| 1. |
- Kanstrup, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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A validation of the pain interference index in adults with longstanding pain
- 2016
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Ingår i: Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. - : WILEY-BLACKWELL. - 0001-5172 .- 1399-6576. ; 60:2, s. 250-258
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Chronic pain is a major health problem and more knowledge is needed regarding the interference of pain on behaviors in different life domains. Clinically useful and statistically sound pain interference measures are highly important. Studies on youths have shown that the Pain Interference Index (PII) is a reliable and valid instrument that is sensitive to change following behavioral treatment. This measure may also have utility for adults, but no study has so far evaluated the statistical properties of the PII for long-standing pain in adults. Methods: Data were collected from 239 consecutive adults with non-specific chronic pain referred to a tertiary pain clinic. We investigated the factor structure of items using a principal component analysis. Cronbachs alpha was calculated to assess internal consistency. The questionnaires ability to predict levels of, e.g., disability was analyzed by means of regression analyses. Results: Analyses illustrated the adequacy of a one-factor solution with six items. Cronbachs alpha (0.85) suggested a satisfactory internal consistency among items. The PII explained significant amounts of variance in pain disability, physical, and mental health-related quality of life and depression, suggesting concurrent criteria validity. Conclusion: The PII is a brief questionnaire with reliable and valid statistical properties to assess pain interference in adults. Other studies support the reliability and validity of PII for use with youths, and now the PII can be used to analyze the influence of pain on behaviors across age groups. Potentially, the PII can also be used as an outcome measure in clinical trials.
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| 2. |
- Ahmed Pihlgren, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring healthcare workers' experiences of a simple intervention to reduce their intrusive memories of psychological trauma : an interpretative phenomenological analysis
- 2024
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Ingår i: European Journal of Psychotraumatology. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2000-8198 .- 2000-8066. ; 15:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Many healthcare workers (HCWs) endured psychologically traumatic events at work during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. For some, these events are re-experienced as unwanted, recurrent, and distressing intrusive memories. Simple psychological support measures are needed to reduce such symptoms of post-traumatic stress in this population. A novel intervention to target intrusive memories, called an imagery-competing task intervention (ICTI), has been developed from the laboratory. The intervention includes a brief memory reminder cue, then a visuospatial task (Tetris (R) gameplay using mental rotation instructions for approximately 20 min) thought to interfere with the traumatic memory image and reduce its intrusiveness. The intervention has been adapted and evaluated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with Swedish HCWs (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04460014).Objective: We aimed to explore how HCWs who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced the use of a brief intervention to reduce their intrusive memories of work-related trauma.Method: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of HCWs who used the intervention. Seven participants from the RCT were interviewed by an independent researcher without prior knowledge of the intervention. Interviews were conducted via telephone and transcribed verbatim.Results: Four general themes were generated: 'Triggers and troublesome images', 'Five Ws regarding support - what, when, why, by/with who, for whom', 'Receiving it, believing it, and doing it' and 'The intervention - a different kind of help'; the last two included two subthemes each. The results reflect participants' similarities and differences in their lived experiences of intrusive memories, support measures, and intervention impressions and effects.Conclusion: HCWs' experiences of the novel ICTI reflect a promising appraisal of the intervention as a potential help measure for reducing intrusive memories after trauma, and gives us a detailed understanding of HCWs' needs, with suggestions for its adaption for future implementation.