Trauma Exposure, Social Support and Mental Health in the General Population in Belgium.

Introduction: International research has shown that trauma exposure can lead to mental health disorders and affect social support. However, there is little insight into trauma exposure and its related issues in the general population of Belgium.

Methods: Secondary cross-sectional data on the general adult population were retrieved from the Belgian Health Interview Survey.

The psychosocial aid response after the 22/03/2016 attacks in Belgium: a community case study.

Introduction: After the terrorist attacks, early psychosocial care is provided to people considered at risk of developing mental health issues due to the attacks. Despite the clear importance of such early intervention, there is very few data on how this is registered, who is targeted, and whether target-recipients accept such aid.

Methods: Using registry data from the Centre General Wellbeingwork (CAW), a collection of centers in the regions Brussels and Flanders that provide psychosocial care, we examined the early psychosocial care response after the terrorist attacks of 22/03/2016 in Belgium.

A day in the life: psychological impact on emergency responders during the 22 March 2016 terrorist attacks.

Introduction: Terrorist attacks can cause severe long-term mental health issues that need treatment. However, in the case of emergency responders, research is often vague on the type of stressors that emergency responders encounter. For example, in addition to the threat that they work under, studies have shown that ill-preparation adds to the stress experienced by emergency responders.

Post-what stress? A review of methods of research on posttraumatic stress during COVID-19.

Background: Post-traumatic stress (PTS) was extensively investigated during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, numerous researchers have raised concerns regarding the adherence of many of these studies to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). This review aimed to provide insight into the methodology of research on PTS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Optimizing sexuality of young women with breast cancer: how can the breast clinic help?

Background: Breast cancer treatment can lead to sexual dysfunction which, in general, impacts younger women more. Being well informed and having good social support are important elements in dealing with this dysfunction.

Aims: This study aims to explore how specialized breast clinics can help young women with questions or problems regarding their sexual health by fulfilling their information and social support needs.

Intimate and sexual feelings in psychotherapy: educational topic or still taboo?

Background: Intimate and sexual feelings are common within psychotherapy, with negative outcomes when not managed adequately.

Aims: This study aims to investigate the understudied topic of these intimate and sexual feelings in basic education and psychotherapy training programs.

Method: In this convergent mixed method study, both a survey ( = 786) and 8 focus groups ( = 36) were conducted among psychotherapists in Flanders, Belgium (November 2016 - June 2018), using inferential and thematic analyses respectively.

How Therapists Experience and Manage Patients' Romantic and Sexual Feelings for Them.

Objective: Many therapists will one day be confronted with a patient who develops romantic or sexual feelings toward them. Studies on this topic often remain theoretical in nature and less often focus on how therapists manage such situations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how therapists experience this occurrence and manage their feelings.

Discussing sexual health among Flemish patients with Parkinson's disease.

Purpose: Parkinson's disease (PD) can lead to sexual dysfunction. Yet, studies have shown that neurologists do not often discuss possible sexual health consequences with their patients. Thus, in this study, we investigated the communication on sexual health between healthcare workers and PD patients in Flanders, Belgium.

Managing Romantic and Sexual Feelings Towards Clients in the Psychotherapy Room in Flanders (Belgium).

It is important that therapists manage adequately their romantic and sexual feelings toward clients as it can negatively affect the psychotherapeutic relationship and may even pose a risk of sexual abuse. This study explores how psychotherapists in Flanders (Belgium) manage such feelings, by conducting both a survey (using 105 of 786 respondents for analyses, as they reported romantic feelings) and focus groups (with a total of 36 participants). Results show that most therapists never consider starting a romantic relationship with a client.

Dealing with sexual boundary violation in mental healthcare institutions by government policies: the case of Flanders, Belgium.

Background: To prevent sexual boundary violations (SBV) in mental health care institutions overall governments require these institutions to report SBV incidents to a central registry and to develop institutional guidelines how to react. In Europe SBV policies are only recently developed or implemented, as is also the case in Flanders (Belgium). The implementation of a new institutional policy is always a challenge and can encounter resistance, especially when it concerns SBV, because they remain delicate and complex.

Body Image, Medication Use, and Mental Health among Women with Fibromyalgia in Flanders, Belgium.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic illness that does not have clear physical consequences, yet research shows that FM patients often have a low body image. An online cross-sectional study was conducted in Flanders, Belgium, among FM women who are connected to the Flemish League for fibromyalgia patients. An adjusted Body Image Scale (BIS) was used to assess body image, the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) was used for mental health, and the Visual Analogue Scale Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (VASFIQ) was used for FM symptoms.

Intimacy in Psychotherapy: An Exploratory Survey Among Therapists.

A certain level of intimacy is necessary in psychotherapeutic relationships for them to be effective, but it can sometimes develop further into more intimate feelings and behaviors related to friendship and sexuality, into friendship, or even into sexual relationships. In this study, a self-administered questionnaire was sent to psychotherapists in Flanders (Belgium), asking about the occurrence of these situations. It provides an overview of these occurrences and comparative data to view for generational and cultural differences with previous studies.

Sexual Desire, Depressive Symptoms and Medication Use Among Women With Fibromyalgia in Flanders.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is associated with sexual dysfunction, though much less is known about the sexual desire, and especially dyadic and solitary sexual desire, among women with fibromyalgia.

Aim: To investigate on the one hand the global sexual desire, the dyadic sexual and solitary sexual desire, and on the other hand the association with depressive symptoms, fibromyalgia symptoms and medication use among women with fibromyalgia in Flanders, Belgium.

Methods: An online survey was spread through the Flemish league for Fibromyalgia Patients to be completed by women with fibromyalgia.

Victims of the Terrorist Attacks in Belgium and Professional Mental Health Aid Barriers: A Qualitative Study.

Terrorist attacks can cause short and long-term stress-reactions, anxiety, and depression among those exposed. Sometimes, professional mental health aid, meaning all types of professional psychotherapy, would be appropriate, but victims often delay or never access mental health aid, even up to a decade after the initial event. Little is known about the barriers terrorist-victims encounter when they try to access professional mental health aid.

Sexual Feelings Toward Clients in the Psychotherapeutic Relationship: The Taboo Revealed.

Talking about sexual feelings toward clients is still difficult for many mental health professionals. This is unfortunate, because exploring and talking about these feelings with peers (especially senior ones) or supervisors can help professionals to recognize, acknowledge, accept, and handle these feelings well. This focus group study explores the various factors that contribute to psychotherapists' hesitancy to talk about these feelings.

Psychotherapists' attitudes to intimate and informal behaviour towards clients.

Background: To avoid harming or exploiting a client, sexual and non-sexual dual relationship is generally considered as unacceptable in the psychotherapeutic relationship. However, little is known about what therapists themselves constitute as (un)acceptable intimate and informal behaviour (IIB).

Methods: A survey among psychotherapists in Flanders (Belgium) was conducted.

Questions and Emotions of Minors After Terrorist Attacks: A Qualitative Study Using Data from a Belgian Youth-Helpline.

Until now, there is little research on the experiences of indirectly exposed minors after terrorist attacks. This study sheds light on the emotions and questions of such indirectly exposed minors. A qualitative content analysis of secondary data gained from Awel, a youth-helpline, was performed until saturation.

Premature graduation of children in child restraint systems: an observational study.

This study investigated the use and misuse of child restraint systems (CRS) in Flanders (Belgium). Observations were conducted at a random sample of primary school and recreation areas. In total 1376 children were observed.