Tai Chi and Wellness Interventions for Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

Background: Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multi-symptom illness that affects up to one-third of the 700,000 American military personnel deployed to the Persian Gulf region in 1990 and 1991. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine feasibility and the relative efficacy of two 12-week in-person group treatments (Tai Chi and Wellness) to address GWI symptoms of chronic pain, fatigue, and changes in mood and cognitive functioning.

Method: Male and female veterans were randomly assigned to Tai Chi (n = 27) or Wellness (n = 26) group interventions and assessed at four time points: baseline, post-treatment, 3-, and 9-month follow-up.

Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic, and Timed Goals and the Personal Health Inventory in a Wellness Group for Veterans With GWI.

Background: Interventions based on the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Whole Health (WH) initiative may be beneficial for veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) through specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and timed (SMART) goal setting and monitoring of perceived goal attainment with the Personal Health Inventory (PHI).

Objectives: This secondary analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials focused on (1) categorizing SMART goals set during a wellness intervention based on the VHA's WH approach to identify goals most relevant for veterans with GWI and chronic pain and (2) descriptively examining the PHI over a course of treatment to assess its preliminary sensitivity to change. Also, changes in PHI for those who engaged in the intervention in-person versus remotely were compared.

Protocol for remote Tai Chi and wellness for PTSD and pain in veterans.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological disorder that is associated with a host of psychosocial and health ailments, including chronic pain. Although evidence-based psychological therapies are recommended as first-line PTSD treatments, a large proportion of individuals either drop out and/or do not achieve a therapeutic response. PTSD is increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder that impacts both physical and mental health, and mind-body approaches, such as Tai Chi, have shown promise.

Cross-cultural validation and Spanish translation of the Boston Interview to evaluate severely obese patients seeking metabolic/bariatric surgery.

Introduction: obesity is a global health problem. Metabolic/Bariatric surgery (MBS) has proven to be one of the most effective methods for treating the most severe forms. However, a thorough evaluation and preparation of people seeking MBS is necessary.

Study protocol for a revised randomized trial: Remotely delivered Tai Chi and wellness for Gulf War illness.

Background: Many of the 700,000 American military personnel deployed to the Persian Gulf region in 1990 and 1991 have since reported health symptoms of unknown etiology. This cluster of symptoms has been labeled Gulf War Illness and include chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, headaches, memory and attention difficulties, gastrointestinal complaints, skin abnormalities, breathing problems, and mood and sleep problems [1,2]. There have been few high-quality intervention trials and no strong evidence to support available treatments [3].

Tai Chi and Qigong for trauma exposed populations: A systematic review.

Background: Trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress are highly prevalent and comorbid with health problems. Despite the apparent systemic nature of post-traumatic stress, recommended treatments neglect trauma's deleterious effects on health. Integrative mind-body treatments for posttraumatic stress, such as Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ), may offer a promising adjunct to first-line treatments.

Fallen Between the Cracks: Protecting Research Staff From Participant-Perpetrated Harassment.

There has been a call to identify populations who are at-risk for harassment. At our institution, participant-perpetrated harassment led to the development of an institution-wide program called Cultivating Respect in Research Environments (CuRRE). In this article, we describe the proactive and multipronged approach used to promote and implement the CuRRE program.

The Assessment of Readiness and Consent for Hormone Therapy: A Semi-structured Interview for Use With Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals.

Background: Evaluations to determine one's readiness to initiate hormone therapy are often requested by endocrinologists or institutions who provide gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender adults. Unfortunately, many mental health providers report unfamiliarity in working with gender-nonconforming individuals and with the needs of this population, and do not feel equipped to conduct these evaluations.

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to introduce an instrument that can guide providers to conduct a hormone readiness evaluation that is consistent with the current best practices model of care put forth by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care.

The Effects of Tai Chi Mind-Body Approach on the Mechanisms of Gulf War Illness: an Umbrella Review.

Gulf War illness (GWI) is a chronic and multisymptom disorder affecting military veterans deployed to the 1991 Persian Gulf War. It is characterized by a range of acute and chronic symptoms, including but not limited to, fatigue, sleep disturbances, psychological problems, cognitive deficits, widespread pain, and respiratory and gastrointestinal difficulties. The prevalence of many of these chronic symptoms affecting Gulf War veterans occur at markedly elevated rates compared to nondeployed contemporary veterans.

A systematic review of randomized trials of mind-body interventions for PTSD.

Objective: To systematically review outcomes from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mind-body treatments for PTSD.

Methods: Inclusion criteria based on guidelines for assessing risk of bias were used to evaluate articles identified through electronic literature searches.

Results: Twenty-two RCTs met inclusion standards.

