Cross-cultural experiences and self-development: a psychobiographical study of Bruce Lee.

A common challenge people face in today's cross-cultural world is how to solve a series of adaptation problems caused by cultural conflict. Exploring Bruce Lee's successful cross-cultural experiences through psychobiography offers some inspiration and thoughts. How did Bruce Lee successfully integrate martial arts, symbolising the Eastern culture, with films representing the Western culture, finally propelling kung fu films onto the international stage? Numerous publicly available materials about Bruce Lee were collected for this study, and the research data were evaluated using thematic analysis. Bruce Lee's success benefitted from reconstructing cultural environment information and exercising his initiative to shape a new cultural environment. His life experiences reflect individual cognition behaviour and social and cultural environments as two aspects of a dynamic circulation system and show that the two have reached internal and spiralling harmony through mutual integration. In the context of the Oriental collectivism culture's family narrative, Chinese adults' personality development features the unique theme of 'inheritance and innovation'. Dealing with the relationship between self-actualisation and familism is another important and challenging task in developing the Chinese personality.

Machine learning-based detection of acute psychosocial stress from body posture and movements.

Investigating acute stress responses is crucial to understanding the underlying mechanisms of stress. Current stress assessment methods include self-reports that can be biased and biomarkers that are often based on complex laboratory procedures. A promising additional modality for stress assessment might be the observation of body movements, which are affected by negative emotions and threatening situations. In this paper, we investigated the relationship between acute psychosocial stress induction and body posture and movements. We collected motion data from N = 59 individuals over two studies (Pilot Study: N = 20, Main Study: N = 39) using inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based motion capture suits. In both studies, individuals underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and a stress-free control condition (friendly-TSST; f-TSST) in randomized order. Our results show that acute stress induction leads to a reproducible freezing behavior, characterized by less overall motion as well as more and longer periods of no movement. Based on these data, we trained machine learning pipelines to detect acute stress solely from movement information, achieving an accuracy of 75.0 ± 17.7 % (Pilot Study) and 73.4 ± 7.7 % (Main Study). This, for the first time, suggests that body posture and movements can be used to detect whether individuals are exposed to acute psychosocial stress. While more studies are needed to further validate our approach, we are convinced that motion information can be a valuable extension to the existing biomarkers and can help to obtain a more holistic picture of the human stress response. Our work is the first to systematically explore the use of full-body body posture and movement to gain novel insights into the human stress response and its effects on the body and mind.

Brain wave oscillations as an objective neurophysiological biomarker of homeopathic subjective well-being [Pré-print]

Homeopathy uses the "similitude principle" to arouse a therapeutic reaction in the body against its own disorders. For this to occur optimally, the medicinal pathogenetic effects must present similarity with the totality of the individual's symptoms. To assess if this similarity has been successfully achieved, Hahnemann states that "improvement in the disposition and mind"­i.e., subjective well-being­is the most important parameter to consider. Aim Our aim was to perform a narrative review of the literature, exploring what is known about subjective well-being as a marker of therapeutic action, and to formulate ways in which subjective well-being might be quantifiable and applied in future homeopathy research. The concept of subjective well-being has been extensively studied in the complementary and conventional medical literature. Improved well-being has been observed in clinical trials, including those in the fields of positive psychology and meditation. Positive subjective outcomes of this nature are supported by objective evidence through associated changes in brain oscillatory activity using electroencephalography and/or "brain mapping" by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Neurophysiological responses in the brain have been identified in subjects after they ingested a homeopathic medicine. The concept of subjective well-being is supported by a body of literature and is a measurable entity. When viewed from the perspective of electrophysiological changes, brain activity is an objective neurophysiological biomarker with a potential to quantify individual well-being in the context of homeopathy research.

Folk psychological attributions of consciousness to large language models.

Technological advances raise new puzzles and challenges for cognitive science and the study of how humans think about and interact with artificial intelligence (AI). For example, the advent of large language models and their human-like linguistic abilities has raised substantial debate regarding whether or not AI could be conscious. Here, we consider the question of whether AI could have subjective experiences such as feelings and sensations ('phenomenal consciousness'). While experts from many fields have weighed in on this issue in academic and public discourse, it remains unknown whether and how the general population attributes phenomenal consciousness to AI. We surveyed a sample of US residents (n = 300) and found that a majority of participants were willing to attribute some possibility of phenomenal consciousness to large language models. These attributions were robust, as they predicted attributions of mental states typically associated with phenomenality-but also flexible, as they were sensitive to individual differences such as usage frequency. Overall, these results show how folk intuitions about AI consciousness can diverge from expert intuitions-with potential implications for the legal and ethical status of AI.

