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Effectiveness of an Interdisciplinary Chronic Arthritis Pain Group Intervention in an Outpatient Healthcare Setting
Title
Effectiveness of an Interdisciplinary Chronic Arthritis Pain Group Intervention in an Outpatient Healthcare Setting.
Creator
De Pesa, Natasha, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Negy, Charles, Joseph, Dana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that often results in inflammation, pain, fatigue, functional impairment, and psychosocial difficulties. The current study examines the effectiveness, feasibility, and sustainability of an interdisciplinary chronic pain intervention for patients with RA. Wearable fitness trackers were incorporated into the intervention and objectively measured participant physical activity. A total of 44 participants received the intervention and...
Show moreRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that often results in inflammation, pain, fatigue, functional impairment, and psychosocial difficulties. The current study examines the effectiveness, feasibility, and sustainability of an interdisciplinary chronic pain intervention for patients with RA. Wearable fitness trackers were incorporated into the intervention and objectively measured participant physical activity. A total of 44 participants received the intervention and completed outcome measures. Results supported improvements across multiple domains at the end of treatment and at 4-week follow-up compared to treatment baseline. Mixed multilevel repeated measures modeling revealed significant overall improvements in many primary (i.e., self-efficacy for managing chronic disease, pain intensity, pain interference, depression, and health-related quality of life), secondary (i.e., physical functioning, overall quality of life, and chronic pain acceptance), and in an objective measure of physical activity (i.e., average steps per day). Effect sizes were generally small to medium and were similar to or better than those reported in meta-analyses. Patients with comorbid fibromyalgia syndrome recorded significantly worse scores across measures, but showed steady improvement throughout the intervention. Mixed-method analysis suggested that patients were interested in and satisfied with the intervention. Implications for optimization and long-term sustainability are discussed.
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Date Issued
2016
Identifier
CFE0006451, ucf:51437
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006451
Affective and Autonomic Responses to Erotic Images among Young Women with and without Sexual Difficulties
Title
Affective and Autonomic Responses to Erotic Images among Young Women with and without Sexual Difficulties.
Creator
De Pesa, Natasha, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Negy, Charles, Joseph, Dana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Existing models of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) are broad and do not provide information about how to improve existing interventions. The purpose of the current study is to extend the empirical application of a disgust model of FSD (de Jong, van Overveld, (&) Borg, 2013) to a population of young women reporting difficulties with sexual desire and/or arousal and related distress. Sixty college-aged females participated in the study and were placed into two groups based upon their reports of...
Show moreExisting models of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) are broad and do not provide information about how to improve existing interventions. The purpose of the current study is to extend the empirical application of a disgust model of FSD (de Jong, van Overveld, (&) Borg, 2013) to a population of young women reporting difficulties with sexual desire and/or arousal and related distress. Sixty college-aged females participated in the study and were placed into two groups based upon their reports of sexual functioning and sexual distress: a control group (i.e., no sexual difficulties or distress) and a clinical group (i.e., difficulties with sexual desire and/or arousal and accompanying distress). Participants were attached to physiological equipment and shown images displaying neutral, positive, disgusting, and erotic content. It was hypothesized that the clinical group would show more evidence of disgust (via affective and autonomic responses) than the control group. Consistent with hypotheses, no group differences were found in any of the affective or autonomic measures during presentation of the neutral, positive, or disgust images. Group differences during presentation of the erotic images (i.e., in facial EMG, heart rate, and self-report affective ratings) and follow-up analyses provided preliminary evidence for generalizing the disgust model of female sexual dysfunction beyond disorders of sexual pain, at least among some women. Exploratory analyses implicated a relationship between a history of sexual victimization and self-report disgust ratings of erotic images. Future research should further explore these relationships in order to shed more light on how disgust-based mechanisms impact the onset and maintenance of female sexual dysfunction.
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Date Issued
2015
Identifier
CFE0005601, ucf:50234
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005601