Intervención psicológica, desde el enfoque de la psicología positiva, en parejas infértiles que están en proceso de inseminación artificial

Fundamento: desde la mirada de la psicología positiva, el trabajo con la pareja infértil, que se insemina, permite potenciar las emociones positivas que favorecen el tratamiento y fortalecer en ellos la capacidad resiliente que les conduce a un mayor bienestar psicológico para enfrentar este proceso. Objetivo: aplicar una estrategia de intervención psicológica en parejas infértiles en proceso de inseminación artificial. Métodos estudio prospectivo, de enfoque mixto, que incluyó once parejas bajo tratamiento de inseminación artificial, atendidas en el Centro de Reproducción del Hospital Abel Santamaría, en Pinar de Río, desde diciembre de 2021 hasta abril de 2022. La vía esencial para la localización y accesibilidad de la muestra objeto de estudio fue la consulta propia de psicología dentro de la comisión multidisciplinaria que estudia estas parejas. Se realizaron entrevistas clínicas, observación participante y test psicométricos. Se aplicó una estrategia de intervención psicológica basada en la psicología tradicional y la psicología positiva. Se midió la resiliencia de las parejas antes y después de la intervención. Resultados: la intervención elevó a valores medios-altos la resiliencia de las parejas infértiles que se inseminan. Promovió el desarrollo de pensamientos y estados emocionales positivos, así como la identificación de fortalezas personales y de las parejas. Conclusiones: una estrategia de intervención psicológica basada en la psicología tradicional y la positiva contribuye a elevar la resiliencia de parejas infértiles en proceso de inseminación artificial.

Foundation: from the positive psychology point of view, working with the infertile couple, who is inseminated, allows to enhance the positive emotions that favor the treatment and strengthen their resilient capacity that leads to greater psychological well-being to face this process. Objective: to apply a psychological intervention strategy in infertile couples during the artificial insemination process. Methods: prospective study, with a mixed approach, which included eleven couples undergoing artificial insemination treatment, treated at the Abel Santamaría Hospital Reproduction Center, in Pinar de Río, from December 2021 to April 2022. The essential route for localization and accessibility of the sample under study was the psychology consultation within the multidisciplinary commission that studies these couples. Clinical interviews, participant observation and psychometric tests were carried out. A psychological intervention strategy based on traditional psychology and positive psychology was applied. The resilience of the couples was measured before and after the intervention. Results: the intervention raised the resilience of infertile couples that are inseminated to medium-high values. It promoted the development of positive thoughts and emotional states, as well as the identification of personal and couple strengths. Conclusions: a psychological intervention strategy based on traditional and positive psychology contributes to increasing the infertile couples's resilience in the artificial insemination process.

"Three Good Things" Digital Intervention Among Health Care Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Positive psychology shows promise in improving positive affect and happiness. We tested a digital version of a positive psychology intervention called Three Good Things (3GT) among health care workers to assess whether gratitude practice improved well-being. METHODS: All members of a large academic medicine department were invited. Participants were randomized to an immediate intervention group or control group (delayed intervention). Participants completed outcome measures surveys (demographics, depression, positive affect, gratitude, and life satisfaction) at baseline, and at 1 month and 3 months post-intervention. Controls completed additional surveys at 4 and 6 months (completion of the delayed intervention). During the intervention, we sent 3 text messages per week asking for 3GT that occurred that day. We used linear mixed models to compare the groups and to look at the effects of department role, sex, age, and time on outcomes. RESULTS: Of 468 eligible individuals, 223 (48%) enrolled and were randomized with high retention through the end of the study. Most (87%) identified as female. For the intervention group, positive affect improved slightly at 1 month, then declined slightly but remained significantly improved at 3 months. Depression, gratitude, and life satisfaction scores showed a similar trend but were not statistically different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our research showed adherence to a positive psychology intervention for health care workers created small positive improvements immediately post-intervention but were not sustained. Further work should evaluate whether utilizing different duration or intensity of the intervention improves benefits.

