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Background: People with intellectual disabilities are more likely to experience sleep problems, which can affect quality of life, physical health, mental health and well‐being. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted to investigate what is known about behavioural sleep disturbances in people with an intellectual disability. The search used the following databases: Scopus, PsycInfo and Cinahl, to find papers published since 2015. Results: Within intellectual disability research, sleep appears as a common issue due to its high prevalence, negative relationships with an individual's physical and mental health, their quality of life, and impact of sleep problems on family or carers. The growing evidence base appears to support the use of behavioural, lifestyle and pharmacological interventions to improve sleep in people with an intellectual disability. Conclusion: A wide array of literature provides evidence that people with intellectual disabilities are affected by and need support with their sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scars are fibrous tissues that replace normal tissue during the wound healing process. Scarring can lead to low self‐esteem, social impairment, depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric and psychological distress, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the latest perspectives, topical research, and directions in scarring‐mental health. This is a biblioshiny and VOSviewer based bibliometric analysis study. All data were obtained from the Web of Science, and a total of 664 articles from 2003 to 2022 met the criteria. The last 7 years have been a period of rapid growth in the field, with 2022 having the highest number of articles. The United States is the core country with the highest production and citation rate. The most cited literature was written in 2003 by Van Loey NE et al. Van Loey NE is the most prolific and influential author in this field. The top five popular keywords include "quality of life", "depression", "management", "anxiety", and "prevalence". The paper concludes that the current focus of scholars in the field is on the treatment of scars and that multidisciplinary treatment of such patients is worth exploring. These findings provide relevant researchers with the current state of research and possible future directions in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a registered psychotherapist and art therapist, my clinical training was primarily based on North American clinical approaches influenced by traditional Euro and western‐centric clinical theories of human behavior. I completed my training feeling certain that traditional clinical mental health practices were not an appropriate fit for racialized communities and could have negative implications for their healing and well‐being. As clinicians, it is our moral obligation to support and enhance the quality of life for marginalized groups. We can do this by challenging our values and knowledge that have been defined and influenced by structures (i.e., education, training, etc.) embedded in these colonial teachings. For this paper, I used a heuristic self‐inquiry research method to investigate these concerns. I interviewed other racialized psychotherapists practicing in Turtle Island (currently mostly occupied by the political entities of Canada and the United States) with the aim to learn how and if decolonization can be used in therapy practice. With this research, I (1) identified a gap in care for racialized communities, (2) questioned if or how a decolonizing approach to care should be considered, (3) explored my discomfort with practitioners in the field that claim their position on decolonizing therapy, practice, and approaches, and lastly (4) propose other ways of knowing that can inform new ways of practicing therapy. The results of this research helped to problematize the language and use of decolonizing therapeutic practices while learning about other concepts that may be relevant yet distinct, such as principles of coloniality/decoloniality. Those of us, therapists or researchers, wanting to disrupt the current practice of therapy need to work together, share knowledge, and challenge each other, so that we can transform the way we practice as psychotherapists. This paper is my contribution to this conversation. Highlights: I interviewed racialized psychotherapists to learn how and if decolonization can be used in therapy.Traditional psychology can lead to ineffective mental health care for racialized communities.I propose other ways of knowing that can inform new therapy practices for racialized communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author focuses on papers related to the positive aspects of mental health and papers related to factors that prevent well-being in older people excluding dementia. Topics discussed include a report by E. Learmonth and colleagues which explored how experiences of community benefit emotional well-being and a study by J. Byles and colleagues which investigated health-related quality of life in older women from urban, rural and remove environments.

Purpose: Rural older people living with HIV (PLH) in the United States are a population of growing size and significance. A better understanding of factors associated with quality of life (QOL), depressive symptoms, and stress in this population—especially modifiable factors—could inform future interventions. Methods: Online or on paper, we surveyed 446 PLH aged 50+ residing in rural counties across the United States (Mage = 56, 67% male, 67% White, and 23% Black). Associations between social support, HIV stigma, satisfaction with medical care, discrimination in health care settings, and structural barriers and health‐related QOL, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress were assessed using multiple linear regressions. Findings: Controlling for demographics, greater social support was associated with better QOL, fewer depressive symptoms, and less stress. Greater HIV stigma was associated with more depressive symptoms and stress. Satisfaction with care was associated with better QOL and less stress. Discrimination in medical settings was associated with lower QOL and more depressive symptoms and stress. Finally, experiencing more structural barriers was associated with lower QOL and more depressive symptoms and stress. Conclusions: In addition to engagement in care and viral suppression, QOL and mental health are also critical considerations for rural older PLH. Increasing social support, reducing or providing skills to cope with HIV stigma, improving quality of care, reducing discrimination and stigma in medical settings, and reducing or mitigating the impact of structural barriers present potential targets for interventions aiming to improve the well‐being of older rural PLH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic poses risks to the quality of life (QoL) of relatives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. This paper investigates relatives' QoL and associated risk and buffering factors before and during the pandemic. Method: Surveys were administered to three samples of relatives in the Netherlands in 2019 (N = 105) and during the first waves of COVID‐19 in June (N = 207) and October 2020 (N = 332). Associations between QoL and care burden, care competence, social support, and resilience, and changes over time were analysed using (logistic) regressions. Results: No significant changes in overall QoL nor its domains were found. Care burden was negatively associated with QoL and increased during the pandemic. Care competence was lower than in 2019. Competence, social support, and resilience were positively associated with QoL. Conclusions: Although relatives' QoL remained stable, the pandemic poses non‐negligible risks to their wellbeing. It is, therefore, crucial to provide relatives with adequate support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper presents an integrated literature review of the quality of life (QOL) in parents of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The rate of ASD is increasing. Parents of children with ASD have higher levels of stress and burden, which may lead to lower QOL. Design and Methods: A comprehensive, electronic search was performed to retrieve 15 relevant articles, including 5565 