Explore the vast range of titles available.

Psychological interventions to treat mental health issues have developed remarkably in the past few decades. Yet this progress often neglects a central goal—namely, to reduce the burden of mental illness and related conditions. The need for psychological services is enormous, and only a small proportion of individuals in need actually receive treatment. Individual psychotherapy, the dominant model of treatment delivery, is not likely to be able to meet this need. Despite advances, mental health professionals are not likely to reduce the prevalence, incidence, and burden of mental illness without a major shift in intervention research and clinical practice. A portfolio of models of delivery will be needed. We illustrate various models of delivery to convey opportunities provided by technology, special settings and nontraditional service providers, self-help interventions, and the media. Decreasing the burden of mental illness also will depend on integrating prevention and treatment, developing assessment and a national database for monitoring mental illness and its burdens, considering contextual issues that influence delivery of treatment, and addressing potential tensions within the mental health professions. Finally, opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborations are discussed as key considerations for reducing the burden of mental illness.

Virtual reality (VR) is a promising tool to promote motor (re)learning in healthy users and brain-injured patients. However, in current VR-based motor training, movements of the users performed in a three-dimensional space are usually visualized on computer screens, televisions, or projection systems, which lack depth cues (2D screen), and thus, display information using only monocular depth cues. The reduced depth cues and the visuospatial transformation from the movements performed in a three-dimensional space to their two-dimensional indirect visualization on the 2D screen may add cognitive load, reducing VR usability, especially in users suffering from cognitive impairments. These 2D screens might further reduce the learning outcomes if they limit users’ motivation and embodiment, factors previously associated with better motor performance. The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential benefits of more immersive technologies using head-mounted displays (HMDs). As a first step towards potential clinical implementation, we ran an experiment with 20 healthy participants who simultaneously performed a 3D motor reaching and a cognitive counting task using: (1) (immersive) VR (IVR) HMD, (2) augmented reality (AR) HMD, and (3) computer screen (2D screen). In a previous analysis, we reported improved movement quality when movements were visualized with IVR than with a 2D screen. Here, we present results from the analysis of questionnaires to evaluate whether the visualization technology impacted users’ cognitive load, motivation, technology usability, and embodiment. Reports on cognitive load did not differ across visualization technologies. However, IVR was more motivating and usable than AR and the 2D screen. Both IVR and AR rea ched higher embodiment level than the 2D screen. Our results support our previous finding that IVR HMDs seem to be more suitable than the common 2D screens employed in VR-based therapy when training 3D movements. For AR, it is still unknown whether the absence of benefit over the 2D screen is due to the visualization technology per se or to technical limitations specific to the device.

BackgroundResearch investigating the role of emotion regulation (ER) in the development and treatment of psychopathology has increased in recent years. Evidence suggests that an increased focus on ER in treatment can improve existing interventions. Most ER research has neglected young people, therefore the present meta-analysis summarizes the evidence for existing psychosocial intervention and their effectiveness to improve ER in youth. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-one randomized-control-trials (RCTs) assessed changes in ER following a psychological intervention in youth exhibiting various psychopathological symptoms. We found moderate effect sizes for current interventions to decrease emotion dysregulation in youth (g = − 0.46) and small effect sizes to improve emotion regulation (g = 0.36). Significant differences between studies including intervention components, ER measures and populations studied resulted in large heterogeneity. This is the first meta-analysis that summarizes the effectiveness for existing interventions to improve ER in youth. The results suggest that interventions can enhance ER in youth, and that these improvements correlate with improvements in psychopathology. More RCTs including larger sample sizes, different age groups and psychopathologies are needed to increase our understanding of what works for who and when.

Unlike conventional meta-analyses, individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis assesses moderator variables at the level of each participant, which generates more precise and biased estimates. The objective of this study was to investigate whether psychological therapy reduces depression symptoms in people with Bipolar I and II disorders and examine whether baseline depression has a moderating effect on treatment outcomes. Through the use of several electronic databases, a systematic search was conducted. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials evaluating a psychological intervention for adults diagnosed with Bipolar I or II disorder. Titles and abstracts were screened, followed by full texts. The authors of the included studies were asked to provide IPD from their trials. A multilevel model approach was used to analyze the data. From the 7552 studies found by our searches, six studies with 668 study participants were eligible. Intervention significantly reduced depression scores. There was a significant association between baseline depression and post treatment depression scores. There was no statistically significant interaction between condition allocation and baseline depression score. When IPD from the two most comparable studies were analyzed, CBT had reduced depression scores relative to the comparator condition. The study included patient data from only six studies which were heterogeneous in terms of intervention type, outcome measure, and comparators. Overall, the psychological interventions tested significantly reduced bipolar depression scores. There was no evidence of moderation by baseline depression scores.

