Psychological intervention

About: Psychological intervention is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 82654 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2608356 citations.

The effectiveness of a community-based program for reducing the incidence of falls in the elderly: a randomized trial.

Abstract: Objectives: To test whether Stepping On, a multifaceted community-based program using a small-group learning environment, is effective in reducing falls in at-risk people living at home Design: A randomized trial with subjects followed for 14 months Setting: The interventions were conducted in community venues, with a follow-up home visit Participants: Three hundred ten community residents aged 70 and older who had had a fall in the previous 12 months or were concerned about falling Intervention: The Stepping On program aims to improve fall self-efficacy, encourage behavioral change, and reduce falls Key aspects of the program are improving lower-limb balance and strength, improving home and community environmental and behavioral safety, encouraging regular visual screening, making adaptations to low vision, and encouraging medication review Two-hour sessions were conducted weekly for 7 weeks, with a follow-up occupational therapy home visit Measurements: The primary outcome measure was falls, ascertained using a monthly calendar mailed by each participant Results: The intervention group experienced a 31% reduction in falls (relative risk (RR)=069, 95% confidence interval (CI)=050–096; P=025) This was a clinically meaningful result demonstrating that the Stepping On program was effective for community-residing elderly people Secondary analysis of subgroups showed that it was particularly effective for men (n=80; RR=032, 95% CI=017–059) Conclusion: The results of this study renew attention to the idea that cognitive-behavioral learning in a small-group environment can reduce falls Stepping On offers a successful fall-prevention option

Investing in youth tobacco control: a review of smoking prevention and control strategies

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive review of interventions and policies aimed at reducing youth cigarette smoking in the United States, including strategies that have undergone evaluation and emerging innovations that have not yet been assessed for efficacy. DATA SOURCES Medline literature searches, books, reports, electronic list servers, and interviews with tobacco control advocates. DATA SYNTHESIS Interventions and policy approaches that have been assessed or evaluated were categorised using a typology with seven categories (school based, community interventions, mass media/public education, advertising restrictions, youth access restrictions, tobacco excise taxes, and direct restrictions on smoking). Novel and largely untested interventions were described using nine categories. CONCLUSIONS Youth smoking prevention and control efforts have had mixed results. However, this review suggests a number of prevention strategies that are promising, especially if conducted in a coordinated way to take advantage of potential synergies across interventions. Several types of strategies warrant additional attention and evaluation, including aggressive media campaigns, teen smoking cessation programmes, social environment changes, community interventions, and increasing cigarette prices. A significant proportion of the resources obtained from the recent settlement between 46 US states and the tobacco industry should be devoted to expanding, improving and evaluating “youth centred” tobacco prevention and control activities.

Music therapy for depression

Abstract: Background Depression is a highly prevalent disorder associated with reduced social functioning, impaired quality of life, and increased mortality. Music therapy has been used in the treatment of a variety of mental disorders, but its impact on those with depression is unclear. Objectives To examine the efficacy of music therapy with standard care compared to standard care alone among people with depression and to compare the effects of music therapy for people with depression against other psychological or pharmacological therapies. Search methods CCDANCTR-Studies and CCDANCTR-References were searched on 7/11/2007, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, PsycLit, PSYindex, and other relevant sites were searched in November 2006. Reference lists of retrieved articles were hand searched, as well as specialist music and arts therapies journals. Selection criteria All randomised controlled trials comparing music therapy with standard care or other interventions for depression. Data collection and analysis Data on participants, interventions and outcomes were extracted and entered onto a database independently by two review authors. The methodological quality of each study was also assessed independently by two review authors. The primary outcome was reduction in symptoms of depression, based on a continuous scale. Main results Five studies met the inclusion criteria of the review. Marked variations in the interventions offered and the populations studied meant that meta-analysis was not appropriate. Four of the five studies individually reported greater reduction in symptoms of depression among those randomised to music therapy than to those in standard care conditions. The fifth study, in which music therapy was used as an active control treatment, reported no significant change in mental state for music therapy compared with standard care. Dropout rates from music therapy conditions appeared to be low in all studies. Authors' conclusions Findings from individual randomised trials suggest that music therapy is accepted by people with depression and is associated with improvements in mood. However, the small number and low methodological quality of studies mean that it is not possible to be confident about its effectiveness. High quality trials evaluating the effects of music therapy on depression are required.