Auditory and visual hallucinations in a sample of severely mentally ill Puerto Rican women: an examination of the cultural context

The content, interpretation, and structure of hallucinations experienced by individuals with severe mental illness are influenced by the culture of the individuals who experience them. We analyzed the content of visual and auditory hallucinations of 53 Puerto Rican women in northeastern Ohio with a diagnosis of a severe mental illness (SMI) who were participating in a study of HIV risk among Hispanic women with SMI. Compared to non-hallucinators, hallucinators had lower global assessment of functioning scores and greater suicidality. Hallucinations reflected three themes: religious themes, command hallucinations, and unidentifiable voices. Hallucinators’ subjective experience of their hallucinations ranged from a sense of security to significant distress. Participants developed a wide range of strategies to deal with threatening hallucinations. Provider response to individuals’ experience appeared to impact the quality of the patient–provider relationship. We recommend the inclusion of religious history in the initial assessment of individuals. This will assist the provider in making an accurate diagnosis, distinguishing between religious beliefs and those that reflect underlying pathology, and in increasing the level of cultural competence of the care provided. Religious and spiritual beliefs that provide a source of hope and strength for the patient can be utilized to expand and enhance the patient's coping strategies.     

Cancer Patients' Illness Experiences During a Group Intervention

The study used secondary data analysis to explore cancer patients' illness experiences during a listening group intervention. Participants were 12 patients (age range 22 to 62 years in age; males = 4; females = 8). Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Analysis of the data yielded twelve prevalent themes namely, support, perspectives and experiences in medical context, perspectives on life and death, emotional experiences, religiosity, role of knowledge and information pertaining to cancer, finances, concern for others, loss, desire for survival, humour, and physical symptoms. A framework suggesting possible moderating factors that could influence cancer patients' illness experiences and outcomes are proposed. The results of the study emphasise how stressful and complex living with cancer can be. However, many cancer patients developed alternative perspectives on life which also seem to bring about personal growth. It is suggested that further research regarding the development of a survivorship care programme within the South African context be undertaken.     

The role of goal adjustment in symptoms of depression,anxiety and fatigue in cancer patients receiving psychosocial care: A longitudinal study

Objective: This study examined whether cancer patients reported increases in their goal adjustment capacities while receiving psychosocial care and whether these increases were related to changes in symptoms of depression, anxiety and fatigue. Goal adjustment was conceptualised as two independent capacities: goal disengagement (i.e. disengage from unattainable goals) and goal reengagement (i.e. reengage into new goals).

Design: This naturalistic, longitudinal study focused on 241 cancer patients receiving psychosocial care at one of the seven psycho-oncology institutions in the Netherlands. Data was collected before the start of psychosocial care (T1) and nine months thereafter (T2). Hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the research questions.

Main Outcome Measures: Goal adjustment, symptoms of depression, anxiety and fatigue.

Results: At group level, patients reported small increases in goal disengagement (d = .22) but no significant change in goal reengagement (d = .09). At an individual level, 34% of cancer patients reported an increase in goal disengagement and 30% reported an increase in goal reengagement. Increases in goal reengagement were significantly associated with decreases in both depressive and anxiety symptoms, but not to changes in fatigue.

Conclusion: Findings indicate that particularly improvements in goal reengagement are beneficial for cancer patients’ psychological functioning.     

Depression,anxiety and social support in rheumatoid arthritic women without and with a spouse

Abstract

A comparison was made of income and physical, social and psychological aspects of health between 22 female patients who had never married, 127 patients living with a spouse and 53 patients who were widowed or divorced. No significant differences were found between never married patients and patients living with a spouse. The widowed or divorced patients however had a lower income, reported less potential support, more depression and anxiety than the patients who were never married and those living with a spouse. The relationship of social support to depression and anxiety was investigated in spouseless patients (n=75) and in those living with a spouse (n=127). In both groups of patients, less potential support was found to be related to more anxiety. In addition, pain was found to contribute significantly to depression and to anxiety only in the patients living with a spouse. With regard to the latter, it is suggested that the debilitating influence of pain on the relationship with the partner might have been the mediating factor.     

如何成为一名优秀的骨科医生

目前,由于医疗模式的转变,除了对患者本身疾病的治疗外,患者的满意程度和生命质量也成为衡量治愈率高低的一个标准。因此,加强医护人员培养教育,提升医疗服务质量任重而道远。这篇文章探讨了成为一名优秀的临床医护人员所应具备的品质和能力特征。     

临床检验科人文精神缺失及对策的思考

当今随着经济和社会的发展,在现有的医学教学模式、医疗体制和分配制度下,医院临床检验科越来越推崇医学技术主义和追求高额的经济利益,致使临床检验医生人文精神日益缺失,医生与患者之间最具人性的本质已被淹没,医患矛盾日益增加和凸显。如何以患者需求为导向,让患者满意,这迫切地需要在临床检验科加强人文素质教育,培育检验医生的“医者仁心”大医情怀,以减少和预防医患矛盾的发生,这是检验科管理者应该急需思考的问题。     

汉语的认知神经心理学研究

认知神经心理学为探讨语言的心理机制开辟了一条新途径,使得人们对心理词典的认识日渐深入。该文着重介绍了汉语方面的认知神经心理学研究成果,其中包括语义系统、语音输出词典、语音输出buffer的信息表征方式,以及汉字的书写机制与阅读机制     

卫生资源配置与改善医患关系

从基本卫生资源配置角度来探讨如何改善医患关系,认为基本卫生资源配置失衡是引起医患纠纷的重要因素,从而指出公平优先原则指导下的基本卫生资源配置有利于改变医患关系紧张的现状,并据此观点提出实现基本卫生资源配置公平优先的相关保障措施.     

情境学习理论研究综述

本论文从三方面展开分析,首先阐述了情境学习理论的基本观点。再从教学设计与教学实践两方面分析了情境学习理论在教学中的应用,最后讨论了情境学习理论面临的一些问题。