that their voices were heard and their experiences were central to informing the research findings. In addition, involving patients in the study would enhance the relevance and applicability of the study's conclusions to real‐world contexts, promoting patient‐centered care and improved health outcomes for patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Access to essential and emergency newborn care services remains a challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in rural and remote areas where various factors increase maternal and newborn vulnerability. The scarcity of midwives on a global scale further strains obstetric and neonatal services, as midwives work at the forefront in many LMICs. In Ghana, neonatal deaths at birth and within 24 h contribute significantly to infant mortality rate, with midwives caring as frontline health workers. However, there is limited exploration of midwives' experiences in managing these situations. This study aimed to unveil the meanings and articulate the experiences of midwives who face newborns with respiratory distress at birth in rural southern Ghana. Methods: Interpretive Phenomenological approach was used to explore thirteen (13) midwives' experiences of managing newborns in respiratory distress in rural birth settings amidst scare life saving resources, skilled staff shortage and limited advanced health care. The midwives were purposively sampled from the Shai-Osudoku district and data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Content analysis was conducted on the interview transcripts and rich narratives developed in the research report. Results: Rural midwives have limited access to newborn lifesaving equipment, adequate training, skill staff support, and timely advance care for newborns. These issues are driving factors for newborn referral in rural health care, but transportation gaps impede timely advance care delivery. Rural midwives' inadequate psychosocial support and lack of enabling work environment engender moral distress with emotional burden requiring sustained attention from national leadership, as well as midwifery professional networks and regulatory bodies. Conclusion: Newly qualified midwives require sustainable support as they struggle in birth spaces where ethical questions emerge as family members are engaged as support persons in neonatal resuscitation. Future research is needed to investigate Chiefs, Queen Mothers and Community Elders' engagement in community-based interventions to support timely access to quality care and midwives' heroic practices of saving maternal/newborn lives in rural Ghana to help achieve SDG 3.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gliomas, the most common primary brain tumours, are classified based on histology and molecular genetics. Glioblastomas (GBM) are highly aggressive and are graded as WHO grade 4, while astrocytoma and oligodendrogliomas fall under WHO grades 2-3 (4). Gliomas affect 6 per 100,000 people, with a higher incidence in men. GBM has the poorest prognosis, whereas grade 2 astrocytoma and oligodendrogliomas show better outcomes. Quality of life (QoL) is now a crucial therapeutic goal alongside survival. Despite the impact of gliomas on QoL, especially given their incurability and progressive neurological deficits, research specifically comparing QoL and psycho-oncological stress in GBM versus grade 2 gliomas (glioma_2) remains limited. This study aims to fill that gap using validated measurement methods. Methods: This retrospective, single-centre study investigated differences in QoL among neuro-oncological patients using the Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), Distress Thermometer (DT), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and EORTC-QLQ-C30-BN20. Data were collected before chemotherapy or radiotherapy to avoid therapy impact on QoL. Out of 2258 patients screened until June 30, 2022, 639 had glioblastoma or WHO grade 2 gliomas, with 223 meeting inclusion criteria for analysis. Results: The study included 161 GBM and 62 Glioma_2 patients, with 64% of all patients being male. The mean age was 58.11 years (SD ± 16.186). The DT did not show significant differences between GBM and glioma_2 glioma patients (median GBM:6 vs. 5 in glioma_2, p=0.480). However, the HADS-D indicates that GBM patients experience significantly more depression (median GBM 4.5 vs. 4 in glioma_2, p=0.033), though anxiety levels are similar in both groups (median GBM. 6 vs. 6 in glioma_2, p=0.867). The KPS (median GBM 70 vs. 90 in glioma_2, p<0.001) and specific aspects of the EORTC-QLQ-C30-BN20 questionnaire demonstrate that GBM patients have notably greater physical impairments than glioma_2 patients at diagnosis. Overall, GBM patients report worse quality of life compared to glioma_2 patients (median GBM 50 vs. 67 in glioma_2, p<0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that distress is present in glioma patients regardless of their histopathological grading, even though GBM patients show higher depression levels and more physical limitations. Targeted anxiety management and early depression screening are essential for all glioma patients. Early QoL screening and making QoL a therapeutic goal benefits patient care and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the role of purpose in life in a sample of patients with Parkinson's disease and its correlations with well-being, quality of life, psychological distress, and motor