Perception of asthma severity in adults

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Perception of asthma severity in adults

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

The simulation of hallucinations to reduce the stigma of schizophrenia: A systematic review

Background/objectives: Many people with schizophrenia face stigmatisation. Several methods have been produced to simulate the auditory and visual hallucinations experienced by people with schizophrenia in order to increase empathy and understanding about the condition. However, there has been no review of such methods. This systematic review aims to determine whether and how simulated hallucinations are effective in reducing stigma, and if simulated hallucinations are safe and acceptable. Methods: Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Worldcat Dissertations and Theses were searched from 1980 to September 2010. Reference checking, hand-searching, and contacting of experts in the field were also performed. A narrative synthesis of quantitative studies was conducted, and qualitative studies were synthesised using meta-ethnography. Results: Ten studies were included. Simulation tools varied in context, but consistently increased both empathy towards, and desire for social distance from, people with schizophrenia whilst findings for other attitudes were inconsistent. Participants reported physical, cognitive and emotional discomfort. Qualitative data suggest that these discomforts give participants an 'insider's perspective' which produced empathy and respect. Simulated hallucinations sometimes produced concurrent negative affect, and physical and emotional distress, but were considered a highly acceptable learning tool. Discussion/conclusions: Simulated hallucinations have contradictory effects on stigma, increasing empathy but also the desire for social distance. They should therefore be used with caution. Further research is required to discover if there is a way of using simulated hallucination interventions that increases empathy without increasing the desire for social distance from people with mental illness. © 2011 Elsevier B.V

The simulation of hallucinations to reduce the stigma of schizophrenia:a systematic review

Background/objectives: Many people with schizophrenia face stigmatisation. Several methods have been produced to simulate the auditory and visual hallucinations experienced by people with schizophrenia in order to increase empathy and understanding about the condition. However, there has been no review of such methods. This systematic review aims to determine whether and how simulated hallucinations are effective in reducing stigma, and if simulated hallucinations are safe and acceptable. Methods: Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Worldcat Dissertations and Theses were searched from 1980 to September 2010. Reference checking, hand-searching, and contacting of experts in the field were also performed. A narrative synthesis of quantitative studies was conducted, and qualitative studies were synthesised using meta-ethnography. Results: Ten studies were included. Simulation tools varied in context, but consistently increased both empathy towards, and desire for social distance from, people with schizophrenia whilst findings for other attitudes were inconsistent. Participants reported physical, cognitive and emotional discomfort. Qualitative data suggest that these discomforts give participants an 'insider's perspective' which produced empathy and respect. Simulated hallucinations sometimes produced concurrent negative affect, and physical and emotional distress, but were considered a highly acceptable learning tool. Discussion/conclusions: Simulated hallucinations have contradictory effects on stigma, increasing empathy but also the desire for social distance. They should therefore be used with caution. Further research is required to discover if there is a way of using simulated hallucination interventions that increases empathy without increasing the desire for social distance from people with mental illness. © 2011 Elsevier B.V

Feasibility of acceptance and commitment therapy for post-bariatric surgery patients: the FAB study protocol

Background: Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity. However, around one in five people experience significant weight regain. In the months following surgery, loss of food as a hedonic reward, increased sensitivity to food-related cues, alcohol use and depression may translate into new obesogenic behaviours which can be targeted in therapy. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches acceptance of and defusion from thoughts and feelings which influence behaviour, and commitment to act in line with personal values. We will test whether people who have had bariatric surgery over one year ago find 10 weeks of ACT group therapy an acceptable treatment and whether a larger trial to test whether ACT can improve long-term post-operative outcomes would be feasible.Methods: This will be a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) with participants randomised to either ACT or a Usual Care Support Group control. Participants will be recruited at 15-18 months post-surgery and compared at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. The trial will provide information about recruitment and characteristics of the proposed outcome measures to inform a definitive RCT.Conclusions: Trials big enough to determine whether a treatment approach works are costly, so this small study will help determine whether the methods used, such as how people are recruited, allocated to groups, and how data are collected, are likely to work on a bigger scale. This project is the first step in testing whether ACT can help people who have had bariatric surgery.Trial Registration: Researchregistry.com, UIN: 3959 (date registered: 10 April 2018); ISRCTN registry ID: ISRCTN52074801

The effectiveness and design of informed choice tools for people with severe mental illness:a systematic review

Background: People with severe mental illness (SMI) report difficulty in making health-related decisions. Informed choice tools are designed to guide individuals through a decision-making process. Aims: To determine the effectiveness of these tools for people with SMI and to identify what methods and processes may contribute to effectiveness. Method: A systematic electronic search was conducted for studies published between 1996 and January 2018. The search was updated in March 2020. Studies of any design reporting the development or evaluation of any informed choice tool for people with SMI were considered. A structured, narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: Ten articles describing four tools were identified. Tools were designed to assist with decision making around bipolar treatment, smoking cessation and disclosure of mental illness in employment situations. Positive changes in decisional conflict, stage of change, knowledge and self-efficacy were reported for two tools, though insufficient data exists for definitive conclusions of effectiveness. Feedback from service users and attention to readability appeared key. Conclusions: The evidence base for informed choice tools for people with SMI is limited. Such tools should be developed in stages and include the views of people with SMI at each phase; readability should be considered, and a theoretical framework should be used to facilitate process evaluation