participants. An integrative review was performed to appraise and synthesize findings. Results: QOL was found to be lower in parents of children with ASD in physical, psychological, and social health and in spirituality, as compared with adults who were not parents of children with ASD. The strongest risk factor for parental QOL was the severity of the diagnosis of ASD. Protective factors for parental QOL were parent education level and levels of severity of ASD in the child. Practice Implications: Nurses can support families impacted by ASD, particularly severe ASD, through tailored resources to support early diagnosis and intervention, through the support of policies affecting low‐income families, and through increased awareness of severe ASD and its' impact on the child and the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Many older people with cancer live with multimorbidity. Little is understood about the cumulative impact of old age, cancer and multimorbidity on self-management. This qualitative systematic review and synthesis aimed to identify what influences self-management from the perspective of older adults living with cancer and multimorbidity.Methods: Six databases were systematically searched for primary qualitative research reporting older adults' experiences of living with cancer and multimorbidity (eg, Medline, Embase, and CINAHL). A thematic synthesis was guided by Shippee's model of cumulative complexity. Text labelled as results in the included papers was treated as data.Results: Twenty-eight studies were included. While the included studies varied in their focus, our analysis highlighted a number of important themes consistent across the studies. Health conditions with the greatest negative impact on independent living assumed the greatest importance, sometimes meaning their cancer was a low priority. Self-management practices seen as likely to interfere with quality of life were deprioritized unless viewed as necessary to maintain independence. When burden outweighed capacity, people were reluctant to ask for help from others in their social network. The contribution of formal healthcare services to supporting self-management was relatively peripheral.Conclusions: Old age and multimorbidity together may complicate self-management after cancer, threatening health and well-being, creating burden and diminishing capacity. Older adults prioritized self-management practices they considered most likely to enable them to continue to live independently. The protocol was registered with Prospero (CRD42018107272). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supportive counseling and facilitated referrals to support organizations have shown positive effects on mental health and coping with domestic and family violence. However, the reasons why and how such effects are significant remain unknown. The current paper used data from a randomized controlled trial of a psychosocial intervention implemented in Nepal among 140 abused pregnant women. The hypothesized mediating effects of self‐efficacy and social support on mental health and quality of life of abused pregnant women were tested using serial mediation analyses. Significance of parameter estimates and bias‐corrected 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the indirect effects were generated using bootstrapping. The postintervention changes in self‐efficacy and social support were found to have significant mediating effects on the relationship between the intervention and changes in both mental health and quality of life of participants post intervention. The positive effects on outcomes were seen at follow‐up as well, though to a lesser extent. Further interventions should focus on enhancing abused women's self‐efficacy and social support to ensure their positive mental health and better lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID‐19 has very publicly had profound impacts on the health system of every country in the world. Over 4.5 million people have lost their lives. School closures worldwide where up to 1.6 billion of the world's children have been out of school, are also prominent in world news. Behind these public impacts are the families. In this paper, we focus on the experiences of families with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through analysis of two data sets: the emerging research literature and contributions from our author team who have lived experience of intellectual and developmental disability in the context of COVID‐19. From these two data sets, we discern five themes of the impact of the pandemic: on health, on education, on services and supports, on families and finally on relationships beyond the family. We conclude with lessons from those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the carers and the individuals themselves to draw implications for supporting families in the context of disability during future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rates of physical activity decline throughout adolescence, and evidence indicates that this has an adverse impact on psychological health. This paper aims to synthesise available evidence for physical activity interventions on the mental health and well‐being of young people (11–19 years) from the general population. Method: Nine databases were searched to identify studies published between January 2005 and June 2020: Web of Science, ProQuest Psychology Journals, PsycINFO, Pub Med, ASSIA, CINHAL PLUS, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE and Wiley Online Library. Key search terms included 'physical activity intervention', 'mental health' and 'adolescen*'. Eligible studies were independently screened by two authors based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results: Twenty‐eight interventions were narratively synthesised in four categories: Quality of Life (QOL), self‐esteem, psychological well‐being and psychological ill‐being (e.g. depression, stress). A large proportion (67.9%) of interventions were multicomponent and combined physical activity with other features such as health education (e.g. nutrition). However, only a limited number (N = 5) specifically addressed mental health. Findings suggest that interventions are useful in improving psychological well‐being and QOL, yet evidence for self‐esteem is mixed. Conclusions: Although effectiveness in improving well‐being is evident, evidence for a reduction in the frequency and severity of mental health problems is less clear. A summary of the overall impact of physical activity interventions on the mental health of young people is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: evidence-based practice; mental health; meta-analysis; systematic review EN evidence-based practice mental health meta-analysis systematic review 1 4 4 09/19/23 20230901 NES 230901 The publication of evidence synthesis studies (e.g., systematic reviews, meta-analyses of aggregated data or individual participant data, network meta-analyses, umbrella reviews) has grown exponentially in recent decades, with many placing these studies at the top of the pyramid of what is considered I good i evidence (Murad et al., [13]). Evidence-based child and adolescent mental health care: The role of high-quality and transparently reported evidence synthesis studies This novel methodology for evidence synthesis allows to combine the strengths of meta-analysis and structural equation modelling for investigating complex relationships between different outcome measures (in this case, adverse childhood experiences, sleep problems, and psychopathology). The 13 evidence synthesis studies published in the current special issue of I JCPP Advances i report comprehensive overviews of several important areas in child and adolescent mental health. [Extracted from the article]