function; and to compare patients reporting higher versus lower levels of purpose in life. Method: 59 patients completed the Purpose in Life subscale Scales and other questionnaires concerning quality of life, personal well-being, and psychological distress. Their motor function was assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery. They were divided into (1) High purpose in life individuals—HPIL—(n = 23); (2) Low purpose in life individuals—LPIL—(n = 36). Bivariate correlations between questionnaires and ANOVA between-group were calculated. Results: Purpose in life was significantly and positively correlated to well-being, quality of life and motor function, and negatively to psychological distress. After controlling for age, gender, marital status, years from diagnosis and dopamine medication, HPIL individuals reported significantly higher levels of well-being, quality of life, better physical functioning and lower distress. Discussion: Purpose in life is strongly associated with mental well-being and motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease. These findings suggested the importance of developing interventions to promote purpose in life also in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical practice exposes physicians to numerous stressors, leading to high rates of psychological distress and burnout, a problem that begins during medical school. Scientific evidence suggests that promoting compassion among physicians could improve their well-being and promote patient-centered care. However, the mechanisms underlying these benefits remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the mediators and moderators of changes in psychological distress and well-being following Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) among medical students. A randomized controlled trial with 40 medical students assigned to an 8-week CCT program or a waitlist control group was conducted. Participants were assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and a 2-month follow-up on measures of psychological distress, well-being, mindfulness, compassion, emotion regulation, and burnout. Results indicated that CCT led to significant reductions in stress and anxiety immediately after the program, mediated by improvements in emotion regulation and mindfulness skills. Gender moderated changes in stress, anxiety, depression, and well-being at post-intervention, with women benefiting more than men, though these differences were not sustained at follow-up. In conclusion, this study contributes to the growing body of literature on the benefits of compassion training in healthcare and provides insights into the mechanisms through which compassion could support physicians and medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women diagnosed with gynecological cancer are likely to face additional consequences beyond those common to all cancer patients leading to significant physical and psychological morbidity. Longitudinal studies addressing the prevalence of psychological distress, anxiety, or psychosexual health during follow-up in patients diagnosed with borderline ovarian tumors are lacking. This study explores this prevalence compared with controls who underwent comparable surgical treatment for benign ovarian tumors. A prospective 1:1 nonmatched case-control study was set up, registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under number NCT 04253327. Thirty early stage borderline ovarian tumor patients participated, and 30 controls were included. The study materials consisted of different questionnaires. A general one on patient's sociodemographic and medical information. A questionnaire about anxiety and distress made up of three validated questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and Body Image Scale. As last one the psychosexual health questionnaire consisted of the Female Sexual Function Index, the Female Sexual Distress Scale and two European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires. Both groups were comparable and did not differ significantly in terms of demographic characteristics. Patients with early stage borderline ovarian tumors experience a significant higher burden of mental health issues due to disease and treatment and/or are more worried about their future health. Surprisingly, both early stage borderline ovarian tumor patients and controls showed high levels of anxiety and moderate stress. Many patients in both groups experience sexual dysfunction and distress. These findings support active screening for anxiety, depression and psychosexual perturbance during postoperative follow-up to accommodate this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's independent mobility (CIM) represents their freedom to travel in their neighborhood without adult supervision. Secular declines in CIM coincided with a major increase in mental health problems among children. We investigated relationships between two indicators of CIM and parent-perceived child distress in a national longitudinal study involving 2,291 Canadian parents of 7- to 12-year-olds at baseline (December 2020) with up to four follow-ups, every six months. We assessed mobility licenses (i.e. children's permission to do certain activities on their own) with 6 items, and home range (i.e. how far [in minutes] children can roam with friends and/or siblings) with a 4-point item. We used generalized estimating equations controlling for children's