Compassion for Others and Self-Compassion:Levels, Correlates, and Relationship with Psychological Well-being

Compassion for others and self-compassion are assumed to be closely related concepts. Yet, as they have been mostly studied separately, little is known about their relationship and to what extent they differ or resemble each other with respect to their correlates. This cross-sectional study aimed to gain knowledge on their mean levels, interrelationship, and relationships to psychological well-being and demographic factors. A community sample of 328 adults completed a series of standardized self-report questionnaires to assess compassion for others, self-compassion, depressive symptoms, negative affect, and positive affect. Results showed that compassion for others and self-compassion were not significantly related. Self-compassion was more strongly related to negative and positive indicators of affect than compassion for others. Compassion for others was higher in women than in men, and in low educated individuals compared to higher educated individuals. In contrast, self-compassion was lower in low educated individuals. Future research can build up on these findings to enlarge the understanding of how compassion for others and self-compassion relate and differ from each other

Identifying Patients with COPD in Need for Psychosocial Care Through Screening with the HSCL-25 and the CCQ Mental State

High levels of psychological distress are documented in patients with COPD. This study investigates the extent to which patients with a high score on the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) or with a high score on the Mental State scale of the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) endorse a need for psychosocial care, and investigates several characteristics of patients with a need. Outpatients with COPD of the Department of Pulmonary Diseases of a University Medical Center were assessed with the HSCL-25, CCQ and a question on need for psychosocial care. For patients indicating a need, the percentage of patients with HSCL-25 ≥39 was compared with the percentage of patients with CCQ Mental State >2 and tested with a Chi-square. In total 323 patients participated; 57% of them were distressed according to the HSCL-25 (≥39) and 20% according to the CCQ Mental State (>2); 28% reported a need for psychosocial care. For patients reporting a need for psychosocial care a higher percentage was identified by the HSCL-25 than by the CCQ Mental State (χ2 = 9.41, p <. 002) and they were younger than patients without a need (t = 4.48, p <. 001). No differences existed for sex, FEV1, FEV1% predicted or medical comorbidities. The HSCL-25 identified more patients in need than the CCQ Mental State scale. However, not all patients with a need were identified. No relationship was found between need for psychosocial care and illness variables or comorbidities. Distress screening is questioned as the most effective way to identity patients with COPD in need for psychosocial care

Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms in the Elderly:A Comparison Between Patients With Heart Failure and Age- and Gender-Matched Community Controls

Background: Comparisons of heart failure (FIF) patients with an unselected healthy sample in terms of quality of life (QoL) and depressive symptoms might prove misleading. We compared QoL, and depressive symptoms of a HF population with an age- and gender-matched sample of community dwelling elderly. Methods and Results: Data were collected from 781 HF patients (36% female., age 72 +/- 9; New York Heart Association II-IV) and 781 age- and gender-matched community-dwelling elderly. Participants Completed the Medical Outcome Study 36-item General Health Survey, the Cantril's Ladder of life, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). Analysis of variance techniques e with Welch F test and chi-square tests were used to describe differences in QoL and depressive symptoms between different groups. For both men and women with HF, QoL was reduced and depressive symptoms were elevated when compared with their elderly counterparts (CES-D >= 16: 39% vs. 21 %, P <.001). HF patients had more chronic conditions--specifically diabetes and asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Impaired QoL and depressive symptoms were most prevalent among HF patients with comorbidities. Prevalence was also higher in HF patients in the absence of these conditions. Conclusions: HF has it large impact on QoL and depressive symptoms, especially in women with HF. Differences persist, even in the absence of common comorbidities. Results demonstrate the need for studies of representative HF patients with direct comparisons to age- and gender-matched controls. (J. Cardiac Fail 2009;15:17-23

Life after bariatric surgery:psychosocial and behavioural characteristics and their effect on weight and well-being

Background: Bariatric surgery (BS) is an effective weight-loss treatment for severe obesity, leading to great weight reduction and long-term improvement in physical and psychological health. A subgroup of patients, however, reach unsatisfactory weight loss results. The aims of this research are to investigate: 1. The impact of BS on psychological well-being [e.g. health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), depression] over time, and 2. psychological factors (e.g. food craving, body image satisfaction, self-efficacy, attachment style and neuroticism) which may predict short- and long-term surgical outcomes. Currently, the field lacks testable hypotheses as well as conclusive findings about predictors of surgical outcomes.Method: Medical, psychosocial and behavioural factors are measured from obese patients admitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass before and 6-, 12- and 24-months after the surgery. Multivariate regression analyses will be used to answer the research questions.Expected results: We expect HR-QoL to improve and depressive symptoms to ameliorate as weight decreases. Furthermore, we expect higher food craving, body image satisfaction and negative affect to be important predictors of small weight loss, but which will also change for better as weight decreases. Current stage of work: A prospective, longitudinal study involving a multidisciplinary research team was initiated in September 2016 in Amsterdam and over 200 patients have been included so far. Discussion: This study will contribute in constructing a theory about weight loss after BS. Knowledge about psychological predictors of surgical outcomes will aid in patient screening and designing additional interventions aimed at supporting long-term weight maintenance after BS (e.g. eHealth).<br/