Researchers from the Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences at Chiba University in Japan investigated the impact of a 5-min stay in a hospital's rooftop forest on relaxation in elderly patients requiring care.
This was a within-subject, cross-sectional study where the participants were 30 elderly female patients requiring help in walking, with an average age of 81.
Responses were measured with a simplified emotional 7-point rating
scale, ranging from -3 to +3 for 5 pairs of emotions. This instrument
was derived from the two-question Whooley Depression Screen and was used
as a subjective indicator.
Which of your CD's might be appropriate for my new massotherapy client? She is in her early 70’s, very intelligent and talented and is dealing with the anger, fear, and grief of being the caregiver to her historian husband of 45 years, who has brain damage from an accident he suffered 3 years ago.
He has worked to recover a good deal of function, but he can no longer communicate with her on his former level, which she finds so frustrating. She sorely misses her best friend. Some days are ok and others present her with shocking surprises such as finding him trying to read the ingredients of a can upside down. She has received little help from her family.
She is presenting now with gastrointestinal upset and some dermatological symptoms as well. She is responding to massage, acupuncture and biofeedback, but she needs to gently go deeper.
Researchers from the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain in Davis, California, investigated the effects of a 3-month intensive meditation retreat on telomerase activity and 2 measures of perceived stress - . (Telomerase activity reverses cell aging and is a predictor of long-term cellular viability. Aging is accelerated by chronic stress)
The two measures of perceived stress were Perceived Control (associated with decreased stress) and Subjective Distress. In addition, the authors investigated whether two qualities developed by meditative practice - increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life - accounted for retreat-related changes in the two stress-related variables and in telomerase activity.
Hi Belleruth. A friend of mine is married with a 14-year-old son. His wife is ill with advanced breast cancer. My friend's son is having a terrible time with the potential loss of his Mom, acting out with his family… at times, being very cruel to his Mother. Do you have any suggestions for guided imagery for this young man? He's been completely opposed to seeing a counselor, or being in a group, or any help of any sort. Any ideas would be welcome.
Researchers from the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston evaluated a group treatment called "Imagery Rescripting and Exposure Therapy" (IRET) for Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic posttraumatic nightmares. (There is a good summary of imagery rescripting tx here.)
IRET is a variant of a successful imagery rescripting treatment for civilian trauma-related nightmares that was modified to address the needs of the Veteran population.
Researchers from the Department of Psychology at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University in Bundoor, Australia presented the results of a small pilot study (N=19) that examined the efficacy of a 6-week, combined progressive relaxation technique (APRT) and guided imagery (GI) intervention, to help with the management of chronic pain.
Results indicated consistent and clinically significant improvement on pain (measures were the McGill Pain Questionnaire and a visual analog scale), mental health (the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale), all domains of quality of life (the RAND-36 Health Survey), and sleep, for the treatment group only.
Researchers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University conducted a systematic review and critical appraisal of the effect of yoga on stress management in healthy adults.
A systematic literature search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials (CCTs) that assessed the effects of yoga on stress management in healthy adults. Selected studies were classified according to the types of intervention, duration, outcome measures, and results. They were also qualitatively assessed based on Public Health Research, Education and Development standards.
Researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, Houston, assessed whether stress management (SM) improved immune outcomes in men undergoing surgery for prostate cancer.
A total of 159 men were assigned randomly to a two-session pre-surgical stress management intervention, a two-session supportive attention (SA) group, or a standard care (SC) group.
Men in the SM group discussed their concerns about the upcoming surgery and were taught diaphragmatic breathing, guided imagery, imaginal exposure to the day of surgery and additionally learned adaptive coping skills.
Men in the SA group discussed their concerns about the upcoming surgery and had a semistructured medical interview.
Researchers from the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada investigated whether combining sertraline (Zoloft) and self-administered cognitive behavior therapy (SCBT) could improve treatment outcomes for panic disorder.
Two hundred fifty-one patients were randomized to 12 weeks of either a placebo drug, a placebo drug plus SCBT, sertraline alone or sertraline plus SCBT. Those who improved after 12 weeks of acute treatment then received treatment for an additional 12 weeks.
Outcome measures evaluate the core Panic Disorder symptoms (panic attacks, anticipatory anxiety, agoraphobic avoidance), dysfunctional ideas (fear of bodily sensations, agoraphobic ideas), disability, and clinical global impression of severity and improvement.
Researchers from the University of Greenwich, London, UK investigated whether hypnosis plus Virtual Reality (VR) performed more effectively than hypnosis alone.
Thirty-five healthy participants were randomized to self-hypnosis with VR imagery, standard self-hypnosis, or relaxation interventions. Changes in sleep, cortisol levels, and mood were measured.
Researchers from the Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences at Chiba University in Japan investigated the impact of a 5-min stay in a hospital's rooftop forest on relaxation in elderly patients requiring care.
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