The patient-body relationship and the "lived experience" of a facial burn injury: a phenomenological inquiry of early psychosocial adjustment

The mediating role of personal values between COVID-19-related posttraumatic growth and life satisfaction among Chinese college students: A two-wave longitudinal study

Despite considerable disruption of social order caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has also been said to contribute to positive psychological changes and influence on the perception of public life satisfaction. The present study aimed to explore the association between the COVID-19 related posttraumatic growth and life satisfaction and the mediating role of personal values. A two-wave longitudinal design was used. 226 self-quarantined Chinese college students (58.8% male) completed post traumatic growth inventory (Time 1), satisfaction with life scale (Time 2), personal values questionnaire (Time 2) between February 2020 and May 2021. Results showed that more than half of self-quarantined Chinese college students reported moderate to high levels of the COVID-19 related posttraumatic growth. A structural equation model revealed that COVID-19 related posttraumatic growth was positively associated to life satisfaction, and self-transcendence and self-enhancement values partially mediated this association. These findings shed light on whether and how pandemic-related posttraumatic growth influenced personal life satisfaction, supporting the outcome and process perspectives of posttraumatic growth as well as Schwartz’s value theory. Based on the findings, some positive psychology interventions, such as online rumination activities and mindfulness practice, were proposed to enhance self-quarantined college students’ posttraumatic growth and life satisfaction.

Shared Individual Formulation Therapy (SIFT): an open-label trial of a new therapy accommodating patient heterogeneity in functional neurological disorder

BACKGROUND

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a complex neuropsychiatric condition with a multifactorial aetiology. The heterogeneity of patients with FND is rarely considered in psychotherapy trials, which may contribute to variable outcomes. Shared Individual Formulation Therapy (SIFT) is a new, brief (four session) psychotherapy that aims to accommodate heterogeneity by providing a personalised, trans-theoretical formulation of the person's difficulties and accompanying management plan.

METHODS

An open-label, prospective trial of outpatient SIFT for adults with FND was conducted, using health-related quality of life (SF-12) as the principal outcome measure, with secondary measures of mental health, dissociation, health care use and attitude to the FND diagnosis. Measures were collected at baseline, end of treatment and 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine participants with various FND symptoms enrolled. Twenty-four completed all four sessions and 25 completed follow-up measures at 12 months. SF-12 scores improved significantly at end of treatment and were sustained throughout follow-up with moderate effect sizes (0.39-0.47; all p < 0.001). Most secondary outcomes also improved significantly at all time points. The intervention was highly acceptable and tolerable to patients and perceived as beneficial.

CONCLUSION

This trial provides preliminary evidence for initial and sustained benefit from SIFT for adults with FND. Further study is needed to validate these findings.