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04460014. Many healthcare workers experience images or 'flashbacks' of traumatic experiences from their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.To ensure that individual needs are met, there is a need to tailor and refine current psychological support measures and their use for healthcare workers.The imagery-competing task intervention was perceived as acceptable, indicating its potential utility as a help measure to reduce intrusive memories after trauma. Antecedentes: Los trabajadores de la salud (HCW, por sus siglas en ingles) sufrieron eventos psicologicamente traumaticos en el trabajo durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Para algunos, estos acontecimientos se vuelven a experimentar como recuerdos intrusivos no deseados, recurrentes y angustiosos. Se necesitan medidas simples de apoyo psicologico para reducir estos sintomas de estres postraumatico en esta poblacion. En el laboratorio se ha desarrollado una nueva intervencion para abordar los recuerdos intrusivos, conocida como Intervencion de Tareas Competitivas de Imagenes (ICTI, por sus siglas en ingles). La intervencion incluye una breve senal de recordatorio de la memoria, luego una tarea visoespacial (juego de Tetris (R) que utiliza instrucciones de rotacion mental durante aproximadamente 20 minutos) que se cree que interfiere con la imagen de la memoria traumatica y reduce su intrusion. La intervencion se ha adaptado y evaluado recientemente en un ECA (ensayo controlado aleatorizado) con trabajadores sanitarios suecos (identificador de ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04460014). Aqui nuestro objetivo es explorar como los participantes del ECA experimentaron la nueva intervencion.Objetivo: Explorar como los trabajadores sanitarios que trabajaron durante la pandemia por COVID-19 experimentaron el uso de una intervencion breve para reducir sus recuerdos intrusivos del trauma relacionado con el trabajo.Metodo: Se utilizo un analisis fenomenologico interpretativo para comprender en profundidad las experiencias vividas por los trabajadores sanitarios que utilizaron la intervencion. Siete participantes del ECA fueron entrevistados por un investigador independiente sin conocimiento previo de la intervencion. Las entrevistas se realizaron por telefono y se transcribieron palabra por palabra.Resultados: Se generaron cuatro temas generales, 'Desencadenantes e imagenes problematicas', 'Cinco preguntas sobre el apoyo: que, cuando, por que, por/con quien, para quien', 'Recibirlo, creerlo y hacerlo' y 'La intervencion. - una ayuda diferente', los dos ultimos incluian dos subtemas cada uno. Los resultados reflejan similitudes y diferencias de los participantes en sus experiencias vividas de recuerdos intrusivos, medidas de apoyo e impresiones y efectos de la intervencion.Conclusion: Las experiencias de los trabajadores sanitarios con el nuevo ICTI reflejan una evaluacion prometedora de la intervencion como una posible medida de ayuda para reducir los recuerdos intrusivos despues del trauma, y nos brinda una comprension detallada de las necesidades de los trabajadores sanitarios, con sugerencias sobre como adaptarse para una implementacion futura.
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| 3. |
- Ahmed Pihlgren, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring healthcare workers' experiences of a simple intervention to reduce their intrusive memories of psychological trauma: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
- 2024
-
Ingår i: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOTRAUMATOLOGY. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2000-8198 .- 2000-8066. ; 15:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Many healthcare workers (HCWs) endured psychologically traumatic events at work during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. For some, these events are re-experienced as unwanted, recurrent, and distressing intrusive memories. Simple psychological support measures are needed to reduce such symptoms of post-traumatic stress in this population. A novel intervention to target intrusive memories, called an imagery-competing task intervention (ICTI), has been developed from the laboratory. The intervention includes a brief memory reminder cue, then a visuospatial task (Tetris (R) gameplay using mental rotation instructions for approximately 20 min) thought to interfere with the traumatic memory image and reduce its intrusiveness. The intervention has been adapted and evaluated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with Swedish HCWs (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04460014).Objective: We aimed to explore how HCWs who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced the use of a brief intervention to reduce their intrusive memories of work-related trauma.Method: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of HCWs who used the intervention. Seven participants from the RCT were interviewed by an independent researcher without prior knowledge of the intervention. Interviews were conducted via telephone and transcribed verbatim.Results: Four general themes were generated: 'Triggers and troublesome images', 'Five Ws regarding support - what, when, why, by/with who, for whom', 'Receiving it, believing it, and doing it' and 'The intervention - a different kind of help'; the last two included two subthemes each. The results reflect participants' similarities and differences in their lived experiences of intrusive memories, support measures, and intervention impressions and effects.Conclusion: HCWs' experiences of the novel ICTI reflect a promising appraisal of the intervention as a potential help measure for reducing intrusive memories after trauma, and gives us a detailed understanding of HCWs' needs, with suggestions for its adaption for future implementation.