Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Surg Oncol 2021 Apr 13;38:101580. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Statistics, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.

Objective: To assess long-term functional and quality of life (QoL) outcomes and their predictive factors in laryngectomized patients after successful voice restoration using tracheoesophageal prostheses (TEP).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in alive and disease-free patients at least 1 year after total laryngectomy ± partial pharyngectomy. Patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core (QLQ-C30) and Head and Neck Cancer (QLQ-H&N35) QoL questionnaires, the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10) questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Read More

Ann Med 2021 Dec;53(1):611-625

Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.

Gastrointestinal disorders are one of the most significant non-motor problems affecting people with Parkinson disease (PD). Pathogenetically, the gastrointestinal tract has been proposed to be the initial site of pathological changes in PD. Intestinal inflammation and alterations in the gut microbiota may contribute to initiation and progression of pathology in PD. Read More

Aging Ment Health 2021 Apr 16:1-8. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.

Older adults' greater susceptibility to mortality from COVID-19 may have meaningful psychological implications not only for them, but also for their children. In this study, we focused on daughters of older women and examined the intergenerational relationships as a correlate of daughters' anxiety, depressive symptoms, and psychosomatic complaints. Data were collected from 456 daughters of older mothers (M(age) = 40. Read More

Palliat Med 2021 Apr 16:2692163211008784. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK.

Background: Clarity on what constitutes a palliative care need is essential to ensure that health systems and clinical services deliver an appropriate response within Universal Health Coverage.

Aim: To synthesise primary evidence from Africa for palliative care needs among patients and families with serious illness.

Design: We conducted a mixed methods systematic review with sequential synthesis design. Read More

Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2021 9;14:1439-1447. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has evolved into a worldwide pandemic and continues to escalate exponentially in many countries across the globe. Recently, higher rates of psychological distress have been reported in several countries during the pandemic. Accordingly, the study aim was to investigate the relationship between public mental health and immune status during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Ir J Psychol Med 2021 Apr 16:1-22. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Objective: The unprecedented occurrence of a global pandemic is accompanied by both physical and psychological burdens that may impair quality of life. Research relating to COVID-19 aims to determine the effects of the pandemic on vulnerable populations who are at high risk of developing negative health or psychosocial outcomes. Having an ongoing medical condition during a pandemic may lead to greater psychological distress. Read More

J Interpers Violence 2021 Apr 15:8862605211006368. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Childhood maltreatment is a major public health issue worldwide. It increases a range of health-risk behaviors, psychological and physical problems, which are associated with an increased need for mental health services in adulthood. Identification of mediating factors in the relationship between maltreatment and seeking mental health care may help attenuate the negative consequences of childhood maltreatment and promote more appropriate treatment. Read More

Rehabilitation (Stuttg) 2021 Apr 15;60(2):77-85. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum, Würzburg.

Introduction: Reasonable to the improved prognosis of breast cancer (BC) long-term toxicities and side effects of oncological therapy gain more importance for work ability and social life of BC patients. Aim of this study was the analysis of occurence and differences of treatment-related side effects in relation to type of rehabilitation (so-called AHB vs. later rehabilitation) after therapy for BC. Read More

Public Health 2021 Apr 12;194:42-47. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, USA.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate associations between cumulative exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), protective factors, and co-occurrence among male and female juvenile offenders.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Validated measures of ACEs, internal resilience, external youth assets, psychological distress, and substance abuse were collected from 429 youths involved in the juvenile justice system in Nevada. Read More

PLoS One 2021 15;16(4):e0249702. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Faculty of Management and Hospitality Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

University students' spiritual wellbeing has been shown to be associated with quality, satisfaction, and joy of life. This study tested the relationship between spiritual wellbeing and symptoms of psychological disorders (i.e. Read More

Sci Prog 2021 Apr-Jun;104(2):368504211010571

Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.

