Psychosocial and cognitive multimorbidity and health-related quality of life and symptom burden in older adults with atrial fibrillation: The systematic assessment of geriatric elements in atrial fibrillation (SAGE-AF) cohort study

BackgroundDepression, anxiety, and cognitive impairments occur in up to 40 % of adults with AF and are associated with poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and higher symptom burden. However, it is unknown how often these impairments co-occur, or multimorbidity, and how multimorbidity effects HRQoL and symptom burden.MethodsPatients with AF age ≥65 years with a CHA₂DS₂VASC risk score ≥ 2 and eligible for oral anticoagulation therapy were recruited from five clinics in a prospective cohort study. Participants completed validated measures of depression (PHQ9) and anxiety (GAD7), cognitive impairment (MoCA), and HRQOL and AF symptom burden (AFEQT). Multinomial logistic regression was used.ResultsParticipants (N = 1244, 49 % female) were on average 76 ± 7 years; 86 % were non-Hispanic white. Approximately 35 % of participants had 1 impairment, 17 % had 2 impairments and 8% had 3 impairments; 39 % had none of the 3 impairments examined. Compared to participants with no impairments, patients with 1, 2 and 3 impairments had higher odds of poor HRQoL (adjusted OR [AOR] = 1.77, 95 % CI 1.21, 2.60; AOR = 6.64, 95 % CI 4.43, 9.96; and AOR = 7.50, 95 % CI 4.40, 12.77, respectively) and those with 2 and 3 impairments had higher odds of high symptom burden (AOR = 3.69 95 % CI 2.22, 6.13; and AOR = 5.41 95 % CI 2.85, 10.26).ConclusionsPsychosocial/cognitive multimorbidity is common among older adults with AF and is associated with poor HRQoL and high symptom burden. Clinicians might consider incorporating psychosocial and cognitive screens into routine care as this may identify a high-risk population.     

川东北地区社会心理服务现状调查

目的 调查川东北地区各组织机构开展社会心理服务的现状以及居民的心理健康状况，为该地区社会心理服务体系建设工作的进一步开展提供参考。方法 采用自编调查表对巴中市通江县、广元市利州区、达州市大竹县共计148家组织机构进行调查，包括各组织机构社会心理服务体系建设工作现状及心理健康服务开展情况；采用患者健康问卷抑郁量表（PHQ-9）、广泛性焦虑障碍量表（GAD-7）和自编心理健康服务需求调查表，对三地试点地区21 505名居民的心理健康状况及其对心理服务的需求进行调查。结果 在试点地区148家组织机构中，81家（54.7%）机构有开展心理健康服务的场所，58家（39.2%）机构配备了专兼职心理健康服务工作人员。在2019年，有95家（64.2%）机构开展了职工心理健康服务活动，104家（70.3%）机构开展了心理健康科普宣传活动。在75家教育机构中，67家（89.3%）机构对学生开展了心理健康教育活动，47家（62.7%）机构实现了心理健康课程在学生中全覆盖。居民的抑郁、焦虑检出率分别为36.8%和30.8%，有83.7%的居民有心理健康服务的需求，主要集中在个人成长、婚姻家庭、子女教育和压力管理方面。结论 川东北三市试点地区的社会心理服务工作有序进行，场地、经费及人才保障有待进一步加强。居民的抑郁和焦虑问题较突出，且对心理健康服务的需求较高。     

Vocational identity and psychological adjustment: A study in French adolescents and emerging adults

The aim of the present research was to study vocational identity in French adolescent and emerging adult students by using a French adaptation of the Vocational Identity Status Assessment (VISA), and to analyze the links between vocational identity formation and negative and positive psychological adjustment. Participants were 1077 French students who completed self-report scales about vocational identity, depression and satisfaction with life. The French version of the VISA showed good psychometric properties and six identity statuses were derived by means of cluster analysis: achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, searching moratorium, diffused diffusion and carefree diffusion. The main findings show that diffused diffusion and moratorium represent the dark sides of identity because of their negative psychological adjustment, and that the two processes of reconsideration of commitment were differently associated with psychological adjustment. These findings demonstrate that clinical interventions should be adapted to the individual's identity profile.     

Psychosocial aspects of child and adolescent obesity

In addition to counselling families about regular physical activity and healthy nutrition, clinicians need to identify and help them to address the psychosocial factors that may be contributing to their child’s or adolescent’s obesity. Affected individuals may suffer from depression, low self-esteem, bullying, and weight bias, experiences that can make achieving desired health outcomes more difficult. Clinicians should try to identify these underlying stressors and ensure that appropriate counselling is implemented.     

