Feasibility study of the psychosocial effects of an online mindfulness intervention in children and adolescents with achondroplasia and their parents.

Introduction: Achondroplasia is a common skeletal dysplasia caused by a mutation in the FGFR3 gene, leading to disproportionate short stature and various clinical features. Despite the absence of definitive pharmacological treatments, mindfulness-based interventions may offer psychosocial benefits for affected individuals and their families.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and psychosocial effects of an online mindfulness intervention for children and adolescents with achondroplasia and their parents.

Half of the patients with subepithelial tumors present borderline or pathologic anxiety-distress and carcinophobia: a multicenter cohort study.

Background And Aims: Minor nonspecific gastrointestinal subepithelial lesions (usually defined by the term 'tumor') are usually associated with a malignant illness and cancer. The aim of this study was to assess anxiety-distress and carcinophobia in patients referred to specialized monographic outpatient clinics for evaluation and treatment of this type of lesion.

Methods: Prospective, multicenter, cohort study.

Communication skills training for medical residents: Enhancing a psychosocial approach of patient care.

Objectives: One of the issues that has increasingly become relevant to medical practice is the ability to communicate well with patients. Better communication results in better care for the patient, as well as greater satisfaction for the physician. For this reason, the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a communication skills training program for medical residents (MR).

Developing a consensus definition of psychosocial complexity in cancer patients using Delphi methods.

Objective: Cancer is one of the biggest health challenges of our times, affecting all the personal areas of a patient. The interrelationships between these areas and the need for multidisciplinary care require the assessment of psychosocial complexity in cancer patients. The main aim of this study was to reach a consensus on the general definition of psychosocial complexity in cancer and its main elements according to the experts in the field.

Video conference vs face-to-face group psychotherapy for distressed cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This study assesses the effectiveness of face-to-face group positive psychotherapy for cancer survivors (PPC) compared to its online adaptation, online group positive psychotherapy for cancer survivors (OPPC), which is held via videoconference. A two-arm, pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of both interventions on emotional distress, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and post-traumatic growth (PTG) among cancer survivors and analyze attrition to treatment.

Methods: Adult women with a range of cancer diagnoses were invited to participate if they experienced emotional distress at the end of their primary oncological treatment.

Perceived changes in psychological and physical symptoms after hospital clown performances in a cancer setting.

The therapeutic role of humor and hospital clowns has become a focus of interest in recent decades. Most of the research in the area has focused on children; here, we explore the influence of clown performances on adult cancer patients, their companions, and health-care staff. Ninety-nine cancer patients and 113 companions were assessed pre- and post-interventions performed by professional clowns; 31 health professionals were asked about the possible influence of the presence of clowns in hospital on their work.

An exploratory study in breast cancer of factors involved in the use and communication with health professionals of Internet information.

Objective: To study the impact of the spontaneous use of Internet on breast cancer patients and on their relationship with health professionals.

Methods: A mixed methodology was used. Two questionnaires were designed through three focus groups, and then administered to 186 patients and 59 professionals in order to assess: (1) patients' use of Internet for health-related information and (2) the impact of this information on patients' psychological outcomes and on their relationship with professionals.

Approaching psychosocial complexity in patients with cancer.

Background And Aim: To assess emotional distress and complexity of patients referred to the Psychosocial Committee.

Material And Methods: A pre-post single group study was performed in a sample of oncological patients. From the 144 patients referred to the committee, 27 were attended by psychosocial specialists.

Stress and Growth in Cancer: Mechanisms and Psychotherapeutic Interventions to Facilitate a Constructive Balance.

Post-traumatic stress and growth are common responses to adverse life events such as cancer. In this article, we establish how cancer becomes a "fertile land" for the emergence of stress and growth responses and analyze the main mechanisms involved. Stress-growth responses on adjusting to cancer is potentially determined by factors like the phase of the illness (e.

Meaning-centered psychotherapy integrated with elements of compassion: A pilot study to assess feasibility and utility.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to establish emotional benefits of promoting and maintaining meaning in palliative care patients in the final weeks of life and to assess the benefits of including the compassion and self-compassion constructs in the Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy Model (MCP).

Method: Fifty-one cancer inpatients were randomly assigned to one of the three brief interventions for cancer patients in the end of life: the MCP-palliative care version, the MCP-compassionate palliative care (MCP-CPC), or standard counseling. Feasibility, acceptability, and utility were assessed in each condition.

The role of posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth on online information use in breast cancer survivors.

Objective: Changes perceived as both positive (eg, posttraumatic growth [PTG]) and negative (eg, posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS]) have been associated with intensive Internet use among breast cancer survivors. In this multicenter study, we analyzed the role of PTG and PTSS on the amount of time spent looking for online cancer information, its content, and its psychological impact.

Methods: Posttraumatic stress symptoms and PTG were assessed in 182 breast cancer survivors by using the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist and Post-traumatic Growth Inventory questionnaires.

Psychological and clinical correlates of posttraumatic growth in cancer: A systematic and critical review.

Objective: The objective of this study is to describe major findings on posttraumatic growth (PTG) in cancer, by analyzing its various definitions, assessment tools, and examining its main psychological and clinical correlates.

Methods: A search in relevant databases (PsycINFO, Pubmed, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science) was performed using descriptors related to the positive reactions in cancer. Articles were screened by title, abstract, and full text.

Positive psychotherapy for distressed cancer survivors: Posttraumatic growth facilitation reduces posttraumatic stress.

There is increasing evidence that positive life changes, such as posttraumatic growth (PTG), can result from the experience of coping with cancer. However, no interventions have been specifically designed to facilitate the development of PTG in cancer. In this article, we describe and assess the results of Positive Psychotherapy for Cancer (PPC) survivors.

Positive psychological functioning in breast cancer: An integrative review.

This integrative review aimed to analyze the research into positive psychological functioning after breast cancer, and to integrate the most relevant findings relating to sociodemographic, medical and psychosocial factors. Relevant outcomes were identified from electronic databases (Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Wiley Online Library) up to July 2015. A Google search was performed to identify unindexed literature.

Positive psychology interventions in breast cancer. A systematic review.

Objective: Positive psychology is an emerging area of empirical study, not only in clinical, but also in health psychology. The present systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence about the positive psychology interventions utilized in breast cancer.

Methods: Relevant studies were identified via Pubmed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, CINAHL, Wiley Online Library, TDX, and DIALNET databases (up to April 2013).