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A bstract People with vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy are likely to experience enhanced social and emotional strain. Critically, those with both vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy and psychosocial problems may have significantly reduced levels of functioning compared with psychologically healthy counterparts. This can cause inadequate compliance, increased strain on family functioning, worse diabetes control, increased progression of diabetic retinopathy and, consequently, further psychosocial stress resulting in a number of concerning implications for disease management, clinical outcomes and healthcare costs. However, the emotional and social health consequences of diabetic retinopathy have not yet been systematically explored. This information is crucial as it allows for a targeted approach to treatment and prevention and avoidance of the potentially detrimental implications described above. Therefore, this paper reviews the current qualitative and quantitative evidence regarding the social and emotional impact of diabetic retinopathy and identifies directions for future research. Key search terms were applied to the electronic databases Pubmed, ISI Web of Science and Embase and the bibliographies of relevant papers were systematically reviewed for additional references. Overall, the evidence suggests that diabetic retinopathy and associated vision loss have several debilitating effects, including disruption of family functioning, relationships and roles; increased social isolation and dependence; and deterioration of work prospects resulting in increased financial strain. Adverse emotional responses include fear, anxiety, vulnerability, guilt, loss of confidence, anger, stress and self-perception issues. However, the research to date is largely qualitative in nature, with most quantitative studies being small, cross-sectional and somewhat outdated. Similarly, the outcome measures used in many studies to date are suboptimal in terms of content and validity. Therefore, this review identifies the need for improved outcome measures to provide valid, meaningful measurement of the social and emotional impact of diabetic retinopathy and discusses potential directions for future research such as item banking and computer adaptive testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: In the past 30 years, many people with (intellectual) learning disabilities have been moved out of large "institutions" and into their own home in their local communityThese people are now often between 30 and 50 years oldWe asked people with learning disabilities aged between 30 and 50 and who are living in their local community what things, including work, that they enjoyed doingWe asked people with learning disabilities aged between 30 and 50 and who are living in their local community whether they felt that they could make decisions about their lifeWe found out the things that make their life good, and also what might stop people enjoying their lifeWe learnt that people with learning disabilities should receive more support to assist them before they retireWe learnt that people with learning disabilities still need more support and choice around who they live with Background: This study investigated perceived quality of life (QoL) of community‐dwelling middle‐aged adults (30–50 years) with an intellectual disability and/or developmental disability living in rural or urban areas in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. The specific aim of the current paper was to provide a descriptive evidence base of QoL and its specific domains by various key demographic characteristics of middle‐aged individuals. This cohort is likely to have either experienced or reached adulthood during and after large‐scale deinstitutionalisation in Australia. Methods and procedures: A cross‐sectional design was utilised, based on the QoL‐Q survey, testing domains of satisfaction; Competence/Productivity; Empowerment/Independence; and social belonging/community integration. The survey included demographic questions and was distributed to participants through disability support agencies across two states. The final sample included 291 respondents. Results: The overall QoL‐Q scores ranged from 3.0 to 29.5 (Mean = 20.4, SD, 4.1), with considerable variation in mean scores both across and within domains. The two demographic areas that showed greatest predictive value for QoL were work status and accommodation issues. The loss of agency and control in choice of co‐residents influenced perceived QoL for empowerment and independence domain of QoL‐Q. Conclusions: The findings highlight QoL issues associated with policy decisions and support programmes for middle‐aged adults. The two key recommendations arising from the project are that future planning for post‐retirement or reduced working hours needs to commence at a much younger age than currently expected, and more attention needs to focus on facilitating individual decision‐making and choice within shared accommodation options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To: (1) investigate the relationship between upper-limb impairment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for children with cerebral palsy and (2) develop a mapping algorithm from the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children (CPQoL-Child) onto the Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D) measure.Method: The associations between physical and upper-limb classifications and HRQoL of 76 children (40 females, 36 males) aged 6 to 15 years (mean age 9 years 7 months [SD 3y]) were assessed. Five statistical techniques were developed and tested, which predicted the CHU9D scores from the CPQoL-Child total/domain scores, age, and sex.Results: Most participants had mild impairments. The Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) level was significantly negatively correlated with CHU9D and CPQoL-Child (r=-0.388 and r=-0.464 respectively). There was a negative correlation between the Neurological Hand Deformity Classification (NHDC) and CPQoL-Child (r=-0.476, p<0.05). The generalized linear model with participation, pain domain, and age had the highest predictive accuracy.Interpretation: The weak negative correlations between classification levels and HRQoL measures may be explained by the restricted range of impairment levels of the participants. The MACS and NHDC explained the impact of upper-limb impairment on HRQoL better than the other classifications. The generalized linear model with participation, pain, and age is the suggested mapping algorithm. The suggested mapping algorithm will facilitate the use of CPQoL-Child for economic evaluation and can be used to conduct cost-utility analyses.What This Paper Adds: The Manual Ability Classification System and Neurological Hand Deformity Classification were the best predictors of health-related quality of life measures. Age and Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children participation and pain domain scores can predict Child Health Utility 9D scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper uses the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey to investigate the factors that influence young Australians’ mental health and life satisfaction, with an emphasis upon the role of family background. It also explores male and female differences concerning those background effects. The results indicate a particularly significant negative association between parental divorce and well-being, and suggest that the timing of divorce matters. Distinguishing the samples by gender shows that this relationship remains significant only for females. Past living arrangements consistently turn out to be statistically insignificant whether the sample used is the total, males or females. The current living arrangements, however, appear to be significantly associated with both mental health and life satisfaction of males. Adding potentially confounding characteristics to our basic regression, which includes only the family background variables, suggests that some of the ‘aggregate’ effects of family background might work indirectly through the mediating variables such as education or lifestyles, though most of them remain direct. Among those, marital status, education, labour market experience and lifestyles seem to be the major factors explaining the dispersion in well-being of young Australians. Income and wealth, on the other hand, have only a minor impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) face complex health challenges, including a heightened risk for distress. To counter this distress, there is a need to develop accessible, acceptable comprehensive care solutions that integrate diabetes and mental health care to enhance self‐efficacy and counter mental health challenges in this population. Objective: To describe the engagement of individuals with lived experience of T1D and mental health