We tested endogenous pain modulation mechanisms in adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Nineteen ASD adults without intellectual disabilities were included, matched with 19 healthy volunteers on the basis of sex and chronological age. An experimental pain model was used to measure excitatory and inhibitory pain mechanisms in a single…

Background: Few formal instruments exist to assess the communicative competence of patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). This can limit interventions by health professionals. Aims: To map the categories and instruments for assessing the communicative competence of adult patients with minimal response in ICUs. Methods &…

Objectives: This manuscript describes the rationale and protocol for an on-line, school-based randomised controlled trial of "Projecte d'Educació Postural a l'Escola" (Postural Education in School Project) (PEPE) which aims to prevent non-specific low back pain and promote healthy postural habits in children. The study will examine the…

Pain is a multidimensional and subjective experience, and an ideal pain management regime needs to be comprehensive, integrative and involve all relevant persons. Multimodal interventions may include pharmacological, physical, social, psychological and spiritual approaches in order to address pain management at a molecular, functional,…

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain syndrome that often coexists with common musculoskeletal pain, sleep disorders, bowel syndrome, mood disorders, and fatigue. Although the aetiology of FMS pain has not been elucidated yet, psychotherapy methods are used in addition to physical methods to treat these pains. This study aims to examine…

A participatory pilot study researched mindfulness sessions informed by art therapy for adolescent girls suffering from headaches. Researchers worked closely with 8 participants to customize and implement an appropriate mindfulness-based art intervention. Program evaluation included both quantitative and qualitative outcomes, including pre- and…

Tertiary music students show patterns of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) similar to professionals, indicating the need for effective education in management and prevention during student years. When problems occur, music students are most likely to seek advice from their instrumental teachers; therefore, it is important for…

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a growing epidemic related with higher values of blood pressure (BP) and autonomic dysfunction. Scientific evidence has been indicating that functional resistance training (FRT) is superior over conventional (CRT) for muscle fatigue and pain, yet its effects on autonomic modulation (AM), BP and heart rate in MetS are…

There is a growing number of students on college campuses with mental health problems and college counseling services are reporting significant increases in student demand for counseling. Depression, a mental illness consisting of profound sadness, fatigue, and irritability, as well as low motivation, poor academic performance, and suicidal…

In causal mediation analysis, the definitions of the natural direct and indirect effects involve potential outcomes that can never be observed, so-called a priori counterfactuals. This conceptual challenge translates into issues in identification, which requires strong and often unverifiable assumptions, including sequential ignorability.…

Different positive effects of interactions with animals, such as reduction of stress reactions, depressive mood, anxiety, aggression, and pain, and promotion of trust, calmness, motivation, and concentration have been documented by research on human-animal interaction (HAI), including animal assisted interventions (AAIs). Potential biological,…

This randomized controlled clinical trial explored the feasibility of implementing a fast-acting mandala intervention to reduce physical pain and psychological anxiety experienced during needle sticks. Forty pediatric patients participated in this two-group study: 20 participants created a mandala on an iPad (Treatment Group) and 20 participants…

A growing body of research suggests that hope and other positive emotions are important in disrupting the cycle of pain and negative emotionality common to chronic pain sufferers. This qualitative research study focuses on the in-session experience of hope for participants during a specific arts-based hope intervention, as part of an…

This paper presents a concept for designing low-cost therapeutic training with biofeedback and virtual reality. We completed the first evaluation of a prototype--a mobile learning application for relaxation training, primarily for adolescents suffering from tension-type headaches. The system delivers visual experience on a head-mounted display. A…

Psychological barriers to rehabilitation are generally viewed as pre-existing patient traits that clinicians are asked to evaluate and modify. In the present case report, we provide evidence that these barriers can also be involuntarily created or perpetuated by the clinician himself when too much attention is placed on physical abnormalities.…