Understanding the psychosocial determinants of effective disease management in rheumatoid arthritis to prevent persistently active disease: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: According to epidemiological studies, psychosocial factors are known to be associated with disease activity, physical activity, pain, functioning, treatment help-seeking, treatment waiting times and mortality in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Limited qualitative inquiry into the psychosocial factors that add to RA disease burden and potential synergistic interactions with biological parameters makes it difficult to understand patients' perspectives from the existing literature. AIM: This study aimed to gather in-depth patient perspectives on psychosocial determinants that drive persistently active disease in RA, to help guide optimal patient care. METHODS: Patient research partners collaborated on the research design and materials. Semistructured interviews and focus groups were conducted online (in 2021) with patients purposively sampled from diverse ethnicities, primary languages, employment status and occupations. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: 45 patients participated across 28 semistructured interviews and three focus groups. Six main themes on psychosocial determinants that may impact RA management were identified: (1) healthcare systems experiences, (2) patient education and health literacy, (3) employment and working conditions, (4) social and familial support, (5) socioeconomic (dis)advantages, and (6) life experiences and well-being practices. CONCLUSION: This study emphasises the importance of clinicians working closely with patients and taking a holistic approach to care that incorporates psychosocial factors into assessments, treatment plans and resources. There is an unmet need to understand the relationships between interconnected biopsychosocial factors, and how these may impact on RA management.

Exploring the Relationship between Psychoneuroimmunology and Oral Diseases: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis.

The relationship between psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) and oral health has recently garnered increasing attention due to the intricate interaction among psychological factors, the nervous system, immune responses, and oral diseases. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the multifaceted connections between PNI and various oral conditions and conduct an in-depth analysis. Psychological factors, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, have been linked to oral microbiome alterations and immune function and the development and progression of oral diseases, such as periodontal disorders, oral ulcers, and temporomandibular disorders. Conversely, oral health conditions, particularly chronic periodontitis, have been associated with systemic inflammation, affecting mental health and overall well-being through neuroendocrine-immune pathways. Moreover, neural mechanisms, including the brain-gut axis and the autonomic nervous system, significantly influenced oral health through immune modulation and inflammatory responses. Understanding these complex interactions has implications for therapeutic interventions that target both psychological well-being and oral health outcomes. This review synthesizes current research findings from various disciplines, including immunology, neuroscience, dentistry, and psychology, to offer a comprehensive understanding of the bidirectional relationship between PNI and oral diseases. The implications of these interactions on treatment strategies, preventive measures, and interdisciplinary approaches underscore the need for integrated healthcare models that address psychological and oral health aspects to improve outcomes and quality of life in patients.

Mind and body connection in expert meditators: a computational study based on central and peripheral nervous system.

A meditative 'technique' is conceived as a continuum of different affective states involving mind and body jointly. Meditative practices can involve cognitive effort (e.g., focused attention and open-minded techniques), as well as automatic and implicit practices (e.g., transcendental techniques). The NGALSO tantric self-healing meditation technique is a brief, comprehensive meditation technique relying on mind and body connection. In this study, we aimed to investigate the state and the trait neurophysiological correlates of NGALSO meditation practice. First, 19 EEG channels and a 3-lead ECG signal were recorded from 10 expert meditators (more than 7 years of daily meditation) and 10 healthy inexpert participants (controls) who underwent the same meditative procedure. The neuropsychological profiles of experts and controls were compared. Results showed that expert meditators had significantly higher power spectra on alpha, theta and beta, and a higher sympathetic tone with lower parasympathetic tone after meditation. Conversely, the control group had significantly less power spectra on alpha, theta and beta, and a higher parasympathetic tone with lower sympathetic tone after meditation. A machine learning approach also allowed us to classify experts vs. controls correctly by using only EEG Theta bands before or after meditation. ECG results allowed us to show a significantly higher effort by expert meditators vs. controls, thus suggesting that a higher effort is required for this meditation, in line with the principle 'no pain, no gain' in body and mind.

