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BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that stress is implicated in the cause of neck pain (NP). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a simple, zero cost stress management program on patients suffering from NP. METHODS: This study is a parallel-type randomized clinical study. People suffering from chronic non-specific NP were chosen randomly to participate in an eight week duration program of stress management (N = 28) (including diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation) or in a no intervention control condition (N = 25). Self-report measures were used for the evaluation of various variables at the beginning and at the end of the eight-week monitoring period. Descriptive and inferential statistic methods were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: At the end of the monitoring period, the intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction of stress and anxiety (p = 0.03, p = 0.01), report of stress related symptoms (p = 0.003), percentage of disability due to NP (p = 0.000) and NP intensity (p = 0.002). At the same time, daily routine satisfaction levels were elevated (p = 0.019). No statistically significant difference was observed in cortisol measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Stress management has positive effects on NP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Predicting caregiving status (CS) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is of both clinical and health policy-making value. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the clinical predictors of CS, along with factors related to caregivers' stress. Methods: A sample of 342 clinically definite MS patients (67.5% females, 67.8% relapsing MS, mean age 43.1 ± 11.4 year-old, mean disease duration 147 ± 105.4 months, median Expanded Disability Status Scale -EDSS-3.0) was screened for CS. The Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 and Zarit Burden Interview were used to measure quality of patients' life and the their caregivers' burden, respectively. Results: In total, 57.9% of patients reported at least one caregiver, 97% of which were relatives or friends. Higher EDSS was associated with higher chance of reporting a caregiver. Two EDSS cut-offs were recognized; 2.0 and 4.5, the former with increased sensitivity (78.8%) and the latter with increased specificity (82.3%) to predict CS. Patients in the mild disability group (EDSS: 0–1.5) needing a caregiver had higher subjective cognitive function, implying presumably a beneficial role of care in cognition. Age and education were showed to affect CS in the moderate disability group (EDSS: 2.0–4.5). Physical and mental disability was more pronounced in patients reporting at least one caregiver in the high disability group (EDSS above 4.5). Caregivers' stress was significantly positively correlated with age, EDSS, and duration of the disease and negatively with cognitive, physical, and mental health. Discussion: In conclusion, the clinical predictors of CS are known to serve well both the researchers and the clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this explorative study, forty-seven patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were randomized to a custom 6-week cognitive rehabilitation intervention (n = 23) using the BrainHQ TM web-based platform and to a control group condition (n = 24). Cognitive rehabilitation intervention consisted of two 40-minute sessions per week. All patients were tested with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis battery, the Stroop Color-Word Test, and the trail making test, while the Beck Depression Inventory - Fast Screen questionnaire was used as a measure of mood and the cognitive reserve index as a measure of cognitive reserve. We used the reliable change index, to calculate clinically meaningful changes of performance, and to discriminate between responders and non-responders of this intervention. Statistically significant improvement of the group receiving treatment was observed mainly on measures of verbal and non-verbal episodic memory and, to a lesser extent, on reading speed, selective attention/response inhibition, and visual attention. Verbal memory and visual attention improvements remained significant after considering the corrected for multiple comparisons level of significance. According to reliable change index scores, 12/23 (52.2%) of patients in the intervention group presented meaningful improvement in at least one measure (Greek Verbal Learning Test: 26%, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised: 17.4%, Stroop-Words test: 13%). This explorative study provides evidence that, at least in the short term, cognitive rehabilitation may improve the cognitive performance of multiple sclerosis patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2020 Vilou et al. Published by IMR press.)

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare and evaluate the sort-term benefits of the effects of an 8-week stress management techniques in information technology professionals., Methods: In this parallel randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned to either the stress management group (n=40; relaxation breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery) or in the Pythagorean Self awareness group (n=41). Self-reported validated measures were used to evaluate perceived stress, health locus of control, anxiety and depression., Results: All groups were found with significantly better cognitive speed and verbal memory at the end of the follow-up. Taking into account the group by time interaction coefficients, PSAT was found significantly superior to standard SM with regards to depression, emotional intelligence, lifestyle and personal control and verbal memory suggesting that verbal memory improvement through time should be mostly attributed to PSAT. On the other hand, the cognitive speed improvement during follow-up should be attributed to both interventions., Conclusions: These findings provide important insight into the role of stress management. Future studies should focus on randomized, controlled trials with larger samples and longer follow-up times., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Aim: Stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), nevertheless evidence is scarce regarding the effect of stress management on individuals suffering from HT. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an 8-week stress management intervention on the anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) antibodies as well as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels of women with HT. Secondary endpoints included the effect on the patients' lifestyle, body mass index (BMI), depression, anxiety and stress., Methods: This was a two-arm parallel group (stress management intervention vs. standard care groups) randomized controlled study. Adult women with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, completed questionnaires on stress, anxiety, depression and lifestyle, at the beginning of the programme and 8 weeks later. Laboratory thyroid function tests (anti-TPO, anti-TG antibodies and TSH) were also measured at baseline and at the end of the study., Results: A total of 60 women with HT, aged 25-76 years, participated in the study (30 patients in each group). After eight weeks, patients in the intervention group demonstrated statistically significant beneficial decrements in the rate change of anti-TG titers and the levels of stress, depression and anxiety as well as better lifestyle scores, compared to the control group., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Authors declare no conflicts of interest.