Review of \u3cem\u3eThe Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life.\u3c/em\u3e Donald L. Rosentein and Justin M. Yopp

Donald L. Rosenstein and Justin M. Yopp, The Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life. Oxford University Press (2017), 190 pages, $17.95 (hardcover)

The effectiveness of empirically supported brief interventions for depressive and/or anxiety disorders for primary care patients : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Depressive and anxiety disorders (DADs) are highly prevalent in U.S. primary care systems. Consequences of DADs for primary care patients are real and substantial. While there exist many empirically supported interventions for DADs, only a few them have been adopted for a primary care population. To date, limited investigation has focused on the effectiveness of these empirically supported interventions for DADs when delivered in primary care settings. This dissertation aims to evaluate the effectiveness of empirically supported brief interventions for DADs for primary care patients. Using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach, this dissertation searches across seven electronic databases, six professional websites, peer-reviewed journal articles’ reference list, and contact field experts for a pool of articles for meta-analysis. An initial pool of 1,140 articles are identified, after title/abstract screening and full-text review, a final sample of 65 articles are included for final summary and data analysis. Publication bias, risk of bias, and study quality rating are conducted in accordance with the Cochrane guidelines. In addition to descriptive statistics of individual studies, an overall treatment effect, assuming a random-effect model, and moderator analysis, assuming a mixed-effect model, are performed using Robust Variance Estimation in Meta-regression. Meta-analytic results indicate an overall statistically significant treatment effect of included interventions for primary care patients’ DADs. Single-predictor moderator analyses find percentage of married participants, treatment modality (individual versus group), and treatment composition (one versus combined approach) significantly moderates treatment effect size estimate. Multiple-predictor moderator analysis finds that, after controlling for other treatment characteristics, interventions delivered outside primary care settings reported significantly higher treatment effect than those delivered inside primary care settings. Discussions on these results and implications for social work practice, research, education and policy are presentedSocial Wor

The Use of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Chinese Schools: A Qualitative Analysis of Practitioner Perceptions

Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a strengthens-based, future-oriented approach that has received promising results over the past decade. Literature on SFBT has demonstrated the approach’s ability to meet the unique needs of various client populations while adapting to a variety of service delivery settings. Schools are a specific setting in which SFBT has been successfully utilized in the United States. With the growing popularity of SFBT, countries outside to the United States are beginning to implement SFBT in their schools. This article explored perceptions of the use of SFBT in schools amongst Chinese mental health practitioners. A survey was conducted by the Chinese government and included 134 participants. The qualitative results showed the Chinese practitioners have a strong interest in the strengths-based approach and feel that SFBT is culturally-adaptive to the Chinese student population. However, the practitioners are not confidently able to utilize SFBT techniques. The Chinese practitioners related the lack of confidence to a lack of SFBT focused training and professional develop opportunities. As SFBT research and practice continues to grow in China, the need for affordable, accessible SFBT trainings and supervision grows as well

Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Chinese Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: To systematically review and meta-analyze all published studies, written in Chinese and published in China, focusing on mindfulness-based interventions for Chinese breast cancer patients’ mental health and quality of life outcomes. Methods: Following the Cochrane guideline, this study searched across five electronic debases, two professional websites, two major Chinese oncology journals, and reference lists of existing reviews and included studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using meta-regression with robust variance estimation. Publication bias and risk of bias were assessed and evaluated in the final analysis. Results: A final of 35 clinical trials included 126 effect sizes and 3,100 participants. Studies reported an overall large and statistically significant treatment effect, g = 0.963, p < .001. Conclusions: Mindfulness-based interventions were significantly effective for Chinese breast cancer patients and are recommended for oncology social workers. Moderator analyses identified group-based mindfulness interventions as significantly more effective than individual-based interventions, and mindfulness-based interventions delivered as therapeutic treatment were significantly more effective than ones delivered as supportive treatment.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167606/1/Zhang_2021_et al..pdfDescription of Zhang_2021_et al..pdf : Main articleSEL

Digital mental health interventions for depression

This paper provides an overview of the of digital mental health (DMHI) interventions for depression. The paper begins with a description of the clinical context and services needs for persons experiencing depressed mood. It is well-known that there is a large gap between the availability of evidence-supported psychotherapy for depression and the large number of people who would likely benefit from it. DHMIs based on a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) model have shown substantial promise as a method to deliver tested-effective treatment to large numbers of people experiencing depression. The article continues with a review of clinical research evaluating DMHIs for depression with a special emphasis on CBT. The article also reviews both the strengths and challenges associated with the clinical use of DHMI for depression. Next, the article continues with a description of a newly-developed DHMI for depression that uses an entertaining approach to deliver well-established CBT strategies. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of the need for further research and development of DHMIs for persons experiencing depression.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167609/1/Himle et al. 2021.pdfSEL

Triterpenic Acids and Flavonoids from Satureja parvifolia: Evaluation of their Antiprotozoal Activity

