Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review.

The objective of the present review is to provide an overview of existing research that has reported on the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and ischemic heart disease. Specific focus is given to the incidence of PTSD following myocardial infarction (MI). A systematic review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines was performed by searching four bibliographic databases: PubMed, PsychINFO, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. A total of 39 articles were included in this literature review. The results of these studies suggest that the occurrence of an acute cardiac event is likely to contribute to the development of PTSD. Not only is this type of psychiatric disorder associated with significant suffering and impaired quality of life, but it is also a predictor of an increased risk of recurrent adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. Screening, assessment, and treatment of PTSD and posttraumatic stress symptoms following a major cardiac event are critical for offsetting potential deleterious psychological and physical consequences.

EMDR in Telemental Health Counseling for Healthcare Workers Caring for COVID-19 Patients: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is putting a strain on health systems around the world. Healthcare workers, on the front lines of the epidemic, are facing major and potentially traumatic stressful events, overwhelming their ability to cope and their resources. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article will be to show how the use of the URG-EMDR protocol in a telemental health setting has proven to be feasible and effective in the treatment of a group of healthcare professionals working in nursing homes or hospital services that were highly mobilized during the acute phase of COVID-19. METHOD: 17 participants, registered nurses (N = 7) and licensed practical nurses (N = 10), were remotely treated using the URG-EMDR protocol in a single session. The assessment focused on anxiety and depressive symptoms (HAD scale) and the level of perceived disturbance (SUD). An additional evaluation of the satisfaction with the remote psychotherapy intervention was conducted. RESULTS: As the URG-EMDR protocol has already proven itself during emergency interventions, it is interesting to note that its remote use in the treatment of healthcare providers caring for COVID-19 patients allows for an improvement in the emotional state and a decrease in perceived disturbance, in a single session. This result is maintained 1 week after the intervention, despite the continued professional activities of the participants and the continuity of the event. Moreover, the remote therapy setting was judged satisfactory by the patients, even if it required adjustments and certain recommendations for practice. DISCUSSION: The remote use of the URG-EMDR protocol opens up innovative perspectives for early interventions and the prevention of the development of psychological disorders in the long term following a situation of acute stress.

Perceptions of infection control professionals toward electronic surveillance software supporting inpatient infections: A mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Electronic surveillance software (ESS) collects multiple patient data from hospital software to assist infection control professionals in the prevention and control of hospital-associated infections. This study aimed to understand the perceptions of end users (i.e., infection control professionals) and the facilitators and barriers related to a commercial ESS named ZINC and to assess its usability. METHODS: A mixed-method research approach was adopted among infection control professionals 10 months after the implementation of commercial ESS in the university hospital of Nancy, France. A qualitative analysis based on individual semistructured interviews was conducted to collect professionals' perceptions of ESS and to understand barriers and facilitators. Qualitative data were systematically coded and thematically analyzed. A quantitative analysis was performed using the System Usability Scale (SUS). RESULTS: Thirteen infection control professionals were included. Qualitative analysis revealed technical, organizational and human barriers to the installation and use stages and five significant facilitators: the relevant design of the ESS, the improvement of infection prevention and control practices, the designation of a champion/superuser among professionals, training, and collaboration with the developer team. Quantitative analysis indicated that the evaluated ESS was a "good" system in terms of perceived ease of use, with an overall median SUS score of 85/100. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the value of ESS to support inpatient infections as perceived by infection control professionals. It reveals barriers and facilitators to the implementation and adoption of ESS. These barriers and facilitators should be considered to facilitate the installation of the software in other hospitals.

Benefits of immediate EMDR vs. eclectic therapy intervention for victims of physical violence and accidents at the workplace: a pilot study.

This study focuses on 34 victims of aggression at the workplace, less than 48 hours following the incident of aggression. We compared victims who received an EMDR emergency protocol (URG-EMDR; n = 19) that we developed with those who received a method of intervention called eclectic therapy (n = 15). The results show that URG-EMDR therapy, provided within 48 hours, resulted in a greater decrease in perceived stress and a lower PCL-S score than eclectic therapy did. The scores were lower in both groups after 24 hours, and after 3 months, the drop was significantly greater among the victims treated with the URG-EMDR protocol; none of the EMDR-treated patients exhibited symptoms of posttraumatic stress.

