Introduction: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is prevalent and distressing among survivors of cancer. Evidence-based mind-body and cognitive-behavioral skills lack integration and testing in scalable formats.
Objective: This pilot randomized controlled trial (NCT04876599) tested a synchronous, virtual mind-body group resiliency intervention for FCR (IN FOCUS).
Glob Adv Integr Med Health
November 2024
The use of dietary supplements by patients with chronic liver disease is prevalent and rising. Despite the known risks of dietary supplements, including hepatotoxicity, adulteration, and contamination, patients with chronic liver disease often turn to dietary supplements to support their liver and/or overall health but are not necessarily empowered with the information or guidance from their liver practitioner to do so. This article provides practitioners with a framework for balancing the risks and benefits of dietary supplements in patients with chronic liver disease, offering examples of independent resources and certifications to use this framework in clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Following acute coronary syndrome (ACS), up to 40% of patients report elevated depressive symptoms which is associated with a two-fold increase in mortality risk due to behavioral and biological mechanisms. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) delivered via synchronous group videoconferencing could help reduce depressive symptoms.
Objective: To guide MBCT adaptation for ACS patients for a future clinical trial, this qualitative study aimed to explore ACS patients' (1) symptoms after ACS, (2) needs for behavioral health treatment, (3) perspectives on mindfulness intervention and group videoconference delivery, and (4) willingness to self-collect dried blood spots in a research study.
Glob Adv Integr Med Health
September 2024
Background: Peripheral vascular interventions (PVIs) performed under procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) can be associated with anxiety and poor compliance with patient instructions during surgery. Mind-body interventions (MBIs) such as meditation have demonstrated the potential to decrease perioperative anxiety, though this area is understudied, and no tailored interventions have been developed for the vascular surgical patient population.
Objectives: We aimed to design a perioperative MBI that specifically targeted vascular surgical patients undergoing PVIs under PSA.
Background: Preliminary evidence suggests that Qigong (QG), a mind-body therapy, may help address symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the heterogeneity of QG content and delivery may affect its feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy.
Objective: To survey researchers, clinicians, and QG instructors with experience working with people with MS to identify key components of MS-specific QG guidelines and protocols.
Methods: We conducted an online survey to identify QG forms and movements considered helpful for MS, reasons for selection, characteristics of effective learning environments, and recommended dosage and frequency of practice.
Glob Adv Integr Med Health
August 2024
Background: Approximately one-half of all adults with HIV experience chronic pain. Needed are nonpharmacological approaches to improve pain management in this population.
Methods: For this study, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews (n = 20) with thirteen adults with HIV and 7 HIV care providers regarding their perceptions of Tai Chi for chronic pain management.
Objectives: Pre-sleep stress or hyperarousal is a known key etiological component in insomnia disorder. Despite this, physiological alterations during the sleep onset are not well-understood. In particular, insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are highly prevalent co-morbid conditions, where autonomic regulation may be altered.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlob Adv Integr Med Health
August 2024
Yoga may promote health via a complex modulation of inflammation. Little is known about oxylipins, a class of circulating mediators involved in inflammation resolution. To explore the acute effects of yoga exercise on systemic levels of oxylipins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Given the deleterious effects of physical inactivity in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or heart failure (HF), interventions that promote long-term daily physical activity are needed. Mindful Steps, designed to promote walking behaviors in COPD and HF, is a multicomponent intervention that integrates mind-body content with other self-regulatory components. The aim of the current qualitative study was to characterize participants' experiences with Mindful Steps and understand the perceived influence of the intervention on walking and health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic musculoskeletal pain is prevalent and undertreated in older adults. In particular, multisite pain is associated with serious functional consequences and falls and appears to be a novel geriatric syndrome. The causes of multisite pain are often multifactorial, and emerging evidence supports a complex pathway whereby multisite pain leads to cognitive problems, mobility decline, fear of falling, falls, and reduced participation in life roles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethods of conservative management for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) are burdensome in terms of time, cost, and convenience. In addition, many patients are not candidates for surgical treatment. Preliminary results have demonstrated possible beneficial effects of acupuncture for patients with BCRL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Multisite musculoskeletal pain is highly prevalent among older adults yet undertreated. Studies support the promise of Tai Chi for managing pain and lowering fall risk. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, effective alternatives to classroom-based exercise programming are warranted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy Objectives: Heart rate variability (HRV) measures provide valuable insights into physiology; however, gaps remain in understanding circadian patterns in heart rate dynamics. We aimed to explore day-night differences in heart rate dynamics in patients with chronic cardiopulmonary disease compared with healthy controls.
Methods: Using 24-hour heart rate data from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or heart failure (n = 16) and healthy adult controls (older group: ≥50 years, n = 42; younger group: 20-49 years, n = 136), we compared day-night differences in conventional time and frequency domain HRV indices and a multiscale-entropy-based complexity index (CI) of HRV among the 3 groups.
Background: There is a knowledge gap in the physiological effects of short-term yoga exercise interventions.
Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing the acute effects of a yoga exercise protocol practiced at 2 intensities (high or moderate) on temporal responses of a battery of systemic circulatory cytokines in healthy yoga-naïve adults.
Methods: This study was a three-arm, pre-post pilot-RCT employing a single bout of yoga exercise intervention.
Chronic musculoskeletal pain is prevalent, challenging to treat, and often disabling. Evidence supports the role of psychological factors in pain-related outcomes, and it is now accepted that rehabilitation should combine physical and psychological approaches (ie, psychologically informed practice). This Perspective articulates a vision for technology-enhanced psychologically informed practice for chronic musculoskeletal pain, highlights relevant research evidence, discusses how technology can circumvent implementation barriers, and proposes directions for future research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Integr Complement Med
October 2022
Objective: To conduct a systematic review evaluating the impact of stretching on inflammation and its resolution using in vivo rodent models. Findings are evaluated for their potential to inform the design of clinical yoga studies to assess the impact of yogic stretching on inflammation and health.
Methods: Studies were identified using four databases.
Background: For cancer survivors, there is a paucity of fear of recurrence (FOR) interventions that integrate empirically supported mind-body and psychological skills for managing FOR and are delivered in scalable formats.
Objective: To adapt an evidence-based resiliency intervention to address FOR among cancer survivors.
Methods: A multidisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, and patient stakeholders followed an iterative intervention adaptation process (ORBIT).