age and gender, household income, study wave, school attendance, and COVID-19 isolation in the week preceding the survey. At each successive time point, 51.8%, 44.0%, 43.2% and 42.4% of children experienced clinically elevated distress. Compared to children allowed to roam <5 min, children allowed to roam 5–15 min (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.67–0.88) or >15-minutes (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.51–0.72) had lower odds of elevated distress. However, CIM licenses were not associated with distress. Our findings underscore the need to support extending children's home range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education professionals often face distress, making it essential to prepare them to navigate it during their university education. This involves promoting experiential learning practices that foster critical, reflective thinking and encourage engagement with others and oneself. Such approaches can improve well-being by assigning new meanings to experiences and guiding future actions. Our contribution, part of the collaborative Erasmus+ project involving Milano-Bicocca University, examines these themes within education. Within this project, two experts by experience in mental health co-designed and co-conducted some lessons in the bachelor's degree in educational sciences. Feedback from a focus group involving students who attended these lessons offers valuable insights for reflecting on ways to develop new visions of educational practices oriented towards professional well-being, particularly in the field of mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the factors contributing to distress for medical trainees to better understand residents' perspectives regarding contributors to distress in different specialties and at various stages of training. By better understanding these contributors to distress, the authors aimed to inform the design of optimal interventions to reduce burnout and other emotional distress. Objectives: This study used a qualitative research approach to grounded theory to identify factors that contributed to resident distress during 2021–2022 in multiple different specialties and at different postgraduate years of residency. By better understanding these contributors to distress, the aim was to inform the design of optimal interventions to reduce burnout and other emotional distress. Methods: The residents enrolled in this study completed a demographic survey and semistructured interview. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Data analysis included developing codes inductively, grouping codes into categories, and describing themes. Recruitment continued until data analysis indicated theoretical saturation/sufficiency had been reached. A qualitative research approach to grounded theory was used to identify themes and relationships among themes to better understand how the sources of distress affected the trainees of various specialties and postgraduate levels of training. Results: Thirty-three participants (15 medical-based, 9 hospital-based, and 9 surgical-based residents) participated in interviews between 2021 and 2022. Seven themes described sources of distress and potential ameliorating factors: workload, support and community, culture, resident outlook, institutional resources, work-life balance, and coronavirus disease 2019. The grounded theory highlights that these factors can collectively influence work-life balance and distress. Conclusions: The findings of the grounded theory qualitative analysis were used to examine ways to better mitigate the sources of distress that the residents enrolled in this study described. As institutions strive to diminish distress among residents, they can consider opportunities to assess environmental factors and design targeted interventions for their institutions or programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association between burnout, psychological distress, ward atmosphere, and working alliance (WA) among mental health workers treating patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD). Data were collected from 345 patients with SSD and 151 mental health workers across 98 residential facilities (RFs) as part of the DiAPAson project from October 2020 to October 2021. Participants were excluded from the study if they exhibited patient‐operator matching errors, dropped out, or had many missing Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scores. The final sample included 282 patients and 155 healthcare workers. Burnout was assessed using the MBI. Psychological distress was evaluated with the 12‐item version of the General Health Questionnaire. WA and ward atmosphere were evaluated with the WA Inventory and the Ward Atmosphere Scale, respectively, in both staff and patients. Sociodemographic and clinical data was also collected and analysed. Burnout was associated with a less supportive ward atmosphere, a weaker WA, and higher staff distress. Severe psychiatric symptoms evaluated with Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale in patients were also linked to staff burnout levels. Discrepancies in the perceptions of the ward atmosphere and the WA were observed between staff and patients, with patients reporting better perceptions in both domains. Our findings highlight the complex dynamics of well‐being within psychiatric care settings, emphasizing the importance of role clarity, professional autonomy, and a positive ward atmosphere in mitigating burnout. Interventions focused on such factors may help support mental health professionals involved in SSD patient care. ISRCTN registry ID ISRCTN21141466. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To carry out research with genetically modified animals, their genotype has to be assessed. A standard protocol to obtain required tissue samples from zebrafish is finclipping. However, some studies reported considerable stress induced by this protocol. We therefore assessed ventilation as a read-out for stress in zebrafish that underwent finclipping during routine genotyping in our fish facility. Our analysis could not confirm a strong increase of ventilation as had been previously reported. Instead, handled zebrafish showed ventilation rates in the range of controls that remained in their holding tanks. Additionally, we detected a slight reduction of ventilation rates up to an hour after anaesthesia in zebrafish treated with tricaine only, suggesting a prolonged protecting effect by this anaesthetic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The AYA Psycho-Oncology Screening Tool was developed to assess adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients' distress during cancer treatment. The on-treatment distress screening tool has been validated with AYAs and includes a 10-point distress thermometer (DT) and a 53-item problem checklist (PCL). However, previous studies have not solely examined AYA cancer distress within a children's hospital. Therefore, our project aimed to explore AYA distress in a pediatric cancer setting. Methods: AYA-aged participants (aged ≥15) were given the distress screener initially within 1 month of diagnosis and every 2, 4, or 6 months, depending on their previous distress score. Chi-square, independent t-tests, and binary logistic regressions were conducted for data analysis. Results: Between January 2021 and July 2022, we completed 123 screenings in 68 AYAs (age 15–30) on treatment. Average DT score was 2.96 with 30% of participants endorsing distress levels of 5 and above. There were statistically significant differences by sex as females endorsed higher levels of distress compared with males. Adolescents (<18) endorsed statistically significant higher frequency of emotional PCL items in comparison with young adults (≥18). There were no differences by race or diagnosis. Conclusions: Our team gained awareness of specific areas of concerns for AYAs, allowing for more targeted interventions for distressed participants. Certain demographic variables may put participants at risk for increased distress. As a result of the project, a protocol has been developed to follow up with participants if they report a certain distress score (5 or above) and/or endorse critical items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychological (meaning in life, science attitude, internal locus of control, religiosity), and social factors (social support, cohesion) can counteract stressor-related distress. We investigated these factors' links with peri-pandemic distress (depression, anxiety, intrusions) and whether they weakened the impact of being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We compared prior East and West Germans on predictors and distress to investigate if their different backgrounds created lasting differences. Methods: A population-representative German sample aged 45 to 70 (N = 380) in terms of age, sex, and school education completed online questionnaires in May–July 2020 and June–July 2021. We examined the predictive relations with correlation, forward inclusion regression, and moderation analyses. Results: Social support predicted lower distress, also prospectively. Meaning in life predicted lower distress cross-sectionally. Religiosity predicted greater distress. Life meaning and social support partly weakened the link between being affected by the pandemic and distress, religiosity and science attitude strengthened this link. The only significant East/West difference was in religiosity, which was higher in the West. Conclusion: Social resources appeared particularly important in adjusting to the pandemic. The identified predictors may inform interventions. East and West Germans' similarity might indicate that their post-war separation did not create lasting differences in the investigated factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in short-term and long-term health, economic, and social repercussions since its outbreak in December 2019. More research is required to determine how the pandemic impacts various segments of the population. Preliminary research suggests that COVID-19 impacts menstrual cycles in different ways. The primary objective of this study was to assess alterations in menstrual cycles among women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the pandemic. A cross-sectional online study was conducted between October 2022 and January 2023, enrolled 439 UAE women using the snowball technique. The Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale were used to evaluate menstrual symptoms and assess depression and stress levels, respectively. The findings showed a significant increase in menstrual symptoms with both higher mean of pads usage per day and use of pain medication during menses after COVID-19 with a p-value <0.001. Moreover, women reported higher levels of psychological distress after COVID-19 (Beta = 1.47). The findings show