Positive psychological well-being: A novel concept for improving symptoms, quality of life, and health behaviors in irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Though a growing body of research suggests that greater positive psychological well-being in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be protective, existing brain-gut behavior therapies primarily target negative psychological factors. Little is known about how positive psychological factors in IBS relate to IBS symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), or adherence to key health behaviors, such as physical activity and diet modification. Accordingly, per the ORBIT model of behavioral treatment development for chronic diseases, we explored potential connections between psychological constructs and IBS symptoms, health behavior engagement (physical activity and dietary modification), and HRQoL in a qualitative study to inform the development of a novel brain-gut behavior therapy. METHODS: Participants with IBS completed self-report assessments and semi-structured phone interviews about relationships between positive and negative psychological constructs, IBS symptoms, health behavior engagement, and HRQoL. KEY RESULTS: Participants (n = 23; 57% female) ranged in age from 25 to 79 (mean age = 54). IBS subtypes were similarly represented (IBS-diarrhea [n = 8], IBS-constipation [n = 7], and IBS-mixed [n = 8]). Participants described opposing relationships between positive and negative psychological constructs, IBS symptoms, health behavior engagement, and HRQoL, respectively, such that experiencing positive constructs largely mitigated IBS symptoms, boosted health behavior participation, and improved HRQoL, and negative constructs exacerbated symptoms, reduced health behavior participation, and worsened HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: Participants with IBS linked greater positive psychological well-being to moderated IBS symptoms and better HRQoL and health behavior participation. An intervention to cultivate greater well-being may be a novel way to mitigate IBS symptoms, boost health behavior participation, and improve HRQoL in IBS.

The effect of positive thinking training on hope and adherence to treatment in hemodialysis patients: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing hemodialysis are exposed to psychological problems, such as despair, which in turn can be a trigger for them to abandon the treatment process. This study aimed to determine the effect of positive thinking training on hope and adherence to treatment in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was performed on 80 hemodialysis patients referred to two hemodialysis centers in Shiraz, Iran. They were randomly divided into an intervention and a control group. Eight sessions of positive thinking skills training carried out individually on the patients' bedsides. The primary and secondary outcomes were hope and adherence to treatment, respectively. The data were collected using Snyder Hope Questionnaire, End-Stage Renal Disease Adherence Questionnaire, laboratory tests, and weight measurements. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and Paired and Independent T-test using SPSS software version 18. RESULTS: After the intervention, the mean score of hope was significantly higher in the intervention group (42.1 ± 6.1) than in the control group (38.7 ± 6.5) (p = 0.024). Moreover, after the intervention, the mean score of adherence to treatment was significantly higher in the intervention group (1070.2 ± 80.1) compared to the control group (1018.4 ± 105.3) (p = 0.019). In addition, blood urea nitrogen, phosphate and inter-dialytic weight gain were lower in the intervention group compared to the control group after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that positive thinking interventions could lead to improvement in hope and adherence to treatment in hemodialysis patients. Positive thinking training could be used in caring of hemodialysis patients to improve their hope and adherence to treatment. Trial registration RCT Registry: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; RCT registration number: IRCT20180915041044N1; Registration date: 19/12/2018.

Positive psychological well-being and clinical characteristics in IBS: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Psychological factors (e.g., depression, anxiety) are known to contribute to the development and maintenance of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Less is known, however, about the role of positive psychological well-being (PPWB) in IBS. Accordingly, we completed a systematic review of the literature examining relationships between PPWB and clinical characteristics in IBS. METHOD: A systematic review using search terms related to PPWB and IBS from inception through July 28, 2022, was completed. Quality was assessed with the NIH Quality Assessment Tool. A narrative synthesis of findings, rather than meta-analysis, was completed due to study heterogeneity. RESULTS: 22 articles with a total of 4285 participants with IBS met inclusion criteria. Individuals with IBS had lower levels of PPWB (e.g., resilience, positive affect, self-efficacy, emotion regulation) compared to healthy populations, which in turn was associated with reduced physical and mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Limited exploration of potential biological mechanisms underlying these relationships has been described. CONCLUSIONS: PPWB is diminished in individuals with IBS compared to other populations, and greater PPWB is linked to superior physical, psychological, and HRQoL outcomes. Interventions to increase PPWB may have the potential to improve IBS-related outcomes. REGISTRATION: Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42022304767.

Character Strengths Scale-Brief: initial psychometric studies / Escala de Forças de Caráter-Breve: estudos psicométricos iniciais

Objective Character strengths are positive human characteristics that indicate a happy and successful life. The objective was to select items for the Character Strengths Scale-Brief instrument and to identify its psychometric properties. Method Exploratory factor analysis and qualitative analysis of the items (Study 1) were performed in a database of 4,540 people who responded to the Character Strengths Scale (71 items). In Study 2, 1,014 participants responded to the Character Strengths Scale-Brief (48 items). Results The psychometric indices identified in the confirmatory factor analyses were unsatisfactory for the instrument when considering structures previously reported in the literature. Conclusion After successive analyses, the structure of two factors of first order was considered the most adequate for the Character Strengths Scale-Brief (18 items), with better fit indexes and theoretical relevance. The results were discussed in the light of the literature.

