RCT: Mindfulness for Social Work and Self-care
BurnoutProfessional4 moreSocial work is a stressful occupation with social workers at high risk of job-related stress and burnout. Mindfulness has been evidenced as a promising approach for improving: recovery from stress; behavioural responses to stress; and resilience. The Mindfulness-based social work and self-care programme, a bespoke and innovative online mindfulness programme developed for frontline social workers, have been shown to be effective in improving aspects of psychological and general wellbeing among a social work population. The main aim of the study is to confirm the efficacy of this bespoke, innovative, 6-session Mindfulness Intervention for social workers (MBSWSC) in reducing social worker stress, feelings of burnout, anxiety, low mood and improving well-being. The study will also compare outcomes from the MBSWSC with a briefer, condensed 3 session mindfulness programme (MBSC). The findings of this study will serve to complement and confirm the findings of an initial RCT, but in a post-covid environment.
The Influence of Fluid Intake on Daily Biological Rhythm and Mental Performance in Healthy Young...
HealthyHabitual; Drinking4 moreChronic low water intake may raise the risk of morbidity and mortality by influencing key water regulating hormones (e.g., AVP), which are known to modulate glucoregulation and renal function. For example, AVP stimulates the HPA axis to release the glucocorticoid stress hormone cortisol with potentially far-reaching effects on metabolism, immunity and inflammation. One study observed elevated blood cortisol in a group of low water drinkers, albeit cortisol was measured at one time of day only. However, in the field of psychobiology, researchers have traditionally related more dynamic assessments of cortisol with health outcomes; by evoking cortisol responses to acute standardised laboratory stressors, such as The Trier social stress test. More recently, researchers have appreciated the importance of circadian variability in cortisol levels, by examining influences on, and consequences of individual differences in the diurnal variation of cortisol. The major measurable parameters of the diurnal variation are; the cortisol awakening response (CAR), which is the rise in cortisol during the first 30-45 minutes following awakening, and the diurnal cortisol slope, which is the rate of decline in cortisol levels across the day, from morning to evening. These parameters are considered to reflect different aspects of HPA axis function; with the CAR best reflecting the adrenal capacity to respond to stress and awakening and diurnal slope more indicative of daily cortisol exposure. Although distinct, both blunted CAR and a flattened diurnal cortisol slope appear to be consistent markers of HPA axis dysfunction and related to a variety of poor health outcomes. Therefore, it has been recommended that contemporary research should simultaneously estimate an individual's awakening cortisol responsiveness, and diurnal slope, thereby capturing distinct and important components of HPA axis function. The shared pathways that regulate body water, diurnal variation in cortisol and our response to stress underpin the broad aim of this research programme: to investigate the influence of low and high fluid intake on diurnal cortisol variation and the cortisol response to acute stress. The aims of this study are to investigate: The influence of a change in water intake behaviour on diurnal saliva cortisol variation as assessed by the CAR (primary outcome) The influence of a change in water intake behaviour on biomarkers of hydration and thirst as assessed by urine osmolality, urine colour and thirst sensation. The influence of habitual low and high total fluid intake on saliva cortisol response to an acute psychological stress (secondary outcome) Investigate the influence of a change in water intake behaviour on plasma biomarkers of hydration as assessed by plasma osmolality and plasma copeptin (exploratory outcome)
Study of Effectiveness of Audio Guided Deep Breathing on Improving the Quality of Life of Physically...
PsychophysiologyVisually Impaired Persons2 moreDiaphragmatic breathing brings different advantages to improve physical and mental health but it could be difficult for the physically disabled group to follow the practice by themselves especially those with vision impairment. Therefore, guided deep breathing is desirable to address their needs but these are rarely analyzed in the previous literature. This research aims to study the physiological impacts and psychological health of audio-guided deep breathing on physically disabled groups. The psychological changes will be assessed by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHO-BREF) and Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R). Besides, physiological parameters such as tidal volume, electroencephalography, hair cortisol level and heart rate variability are measured non-invasively to evaluate the impact of audio-guided deep breathing. Furthermore, auditory Go-No Go Task will be adopted as a neuropsychological test in determining changes in response control and sustained attention in this study as well. Eventually, the pre-and post-interventional data will be analyzed and processed to study the effect of audio-guided deep breathing on these special groups.
Effects of an Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention
Nurse's RoleCOVID-19 Pandemic1 moreSome recent studies demonstrated caregivers may experience negative emotions such as anxiety and sadness, which may also affect normal treatment during the epidemic. As the pandemic continues, mental health support, encouragement , and a sense of purpose are needed to support healthcare workers.
Impact of Stress Management Training on the Resilience and Stress of Student Nurse Anaesthetists...
StressPsychologicalThe study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of stress management training provided to student nurse anaesthetists on: their level of chronic perceived stress in the last month, their level of acute perceived stress each day for one month, their level of resilience and their level of sleep quality.
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Intellectually Able Autistic Adults
Treatment SatisfactionParticipation Rate6 moreThis project evaluates mindfulness based stress-reduction (MBSR), adjusted and manualized for intellectually able autistic adults. MBSR is a skills training program based on further development of cognitive behavioral therapy. The program includes eight weekly group training sessions and one full-day retreat, aiming at stress reduction and improved coping in everyday life, as well as improved mental health. The aspiration is to make ASD-adjusted MBSR an intervention that is acceptable and accessible to individuals with autism in open clinical care. This includes considering variability in background factors such as age, comorbidity and other personal qualities and preferences. The aim of the studies is to evaluate (1) the feasibility and (2) effectiveness of MBSR in adults (18 or over) with autism without intellectual disability, in an outpatient clinical habilitation context.
Beyond Silence: Advancing E-mental Health Solutions to Support Canadian Healthcare Workers
Mental Health IssueMental Stress2 moreThe purpose of this project is to scale implementation and evaluation of an m-health app designed to promote early intervention and mental health support for frontline healthcare workers to reduce their risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond Silence has received an additional year of funding to scale implementation across 4-6 additional healthcare organizations.
Mental Stress Reduction in Defibrillator Patients
CardiomyopathyDilated3 moreThe purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a 10 week program of Stress Management versus control Patient Education sessions on cardiac responses to mental stress in veterans with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators
The Professional Peer Resilience Initiative
StressStress Disorder14 moreThe Professional Peer Resilience Initiative (PPRI) study is an observational study aimed at understanding how symptoms of traumatic stress and resilience evolve over time in the University of Minnesota (UMN) healthcare workforce during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study is being conducted concurrently with a UMN peer support program called the MinnRAP program and will remotely administer quality of life and mental health surveys to healthcare workers before they start the MinnRAP program and throughout their participation in the program.
Sleeping Healthy/Living Healthy Development
SleepPsychological StressThis pilot study will: (1) develop Sleeping Healthy/Living Healthy, a school-based health center (SBHC) intervention that combines MBIH and sleep hygiene strategies to improve sleep quality in urban adolescents with poor sleep quality; (2) evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of intervention procedures; and (3) assess the preliminary intervention effects on sleep quality in urban adolescents. This study includes a development phase and a pilot individually-randomized group treatment (IRGT) phase. In Year 1, the investigators will develop the novel integrated intervention using an iterative participatory design process. In Year 2, the investigators will conduct an IRGT trial with 60 adolescents with insufficient sleep recruited from two SBHCs in New York City. Adolescents will be randomized 1:1 to receive the intervention or an attention control of equal intensity and duration. Process evaluation interviews guided by a rigorous fidelity framework with adolescents and with SBHC providers and personnel will be conducted to obtain feedback regarding intervention procedures.