Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Attitudes toward evidence-based interventions

Title of publication

Psychological flexibility and attitudes toward evidence-based interventions by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

Abstract 

Objective. Declining a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or non-invasive ventilation (NIV) by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often contrary to advice provided by health-care-professionals guided by evidence-based principles. This study proposes relational frame theory (RFT) to offer a viable explanation of this phenomenon.

Design. A total of 35 people (14 female, 21 male) aged between 34 and 73 years, with ALS, participated in this cross-sectional research.

Main outcome measures. This research examined the predictive power and interaction effect of psychological flexibility (the fundamental construct of RFT) and psychological well-being on attitudes toward intervention options.

Results. Participants with high psychological flexibility reported lower depression, anxiety, and stress, and higher quality of life. In addition, psychological flexibility was predictive of a participant’s understanding and acceptance of a PEG as an intervention option. Psychological flexibility was not found to be a significant predictor of understanding and acceptance of NIV.

Conclusion. Although the criterion measure had not been piloted or validated outside of the current study and asks about expected rather than actual acceptance, findings suggest that applied RFT may be helpful for clients with ALS.

Cite

Pearlman, J. R., & Thorsteinsson, E. B. (2019). Psychological flexibility and attitudes toward evidence-based interventions by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. PeerJ, 7, e6527. doi:10.7717/peerj.6527

Link

https://peerj.com/articles/6527/

Alcohol use in Bhutan: Parenting style and distress

Title of publication

Parenting style, distress, and problematic alcohol use in Bhutan

Abstract 

Background: Bhutan is a small landlocked country located between India and China that is largely rural and Buddhist. As the nation develops and adopts more Western practices, the nature of the relationship between its young people and alcohol is developing as well.

Objectives: The present study examines how problematic alcohol use relates to parenting styles and distress factors in a sample of predominantly tertiary students.

Methods: For this study, 245 young adults completed self-report measures of parenting style, distress, and alcohol-related problems.

Results: Strong correlations were found indicating more dysfunctional parenting styles were associated with greater distress and problematic alcohol use. Further analyses to evaluate the relationship between parenting styles and alcohol use found no role for moderation but a significant effect for mediation which indicated that more dysfunctional parenting styles were associated with greater distress which in turn was associated with greater problematic alcohol use.

Conclusions: These findings replicate those found in Western countries and imply that the same vulnerabilities to problematic alcohol use are also present in Bhutan.

Cite

Penjor, S., Thorsteinsson, E. B., Price, I., & Loi, N. M. (2019). Parenting style, distress, and problematic alcohol use in Bhutan. Cogent Psychology, 6, 1-10. doi:10.1080/23311908.2019.1579503

Link

https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2019.1579503
https://www.cogentoa.com/article/10.1080/23311908.2019.1579503