Objetivo: Forças de caráter são características humanas positivas que indicam uma vida feliz e bem-sucedida. Neste artigo, objetivou-se selecionar itens para elaborar a Escala de Forças de Caráter-Breve e identificar as propriedades psicométricas do instrumento. Método: Foram realizadas análises fatoriais exploratórias e qualitativas dos itens (Estudo 1) a partir informações coletadas em um banco de dados composto por 4.540 registros de respostas à Escala de Forças de Caráter (71 itens). No Estudo 2, 1.014 participantes responderam à Escala de Forças de Caráter-Breve (48 itens). Resultados: Os índices psicométricos identificados nas análises fatoriais confirmatórias foram insatisfatórios para o instrumento quando consideradas as estruturas relatadas anteriormente na literatura. Conclusão: Após sucessivas análises, a estrutura de dois fatores de primeira ordem foi considerada a mais adequada para a Escala de Forças de Caráter-Breve (18 itens), com melhores índices de ajuste e pertinência teórica. Os resultados foram discutidos à luz da literatura.

Pain Trajectories During Initial Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury: Do Psychosocial Resources and Mental Health Predict Trajectories?

OBJECTIVE: To identify classes of pain trajectories during initial rehabilitation after spinal cord injury (SCI) and to investigate whether psychosocial resources and mental health predict pain trajectory membership. DESIGN: Longitudinal analysis with prospective data from the Inception Cohort of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study. SETTING: Initial rehabilitation in 4 SCI specialized rehabilitation centers in Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged ≥16 years with newly diagnosed traumatic or nontraumatic SCI admitted to initial rehabilitation between August 2015 and April 2021 (N=343). INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain intensity was assessed at 4 time points (4, 12, and 24 weeks after SCI and at discharge) with 1 item of the International SCI Basic Pain Dataset asking participants to rate their average pain intensity experienced during the past week on a 0-10 numeric rating scale. RESULTS: Four pain trajectories were identified by latent process mixed modeling: stable moderate pain (N=170, 49.6%), decreasing pain (N=36, 10.5%), increasing pain (N=16, 4.7%), and stable low pain (N=121, 35.3%). Participants with higher optimism (ß = 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03-0.22), more social support (ß = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.01-0.59), and less anxiety (ß = -0.13; 95% CI, -0.24 to -0.01) 1 month after injury were more likely to be classified to the decreasing pain than the stable moderate pain trajectory in adjusted analyses. Self-efficacy, purpose in life, and depressive symptoms did not predict this allocation when adjusting for sociodemographics, SCI characteristics, and pain medication. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial resources and mental health for early pain trajectories after SCI onset and support the notion that strengthening psychosocial resources and mental health early after SCI could present promising targets in pain management.

Forças de caráter autopercebidas por enfermeiros de centros de atenção psicossocial álcool e drogas / Self-perceived character strengths by nurses from alcohol and drug psychosocial care centers

Introdução: as forças de caráter são um coletivo de traços positivos moralmente valorizados derivados da psicologia positiva, essenciais para o nosso bem-estar. Essa é uma descoberta inovadora, devido ser uma linguagem do caráter que atravessa culturas descrevendo o que há de melhor nos seres humanos. A jornada dos enfermeiros é reconhecidamente fundamental e essencial para a qualidade da prestação dos serviços dos Centros de Atenção Psicossocial (CAPS), sendo um cargo de liderança e estando presente em todos os turnos, sua rotina é marcada por situações complicadas, demandando a construção de diversas habilidades e procedimentos específicos, para lidar com problemas neuropsiquiátricos graves, sintomas relacionados ao uso de substâncias, entre outras situações. Objetivo: analisar as forças de caráter autopercebidas por enfermeiros de saúde mental de Centros de Atenção Psicossocial Álcool e Drogas (CAPSad) em seu cotidiano de trabalho no contexto da atenção psicossocial. Métodos: trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, exploratória, descritiva, em consonância com o referencial teórico das forças de caráter de Peterson e Seligman ancoradas na psicologia positiva. Participaram do estudo 15 enfermeiros que atuavam em três CAPSad do município de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados via ambiente virtual, em duas etapas: na primeira etapa foi apresentado um questionário via google form com dados de caracterização dos participantes e as forças de caráter; na segunda etapa foi realizada uma entrevista semiestruturada, de forma remota, via plataforma virtual (Zoom), para explorar a relação das forças de caráter com a prática do enfermeiro. As informações obtidas foram submetidas à análise de conteúdo. Foram respeitados os preceitos éticos de pesquisas envolvendo seres humanos, sendo aprovado por um Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa sob o número CAAE: 52210621.6.0000.5347.

