Current opinion in psychiatry
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Curr Opin Psychiatry · Sep 2014
ReviewThe effectiveness of psychological treatments for chronic pain in older adults: cautious optimism and an agenda for research.
To explores the potential role of psychological treatments for older people who are affected by chronic pain. ⋯ We conclude that there is sufficient evidence that psychological interventions are efficacious for older people with chronic pain. We propose a number of areas for research focus over the next 10 years that will help to consolidate our knowledge and to explore new avenues for the psychological management of chronic pain in older people.
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Curr Opin Psychiatry · Sep 2014
ReviewUnderstanding and translating the knowledge about placebo effects: the contribution of psychology.
Recent articles have summarized the literature on the neurobiological mechanisms involved in placebo effects. In this article, we review and evaluate the status of the psychological mechanisms in theory and research regarding placebo effects. ⋯ Research and theory on placebo effects has illuminated much regarding the neurobiological mechanisms. The psychological mechanisms, however, have received much less attention. Expanding our knowledge regarding the psychological processes involved in placebo responding would open up opportunities for developing nondeceptive intervention techniques that encourage placebo responses. Ultimately, a concerted empirical effort to clarify the psychological model underlying placebo effects could merge with the evolving neurobiological model to fulfill the promise that placebo effects have for improving patient outcomes.
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Bariatric surgery has been consistently shown to be effective in long-term marked weight loss and in bringing significant improvement to medical comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome. Empirical data suggest a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among bariatric surgery candidates. In this review, we focus on the studies published recently with a high impact on our understanding of the role of psychiatry in bariatric surgery. ⋯ Recent publications suggest new directions for psychiatric evaluation and interventions for bariatric surgery patients. Future research on outcomes of specific populations, effectiveness of psychopharmacotherapy, and underlying pathophysiology are warranted for the advancement of treating bariatric surgery patients.
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Curr Opin Psychiatry · Sep 2014
ReviewPrevention of domestic violence against women and children in low-income and middle-income countries.
Violence against women and children is increasingly recognized as an important and urgent public health, social and human rights issue cutting across geographical, socioeconomic and cultural boundaries. There is a large and growing body of literature that demonstrates the negative impact of such violence on the victim's mental and physical health, as well as several other consequences on them, their families and communities. However, this literature for the most part comes from the so-called 'developed countries'. This review, at the opposite, focused on current literature on prevention of domestic/family violence against children and women in low and middle income countries (LMICs). ⋯ This review confirms the lack of research in the so-called 'developing countries' and provides suggestions for further research and prevention efforts in this setting.