by Mohammed Alsabri  , Kusum Viswanathan  , Fiorella Castillo  , Paridhi Ghai  and Maryam Hemmat Hamrah

Received: 26 December 2020;  Published: 15 April 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2102013

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common hematologic disorders in the world. In the United States, it is the single most common genetic hematologic disorder. The burden of SCD and its complications on pediatric patients is tremendous, especially acute vaso-occlusive pain crises. Although allopathic medicine has provided numerous pain medications to treat this, they do not come without side effects and are not always effective. This review explores complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods of p [...]

by Sharon F. Clevenger

Received: 20 December 2020;  Published: 07 February 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101004

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have been adapting to the changing needs of people worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate how HCWs are managing dietary self-care needs during the increased stress-load of the COVID-19 pandemic and determine if nutritional changes are being made that could place them at higher risk for mental health problems. A cross-sectional epidemiological nonprobability snowball sampling design was used to expand access to participants. Occ [...]

by Claire Marie Rangon  , Gerhard Litscher  , Robert Bering  , Gary Stanton  , Anne Marie Bering  , Stephen W. Porges  and Raphaël Nogier

Received: 25 October 2023;  Published: 26 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2304047

by Sonia Baccetti  , Elisabetta Barbara Cortesi  , Maria Valeria Monechi  , Mariella Di Stefano  , Barbara Cucca  , Tommaso Conti  , Antonella Traversi  , Filippa Terranova  , Sylvie Yvonne Barberousse  , Roberto Montelatici  , Federica Sabatini  , Catia Vuono  , Christian Bini  , Elio Rossi  and Francesca Martella

Received: 27 September 2018;  Published: 25 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1904061

Background: Pain and vasomotor symptoms are the common side effects experienced by breast cancer patients undergoing conventional oncology treatments. Traditional Chinese Medicine might represent a key treatment option for these side effects in a multidisciplinary pathway. Aim: The present study with a retrospective design was aimed at confirming the effectiveness of acupuncture, plum blossom, and auriculotherapy in reducing hot flashes and the intensity and frequency of pain in women with breast cancer. Materials [...]

by Soo Liang Ooi  and Sokcheon Pak

Received: 29 May 2019;  Published: 31 May 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1902033

The Landscape of Current Meditation Research: An Overview to the Special Issue on “Health Benefits of Meditation”

by Natalia Sylvia Ramos Díaz

Received: 23 August 2018;  Published: 14 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901017

One of the objectives of psychological intervention is to help patients manage their emotions effectively by providing them with the necessary skills to accompany their own emotional states. To this regard, there seems to be a current lack of therapeutic resources aimed at helping patients assimilate and regulate emotions. This article proposes the application of a new technique which incorporates mindfulness, building on the premises of the model of psychological flexibility which defines "mindfulness" as a practi [...]

by Jih-Huah Wu

Received: 04 March 2019;  Published: 15 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1903046

Sleep has played a critical role in maintaining the physical and psychological health of humans, especially for women. Many studies reveal that sleep disturbance can cause more inflammation, coagulation, insulin resistance, and psychosocial distress in women than in men. A lot of medications are used to treat sleep disorders, but they can cause various adverse effects. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been proved as a safe and easy-to-use therapy. We propose two methods of affecting the autonomic nervous syste [...]

by Behzad Foroutan

Received: 14 January 2023;  Published: 31 May 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2302023

Aging is a stage of the natural life cycle. It is a set of natural and coordinated growth changes all organs and body systems undergo to burnout. It is impossible to determine the exact time of old age for two reasons. First, the aging process is different for humans due to individual, hereditary factors. Second, aging has a set of physiological, psychological and, social factors. This review aimed to gather appropriate clinical information and facts for clinicians when practicing heart medications in elderly patie [...]

by Fraser L.E. Fisher  and Aileen M. Pidgeon

Received: 10 July 2018;  Published: 21 August 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803015

Elevated levels of psychological distress in university students is a growing area of concern as it is associated with a variety of consequences including mental illness symptoms, absenteeism, and poor academic performance. A growing body of research has indicated that resilience in university students is associated with reduced psychological distress and perceived stress. The construct of resilience and the factors that contribute to its development are not well understood, hampering the development of effective i [...]