challenges in the development of a recruitment strategy to support the co‐design of an innovative integrated care programme. Results: Seven individuals with lived experience formed a Partner Advisory Council (PAC) to recruit young adults (18–29 years old) living with T1D, their friends or family and health researchers and professionals in co‐design interviews (n = 19) and co‐design events (n = 12). The PAC played a key role in developing a comprehensive recruitment strategy, overcoming traditional barriers and stigmas in the design of an integrated model of care. Conclusion: Assuming the presence of mental health challenges in young adults living with T1D during recruitment had far‐reaching impacts on the development of a whole‐person and integrated diabetes and mental health care solution. The efficient recruitment of this sample provided invaluable insights into the nuanced challenges experienced by young adults with T1D, the individual skills developed in response to their mental health challenges and the ways that this understanding can shape future programming to support mental health, quality of life and well‐being. The ongoing involvement of the PAC as co‐researchers underscores the enduring impact of patient engagement in developing integrated care solutions. Patient or Public Contribution: The co‐design of the TECC‐T1D3 model was enriched by the invaluable contributions of individuals with lived experience. This included the engagement of a diverse PAC in the recruitment of participants in co‐design interviews and co‐design events. PAC members actively participated in research decision‐making with their insights informing a robust recruitment strategy. Beyond recruitment, PAC members continue to serve as co‐researchers, shaping ongoing research and actively contributing to the TECC‐T1D3 project. Six PAC members are co‐authors on this manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health courts (MHCs) use a collaborative justice approach to provide a therapeutic alternative to the traditional justice process for defendants with mental illnesses directly relevant to their alleged criminal offenses. MHCs have proliferated in recent years, in light of early research reports documenting their successes. The aim of this paper is to provide further evaluation of the effects of MHCs by evaluating the impact of the Sacramento County MHC in California. We analyzed quantitative data and conducted interviews with stakeholders and MHC participants to understand how the MHC influenced individual participants' recidivism rates, mental health, and quality of life. Results from the quantitative data analysis indicate that defendants had a lower rate of recidivism after the MHC program than before it. Moreover, graduates were less likely to be rearrested and rehospitalized than non-graduates. Qualitative analyses revealed several core themes regarding participants' views on facilitators and barriers related to the MHC's success. These findings provide further insights into the effectiveness of MHCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a therapy to help people manage their feelings.We ran a DBT group for people with an intellectual disability. The group seemed to help people feel better and manage their feelings, even after the group ended.The group was 2 years ago. We talked to three people who went to the group to see what people still remembered from the group and if DBT was still helping them.We think having a top‐up session might help people to remember and practise ideas from the group. Background: This paper reports quantitative and qualitative follow‐up data from three participants who attended a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) group for people with an intellectual disability. Materials and Methods: Quantitative data regarding psychological well‐being, psychological distress (measured using the Psychological Therapies Outcome Scales; PTOS) and quality of life (measured using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales—Learning Disability; HONOS‐LD) are reported for pre‐group, post‐group and at 6‐month and 2‐year follow‐up. Interviews were conducted with participants post‐group and at 2‐year follow‐up. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Improvements in scores on measures of psychological well‐being, psychological distress and quality of life appear to be maintained at 6‐month follow‐up, but scores at 2‐year follow‐up suggest a return to baseline. Qualitative self‐report data suggest a number of interesting ways participants adapted and individualised techniques from the group, as well as suggesting possible barriers to maintaining change in the longer term. Conclusions: Clinical implications are considered to improve effectiveness of similar interventions, as well research implications in order to improve knowledge about the longer term impact of group DBT interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article comments on the effect of age on quality of life in implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients. Given the ubiquity of quality of life measures in health research it may seem nonsensical to claim that it was invented in 1966, but analysis of one of the author gives this as the date on which the very first paper to address the quality of life was published in the medical literature. Researchers describe the SF-36 as measuring important health concepts such as physical and mental health and health transition.

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Summary: Given the significant impact that psychosocial factors and epilepsy treatments can have on the health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) of individuals with epilepsy and their families, there is great clinical interest in the role of psychological evaluation and treatments to improve HRQOL and comorbidities. Therefore, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) charged the Psychology Task Force with the development of recommendations for clinical care based on evaluation of the evidence from their recent Cochrane review of psychological treatments in individuals with epilepsy. The literature search for a recent Cochrane review of randomized controlled trials investigating psychological treatments for individuals with epilepsy constitutes the key source of evidence for this article. To provide practical guidance to service providers, we provide ratings on study research designs based on (1) the American Academy of Neurology's Level of Evidence system and (2) the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. This paper is the culmination of an international collaboration process involving pediatric and adult psychologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, and neuropsychiatrists. The process and conclusions were reviewed and approved by the ILAE Executive Committee. The strongest evidence for psychological interventions was identified for the most common mental health problems, including depression, neurocognitive disturbances, and medication adherence. Psychological interventions targeting the enhancement of HRQOL and adherence and a decrease in comorbidity symptoms (anxiety, depression) should be incorporated into comprehensive epilepsy care. There is a range of psychological strategies (ie, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness‐based therapies) that show promise for improving the lives of persons with epilepsy, and clinical recommendations are provided to assist epilepsy health care providers in treating the comorbidities and challenges associated with epilepsy and its treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: The original 24-item Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ) is well established as a measure of attitudes to aging, comprising domains of psychosocial loss (PL), physical change (PC), and psychological growth (PG). This paper presents a new 12-item short form Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ-SF).Methods: The original field trial data used to develop the 24-item AAQ (AAQ-24) were used to compare 6-item, 9-item, and 12-item versions of AAQ-SF (sample 1, n = 2487) and to test the discriminative validity of the selected 12-item AAQ-SF (sample 2, n = 2488). Data from a separate study reporting on the AAQ-24 (sample 3, n = 792) verified the analyses.Results: The 12-item AAQ-SF reported adequate internal consistency in both sample 1 (PL α = .72, PC α = .72, and PG α = .62) and sample 3 (PL α = .68, PC α = .73, and PG α = .61). The AAQ-SF functioned consistently with the profile of the AAQ-24 in that subscales in both formats of this measure discriminate between respondents on key parameters such as depression, subjective health status, and overall quality of life in sample 2. Sample 3 also demonstrated the AAQ-SF can detect the differences in attitudes toward aging between individuals experiencing anxiety and depression and those without psychological symptoms. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the structure of the AAQ-SF mirrors that of the original 24-item AAQ.Conclusions: The AAQ-SF is a robust measure of attitudes toward aging, which can reduce respondent burden when used within longer questionnaire batteries or longitudinal research. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Palliative care for dementia includes psychosocial interventions as first-line treatment for challenging behaviour. However, the national dementia plan in Japan contradicts recommendations for palliative care for dementia. This study aimed to examine the association between care quality for patients with dementia and professional caregivers' perspectives regarding palliative care for dementia in Japanese community care settings.Methods: In total, 2116 professional caregivers from 329 agencies (217 in-home long-term care support providers; 29 small-scale, multiple home-care providers; and 83 group homes) in Tokyo prefecture, Japan, completed cross-sectional, paper-based questionnaires about 3603 people diagnosed with dementia, in May 2016. Quality of care measures included physical restraint and antipsychotic medication use and quality of life. Patients' quality of life was assessed via the Japanese version of the Alzheimer's Disease Health-related Quality of Life scale. The Japanese version of the Questionnaire on Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia was used to assess professional caregivers' knowledge and attitudes regarding palliative care for dementia.Results: Professional caregivers' knowledge and attitudes regarding palliative care for dementia were positively associated with quality of life in patients with dementia. Physical restraint and antipsychotic medication were used regardless of professional caregivers' knowledge and attitudes.Conclusions: Professional caregivers' perspectives regarding palliative care for dementia could have exerted a positive effect on quality of life in patients with dementia. A national strategy for advocacy and the protection of adults is required to integrate several laws and guidelines and prevent the use of antipsychotics as a form of chemical restraint. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this systematic review was to describe the association between adolescent sense of coherence ( SOC) and health and identify the future direction for research in this area. Systematic searches were conducted (2007-2014) in the PubMed, CINAHL, Psyc INFO and Cochrane electronic databases and carried out manual searches in three scientific journals. A total of 827 original papers were found and 23 were selected. Based on the results, adolescents' sense of coherence ( SOC) was related to health in terms of the adolescents' quality of life, health behaviour, mental health and family relationships by using 31 different health-related instruments. In conclusion, the use of the SOC approach for adolescents can provide a useful view of their health during this transition phase to adulthood. Due to the large variation in the additional instruments used, combining and comparing the results proved challenging. More comparative and longitudinal research is needed to increase understanding of adolescents' health in relation to SOC and develop services that support both elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: High‐income countries offer social assistance (welfare) programs to help alleviate poverty for people with little or no income. These programs have become increasingly conditional and stringent in recent decades based on the premise that transitioning people from government support to paid work will improve their circumstances. However, many people end up with low‐paying and precarious jobs that may cause more poverty because they lose benefits such as housing subsidies and health and dental insurance, while incurring job‐related expenses. Conditional assistance programs are also expensive to administer and cause stigma. A guaranteed basic income (GBI) has been proposed as a more effective approach for alleviating poverty, and several experiments have been conducted in high‐income countries to investigate whether GBI leads to improved outcomes compared to existing social programs. Objectives: The aim of this review was to conduct a synthesis of quantitative evidence on GBI interventions in high‐income countries, to compare the effectiveness of various types of GBI versus "usual care" (including existing social assistance programs) in improving poverty‐related outcomes. Search Methods: Searches of 16 academic databases were conducted in May 2022, using both keywords and database‐specific controlled vocabulary, without limits or restrictions on language or date. Sources of gray literature (conference, governmental, and institutional websites) were searched in September 2022. We also searched reference lists of review articles, citations of included articles, and tables of contents of relevant journals in September 2022. Hand searching for recent publications was conducted until December 2022. Selection Criteria: We included all quantitative study designs except cross‐sectional (at one timepoint), with or without control groups. We included studies in high income countries with any population and with interventions meeting our criteria for GBI: unconditional, with regular payments in cash (not in‐kind) that were fixed or predictable in amount. Although two primary outcomes of interest were selected a priori (food insecurity, and poverty level assessed using official, national, or international measures), we did not screen studies on the basis of reported outcomes because it was not possible to define all potentially relevant poverty‐related outcomes in advance. Data Collection and Analysis: We followed the Campbell Collaboration conduct and reporting guidelines to ensure a rigorous methodology. The risk of bias was assessed across seven domains: confounding, selection, attrition, motivation, implementation, measurement, and analysis/reporting. We conducted meta‐analyses where results could be combined; otherwise, we presented the results in tables. We reported effect estimates as standard mean differences (SMDs) if the included studies reported them or provided sufficient data for us to calculate them. To compare the effects of different types of interventions, we developed a GBI typology based on the characteristics of experimental interventions as well as theoretical conceptualizations of GBI. Eligible poverty‐related outcomes were classified into categories and sub‐categories, to facilitate the synthesis of the individual findings. Because most of the included studies analyzed experiments conducted by other researchers, it was necessary to divide our analysis according to the "experiment" stage (i.e. design, recruitment, intervention, data collection) and the "study" stage (data analysis and reporting of results). Main Results: Our searches yielded 24,476 records from databases and 80 from other sources. After screening by title and abstract, the full texts of 294 potentially eligible articles were retrieved and screened, resulting in 27 included studies on 10 experiments. Eight of the experiments were RCTs, one included both an RCT site and a "saturation" site, and one used a repeated cross‐sectional design. The duration ranged from one to 5 years. The control groups in all 10 experiments received "usual care" (i.e. no GBI intervention). The total number of participants was unknown because some of the studies did not report exact sample sizes. Of the studies that did, the smallest had 138 participants and the largest had 8019. The risk of bias assessments found "some concerns" for at least one domain in all 27 studies and "high risk" for at least one domain in 25 studies. The risk of bias was assessed as high in 21 studies due to attrition and in 22 