Análisis cualitativo de temas construidos y emergentes a partir de una experiencia piloto de psicoterapia centrada en la compasión (PCC) en pacientes con cáncer avanzado / Qualitative analysis of constructed and emerging themes from a pilot experience of Compassion Centered Psychotherapy (PCC) in patients with advanced cancer

Introducción: Desde el Instituto Catalán de Oncología de Duran i Reinals, se desarrolla un modelo de «Psicoterapia grupal Centrada en la Compasión» (PCC), enfocada a pacientes con cáncer en fase avanzada. El modelo trabaja constructos terapéuticos como «compasión» o«autocompasión», junto a la atención consciente (mindfulness) para mejorar el bienestar emocional y ayudar al crecimiento personal y espiritual de estos pacientes. Objetivo: El presente estudio piloto tiene como objetivo evaluar la adecuación del nuevo modelo de PCC propuesto. Concretamente evalúa la adecuación de los constructos trabajados por la terapia, la existencia de nuevos temas relevantes para el paciente no contemplados en el modelo, y la consistencia global del modelo a nivel de estructura, tareas y contenido. Método: La metodología fue cualitativa, se grabó y transcribió un ciclo de 8 sesiones de PCC y se hizo un análisis temático del contenido de las sesiones. El análisis fue realizado por dos evaluadores de forma independiente. La muestra final estuvo formada por 9 pacientes. Resultado: Los resultados obtenidos indican que hay una buena adecuación de los constructos trabajados en la terapia y del modelo en general. Sin embargo, será necesario incluir el tema de las «relaciones interpersonales», tema muy relevante para el paciente no contemplado en el modelo. Además, se obtuvo información sobre principales preocupaciones de los pacientes, dificultades a la hora de realizar algunas tareas propuestas y un feedback positivo de la propia psicoterapia y de su participación. Conclusiones: Este estudio piloto aporta información relevante que permite ajustar y mejorar la propuesta del modelo de PCC inicial (AU)

Introduction: People from the Catalan Institute of Oncology of Duran i Reinals have developed a model of «Psicoterapia grupal Centrada en la Compasión» (PCC), focused on patients with advanced cancer develops. The model works therapeutic constructs as «compassion» or «self-compassion» with mindfulness to improve emotional distress and help to the personal and spiritual growth of these patients. Objective: This pilot study aims to assess the adequacy of the new model proposed of PCC. Specifically evaluates the adequacy of the constructs therapy worked and the existence of new issues relevant to the patient not included in the model, and the overall consistency of the model for the structure, tasks and content. Method: The methodology was qualitative, one cycle of 8 sessions of PCC was recorded and transcribed, and was made a thematic analysis of the content of the sessions. The analysis was performed by two reviewers independently. The final sample consisted of 9 patients. Result: The results indicate that in general there is a good adequacy of the constructs worked in therapy and the model. However, it will be necessary to include the issue of «interpersonal relationships», very important for the patient and not included in the model. In addition, information of the main concerns of patients, difficulty performing some tasks proposed and positive feedback of psychotherapy and its participation, were obtained. Conclusions: This pilot study provides relevant information to adjust and improve the initial proposed model of PCC (AU)

Structural plasticity in hippocampal cells related to the facilitative effect of intracranial self-stimulation on a spatial memory task.

Posttraining intracranial self-stimulation (SS) in the lateral hypothalamus facilitates the acquisition and retention of several implicit and explicit memory tasks. Here, intracellular injections of Lucifer yellow were used to assess morphological changes in hippocampal neurons that might be specifically related to the facilitative posttraining SS effect upon the acquisition and retention of a distributed spatial task in the Morris water maze. We examined the structure, size and branching complexity of cornus ammonis 1 (CA1) cells, and the spine density of CA1 pyramidal neurons and granular cells of the dentate gyrus (DG). Animals that received SS after each acquisition session performed faster and better than Sham ones--an improvement that was also evident in a probe trial 3 days after the last training session. The neuromorphological analysis revealed an increment in the size and branching complexity in apical CA1 dendritic arborization in SS-treated subjects as compared with Sham animals. Furthermore, increased spine density was observed in the CA1 field in SS animals, whereas no effects were observed in DG cells. Our results support the hypothesis that the facilitating effect of SS on the acquisition and retention of a spatial memory task could be related to structural plasticity in CA1 hippocampal cells.