by Danielle Gentile  , Danielle Boselli  , Matthew Flores  , Susan Yaguda  , Rebecca Greiner  , Paulomi Campbell  and Chasse Bailey-Dorton

Received: 31 October 2019;  Published: 21 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001008

Literature suggests Oncology Massage (OM) reduces anxiety. However, research is limited in large, diverse, nonexperimentally manipulated outpatient samples of cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to 1) describe OM visit patterns, 2) describe anxiety response to OM, and 3) determine if OM resulted in significantly reduced anxiety at first visit, across all visits, and longitudinally over time controlling for demographic factors. From January 2015-June 2019, a cohesive, consecutive, retrospective sample eva [...]

by Giuseppe De Benedittis

Received: 25 August 2020;  Published: 31 August 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2003039

by Francesco V. Marino

Received: 27 April 2021;  Published: 28 September 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2103032

Homeopathy, a system of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM, according to WHO definition), is under frequent attack by skeptics because of its supposed “lack of evidence.” To overcome the distrust of skeptics and the public, many databases have been created, which focused on collecting all the published and indexed studies; however, none of these seem to be “comprehensive” and systematic enough. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the most reliable and available homeopathic studies in order to systemat [...]

by Lyndsie Koon  , Robert Brustad  and Megan Babkes Stellino

Received: 15 May 2019;  Published: 27 November 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1904064

Physical activity participation has been found to favorably influence cognitive function across the lifespan. Specific characteristics, or qualities, of physical activity involvement (e.g., type, intensity, level of cognitive demand) may yield particular benefits. The purpose of this study was two-fold. The first objective was to develop taxonomies for two physical activity characteristics of interest: the level of task complexity (motoric and cognitive) and the level of social engagement. The second objective was [...]

by Gary Stanton

Received: 22 March 2019;  Published: 04 June 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1902034

A 16 year old girl was evaluated for intractable hiccups for 6 six months, with a prior negative clinical and laboratory evaluation, and without any improvement with a variety of folk and medicinal therapies. A single treatment session of auriculotherapy produced a full clinical remission.

by Krisztian Kasos  , Luca Csirmaz  , Fanni Vikor  , Szabolcs Zimonyi  , Katalin Varga  and Anna Szekely

Received: 07 February 2020;  Published: 01 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2002017

Hypnosis has proven to be an effective treatment in disorders that affect the autonomic nervous system (ANS). However, the studies investigating the nature of its effect on the ANS have reported contradictory results. Measurement of electrodermal activity (EDA) is an objective way to assess the activity of the sympathetic branch of the ANS. We aim to elucidate the effects of hypnosis on EDA. Here, we report the results of two studies, both investigating the psychophysiological effects of hypnosis.In the first exper [...]

by Tobyn Bell  , Jane Montague  , James Elander  , Matthew Pugh  and Paul Gilbert

Received: 01 July 2023;  Published: 19 September 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2303037

Chairwork is a central component in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). Despite its importance, there has been no prior research on the relational factors underpinning the application of chairwork in CFT. There is also a general paucity of research on the role of the therapeutic relationship in chairwork across modalities. This paper analyses data from interviews with 21 clients following a CFT chairwork intervention to ascertain how relational factors influenced their experience of this method. An Interpretative Phe [...]

by Oghenerume Lucky Emakpor  , Great Iruoghene Edo  , Emad Yousif  , Princess Oghenekeno Samuel  , Agatha Ngukuran Jikah  , Khalid Zainulabdeen  , Athraa Abdulameer Mohammed  , Winifred Ndudi  , Susan Chinedu Nwachukwu  , Ufuoma Ugbune  , Joy Johnson Agbo  , Irene Ebosereme Ainyanbhor  , Huzaifa Umar  , Helen Avuokerie Ekokotu  , Ephraim Evi Alex Oghroro  , Patrick Othuke Akpoghelie  , Joseph Oghenewogaga Owheruo  , Lauretta Dohwodakpo Ekpekpo  , Priscillia Nkem Onyibe  , Ufuoma Augustina Igbukuc  , Endurance Fegor Isojec  and Arthur Efeoghene Athan Essaghahk

Received: 28 December 2023;  Published: 28 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402038

The optimal enhancement of athletic performance, recovery from exhaustion after exercise, and injury prevention are products of appropriate nutrition. Nutritional supplements that contain proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals are frequently utilized in various sports to complement the recommended daily amounts. Several of these supplements have been identified to have physiological effects and, thus, are known to help enhance athletic performance and prevent injuries. Our review intends to show the interp [...]

