Stories of Hope: Young People's Personal Narratives About ADHD Put Into Context of Positive Aspects.

There is a growing acceptance that ADHD is a multi-dimensional disorder in which not all symptoms are associated with deficits or functional impairments. This article contributes to research on the positive aspects of the diagnosis, specifically understanding the positive aspects of living with ADHD. The empirical data was based on individual interviews and self-narratives of 10 young adults with ADHD. Narrative analysis was implemented when investigating their stories. The findings showed that challenges with the diagnosis were not necessarily stably occupied, and for some, the diagnosis was thought of as a benefit and something they would not have been without. Four stories highlighted particularly the context of positive aspects: (1) insight and strategies, (2) targeted efforts, (3) balanced energy, and (4) social skills. These aspects were correlated to both the individual's strengths as well as the strengths and support that could be related to their societal and cultural environment.

Symptoms and symptom clusters in patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease: results from the IBSEN III Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease report multiple symptoms, but the relationships among co-occurring symptoms are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of symptoms and explore symptom clusters and possible associations between symptom clusters and socio-demographic and clinical variables in patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: The IBSEN III study is a prospective population-based inception cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This study used patient data from the three largest hospitals in the study catchment area. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was used to assess the prevalence of symptoms. Symptom clusters were identified using principal component analysis. Possible associations between socio-demographic and clinical variables and symptom cluster membership were estimated using regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 573 patients (age, ≥18 years) diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, 350 (61.1%) completed the questionnaire (responders). Eleven symptoms were reported by >50% of the responders. The three most prevalent symptoms were bloating (84%), drowsiness (81%), and lack of energy (81%). Three symptom clusters were identified: psychological (56% of the patients), impaired energy (28%), and physical (16%) clusters. Multinomial regression analysis revealed that vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with the impaired energy cluster (odds ratio=2.49, 95% confidence interval [1.00-6.2], p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found high symptom prevalence in patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. Three distinct symptom clusters were identified, and the psychological cluster includes >50% of the patients. Vitamin D deficiency is the only factor associated with cluster membership, namely the impaired energy cluster.

Understanding the role of positive emotions in healthcare communication - A realist review.

AIM: To explore how the expression of positive emotions during the interaction between patients and providers can cultivate the patient-provider relationship. DESIGN: We conducted a realist review guided by the Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards. METHODS: We systematically searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO and Scopus from inception to March 2019. Study selection and data extraction were performed blinded in pairs. From 3146 abstracts blinded in pairs, 15 papers were included and analysed. From each included paper, we extracted contexts, mechanisms and outcomes that were relevant to answer our research questions, creating a configuration between these elements (CMO configuration). RESULTS: Our findings suggest that in the contexts of person orientation and positive outlook, patient-provider relationships improve by communication conveying and eliciting positive emotions. We found six underlying mechanisms for this that form either direct or indirect pathways between the context and the outcome.

Experiences of quality of life in people with Multiple Sclerosis who are in a wheelchair.

AIM: The study includes health-related quality of life for people in Norway with multiple sclerosis who live at home and are in a wheelchair (N = 6). The purpose is to show how they experience living with a chronic disease such as MS and how they perceive their own situation. How they value their own health and what leads to positive consequences is central to this study. DESIGN: The study has a qualitative design to show what health-related experiences they had while living with MS. METHOD: The interviews were conducted in their home and later transcribed. An interview guide with open-ended questions was used. The transcribed material was analysed with a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Key themes were being free and independent, threat to the self and one's identity, and adaptation to MS. Free and independent in everyday life was essential for all the informants. Being dependent on others for basic needs was something they sought to avoid. Adapting to the new situation of changing roles was a challenge that required a lot of them.

Emotional discomfort among school staff and student teachers when they had to 'tell' or 'not tell' about vague suspicions of domestic violence.

BACKGROUND: Many employees in schools and kindergartens fail to report vague suspicions (e.g., inadequate clothing, signs of anxiety or lack of sleep, being verbally violent to peers) that children are victims of domestic violence because they are unsure whether their suspicions are well founded. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the degree of emotional discomfort among school staff and student teachers when they had to 'tell' or 'not tell' about vague suspicions of domestic violence. We assumed that they would experience more emotional discomfort when they did not report such vague suspicions. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Seventy-one teachers and student teachers (20 men and 51 women; average age: 25, age range: 18-62) were recruited from three primary and lower secondary schools. METHODS: We used an experimental design in this quantitative vignette study, and the particiants were asked to respond to 54 statements that were related to the need for acceptance by others, seriousness, appraisals (e.g. social self-image and self-image) and self-critical feelings (e.g. rejection, shame, and inferiority). RESULTS: The results of the experimental study show that participants who did not tell about their vague suspicions of violence reported this as being more serious (p < .05), had a more negative self-appraisal (p < .05) and reported a higher degree of negative feelings (p < .05). The study sheds light on the seriousness of 'not telling' about vague suspicions, and shows that 'not telling' is reported as being more emotionally uncomfortable than 'telling'.