Risk-adjusted comparisons of bloodstream infection rates in neonatal intensive-care units

Comparisons of bloodstream infection (BSI) rates between neonatal intensive-care units (NICUs) should take into account differences in babies' vulnerability and invasive procedures that can introduce infection. Our aim was to investigate which risk factors recorded in routine records should be adjusted for when NICUs are compared. This was a retrospective cohort study using routine records for two London NICUs. We analysed rates of BSI with Poisson regression models. The level of neonatal care used by the National Health Service was the strongest predictor of BSI incidence. The rate ratios for BSI, adjusted for birthweight, inborn/outborn status, and postnatal age, were 3.15 (95% CI 2.01–4.94) for intensive care and 6.58 (95% CI 4.18-10.36) for high-dependency care, relative to special care. Total parenteral nutrition was significantly associated with BSI incidence, but explained less of the variance among babies than level of care. A case—control study with the same dataset gave similar results. Further multicentre studies are required to confirm our predictive model. Until then, we recommend that comparisons of BSI rates between NICUs should include adjustments for level of care, birthweight, inborn/outborn status, and postnatal age, with the use of routinely recorded standardized measures in hospital administrative data.     

The potential psychological benefits of active video games in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries and deficiencies

Background:

Recent literature suggests that active video games (AVGs) may offer potential psychological benefits during the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries and their corresponding deficiencies.

Objectives:

To review existing literature regarding the potential psychological benefits of AVGs within the context of rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injury or debilitation.

Method:

A narrative review of the literature that used the Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) method was conducted. The literature review included studies that discussed and/or investigated potential psychological benefits of AVGs during musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Of the total 163 papers that were identified, 30 met the inclusion criteria.

Results:

The Nintendo® Wii? (Nintendo Co., Ltd, Kyoto, Japan) was the most commonly used games console that was employed in AVG interventions (15 out of 21), and these studies that investigated potential psychological benefits were typically conducted with elderly populations. These studies reported that using AVGs in musculoskeletal rehabilitation resulted in a number of positive psychological effects (e.g. enjoyment, effects on self). However, most studies lacked a clear theoretical framework, and varied greatly in their designs and methodologies.

Conclusion:

Despite encouraging findings of AVGs use, insufficient evidence exists to reliably verify or refute the potential psychological benefits of AVGs in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. It is recommended that future studies in this area contain a theoretical framework to ensure greater consistency in the methodology used and the execution of the intervention. The potential findings of such investigations may result in the development of optimal, client-tailored rehabilitation programmes.     

Psychological Adjustment and Coping in Adults With Prosthetic Limbs

Abstract

The potential mediating effects of different coping strategies on the adjustment to living with a prosthetic limb were investigated in 44 adult amputees. Participants completed a questionnaire inquiring about coping, pain, emotional well-being, demographics, and disability-related variables. The coping strategy adopted and the extent of the adjustment to the prosthetic limb varied with age, site of limb loss, and cause of amputation. Furthermore, coping style mediated the adjustment to wearing a prosthetic limb. The results are discussed in terms of future applications and research.     

How does parental cancer affect adolescent and young adult offspring? A systematic review

ObjectivesTo i) identify and synthesise evidence published since 2007 regarding the impact of parental cancer on adolescent and young adult offspring, ii) identify methodological and evidence gaps addressed during this period and iii) highlight those requiring further attention.DesignA systematic review and thematic synthesis of peer reviewed literature regarding the impact of parental cancer upon AYA offspring.Data sourcesOnline searches of CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsychInfo and Scopus databases were conducted. Reference lists of included articles were screened and additional searches by prominent authors were performed.Review methodsStudy selection, data extraction and quality analysis was undertaken by three independent researchers. Extracted study data was iteratively reviewed and discussed to achieve consensus regarding thematic synthesis of included studies.ResultsDatabase and hand-searching yielded 1730 articles, 54 of which were included in the final synthesis. Included studies are discussed with respect to the following themes: i) study design and quality; ii) measurement and sampling; iii) positive and negative aspects of parental cancer; iv) needs; v) communication and information; vi) coping strategies; vii) interventions; and viii) family functioning and other predictors. Twenty-nine studies reported negative impacts related to parental cancer, while eight identified positive outcomes related to post-traumatic growth. Five returned null or mixed findings. Unmet needs were frequently explored and a new validated measure developed. Communication and information were particularly important for offspring, though these needs were often unmet and parents wanted guidance regarding discussions with their children. Offspring may adopt a variety of coping strategies, some of which appear maladaptive, and may cycle between different approaches. Few evaluations of interventions were identified, and further work in this area is needed. Further evidence has emerged that poorer family functioning and other family and illness-related factors predict worse psychosocial outcomes for offspring, however evidence for other predictors such as age and gender remain mixed.ConclusionsAdditional evidence for the negative psychosocial impact of parental cancer on adolescent and young adult offspring, their needs, and factors predicting psychosocial outcomes has emerged in the last decade. However, substantial gaps and methodological issues remain and evidence for the development, efficacy or implementation of interventions for this population is very limited. There is also a clear need for greater focus on bereaved and young adult offspring and those from non-western cultural groups, who remain under-represented in research conducted to date.