Relationship Between Cumulative Adverse Childhood Experiences and Myocardial Infarction in Adulthood: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the relationship between cumulative adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and myocardial infarction (MI) in adulthood and to examine the role of potential confounding factors that may have contributed to the association. Studies examining the association of cumulative ACEs with MI among adults were identified by searching PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis. Individual estimates of odds ratios were pooled using random effects meta-analysis. Articles were pooled separately according to whether findings were adjusted for sociodemographic factors, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and psychological factors. Several moderators were also examined: age, gender, race/ethnicity, type of MI assessment, type of cumulative ACEs assessment, and quality assessment of included studies. A total of 10 eligible studies met our inclusion criteria. The pooled ORs for the magnitude of the relationship between ACEs and MI were OR = 1.88; 95% CI, 1.40-2.53, before adjustment for CVD risk factors, and OR = 1.78; 95% CI, 1.24-2.57, after adjustment for CVD risk factors. The association between ACEs and MI was OR = 2.09; 95% CI, 1.43-3.06, after further adjustment for psychological factors. Effect sizes were larger when studies included participants predominantly over 55 years of age than younger participants. Cumulative ACEs is associated with an increased risk of MI in adulthood. However, further prospective studies are needed to better understand potential moderators that attenuate or amplify observed relations. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40653-021-00404-7.

Treating COVID-19 patients with EMDR: A pilot study.

The threatening and unpredictable nature of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic presents unprecedented mental-health challenges worldwide. For those directly affected by the disease, the stress of facing potential death and overcoming fear can overwhelm their personal coping resources and can lead to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety and depression. The objective of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to reduce anxio-depressive symptoms, distress and fear of the unknown in COVID-19 patients hospitalized for intensive care. A pilot study was conducted with 21 participants hospitalized for COVID-19 (11 women and 10 men) who were treated with EMDR therapy and assessed for anxio-depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), intensity of distress (Subjective Units of Disturbance, SUD scale), and levels of experienced fear (i.e., fear of the unknown) (Multidimensional Assessment of COVID-19-Related Fears, MAC-RF). After the 4-session treatment, the EMDR therapy showed to be effective in reducing all of the evaluated symptoms in all patients and allowed for stabilization. All patients maintained improved psychological states for one week following the four sessions. EMDR therapy has been shown to be an effective strategy for helping patients process exposure to adverse events by relieving symptoms of acute stress and trauma. EMDR is a focused approach that with as few as 4 sessions can strengthen adaptive coping strategies for dealing with an ongoing situation, restore optimism and can rapidly prevent the onset of potentially long-lasting psychological disorders.

Adult attachment styles, self-esteem, and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia.

Recently, the research on pain-related disability has increasingly paid attention to the psychological and social factors that may influence the biological condition. In the current study, we aimed to explore attachment styles, self-esteem, and quality of life in individuals with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Participants were 371 diagnosed women, with a mean age of 42.7 years (standard deviation = 10.6). The average number of years since diagnosis was 7.4 years (standard deviation = 2.4) years. To assess attachment, quality of life, and self-esteem, women responded, respectively, to the Relationship Questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory. Our results showed that secure attachment relationships and high self-esteem represent protective factors for quality of life of women with fibromyalgia, while the contrary emerged for insecure attachments and low self-esteem. The understanding of the psychological components that contribute to fibromyalgia may improve the effectiveness of interventions.

Chronic Pain and PTSD: Evolving Views on Their Comorbidity.

PURPOSE: This paper presents a literature review of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its link to chronic pain. DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-four papers are reviewed (included research and reviews), with the goal of improving and updating our understanding on this issue and its theoretical and clinical repercussions. FINDINGS: The tight interdependence of symptoms that can be observed in both PTSD and chronic pain syndromes lends support to the idea that these disorders both constitute a reactive disorder. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Various forms of therapy and treatment focus on PTSD, but chronic pain symptoms must also be assessed.