Does Motor Imagery Training Improve Service Performance in Tennis Players? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Motor imagery training is a common mental strategy used by tennis players and coaches to improve learning and performance; however, the effect of motor imagery training on service performance in tennis players is questionable. This review aims to consolidate existing research regarding the effects of motor imagery training on the service performance of tennis players. A systematic search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, using PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and SPORTDiscus to identify articles published until December 2023. Eligible studies comprised controlled trials that investigated the impact of motor imagery on service performance outcomes in tennis players. The methodological quality of individual studies was assessed using the Cochrane RoB-2 and ROBINS-I tools. GRADE was applied to assess the certainty of the evidence. Nine trials including 548 participants met the inclusion criteria. The results indicated that motor imagery training improved service accuracy and technique but did not affect service speed or return accuracy in tennis players. In conclusion, the certainty of the evidence that motor imagery training may be effective in improving service accuracy and technique in tennis players is low to very low. However, more experimental work is needed to obtain stronger conclusions.

Hyperbaric oxygen for the treatment of carbon monoxide-induced delayed neurological sequelae: a case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) remains a recognised treatment for acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, but the utility of HBOT in treating CO-induced delayed neurological sequelae (DNS) is not yet established. Case description: A 26-year old woman presented with reduced consciousness secondary to CO exposure from burning charcoal. She underwent a single session of HBOT with US Navy Treatment Table 5 within six hours of presentation, with full neurological recovery. Eight weeks later, she represented with progressive, debilitating neurological symptoms mimicking Parkinsonism. Magnetic resonance imaging of her brain demonstrated changes consistent with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. The patient underwent 20 sessions of HBOT at 203 kPa (2 atmospheres absolute) for 115 minutes, and received intravenous methylprednisolone 1 g per day for three days. The patient's neurological symptoms completely resolved, and she returned to full-time professional work with no further recurrence. Discussion: Delayed neurological sequelae is a well-described complication of CO poisoning. In this case, the patient's debilitating neurocognitive symptoms resolved following HBOT. Existing literature on treatment of CO-induced DNS with HBOT consists mainly of small-scale studies and case reports, many of which similarly suggest that HBOT is effective in treating this complication. However, a large, randomised trial is required to adequately determine the effectiveness of HBOT in the treatment of CO-induced DNS, and an optimal treatment protocol.

Humanistic Health Management and Cancer: Associations of Psychology, Nutrition, and Exercise with Cancer Progression and Pathogenesis.

The incidence rate of cancer is increasing year by year due to the aging of the population, unhealthy living, and eating habits. At present, surgery and medication are still the main treatments for cancer, without paying attention to the impact of individual differences in health management on cancer. However, increasing evidence suggests that individual psychological status, dietary habits, and exercise frequency are closely related to the risk and prognosis of cancer. The reminder to humanity is that the medical concept of the unified treatment plan is insufficient in cancer treatment, and a personalized treatment plan may become a breakthrough point. On this basis, the concept of "Humanistic Health Management" (HHM) is proposed. This concept is a healthcare plan that focuses on self-health management, providing an accurate and comprehensive evaluation of individual lifestyle habits, psychology, and health status, and developing personalized and targeted comprehensive cancer prevention and treatment plans. This review will provide a detailed explanation of the relationship between psychological status, dietary, and exercise habits, and the regulatory mechanisms of cancer. Intended to emphasize the importance of HHM concept in cancer prevention and better prognostic efficacy, providing new ideas for the new generation of cancer treatment.

Beyond developmental psychopathology: Positive child development.

The field of developmental psychopathology has made significant contributions to our understanding of both typical and atypical development. However, while there are established theories for developmental psychopathology with detailed criteria for pathological outcomes, there is less agreement regarding development under optimal conditions and the definition of positive outcomes. In this conceptual paper, I make the case that a better understanding of positive child development is crucial because it will not only advance our general knowledge on human development but also complement current work on developmental psychopathology. After defining positive development as the development of positive functioning in children, such as skills, strengths, competencies, and wellbeing, rather than the absence of problems, current concepts with relevance for positive development are reviewed, before highlighting gaps in our knowledge on positive development and suggestions for future research. Although several of the reviewed frameworks provide important contributions to the conceptualization of positive development, most of them focus on positive functioning in adults with limited consideration of development in the early years. More research is needed that specifically targets the development of positive outcomes from early childhood onward in order to develop a more comprehensive and holistic theory of positive child development.