The aim of this study was to update the literature on interventions for carers of people with dementia published between 2006 and 2016 and evaluate the efficacy of psychoeducational programs and psychotherapeutic interventions on key mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, burden, and quality of life). A meta-analysis was carried out of randomized controlled trials of carer interventions using MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The majority of studies were conducted in Western and Southern Europe or the United States and recruited carers of people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia grouped as a whole. The most commonly used outcome measures were depression and burden across studies. The updated evidence suggested that psychoeducation-skill building interventions delivered face-to-face can better impact on burden. Psychotherapeutic interventions underpinned by Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) models demonstrated strong empirical support for treating anxiety and depression and these effects were not affected by the mode of delivery (i.e. face-to-face vs. technology). A modern CBT approach, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), seemed to be particularly beneficial for carers experiencing high levels of anxiety. Future research needs to explore the efficacy of interventions on multiple clinical outcomes and which combination of interventions (components) would have the most significant effects when using CBT. The generalization of treatment effects in different countries and carers of different types of dementia also need to be addressed. More research is needed to test the efficacy of modern forms of CBT, such as ACT.

The theory of differential susceptibility is helping to explain how genetic, neurological and personality factors affect individual mental and physical health and why interventions work better with certain populations. As social workers, however, our focus is more on the impact of the social determinants of health found in people’s environments and the nuanced way external factors influence psychological treatment outcomes and human development over time rather than genotypes and phenotypes. This article discusses differential impact theory (DIT) as a complementary theory to differential susceptibility in an effort to make both theories relevant to social work practice. After a brief summary of the differential susceptibility research, I draw from studies of psycho-social interventions and Person × Environment interactions to show that responsibility for positive adaptation resides within the systems that surround individuals just as much as, and possibly more than, within individuals themselves. DIT provides a more balanced explanation than differential susceptibility theory alone for why clinical and community interventions and changes to social policy can have a positive influence on psycho-social outcomes. The implications of DIT are discussed with regard to the design and delivery of psychological and social interventions.

Aims The positive psychology intervention (PPI) is an effective therapy designed to motivate individuals’ positive quality and power, to help them survive in an adverse situation, and to establish a high-quality personal and social life. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of PPI on the psychological capital, psychological distress, and life satisfaction among colostomy patients. Methods Patients ( n  = 120) with permanent stomas were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups. Patients in the experimental group ( n  = 60) received standard care and PPI, whereas patients in the control group ( n  = 60) only received standard care. The psychological capital, psychological distress, and life satisfaction were measured and compared between two groups before the intervention, the immediate post-intervention, and follow-up. Results All 120 patients completed the study. The hope, optimism, resilience, psychological distress, and life satisfaction score of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group at T1 and T2 ( P  < 0.05). Self-efficacy score of the experimental group had no significant difference at the two time points after the intervention than the control group ( P  > 0.05). Changes in hope and resilience which belong to psychological capital mediated the intervention’s efficacy on changes in PPI on life satisfaction ( β  = 0.265, P  = 0.005; β  = 0.686, P  = 0.002). Conclusions PPI could effectively improve psychological capital, psychological distress, and life satisfaction among patients with stomas. Besides, our findings add novel support that increased hope and resilience are the active ingredients that promote intervention change.

This paper reports the development of a specialized teleguidance-based navigation assistance system for the blind and the visually impaired. We present findings from a usability and user experience study conducted with 11 blind and visually impaired participants and a sighted caretaker. Participants sent live video feed of their field of view to the remote caretaker’s terminal from a smartphone camera attached to their chest. The caretaker used this video feed to guide them through indoor and outdoor navigation scenarios using a combination of haptic and voice-based communication. Haptic feedback was provided through vibrating actuators installed in the grip of a Smart Cane. Two haptic methods for directional guidance were tested: (1) two vibrating actuators to guide left and right movement and (2) a single vibrating actuator with differentiating vibration patterns for the same purpose. Users feedback was collected using a meCUE 2.0 standardized questionnaire, interviews, and group discussions. Participants’ perceptions toward the proposed navigation assistance system were positive. Blind participants preferred vibrational guidance with two actuators, while partially blind participants preferred the single actuator method. Familiarity with cane use and age were important factors in the choice of haptic methods by both blind and partially blind users. It was found that smartphone camera provided sufficient field of view for remote assistance; position and angle are nonetheless important considerations. Ultimately, more research is needed to confirm our preliminary findings. We also present an expanded evaluation model developed to carry out further research on assistive systems.

