ABSTRACT
This study examined the role of religious and nonreligious cognitive-behavioral coping in a sample of 61 chronic pain patients from a midwestern pain clinic. Participants described their chronic pain and indicated their use of religious and nonreligious cognitive-behavioral coping strategies. Results supported a multidimensional conceptualization of religious coping that includes both positive and negative strategies. Positive religious coping strategies were associated significantly with positive affect and religious outcome after statistically controlling for demographic variables. In contrast, measures of negative religious coping strategies were not associated significantly with outcome variables. Several significant associations also were found between nonreligious cognitive-behavioral coping strategies and outcome variables. The results underscore the need for further research concerning the contributions of religious coping in adjustment to chronic pain. Practitioners of applied psychophysiology should assess their chronic pain patients' religious appraisals and religious coping as another important stress management strategy.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological/physiology , Pain/physiopathology , Religion and Medicine , Adult , Affect , Aged , Chronic Disease , Education , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Regression Analysis , Socioeconomic Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Preliminary evidence exists through single case reports that psychophysiological interventions may be useful in the treatment of syncope (fainting). To explore this possibility, a case series of ten patients with histories of recurrent unexplained syncope or near syncope, headache, and a poor response to or tolerance for medication was performed. All patients were treated with electromyographic, thermal, biofeedback as well as progressive and autogenic relaxation. Six of the ten patients showed a major decrease in symptoms at the end of treatment. Descriptive comparisons between the improved and unimproved group were made and a detailed case study of one improved patient is presented. The results suggested that biofeedback-assisted relaxation treatment was most effective in younger patients whose syncope was associated with a strong psychophysiological response and whose headaches were intermittent, not daily occurrences.
Subject(s)
Biofeedback, Psychology , Headache/therapy , Relaxation Therapy , Syncope, Vasovagal/therapy , Adolescent , Arousal/physiology , Autogenic Training , Biofeedback, Psychology/physiology , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Headache/physiopathology , Humans , Male , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care , Psychophysiology , Syncope, Vasovagal/physiopathology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
This study identified a sample of suicidal preadolescent children who also were depressed, aggressive, and socially isolated. The study explored the dimensions of cohesion and control associated with the families of these children. Two hypotheses were suggested: 1) the families have a deficit in emotional bonding and 2) the families have a chaotic disciplinary style. It also seems likely that children learn suicidal behavior through observation of others in their family and social contexts.
