scholarly journals An ecological momentary compassion-focused intervention for enhancing resilience in help-seeking youths: a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Rauschenberg ◽  
Benjamin Böcking ◽  
Isabell Pätzold ◽  
Koen Schruers ◽  
Anita Schick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Stress Sensitivity ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Emotional Resilience ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Digital interventions offer new avenues for prevention and treatment in youth. Ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) allow for adaptive and real-time delivery of intervention components in daily life. Compassion-focused interventions may be particularly amenable to translation into an EMI to strengthen emotional resilience in youth. We aimed to investigate initial therapeutic effects, feasibility, and safety of a novel, accessible, transdiagnostic, ecological momentary, compassion-focused intervention for improving emotional resilience (‘EMIcompass’) in an uncontrolled pilot study including help-seeking youth with psychotic, depressive, and/or anxiety symptoms. The EMIcompass intervention consisted of three sessions with a trained psychologist and a 3-week EMI administered through a mobile health app. In total, ten individuals (Mage=20.3 years) were included. Reduced stress sensitivity, momentary negative affect, and psychotic experiences as well as increased positive affect were found at post-intervention and 4-week follow-up. Further, reductions in psychotic, anxiety, and depressive symptoms of medium to large effect size were found (r=0.30-0.65). Most participants were satisfied (80%) and reported low burden of app usage. No adverse events were observed. Our findings provide initial evidence on beneficial effects, feasibility, and safety of the EMIcompass intervention in help-seeking youth. An exploratory randomised controlled trial is warranted to establish feasibility and preliminary evidence of efficacy.

scholarly journals A Compassion-Focused Ecological Momentary Intervention for Enhancing Resilience in Help-Seeking Youth: Uncontrolled Pilot Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Rauschenberg ◽  
Benjamin Boecking ◽  
Isabell Paetzold ◽  
Koen Schruers ◽  
Anita Schick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Stress Sensitivity ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Emotional Resilience ◽  
Ecological Momentary

BACKGROUND Digital interventions offer new avenues for low-threshold prevention and treatment in young people. Ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) represent a powerful approach that allows for adaptive, real-time, and real-world delivery of intervention components in daily life by real-time processing of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data. Compassion-focused interventions (CFIs) may be particularly amenable to translation into an EMI to strengthen emotional resilience and modify putative risk mechanisms, such as stress sensitivity, in the daily lives of young help-seeking individuals. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the feasibility, safety, and initial therapeutic effects of a novel, accessible, transdiagnostic, ecological momentary CFI for improving emotional resilience to stress (<i>EMIcompass</i>). METHODS In this uncontrolled pilot study, help-seeking youth with psychotic, depressive, or anxiety symptoms were offered the EMIcompass intervention in addition to treatment as usual. The EMIcompass intervention consisted of a 3-week EMI (including enhancing, consolidating, and EMA-informed interactive tasks) administered through a mobile health app and three face-to-face sessions with a trained psychologist intended to provide guidance and training on the CFI exercises presented in the app (ie, training session, follow-up booster session, and review session). RESULTS In total, 10 individuals (mean age 20.3 years, SD 3.8; range 14-25) were included in the study. Most (8/10, 80%) participants were satisfied and reported a low burden of app usage. No adverse events were observed. In approximately one-third of all EMAs, individuals scored high on stress, negative affect, or threat anticipation during the intervention period, resulting in real-time, interactive delivery of the CFI intervention components in addition to weekly enhancing and daily consolidating tasks. Although the findings should be interpreted with caution because of the small sample size, reduced stress sensitivity, momentary negative affect, and psychotic experiences, along with increased positive affect, were found at postintervention and the 4-week follow-up. Furthermore, reductions in psychotic, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were found (<i>r</i>=0.30-0.65). CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide evidence on the feasibility and safety of the EMIcompass intervention for help-seeking youth and lend initial support to beneficial effects on stress sensitivity and mental health outcomes. An exploratory randomized controlled trial is warranted to establish the feasibility and preliminary evidence of its efficacy. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals Yoga for Persistent Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors: Results of a Pilot Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julienne E. Bower ◽  
Deborah Garet ◽  
Beth Sternlieb
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments ◽  
Persistent Fatigue