studies due to analysis and reporting bias. To compare the interventions, we developed a classification framework of five GBI types, four of which were implemented in the experiments, and one that is used in new experiments now underway. The included studies reported 176 poverty‐related outcomes, including one pre‐defined primary outcome: food insecurity. The second primary outcome (poverty level assessed using official, national, or international measures) was not reported in any of the included studies. We classified the reported outcomes into seven categories: food insecurity (as a category), economic/material, physical health, psychological/mental health, social, educational, and individual choice/agency. Food insecurity was reported in two studies, both showing improvements (SMD = −0.57, 95% CI: −0.65 to −0.49, and SMD = −0.41, 95% CI: −0.57 to −0.26) which were not pooled because of different study designs. We conducted meta‐analyses on four secondary outcomes that were reported in more than one study: subjective financial well‐being, self‐rated overall physical health, self‐rated life satisfaction, and self‐rated mental distress. Improvements were reported, except for overall physical health or if the intervention was similar to existing social assistance. The results for the remaining 170 outcomes, each reported in only one study, were summarized in tables by category and subcategory. Adverse effects were reported in some studies, but only for specific subgroups of participants, and not consistently, so these results may have been due to chance. Authors' Conclusions: The results of the included studies were difficult to synthesize because of the heterogeneity in the reported outcomes. This was due in part to poverty being multidimensional, so outcomes covered various aspects of life (economic, social, psychological, educational, agency, mental and physical health). Evidence from future studies would be easier to assess if outcomes were measured using more common, validated instruments. Based on our analysis of the included studies, a supplemental type of GBI (provided along with existing programs) may be effective in alleviating poverty‐related outcomes. This approach may also be safer than a wholesale reform of existing social assistance approaches, which could have unintended consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Symptoms of cancer‐related fatigue (CRF) can have a significant impact on patients' quality of life and treatment adherence. We aimed to investigate the relationship between CRF and multiple psychosocial and somatic indicators within a large mixed cancer sample. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, N = 1787 outpatients with cancer were assessed for CRF, pain, anxiety, and depression using validated screening instruments. We further obtained clinical parameters (Hb, CRP, creatinine, leukocytes, ASAT, and ALAT), sociodemographic data (age, gender, income, education level, marital status, parenthood, and living area), and lifestyle factors. Multivariate linear regression models were applied to estimate the impact of each indicator on CRF. Results: Overall, 90.6% of patients experienced some CRF, with 14.8% experiencing severe CRF. No gender difference was found in the prevalence of CRF. Patients with higher levels of pain, depressive symptoms, and lower Hb levels had significantly higher levels of CRF (ps <0.001). Lower levels of CRF were observed in patients who had children (p = 0.03), had less education (p < 0.001), and were physically active for more than 2 h per week before their oncological diagnosis (p = 0.014). The latter was only a significant indicator in the male subsample. Conclusion: The present results demonstrate a high prevalence of CRF and highlight that not only somatic and psychosocial factors, but also lifestyle factors prior to diagnosis appear to be associated with the etiology and persistence of CRF. To effectively treat CRF, a biopsychosocial, personalized approach is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal tract disease subdivided into Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). There is currently no cure for IBD, and individuals with IBD frequently experience a lower health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) than the general population. Gamification has become an increasingly popular topic in recent years. Adapting game design concepts to nongaming contexts represents a novel and potential approach to changing user engagement. This study will be conducted with the aim of evaluating the effect of a gamified mobile‐based self‐management application on disease activity index, quality of life, and mental health in adults with IBD. Methods: A multicenter, parallel, two‐arm, exploratory randomized controlled trial with a 6‐month follow‐up per patient will be designed to compare the impact of the gamified mobile‐based tele‐management system on primary and secondary health outcomes and outpatient visits in 210 patients with all types of IBD which are divided equally into a control group with standard care and an intervention group which will use the developed mobile application named MY IBD BUDDY. All patients will attend study visits at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks, and routine IBD clinic visits or telephone consultations based on randomization group assignment. Disease activity or disease activity index, mental health (anxiety and depression) symptoms, quality of life, self‐efficacy, and IBD‐specific knowledge will be measured at baseline with two follow‐ups at 12 and 24 weeks. Conclusions: In sum, the outcomes of our trial will demonstrate the impact of the gamified mobile‐based self‐management system on disease activity, quality of life, and anxiety and depression by means of interactive care and patient empowerment. Trial Registration: IRCT: IRCT20200613047757N1. Registered November 16, 2021. Prospectively registered and visible at OSF (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/AWFY9). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study focuses on the fathers of children with chronic illnesses in an effort to clarify how the stressor and the father's sense of coherence (SOC) influence their mental health and how the father's SOC is associated with the social support. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: We conducted a self‐reported questionnaire survey of 137 respondents (51 fathers of children with chronic illnesses, 86 fathers of healthy children) were statistically using ANOVA. Results: The fathers' stressor was significantly related to their SOC. Furthermore, the SOC of the fathers majorly influenced their mental health, while having a buffering effect on the stressor with respect to depression. And their SOC was significantly positively associated with the social support. Our findings underscore that father's SOC has a buffering effect on self‐mental health and is important for maintaining mental health and enhancing SOC to reduce the stressors of these fathers with respect to depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea that expanding work and consumption opportunities always increases people's wellbeing is well established in economics but finds no support in psychology. Instead, there is evidence in both economics and psychology that people's life satisfaction depends on how experienced utility compares with expectations of life satisfaction or decision utility. In this paper I suggest that expanding work and consumption opportunities is a good thing for decision utility but may not be so for experienced utility. On this premise, I argue that people may overrate their socioeconomic prospects relative to real life chances and I discuss how systematic frustration over unfulfilled expectations can be connected to people's educational achievement. I test the model's predictions on Italian data and find preliminary support for the idea that education and access to stimulating environments may have a perverse impact on life satisfaction. I also find evidence that the latter effect is mediated by factors such as gender and age. Indeed, the model seeks to go beyond the Italian case and provide more general insights into how age/life satisfaction relationships can be modelled and explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Psoriasis has a strong impact on quality of life and the viewpoints of patients and physicians are necessary for satisfactory therapy. Aim To inform dermatologists on what represents ‘living with psoriasis’. Methods We conducted a research using Medline with the following keywords: psoriasis, quality of life. Forty-one papers were selected from a total of 369 papers. Results As with other major medical chronic disorders, psoriasis has a severe impact on the life of patients. Patients with palmoplantar, pustular and arthropathic psoriasis are more likely to have a poorer quality of life. Emotionally charged body regions, e.g. the scalp, face, neck, forearms, hands and genital region, have a specific and significant impact. Living with psoriasis is to live with its symptoms, especially pruritus, and to live in vulnerable social isolation. Conclusions As psoriasis has a strong impact on quality of life because of extensive skin involvement, clinical management should take these two criteria into account when making therapeutic decisions. The strong impact of new treatments on patient-related outcomes probably leads to the conclusion that they improve life with psoriasis. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that even a successful treatment does not impact on the psychological distress of the patients, the patients’ beliefs about psoriasis or their coping with the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food allergy is an increasing phenomenon in Australia, with most recent reports of food allergy occurring in 1 in 12 children. A number of studies have demonstrated that children and adolescents with food allergies experience a decreased quality of life across a number of domains. More recent evidence suggests that this population also experiences an increased occurrence of bullying compared to similar school-aged children. Some individuals have reported being bullied because of their allergies, whilst others have reported specific allergy-related-bullying, such as being touched with foods that they are allergic to or having their food being intentionally contaminated with an allergen. Where there may be a risk of severe anaphylaxis, this is of great concern. This article reviews the current literature on bullying in populations of children and adolescents with food allergies. Several papers worldwide have investigated this, providing evidence of its occurrence in North America, Canada, Italy and Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This paper intends to compare quality of life (QoL) and mental health among pregnant women with and without previous pregnancy loss. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 409 women between the 16th and 30th weeks of gestation in health centers in Ahvaz, Iran, including 145 women with prior pregnancy loss (group 1) and 264 women without such history (group 2). Data were collected using the QoL Short Form-36 questionnaire, the Mental Health Questionnaire 25 and a questionnaire for assessing sociodemographic variables. Data were analyzed using spss version 22. Results were analyzed using the χ2-test, the Student's t-test and logistic regression. P < 0.05 was defined as statistically significant. Results There was a significant difference between the two groups in respect to QoL and mental health. Women with previous pregnancy loss had lower scores in total and in all subscales of the QoL Short Form-36 ( P < 0.001) and higher scores in total and in six out of the nine subscales of the Mental Health Questionnaire 25 compared to women without these histories. Conclusion Women with history of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth seem to have poorer QoL and mental health during their subsequent pregnancy than those without such experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palliative care aims at improving the patient's quality of life. Clinical trials, therefore, often include the patient's subjective evaluation of symptoms and psychosocial problems, so-called health-related quality of life (HRQL), as end-points. Unfortunately, there are frequently methodological weaknesses in the assessment of HRQL. This paper discusses four criteria which can be used in the evaluation of the quality of such studies: I. The authors should document that they have included the relevant HRQL issues in the questionnaire. If a trial misses important issues, its results may be misleading. II. The sample size should be sufficient to detect meaningful differences. Many trials are too small. III. The assessment of HRQL should have the appropriate timing, reflecting the research questions. The symptoms and the benefit resulting from treatments are not constant over time and often have cyclic patterns. The results may therefore be dependent on the timing of the administration of questionnaires to patients and on the time frames specified in the instructions. IV. The data must be reasonably complete. Incomplete data cannot be avoided in palliative care research, but missing data due to administrative failures or unrealistic schedules must be avoided. A pilot study may show whether a study is feasible. Missing data are likely to bias results. Many published palliative care studies are suboptimal with regard to one or more of these four criteria. This should be considered when reading published studies and when new trials are planned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An often‐hidden element in healthcare students' education is the pedagogy of public involvement, yet public participation can result in deep learning for students with positive impacts on the public who participate. Objective: This article aimed to synthesize published literature reviews that described the impact of public participation in healthcare students' education. Search Strategy: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, ERIC, PsychINFO, CINAHL, PubMed, JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and the PROSPERO register for literature reviews on public participation in healthcare students' education. Inclusion Criteria: Reviews published in the last 10 years were included if they described patient or public participation in healthcare students' education and reported the impacts on students, the public, curricula or healthcare systems. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data were extracted using a predesigned data extraction form and narratively synthesized. Main Results: Twenty reviews met our inclusion criteria reporting on outcomes related to students, the public, curriculum and future professional practice. Discussion and Conclusion: Our findings raise awareness of the benefits and challenges of public participation in healthcare students' education and may inform future research exploring how public participation can best be utilized in higher education. Patient or Public Contribution: This review was inspired by conversations with public healthcare consumers who saw value in public participation in healthcare students' education. Studies included involved public participants, providing a deeper understanding of the impacts of public participation in healthcare students' education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our knowledge of the broader impacts of antidepressant withdrawal, beyond physical side effects, is limited. Further research is needed to investigate the lived experiences of withdrawal, to aid clinicians on how to guide patients through the process. Aim: To explore antidepressant users' experiences and views on the withdrawal process and how it affected their quality of life across multiple life domains. Design and Setting: We conducted in‐depth qualitative interviews with 20 individuals from the community who had attempted to withdraw from Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor antidepressants in the past year. Method: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted online. A topic guide was used to ensure consistency across interviews. The interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Five themes were generated. The first highlighted the challenges of managing the release from emotional blunting and cognitive suppression following antidepressant discontinuation. The second related to the negative impact of withdrawal on close relationships and social interactions. The third showed that concurrent with negative physical symptoms, there was a positive impact on health (exercise was reported by some as a coping