Psychometric validation of the 15-item Patient Health Questionnaire - Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) to assess psychological distress in breast cancer survivors.

Objective: Psychological distress persists amongst breast cancer survivors, so reliable assessment of symptoms is essential. The Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) is a composite measure of depression and anxiety and has been used to measure distress. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the PHQ-ADS within breast cancer survivors.

Acceptance and commitment therapy processes and their association with distress in cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Around 42% of individuals with cancer experience distress. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can reduce distress, but effects are small, and mechanisms unclear. This review aimed to identify associations between ACT processes and distress in cancer.

A Novel Digital Self-management Intervention for Symptoms of Fatigue, Pain, and Urgency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Describing the Process of Development.

Background: Empirical studies and systematic reviews have demonstrated the role of biological, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional factors in fatigue, pain, and urgency in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Behavioral management that addresses the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional factors offered alongside medical treatment is seldom available to people with IBD. Digital interventions provide a potentially scalable and cost-effective way of providing behavioral support to patients.

An experimental study to identify key psychological mechanisms that promote and predict resilience in the aftermath of treatment for breast cancer.

Objective: Women living with and beyond breast cancer (BC) frequently encounter cancer-related information in day-to-day life. The extent they are emotionally resilient to this information differs between women. Identifying key modifiable psychological mechanisms predicting resilience in these women could highlight targets for interventions to improve resilience in others.

Developing an Online Program for Self-Management of Fatigue, Pain, and Urgency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Patients' Needs and Wants.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a lifelong relapsing-remitting condition, characterized by troublesome symptoms including fatigue, pain, and bowel urgency. These symptoms can persist even in clinical remission and have a debilitating impact on social, work-related and intimate domains of life. Symptom self-management can be challenging for some patients, who could potentially benefit from an online self-management tool.

A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Self-Compassion-Related Interventions for Individuals With Chronic Physical Health Conditions.

Self-compassion, defined as a mindful way of coping with pain and suffering by showing kindness, care, and concern towards the self, may improve psychological adjustment in people living with a chronic physical health condition (CPHC). Various studies illustrate that self-compassion is associated with positive outcomes in general. The aim of this systematic review is to establish the effect of compassion-related therapies on self-compassion specifically in people with CPHCs.

Brief guided imagery and body scanning interventions reduce food cravings.

Elaborated Intrusion (EI) Theory proposes that cravings occur when involuntary thoughts about food are elaborated; a key part of elaboration is affectively-charged imagery. Craving can be weakened by working memory tasks that block imagery. EI Theory predicts that cravings should also be reduced by preventing involuntary thoughts being elaborated in the first place.