Approximately one-third of breast cancer survivors experiences persistent fatigue for months or years after successful treatment completion. There is a lack of evidence-based treatments for cancer-related fatigue, particularly among cancer survivors. This single-arm pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a yoga intervention for fatigued breast cancer survivors based on the Iyengar tradition. Iyengar yoga prescribes specific poses for individuals with specific medical problems and conditions; this trial emphasized postures believed to be effective for reducing fatigue among breast cancer survivors, including inversions and backbends performed with the support of props. Twelve women were enrolled in the trial, and 11 completed the full 12-week course of treatment. There was a significant improvement in fatigue scores from pre- to post-intervention that was maintained at the 3-month post-intervention followup. Significant improvements were also observed in measures of physical function, depressed mood, and quality of life. These results support the acceptability of this intervention and suggest that it may have beneficial effects on persistent post-treatment fatigue. However, results require replication in a larger randomized controlled trial.

scholarly journals Compassion-Focused Intervention for Highly Self-Critical Individuals: Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 583-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Rose ◽  
Ruth McIntyre ◽  
Katharine A. Rimes
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Treatment Approach ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Weekly Treatment ◽  
Compassion Focused Therapy

Self-criticism is a transdiagnostic process associated with a range of psychological problems. This uncontrolled pilot study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a six-session intervention using methods from compassion-focused therapy to reduce self-criticism, as well as investigating changes in a range of outcome measures. Twenty-three university student participants with significant impaired functioning associated with high levels of self-criticism received six individual weekly treatment sessions and a 2-month follow-up appointment. Acceptability was assessed through participant feedback. The intervention appeared to be feasible in terms of recruitment and retention of participants, and participant feedback indicated that overall the intervention seemed acceptable. There were statistically significant improvements between pre- and post-intervention for self-criticism, functional impairment, mood, self-esteem and maladaptive perfectionism with medium to large effect sizes at both post-intervention and follow-up. Gains were maintained or increased between post-treatment and 2-month follow-up. The study showed preliminary evidence of effectiveness of a compassion-focused intervention for self-critical students which appeared to be a feasible and acceptable treatment approach. This intervention now requires investigation in a randomized controlled trial.

scholarly journals Auricular acupressure for hot flashes in patients with prostate cancer: protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianfu Zhou ◽  
Rongwu Lin ◽  
Xuehua Liu ◽  
Liguo Lv ◽  
Shusheng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Hot Flashes ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Random Allocation ◽  
Clinical Trial Registry ◽  
Auricular Acupressure

Abstract BackgroundHot flashes, characterized by intense heat sensation and diaphoresis, are common side effects resulted from hormonotherapy in patients with prostate cancer. Cumulated studies have revealed beneficial role of acupuncture as complementary and alternative recipe for the management of hot flashes. However, little is known about the auricular acupressure (AA), a micro-acupuncture technique whose therapeutic purpose is similar with conventional acupuncture. Therefore, this current study aims to explore the effects and determine the feasibility of AA for hot flashes in patients with prostate cancer.Methods/DesignThis proposed pilot study is a two-arm parallel, single-blinded, randomized sham-controlled trial. A total of 72 participants of prostate cancer suffered with hot flashes will be recruited and randomly allocated into two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Equal randomization is conducted using a computer-generated random allocation sequence. Sheng Zhi Qi (TF2), Nei Fen Mi (CO18), Shen Men (TF4), Shen (CO10) and Pi Zhi Xia (AT4) are selected as experimental acupressure points, and five helix points (HX 8-12) are used as sham control acupressure points. Participants in the experimental group and control group will receive AA and sham-AA treatment, respectively. The duration of the treatment is 6 weeks with two sessions per week, and the follow-up period is 12 weeks. The primary outcome is Hot Flash Score (HFS). The secondary outcomes include Quality of Life (QoL), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS). All outcomes measurement will be conducted before and through treatment period as well as follow-up period. Safety assessment will be carried out through treatment and follow-up period.DiscussionThis pilot study will for the first time advance our knowledge on feasibility of AA in alleviating hot flashes in patients of prostate cancer and provide preliminary evidence for a further full-scale trial.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900026694. Registered on 19 October 2019.

