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Background: There is a need for high-quality research regarding exercise interventions for persons with anxiety disorders. We investigate whether a 12-week exercise intervention, with different intensities, could reduce anxiety symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders.Methods: 286 patients were recruited from primary care in Sweden. Severity of symptoms was self-assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S). Participants were randomly assigned to one of two group exercise programs with cardiorespiratory and resistance training and one control/standard treatment non-exercise group, with 1:1:1 allocation.Results: Patients in both exercise groups showed larger improvements in both anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to the control group. No differences in effect sizes were found between the two groups. To study a clinically relevant improvement, BAI and MADRS-S were dichotomized with the mean change in the control group as reference. In adjusted models the odds ratio for improved symptoms of anxiety after low-intensity training was 3.62 (CI 1.34-9.76) and after moderate/high intensity 4.88 (CI 1.66-14.39), for depressive symptoms 4.96 (CI 1.81-13.6) and 4.36 (CI 1.57-12.08) respectively. There was a significant intensity trend for improvement in anxiety symptoms.Limitations: The use of self-rating measures which bears the risk of an under- or overestimation of symptoms.Conclusions: A 12-week group exercise program proved effective for patients with anxiety syndromes in primary care. These findings strengthen the view of physical exercise as an effective treatment and could be more frequently made available in clinical practice for persons with anxiety issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of children are victims of child abuse world-wide. Consequences include long-term health impacts and large societal costs. Parent training is promising to prevent abuse, but challenges with motivation and attrition must be overcome to reach parents in need. To assess the effectiveness and acceptability of Safer Kids, a cognitive behavioral therapy-based parenting program delivered immediately after a report of child abuse. Safer Kids is used within the Child Welfare Services (CWS) in Sweden but has never been evaluated in an RCT. In total, 112 families with children 2–12 years referred to the Swedish CWS for physical or emotional child abuse participated. Families were randomized to Safer Kids or intervention as usual (IAU). Data from parents, children and CWS were analyzed with multilevel and survival analyses. Primary outcomes were parent-rated child abuse potential and re-reports of abuse. Secondary outcomes were child abuse risk factors and treatment satisfaction. Data 4 and 7 months from baseline were available for 96 % of the families. All except one family (98 %) who started Safer Kids completed the program. Both groups improved from baseline to follow-ups on most effectiveness outcomes. The changes were not statistically different between groups. Parents and social workers were more satisfied with Safer Kids than IAU. Short manualized parenting programs can be a way to reach parents reported for child abuse with support. Safer Kids is a viable option to the CWS's standard interventions, as it was equally effective and slightly better accepted than IAU. • Safer Kids is a brief parenting program delivered after a report of child abuse. • Safer Kids was compared to intervention as usual within the Child Welfare Services. • Both groups improved from baseline to follow ups. • Parents and social workers were more satisfied with Safer Kids. • Safer Kids is a viable option to standard interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background People typically seek primary health care for daytime symptoms and impairments they experience in association with their insomnia. However, few studies address the question of whether insomnia treatment can improve such symptomatology. Objectives To investigate whether a nurse-led group treatment program, based on the techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), improved daytime symptomatology in primary care patients with insomnia. Outcomes Fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS]; main outcome), mood (General Health Questionnaire and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale), health-related quality of life (Short-Form Health Survey), general daytime functioning, specific daytime symptoms (individual items from the Insomnia Severity Index and Uppsala Sleep Inventory), and dysfunctional beliefs (Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep). Design A randomized controlled trial including baseline and post-treatment assessment and a 1-year post-treatment follow-up of the intervention group. Settings Seven primary health care centers (Stockholm, Sweden). Participants One hundred and sixty-five primary care patients who meet the criteria for insomnia disorder (mean age 54 years, SD 16). Most were women (73%). Exclusion criteria: severe untreated illness, bipolar disorder, current stressful life event, night shift work, and untreated sleep disorder other than insomnia. Methods Data came from a randomized controlled trial of a 10-week nurse-led group treatment for insomnia based on CBT-I (n = 90). The control condition was treatment as usual (n = 75). In accordance with intention-to-treat principles, analyses included data on patients who completed baseline assessments (intervention n = 82, and control group n = 71; post-treatment dropout rate 20%). Fifty-four patients were included in the 1-year follow-up. Results Fatigue severity improved significantly more (p < 0.001) in the intervention than in the control group (intervention, total FSS score 37.2 [SD 11.9] to 31.0 [SD 13.4] vs. control 35.9 [SD 12.1] to 35.7 [SD 12.8]). This was true also for measurements on mood (psychological distress and depressive symptoms), health-related quality of life (mental functioning), general daytime functioning, specific daytime symptoms (worry about sleep, sleepiness, bodily tiredness, and difficulty concentrating) and dysfunctional beliefs. All improvements were maintained one year after group treatment. Conclusions Many aspects of the daytime symptomatology of insomnia