Feasibility, qualitative findings and satisfaction of a brief Tai Chi mind-body programme for veterans with post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Objective: To examine feasibility, qualitative feedback and satisfaction associated with a 4-session introduction to Tai Chi for veterans with post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Design: We observed and reported recruitment and retention rates, participant characteristics, adherence, and satisfaction across 2 cohorts. We also examined qualitative feedback provided by questionnaires, focus groups and individual interviews.

Targeted recruitment of adults with type 2 diabetes for a physical activity intervention.

Recruiting sufficient numbers of participants for physical activity trials for individuals with diabetes can be difficult because there are often many behavioral demands for participants, and inclusion and exclusion criteria can be extensive. This study examined the recruitment strategies used for a randomized, controlled trial designed to investigate the efficacy of an automated telephone intervention to promote physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes in an urban Veterans Administration health care system. Traditional recruitment approaches of posting flyers and obtaining referrals from clinicians did not yield sufficient numbers of interested patients.

Reasons persons with COPD do not walk and relationship with daily step count.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is significantly reduced in persons with COPD. Assessing reasons why persons with COPD do not engage in PA can guide development of effective interventions to promote PA.

Methods: We queried 102 participants with stable COPD about disease-related and general reasons why they do not walk more.

A telehealth intervention for veterans on antiviral treatment for the hepatitis C virus.

The standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C (pegylated interferon and ribavirin) causes challenging physical and psychological side effects. The current pilot study evaluated the efficacy of a brief, telephone-based, cognitive-behavioral self-management intervention designed to address mood and quality of life within a sample of veterans on antiviral treatment for hepatitis C. Results from this pilot study support the feasibility of this telehealth intervention, showing that veterans were highly satisfied with the content of the intervention and compliant with the telephone calls.

Sleep quality as a potential mediator between psychological distress and diabetes quality of life in veterans with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: The goal of this study was to explore sleep quality as a potential mediator between depression symptoms and diabetes quality of life (DQOL), and anxiety symptoms and DQOL.

Method: Participants were 83 male and 3 female veterans with type 2 diabetes (Mage = 62.4).

Avoidant coping as a predictor of mortality in veterans with end-stage renal disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the role of active and avoidant coping strategies in predicting mortality in 61 veterans with end-stage renal disease.

Design: Participants completed a self-report measure of coping strategies (The COPE; Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989) and were interviewed as part of a structured assessment to determine their appropriateness for renal transplant. On average, participants were then followed for 9 years via medical record review to determine mortality status.

Psychosocial issues and mental health treatment recommendations for patients with hepatitis C.

Background: Mental health needs of patients with HCV are increasingly being addressed in medical contexts.

Objective: The authors review the psychosocial issues relevant to patients with hepatitis C and provide mental health treatment recommendations.

Findings: Patients with HCV are faced with a number of challenges, including adjustment to a chronic medical illness, management of symptoms and treatment side effects, and making and maintaining lifestyle changes.

Psychosocial evaluation for bariatric surgery: the Boston interview and opportunities for intervention.

The process of psychosocial evaluation for weight loss surgery (WLS) is one that goes beyond serving the function of information-gathering (Bauchowitz et al. in Surg Obes Relat Dis 3:554-558, 2007; Friedman et al. in Surg Obes Relat Dis 3:376-382, 2007; Lanyon and Maxwell in Obes Surg 17:321-328, 2007; Sogg and Mori in Obes Surg 14:370-380, 2004; Sogg and Mori in Surg Obes Relat Dis 4:455-463, 2008).

Predictors of exercise compliance in individuals with Gulf War veterans illnesses: Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study 470.

Although the health benefits of exercise for individuals with Persian Gulf War veterans illnesses (GWVI) are documented, many of these individuals do not exercise regularly enough to obtain benefits. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors predicting exercise compliance among individuals with GWVI in a multicenter, randomized, clinical trial. Participants were 1,092 veterans who reported at least two of the following cardinal symptoms of GWVI: (1) fatigue, (2) musculoskeletal pain, and (3) cognitive problems.

The Boston interview for gastric bypass: determining the psychological suitability of surgical candidates.

Morbid obesity is a rapidly escalating problem in the United States, one with serious health ramifications. Due to the lack of empirical support for the long-term efficacy of non-surgical interventions for obesity, gastric bypass surgery has been pursued with increasing frequency as a treatment for morbid obesity. Because surgery is a high-risk, invasive treatment option, medical, psychological and behavioral factors must be carefully considered in pre-surgical evaluations.

Guidelines for conducting a psychiatric evaluation of the unrelated kidney donor.

Living unrelated kidney donors have been increasingly sought out as potential resources for patients with end-stage renal disease. Several psychiatric issues must be factored into the presurgical evaluation of prospective donors. This paper describes a proposed guideline intended to assist clinicians in the psychiatric evaluation of prospective kidney donors.