Psychotherapeutic potential of online self-help groups

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-305
Author(s):  
Jesse W.C. Yip
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Therapeutic Change ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Self Help Groups ◽  
Innovative Moments

Previous research has found that online self-help groups related to healthcare can be therapeutic. These therapeutic effects often stem from social support conveyed by respondents; however, relevant studies appear to have overlooked the therapeutic potential of thread openers’ narratives. This article investigates thread openers’ narratives in 80 threads from four online self-help groups for anxiety and depression. The data analysis focuses on unique outcomes (UOs), referring to opportunities for therapeutic change to occur, which are conceptualized within the framework of innovative moments (IMs). The findings indicate that the presence of IMs is what makes online narratives therapeutic, but that they diminish gradually through interactions with respondents. This decline can arguably be attributed to respondents’ provision of unsolicited support, and this implies that most users do not find resolution for their problem through participating in online self-help groups.

On-Line with the Friends of Bill W: Social Support and the Net

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Pleace ◽  
Roger Burrows ◽  
Brian Loader ◽  
Steven Muncer ◽  
Sarah Nettleton
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Problem Drinking ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Self Help Groups

The Internet is now being used as a mechanism for the delivery of social support on a global scale, chiefly through the formation of self-help groups. Most of the research that has been undertaken on these groups has focussed on Usenet and the use of newsgroups for social support. This paper examines the use of an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) ‘room’, by a self-help group composed of problem drinkers. The group had an international membership and advocated the use of social support, rather than intervention by professional services, to help its membership overcome problem drinking. The paper considers the roles that these new forms of Internet mediated self-help and social support might play in changing the relationships of those who participate in them towards traditional health and social care services. The paper also critically examines the extent to which such fora might function as virtual ‘communities’ of care.

scholarly journals Metformin modulates microbiota-derived inosine and ameliorates methamphetamine-induced anxiety and depression-like withdrawal symptoms in mice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiqing Yang ◽  
Zunyue Zhang ◽  
Zhenrong Xie ◽  
Ling Bai ◽  
Pu Xiong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Withdrawal Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
List Type ◽  
Psychiatric Manifestations ◽  
Behavioural Deficits

ABSTRACTObjectiveMetformin exhibits therapeutic potential in behavioural deficits induced by methamphetamine (METH) in rats. Emerging studies suggest gut microbiota may impact psychiatric symptoms, but there is no direct evidence supporting metformin’s participation in the pathophysiology of withdrawal symptoms via modulation of gut microbiota.MehodsIn order to define the functional contributions by gut microbiota and metformin to the behavioural deficits during METH withdrawal, we utilized a combination of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), high-throughput sequencing, and untargeted metabolomics technologies.ResultsFirst, METH addicts exhibited higher α diversity and distinct microbial structures compared to heathy controls. In particular, the relative abundance of Rikenellaceae was positively correlated with the severity of anxiety and depression. Second, both human-to-mouse and mouse-to-mouse FMTs confirmed that METH-altered-microbiota transplantation is sufficient to promote anxiety and depression-like behaviours in recipient germ-free mice, and these behavioural disturbances could be ameliorated by metformin. In-depth analysis revealed that METH significantly altered the bacterial composition and structure as well as relative abundance of several bacterial taxa and metabolites, including Rikenellaceae and inosine, respectively, whereas add-on metformin could remodel these alterations. Finally, the inosine complementation successfully restored METH-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviours in mice.DiscussionThis study demonstrates that METH withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviours are convertible and transmissible via gut microbiota in a mouse model. The therapeutic effects of metformin on psychiatric manifestations are associated with microbiota-derived metabolites, highlighting the role of the gut microbiota in substance use disorders and the pathophysiology of withdrawal symptoms.Study HighlightsWhat is known?There are no targeted therapies for substance withdrawal syndrome, but there is considerable evidence that withdrawal-associated psychiatric manifestations contribute to the poor adherence to rehabilitation treatment as well as the relapse rates.Metformin has shown its therapeutic potential against METH-induced neurobehavioural changes and neurodegeneration in rats through CREB/BDNF and Akt/GSK3 signaling pathways in the anxiety-related brain nuclei.What is new here?METH withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviours are convertible and transmissible via gut microbiota in a mouse model.The therapeutic effects of metformin on psychiatric manifestations are associated with microbiota derived metabolites.Inosine complementation could restore METH withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviours.

