Publications by authors named "Jeff Huffman"

Article Synopsis
  • A new study is testing a five-session phone-based peer support program called STEPP, aimed at helping patients with blood cancers undergoing stem cell transplantation improve their quality of life and reduce psychological distress.
  • The pilot trial will involve 90 patients, comparing those who receive the STEPP intervention to those who receive standard care, with goals for high enrollment and session completion rates.
  • The study will assess how well the intervention is received and its initial impact on patient-reported outcomes like anxiety and quality of life, paving the way for a larger clinical trial in the future.
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Background: 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.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates how positive psychological well-being (PPWB) relates to mood and quality of life in people who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), using data from 158 recipients.
  • - Results indicate that older age, greater social support, and certain health conditions correspond with higher PPWB levels, which are linked to improved quality of life and reduced symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
  • - The researchers suggest that future studies should explore these associations over time to better understand how PPWB affects HSCT recovery and to develop targeted interventions for improving patient outcomes.
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Although peer support interventions are associated with improved patient-reported outcomes in diverse cancer populations, structured peer support programs tailored to the needs of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are lacking. This single-arm, proof-of-concept trial aimed to refine the Supporting Transplant Experiences with Peer Program (STEPP), a structured, five-session, manualized, phone-delivered peer support intervention for patients undergoing HSCT, informed by qualitative feedback from patients. Adult patients with hematologic malignancies scheduled to undergo allogeneic or autologous HSCT were eligible to participate in the study approximately two weeks prior to their HSCT hospitalization.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study developed and validated a Japanese version of the State Optimism Measure (J-SOM) to assess fluctuations in optimism among individuals over time.
  • The research found significant correlations between state optimism, mood, and daily life quality, indicating that optimism can change more frequently than previously thought.
  • Results showed that state optimism fluctuates more than trait optimism over several weeks and that these changes are linked to mental health factors like depressive mood and subjective happiness.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the psychological challenges faced by survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and tests a telephone-based positive psychology intervention called PATH to improve their well-being.
  • PATH involved 9 weekly phone sessions emphasizing gratitude, personal strengths, and finding meaning in life, and aimed for high participant enrollment and session completion.
  • Results showed promising improvements in gratitude, anxiety, physical function, and other psychological factors among those who participated in PATH compared to those receiving usual care.
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Physical activity promotes health and longevity after metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS), but most patients do not meet recommended levels. The Gaining Optimism After weight Loss Surgery (GOALS) Project was a positive psychological intervention designed to address common emotional barriers to physical activity in patients who have recently undergone MBS (e.g.

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Objective: Associations between positive psychological well-being (PPWB) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs, e.g., quality of life [QOL]) have yet to be studied extensively in patients with hematologic malignancies who are allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) survivors, despite substantial evidence that PPWB impacts PROs of other medical populations.

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Caregivers of patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) play a crucial role in supporting their loved ones through physical, emotional, and practical challenges. This role has been associated with high levels of psychological distress and low levels of positive psychological well-being (PPWB). Positive psychology interventions for caregivers in other disease groups (eg, breast cancer) have been associated with improved outcomes.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated a 12-week text message intervention aimed at improving health behaviors and psychological well-being in individuals with multiple cardiac risk conditions.
  • The intervention was found to be highly feasible and accepted, with 99.3% successful message delivery and a mean utility rating of 7.4/10.
  • Results showed small improvements in physical activity, optimism, anxiety, self-efficacy, and physical function compared to usual care, indicating the potential for this approach in clinical settings.
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Background: Patients experiencing significant agitation or perceptual disturbances related to delirium in an intensive care setting may benefit from short-term treatment with an antipsychotic medication. Some antipsychotic medications may prolong the QTc interval, which increases the risk of potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias. In this targeted review, we describe the evidence regarding the relationships between antipsychotic medications and QTc prolongation and practical methods for monitoring the QTc interval and mitigating arrhythmia risk.

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Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), an increased risk of morbidity, and mortality. Traditional AF-related outcomes (e.g.

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Positive thoughts and emotions contribute to overall psychological health in diverse medical populations, including patients undergoing HSCT. However, few studies have described positive psychological well-being (eg, optimism, gratitude, flourishing) in patients undergoing HSCT using well-established, validated patient-reported outcome measures. We conducted cross-sectional secondary analyses of baseline data in 156 patients at 100 days post-HSCT enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of a psychological intervention (ClinicalTrials.

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Article Synopsis
  • Patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation often face low levels of positive psychological well-being (PPWB), and there are few targeted interventions to address this issue.
  • The study involves a randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing a nine-week positive psychology intervention (PATH) designed for HSCT survivors, focusing on improving their emotional well-being and quality of life.
  • The primary goals are to evaluate the intervention's feasibility and acceptability, while also exploring its potential benefits in reducing anxiety and enhancing overall quality of life among participants.
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Article Synopsis
  • Peer support can help patients with kidney disease feel better and stick to their treatments, but we don't know a lot about how effective these programs are.
  • Researchers looked at 12 studies involving nearly 3000 patients to see how peer support affects health outcomes like mental well-being and care engagement.
  • Although some studies showed peer support is helpful, more research is needed to understand how to use these programs better in hospitals and clinics.
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Background: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading worldwide cause of mortality. There has been increased awareness of the impact of psychological health on cardiovascular disease. In particular, major depression has been linked to increased all-cause mortality, development of cardiovascular disease, and worse outcomes in those with existing cardiovascular disease.

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Positive psychological well-being is prospectively associated with superior health outcomes. Positive psychology interventions have promise as a potentially feasible and effective means of increasing well-being and health in those with medical illness, and several initial studies have shown the potential of such programs in medical populations. At the same time, numerous key issues in the existing positive psychology literature must be addressed to ensure that these interventions are optimally effective.

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Background: Heart failure (HF) is associated with an elevated risk of morbidity, mortality, hospitalization, and impaired quality of life. One potential contributor to these poor outcomes is depression. Yet the effectiveness of treatments for depression in patients with HF is mixed, perhaps due to the heterogeneity of depression.

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Objective: Psychological factors (e.g., depression, anxiety) are known to contribute to the development and maintenance of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

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Background: Though a growing body of research suggests that greater positive psychological well-being in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be protective, existing brain-gut behavior therapies primarily target negative psychological factors. Little is known about how positive psychological factors in IBS relate to IBS symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), or adherence to key health behaviors, such as physical activity and diet modification. Accordingly, per the ORBIT model of behavioral treatment development for chronic diseases, we explored potential connections between psychological constructs and IBS symptoms, health behavior engagement (physical activity and dietary modification), and HRQoL in a qualitative study to inform the development of a novel brain-gut behavior therapy.

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