Family nurture intervention alters relationships between preterm infant EEG delta brush characteristics and term age EEG power

ObjectiveFamily Nurture Intervention (FNI) facilitates mother/infant emotional connection, improves neurodevelopmental outcomes and increases electroencephalogram (EEG) power at term age. Here we explored whether delta brushes (DB), early EEG bursts that shape brain development, are altered by FNI and mediate later effects of FNI on EEG.MethodsWe assessed DB characteristics in EEG data from a randomized controlled trial comparing infants with standard care (SC, n = 31) versus SC + FNI (n = 33) at ~35 and ~40 weeks GA.ResultsCompared to SC infants, FNI infant DB amplitude increased more from ~35 to ~40 weeks, and FNI infants had longer duration DBs. DB parameters (rate, amplitude, brush frequency) at ~35 weeks were correlated with power at ~40 weeks, but only in SC infants. FNI effects on DB parameters do not mediate FNI effects on EEG power or coherence at term.ConclusionsDBs are related to subsequent brain activity and FNI alters DB parameters. However, FNI’s effects on electrocortical activity at term age are not dependent on its earlier effects on DBs.SignificanceWhile early DBs can have important effects on later brain activity in preterm infants, facilitating emotional connection with FNI may allow brain maturation to be less dependent on early bursts.     

A comparison of termination of pregnancy procedures: Patient choice,emotional impact and satisfaction with care

ObjectivesTo investigate: (1) whether women self-report an ability to choose their preferred termination of pregnancy (TOP) procedure, (2) what factors influence this choice, and (3) what effect this choice has on emotional responses and satisfaction with care.Study designA mixed-method prospective comparative study in which women requesting a TOP between five and eighteen weeks gestation for social reasons (as opposed to medical indications), were invited to complete a semi-structured pre-TOP interview and questionnaire, and a post-TOP questionnaire four weeks after the procedure.Main outcome measuresQuantitative data was collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Impact of Event Scale – Revised, and Client Satisfaction Questionnaire.ResultsPre-TOP emotion-based factors did not differ between groups. Most women felt that they were able to choose their preferred method of TOP. Their decisions were based on factors categorised as procedure-related, lifestyle or social circumstance-related, emotional, or other factors. When no choice was perceived, common reasons reported were that: (1) gestation was too far along for there to be another option, or (2) an appointment was not available within the required timeframe. When women felt that the method of TOP performed was not their choice they found the procedure more stressful. All women reported high satisfaction with care.ConclusionA better understanding of the patient experience can inform service development, enabling staff to ensure that the services provided meet women’s needs. The perception that one is able to choose their preferred TOP procedure is important for reducing procedure-related stress and ensuring high satisfaction with care.     

Mindfulness to regulate emotions: The Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence Program (PINEP) and its adaptation to a virtual learning platform

The present study examines the effect of the Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence Program (PINEP), adapted to the virtual learning platform Moodle where participants receive Mindfulness training in 12 sessions lasting an hour and a half. The sample consists of 89 people, assigned randomly to a control group on the waiting list and to an experimental group that undertakes the training. The results indicate that the participants who completed PINEP showed improvement in the variables of health, empathy and mindfulness, in comparison with the participants of the group on the waiting list.     

‘The body is a battleground for unwanted and unexpressed emotions’: exploring eating disorders and the role of emotional intelligence

Emotional difficulties have been observed in individuals with eating disorders across awide range of studies, including poor interoceptive awareness, confusion of emotional states and difficulties with emotional language. Literature has linked these difficulties with emotional functioning as being an important factor related to the core aetiology ofeating disorders, however limited knowledge exists to how this impacts on professionalability to engage patients within treatment as a result of such dysfunction. Using aqualitative design this paper explores how facets of Emotional intelligence (EI) are related to the experience of an eating disorder. The study sampled a total of 32 participants with either a professional background working with eating disorders (n=27)or participants with personal lived experience (n=5), with a number of the participants (n=13) identified as having dual roles. The findings of the study show that aspects of EIsuch as emotional regulation and lack of an emotional language are considered to beat the core of the onset and maintenance of these disorders. Additional aspects of emotional awareness and expression were found to be related to treatment disengagement and difficulties. Building on previous literature, this paper found suchemotional deficits as a transdiagnostic issue rather than specifically anorexia nervosa. Furthermore, such dysfunction was seen by professionals to have a considerable impact on therapeutic relationships and successful treatment. These findings provide insight into the potential applications that EI may have in addressing aspects of theeating disorder to create better outcomes for treatment and intervention models.     

