100 years of British Military Psychology (From Myers to the MoD)

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Salmonella typhimurium strains carrying hemolysin plasmids and cloned hemolysin. genes from Escherichia coli

Like all other Salmonella typhimurium strains examined, the smooth variants SF1397 (L T2) and 1366 and also their semi-rough and rough derivatives are non-haemolytic. Nevertheless, two haemolysin (Hly) plasmids of E. coli belonging to the inc groups incFllI,lv (pSU316) and incIz (pHly152) were able to be introduced into these strains by conjugation and stably maintained. A considerable percentage of the Hly+ transconjugants obtained had lost parts of their O-side chains, a result of selection for the better recipient capability of « semi-rough» variants rather than the direct influence of the Hly+ plasmids themselves. In contrast to the incF1lI1V plasmid pSU316, which exhibited higher conjugation rates with rough recipients, the incIz plasmid pHly152 was accepted best by smooth strains. Transformation with cloned E. coli haemolysin (hly) determinant was inefficient ( <10-8) for smooth strains, but 102-103 times higher for rough recipients, and was increased by the use of Salmonella-modified DNA. The transform ants and transconjugants were relatively stable and showed the same haemolytic activity as the E. coli donor strains. The virulence of the Hly+ smooth, semi-rough and rough S. typhimurium strains was tested in two mouse models, and neither the mortality rate nor the ability to multiply within the mouse spleen was influenced by the hly determinants

THE SYRIAN REFUGEES’ NEED FOR TRAUMA-BASED SERVICES, A SURVEY OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Background: Trauma Aid UK (previously HAP UK &Ireland) conducted three EMDR trainings in Turkey: the first was in Istanbul on 28th November 2013. Aim: The purpose of this study is to assess the needs of the Syrian Refugees for trauma services training and provision as assesses by mental health professionals who work with them. Subjects and methods: Amongst the 62 participants of two Istanbul EMDR trainings organised by HAP, 53% were Syrian. We felt it is a unique opportunity to assess the needs of Syrian refugees they are working with. We asked all the participants who are all mental health professionals to complete an Arabic translation of \u27The Need for Trauma-based Services Questionnaire\u27 in these trainings. The rest of the participants on the course were from Iraq (18%), Jordan (16%), Egypt (7%) and others from Palestine, Sudan & Libya (6%). All participants completed questionnaires. Results: The results of comparing the needs reported by Syrian mental health professionals showed higher prevalence of PTSD seen by the Syrian mental health professionals (72% compared with 56% in the clients seen by the rest of participants). Also, the Syrian mental health professionals could only meet 34% (SD=17.1) of the needs of their client who suffer from PTSD. The unmet need for trauma therapy was reported as 100% by these professionals. Conclusions: This study highlighted the high need for trauma mental health services of the Syrian refugees as reported by mental health professionals working in the neighbouring countries. The needs of the Syrian refugees, arriving to the UK because of the very difficult situations, these refugees are coming from, may be met with EMDR therapy. EMDR can be used to help these refugees to be a productive part of the British society

PART II: MUSLIMS PERCEPTIONS OF BRITISH COBAT TROOPS

Background: On the 22nd May 2017, suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Manchester Arena killing 22 people and injuring 116 others. Following the \u27massacre in Manchester\u27, the leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, linked UK foreign policy with terrorism on British soil. Controversial and contentious though Corbyn’s claims may be, the terrorists themselves have also reported that what motivates them to carry out their abominable atrocities are British military operations in Muslim majority countries. Indeed, on the 22nd May 2013, British serviceman, Lee Rigby, was brutally attacked and killed by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, southeast London. The perpetrators of this heinous act told passers-by at the scene that they wanted to avenge the killing of Muslims by the British Armed Forces. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study on Muslim perceptions of British combat troops and UK foreign policy. Participants were selected by purposive sampling. We crafted a survey that explored Muslim perceptions of the British military and the government’s foreign policy. Response items were on a Likert-scale and there was white space for free text comments which were subjected to thematic analyses. Results: 75/75 (100%) of the participants recruited responded. (75/75 (100%) Muslim participants, 43/75 (57.3%) female participants, 32/75 (42.7%) male participants, mean age 20.5 years, (Std. Dev. ±2.5)). 66/75 (88%) of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that British military operations in Muslim majority countries have negatively influenced perceptions towards combat troops. 42/75 (56%) of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that contact with a combat troops or veterans would positively influence their perceptions towards them. Themes of free text comments included the role that the media plays in demonising Muslims, the transcendental bond that Muslims around the world have for each other and ‘the brainwashing’ of British combat troops by the Government. Discussion: The fact that many of the participants in our sample agreed or strongly agreed that social contact with service personnel or veterans would positively influence perceptions towards them is encouraging. The results of our survey lend support for future intervention studies investigating whether contact between Muslims residing in the UK and British combat troops would promote unity and community cohesion

THE NEED FOR TRAUMA THERAPY FOR VICTIMS OF MAN-MADE TRAUMA COMPARED TO THOSE OF NATURAL DISASTER, A SURVEY OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Trauma Aid UK (previously HAP UK & Ireland) conducted three EMDR trainings in Turkey: the first was in Istanbul on 28th November 2013. Since then, 3 groups of mental health trainees attending part 1 of 3 parts EMDR training. In total, 86 clinicians were trained. Also, in June 2016, the first part of a three-part EMDR training in Nepal was completed following the Nepal Earthquake in 2015. The purpose of this study is to assess, analyse and understand the needs of Syrian refugees, who have being experiencing man made trauma since 2011, with Nepalese people who were exposed to the earthquake on 25/4/2015, in their needs for trauma services, training and provision as assessed by mental health professionals working with both groups of people