Reminiscence Therapy and Music With Older Adults: A Descriptive Study Investigating the Current Views and Practices of Australian Aged Care Providers and Volunteers.

Reminiscence therapy and music are often used to improve the wellbeing of older people; however, we do not know how these interventions are used in practice. This study explored how those working with older people view and use verbal Reminiscence Therapy (VRT) and Music-assisted Reminiscence Therapy (MRT). A total of 110 participants who worked or volunteered with older people in Australia were surveyed in this descriptive, mixed-method study. VRT and MRT were frequently and spontaneously used to respond to the varied needs of older adults. VRT and MRT lead to reported positive outcomes including better care practices, positive affect and mood, and improved social connections. MRT was used as a compensatory strategy when traditional VRT was not possible. This study describes the current practices of VRT and MRT, and an overview of how reminiscence-based approaches are used in Australia to address the health and wellbeing of older people.

"Safety Means Everything": An ethnographic methodology to explore the formation of professional identity in nursing students.

AIM: The aim of this qualitative study is to explore how various conditions within educational contexts impact nursing students' experiences of becoming professional nurses and how these conditions affect their agency and the formation of their professional identities. BACKGROUND: Nursing education is essential to becoming professional and competent in caring for patients. A strong professional identity in nursing contributes to better patient outcomes and improves the well-being, retention, and recruitment of practitioners in the health care system. At the same time, research indicates that development of a professional identity during education is challenging and needs further investigation. DESIGN: The qualitative research design draws on the theoretical and methodological framework of critical psychology practice research. The practice research design and close collaboration with users ensure the continuous development and implementation of theory and practice. METHODS: The data used in this study originated from ethnographic fieldwork, which involved following two nursing students through their final clinical placement training at the Geriatric Department of a university hospital in Denmark. Additionally, nursing students in two classes were observed as part of their nursing education practice at a university college from April to July 2022. The participant observational design, combined with in-situ interviewing, facilitated a comprehensive understanding of the students' engagement in social practices and interactions within the context of nursing education. RESULTS: Our results show how the conditions of nursing students' everyday lives have a critical impact on their self-understanding and journey to becoming competent and professional nurses. Three main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Perception of safety, (2) Motivation for learning in different communities of practice, and (3) The meaning of learning culture and role models. CONCLUSION: The development of nursing students into professionals is profoundly influenced by factors affecting their ontological safety that are deeply embedded in socio-cultural and educational contexts. The results underscore the need to foster ontological safety in nursing education. Creating safe, participatory, and supportive learning environments is essential to the holistic development of students into caring, competent nurses. Educators and stakeholders must remember their crucial role in this context and focus on establishing these environments to facilitate students' sense of belonging in the nursing profession. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: The development of professional identity in nursing starts with safety. Ontological Safety in learning environments ensures competent and professional nurses. #NursingEducation#Safety#ProfessionalIdentity.

Exploring positive psychology intervention and mindfulness-based intervention in nature: impact on well-being of school students in India.

Introduction: Enhancing the well-being of urban school students is a growing challenge. The online mode of teaching during and post-pandemic era has increased students' daily screen time. As they spend more time indoors, they tend to disconnect from nature even more, adversely impacting their well-being. This study aimed to design and execute two well-being interventions-a positive psychology intervention (PPI) and a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) in natural settings for urban school students in India. Methods: One hundred eighty participants (aged 17-20) from a senior secondary school were randomly assigned to three groups: PPI, MBI, and a control group (CTR). Participants self-reported their levels of well-being, gratitude, inclusion of nature in self, sense of connectedness, resilience, awareness, perceived stress, and positive and negative emotions using a survey questionnaire at two times-pre- and post-interventions. Repeated-measures ANOVA was employed across time and groups, and post hoc analyses for group differences were carried out through the Bonferroni test. Results: Results indicate that both PPI and MBI interventions, when executed in natural settings, enhance student well-being, gratitude, inclusion of nature in self, sense of connectedness, resilience, awareness, positive emotions and decreased levels of perceived stress, and negative emotions. Discussion: The study provides valuable insights for school authorities, policymakers, and urban planners to include natural settings in school premises and offer well-being interventions for students to connect with nature consciously.

The relevance of the contribution of psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology and psychology of reasoning and decision making to nursing science: A discursive paper.

