Exploring and Managing the Impostor Phenomenon in Palliative Care: A Case Series.

The impostor phenomenon (IP) describes the experience of questioning one's abilities and fearing exposure as an intellectual fraud, despite objective evidence of success. The IP has been identified in high-achieving professionals across a variety of disciplines, including clinical medicine, and can be associated with significant anxiety and psychological distress. In this series, we present three authentic cases that demonstrate how the IP may manifest in palliative care practice.

Clinical Biopsychosocial Reflection on Coping With Chronic Illness and Reliance Upon Nutrition Support: An Integrated Healthcare Approach.

Nutrition deficits are common in patients with chronic illnesses reliant upon nutrition support and can contribute to an increase in cognitive deficits that impact treatment adherence and challenge patients' abilities to cope and successfully implement appropriate psychological and psychosocial interventions. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach addresses biological, psychological, and social barriers that help patients, families, and caregivers develop and maintain proper nutrition behaviors that can enhance patients' quality of life and reduce frustration and misunderstandings with medical providers. This article is a review of the literature, and it advances the importance of encompassing a biopsychosocial approach when addressing the needs of individuals with nutrition support needs.

Early versus delayed imaginal exposure for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder following accidental upper extremity injury.

Background: The consequences following work-related injuries are far reaching, which are in part due to unrecognized and untreated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Imaginal exposure is a frequently used cognitive behavioral approach for the treatment of PTSD. This study examined the impact of early versus delayed treatment with imaginal exposure on amelioration of PTSD symptomatology in individuals who suffered upper extremity injuries.

Cognitive adaptation theory and quality of life in late-stage cancer patients.

In this study, the question of whether using slightly illusionary, positive attributions of self, control, and meaning (e.g., cognitive adaptation theory), in the face of disconfirmatory evidence, facilitates quality of life in late-stage cancer patients was examined.

Imagery rescripting and reprocessing therapy after failed prolonged exposure for post-traumatic stress disorder following industrial injury.

Prolonged exposure (PE) has been reported to be effective for improving post-traumatic stress symptoms in 60-65% of trauma victims suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the results of adding an imagery-based, cognitive restructuring component (imagery rescripting and reprocessing therapy, IRRT) to the treatment of 23 Type I trauma victims suffering from PTSD, all of whom failed to improve with PE alone. With the added treatment component, 18 of 23 clients showed a full recovery from their PTSD symptoms, and no longer met criteria for PTSD after 1-3 sessions of IRRT.

Smoking-related health behaviors of employees and readiness to quit: basis for health promotion interventions.

This report describes patterns of cigarette smoking and interest in smoking cessation programs among employees in a public worksite (n = 6,000) and a private worksite (n = 14,000). Of the 622 employees who attended an employee assistance program (EAP) orientation, 110 (18%) were current smokers. A significantly greater proportion of public employees smoked cigarettes, smoked more heavily, and evaluated their health more poorly compared to private employees.

Post-traumatic stress disorder following traumatic injuries in adults.

The residuals of traumatic injuries from home or workplace accidents, automobile accidents, physical assault, or other unintentional human error can affect victims both physically and psychologically. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common among survivors of accidents and nonsexual assaults and can impede recovery. Early identification of PTSD and timely referrals to mental health providers can greatly reduce medical expenses, disability payments, lost wages, lost work productivity, and direct mental health costs.