12190 research outputs found
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A Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Forensic Psychiatric Inpatients Who Hear Voices
No full textIndividuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychotic spectrum disorders frequently report distress from their experience of hearing voices. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated efficacy in decreasing distress from several physical and psychological problems (e.g., chronic pain, substance use cravings, etc.). The present study investigates the use of an MBI with 11 forensic inpatients in a public psychiatric hospital who reported hearing voices. This study used a within-subjects design to assess self-reported distress from hearing voices and clinical functioning before and after delivery of the MBI. On self-reported ratings of distress from voices, one participant showed reliable and clinically significant change in the recovery classification and another participant’s post-intervention scores fell in the improvement range. Six participants showed reliable and clinically significant improvement in their clinical functioning. Two participants showed deterioration in their clinical functioning from pre-test to post-test. The remaining participants (n=3) showed no clinically significant change. These findings suggest that some patients experienced improvements in their distress from hearing voices and clinical functioning after the intervention. The implications and limitations of these findings are discussed, and future directions of research are suggested
A Program Evaluation of a 2-Day Training for Comorbid Severe Mental Illnesses and Metabolic Disorders in Residential Settings
No full textHigh prevalence rates of comorbid metabolic disorders among individuals with severe mental illnesses (SMI) frequently lead to significant medical complications. Due to this, lifestyle changes are needed to reduce the progression of metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D and cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, several factors may impact their ability to attend to lifestyle changes. Yet residential staff frequently receive little to no training regarding behavioral activation skills and metabolic disorders. This pilot study was aimed at identifying the effects of a medically holistic training for residential staff. For the purposes of this study, a 2-day training incorporating health education, motivational interviewing, and mindful eating within the context of SMI was developed and implemented at a local behavioral healthcare agency. A repeated measures design was conducted with a total of 19 participants (76.5% female). The paired samples t-test demonstrated significant statistical improvements across several variables. Specifically, knowledge regarding T2D, t(18) = -2.60, p = .02, and CVD, t(18) = -2.24, p = .04 improved significantly. Participants’ perceived importance of self-management behaviors did not change; however, participants’ perceived self-confidence in helping their residents improve self-management behaviors regarding T2D, t(18) = -4.95, p \u3c .001, and CVD, t(18) = -4.01, p = .001, demonstrated significant improvement. Their perceived ability to generalize these skills was also increased, t(18) = -7.76, p \u3c .001. For observation purposes a within-factors ANOVA was calculated for the 8 participants who completed the 6-month follow-up, with no significant improvements found at the final point in time. The results of this pilot study indicate that a medically holistic training is a promising module which may help build residential staff knowledge and skills, thus potentially leading to increased engagement with residents. Future research with larger sample sizes to better assess the sustained effects of the training and potential mediating relationships is recommended
The Relationship between the Presence of a Courthouse Dog and Anxiety in Victims
No full textCourthouse Dogs are being utilized to help ease anxiety related to the judicial process for crime victims across the country. While there is anecdotal support for the use of Courthouse Dog programs, they lack support from empirical evidence. The purpose of this study was to provide the first piece of direct evidence in support of the use of Courthouse Dogs with adults, and to contribute to the existing research regarding the effects that the presence of any dog might have on subjective anxiety in adult populations. Eleven individuals were recruited from Yamhill County Courthouse in McMinnville, Oregon to participate in this exploratory survey study. Results suggest that the presence of a Courthouse Dog may lower subjective anxiety; however, as discussed in the limitations and future research sections, replication studies and studies with stronger methodologies are needed
The Intermingling Relationships Between Dogmatism, Religious Orientation, and Prejudice Within Different Religions
No full textThis study examined the relationship between dogmatism and religious orientation, and their influence on a non-prejudice measure, universal diverse orientation. Six religious orientations were examined: intrinsic, extrinsic (social and personal), indiscriminately proreligious, indiscriminately antireligious, quest, and immanence. Participants were obtained from major Christian religions and the nonreligious. Data were analyzed using correlational, multiple regression, and mediation analyses. There were several novel findings. For atheists, dogmatism and universal diverse orientation were significantly positively related. All other significant correlational findings for this relationship in the other religious groups and in the sample as a whole were in the opposite direction (a negative relationship). Dogmatism was found to mediate the effect between intrinsic religious orientation and universal diverse orientation. Finally, past studies have suggested further research with quest orientation. This study found quest orientation to be the only religious orientation consistently related to or predict universal diverse orientation. However, the small religious subsample sizes obtained for this study require further investigation into the relationship between dogmatism, religious orientation, and prejudice
Competence in Sentence Processing as a Measure of Social Adjustment and Quality of Life in Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury
No full textDiscourse analysis methodology and EEG/ERP methodology has been used to investigate language and communication problems following traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the relationship between the ERP P600, quality of life (QOL), and social adjustment (SA) have not been studied in individuals with TBI. The present study, therefore, examine the association between P600, QOL, SA by using cognitive assessment, EEG recording, and psychosocial measures. The hypothesis was that there would be a group/individual difference in cognitive functioning, individuals with TBI will have a P600 effect, and an association between P600, QOL, and SA. Despite the small sample size, significance was found for individual differences in a variety of cognitive test. Visual inspection and inferential analysis revealed that there no P600 effect. However, post-hoc analysis revealed a LAN effect and that the TBI group had significant negative correlation between participation (MPAI-4 subscale) and the average wave difference located on the left anterior and left posterior region. Implications of this study in the context of the literature on TBI, QOL, and SA are discussed
Public Perception of Veterans with PTSD Using Assistance Dogs
No full textThis study examined U.S. resident’s perception of veterans with PTSD using a service dog, psychiatric service dog, or an emotional support dog. An anonymous online survey was distributed through Qualtrics to examine the perceptions of U.S. adults who do not own a service dog, psychiatric service dog, or an emotional support dog. A total of 169 individuals responded to the online survey, yielding 122 usable responses. Results suggest widespread misconceptions about definitions and rights associated with assistance dogs. Although participants were not familiar with definitions, including qualifications of each assistance dog, or rights associated with assistance dogs, a large number of participants agreed with veterans using all 3 forms of assistance dogs
