Metaphorical markers of pain catastrophizing, depression, anxiety, and pain interference in people with chronic pain.

Metaphor to communicate chronic pain can reflect psychological appraisals of pain, and its impact, and may be beneficial in enhancing understanding of pain, its aetiology, and facilitating communication and shared decision-making. This cross-sectional study examined metaphor use and relationships with pain intensity, pain interference, mood, and pain catastrophizing. Seventy participants with chronic pain completed measures of depression, anxiety and stress, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale.

Visual reconstructions of endometriosis pain: An interdisciplinary visual methodology for illness representation.

Objectives: Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue resembling the endometrium grows outside of the womb, causing severe chronic pain. Research demonstrates the physical, emotional and quality of life impact on people with endometriosis, but pain is reportedly difficult to communicate, resulting in lengthier diagnosis. This work aimed to gain insight into the value of imagery production as a pain communication strategy through a novel synergy of psychological and linguistic/socio-semiotic approaches.

A COM-B and Theoretical Domains Framework Mapping of the Barriers and Facilitators to Effective Communication and Help-Seeking Among People With, or Seeking a Diagnosis Of, Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue resembling the endometrium grows outside the womb, causing severe chronic pain. People with endometriosis report difficulty in help-seeking and communicating with healthcare professionals, contributing to diagnosis delays and ineffective management. The present study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to effective communication using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and COM-B model to inform behavior change intervention development.

Mindfulness practice correlates with reduced exam-induced stress and improved exam performance in preclinical medical students with the "acting with awareness", "non-judging" and "non-reacting" facets of mindfulness particularly associated with improved exam performance.

Background: Medical students demonstrate higher levels of psychological distress compared with the general population and other student groups, especially at exam times. Mindfulness interventions show promise in stress reduction for this group, and in the reduction of cortisol, an established clinical marker of the body's stress response. This study investigated the relationship of mindfulness to exam-induced stress, salivary cortisol and exam performance in undergraduate medical students.

Isolated and anxious: A qualitative exploration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals living with spinal cord injury in the UK.

Objective: People living with spinal cord injury (SCI) are often immunocompromised, and at increased risk of respiratory infection. Given the restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, those with SCI may be at increased risk of health deterioration, though how this is experienced is poorly understood. This study explored the experiences of people living with SCI during the COVID-19 pandemic.

'We're all in the same boat': An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study of experiences of being an 'expert' during patient and public involvement within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Background: Patient and Public involvement (PPI) has rapidly evolved into a key component in shaping the delivery of health services. However, little is known about what it is like to participate in involvement procedures that include representatives of multiple groups and in the context of developing new interventions for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Objective: This study explored participants' experiences of PPI, following attending a 'consensus conference', during which their views were sought in relation to the development of a proposed staff-based intervention and key questions about its design and implementation.

Parallel worlds and personified pain: A mixed-methods analysis of pain metaphor use by women with endometriosis.

Objectives: Endometriosis is a long-term condition in which endometrial-like tissue grows outside of the womb, causing intense chronic pain. Previous work has demonstrated the physical and emotional impact on women who live with endometriosis, and metaphors can play an influential role in communicating the experience of pain, but there exists little understanding of the role and impact of such language for women with endometriosis.

Design: A qualitative, semi-structured interview design.

'Trying to bring attention to your body when you're not sure where it is': An interpretative phenomenological analysis of drivers and barriers to mindfulness for people with spinal cord injury.

Objectives: Work is beginning to explore the impact of mindfulness in managing the physical and psychological health of people with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, no previous work has sought to understand what drives people with such conditions to try mindfulness, and what barriers are experienced in accessing mindfulness.

Design: An exploratory, qualitative, interview design, utilizing interpretative phenomenological analysis.

A systematic review and taxonomy of tools for evaluating evidence-based medicine teaching in medical education.

Background: The importance of teaching the skills and practice of evidence-based medicine (EBM) for medical professionals has steadily grown in recent years. Alongside this growth is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of EBM curriculum as assessed by competency in the five 'A's': asking, acquiring, appraising, applying and assessing (impact and performance). EBM educators in medical education will benefit from a compendium of existing assessment tools for assessing EBM competencies in their settings.

Mindfulness for pain, depression, anxiety, and quality of life in people with spinal cord injury: a systematic review.

Background: Populations with reduced sensory and motor function, such as spinal cord injury (SCI) are at increased risk of depression, anxiety, pain, and poorer quality of life (QoL). Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have been developed with the aim of improving outcomes for people with SCI. To understand the value of MBIs, a systematic review was conducted pertaining to the use of MBIs, and interventions including elements of mindfulness, with people with SCI.

Depression in partner caregivers of people with neurological conditions; associations with self-compassion and quality of life.

Informal caregivers are vulnerable to poor mental health and quality of life (QoL). Self-compassion may protect against this. This study investigated depression and QoL in partner caregivers of people with a long-term or neurological condition (e.

Efficacy of Internet-Delivered Mindfulness for Improving Depression in Caregivers of People With Spinal Cord Injuries and Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

Objectives: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of web-based mindfulness training for carers of people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Randomized controlled feasibility study with 3-month follow-up.

Setting: Community setting.

Internet-delivered mindfulness for people with depression and chronic pain following spinal cord injury: a randomized, controlled feasibility trial.

Study Design: Between-subjects, randomized controlled feasibility study.

Objectives: Populations with reduced sensory and motor function are at increased risk of depression, anxiety and pain, and may be less geographically mobile. This study explored the efficacy and feasibility of web-based mindfulness training for people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Stigma and self-management: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the impact of chronic recurrent urinary tract infections after spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Qualitative, phenomenological design.

Objectives: Neurogenic bladder dysfunction and urinary tract infection (UTI) are common secondary consequences to neurological damage to the spinal cord. This study sought to establish the impact of chronic, recurrent UTIs on people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Neuropathic pain in a rehabilitation setting after spinal cord injury: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of inpatients' experiences.

Study Design: Qualitative, semi-structured interviews.

Objectives: Neuropathic pain (NP) can be psychologically and physically debilitating, and is present in approximately half of the spinal cord injured (SCI) population. However, under half of those with NP are adherent to pain medication.

Mindfulness interventions in medical education: A systematic review of their impact on medical student stress, depression, fatigue and burnout.

Introduction: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have gained popularity in medical education. A systematic review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of MBIs for reducing psychological distress in undergraduate medical students.

Methods: A search protocol was conducted using online databases Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE.

The devil in the corner: A mixed-methods study of metaphor use by those with spinal cord injury-specific neuropathic pain.

Objectives: Metaphorical expressions of persistent pain play an influential role in the modulation of pain. This may be particularly distressing for those with physical disabilities such as spinal cord injury (SCI). Neuropathic pain (NP) after SCI is often described using metaphorical expressions such as burning and electricity.