AIM: Patients' death or adverse events appear to be associated with poor healthcare decision-making. This might be due to an inability to have an adequate representation of the problem or of the connections among problem-related elements. Changing how a problem is formulated can reduce biases in clinical reasoning. The purpose of this article is to explore the possible contributions of psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology (PNEI) and psychology of reasoning and decision-making (PRDM) to support a new nursing theoretical frame. DESIGN: Discursive paper. METHOD: This article discusses the main assumptions about nursing and nurses' ability to face patient's problems, suggesting a new approach that integrates knowledge from PNEI and PRDM. While PNEI explains the complexity of systems, highlighting the importance of systems connections in affecting health, PRDM underlines the importance of the informative context in creating a mental representation of the problem. Furthermore, PRDM suggests the need to pay attention to information that is not immediately explicit and its connections. CONCLUSION: Nursing recognizes the patient-nurse relationship as the axiom that governs care. The integration of PNEI and PRDM in nursing theoretics allows the expansion of the axiom by providing essential elements to read a new type of relationship: the relationship among information. PNEI explains the relationships between biological systems and the psyche and between the whole individual and the environment; PRDM provides tools for the nurse's analytical thinking system to correctly process information and its connections. IMPACT ON NURSING PRACTICE: A theoretical renewal is mandatory to improve nursing reasoning and nursing priority identification. Integrating PNEI and PRDM into nursing theoretics will modify the way professionals approach patients, reducing cognitive biases and medical errors. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: There was no patient or public involvement in the design or writing of this discursive article.

Compassion Meditation for Distressed Older Veterans: A Feasibility Study.

OBJECTIVES: Older Veterans are at elevated risk for psychological distress and may encounter barriers to accessing mental health services. Compassion Meditation (CM) promotes positive emotions and outcomes among distressed individuals; thus, we conducted a preliminary feasibility study of CM among distressed older Veterans. METHODS: Participants included 25 Veterans aged 55+ (M = 69.0, SD = 10.6) with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, recruited from primary care, mostly male (76.0%), and White (60.0%). CM consisted of 10 groups, which were transitioned from in-person to telehealth due to COVID-19. Feasibility indices included rates of intervention initiation and completion, and attendance. Participants completed measures of symptom severity and well-being pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Of 25 enrolled participants, 88.0% (n = 22) attended at least one session, and 52% (n = 13) completed the intervention (attended six or more sessions). Among intervention completers, the average number of sessions attended was 9.46. Seven Veterans withdrew from intervention due to difficulties engaging via telehealth. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the feasibility of CM training in older Veterans with psychological distress, though dropouts highlighted potential need for additional strategies to facilitate telehealth participation. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Older Veterans appear amenable to meditation-based practices, provided they are easy to access.

Developing a mental toughness program for basic military training.

To build a warfighter from the ground up, training should include not only the core competencies required for job performance in the Fleet but also the mental toughness expected to handle the stress, fatigue, and call for sudden action required of all sailors on duty, regardless of occupation. Recruit Training Command (RTC) has embarked on a program to provide explicit training to recruits on the development of toughness in boot camp. This program is multifaceted, including three pilot programs (two all-male pilots, one integrated/mixed gender pilot) for mental skill training. Recruit divisions were assigned to either mental toughness (MT) condition or active control (AC). The MT group received daily, 10-min guided mindfulness exercises, three "just-in-time" trainings in sports psychology skills, and an on-command focusing exercise. Results varied across the three pilots with the exception of on-time graduation rates, which favored the MT condition in every pilot. Taken together, the three MT pilot studies show possible benefits for performance during boot camp with MT practice, and predictable advantages for graduation rates.

