Integration of hatha yoga and evidence-based psychological treatments for common mental disorders : An evidence map

Background Interest in the use of yoga to enhance engagement with and augment the benefits of psychological treatment has grown. However, a systematic approach to reviewing existing research examining the use of yoga with psychological treatment is lacking. Materials and Methods This mapping review identified and synthesised research trialling yoga as an integrated or adjunct therapy with evidence-based psychological interventions for the treatment of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and eating disorders. Results Overall, the review identified ten published and three unpublished studies, representing either single group or small quasi-experimental research designs. Discussion Limited but promising findings were shown for yoga with CBT for anxiety and depression, and the integration of yoga within intensive treatment models for PTSD. Conclusions Future research is encouraged to focus on controlled trials that enable examination of the component effect of yoga when applied with evidence-based psychological treatment and acceptability and feasibility data to further knowledge regarding a role for yoga in clinical practice

START-online: acceptability and feasibility of an online intervention for carers of people living with dementia

BACKGROUND: With increasing numbers of people living with dementia relying on family to care for them at home, there is an urgent need for practical and evidence-based programs to support carers in maintaining their mental health and well-being. The objective of this study was to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a modified STrAtegies for RelaTives (START) program delivered online (START-online). METHOD: A mixed-methods non-blinded evaluation of START-online (using Zoom as videoconferencing platform) for acceptability and feasibility (completion rates and qualitative feedback through surveys and focus groups) and quantitative evaluation. This occurred at the National Ageing Research Institute, in metropolitan Victoria, Australia. RESULTS: Twenty-nine eligible carers were referred, 20 (70%) consented to the study. Of these, 16 (80%) completed all 8 sessions, 2 completed only 3 sessions, and 2 withdrew. Carers' qualitative feedback indicated that the therapist interaction was valued, content and online delivery of the program was acceptable. Feedback was mixed on the appropriate stage of caring. CONCLUSION: START-online was feasible and acceptable for carers, including those living outside of metropolitan areas who might otherwise be unable to access face-to-face programs. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic necessitating social distancing to avoid infection, interventions such as this one have increasing relevance in the provision of flexible services

Identification of 15 new psoriasis susceptibility loci highlights the role of innate immunity

To gain further insight into the genetic architecture of psoriasis, we conducted a meta-analysis of 3 genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and 2 independent data sets genotyped on the Immunochip, including 10,588 cases and 22,806 controls. We identified 15 new susceptibility loci, increasing to 36 the number associated with psoriasis in European individuals. We also identified, using conditional analyses, five independent signals within previously known loci. The newly identified loci shared with other autoimmune diseases include candidate genes with roles in regulating T-cell function (such as RUNX3, TAGAP and STAT3). Notably, they included candidate genes whose products are involved in innate host defense, including interferon-mediated antiviral responses (DDX58), macrophage activation (ZC3H12C) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling (CARD14 and CARM1). These results portend a better understanding of shared and distinctive genetic determinants of immune-mediated inflammatory disorders and emphasize the importance of the skin in innate and acquired host defense

Therapist discourse in manualised therapy for alcohol addictions

In the context of the rising agenda of evidence based practice, the use of treatment manuals is now common in psychotherapeutic treatments for addiction and other mental health issues. There is debate amongst clinicians and researchers regarding the trade-off between the costs and benefits of manuals; and differing opinions regarding the importance of treatment fidelity. One concern that clinicians often raise is the effect that manuals have on clinical judgement and responsivity, and one benefit that researchers raise is the standardisation of treatment. The purpose of this study was to consider how therapists enact the delivery of manualised through analysing the discourses used. Particular attention was given to how therapists attempted to facilitate behaviour change using both adherent and non-adherent techniques, and how therapists addressed the expression of client emotions. Two types of manualised alcohol addiction therapy sessions were investigated in this study; Motivational Enhancement Therapy, and Social Behaviour and Network Therapy, both taken from the large scale UK Alcohol Treatment Trial (UKATT research team, 2005). A discursive psychology informed analysis was conducted, spanning nineteen therapy sessions with six therapist-client dyads. The interpretative repertoires that therapists used to promote behaviour change were: therapist actions are responsible for enabling change, clients are responsible for changing their own behaviour, and therapeutic alliance is required for change. These were enacted through the following discursive practices: being paternalistic, being critical, persuading, lecturing, using humour, being collaborative, acting as benevolent expert and constructing oneself as a powerful expert. Therapists managed adherence to the manuals and responsivity to the clients in differing ways; at times prioritising one over the other, at other times attending to both, and at other times attending to neither. Therapists responded to clients’ expression of emotions in a variety of ways categorised under two themes of acknowledging and avoiding. The analysis highlighted the variability of therapist responses within both manualised therapies, which is discussed in further detail. The clinical implications, opportunities for further research, and limitations of the study are discussed

