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Background Healthcare professionals face high levels of occupational stress, time pressure, workload, and poor organizational support. This makes them particularly vulnerable to burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this situation. This single-arm, multicenter, mixed-methods feasibility study pilots the LAGOM program: A tailored, evidence-based intervention to prevent burnout and reduce stress among healthcare professionals. Methods Participants will include healthcare professionals ( N  = 30) working at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Immanuel Hospital, Berlin. LAGOM focuses on support for individual behavior change and personal resources and also addresses the organizational level. The intervention´s feasibility will be evaluated through a non-randomized feasibility trial with a mixed methods process evaluation. The exploratory primary study aims are to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the (1) evaluation procedures and of the (2) intervention content and structure using study records, standardized questionnaires, protocol checklists, and diaries. Exploratory effectiveness analysis will take place as well. Further, semi-structured interviews ( n  = 3 to 6) and electrophysiological measurements ( n  = 20) will be conducted. Discussion Custom-tailored, well-implemented multi-level interventions are needed to prevent burnout and reduce stress among healthcare professionals. Long-term strategies are warranted to sustainably implement effective programs. This feasibility study helps to refine trial procedures and content of the LAGOM program for a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the intervention’s effectiveness. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00032014 , registered 17 th October 2023.

Background For several decades, psychological stress has been observed to be a significant challenge for medical students. The techniques and approach of mind-body medicine and group support have repeatedly demonstrated their effectiveness at reducing stress and improving the quality of the education experience. Discussion Mind-Body Skills Groups provide medical students with practical instruction in and scientific evidence for a variety of techniques that reduce stress, promote self-awareness and self-expression, facilitate imaginative solutions to personal and professional problems, foster mutual understanding among students, and enhance confidence in and optimism about future medical practice. The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, which developed this model 20 years ago, has trained medical school faculty who offer these supportive small groups to students at more than 15 US medical schools. This paper describes the model, surveys its use in medical schools, summarizes published research on it, and discusses obstacles to successful implementation as well as its benefits. Summary Mind-Body Skills groups have demonstrated their effectiveness on reducing stress in medical students; in enhancing the students’ experience of medical education; and in helping them look forward more confidently and hopefully to becoming physicians. The experience of these 15 institutions may encourage other medical schools to include mind-body skills groups in their curricula.

Scientific research has shown that laughter may have both preventive and therapeutic values. Health-related benefits of laughter are mainly reported from spontaneous laughter interventional studies. While the human mind can make a distinction between simulated and spontaneous laughter, the human body cannot. Either way health-related outcomes are deemed to be produced. Simulated laughter is thus a relatively under-researched treatment modality with potential health benefits. The aim of this review was firstly to identify, critically evaluate and summarize the laughter literature; secondly to assess to which extent simulated laughter health-related benefits are currently sustained by empirical evidence; and lastly to provide recommendations and future directions for further research. A comprehensive laughter literature search was performed. A list of inclusion and exclusion criteria was identified. Thematic analysis was applied to summarize laughter health-related outcomes, relationships, and general robustness. Laughter has shown different physiological and psychological benefits. Adverse effects are very limited and laughter is practically lacking in counter-indications. Despite the limited number of publications, there is some evidence to suggest that simulated laughter has also some effects on certain aspects of health, though further well-designed research is warranted. Simulated laughter techniques can be easily implemented in traditional clinical settings for health and patient care. Their effective use for therapeutic purposes needs to be learned, practiced, and developed as any other medical strategy. Practical guidelines and further research are needed to help health care professionals (and others) implement laughter techniques in their health care portfolio.

The concepts of Mind-body medicine (MBM), and non-mind body complementary medicine practices among Haitians in Little Haiti, Florida are unexplored. This article investigated five non-habituated MBM modalities and practices within the Haitian culture. An additional objective of this article was to determine whether a relationship could exist among the mbm and non-mbm modalities in the indigenous culture in Miami-Dade County, Florida, looking at the cultural and traditional medicine practices. A literature survey shows adherence through cultural health beliefs and spiritual conduits of the indigenous culture. The result shows that MBM modalities are salient within this group, and awareness or exposure to MBM and non-MBM modalities can be essential in cultural health beliefs formation, and practices. In a COVOD-19 era these modalities can help alleviate the ill-consequences. Knowledge and embrace of the modalities are paramount while maintaining traditional medicine and cultural traditions. Further research is needed.

Interoception, the process by which the nervous system senses, interprets, and integrates signals originating from within the body, has become major research topic for mental health and in particular for mind-body interventions. Interoceptive awareness here is defined as the conscious level of interoception with its multiple dimensions potentially accessible to self-report. The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) is an 8-scale state-trait questionnaire with 32 items to measure multiple dimensions of interoception by self-report and was published in November 2012. Its numerous applications in English and other languages revealed low internal consistency reliability for two of its scales. This study's objective was to improve these scales and the psychometrics of the MAIA by adding three new items to each of the two scales and evaluate these in a new sample. Data were collected within a larger project that took place as part of the Live Science residency programme at the Science Museum London, UK, where visitors to the museum (N = 1,090) completed the MAIA and the six additional items. Based on exploratory factor analysis in one-half of the adult participants and Cronbach alphas, we discarded one and included five of the six additional items into a Version 2 of the MAIA and conducted confirmatory factor analysis in the other half of the participants. The 8-factor model of the resulting 37-item MAIA-2 was confirmed with appropriate fit indices (RMSEA = 0.055 [95% CI 0.052-0.058]; SRMR = 0.064) and improved internal consistency reliability. The MAIA-2 is public domain and available (www.osher.ucsf.edu/maia) for interoception research and the evaluation of clinical mind-body interventions.