The Impact of Emotional Exhaustion on Psychological Factors in Workers with Secondary Traumatic Experiences: A Multi-Group Path Analysis

Objective The objective of the present study was to explore causal pathways to understand how second traumatic experiences could affect the development of emotional exhaustion and psychiatric problems. Methods A total of 582 workers who had jobs vulnerable to secondary traumatic experiences were enrolled for this study. Emotional exhaustion, secondary trauma, resilience, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems were evaluated. A model with pathways from secondary traumatic experience score to depression and anxiety was proposed. The participants were divided into three groups according to the resilience: the low, middle and high resilience group. Results Resilience was a meaningful moderator between secondary traumatic experiences and psychiatric problems. In the path model, the secondary trauma and perceived stress directly and indirectly predicted perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems in all three groups. Direct effects of perceived stress on depression and anxiety were the largest in the low resilience group. However, direct effects of secondary trauma on perceived stress and emotional exhaustion were the largest in the high resilience group. Conclusion Understanding the needs of focusing for distinct psychological factors offers a valuable direction for the development of intervention programs to prevent emotional exhaustion among workers with secondary traumatic experiences.     

护理专业大学生情绪智力现状研究

目的探讨护理专业大学生情绪智力现状研究。方法采用目的抽样的方法将某医科院校的890名1~5年级护理专业的大学生(简称护生)纳入该组研究中,共采用情绪智力量表情绪智力量表统计调查大学本科、大学专科以及专科3个不同学历层次护生的情绪智力水平,针对存在的问题提出解决对策。结果所有护生的情绪智力量表总分平均分为(3.64±0.47)分,可以看出大多数护生的得分均处于中等水平;在4个情绪智力量表中,所有护生的情绪调节调控得分>调控他人情绪得分>情绪感知得分>运用情绪得分。且3组不同学历层次护生在调控他人情绪量表和情绪感知量表2两项因子评分和情绪智力量表总分方面相比较数据有明显的差异(P<0.05)。本科护生的情绪智力量表得分为(3.58±0.41)分,大专护生的情绪智力量表得分为(3.77±0.43)分,中专护生的情绪智力量表得分为(3.47±0.42)分;可见大专护生的情绪智力量表得分>本科护生>中专护生。一年级到五年级护生的情绪智力量表总分分别为(3.65±0.43)分、(3.43±0.47)分、(3.72±0.53)分、(3.31±0.46)分、(3.43±0.52)分;可见三年级的护生情绪智力总分较高,其次分别为一年级、五年级、二年级和四年级。结论护生的情绪智力总体水平不高,教育工作者与管理者需加强对护生情绪智力培养的重视,提高情绪智力水平,提升专业归属感和职业认同感,更好地融入到临床护理工作中。     

探讨基于近红外脑成像技术的阈下抑郁情志刺激反应机制研究可行性

近红外脑功能成像技术是近几年发展起来用于动态检测脑功能的方法,能够很好地反映抑郁人群认知活动期间大脑有氧代谢的变化,为阈下抑郁研究提供了一个新思路。本研究通过文献综述,结合中医情志理论,在过往研究的基础上基于近红外脑功能成像技术探讨中医情志刺激对阈下抑郁的反应机制,为后期研究提供理论与实践可行性的依据。     

协同模式对ICU清醒患者情绪状态的影响

目的探讨协同护理模式对ICU清醒患者情绪状态的影响。方法选择患者120例,采用随机数字表法分为观察组60例和对照组60例。观察组实施协同护理模式,对照组实施常规护理。干预后,使用焦虑自评量表(SAS)和抑郁自评量表(SDS)来比较二组干预效果。结果干预后,观察组心理焦虑和抑郁程度降低,与对照组相比,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论采用协同护理模式能够很好地改善患者的心理状况,促进患者的早日康复,提高其生活质量,值得在临床推广使用。