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- Bood, Sven Åke, 1950-
(författare)
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Bending and Mending the Neurosignature : Frameworks of influence by flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) upon well-being in patients with stress related ailments
- 2007
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overarching purpose of the current thesis was to assess the long term effects of a treatment program involving flotation-REST for the experience of pain, from the point of view of variables connected with Melzack´s neuromatrix theory, and to examine the extent of a potential attention-placebo effect in connection with flotation-REST.The first study (Paper I) aimed to investigate long-term effects of flotation-REST four months after treatment. Seventy patients participated, diagnosed as having stress-related pain. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group or a flotation-REST group and participated in a total of twelve flotation REST or control sessions. Results indicated that pain areas, stress, anxiety and depression decreased, while sleep quality, optimism, and prolactin increased. Positive effects generally maintained four months after treatment. The second (Paper II) examined the potential effects of attention-placebo. Thirty-two patients who were diagnosed as having stress-related muscular pain were treated for a period of six weeks. Half of the patients were also given attention for a period of 12 weeks, while the remainder received attention for 6 weeks. Participants in both groups exhibited lowered blood pressure, reduced pain, anxiety, depression, stress, and negative affectivity, as well as increased optimism, energy, and positive affectivity. The third (Paper III) investigated whether or not 33 flotation sessions were more effective for stress related ailments as compared to 12 sessions. Participants were 37 patients with stress related ailments. Analyzes for subjective pain and psychological variables typically indicated that 12 sessions were enough to get considerably improvements and no further improvements were noticed after 33 sessions. Finally, the fourth study (Paper IV) aimed to examine whether and how the combination of therapy and flotation tank could be used to treat patients with severe stress problems. Two women on long-term sick-leave participated in the study, which was carried out over a period of one year. Four overarching themes were generated: the therapeutic work model, transformation of feelings, self-insight and meaning. These together constituted a “therapeutic circle” which after a while transformed in to a “therapeutic spiral” of increased meaning and enhanced wellbeing.It was therefore concluded that flotation tank therapy is an effective method for the treatment of stress-related pain.
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| 2. |
- Helldin, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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Experience of quality of life and attitude to care and treatment in patients with schizophrenia : Role of cross-sectional remission
- 2008
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Ingår i: International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice (Print). - : Informa UK Limited. - 1365-1501 .- 1471-1788. ; 12:2, s. 97-104
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective The concept of cross-sectional remission was investigated in a sample of patients with schizophrenia. A total of 243 patients were tested for quality of life, burden and handicap, insight and satisfaction with the care provided in an epidemiological study. The question addressed was if remission is of importance for outcome. Methods Cross-sectional remission was defined by applying the symptom criteria of remission, where none of eight selected PANSS items should exceed 3 points. Out of 243 patients, 38% were in met cross-sectional remission. Quality of life was assessed with the MOS SF-36 and the Rosser Index. The Patients' understanding of their illness was assessed based on symptoms and disorder insight. Finally, attitudes to care and, health service were assessed by the UKU/Consumer Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Drug Attitude Inventory. Results Patients who were in cross-sectional remission reported higher quality of life and reduced burden related to the disorder, a greater level of insight into their symptoms and the illness, and a more positive attitude to treatment, including drugs. Conclusion This study implies that remission, here expressed in terms of cross-sectional remission, is of importance for patients' well-being. Patients who had no interference from symptoms in their daily functioning found their life better, had a superior insight and were more positive to treatment.
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| 6. |
- Hjärthag, Fredrik, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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How is family burden correlated to the patients' symptoms, function, quality of life and attitude to medication?
- 2008
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Ingår i: European Neuropsychopharmacology. ; 18:4, s. 468-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Earlier research has concluded that symptom severity is an important factor for explaining family burden related to psychotic illness. Some studies also point out the impaired function of the ill person as a contributing factor to the burden. However, there are few investigations that also considerate the ill persons own view of his/her quality of life and attitude to medication. This study investigates how persons with psychosis symptom severity, functional disability, quality of life and attitude to medication, could be correlated to family burden.
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| 8. |
- Hjärthag, Fredrik, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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Psychometric Properties of the Burden Inventory for Relatives of Persons with Psychotic Disturbances
- 2008
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Ingår i: Psychological Reports. - : Ammons Scientific. - 0033-2941 .- 1558-691X. - 9789170632273 ; 103, s. 323-335
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Earlier studies have shown that close relatives are heavily burdened when a family member has schizophrenia. The current purpose was twofold, (1) to examine the psychometric properties for a test of the burden of family members, one used in Swedish clinical practice (the Care Burden Scale for Relatives) and (2) develop a shortened version with the same or better psychometric properties. Ninety-nine close relatives, 34 men and 65 women, of the same number of patients who had been diagnosed either with schizophrenia or with schizoaffective disorder, were studied. Participants completed the Care Burden Scale for Relatives and a visual analogue scale measuring perceived global burden on which the total burden was assessed. Patients of the close relatives were assessed on clinical tests often used in the psychiatric care, in an attempt to validate the external criteria, such as severity of symptoms and level of functioning. The resulting instrument, Burden Inventory for Relatives of persons with Psychotic disturbances, showed good psychometric properties which simplifies data collection from relatives of patients with psychotic disturbances. In this study, relatives of those patients not in remission evinced a significant greater family burden.
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| 9. |
- Kjellgren, Anette, 1959-, et al.
(författare)
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Experiences of Encounters with Ayahuasca- : 'the Vine of the Soul'
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0279-1072 .- 2159-9777. ; 41:4, s. 309-315
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew used by the indigenous populations of the Amazon. The aim of this qualitative study was to gain insight into the experiences of western users of ayahuasca, as well as to ascertain the experienced meaning that participants felt by their participation. Twenty-five people from Northern Europe with experiences of group sessions with ayahuasca wrote anonymous descriptions of their experiences. The Empirical Phenomenological Psychological method was used for this analysis. The analysis resulted in 33 categories which were assembled into six general themes: (a) motivation and aim, (b) contractile frightening state (c) sudden transformation of the experience, (d) limitless expansive states with transcendental experiences, (f) reflections, and (g) changed worldview and new orientation to life. These themes provided a new structure, called the transcendental circle. Participants reported many positive psychological and physical improvements that indicate that ayahuasca could be of potential interest in the development of new medicines and therapies.
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- Kjellgren, Anette, 1959-, et al.
(författare)
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Searching for placebo Effect: Do Sensitive Personality and Breathing Instructions Influence the Experience of Flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique)?
- 2009
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Ingår i: Individual Differences Research. - 1541-745X .- 2169-3951. ; 7:4, s. 212-221
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the experiences and effects of 45 minutes relaxation in flotation tank were influenced by breathing instruction or by a sensitive personality. A sample of 48 persons, 20 men and 28 females (mean age 27.40 years) were randomized into two groups; with or without a breathing relaxation instruction. The second independent variable was sensitive personality (low, high) derived from the Highly Sensitive Person Scale. Dependent variables were Subjective Flotation Experience (Kjellgren, Sundequist, Norlander, & Archer, 2001) and detection threshold and upper threshold pain endurance. Main results indicated that experiences during flotation with regard to comfort and stress reduction were not influenced by instructions or by sensitive personality. These results are in line with earlier findings indicating that flotation-REST is not particularly affected by expectancies, earlier experiences, personality or surroundings in the laboratory
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