The COVID-19 pandemic may cause psychological distress, changes in numbers and distributions of patients in spine surgery patients, which all affect the strategies of spine surgery treatment. These changes may be related to the number of new COVID-19 cases per day since they are visual indicators of the changes in the epidemic and are of interest to the public. This descriptive research took the spine surgery department as an example in a Grade-A tertiary hospital in Anhui province, China. Read More

Sch Psychol 2021 Apr 15. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Department of Educational Psychology, University of Connecticut.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is presenting challenges for families (Cluver et al., The Lancet, 2020), which may be exacerbated for caregivers of children with developmental disabilities (DDs; Center on the Developing Child, Stress, hope, and the role of science: Responding to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020). The purpose of this study was to explore caregiver burden and psychological distress among caregivers of children with DD as compared to caregivers of typically developing children across the United States as a result of COVID-19. Read More

Sleep Breath 2021 Apr 15. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, OH, Columbus, USA.

Purpose: To evaluate relationships between hypoglossal nerve stimulator (HNS) adherence and the presence of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of subjects with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), who had HNS implanted and activated at The Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC). Patient usage data from the previous 6 months was obtained from 33 patients. Read More

West J Emerg Med 2021 Feb 8;22(2):346-352. Epub 2021 Feb 8.

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Colton, California.

Introduction: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created a mental health crisis among hospital staff who have been mentally and physically exhausted by uncertainty and unexpected stressors. However, the mental health challenges and complexities faced by hospital staff in the United States has not been fully elucidated. To address this gap, we conducted this study to examine the prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety among hospital staff in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Psychol Health Med 2021 Apr 15:1-14. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.

Poor wellbeing and burnout are significant issues among health-care professionals (HCPs) and may contribute to unsafe practice. In this exploratory study, we aimed to: provide the first investigation of the combined and unique influences of these psychological factors in predicting safe practice; confirm the role played by mindfulness in relation to wellbeing, burnout and safe practice; and investigate whether values and self-compassion predict additional variability above and beyond mindfulness skills. Ninety-eight NHS staff completed measures of wellbeing, burnout, perceived safety of practice, mindfulness, values and self-compassion. Read More

FP Essent 2021 Apr;503:28-33

University of Michigan Medical School Department of Family Medicine, 300 North Ingalls St NI4C06, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5435.

Human sexual function is complex and multidimensional, with physiologic and psychological components. The common sexual dysfunctions in men have significant overlap. Low sexual desire in men includes a lack of interest in thinking about sex or in being sexual, alone or with a partner. Read More

Acta Biomed 2021 03 31;92(S2):e2021010. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Azienda USL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Background And Aim Of The Work: Palliative Care professionals are exposed to intense emotional environment. This puts them at risk for Compassion Fatigue and Burnout. The protective factors that can counter their onset are Compassion Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and Resilience. Read More

Acta Biomed 2021 03 31;92(S2):e2021008. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Corso di Laurea in Infermieristica Università di Bologna - Faenza.

Background And Aim Of The Work: In Burns Units, the long professional relationship with patients suffering from intense physical pain and psychological distress, which cannot be completely resolved or minimized, exposes nurses to very intense emotions and stressful experiences. Learning to care for patients with such medical conditions can arouse many emotions also in nursing students, that can be both positive and negative. The goal of this study was to describe the emotional impact experienced by nursing students in a Italian Burns Unit. Read More

Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2021 Apr 15. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.

Understanding the determinants of risk perception for COVID-19 might help to promote self-preventive behaviours. This scoping review aimed to map the extent, variety and characteristics of the evidence on the possible determinants of risk perception for COVID-like diseases. PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for original, peer-reviewed English-written articles published up to March 2020 and investigating risk perception determinants for respiratory infectious diseases in adults. Read More

Support Care Cancer 2021 Apr 14. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

The Cheryl Spencer Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Avenue, Mount Carmel, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.

Purpose: Cancer patients undergoing active anti-cancer treatment experience multiple symptoms concurrently. Over the years, studies to improve patients' physical and psychological discomfort by focusing on patients' needs and preferences have reported promising outcomes. This study aims to explore perceived patient-centered care and its association to symptoms experienced by cancer patients undergoing active anti-cancer treatment. Read More

Ann Acad Med Singap 2021 Mar;50(3):203-211

Children's Intensive Care Unit, Division of Nursing, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.