Dyadic Art Appreciation and Self-Expression Program (NCGG-ART) for People with Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment and Their Family Caregivers: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Non-pharmacological interventions effective for depressive mood and bilateral relationships among persons with cognitive impairment (PwCI) and their family caregivers (FCGs) have not been established. OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of a newly developed group-based art appreciation and self-expression program (NCGG-ART) for dyads of PwCI and their FCGs. METHODS: This pilot randomized control trial included 34 dyads of PwCI diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment, and their FCGs, from an outpatient rehabilitation service (Holistic Physio-Cognitive Rehabilitation [HPCR]). Participants were randomly divided equally into the HPCR (control group) or NCGG-ART and HPCR (intervention group) groups. Both included 1-hour weekly, 6-week programs. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms among FCGs assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Feasibility outcomes included participant satisfaction and motivation. FCGs were interviewed about their experiences and feelings regarding the program, which were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-two dyads (intervention group:16; control group:16) completed the study period. High participation rates, satisfaction, and motivation were demonstrated throughout the intervention. Scores in the PHQ-9 among FCGs did not show positive effects: mean changes in the score were 1.3 for the intervention group and -0.8 for the control group (Cohen d:0.56). However, the qualitative analysis revealed favorable experiences and feelings of the FCGs, such as positive emotions, social interactions, and person-centered attitudes to and positive relationships with PwCI. CONCLUSIONS: This program demonstrated high feasibility with FCGs' favorable responses to emotions and relationships with PwCI, ensuring future investigations with a confirmatory study design.

Co-creating holistic injury prevention training for youth handball: Development of an intervention targeting end-users at the individual, team, and organizational levels.

BACKGROUND: Interventions that are co-created with end-users, and that are informed by behavior change or implementation theories, support implementation in real world settings. However, injury prevention programs for youth athletes have typically been developed by experts with no, or insufficiently described, end-user involvement and without guidance by theories. The aim of the current study was to describe the development of a holistic injury prevention intervention for youth handball targeting end-users at different levels, through using knowledge from end-users and researchers/experts and applying relevant behavior change and implementation theories. METHODS: Knowledge from researchers/experts (sports medicine, sport psychology, handball, physical therapy, strength and conditioning (n = 14)) and end-users (coaches, players, club administrators, n = 16), and applying relevant implementation (Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, CFIR), behavior change (Health Action Process Approach, HAPA) and motivational (Self-Determination Theory, SDT) theories, were used to co-design the intervention. Early end-users (coaches (n = 6), players (n = 3) and a club administrator (n = 1)) were interviewed for initial feedback. RESULTS: The intervention consisted of end-user-targeted information and training that was made available in a specifically developed interactive mobile application with modules for players, coaches, club administrators, and caregivers. Information for all end-users included benefits and principles of physical and psychological injury prevention training, load-management, motivation, and communication. Information about implementation was developed for club administrators specifically. For coaches, training to do with their teams included handball-specific injury prevention exercises (legs, shoulders, core) combined with psychological aspects (motivation, task focus, body awareness) to integrate within warm-up and handball skills training. Training for players included handball-specific multi-joint strength, power, and explosive exercises (legs, shoulders, core) and sport psychology exercises (self-awareness, relaxation, being in the present moment, prevent and handle stress). To support self-management, adoption, and motivation, programs were provided, and players and coaches could change, add, progress the difficulty of exercises, and build their own programs. Initial feedback from early end-users was generally positive. CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing an approach where researchers/experts and end-users co-created injury prevention training specifically for youth handball, an intervention was generated that included information and holistic training targeting end-users at the individual (players, caregivers), team (coaches), and organizational (club administrators) levels.

Practice recommendations and referrals, perceptions of efficacy and risk, and self-rated knowledge regarding complementary medicine: a survey of Australian psychologists.

BACKGROUND: Many people with mental health problems use a range of complementary medicine (CM), including over the counter products, practices, and utilise the services of CM practitioners. Psychologists are likely to consult with clients using CM, in some form, as part of their broader mental health care. The aim of this research was to determine the number of types of CM products, practices, and practitioners are recommended and/or referred by Australian psychologists as part of their clinical practice, as well as explore the relationship between psychologists' perspectives on the risk and relevance of engaging with CM in psychology. METHODS: Survey data was collected from psychologists in clinical practice who self-selected to participate in the study via an online 79-item questionnaire exploring core aspects of CM engagement in psychology clinical practice. RESULTS: Amongst the 201 psychologists, 5% reported not recommending any type of CM, with 63% recommending four or more types of CM. Further, 25% had not referred to a CM practitioner, while 33% had referred to four or more types of CM practitioner. Psychologists are recommending and referring to CM even when they perceive their knowledge of CM to be poor, and that engaging with CM was a risk. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into psychologist perceptions of CM within psychology practice and how these perceptions are associated with rates of recommending and referring to CM as part of their clinical practice. These findings may inform the development of CM relevant education and guidelines for psychologists.