Empirically supported psychological treatments:The challenges of comorbid psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with intellectual disability

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on psychological interventions with empirical evidence of efficacy in treating common psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with intellectual disability(ID)at all stages of their life.We begin with a brief presentation of what is meant by psychiatric and behavioral disorders in this population,along with an explanation of some of the factors that contribute to the increased psychosocial vulnerability of this group to present with these problems.We then conduct a review of empirically supported psychological therapies used to treat psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with ID.The review is structured around the three generations of therapies:Applied behavior analysis(e.g.,positive behavior support),cognitive behavioral therapies(e.g.,mindfulness-based cognitive therapy),and contextual therapies(e.g.,dialectical behavior therapy).We conclude with some recommendations for professional practice in the fields of ID and psychiatry.

Scene-trait coping style of military rescuers in Wenchuan earthquake

Objective This study aimed to explore the scene-trait coping style of military rescuers in Wenchuan earthquake in an effort to provide scientific evidences for mental intervention program for Chinese military personnel.Methods By cluster sampling,a total of 151 military rescuers and 331 control servicemen were administered the military personnel scene-trait coping style scale(MPSTCSS).Results All active coping factor scores,and passive coping factor scores of affection,health and economy in the rescuer group were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0.05).The 21-above age subgroup,the3-year plus service subgroup,and the officer subgroup had significantly higher active coping factor scores on military tasks,military experience and personal development than those of the 21-below age subgroup,3-year minus service subgroup and the soldier subgroup,respectively(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion The earthquake relief servicemen can cope with stressful situations better than control group by taking active coping style.The officers,servicemen older than 21 years,and servicemen with more service duration than3 years could usually take active coping style.

Role of ghrelin in cognitive impairment of hypertensive elders with chronic psychological distress

Objective:To investigate ghrelin level change in combination with psychological stress in the hypertensive old people with cognitive impairment and to explore its effect as well as possible mechanism.Methods:The study population of 300 elders was divided into 2 groups,148 with hypertension and 152 non-hypertension,who were screened for psychological distress and cognition function,and had blood drawn to measure plasma levels of ghrelin and total cortisol on the same day.Results:The rates of anxiety and cognitive impairment were higher in the hypertension elders,which were negatively correlated with plasma ghrelin level,resulted from chronic cortisol response to anxiety.Conclusion:Chronic plasma cortisol increase to long-term anxiety leads a reduce in ghrelin level which then adversely affects blood pressure and cognitive function in old people.So measuring ghrelin of elders may be a diagnostic tool to predict cognitive development and ghrelin may be a selective antihypertensive medicine for cognitive impairment elders with or without chronic psychological stress.

Symptom monitoring in treatment of cancer patients

Objective To examine self-reported symptoms by the patients receiving cancer therapy, and find out the symptoms that should be coped with and managed during the treatment. Methods A pilot study was conducted on self-reported symptoms on 185 patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for different cancers. The Therapy-Related Symptoms Checklist (TRSC) was used. Results Severe symptoms on the TRSC subscales: loss of appetite, feeling sluggish, weight loss, nausea and hair loss, were reported by the patients. The frequently reported symptoms by those on chemotherapy were nausea, feeling sluggish, weight loss, vomiting, and taste change. The frequently reported symptoms by those on radiotherapy were feeling sluggish, weight loss, loss of appetite, difficult sleeping, and changing taste. The symptoms of loss of appetite, feeling sluggish, weight loss, hair loss, and nausea were both frequently reported by those on radiotherapy and those on chemotherapy. Conclusion Symptom monitoring may be facilitated by TRSC, based on the severity and frequency of reported symptoms, more patients and caregivers could know which symptoms should be preferential interventions.

Endophenotype strategies for the study of neuropsychiatric disorders: A quest

The identification of genes that contribute to the susceptibilities to complex neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorders has not been as successful using conventional genetic approaches as had been hoped. There are several problems associated with the conventional approaches, including the validity of psychiatric diagnosis itself, excluding carriers of relevant genes who cannot be identified in the absence of manifest symptoms, and the heterogeneity