Introduction: Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) exposed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at risk of psychological distress. This study evaluates the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HCWs in a national paediatric referral centre.

Methods: This was a survey-based study that collected demographic, work environment and mental health data from paediatric HCWs in the emergency, intensive care and infectious disease units. Read More

Front Oncol 2021 29;11:621690. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

UOC di Radioterapia Oncologica, Dipartimento Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Pediatric patients may experience considerable distress during radiotherapy. Combining psychological interventions with standard therapies can reduce the need for sedation. The RADAR Project aims to use a systematic method of recording data that can reveal patients' difficulties and fragility during treatment. Read More

Front Psychol 2021 29;12:625381. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.

Deficits in affective processing are associated with impairments in both mental and physical health. The role of affective processing in patients with functional somatic complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains unclear. Most studies have focused on the capacity for emotional awareness and expression, but neglect other dimensions of affective processing. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2021 Apr 14;21(1):173. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Department of Sociology, Loyola University Maryland, 4501 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD, 20210, USA.

Background: Stigma, both enacted and internalized, is part of the illness experience of many chronic conditions / diseases and has been found to increase psychological distress, lower self-esteem, and impact social engagement lowering quality of life (QOL). Stigma among pediatric patients is of particular concern due to its potential impact on identity formation. Using patient data from the online FD/MAS Alliance Patient Registry (FDMASAPR), this study seeks to 1) determine levels of enacted and self-stigma in a pediatric population of fibrous dysplasia (FD) / McCune Albright syndrome (MAS) patients and 2) to explore the relationship between stigma and anxiety and depression. Read More

BMC Fam Pract 2021 Apr 14;22(1):73. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.

COVID-19 will cause normal feelings of worry and stress and many of those who experience higher levels of distress will experience resolution of their symptoms as society returns to pre-COVID-19 functioning. Only a minority are likely to develop a psychiatric disorder. Certain individuals may be vulnerable to experiencing persisting symptoms, such as those with pre-existing comorbidity. Read More

Neuropediatrics 2021 Apr 14. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, Brazil.

Background:  The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is complex and involves the interplay of genetic and environmental factors.

Aim:  We sought to identify potential prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal risk factors for ASD in a unique population of children who had perinatal complications and required care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods:  This prospective cohort study included 73 patients discharged from a NICU who received long-term follow-up at the largest children's hospital in Brazil. Read More

J Patient Saf 2021 Apr 14. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

From the Department of Medicine, University of Udine Hygiene and Clinical Epidemiology Institute Accreditation, Quality and Risk Management Unit, Friuli Centrale Healthcare and University Trust, ASU FC, Udine, Italy.

Objective: Second victims are defined as healthcare workers involved in an unanticipated adverse patient event, who experienced professional and psychological distress. The Second Victim Experience and Support Tool (SVEST) is a survey developed and validated in the United States, which describes the experience of second victims. This study aims to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the SVEST and to evaluate its psychometric characteristics in the Italian context. Read More

J Homosex 2021 Apr 14:1-19. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, "Sapienza," University of Rome, Italy.

An increasing amount of literature revealed a link between GD and ASD. Both GD and ASD are complex and heterogeneous conditions characterized by a large variety of presentations. Studies have reported that individuals with GD tend to have higher prevalence rates of autistic traits in comparison to the general population. Read More

Int J Eat Disord 2021 Apr 14. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Objective: Although existing research supports the efficacy of mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments (MABTs) for eating disorders (EDs), few studies have directly compared outcomes from MABTs to standard CBT.

Method: Participants (N = 44), treatment-seeking adults with bulimia-spectrum EDs, were screened for eligibility, consented, and randomized to receive 20 sessions of outpatient, individual CBT or MABT treatment. Treatment outcomes (binge eating and compensatory behavior episodes, global ED severity, depressive symptoms, quality of life, emotional awareness/clarity, distress tolerance, values-based decision-making, and emotion modulation) were measured at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow up. Read More