that COVID-19 affected the menstrual symptoms in women, reflected by higher pads usage per day, bleeding days, and frequency of pain medication intake during menses. Furthermore, higher stress levels were reported in the post-COVID-19 period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Diabetes distress (DD) refers to the emotional and behavioural challenges associated with managing this demanding chronic disease over time. DD is alarmingly common and it has a significant impact on self‐management behaviours and clinical outcomes. Thus, there is growing recognition that DD is a pressing problem that deserves careful attention in clinical care. Translating the application of validated DD assessment and intervention protocols from the research to the clinical setting, however, presents challenges that require a reconsideration of some common assumptions about what DD is, how prevalent it is, how it presents itself clinically, how it might best be assessed and by whom. Methods: We employed data from six large‐scale studies using five common DD measures. Using these data, we review and challenge several common assumptions about DD. Results: These data suggest that, because of its relative ubiquity, DD should not be viewed as a 'co‐morbidity' or 'complication' of diabetes and it should not be seen as a mental health/illness 'condition'. Furthermore, we argue that DD assessment should: (1) be accepted as a standard part of comprehensive diabetes care, (2) occur regularly using broad rather than brief screening measures and (3) be addressed directly by diabetes clinicians, rather than exclusively by behavioural specialists. Conclusions: The results form the basis of a series of suggestions to enhance the translation, adoption and implementation of DD knowledge derived from the research setting directly into the real world of clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with negative procedural experiences have an increased risk of fear and distress, with psychological consequences for subsequent procedures and future healthcare behaviors. Gaining control and feeling trust are important aspects for children to decrease fear. To enable professionals providing personal care during medical procedures, a systematic, evidence-based approach that supports children in expressing their preferences is needed. This study will gain insight into the experiences and needs of professionals involved in small invasive medical procedures to meet the coping strategies and preferences of children undergoing these procedures. A qualitative design was used to gain insight into professionals' perspectives. Data were collected through online focus groups with various professionals involved in medical procedures, such as anesthetists, laboratory staff, nurses, and pediatricians. Five interdisciplinary focus groups, with a total of 32 participants, were held. One overarching theme was revealed: "Balancing between different actors within the context of the hospital." Professionals reported they had to deal with different actors during a medical procedure: the child, the parent, the colleague, and themselves. Each actor had its own interests. They were aware of the child and parents' priority to gain control and feel trust. Nevertheless, they perceive organizational and personal aspects that hinder addressing these needs. Conclusion: To provide personalized care, professionals experience balancing between the needs and interests of diverse actors during medical procedures. The findings underscore the importance of a policy supporting HCPs in integrating patient-centered care into practice through practical tools and training initiatives such as scenario training. What is Known: • Unresolved pain and stress arising from medical procedures can have significant short- and long-term impacts on children. Empowering children to gain control and fostering a sense of trust are crucial factors in reducing fear associated with medical procedures. • Children and parents expect to receive child-tailored care from professionals including respect for their own, unique needs, and boundaries. Professionals should build trustful relationships and provide appropriately tailored autonomy around medical procedures. What is New: • Healthcare professionals vary in their awareness of children's needs during a medical procedure. Beside this, the organizational dynamics of the hospital, along with the presence of actors such as the child, parent, colleague, and oneself, collectively influence the conduct of medical procedures. • Providing person-centered care during medical procedures can present challenges. The results highlight the significance of a policy to assist healthcare professionals in incorporating patient-centered care into their practice through practical tools and a culture of self-reflections regarding patient-centered values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic have serious traumatic effects on people, who may experience sleep problems, anxiety, and fear in the face of such a stressor. OBJECTIVE: This study is conducted to examine the relationship between sleep quality and fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and personality traits in working women. METHOD: This research was a descriptive study between June to August 2021. The study was conducted with 425 participants. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, COVID-19 Fear Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale, and the revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Short Form were applied to the participants. T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis, were used. RESULTS: In the study, it was found that the total average score of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was 18.83±5.5, while the score of sleep quality was 5.40±3.3 and the anxiety score was 14.01±12.4. On the other hand, the score of Extraversion was determined as 3.73±1.7, Neuroticism was 3.79±1.8, and Psychoticism was 1.97±1 in the study. Moreover, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between sleep quality and fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and neuroticism in working women (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbance; daytime dysfunction, use of sleep medication, sleep duration, sleep latency with anxiety; sleep latency, sleep quality, daytime dysfunction, sleep duration were found to be linked to neuroticism, and use of sleep medication and sleep duration were found to be linked to psychoticism. It was concluded that there was a relationship between sleep quality and fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and personality traits in working women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following Wright's theory, the process of acceptance of disability helps persons with an acquired disability to change their attitudes toward it. Consequently, a sense of self-satisfaction was developed, a de-emphasis on disability salience was placed, and compensatory behavioral qualities were acquired. Together, these factors promote an individual's adjustment according to disability-related strengths and difficulties. Our cross-sectional study examines how acceptance of disability influences flourishing, characterized by high well-being and low distress. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, two research questions were formulated: Would each factor of acceptance of disability positively predict each dimension of well-being? (RQ1); Would each factor of acceptance of disability negatively predict distress? (RQ2). Additionally, we considered gender effects. 107 Italian adults with acquired physical disabilities [Myear (SD) = 48.12 (14.87)] filled out an e-survey. Measures of acceptance of disability, well-being, and distress were used. The results indicate that self-satisfaction is a key predictor of flourishing while de-emphasizing disability salience only predicts purpose in life. Compensatory behavioral qualities predicted personal growth, positive relationships, life purposes, and self-acceptance. Gender did not significantly affect outcomes. Despite being preliminary, these initial results support the acceptance of disability as a personal resource for promoting flourishing. They suggest the potential for interventions to help individuals with disabilities process grief and accept their new self-representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a qualitative ethnographic exploration of professionally successful lifestyle migrants' self‐perceptions of premigration etiologies of "modern distress," and postmigration pathways of healing and outcomes in Guatemala. Reflexive accounts of perceived etiologies of distress include self‐commodification, atomization, and disengagement from "true‐selves" as stressors motivating relocation. Migrants depict postmigration healing practices as embedding popularized therapeutic narratives that amplify introspective self‐dialog reproducing hypercapitalist and emotional capitalist "liquid‐modern" unstable and disengaged selfhood. Constituting what we term a "pure relationship with the self," lifestyle migrants describe a "modern trap" of "addictive" chronic healing, self‐seeking, and unfulfillment while resultant self‐deliberations continue to exhibit no less liquid and potentially adaptive life paths. Implications will be considered pertaining to self‐dialogic therapeutic processes that reproduce distressed liquid selfhood and the potential of sites of self‐relocation to amplify socially disengaged introspection. Yet reflexive self‐dialog problematizes reductionist readings of structural subjectification, calling for further examination of the way distressed selfhood is a product of shifting social structures and zeitgeists but no less a self‐crafted outcome of self‐deliberation that critically evaluates emergent selves and alternative contexts of self‐constitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optimum efficiency and responsiveness to callers of mental health helplines can only be achieved if call priority is accurately identified. Currently, call operators making a triage assessment rely heavily on their clinical judgment and experience. Due to the significant morbidity and mortality associated with mental illness, there is an urgent need to identify callers to helplines who have a high level of distress and need to be seen by a clinician who can offer interventions for treatment. This study delves into the potential of using machine learning (ML) to estimate call priority from the properties of the callers' voices rather than evaluating the spoken words. Method: Phone callers' speech is first isolated using existing APIs, then features or representations are extracted from the raw speech. These are then fed into a series of deep learning neural networks to classify priority level from the audio representation. Results: Development of a deep learning neural