Change in the moving bodymind: Quantitative results from a pilot study on the use of the BodyMind approach (BMA) to psychotherapeutic group work with patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUSs)

Background: This article reports quantitative results from a pilot study in primary care (PC) undertaken from 2004–2007. The intervention programme, derived from movement psychotherapy, was termed ‘Learning groups: the BodyMind approach (BMA),’ and emphasised a verbal and non-verbal integrated model, awareness of the inter-relationship between body and mind and a self-managing framework. Aim: To evaluate systematically the outcomes of a 12-week group BMA intervention programme with patients suffering from anxiety/depression with at least one chronic (over two years) medically unexplained symptom (MUS), another term for a psychosomatic condition or somatoform disorder. Method: A mixed method was applied to a single-case design. Outcome measures completed at baseline, mid-, post- intervention and three-month follow-up were the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) and the Counselling Outcome Routine Evaluation (CORE). Results: Increased activity levels and well-being; more effective coping/functioning strategies; reduction in anxiety/depression, GP-consultation and medication usage, and symptom distress. All changes were maintained at three-month follow-up.     

The topology of performance curves during 72 hours of sleep loss: A memory and search task

Three levels of working memory load of a visual search (Memory and Search) task were tested in a 72-hour sleep deprivation paradigm. General performance and accuracy decrease over time with monotonic and rhythmic components. The signal detection discriminability index, d', decreases monotonically with rhythmic variations. The index of response bias, β, shows no monotonic trend, but significant circadian rhythmicity. The extent of the monotonic and rhythmic changes in accuracy and in d' is directly related to the level of working memory load. The amplitude of the circadian component of accuracy and d' is enhanced for the higher levels of working memory load. The implication of potentiated circadian rhythmicity as a function of cumulative sleep loss is discussed.     

Slacking Off or Winding Down? An Experience Sampling Study on the Drivers and Consequences of Media Use for Recovery Versus Procrastination

Today's constant availability of media content provides users with various recreational resources. It may also challenge self‐control, however, once media exposure conflicts with other goals and obligations. How media users deal with these self‐regulatory chances and risks in their daily lives is largely unknown. Our study addressed the predictors and consequences of recreational and procrastinatory media use using experience sampling methodology (N = 215; 1,094 media use episodes). Results suggest that trait (self‐control, performance goal orientation) as well as state variables (exhaustion) are significant predictors of media use for recovery versus procrastination. Whereas recreational media use showed a positive effect on entertainment, which in turn enhanced subjective well‐being, negative self‐evaluation elicited by procrastinatory media use negatively affected well‐being.