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04460014. Many healthcare workers experience images or 'flashbacks' of traumatic experiences from their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.To ensure that individual needs are met, there is a need to tailor and refine current psychological support measures and their use for healthcare workers.The imagery-competing task intervention was perceived as acceptable, indicating its potential utility as a help measure to reduce intrusive memories after trauma. Antecedentes: Los trabajadores de la salud (HCW, por sus siglas en ingles) sufrieron eventos psicologicamente traumaticos en el trabajo durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Para algunos, estos acontecimientos se vuelven a experimentar como recuerdos intrusivos no deseados, recurrentes y angustiosos. Se necesitan medidas simples de apoyo psicologico para reducir estos sintomas de estres postraumatico en esta poblacion. En el laboratorio se ha desarrollado una nueva intervencion para abordar los recuerdos intrusivos, conocida como Intervencion de Tareas Competitivas de Imagenes (ICTI, por sus siglas en ingles). La intervencion incluye una breve senal de recordatorio de la memoria, luego una tarea visoespacial (juego de Tetris (R) que utiliza instrucciones de rotacion mental durante aproximadamente 20 minutos) que se cree que interfiere con la imagen de la memoria traumatica y reduce su intrusion. La intervencion se ha adaptado y evaluado recientemente en un ECA (ensayo controlado aleatorizado) con trabajadores sanitarios suecos (identificador de ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04460014). Aqui nuestro objetivo es explorar como los participantes del ECA experimentaron la nueva intervencion.Objetivo: Explorar como los trabajadores sanitarios que trabajaron durante la pandemia por COVID-19 experimentaron el uso de una intervencion breve para reducir sus recuerdos intrusivos del trauma relacionado con el trabajo.Metodo: Se utilizo un analisis fenomenologico interpretativo para comprender en profundidad las experiencias vividas por los trabajadores sanitarios que utilizaron la intervencion. Siete participantes del ECA fueron entrevistados por un investigador independiente sin conocimiento previo de la intervencion. Las entrevistas se realizaron por telefono y se transcribieron palabra por palabra.Resultados: Se generaron cuatro temas generales, 'Desencadenantes e imagenes problematicas', 'Cinco preguntas sobre el apoyo: que, cuando, por que, por/con quien, para quien', 'Recibirlo, creerlo y hacerlo' y 'La intervencion. - una ayuda diferente', los dos ultimos incluian dos subtemas cada uno. Los resultados reflejan similitudes y diferencias de los participantes en sus experiencias vividas de recuerdos intrusivos, medidas de apoyo e impresiones y efectos de la intervencion.Conclusion: Las experiencias de los trabajadores sanitarios con el nuevo ICTI reflejan una evaluacion prometedora de la intervencion como una posible medida de ayuda para reducir los recuerdos intrusivos despues del trauma, y nos brinda una comprension detallada de las necesidades de los trabajadores sanitarios, con sugerencias sobre como adaptarse para una implementacion futura.
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| 4. |
- Eriksson, Gunilla, et al.
(författare)
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Same island, different diet : Cultural evolution of food practice on Öland, Sweden, from the Mesolithic to the Roman Period
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Anthropological Archaeology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0278-4165 .- 1090-2686. ; 27:4, s. 520-543
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Mesolithic–Neolithic transition in north-west Europe has been described as rapid and uniform, entailing a swift shift from the use of marine and other wild resources to domesticated terrestrial resources. Here, we approach the when, what and how of this transition on a regional level, using empirical data from Öland, an island in the Baltic Sea off the Swedish east coast, and also monitor changes that occurred after the shift. Radiocarbon dating and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of bones and teeth from 123 human individuals, along with faunal isotope data from 27 species, applying to nine sites on Öland and covering a time span from the Mesolithic to the Roman Period, demonstrate a great diversity in food practices, mainly governed by culture and independent of climatic changes. There was a marked dietary shift during the second half of the third millennium from a mixed marine diet to the use of exclusively terrestrial resources, interpreted as marking the large-scale introduction of farming. Contrary to previous claims, this took place at the end of the Neolithic and not at the onset. Our data also show that culturally induced dietary transitions occurred continuously throughout prehistory. The availability of high-resolution data on various levels, from intra-individual to inter-population, makes stable isotope analysis a powerful tool for studying the evolution of food practices.
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| 5. |
- Fiehn, Anne-Marie Kanstrup, et al.
(författare)
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Distribution of histopathological features along the colon in microscopic colitis
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Journal of Colorectal Disease. - : Springer. - 0179-1958 .- 1432-1262. ; 36, s. 151-159
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose The diagnosis microscopic colitis (MC) consisting of collagenous colitis (CC) and lymphocytic colitis (LC) relies on histological assessment of mucosal biopsies from the colon. The optimal biopsy strategy for reliable diagnosis of MC is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of histopathological features of MC throughout the colon. Methods Mucosal biopsies from multiple colonic segments of patients with MC who participated in one of the three prospective European multicenter trials were analyzed. Histological slides were stained with hematoxylin-and-eosin, a connective tissue stain, and CD3 in selected cases. Results In total, 255 patients were included, 199 and 56 patients with CC and LC, respectively. Both groups exhibited a gradient with more pronounced inflammation in the lamina propria in the proximal colon compared with the distal colon. Similarly, the thickness of the subepithelial collagenous band in CC showed a gradient with higher values in the proximal colon. The mean number of intraepithelial lymphocytes was > 20 in all colonic segments in patients within both subgroups. Biopsies from 86 to 94% of individual segments were diagnostic, rectum excluded. Biopsies from non-diagnostic segments often showed features of another subgroup of MC. Conclusion Conclusively, although the severity of the histological changes in MC differed in the colonic mucosa, the minimum criteria required for the diagnosis were present in the random biopsies from the majority of segments. Thus, our findings show MC to be a pancolitis, rectum excluded, questioning previously proclaimed patchiness throughout the colon.
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| 6. |
- Gamble, Beau, et al.
(författare)
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Digitalizing a Brief Intervention to Reduce Intrusive Memories of Psychological Trauma : Qualitative Interview Study
- 2021
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Ingår i: JMIR Mental Health. - : JMIR Publications. - 2368-7959. ; 8:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated the global need for remotely delivered and scalable interventions after psychological trauma. A brief intervention involving a computer game as an imagery-competing task has shown promising results for reducing the number of intrusive memories of trauma—one of the core clinical symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. To date, the intervention has only been delivered face-to-face. To be tested and implemented on a wider scale, digital adaptation for remote delivery is crucial. An important first step is to develop digitalized intervention materials in a systematic way based on feedback from clinicians, researchers, and students in preparation for pilot testing with target users.Objective: The first aim of this study is to obtain and analyze qualitative feedback on digital intervention materials, namely two animated videos and two quizzes that explain the target clinical symptoms and provide intervention instructions. The second aim is to refine the digitalized materials based on this feedback.Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with 12 participants who had delivered or had knowledge of the intervention when delivered face-to-face. We obtained in-depth feedback on the perceived feasibility of using the digitalized materials and suggestions for improvements. Interviews were assessed using qualitative content analysis, and suggested improvements were evaluated for implementation using a systematic method of prioritization.Results: A total of three overarching themes were identified from the data. First, participants were highly positive about the potential benefits of using these digital materials for remote delivery, reporting that the videos effectively conveyed key concepts of the symptom and its treatment. Second, some modifications to the materials were suggested for improving clarity. On the basis of this feedback, we made nine specific changes. Finally, participants raised some key challenges for remote delivery, mainly in overcoming the lack of real-time communication during the intervention.Conclusions: Clinicians, researchers, and clinical psychology students were overall confident in the use of digitalized materials to remotely deliver a brief intervention to reduce intrusive memories of trauma. Guided by participant feedback, we identified and implemented changes to refine the intervention materials. This study lays the groundwork for the next step: pilot testing remote delivery of the full intervention to trauma survivors.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Hoppe, Johanna M., et al.
(författare)
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Hotspots in the immediate aftermath of trauma : Mental imagery of worst moments highlighting time, space and motion
- 2022
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Ingår i: Consciousness and Cognition. - : Elsevier. - 1053-8100 .- 1090-2376. ; 99
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Intrusive memories of trauma (memories that enter consciousness involuntarily) highjack cognitive processing, cause emotional distress, and represent a core symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder. Intrusive memories often contain the worst moment/s (‘hotspots’) of the trauma memory. Little is known about hotspots shortly after they are formed, i.e., in the first hours after trauma. We investigated the features of hotspots in trauma-exposed individuals (n = 21) within 72 h post-trauma, using linguistic analysis and qualitative coding. On average, participants reported three hotspots per traumatic event (M = 7.8 words/hotspot). Hotspots primarily contained words related to time, space, motion, and sensory processing. Most hotspots contained sensory features (97%) and motion (59%). Few cognitions and no emotion words were identified. Results indicate that hotspots collected shortly post-trauma are expressed as motion-rich sensory-perceptual experiences (mental imagery) with little detail about emotion/cognition. Findings are discussed in terms of the function of hotspots (e.g., preparedness for action) and clinical implications.