network architecture that instantly determines positive and negative levels in the input speech segments. A total of 459 call records from a mental health helpline were investigated. The final ML model achieved a balanced accuracy of 92% correct identification of both positive and negative instances of call priority. Conclusions: The priority level provides an estimate of voice quality in terms of positive or negative demeanor that can be simultaneously displayed using a web interface on a computer or smartphone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between market participants' sentiment regarding distress in the real estate market, captured through internet search queries, and the U.S. commercial real estate market. We use Google search frequency to construct a measure of market perception of distress, the Market Distress Perception Index (MDP Index), and determine the extent to which this index can help predict future private commercial real estate returns in the U.S. The results show that our pessimistic sentiment index predicts returns of commercial real estate up to three quarters in advance. These results hold at the national, regional, and state levels and are robust across various model specifications. The predictability of the sentiment index is especially pronounced during recessionary periods. We also analyse different property sectors and find that the inverse relationship between the MDP Index and future private commercial real estate returns persists across all sectors except the industrial sector. The relationship is strongest for the office sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this pilot study a binaural pulse modulator was tested to see if it leads to a change in self-reported measures of distress. This binaural pulse modulator produces two frequencies that combine to create a binaural pulse to stimulate the nervous system through a differential auditory tone presentation and the response of the user can be adjusted to the appropriate target tone for effective treatment use. Each individual calibrated the binaural pulse to increase the level of emotion experienced while imagining an experience with a similar emotional valence or while engaged in a cognitive function while also listening to the sound. "Treatment" is based on the client's control of the binaural pulses to achieve the desired state. Training focuses on specific aspects of their psychological difficulties while listening to an auditory tone, turning a knob until the sound becomes uncomfortable. Finally, another knob is turned to cancel out the uncomfortable noise which appears to be associated with a reduction in distress. Case presentations: Four adult Hispanic participants (three females and one male) were studied with self-reported measures of distress (generalized anxiety disorder 7, Coronavirus Disease Stress Scale, posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and Beck depression scale II) were completed at screening, before treatment, after treatment, 4-weeks post-treatment, and 12-weeks post-treatment. Quantitative electroencephalogram and functional magnetic resonance imaging were also performed before and after treatment. Results: Preliminary findings indicated that at the end of treatment with binaural pulse modulator there were reported reductions in self-reported levels of distress. Quantitative electroencephalogram as well as functional magnetic resonance imaging changes in brain state were also noted when comparing pre- to post-treatment. Conclusions: binaural pulse modulator use appears to result in temporary changes in self-reported levels of distress during treatment. Limitations of the study are reviewed and directions for further research are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCancer is not only a physical illness but also a source of substantial emotional and psychological trauma and distress for patients. Oncology-related trauma stems from the uncertainty of diagnosis, invasive treatments, and the potential threat to life, leading to emotional distress, anxiety, and in some cases, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Addressing this trauma early is essential for patient well-being, as unresolved distress and trauma can exacerbate mental health challenges and hinder treatment adherence. Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) offers a framework to mitigate these issues by focusing on safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment in care settings. Organizational attention to trauma is critical, as healthcare environments that fail to address emotional distress can contribute to patient dissatisfaction, higher healthcare costs, and poorer outcomes. Oncology Social Workers (OSW) are professional that are positioned to lead the implementation of TIC due to their training in psychosocial care and trauma identification. OSWs role in healthcare encompasses not just individual patient support, but also educating healthcare teams, advocating for system-wide changes, and creating trauma-informed practices that benefit both patients, staff, and organizations. This manuscript discusses the implementation of TIC in oncology settings, recommending the use of a Trauma-Informed Assessment Protocol, such as the Distress Thermometer (DT), to facilitate early identification and intervention of distress, ultimately improving patient outcomes and organizational effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]