Burn patients engage in repetitive painful therapeutic treatments, such as wound debridement, dressing changes, and other medical processes high in procedural pain. Pharmacological analgesics have been used for managing pain, but with ineffective results and negative side effects. Studies on pain management for burn patients suggested that Virtual Reality can treat procedural pain. This paper describes the process of designing, testing, and deploying a Virtual Reality system into a hospital setting. Firstly, a workshop was conducted to identify the most suitable types of Virtual Reality contents for the needs of burn-injured patients. Then, an experimental study, with 15 healthy adults, explored the analgesic impact of the Virtual Reality contents. The pain was induced through a cold pressor. Finally, we deployed the Virtual Reality system into the hospital to examine its efficiency on burn-injured inpatients. This study presents factors for the effective design and deployment of Virtual Reality for burn-injured patients residing in a hospital. Those factors refer to the use of cartoonish features and a choice of content based on each patient’s interests to increase the positive emotions and the use of interactive features, portable equipment to reduce pain and increase the feasibility of the technology in clinical settings. Finally, our results indicated that the extension of the VR use after the therapeutic session could support more effective pain treatment.Trial registration number Protocol ID: AA8434.

The expansion of e-mental health services offers diverse treatment options. As the variety of available interventions grows, helping individuals navigate these options effectively becomes essential. This study evaluates the effects of a decision aid for users when choosing between guided internet-based psychological interventions and in-person psychotherapy. A web-based, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 148 Chinese-speaking adult participants from Hong Kong with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores ≥10 (indicating clinical depression). Participants were recruited by electronic direct mail, social media, university mass mail, and online advertising then randomly assigned to either the decision aid intervention group or the attention control group. The study's assessments were conducted online through self-administered questionnaires before and after the intervention, while the intervention was delivered via Zoom. The decision aid group underwent a brief interactive, self-directed, web-based decision aid. The decision aid included psychoeducation on depression and treatments, a comparison between internet-based interventions and face-to-face therapy, and personalized reports for value clarification. The attention control involved an unguided web search on mental health information. Primary outcome measures included decision conflict (measured using the SURE tool and Decision Conflict Scale), while secondary outcomes included stage of decision-making, satisfaction with decision, perceived benefits and risks, and likelihood of service utilization. Time-by-intervention interactions in ANOVA were found, which indicated that the reduction in decisional conflict was more significant in the decision aid group than in the control group, as measured using the brief SURE tool (F =6.47, P=.01; partial η  = 0.043; 95% CI 0.002-0.122) and decision conflict scale (F =9.56, P=.002; 95% CI 0.0086-0.16). Specifically, interaction effects were observed for 3 of the 5 decision conflict subscales: The decision aid group reported feeling more \"informed,\" experiencing greater \"support,\" and being better able to make \"effective decisions.\" Participants in the decision aid group also reported more advanced stages of decision-making; however, a significant difference between groups was not found for satisfaction with the decision. Although there was no significant change in perceived benefit, participants in the decision aid group had significantly greater reductions in their perceived risks associated with a guided internet-based psychological intervention. In addition, participants who used the decision aid were 2.26 times more likely to prefer (odds ratio [OR] 2.26, 95% CI 1.11-4.60; P=.02) and 2.53 times more likely to use (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.13-4.92; P=.006) a guided internet-based psychological intervention than participants who searched for mental health information on the web by themselves. This study demonstrates the extent of the utility and value of a decision aid for assisting individuals with depressive symptoms make informed choices related to e-mental health. Decision aids may facilitate the uptake of digital mental health services. Future research should explore the behavioral and long-term impact and generalizability of decision aids in applied settings. Chinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR2300077323; https://tinyurl.com/2n34ea69; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05477420; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05477420.