Introduction: Character strengths are a collective of morally valued positive traits derived from positive psychology that are essential to our well-being. This is a groundbreaking finding, as it is a language of character that crosses cultures describing the best in human beings. The journey of nurses is recognized as fundamental and essential for the quality of service delivery at Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS), being a leadership position and being present in all shifts, their routine is marked by complicated situations, demanding the construction of different skills and specific procedures, to deal with with severe neuropsychiatric problems, symptoms related to substance use, among other situations. Objective: to analyze the self- perceived character strengths of mental health nurses from Psychosocial Care Centers for Alcohol and Drugs (CAPSad) in their daily work in the context of psychosocial care. Methods: this is a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive research, in line with the theoretical framework of Peterson and Seligman's character strengths anchored in positive psychology. The study included 15 nurses who worked in three CAPSad in the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data were collected via a virtual environment, in two stages: in the first stage, a questionnaire was presented via google form with characterization data of the participants and character strengths; in the second stage, a semi-structured interview was conducted remotely via a virtual platform (Zoom) to explore the relationship between character strengths and nursing practice. The information obtained was submitted to content analysis. The ethical precepts of researches involving human beings were respected, being approved by a Committee of Ethics in Research under number CAAE: 52210621.6.0000.5347.

The Effects of a Digital Well-Being Intervention on Patients With Chronic Conditions: Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic conditions account for 75% of health care costs, and the impact of chronic illness is expected to grow over time. Although subjective well-being predicts better health outcomes, people with chronic conditions tend to report lower well-being. Improving well-being might mitigate costs associated with chronic illness; however, existing interventions can be difficult to access and draw from a single theoretical approach. Happify, a digital well-being intervention program drawing from multiple theoretical traditions to target well-being, has already been established as an efficacious means of improving well-being in both distressed and nondistressed users. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare change in well-being over time after using Happify for users with and without a chronic condition. METHODS: Data were obtained from Happify users, a publicly available digital well-being program accessible via website or mobile phone app. Users work on tracks addressing a specific issue (eg, conquering negative thoughts) composed of games and activities based on positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness principles. The sample included 821 users receiving at least 6 weeks' exposure to Happify (ranging from 42 to 179 days) who met other inclusion criteria. As part of a baseline questionnaire, respondents reported demographic information (age and gender) and whether they had any of the prespecified chronic conditions: arthritis, diabetes, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, psoriasis, eczema, or some other condition (450 reported a chronic condition, whereas 371 did not). Subjective well-being was assessed with the Happify Scale, a 9-item measure of positive emotionality and life satisfaction. To evaluate changes in well-being over time, a mixed effects linear regression model was fit for subjective well-being, controlling for demographics and platform usage. RESULTS: At baseline, users with a chronic condition had significantly lower subjective well-being (mean 38.34, SD 17.40) than users without a chronic condition (mean 43.65, SD 19.13). However, change trajectories for users with or without a chronic condition were not significantly different; both groups experienced equivalent improvements in well-being. We also found an effect for time from baseline (b=0.071; SE=0.010; P<.01) and number of activities completed (b=0.03; SE=0.009; P<.01), and a 2-way interaction between number of activities completed and time from baseline (b=0.0002; SE=0.00006; P<.01), such that completing more activities and doing so over increasingly longer periods produced improved well-being scores. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this study support the conclusion that users with a chronic condition experienced significant improvement over time. Despite reporting lower subjective well-being on the whole, their change trajectory while using Happify was equivalent to those without a chronic condition. Consistent with past research, users who completed more activities over a longer period showed the most improvement. In short, the presence of a chronic condition did not prevent users from showing improved well-being when using Happify.

Aplicando psicología positiva en educación médica / Applying positive psychology to medical education

Today we are witnessing an exponential growth in positive psychology (PP), a scientific approach to the most significant purpose of human existence: happiness and meaning of life. As a consequence of PP studies, happiness and wellbeing are now accepted as valid topics of research, despite their subjective and supposedly unscientific essence. Experimental evident indicates that happiness and wellbeing have biological bases and, thus, can be scientifically approached and eventually changed. We believe that we need to learn from this new discipline and apply its discoveries in our profession as medical educators to foster the full development of our students. In this review, we will summarize the major developments and discoveries of PP, and open the debate on the implications of PP offer to medical education.