Mind-body therapies are among the most widely recommended and used form of complementary and alternative medicine. Nursing has long championed these interventions, citing the healing potential of the mind on physiological systems. Professional beliefs about the inherent holism of the human being are now supported by advances in science; there is basic bench research that now suggests an...
We recently demonstrated that Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) chronic administration in female adolescent rats induces alterations in the emotional circuit ending in depressive-like behavior in adulthood. Since cognitive dysfunction is a major component of depression, we assessed in these animals at adulthood different forms of memory. Adolescent female rats were treated with THC or its...
The study aimed (1) to investigate changes in older adults' emotional wellbeing (specifically depression, anxiety and stress levels) and mindful ability following a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) course; (2) to explore correlations between mindfulness (measured as an overall ability and as individual components; observe, describe, act with awareness and accept without judgement) and...
Several studies have supported the idea that ionotropic glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDA) is an important player in the etiology of psychopathologies, such as anxiety disorders and major depression. Additionally, studies have shown that ketamine induces antidepressant effects in humans as well as in rodents subjected to animal models of depression. In this context, the present...
Distributed by National Film Board of Canada, 1123 Broadway, Suite 307, New York, NY 10010; 800-542-2164Produced by Kent MartinDirected by Connie Littlefield2002, DVD, color, 57 min. If you need a film demonstrating that science and medicine are culture bound, this is it. As a member of the baby-boom generation I sat down to watch this film thinking, what can I learn about LSD that I don’t...
People often respond with distress and avoidance to their own negative experiences, such as the physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects of depression or anxiety. When people with chronic pain respond this way, their overall level of distress may increase, they may struggle to avoid their emotional experiences, and their daily functioning may decrease. The purpose of this study was to examine...
Abstract: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) became a formal diagnosis included in DSM-III only in 1980 on account of the organized efforts of Charles Figley, Chaim Shatan, and other advocate groups for veterans and trauma survivors. Trauma has pervasive and devastating impacts on individuals. Trauma survivors, especially those with prolonged histories of interpersonal abuse, typically suffer...
OBJECTIVES: Thought suppression is a strategy aimed at mental control that may paradoxically increase the frequency of unwanted thoughts. This preliminary study examined effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on thought suppression and depression in individuals with past depression and suicidality. METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial design, 68 participants were allocated...
This article describes a factor analysis of a 22-item version of the Serenity Scale, a tool that measures spirituality and well-being. A sample of 87 participants, enrolled in a National Institutes of Health-funded clinical trial examining the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction on symptom management post-solid organ transplantation, completed the abbreviated instrument. Exploratory...