were improved via nurse-led group treatment based on CBT-I in primary health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Insomnia is a common health problem, and most people who seek help for insomnia consult primary care. In primary care, insomnia treatment typically consists of hypnotic drugs, although cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the recommended treatment. However, such treatment is currently available to few primary care patients. Objectives To evaluate the effects of a group treatment program for insomnia led by nurses in primary care. Outcomes were the Insomnia Severity Index, a 2-week sleep diary, and a questionnaire on frequency of hypnotic drug use. Design A randomized controlled trial with pre- and post-treatment assessment and a 1-year post-treatment follow-up of the intervention group. Settings Routine primary health care; 7 primary care centers in Stockholm, Sweden. Participants Patients consulting primary care for insomnia were assessed for eligibility. To be included, patients had to have insomnia disorder and be 18 years or older. Patients were excluded if they if they worked night shifts or had severe untreated somatic and/or mental illness, bipolar disorder, or untreated sleep disorder other than insomnia. One-hundred and sixty-five patients 20 to 90 years were included. Most were women, and many had co-existing somatic and/or mental health problems. The post-treatment dropout rate was 20%. Methods The intervention was a nurse-led group treatment for insomnia based on the techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. The nurses had 2 days of training in how to deliver the program. Ninety patients were randomized to the intervention and 75 to the control group (treatment as usual). Data from 82 in the intervention and 71 in the control group were analyzed in accordance with intention-to-treat principles. Fifty-four of the 72 in the intervention group who participated in the group treatment program were followed up after 1 year. Results Mean Insomnia Severity Index score decreased significantly from 18.4 to 10.7 after group treatment but remained unchanged after treatment as usual (17.0 to 16.6). The effect size was large (1.23). Group treatment also resulted in significant improvements in all sleep diary variables (sleep onset latency, total sleep time, time awake after sleep onset, number of awakenings, and sleep quality). It also reduced hypnotic drug use. Improvements were maintained 1-year post-treatment. Conclusions Patients with insomnia can be treated successfully with a nurse-led group treatment program in primary health care. The results support implementation of the treatment program, particularly given the need for increased access to non-pharmacological insomnia treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and effects of an internet-based information and self-help program with therapist contact for parents of children and adolescents with burns. The program aimed to reduce parents' symptoms of general and posttraumatic stress.Methods: Participants were parents of children treated for burns between 2009-2013 at either of the two specialized Swedish Burn centers. Sixty-two parents were included in a two-armed, randomized controlled trial with a six-week intervention group and a wait-list control group, including a pre and post-assessment, as well as a 3 and 12-month follow-up. The intervention contained psychoeducation, exercises and homework assignments, and the intervention group received weekly written feedback from a therapist. The main outcome was stress (post-traumatic stress, general stress and parental stress).Results: The program had a beneficial effect on posttraumatic stress in the short term, but did not affect general stress or parental stress. The parents rated the program as being informative and meaningful, but some of them thought it was time-consuming.Conclusion: The program has the potential to support parents of children with burns. The intervention is easily accessible, cost-effective and could be implemented in burn care rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To examine costs and effects of care based on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) provided by an ambulatory geriatric care unit (AGU) in addition to usual care. Design Assessor-blinded, single-center randomized controlled trial. Setting AGU in an acute hospital in southeastern Sweden. Participants Community-dwelling individuals aged 75 years or older who had received inpatient hospital care 3 or more times in the past 12 months and had 3 or more concomitant medical diagnoses were eligible for study inclusion and randomized to the intervention group (IG; n = 208) or control group (CG; n = 174). Mean age (SD) was 82.5 (4.9) years. Intervention Participants in the IG received CGA-based care at the AGU in addition to usual care. Outcome measures The primary outcome was number of hospitalizations. Secondary outcomes were days in hospital and nursing home, mortality, cost of public health and social care, participant' sense of security in care, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results Baseline characteristics did not differ between groups. The number of hospitalizations did not differ between the IG (2.1) and CG (2.4), but the number of inpatient days was lower in the IG (11.1 vs 15.2; P = .035). The IG showed trends of reduced mortality (hazard ratio 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.988–2.310; P = .057) and an increased sense of security in care interaction. No difference in HRQoL was observed. Costs for the IG and CG were 33,371£ (39,947£) and 30,490£ (31,568£; P = .432). Conclusions and relevance This study of CGA-based care was performed in an ambulatory care setting, in contrast to the greater part of studies of the effects of CGA, which have been conducted in hospital settings. This study confirms the superiority of this type of care to elderly people in terms of days in hospital and sense of security in care interaction and that a shift to more accessible care for older people with multimorbidity is possible without increasing costs. This study can aid the planning of future interventions for older people. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01446757 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]