The Role of Hope in the Psychological Adjustment of Gastropareutic Patients Receiving the Gastric Pacemaker: A Longitudinal Study

A loss of social eating: the experience of individuals living with gastroparesis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To report the experience of patients living with gastroparesis.

BACKGROUND

The complex illness of gastroparesis is a condition of delayed gastric emptying associated with a range of different symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and depression, resulting in altered eating patterns. Patients are often over-investigated, treatments are not always successful, and quality of life is often impaired.

DESIGN

A descriptive phenomenology study was undertaken to examine the experience of living with gastroparesis. Nine gastroparesis patients gave in-depth interviews. The interviews were transcribed, and framework analysis methods applied.

METHODS

A descriptive phenomenology study was undertaken. Nine gastroparesis patients gave in-depth interviews. The interviews were transcribed, and framework analysis methods applied.

RESULTS

Four main themes emerged: the first described their experiences and opinions of medical professionals, the second their understanding of mental health and mental illness, the third how they managed social settings and the fourth their identity and security. Their behaviour around food and mealtimes was often associated with feelings of loss, isolation and rejection, which influenced their reported quality of life. These factors resulted in their personal struggle to understand how this chronic, stigmatising illness affects their identity and their need for security.

CONCLUSIONS

The complex illness of gastroparesis affects every aspect of patients' lives. As treatments for gastroparesis continue to evolve, therapies to help these patients address the psychological impact and the feelings of loss they report must not be overlooked.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

A better understanding of these patients' sense of loss of normal eating behaviour and the associated psychological distress needs to inform gastroparesis service provision with a view to developing a more holistic service for this patient group.

Positive Psychology Theory, Research, and Practice: A Primer for Rehabilitation Counseling Professionals

Positive psychology is a scientific study that explores what makes life most worth living and applies psychological theory to understand the human strengths that are important for enhancing overall well-being and happiness. The rehabilitation counseling philosophy shares a similar emphasis on personal strengths and the importance of enhancing what is good rather than merely addressing the negative aspects of adversity. The field of rehabilitation counseling provides a solid foundation for the practice of positive psychology and there is great potential for improving services and outcomes for people with disabilities by applying positive psychology approaches in rehabilitation practice and research. The objective of this article is to provide rehabilitation professionals an overview of positive psychology and its application to rehabilitation counseling. Specifically, a brief history of the positive psychology movement, major constructs and research findings, measurement considerations, and empirically supported intervention frameworks will be reviewed.

The role of hope in bereavement for Chinese people in Hong Kong

This study examined the relationships between hope and the emotional reactions of bereaved Chinese people in Hong Kong. Three groups--a clinical bereaved sample (n = 140), a general bereaved sample (n = 152), and a non-bereaved comparison sample (n = 144)--were included. Significant differences in 3 hope measures, hope (pathway), hope (agency) and hope (total), were found between the 3 groups. Moderately strong correlations were found between hope measures and emotional reactions. A mediating effect for hope (agency), but not for hope (pathway) and hope (total), was found in the relationship between bereavement. Possibilities for working with Chinese bereaved people and implications for research and training were discussed.