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a Satureja parvifolia MeOH extract led to the isolation of eriodictyol, luteolin and ursolic and oleanolic acids as its active components against Plasmodium falciparum K1. This is the first time these compounds are reported as constituents of S. parvifolia. Ursolic acid showed an IC50 of 4.9,Mg/ml, luteolin 6.4,μg/ml, oleanolic acid 9.3,μg/ml and eriodictyol 17.2,μg/ml. Antiplasmodial activity of eriodictyol and luteolin is reported here for the first time. Besides, the four compounds showed activity against P falciparum 3D7 strain and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Eriodictyol showed moderate activity on all the parasites but was the most selective compound as a result of its rather low cytotoxicity (IC50 174.2,μg/ml) on the mammalian KB cell line.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

The effectiveness of modified, group-based CBT for dementia worry among Chinese elders

Objectives Dementias are highly prevalent among Chinese elders. This study examined the effectiveness of a modified group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on dementia worry among Chinese older adults. Methods Eighty-two older adults recruited from four elder group homes were randomly assigned to either intervention or control group. The intervention group (n= 44) received eight weekly 60-minute face-to-face CBT, while the control group (n=38) received treatment-as-usual. Results Outcomes indicated that the modified group CBT has significantly reduced dementia worry and culturally biased beliefs about dementia (p<.001). Study findings supported both statistically and clinically significant effect of modified group CBT on dementia worry [g=-1.52, 95% CI (-2.01, -1.03)] and biased beliefs about dementia [g=-.95, 95% CI (-1.40, -.49)]. Discussion The culturally adapted CBT is promising in alleviating worries and anxiety over dementia among Chinese older adults. Future research needs to include larger samples and participants from different regions to replicate findings.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167612/1/An et al., 2020.pdfSEL

A Brief Online Mindfulness-Based Group Intervention for Psychological Distress Among Chinese Residents During COVID-19: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives The coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic has increased psychological distress among the general population. The objective of this study is to evaluate a mindfulness-based intervention for psychological distress among Chinese residents during COVID-19. Methods This study used a switching replications design to test the feasibility and efficacy of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention for Chinese residents’ psychological distress. Fifty-one residents in the Hubei province were randomly allocated to two groups (experimental group and waitlist control group) with three waves of measurement at time 1, time 2, and time 3 for changes in mindfulness and psychological distress. Results In addition to significant within-group improvements over time for both groups, OLS linear regression with full information likelihood estimation revealed statistically significant between-group treatment effects across outcome domains, including mindfulness awareness, b = 2.84, p < 0.001, g = 6.92, psychological distress, b = −21.33, p < 0.001, g = 6.62, somatic symptoms, b = −6.22, p < 0.001, g = 4.42, depressive symptoms, b = −7.16, p < 0.001, g = 5.07, and anxiety symptoms, b = −8.09, p < 0.001, g = 6.84. Conclusions Results suggest that a brief online mindfulness-based intervention can be a feasible and promising intervention for improving mindfulness and decreasing psychological distress among Chinese residents staying at home during the COVID-19 outbreak. The study used a small convenience sample which led to a concern of external generalizability and with limited evaluation of long-term change.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167607/1/Zhang_2021_Article_ABriefOnlineMindfulness-BasedG.pdfDescription of Zhang_2021_Article_ABriefOnlineMindfulness-BasedG.pdf : Main articleSEL

Age moderates the association between psychological distress and engagement in mindfulness among cancer patients and survivors: A population-based study

Purpose We aim to evaluate the relationship between psychological distress and engagement in mindfulness among a national representative sample of cancer survivors. Sample and design Using the 2017 National Health Interview Survey, our final analytical sample included 3068 participants who reported having been diagnosed with cancer. Methods and analysis We used logistic regression analysis to assess the association and to test age as a moderator. We also conducted follow-up analysis using Fisher’s r-to-z transformation. All analyses were adjusted for complex sample weights. Findings Cancer survivors who had subclinical and clinical psychological distress were more likely to engage in mindfulness, OR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.24, 2.02] and OR = 1.45, 95% CI [1.02, 2.05], respectively. Age significantly moderated such association with the relationship much stronger among those who are younger (younger than 65 years old) than those who are older (65 years or older), b = 0.97, 95% CI [0.95, 0.99]. Conclusions The relationship between psychological distress and engagement in mindfulness differs significantly by a survivor’s age. Psychosocial oncological providers need to account for a survivor’s age when delivering mindfulness based care to address psychological distress.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167611/1/Zhang et al., 2020 Age moderator.pdfSEL

Triterpenic Acids and Flavonoids from Satureja parvifolia: Evaluation of their Antiprotozoal Activity

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a Satureja parvifolia MeOH extract led to the isolation of eriodictyol, luteolin and ursolic and oleanolic acids as its active components against Plasmodium falciparum K1. This is the first time these compounds are reported as constituents of S. parvifolia. Ursolic acid showed an IC50 of 4.9,Mg/ml, luteolin 6.4,μg/ml, oleanolic acid 9.3,μg/ml and eriodictyol 17.2,μg/ml. Antiplasmodial activity of eriodictyol and luteolin is reported here for the first time. Besides, the four compounds showed activity against P falciparum 3D7 strain and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Eriodictyol showed moderate activity on all the parasites but was the most selective compound as a result of its rather low cytotoxicity (IC50 174.2,μg/ml) on the mammalian KB cell line.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta