ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) has been used successfully as a computer-based intervention in disorders such as anxiety. However, CBM to modify interpretations of ambiguous information relevant to paranoia has not yet been tested. We conducted a qualitative investigation of a novel intervention called CBM for paranoia (CBM-pa) to examine its acceptability in patients with psychosis. METHODS: Eight participants with psychosis who completed CBM-pa were identified by purposive sampling and invited for a semi-structured interview to explore the facilitators and barriers to participation, optimum form of delivery, perceived usefulness of CBM-pa and their opinions on applying CBM-pa as a computerised intervention. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis by researchers working in collaboration with service users. RESULTS: Themes emerged relating to participants' perception about delivery, engagement, programme understanding, factors influencing experience, perceived impact and application of CBM-pa. CBM-pa was regarded as easy, straightforward and enjoyable. It was well-accepted among those we interviewed, who understood the procedure as a psychological intervention. Patients reported that it increased their capacity for adopting alternative interpretations of emotionally ambiguous scenarios. Although participants all agreed on the test-like nature of the current CBM-pa format, they considered that taking part in sessions had improved their overall wellbeing. Most of them valued the computer-based interface of CBM-pa but favoured the idea of combining CBM-pa with some form of human interaction. CONCLUSIONS: CBM-pa is an acceptable intervention that was well-received by our sample of patients with paranoia. The current findings reflect positively on the acceptability and experience of CBM-pa in the target population. Patient opinion supports further development and testing of CBM-pa as a possible adjunct treatment for paranoia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN: 90749868 . Retrospectively registered on 12 May 2016.
Subject(s)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Paranoid Disorders/therapy , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Paranoid Disorders/psychology , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Qualitative Research , User-Computer InterfaceABSTRACT
A hair seeding technique has been developed to obtain diffraction quality crystals of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) iso-2-cytochrome c, a model for studies of protein folding and biological electron transfer reactions. Deep red crystals of this protein were obtained from 88 to 92% saturated solutions of ammonium sulfate containing 20 mg protein/ml, 0.1 M-sodium phoshate, 0.3 M-sodium chloride, 0.04 M-dithiothreitol and adjusted to phosphate, 0.3 M-sodium chloride, 0.04 M-dithiothreitol and adjusted to pH 6.0. Rapid crystal growth was observed, but only along the path of the seeding hair stroke. The space group is P4(3)2(1)2 (or P4(1)2(1)2) with a = b = 36.4 A, c = 137.8 A (1 A = 0.1 nm) and Z = 8. Crystals are stable in the X-ray beam for more than 10 days and diffract to at least 2.5 A resolution. The same hair seeding methodology has proven useful in obtaining crystals of specifically designed mutant iso-2 proteins and in other protein systems where consistent crystal growth had previously proven difficult to attain.