Spirituality, spiritual need, and spiritual care in aged care: What the literature says

This article addressed the following questions: How are spirituality, spiritual need, and spiritual care in aged care defined? What constitutes spiritual care for older people in aged care? From an organisational perspective, what are barriers and enablers to providing spiritual care? Spirituality and spiritual care were defined in a variety of ways in the literature. The literature endorsed nurses and other aged care staff engaging in elements of spiritual care of older people as valuable. A whole-of-organisation approach is required rather than leaving it to the individual. New guidelines are being developed specifically for spiritual care in aged care

Familiarity Facilitates Social Learning of Foraging Behaviour in the Guppy

Previous studies have shown that guppies, Poecilia reticulata, can learn the route to a food source by shoaling with knowledgeable conspecifics, and prefer to shoal with experienced foragers and familiar fish. We tested the hypothesis that guppies would learn more effectively from (1) familiar than unfamiliar demonstrators and (2) well-trained than poorly trained demonstrators. Demonstrator fish were given experience in swimming a route to a food source and then introduced into shoals of untrained observer guppies; the spread of this foraging skill was recorded over 15 trials. The demonstrators were either familiar or unfamiliar to the observers and either well trained or poorly trained. Observers performed significantly better when the demonstrators were familiar. The training of the demonstrators made no overall difference to the performance of naïve observers. However, whilst observers in shoals exposed to well-trained demonstrators did better initially than those with poorly trained ones, the latter learned the route to the feeder faster. Our results suggest that familiarity may generate a form of directed social learning in guppy shoals, in which fish learn more effectively from familiar conspecifics. An analysis of who follows whom suggests that well-trained demonstrators can provide a ‘tip-off’ as to the location of the hole but poorly trained demonstrators were more likely to be followed. The results suggest that while observers are able to shoal with poorly trained demonstrators, well-trained demonstrators swim the maze route too quickly to be followed, but may attract attention to the maze route

Construction of a Conceptual Framework for Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life in Dogs With Osteoarthritis

An owner's ability to detect changes in the behavior of a dog afflicted with osteoarthritis (OA) may be a barrier to presentation, clinical diagnosis and initiation of treatment. Management of OA also relies upon an owner's ability to accurately monitor improvement following a trial period of pain relief. The changes in behavior that are associated with the onset and relief of pain from OA can be assessed to determine the dog's health-related quality of life (HRQOL). HRQOL assessments are widely used in human medicine and if developed correctly can be used in the monitoring of disease and in clinical trials. This study followed established guidelines to construct a conceptual framework of indicators of HRQOL in dogs with OA. This generated items that can be used to develop a HRQOL assessment tool specific to dogs with OA. A systematic review was conducted using Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus with search terms related to indicators of HRQOL in dogs with osteoarthritis. Eligibility and quality assessment criteria were applied. Data were extracted from eligible studies using a comprehensive data charting table. Resulting domains and items were assessed at a half-day workshop attended by experts in canine osteoarthritis and quality of life. Domains and their interactions were finalized and a visual representation of the conceptual framework was produced. A total of 1,264 unique articles were generated in the database searches and assessed for inclusion. Of these, 21 progressed to data extraction. After combining synonyms, 47 unique items were categorized across six domains. Review of the six domains by the expert panel resulted in their reduction to four: physical appearance, capability, behavior, and mood. All four categories were deemed to be influenced by pain from osteoarthritis. Capability, mood, and behavior were all hypothesized to impact on each other while physical appearance was impacted by, but did not impact upon, the other domains. The framework has potential application to inform the development of valid and reliable instruments to operationalize measurement of HRQOL in canine OA for use in general veterinary practice to guide OA management decisions and in clinical studies to evaluate treatment outcomes