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| 9. |
- Iyadurai, Lalitha, et al.
(författare)
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Reducing intrusive memories after trauma via an imagery-competing task intervention in COVID-19 intensive care staff : a randomised controlled trial
- 2023
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Ingår i: Translational Psychiatry. - : Springer Nature. - 2158-3188. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Intrusive memories (IMs) after traumatic events can be distressing and disrupt mental health and functioning. We evaluated the impact of a brief remotely-delivered digital imagery-competing task intervention on the number of IMs for intensive care unit (ICU) staff who faced repeated trauma exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic using a two-arm, parallel-group, single-blind randomised controlled trial, with the comparator arm receiving delayed access to active treatment (crossover). Eligible participants worked clinically in a UK NHS ICU during the pandemic and had at least 3 IMs of work-related traumatic events in the week before recruitment. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to immediate (weeks 1-4) or delayed (weeks 5-8) intervention access. Sequential Bayesian analyses to optimise the intervention and increase trial efficiency are reported elsewhere [1]. The primary endpoint for the pre-specified frequentist analysis of the final study population compared the number of IMs experienced in week 4 between the immediate and delayed access arms. Secondary outcomes included clinical symptoms, work functioning and wellbeing. Safety was assessed throughout the trial by scheduled questions and free report. All analyses were undertaken on an intention-to-treat basis (86 randomised participants). There were significantly fewer intrusive memories during week 4 in the immediate (median = 1, IQR = 0-3, n = 43), compared to the comparator delayed arm (median = 10, IQR = 6-17, n = 43), IRR 0.31, 95% CI: 0.20-0.48, p < 0.001. After crossover, the delayed arm also showed a significant reduction in IMs at week 8 compared to week 4. There were convergent findings for symptoms of PTSD, insomnia and anxiety, work engagement and burnout, general functioning and quality of life. The intervention was found safe and acceptable to participants. All adverse events were unrelated to the study. Our study provides the first evidence of a benefit on reducing IMs, improving other clinical symptoms, work functioning and wellbeing, as well as safety of a brief remotely-delivered digital imagery-competing task intervention. An efficacy trial with an active control and longer follow-up is warranted. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04992390).
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| 10. |
- Kanstrup, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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A Clinical Pilot Study of Individual and Group Treatment for Adolescents with Chronic Pain and Their Parents : Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Functioning
- 2016
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Ingår i: Children. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9067. ; 3:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pediatric chronic pain is common and can result in substantial long-term disability. Previous studies on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) have shown promising results in improving functioning in affected children, but more research is still urgently needed. In the current clinical pilot study, we evaluated an ACT-based interdisciplinary outpatient intervention (14 sessions), including a parent support program (four sessions). Adolescents were referred to the clinic if they experienced disabling chronic pain. They were then randomized, along with their parents, to receive group (n = 12) or individual (n = 18) treatment. Adolescent pain interference, pain reactivity, depression, functional disability, pain intensity and psychological flexibility, along with parent anxiety, depression, pain reactivity and psychological flexibility were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. There were no significant differences in outcomes between individual and group treatment. Analyses illustrated significant (p < 0.01) improvements (medium to large effects) in pain interference, depression, pain reactivity and psychological flexibility post-treatment. Additionally, analyses showed significant (p < 0.01) improvements (large effects) in parent pain reactivity and psychological flexibility post-treatment. On all significant outcomes, clinically-significant changes were observed for 21%-63% of the adolescents across the different outcome measures and in 54%-76% of the parents. These results support previous findings and thus warrant the need for larger, randomized clinical trials evaluating the relative utility of individual and group treatment and the effects of parental interventions.
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