scholarly journals Preliminary Evidence That Yoga Practice Progressively Improves Mood and Decreases Stress in a Sample of UK Prisoners

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C. Bilderbeck ◽  
Inti A. Brazil ◽  
Miguel Farias
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Yoga Practice ◽  
Class Attendance ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Prison Populations

Objectives. In the first randomized controlled trial of yoga on UK prisoners, we previously showed that yoga practice was associated with improved mental wellbeing and cognition. Here, we aimed to assess how class attendance, self-practice, and demographic factors were related to outcome amongst prisoners enrolled in the 10-week yoga intervention.Methods. The data of 55 participants (52 male, 3 female) who completed a 10-week yoga course were analysed. Changes in pre- and postyoga measures of affect, perceived stress, and psychological symptoms were entered into linear regression analyses with bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap confidence intervals. Class attendance, self-practice, demographic variables, and baseline psychometric variables were included as regressors.Results. Participants who attended more yoga classes and those who engaged in frequent (5 times or more) self-practice reported significantly greater decreases in perceived stress. Decreases in negative affect were also significantly related to high frequency self-practice and greater class attendance at a near-significant level. Age was positively correlated with yoga class attendance, and higher levels of education were associated with greater decreases in negative affect.Conclusions. Our results suggest that there may be progressive beneficial effects of yoga within prison populations and point to subpopulations who may benefit the most from this practice.

scholarly journals An ecological momentary compassion-focused intervention for enhancing resilience in help-seeking youth: a pilot study (Preprint)

10.2196/25650 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Rauschenberg ◽  
Benjamin Boecking ◽  
Isabell Paetzold ◽  
Koen Schruers ◽  
Anita Schick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Feasibility of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Caregivers of Veterans: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-337
Author(s):  
Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo ◽  
Elinor M. Fujimoto ◽  
Ryan L. Santens
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Group Method ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Difference Scores ◽  
Group Type

Purpose: This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of conducting an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention with caregivers of veterans and to examine the effectiveness of the intervention to improve mindfulness using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire compared with waitlist controls. Design: In this randomized controlled trial, 23 caregivers of veterans were assigned to either the intervention or waitlist group. Method: Compliance with mindfulness instruction and attendance was assessed among those in the intervention. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests compared within group pre- and post-intervention scores and Mann–Whitney U tests compared difference scores (post–pre) by group type. Effect sizes were also calculated. Compliance variables were correlated with difference scores in the intervention group only. Findings: Of the 23 participants, 11 were assigned to the intervention; 100% of participants were retained. There was significant improvement from pre- to post-intervention in four of the five facets of mindfulness ( p < .05) in the intervention group. Significant between-group differences ( p < .05) were also observed in two of the five facets. Effect sizes ranged from small (.44) to large (.89). No significant improvement was observed in the waitlist control group. Conclusions: A mindfulness-based intervention is feasible and acceptable to improve mindfulness in caregivers of veterans.

scholarly journals Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Cholesterol Metabolites in Postmenopausal Women with Hypercholesterolemia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3423
Author(s):  
Yu-Jin Kwon ◽  
Su-Nyeong Jang ◽  
Kwang-Hyeon Liu ◽  
Dong-Hyuk Jung
Keyword(s):  
Placebo Group ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cholesterol Absorption ◽  
Red Ginseng ◽  
Korean Red Ginseng ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Double Blinded

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is known to exert beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. Meanwhile, reduced estrogen at menopause has been shown to have various adverse impacts on cardiovascular risk factors, including blood lipids. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of KRG on cholesterol metabolites, which are surrogate markers of cholesterol absorption and biosynthesis, in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. The present study is an exploratory study which used data from a 4-week, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study in 68 postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. Patients received KRG (2 g) or placebo (2 g) once daily. The primary endpoints were changes in the levels of nine sterols. Serum sterols were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS analysis. Among the sterols, reduction in cholesterol level were significantly larger in the KRG group than in the placebo group (the changes: −148.3 ± 261.1 nmol/mL in the ginseng group vs. −23.0 ± 220.5 nmol/mL in the placebo group, p = 0.039). Additionally, changes in 7-hydroxycholesterol (7-OHC) were significantly larger in the KRG group than in the placebo group (the changes: −0.05 ± 0.09 nmol/mL in the ginseng group vs. −0.002 ± 0.1 nmol/mL in the placebo group, p = 0.047). Oxysterols, cholesterol derivates, have been known to play a role in chronic inflammation diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. KRG improves sterol metabolism by decreasing cholesterol and 7-OHC levels in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia.

scholarly journals Neurophysiological Stress Response and Mood Changes Induced by High-Intensity Interval Training: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7320
Author(s):  
Inmaculada C. Martínez-Díaz ◽  
Luis Carrasco
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Interval Training ◽  
Mood States ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Acute Changes

This pilot study, conducted in advance of a future definitive randomized controlled trial, aimed to investigate the feasibility of using a HIIT-based intervention to induce neurophysiological stress responses that could be associated with possible changes in mood. Twenty-five active male college students with an average age of 21.7 ± 2.1 years, weight 72.6 ± 8.4 kg, height 177 ± 6.1 cm, and BMI: 23.1 ± 1.4 kg/m2 took part in this quasi-experimental pilot study in which they were evaluated in two different sessions. In the first session, subjects performed a graded exercise test to determine the cycling power output corresponding to VO2peak. The second session consisted of (a) pre-intervention assessment (collection of blood samples for measuring plasma corticotropin and cortisol levels, and application of POMS questionnaire to evaluate mood states); (b) exercise intervention (10 × 1-min of cycling at VO2peak power output); (c) post-intervention assessment, and (d) 30-min post-intervention evaluation. Significant post-exercise increases in corticotropin and cortisol plasma levels were observed whereas mood states decreased significantly at this assessment time-point. However, a significant increase in mood was found 30-min after exercise. Finally, significant relationships between increases in stress hormones concentrations and changes in mood states after intense exercise were observed. In conclusion, our HIIT-based intervention was feasible to deliver and acceptable to participants. A single bout of HIIT induced acute changes in mood states that seems to be associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.

scholarly journals A school-based educational on-site vaccination intervention for adolescents in an urban area in Germany: Feasibility and psychometric properties of instruments in a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma Bethke ◽  
Paul Gellert ◽  
Nina Knoll ◽  
Niklas Weber ◽  
Joachim Seybold
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Cronbach’S Alpha ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Cronbach's Alpha ◽  
School Based

Abstract Background: Vaccination rates for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio (Tdap-IPV) are not optimal in German adolescents. Education in combination with easy access vaccination may be a promising approach to improve vaccination rates. In a planned cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT), we aim at improving MMR and Tdap-IPV rates together with knowledge and self-efficacy in a school setting, the present paper describes the pilot study of this trial.Methods: Within this pilot study, 863 students from 41 school classes from four schools were included. Optimization and feasibility of the access to schools, recruitment strategies, intervention, and assessment procedures are examined. The course and content of the educational unit was evaluated with a mixed-methods approach. A pre-post measurement design was applied for the vaccination rate in all schools. Additionally, at two schools improvement on vaccination-related knowledge and perceived self-efficacy were measured pre- (n=287) and post- (n=293) educational unit by questionnaire. The remaining two schools provided data only post intervention. Finally, we evaluated the psychometric properties (i.e., reliability, retest reliability, change rates) of the questionnaire, applying Cronbach’s alpha, factor analyses, Generalized Estimating Equations and Linear Mixed Models.Results: Findings of the pilot study indicated good feasibility. Of the total sample, 437 students (50.9%) brought their vaccination cards to school, 68 students were vaccinated with Tdap-IPV, 11 with MMR. Out of 6 knowledge questions, on average students had M=2.84 (CI 2.69/3.10) correct answers before and M=4.45 (CI 4.26/4.64) after class. Ranging from 1 to 4, self-efficacy scale shown a change of 0.3 points (p <.001) and Cronbach’s alpha was .67 and .76 for pre- and post-educational unit respectively and a one-factor solution was found. Content analysis of the five semi-structured group interviews (n=12, 58.3% female) showed that the length of the intervention was felt by all students to be appropriate. The teaching methods including interactive and social media components were perceived as very good.Conclusion: A school-based educational and on-site vaccination intervention appears to be feasible in terms of procedures and the adequacy of the instruments for the adolescent target group.

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