by Elisabeth Goad

Received: 06 March 2022;  Published: 04 January 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2301002

Compassion-Focused Therapy is an integrative therapeutic model with a wealth of evidence behind its efficacy. Its accessibility leads it to be a helpful therapeutic modality for the intellectual disability population. Its ability to aid the understanding of the person, us as clinicians, and the wider context around us give a depth of understanding not prioritised across all therapeutic models. This article explores Compassion-Focused Therapy in the context of working alongside people with intellectual disabilities. [...]

by Jasmine French  , Richard J. Brown  and Tobyn Bell

Received: 25 August 2023;  Published: 11 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2304041

Soothing-rhythm breathing (SRB) is a core component of compassion focused therapy (CFT). While integral to CFT, research has yet to explore personal experiences of SRB. This study aimed to explore the experiences of individuals with depression who had practiced SRB in NHS primary care services. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyse data from individual semi-structured interviews. Three experiential themes were identified: ‘mind-body connection and bodily needs’, ‘a new relationship with [...]

by Avneet K. Mangat  and Georg M. Schmölzer

Received: 07 June 2019;  Published: 20 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1903051

The incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is increasing due to more mothers using illicit drugs. This results in an increase in costs and resources for the healthcare system. Newborns with NAS might experience withdrawal symptoms that can cause pain, distress, and may potentially increase the risk of future health complications. It is therefore important to find effective treatments that can alleviate NAS. Various non-pharmacological treatments are used in conjunction with pharmacological treatments to re [...]

by Siti Hana Nasir  , Olga Troynikov  , Dawn Wong Lit Wan  and Zhen Zheng

Received: 25 February 2019;  Published: 02 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1903053

Background: Pressure and thermal therapy gloves are the two types of therapeutic gloves that are commonly used to relieve symptoms and improve hand function in patients with hand arthritis. However, no published clinical study exists indicating ideal pressure and thermal stimuli for the gloves. Understanding user thresholds for the pressure and thermal stimuli is crucial to improve therapeutic outcomes, wearer's comfort, and adherence to the therapy. There were two main aims of this pilot study, firstly to examine [...]

by Waqar Husain  , Farrukh Ijaz  , Muhammad Ahmad Husain  , Marwa Zulfiqar  and Javeria Khalique

Received: 20 December 2023;  Published: 23 January 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401011

The assessment of mental health and mental disorders has undergone extensive exploration within the field of psychology, resulting in various models and approaches. In addition to traditional ways like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, psychologists have proposed alternative perspectives for evaluating mental health. One such innovative approach is the psychosocial health model, which defines mental well-being as sexual, emotional, social, environmental, cognitive, religious, moral, and spi [...]

by Peta Stapleton  and Hannah Chatwin

Received: 17 May 2018;  Published: 02 July 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803014

(1) Background: Because patients vary in their response to treatment, including adherence, the effect of treatment length in the use of EFT on food cravings was examined by comparing two studies in order to ascertain if shorter programs are as effective. This may then impact treatment adherence and completion. (2) Methods: In study one, 96 overweight and obese adults were randomly allocated to a 4-week treatment for their food craving or waitlist condition. In study two, an 8-week EFT program for 47 adults, the sam [...]

by Yan Yang  and Gerhard Litscher

Received: 08 January 2020;  Published: 14 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001003

Acupuncture, being a unique method, is a millennia-old tradition in the field of Chinese medicine. However, it is surprising that there are very few scientific publications on acupuncture and its gender-specific effects. This article summarizes the previous work from the perspective of both Western and Eastern medicine, involving manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and modern innovative laser acupuncture. There is scientific evidence that future gender-specific considerations should be included in the assessme [...]

by Verena Hofmann  , Céline Pagnotta  , Noémie Lacombe  and Myriam Squillaci

Received: 30 March 2023;  Published: 10 August 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2303033

Burnout is a syndrome commonly characterized by the three dimensions of Maslach and Leiter's model, namely emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of professional accomplishment. While burnout affects individuals in all professions, teachers are recognized as being at particular risk, a fact explained in the literature by the high level of relational demands inherent to the profession. During the pandemic and subsequently, these demands have even increased. Several studies have focused on the influence of [...]