Purpose of the Review This narrative review examines the efficacy, mechanisms and safety of mind-body medicine (MBM) in the treatment of depression. We reviewed the potential effects of various MBM interventions such as yoga, tai chi, qigong, mindfulness-based interventions and nutrition on clinical and subthreshold depressive symptoms. Recent Findings Current studies indicate a growing interest in the use of MBM for psychiatric disorders, including depression. MBM interventions demonstrate efficacy in reducing depressive symptoms with fewer adverse effects and costs compared to pharmacological treatments. Summary MBM has significant potential to improve mental health outcomes for depression. These interventions encourage self-care and stress management through behavioural, exercise, relaxation and nutritional approaches. While existing data are promising, further, more rigorous studies are required to confirm long-term effectiveness and to determine the role of MBM in comprehensive depression treatment strategies.

This systematic review analysed the effectiveness of mind-body modalities (MBMs) in Hwa-byung (HB). Ten electronic databases were searched. Intervention studies using MBMs for individuals with HB, published up to July 2023, were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane RoB and ROBINS-I tools. Meta-analysis of continuous variables was presented as mean differences (MDs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Nine studies including five randomized controlled clinical trials, were included. The MBM types were meditation, relaxation, biofield therapy, art therapy, and forest-based MBM, and comprehensive HB programs. Most studies used an MBM group, with 5–6 sessions delivered during an average of 4–5 weeks. As a result of the meta-analysis, art therapy showed a statistically significantly better effect on improving the Hwa-Byung Scale (HB-S) score compared to the waitlist control (MD = −7.74; 95% CI = −9.81 to −5.66). In the before-and-after comparison, MBMs were frequently reported to have significant benefits for improving the HB-S total score (7/7, 100%), depressive mood (4/5, 80%), and state anxiety (6/8, 75%). Some methodological flaws were identified in the included studies, including the reliability of diagnosis, non-implementation of assessor blinding, and inappropriate control groups. This review identified potentially promising MBMs that were not previously recommended in the current HB clinical practice guidelines. In the future, high-quality clinical studies that include the use of standardized HB diagnostic criteria, homogeneous interventions, appropriate control groups, standard assessment tools such as the HB-S, and assessor blinding are needed. •Hwa-byung (HB) is a suppressed anger syndrome (Korean cultural syndrome).•Nine interventional studies of mind-body modality (MBM) were included and analyzed.•The positive effects of MBM on the Hwa-Byung Scale (HB-S) have been frequently reported.•Meta-analysis found that art therapy significantly improved HB-S score compared to the waitlist control.•Future challenges include the use of standardized HB diagnostic criteria and homogeneous interventions.

Background Psychological stress and anxiety during pregnancy can adversely affect both maternal and fetal health. Qigong, a traditional Chinese mind–body exercise, is believed to promote physical and mental well-being during pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of qigong on anxiety, stress, and exercise self-efficacy in pregnant women. Methods This multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial included pregnant women in their second trimester attending prenatal education classes at Baskent University and Alaaddin Keykubat University. Women in the first or third trimester with uncontrolled systemic diseases, high-risk pregnancies, or irregular attendance were excluded. Participants were randomly assigned via Randomizer.org to either the Qigong group or the control group. The Qigong group performed Baduanjin qigong exercises for 30–45 min, three times a week, while the control group received standard prenatal counseling. Demographic data were recorded. All participants completed the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Scale (PrAS), Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale (PSRS), and Pregnancy Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (P-ESES). Results A total of 102 pregnant women were analyzed (qigong group: 52; control group: 50). The mean age was 27.95 ± 3.66 years, and the mean gestational week was 26.94 ± 2.12. The qigong group showed significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure increases compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Exercise self-efficacy scores increased significantly in the qigong group (p < 0.05). Pregnancy-related anxiety and stress scores, including all subscales, showed significant improvement in the qigong group (p < 0.05), with no significant changes in the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusions Baduanjin qigong was effective in reducing anxiety and stress levels and improving exercise self-efficacy in pregnant women. This non-pharmacological intervention may offer a safe, supportive approach to mental well-being during pregnancy.

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common health issue worldwide. Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga, as the most widely practiced mindful exercises, have promising effects for CLBP-specific symptoms. Objective: We therefore conducted a comprehensive review investigating the effects of mindful exercises versus active and/or non-active controls while evaluating the safety and pain-related effects of mindful exercises in adults with CLBP. Methods: We searched five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) from inception to February 2019. Two investigators independently selected 17 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCT) against inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by data extraction and study quality assessment. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to determine the magnitude of mindful exercises versus controls on pain- and disease-specific outcome measures. Results: As compared to control groups, we observed significantly favorable effects of mindful exercises on reducing pain intensity (SMD = −0.37, 95% CI −0.5 to −0.23, p < 0.001, I2 = 45.9 %) and disability (SMD = −0.39, 95% CI −0.49 to −0.28, p < 0.001, I2 = 0 %). When compared with active control alone, mindful exercises showed significantly reduced pain intensity (SMD = −0.40, p < 0.001). Furthermore, of the three mindful exercises, Tai Chi has a significantly superior effect on pain management (SMD= −0.75, 95% CI −1.05 to −0.46, p < 0.001), whereas Yoga-related adverse events were reported in five studies. Conclusion: Findings of our systematic review suggest that mindful exercises (Tai Chi and Qigong) may be beneficial for CLBP symptomatic management. In particular, Tai Chi appears to have a superior effect in reducing pain intensity irrespective of non-control comparison or active control comparison (conventional exercises, core training, and physical therapy programs). Importantly, training in these mindful exercises should be implemented with certified instructors to ensure quality of movement and injury prevention.