The Social Support Function in Epilepsy Self-Help Groups

1986 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Droge ◽  
Paul Arntson ◽  
Robert Norton
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Support Function ◽  
Self Help ◽  
The Social ◽  
Self Help Groups

scholarly journals Relevant parameters for recommendations of physical activity in patients suffering from multiple myeloma

2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 124-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fadime Cenik ◽  
Mohammad Keilani ◽  
Timothy Hasenöhrl ◽  
Dominikus Huber ◽  
Bianca Stuhlpfarrer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Self Help Groups

Summary Purpose This pilot study aimed to describe physical performance, self-reported physical activity, health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression in patients who were assigned from Austrian self-help groups for multiple myeloma patients. These parameters were then discussed in the context of clinical decision-making concerning the recommended type of regular physical activity and exercise. Methods Members of the self-help groups were invited to participate. Physical performance and physical activity were assessed with the 6 min walk test (6MWT), handgrip strength test, timed up and go test (TUG), Tinetti performance oriented mobility assessment (POMA), falls efficacy scale (FES), international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), health-related quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Results A total of 40 patients (female:male = 15:25, mean age: 63.8 ± 9.0 years, range 41–80 years) were identified. In total 20 (50%) reached the performance of healthy peers in the tests 6MWT, handgrip strength, TUG and POMA, while 50% showed at least 1 result below the reference value or cut-off-point for each test. Self-reported activity levels were high. Patients showed a tendency to overestimate the risk of falling but a case by case analysis revealed a tendency for underestimating the actual performance in the respective tests (TUG, POMA). Conclusion The performance of healthy peers was reached by a substantial number of the participants in tests of physical performance and they reported high levels of physical activity. Nevertheless, they tended to overestimate the specific risk of falling. Patients with notably impaired physical performance might be suitable to perform regular physical activity and exercise in an individual therapy, whereas those with good physical performance are suited for training in exercise groups; however, individual contraindications and clinical considerations should be noted in a multiprofessional and interdisciplinary setting.

scholarly journals Assessing depressive symptoms among people living with HIV in Yangon city, Myanmar: Does being a member of self-help group matter?

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248807
Author(s):  
Myat Wint Than ◽  
Nicholus Tint Zaw ◽  
Kyi Minn ◽  
Yu Mon Saw ◽  
Junko Kiriya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Group Membership ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Self Help Groups ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Self Help Group

Background While self-help groups have been formed among people living with HIV, few studies have been conducted to assess the role of self-help groups in mitigating depressive symptoms. This study investigated the association between self-help group membership and depressive symptoms among people living with HIV in Yangon, Myanmar. Methods In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from people living with HIV at three antiretroviral therapy clinics in 2017. Multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine the associations between having self-help group membership and depressive symptoms. Three ART clinics were purposively selected based on the recommendation from the National AIDS Program in Myanmar. At these clinics, people living with HIV were recruited by a convenience sampling method. Results Among people living with HIV recruited in this study (n = 464), 201 (43.3%) were members of a self-help group. The membership was not associated with having depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98–2.59). Factors associated with having depressive symptoms were female (AOR 3.70, 95% CI 1.54–8.88) and lack of social support (AOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96–0.98) among self-help group members, and female (AOR 3.47, 95% CI 1.70–7.09), lack of social support (AOR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.99), and internalized stigma (AOR 1.28, 95% 1.08–1.53) among non-members. Conclusions This study did not find evidence on the association between membership in self-help groups and depressive symptoms among people living with HIV. Social support was a protective factor against depressive symptoms both self-help group members and non-members, although the level of social support was lower among members than non-members. The activities of self-help groups and care provided by the ART clinics should be strengthened to address mental health problems among people living with HIV in the study site.

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