Mindful gratitude journaling: psychological distress, quality of life and suffering in advanced cancer: a randomised controlled trial.

Context: Numerous studies have shown that gratitude can reduce stress and improve quality of life.

Objective: Our study aimed to examine the effect of mindful gratitude journaling on suffering, psychological distress and quality of life of patients with advanced cancer.

Methods: We conducted a parallel-group, blinded, randomised controlled trial at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia.

Symptom reduction in palliative care from single session mindful breathing: a randomised controlled trial.

Context: There has been increasing evidence of the role of mindfulness-based interventions in improving various health conditions. However, the evidence for the use of mindfulness in the palliative care setting is still lacking.

Objectives: The objective of our study was to determine the efficacy of a single session of 20 min mindful breathing in alleviating multiple symptoms in palliative care.

The Suffering Pictogram: Measuring Suffering in Palliative Care.

Background: Measuring suffering objectively presents a challenge because suffering is a unique and subjective experience. However, objective tools are of profound importance in the detection and management of suffering in clinical practice for optimal patient care.

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the psychometric properties of the Suffering Pictogram, a new suffering assessment instrument on a population of palliative care patients.

Distress Reduction for Palliative Care Patients and Families With 5-Minute Mindful Breathing: A Pilot Study.

A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of 5-minute mindful breathing in distress reduction. Twenty palliative care patients and family caregivers with a distress score ≥4 measured by the Distress Thermometer were recruited and randomly assigned to mindful breathing or "listening" (being listened to). Median distress reductions after 5 minutes were 2.

The Experiences of Well-Being of Palliative Care Patients in Malaysia: A Thematic Analysis.

A qualitative study was conducted with semistructured interviews to explore the experiences of well-being in 15 adult palliative care inpatients of University Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The results were thematically analyzed. Six basic themes were generated (1) positive attitude, (2) positive cognitions, (3) positive emotions, (4) positive engagement, (5) positive relationships, and (6) positive circumstances.

The prevalence and correlates of alcohol use disorder amongst bipolar patients in a hospital setting, Malaysia.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of alcohol-use disorder and associated correlates amongst bipolar patients in a university hospital in Malaysia.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 121 bipolar disorder patients were included. Their alcohol use disorders were assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (plus version) and the Addiction Severity Index-Lite-Clinical Factors version.