THE NEED FOR TRAUMA THERAPY FOR VICTIMS OF MAN-MADE TRAUMA COMPARED TO THOSE OF NATURAL DISASTER, A SURVEY OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Trauma Aid UK (previously HAP UK & Ireland) conducted three EMDR trainings in Turkey: the first was in Istanbul on 28th November 2013. Since then, 3 groups of mental health trainees attending part 1 of 3 parts EMDR training. In total, 86 clinicians were trained. Also, in June 2016, the first part of a three-part EMDR training in Nepal was completed following the Nepal Earthquake in 2015. The purpose of this study is to assess, analyse and understand the needs of Syrian refugees, who have being experiencing man made trauma since 2011, with Nepalese people who were exposed to the earthquake on 25/4/2015, in their needs for trauma services, training and provision as assessed by mental health professionals working with both groups of people

Validation of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) with Arabic cancer patients

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a self-administrated questionnaire, is a frequently used instrument to assess sleep quality in clinical and non-clinical populations. The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic PSQI among patients diagnosed with cancer. A cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design was used with 369 patients with cancer completing the 19-item Arabic version of the PSQI. The scale was assessed in terms of acceptability, internal consistency and validity. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the Arabic PSQI was 0.77, demonstrating acceptable reliability. The global PSQI score did not have floor or ceiling effects. The PSQI Arabic version demonstrated good discriminative validity. Construct validity was explored by confirmatory factor analysis to examine the dimensional structure of the PSQI. The confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fit for refined one-factor model. The results support the original single factor structure of the PSQI. The Arabic version of the PSQI demonstrated adequate reliability and validity for assessing sleep quality in Arabic-speaking patients diagnosed with cancer

Healthcare Professionals Knowledge on Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Oman

Cancer-related fatigue is a common and distressing cancer symptom that negatively affects quality of life. The main objective of this study was to determine health professionals' knowledge relating to cancer patients' fatigue in Oman and identify current management practices of cancer-related fatigue. A cross-sectional survey design using Qualtrics® software was performed. The survey had five sections and comprised 32 items. A total of 138 healthcare professionals working in Oman participated in the study (response rate 63.9%). Nearly three quarters of the participants were nurses (74.6%, n = 103). The mean level of knowledge of cancer-related fatigue was 16.6/23, with 50% of participants having the expected level of knowledge above 12. The result indicated that professional discipline and work experience each were significantly associated with overall level of knowledge. Participants identified the need for guidelines, assessment tools, and training for the oncology staff to help improve the quality of life of patients with cancer-related fatigue

Quality assessment criteria: psychometric properties of measurement tools for cancer related fatigue

Background: Fatigue is a common and distressing cancer symptom that negatively affects the quality of life. Many scales have been developed to assess cancer-related fatigue. The properties of the scales vary in terms of dimensionality, reliability, validity, length and method of administration. Insufficient of psychometric properties may affect the accuracy of scales findings, that may lead result obtained questionable. The main objective of this review was to conduct a quality assessment of the psychometric properties of cancer-related fatigue scales to identify appropriate scales that could be used in research and clinical practice. Method: A systematic search was carried out to identify validated scales that measure cancer-related fatigue. Five databases were searched: CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library. This review was conducted following the PRISMA and Terwee et al.’s quality assessment guidelines to evaluate the psychometric properties of the studies. Result: Seventy-one different studies published between 1970 and 2018 met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-five scales were identified. Of these, eighteen were multidimensional and seven were uni-dimensional, containing between 4 and 72 items. Reliability and/or validity information was missing for many scales. Four scales met the quality assessment criteria and were reported as the most appropriate for measuring fatigue in cancer patients. Conclusion: Further psychometric testing is required for other scales. Developing a universally-defined tool kit for the assessment of cancer-related fatigue may help clarify the concept of fatigue and promote a systematic approach to fatigue measurement

Outdoor recreational activity experiences improve psychological wellbeing of military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: Positive findings from a pilot study and a randomised controlled trial

Exposure to the natural environment is increasingly considered to benefit psychological health. Recent reports in the literature also suggest that outdoor exposure that includes recreational pursuits such as surfing or fishing coupled with opportunities for social interaction with peers may be beneficial to Armed Forces Veterans experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Two studies were conducted to evaluate this possibility. In particular, these studies aimed to test the hypothesis that a brief group outdoor activity would decrease participants’ symptoms as assessed by established measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety and perceived stress, and increase participants’ sense of general social functioning and psychological growth. Experiment one employed a repeated measures design in which UK men and women military veterans with PTSD (N = 30) participated in a group outdoor activity (angling, equine care, or archery and falconry combined). Psychological measures were taken at 2 weeks prior, 2 weeks post, and at 4 month follow up. We obtained a significant within participant main effect indicating significant reduction in PTSD symptoms. Experiment two was a waitlist controlled randomised experiment employing an angling experience (N = 18) and 2 week follow up. In experiment 2 the predicted interaction of Group (Experimental vs. Waitlist Control) X Time (2 weeks pre vs. 2 weeks post) was obtained indicating that the experience resulted in significant reduction in PTSD symptoms relative to waitlist controls. The effect size was large. Additional analyses confirmed that the observed effects might also be considered clinically significant and reliable. In sum, peer outdoor experiences are beneficial and offer potential to complement existing provision for military veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder