A Digital Music-Based Mindfulness Intervention ("healing attempt") for Race-Based Anxiety in Black Americans.

This study replicates and extends findings that "healing attempt"-a brief digital music-based mindfulness intervention-represents a feasible and potentially effective intervention for race-based anxiety in the Black community.

Prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders following mild traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have identified an association between traumatic brain injuries and the development of psychiatric disorders in general. However, these studies were subject to limitations that demonstrate the need for a study of a large, clearly defined mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) population within an integrated healthcare system. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and relative risk of postinjury affective disorders over 4 years following mTBI. DESIGN: Cohort study of mTBI cases and matched controls, over a 4-year period. SETTING: An integrated healthcare delivery system in California. PATIENTS: A total of 9428 adult health plan members diagnosed with mTBI from 2000-2007 and enrolled in the year before injury, during which no TBI was ascertained. Control participants included 18,856 individuals selected based on the following criteria: Two unexposed health plan members per each mTBI-exposed patient were randomly selected and individually matched for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and medical comorbidities. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A diagnosis of affective disorder (depressive, anxiety, and adjustment disorders) in the 4 years after mTBI or the reference date, determined according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification as well as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision. RESULTS: Affective disorders were most prominent during the first 12 months with 23% following mTBI and 14% in the control group. Four-year aggregate adjusted odds ratios for having an affective disorder following mTBI were 1.2 (95% CI: 1.1, 1.2; p < .001) and 1.5 (95% CI: 1.5, 1.6; p < .001) for patients with and without prior affective disorders, respectively. CONCLUSION: mTBI was associated with a significantly increased risk of having subsequent affective disorders. Screening for and addressing affective disorders at earlier stages following the injury is an important step to avoid persisting conditions that may pose a barrier to full recovery.

Diet and Anxiety: A Scoping Review.

Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental disorders. There is mounting evidence demonstrating the importance of nutrition in the development and progression of mental disorders such as depression; however, less is known about the role of nutrition in anxiety disorders. This scoping review sought to systematically map the existing literature on anxiety disorders and nutrition in order to identify associations between dietary factors and anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence as well as identify gaps and opportunities for further research. The review followed established methodological approaches for scoping reviews. Due to the large volume of results, an online program (Abstrackr) with artificial intelligence features was used. Studies reporting an association between a dietary constituent and anxiety symptoms or disorders were counted and presented in figures. A total of 55,914 unique results were identified. After a full-text review, 1541 articles met criteria for inclusion. Analysis revealed an association between less anxiety and more fruits and vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, "healthy" dietary patterns, caloric restriction, breakfast consumption, ketogenic diet, broad-spectrum micronutrient supplementation, zinc, magnesium and selenium, probiotics, and a range of phytochemicals. Analysis revealed an association between higher levels of anxiety and high-fat diet, inadequate tryptophan and dietary protein, high intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates, and "unhealthy" dietary patterns. Results are limited by a large percentage of animal and observational studies. Only 10% of intervention studies involved participants with anxiety disorders, limiting the applicability of the findings. High quality intervention studies involving participants with anxiety disorders are warranted.

Efectos del cuidado espiritual en la ansiedad situacional de pacientes quirúrgicos / Effects of Spiritual Care on Situational Anxiety of Surgical Patients

Introducción: Las personas con tratamiento quirúrgico presentan ansiedad, lo cual impide llegar al periodo operatorio en óptimas condiciones. El cuidado espiritual puede resultar efectivo en momentos como este. Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto del cuidado espiritual en el nivel de ansiedad situacional en pacientes quirúrgicos. Métodos: Investigación cuantitativa, preexperimental con pretest postest, en el Hospital Regional de Ayacucho, Perú, durante marzo a mayo de 2016. Población constituida por 123 pacientes quirúrgicos, entre los que se seleccionaron 30 entre 24 y 57 años, con ansiedad y dispuestos a participar en la investigación. La ansiedad se midió con el Test de Zung, las necesidades espirituales con un cuestionario validado por expertos y pilotaje con alfa de Cronbach > 0,75. Para los ejes temáticos y metodológicos de la intervención (cuidados espirituales) se revisó bibliografía sobre el tema, tuvieron en cuenta las necesidades de cuidados y niveles de ansiedad identificada. Se procesó la información con frecuencias absolutas, porcentajes, media, desviación típica, valor mínimo y máximo. Para contrastar hipótesis se utilizó la Prueba no paramétrica de rangos con signo de Wilcoxon. Para la relación entre necesidad de cuidado espiritual y evolución del nivel de ansiedad se utilizó Chi-cuadrada de Pearson (X2), con probabilidad de error del 5 por ciento. Resultados: El nivel de ansiedad situacional previo a la aplicación del cuidado espiritual fue de marcada a severa en 86,66 por ciento, aplicado el cuidado espiritual estuvo ausente en el 96,66 por ciento. Conclusión: La intervención con cuidados espirituales aplicada resultó efectiva en la disminución del nivel de ansiedad situacional en pacientes quirúrgicos estudiados(AU)

Introduction: People who should undergo surgical treatment present anxiety, which keeps them from reaching the operative period in optimal conditions. Spiritual care can be effective at times like this. Objective: To assess the effect of spiritual care on the level of situational anxiety in surgical patients. Methods: Quantitative pre-experimental research with pre- and post-test carried out in the Regional Hospital of Ayacucho, Peru, during March to May 2016. The population was made up of 123 surgical patients, of which 30 aged 24-57, with anxiety and willing to participate in the study were chosen. Anxiety was measured with the Zung test; spiritual needs, with a questionnaire validated by experts; and piloting, with Cronbach's alpha > 0.75. For the thematic and methodological axes of the intervention (spiritual care), a bibliography on the subject was reviewed, taking into account the care needs and levels of anxiety identified. The information was processed with absolute frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to test hypotheses. Pearson's chi-square (X2) was used for the relationship between need for spiritual care and evolution of anxiety level, with a probability of error of 5 percent. Results: The level of situational anxiety prior to the application of spiritual care was remarkable to severe in 86.66%; applied spiritual care was absent in 96.66 percent.. Conclusion: The intervention with spiritual care applied was effective in reducing the level of situational anxiety in the surgical patients studied.(AU)

Could Cannabidiol Be a Treatment for Coronavirus Disease-19-Related Anxiety Disorders?

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)-related anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are likely to be a significant long-term issue emerging from the current pandemic. We hypothesize that cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical isolated from Cannabis sativa with reported anxiolytic properties, could be a therapeutic option for the treatment of COVID-19-related anxiety disorders. In the global over-the-counter CBD market, anxiety, stress, depression, and sleep disorders are consistently the top reasons people use CBD. In small randomized controlled clinical trials, CBD (300-800 mg) reduces anxiety in healthy volunteers, patients with social anxiety disorder, those at clinical high risk of psychosis, in patients with Parkinson's disease, and in individuals with heroin use disorder. Observational studies and case reports support these findings, extending to patients with anxiety and sleep disorders, Crohn's disease, depression, and in PTSD. Larger ongoing trials in this area continue to add to this evidence base with relevant patient cohorts, sample sizes, and clinical end-points. Pre-clinical studies reveal the molecular targets of CBD in these indications as the cannabinoid receptor type 1 and cannabinoid receptor type 2 (mainly in fear memory processing), serotonin 1A receptor (mainly in anxiolysis) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (mainly in the underpinning anti-inflammatory/antioxidant effects). Observational and pre-clinical data also support CBD's therapeutic value in improving sleep (increased sleep duration/quality and reduction in nightmares) and depression, which are often comorbid with anxiety. Together these features of CBD make it an attractive novel therapeutic option in COVID-related PTSS that merits investigation and testing through appropriately designed randomized controlled trials.

Valerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Sleep problems are widely prevalent and associated with various comorbidities including anxiety. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) is a popular herbal medicine used as a sleep aid, however the outcomes of previous clinical studies are inconsistent. This study was conducted to update and re-evaluate the available data in order to understand the reason behind the inconsistent outcomes and to provide a broader view of the use of valerian for associated disorders. PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library were searched to retrieve publications relevant to the effectiveness of valerian as a treatment of sleep problems and associated disorders. A total of 60 studies (n=6,894) were included in this review, and meta-analyses were performed to evaluate the effectiveness to improve subjective sleep quality (10 studies, n=1,065) and to reduce anxiety (8 studies, n=535). Results suggested that inconsistent outcomes were possibly due to the variable quality of herbal extracts and that more reliable effects could be expected from the whole root/rhizome. In addition, therapeutic benefits could be optimized when it was combined with appropriate herbal partners. There were no severe adverse events associated with valerian intake in subjects aged between 7 and 80 years. In conclusion, valerian could be a safe and effective herb to promote sleep and prevent associated disorders. However, due to the presence of multiple active constituents and relatively unstable nature of some of the active constituents, it may be necessary to revise the quality control processes, including standardization methods and shelf life.

Role of Yoga and Meditation as Complimentary Therapeutic Regime for Stress-Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Utilization of Brain Waves Activity as Novel Tool.

During recent decades, stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, chronic tension headache, and migraine have established their stronghold in the lives of a vast number of people worldwide. In order to address this global phenomenon, intensive studies have been carried out leading to the advancement of drugs like anti-depressants, anxiolytics, and analgesics which although help in combating the symptoms of such disorders but also create long-term side effects. Thus, as an alternative to such clinical practices, various complementary therapies such as yoga and meditation have been proved to be effective in alleviating the causes and symptoms of different neuropsychiatric disorders. The role of altered brain waves in this context has been recognized and needs to be pursued at the highest level. Thus, the current study provides a review focused on describing the effects of yoga and meditation on anxiety and depression as well as exploring brain waves as a tool for assessing the potential of these complementary therapies for such disorders.

Application of a mind-body tool in a rural population to improve post-operative outcomes in women with breast cancer: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States. While improvements in treatment have improved mortality, they can negatively impact quality of life (QOL). Mindfulness-based programs are low-cost interventions shown to improve QOL. The study aim was to evaluate a well-validated mind-body program - determining its feasibility, acceptability, and improvement in symptomatology in post-operative breast cancer patients in a rural setting. METHODS: We recruited patients during post-operative appointments following mastectomy or lumpectomy for breast cancer. Each participant completed 3 surveys before and after the intervention: (8 PROMIS-29, PROMIS -Global QOL, and MAAS (Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale). The intervention was an 8-week course: "The Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) - Relaxation Response and Resiliency Program (3RP)", which has been well-validated for the treatment of various clinical problems. Feasibility, acceptability, quantitative survey data, and demographics were analyzed. RESULTS: SMART-3RP was highly acceptable with greater than >80% completion rate. 23% of the invited participants enrolled, although over 70% of patients approached (34/48) expressed interest. The principal recruitment deterrent was scheduling. Sleep and anxiety/depression were improved in participants although not significantly due to small sample size. We also demonstrated improving trends in other QOL measures. CONCLUSIONS: This small pilot study proved feasibility, showed excellent acceptability, and demonstrated a benefit in post-operative breast cancer patients. Even with our small sample size, we found trends in improvement in certain QOL measures which emphasizes SMART-3RP's potential effectiveness. A large-scale randomized controlled trial is warranted.

A survey of chronic pain in China.

There is an extensive body of research about chronic pain and treatment in developed countries. In contrast there is a lack of research on this topic in developing countries including China. This study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic pain in different regions of China. Data on pain and its treatment were collected from 9357 participants using questionnaires and telephone-based interviews, from 31 regions of China. Gathered data were then coded into electronic data acquisition system and descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed. Out of 9298 participants, the ratio of chronic pain was 31.54% with the proportion of male having chronic pain (33.86%) was higher than that of female (29.53%). The average age of participants with pain (45.02 ± 15.07 years) was higher than free-pain participants (36.19 ± 11.12 years). There were also significant differences between groups in occupation, education levels, and illness history. Proportion of patients with pain duration of 1 year was 12.104%, between 1 and 5 years was 60%, and over 10 years was 10.74%. There were 63.9% of patients with moderate pain and 36.1% with severe pain. About 43.042% of patients thought that pain resulted in sleep disorder, 38.99% thought that it causes anxiety, and about 33% thought depression and irritable bowel was the result of their pain. For the chronic pain, more than half of patients used naprapathy, cupping, and other physical therapies. Up to 2016, the ratio of pain incidence was over 30% in China. The location of pain was focused on back and upper limb. There has been a lack of proper treatment. Patients with pain had obvious economic burden, and their quality of life and psychology were significantly affected.

The effectiveness of music therapy for patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To assess the effectiveness of music therapy on the quality of life, anxiety, depression and pain of patients with cancer. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: Five electronic databases were searched in September 2018 for randomized controlled trials evaluating music therapy for patients with cancer. REVIEW METHODS: The quality of the studies was assessed using the risk of bias tool recommended by the Cochrane Handbook Version 5.1.0 and the Revman version 5.3 software was used to perform the meta-analysis. The outcomes were overall quality of life, anxiety, depression and pain. RESULTS: A total of 19 trials evaluating 1,548 patients were included in this study, of which 765 were in the control group and 783 in the experimental group. Compared with standard care, music therapy can significantly increase the score of the overall quality of life in patients with cancer. In addition, music therapy was found to be more effective for decreasing the score of anxiety, depression and pain. CONCLUSION: Music therapy can improve the overall quality of life of patients with cancer, with an observed optimal intervention duration of 1-2 months. Meanwhile, anxiety, depression and pain are improved as well. Nevertheless, high-quality trials are still needed to further determine the effects of music intervention in supportive cancer care.

[Intervention focused on resources to reduce anxiety and depression disorders in cancer patients: A pilot study]. / Intervention centrée sur les ressources pour réduire les troubles anxieux et dépressifs chez les patients atteints de cancer : une étude pilote.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer, a widespread chronic disease, represented 400,000 diagnoses in France in 2017. The diagnoses as well as the treatments are a major source of stress for most patients concerned. Secondary effects may be painful and disturbing (pain, nausea, fatigue, loss of social and/or professional status, anxiety of death), and may lead to maladaptive coping strategies (avoidant coping), psychological inflexibility, anxiety, depression, and suicide risks which are twice as important as in the general population. Research in the field of psychotherapy for cancer patients represents an important international target, in particular in what concerns enhanced patient quality of life during and after treatment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, as well as adapted physical activity have shown promising results to enhance patients' quality of life at different stages of the process. However, results mainly show significant short-term effects and usually only for patients with high levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. With the development of third wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, more global interventions (not just aimed at anxiety and depression symptoms) have emerged. Research has underlined their efficacy on both symptom reduction (anxiety and depression) and quality of life enhancement through the development of more varied and adaptive responses to stressful situations. Positive psychology interventions, mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy have inspired third wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Emotional acceptance, mindful awareness of thoughts and emotions, and engaging in actions that are coherent with one's values all form part of the means by which these interventions may help patients to find ways to better adjust to their stressful situation. The results of the efficacy trials carried out using these approaches were mixed, and effects were mainly modest. Furthermore, most of the studies only tested one approach at a time, while each approach activated mechanisms, which can be useful for these patients. Hence, the aim of the current study was to test an integrative program based on classical second wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as on practices from the third wave of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We aimed at carrying out a preliminary study assessing the potential effects of the program on cancer patients' anxiety, depression symptoms, well-being and psychological flexibility. METHOD: Sixteen cancer patients were enrolled in a second and third wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy workshop composed of six sessions. In-session practices were based on validated practices. Participants completed the following questionnaires before the first workshop (T1) and at the end of the sessions (T2) in order to assess anxiety, depression symptoms, well-being and psychological flexibility: HAD, WEMWBS, MPFI, AAQ-2. Qualitative data regarding acceptability were also collected at the end of the last session. RESULTS: Among the sixteen participants, nine women (mean age=56.1years old) completed the questionnaires seven of whom had breast cancer. The results of this preliminary study showed a significant pre-to-post reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms (P=0.017) as well as on certain dimensions of psychological flexibility: reduced "self as content" (P=0.011), and enhanced cognitive diffusion (P=0.018). Only marginal differences were found on other dimensions: reduced inaction (P=0.074) and experiential avoidance (P=0.089), and enhanced "self as context" (P=0.062). Content analysis showed (1) increased positive perceptions about experiences with more serenity, (2) positive attitudes towards self (self-compassion), (3) enhanced positive relationships, and (4) ability to accept negative affect. CONCLUSION: Patients' qualitative feedback highlighted the potential feasibility and adaptability of the program for this population. The results of this preliminary study show promising avenues for research in the field of cancer patients' adaptive coping enhancement as well as reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. This type of workshop can be considered as complementary to individual psychotherapies as they may tap into different mechanisms that help foster psychological flexibility as the group format enhances decentering processes. Further research avenues are proposed in order to assess the efficacy of such interventions in cancer patients compared to other types of interventions. Further research should also look into individual differences in order to orient patients towards practices that fit them best.