mechanism). The fourth theme focused on support from GPs and families, emphasising the importance of mental health literacy in others. The final theme underscored the importance of gradual and flexible tapering in enabling a manageable withdrawal experience, and the consideration of timing. Conclusion: The lived experience of withdrawal significantly impacts individuals' well‐being. Participants emphasised that withdrawal is not just about physical side effects but also affects their emotional, cognitive, and social functioning. Patient and Public Involvement (PPI): Eight people attended individual online meetings to share their experiences of antidepressant withdrawal to help inform the study design and recruitment strategy. Insights from these meetings informed the development of the topic guide. Questions about GP involvement, family relationships, and mood and thinking changes were included based on this PPI work. This ensured the inclusion of topics important to antidepressant users and facilitated the researcher's questioning during the interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Married Vietnamese immigrant women often face multiple stressors related to sociocultural adaptation and new family lives in South Korea. The purpose of this paper is to identify the different influences of acculturative and family life stress on depressive symptoms among Vietnamese immigrant wives. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 301 married Vietnamese immigrant women residing in South Korea. The study utilized linear regression analysis to test the relationships between the variables. The findings show that both acculturative and family life stress are positively related to depressive symptoms. Family life stress influences depressive symptoms to a greater extent than acculturative stress. The study emphasizes the significance of family-related stress on mental health among married Vietnamese immigrant women in Korea and provides some implications for research, clinical practice, and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The COPE-ICD (Copenhagen Outpatient ProgrammE-implantable cardioverter defibrillator) trial studied comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation for patients with ICDs. The purpose of this paper was to explore: (1) gender differences in self-rated health and quality of life (QoL) at hospital discharge after ICD implantation, (2) gender differences in effect of cardiac rehabilitation, and (3) predictors of effect of cardiac rehabilitation. Methods Patients with first-time ICD implantation were randomized to comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation versus usual care. Gender differences in self-rated health and QoL and effect of rehabilitation were tested using t-tests. Predictors of effect of rehabilitation were tested using logistic regression. Results A total of 196 patients (mean age 58 ± 13 years; 155 men, 41 women) were included. At hospital discharge, significant differences were found in physical component scale, mental component scale, social functioning, physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality, mental health, and QoL with men having higher scores. Among men only, significant differences were found in VO2 (rehabilitation: 20.9 mL/min/kg [standard deviation (SD) 8.1] vs 23.4 mL/min/kg [SD 9.5] and usual care: 22.1 mL/min/kg [SD 8.1] vs 21.8 mL/min/kg [SD 8.3], P = 0.01), total exercise time (rehabilitation: 587.0 seconds [SD 249.6] vs 650.7 seconds [SD 279.8] and usual care: 613.8 seconds [SD 264.7] vs 606.1 seconds [SD 277.3], P = 0.01), and the mental component scale (rehabilitation: 47.7 points [SD 10.1] vs 54.8 points [7.1] and usual care: 48.1 points [SD 10.9] vs 51.9 points [SD 9.6], P = 0.05). Conclusions After ICD implantation, significant gender differences were found in physical health, mental health, and QoL. Effects of rehabilitation were found among men only and gender predicted effect of rehabilitation on the mental component scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinn N, Shulman A, Knifton L, Byrne P. The impact of a national mental health arts and film festival on stigma and recovery. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a national mental health arts festival for the general public, encompassing a wide variety of art forms and themes. An evaluation was undertaken with 415 attendees from 20 different events, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. The findings demonstrate positive impact on the relationship between arts and mental health. Events increased positive attitudes, including positive representations of people's contributions, capabilities and potential to recover. They did not decrease negative attitudes. Intended behaviour change was modest and one film event increased audience perceptions of dangerousness. The paper argues that the arts can change stigma by constructing shared meanings and engaging audiences on an emotional level. Carefully programmed, collaborative, community-based arts festivals should form an integral part of national programmes to address stigma and to promote mental health and wellbeing, alongside traditional social marketing and public education approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This paper focuses on the transition to supported employment for people with intellectual disabilities paying particular attention to the impact of job breakdown on psychological well-being; an issue often omitted from studies. Materials and Methods Forty-nine people with intellectual disabilities were interviewed within 3 months of entering supported employment and 9–12 months later. Data collection involved in-depth interviews with people with intellectual disabilities, their carers and employers and completion of a self-report measure of depression and anxiety (an adapted form of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and a self-report measure of quality of life (the ComQol). Results By time of the follow-up interviews, 13 of the 49 jobs had broken down. Analysis of scores measuring quality of life, anxiety and depression showed no effect for loss of employment. However, interviews with participants indicated that job loss had a considerable impact on those affected. Conclusions There were a wide range of reasons for job breakdown, many of which were particular to the circumstances of people with intellectual disabilities. Although job breakdown does not have an impact of anxiety or depression many participants found job loss traumatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This paper is a report of a study to examine the degree to which socio-demographic variables, clinical variables and health-related quality of life are related to perceptions of disease severity and changes in disease severity in patients with multiple sclerosis. Background. Studies have shown that patients with multiple sclerosis report lower quality of life than the general population. Method. Questionnaires measuring health-related quality of life and perceived multiple sclerosis severity were mailed twice, 1 year apart, in May/June of 2000 and 2001, (t1 and t2), to patients with confirmed multiple sclerosis in Oslo, Norway ( n = 502). Clinical data about disease onset and course were retrieved from the Oslo City Multiple Sclerosis Registry. Findings. Among the 313 (62·4%) people who responded at both times, those with primary progressive disease course reported higher perceived multiple sclerosis severity ( P < 0·001), more mental health problems ( P = 0·004) and lower physical functioning ( P < 0·001) than those with a relapsing remitting/secondary progressive disease course. Patients with primary progressive disease course reported higher mean scores for multiple sclerosis severity at t2 than at t1. Multivariate regression analysis showed that social functioning was the only factor with statistically significant relationships to perceived multiple sclerosis severity among all sub-domains of health-related quality of life or personal factors. However, physical impairment was also independently related to patients' ratings of changes in multiple sclerosis severity during the year and illness severity 1 year later. Conclusion. In addition to patients' physical impairment, healthcare workers should pay special attention to issues related to their social functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]