Symptom hyper-expression in advanced cancer patients with anxiety and depression admitted to an acute supportive/palliative care unit.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare symptom expression in advanced cancer patients with depression and anxiety and in patients with no such symptoms. METHODS: Secondary analysis of a previous study assessing the role of an acute palliative supportive care unit (APSCU) in a comprehensive cancer center. Patients completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) at admission (T0) and 7 days after or at discharge (T7). RESULTS: Three hundred-fourteen consecutive cancer patients admitted to the APSCU were surveyed. Eighty-six and 66 patients improved their level of depression and anxiety, respectively (passing from ≥ 4 to 0-3, from T0 to T7), after that palliative care intervention resulted in a significant improvement of the other symptoms. Changes were statistically significant for both symptoms (P < 0.0005). Patients admitted for uncontrolled pain were more likely to be anxious, while patients admitted for other symptoms or end-of-life care were more likely to be depressed. The presence of anxiety and depression (≥ 4/10 on ESAS) was significantly associated with a higher level of symptom expression at admission and at T7 (P < 0.0005). In patients presenting both psychological symptoms, symptom expression was significantly more relevant in comparison with patients not reporting moderate-severe psychological symptoms. Pain and depression were independently associated with anxiety at T0. Variables independently associated with depression at T0 were drowsiness, appetite, and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological symptoms of ESAS concur to hyper-express some symptoms and make symptom control more difficult. A clear association between anxiety and depression exists.

Effectiveness of reflexology on anxiety of patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIM: To appraise the evidence concerning the effect of reflexology on the anxiety in patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures. BACKGROUND: Anxiety, fear, and other unpleasant emotional experiences are common among patients before and after cardiovascular interventional procedures. The higher anxiety may affect prognosis and recovery of patients. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: The MEDLINE, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library), EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched between 2001-2017. REVIEW METHODS: Randomized controlled trials evaluated the effectiveness of reflexology on anxiety among patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures were included. Meta-analysis was done using Revman 5.3. RESULTS: Ten trials, representing 760 patients with the mean age of 59, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Reflexology significantly decreased the anxiety of patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures in the treatment group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Reflexology has some positive effects on anxiety among patients undergoing cardiovascular procedures. It may be a useful complementary therapy and further research is necessary to create reliable evidence.

Music to reduce pain and anxiety in cystoscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background To assess the effectiveness and harms of music to reduce anxiety and pain in cystoscopy. Methods We searched MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE, LILACS and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception to nowadays. We included clinical trials, involving the assessment of the effect of music in cystoscopy. The primary outcomes were pain and anxiety measured by any scale and the secondary outcomes were length of stay, physiological parameters (blood pressure or heart rate) and adverse effects. Cochrane Collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias. We performed the statistical analysis in R and reported information about mean difference (MD) with 95% CI. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 test. Results We included six studies in our qualitative and quantitative analysis. Five studies used a flexible cystoscope and the other one performed the procedure with a rigid cystoscope. Music was played during the procedure in five studies, while the other was before it. All studies compared music vs. no intervention. Almost all items were assessed as low risk of bias; however, the allocation concealment was unclear in all the studies. We found a MD of -1.33 (95% CI -2.45 to -0.21) (I2=97.2%) favoring music for pain and a MD of -8.42 (95% CI -15.02, -1.82) (I2=99.6%) was found, favoring music for anxiety. Conclusions Playing music might be an effective intervention that lowers pain and anxiety in patients who undergo cystoscopy.

Key Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) items associated with DSM-IV depressive and anxiety disorder 12-months post traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are common problems following traumatic brain injury (TBI), warranting routine screening. Self-report rating scales including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) are associated with depression and anxiety diagnoses in individuals with TBI. The relationship between individual HADS symptoms and structured clinical interview methods (SCID) requires further investigation, particularly in regard to identifying a small number of key items that can potentially be recognised by clinicians and carers of individuals with TBI. METHODS: 138 individuals sustaining a complicated-mild to severe TBI completed the HADS, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Research Version (SCID) at 12-months post-injury. The associations between individual HADS items, separately and in combination, as well as overall depression and anxiety subscale scores, and SCID-diagnosed depressive and anxiety disorders were analysed. RESULTS: CART (Classification and Regression Tree) analysis found HADS depression item 2 "I still enjoy the things I used to enjoy" and a combination of two anxiety items, 3 "I get a sort of frightened feeling as if something awful is about to happen" and 5 "worrying thoughts go through my mind", performed similarly to total depression and anxiety subscales in terms of their association with depressive and anxiety disorders respectively, at 12-months post-injury. LIMITATIONS: Patients were predominantly injured in motor vehicle accidents and received comprehensive care within a no-fault accident compensation system and so may not be representative of the wider TBI population. CONCLUSIONS: Although validation is required, a small number of self-report items are highly associated with 12-month post-injury diagnoses.

Herbal medicine for depression and anxiety: A systematic review with assessment of potential psycho-oncologic relevance.

Anxiety and depression are prevalent among cancer patients, with significant negative impact. Many patients prefer herbs for symptom relief to conventional medications which have limited efficacy/side effects. We identified single-herb medicines that may warrant further study in cancer patients. Our search included PubMed, Allied and Complementary Medicine, Embase, and Cochrane databases, selecting only single-herb randomized controlled trials between 1996 and 2016 in any population for data extraction, excluding herbs with known potential for interactions with cancer treatments. One hundred articles involving 38 botanicals met our criteria. Among herbs most studied (≥6 randomized controlled trials each), lavender, passionflower, and saffron produced benefits comparable to standard anxiolytics and antidepressants. Black cohosh, chamomile, and chasteberry are also promising. Anxiety or depressive symptoms were measured in all studies, but not always as primary endpoints. Overall, 45% of studies reported positive findings with fewer adverse effects compared with conventional medications. Based on available data, black cohosh, chamomile, chasteberry, lavender, passionflower, and saffron appear useful in mitigating anxiety or depression with favorable risk-benefit profiles compared to standard treatments. These may benefit cancer patients by minimizing medication load and accompanying side effects. However, well-designed larger clinical trials are needed before these herbs can be recommended and to further assess their psycho-oncologic relevance.

Psychosocial interventions to improve outcomes among dialysis patients.

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) report high levels of emotional problems and poor compliance with treatment and quality of life. Nevertheless, there are not many studies which examine the effectiveness of different psychosocial interventions in ameliorating these poor outcomes. Theories have been helpful in identifying targets for interventions to improve compliance with treatment, adjustment, and quality of life. However, their effects have been mixed. In particular, interventions incorporating beliefs are promising in improving these outcomes. Moreover, relaxation and imagery techniques have reduced symptoms and have been effective improving adjustment and compliance. Future randomized controlled studies are needed to compare the effects of theory-based and patient-derived interventions on compliance with treatment and adjustment.

Unsettling moods in rural midwifery practice.

BACKGROUND: Rural midwifery and maternity care is vulnerable due to geographical isolation, staffing recruitment and retention. Highlighting the concerns within rural midwifery is important for safe sustainable service delivery. METHOD: Hermeneutic phenomenological study undertaken in New Zealand (NZ). 13 participants were recruited in rural regions through snowball technique and interviewed. Transcribed interview data was interpretively analysed. Findings are discussed through the use of philosophical notions and related published literature. FINDINGS: Unsettling mood of anxiety was revealed in two themes (a) 'Moments of rural practice' as panicky moments; an emergency moment; the unexpected moment and (b) 'Feelings of being judged' as fearing criticism; fear of the unexpected happening to 'me' fear of losing my reputation; fear of feeling blamed; fear of being identified. CONCLUSIONS: Although the reality of rural maternity can be more challenging due to geographic location than urban areas this need not be a reason to further isolate these communities through negative judgement and decontextualized policy. Fear of what was happening now and something possibly happening in the future were part of the midwives' reality. The joy and delight of working rurally can become overshadowed by a tide of unsettling and disempowering fears. IMPLICATIONS: Positive images of rural midwifery need dissemination. It is essential that rural midwives and their communities are heard at all levels if their vulnerability is to be lessened and sustainable safe rural communities strengthened.

Improving wellbeing in patients undergoing dialysis: Can meditation help?

Coping with the stress and anxiety caused by end stage kidney disease (ESKD) symptoms, treatment, restrictions, and social, financial and family stressors, consumes many afflicted with kidney disease. Meditation has been shown to decrease anxiety and stress, and improve wellbeing and quality of life of people with chronic disease. However, the clinical uptake of meditation is low in the ESKD dialysis population. This review describes what meditation and mindful meditation are and how they have been used for people with ESKD. Further research, using active control conditions and larger sample size, is required to identify effective meditation interventions that can improve the wellbeing of our patients and their ability to cope with the demands of ESKD.