Roche, Anne I.

Abstract Objective Emotional distress has been correlated with greater healthcare utilization and economic costs in cancer; however, the prospective relationship between positive distress screens and future healthcare utilization is less clear. Taken together, there is a critical need to synthesize studies examining the prospective relationship between emotional distress and future healthcare use to inform distress management protocols and motivate institutional resource allocation to distress management. The aim of the systematic review is to explore the relationship between emotional distress, measured via validated emotional distress questionnaires, and subsequent healthcare utilization in patients diagnosed with cancer. Methods A systematic search of seven databases was conducted on 29 March 2022 and updated 3 August 2023. Eligibility criteria were: (1) peer‐reviewed, (2) quantitative or mixed methods, (3) adults (≥18 years) diagnosed with cancer, (4) cancer distress questionnaire(s) completed prior to healthcare utilization, and (5) written in English. Exclusion criteria included: (1) non‐emotional aspects of distress (i.e., spiritual or physical distress), (2) healthcare utilization characterized via economic or monetary variables, and (3) caregiver or non‐cancer populations. Results Nineteen peer‐reviewed articles were included in the review. There was significant heterogeneity in emotional distress instruments and type of healthcare utilization used. Most studies examining general distress or anxiety found that increased distress was predictive of greater future healthcare utilization. Conclusion The results suggest that individuals with higher levels of general distress and anxiety are at increased risk for future healthcare utilization.

Purpose To develop a culturally-tailored American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women’s Facebook group supporting opioid recovery as an adjunct to medication. Design Community-based, qualitative approach. Setting Minnesota, U.S. Participants AI/AN women in opioid recovery, interested parties, and a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of AI/AN women with lived experience, health care providers, and community members. Intervention We developed evidence-based content focusing on stress/trauma and substance use, mindfulness, responding to triggers, and supportive community resources. Additional content centered on AI/AN culture was also selected. Method Interviews were conducted by two women, then transcribed and coded using content analysis with NVivo software. Results were presented to CAC for further content refinement. Results CAC members (n = 10) guided study methods, intervention development, and dissemination activities. 14 AI/AN women (mean age 36.4 years; mean 6.7 months opioid abstinence) and 12 interested parties (7 men, 5 women) were receptive to an AI/AN gender-specific Facebook group, preferring content with AI/AN people and/or text resonating with AI/AN culture (e.g., Native traditions, family, personal stories, historical trauma). Recommendations included (1) protect confidentiality, (2) retain positivity, (3) incorporate resources and exercises to build coping skills, and (4) moderators should be authentic and relatable to build trust. Conclusions Our approach provides a model for developing culturally tailored, appealing and effective social media interventions to support AI/AN women in recovery from opioid use disorder.

Objectives: Our aim was to examine the relationship between weight concerns (WC) and smoking cessation. Methods: WC was assessed before smoking cessation treatment in 671 adult patients who completed a 12-month follow-up visit at the Centre for Tobacco-Dependent, Prague, Czech Republic, from 2013 through 2019. We evaluated the abstinence rate at 12-month follow-up. Results: Among 669 patients with baseline WC (mean age, 43.4 years), 47% were women (145/306) and 21% were men (78/363). No association existed between WC and abstinence at 12 months. Smokers with obesity had increased fear of gaining weight (34% versus 24% of overweight and 23% of healthy-weight smokers) (p=.034) and were less confident in their ability to maintain their current weight (36% versus 55% of overweight smokers and 59% of healthy- weight smokers) (p<.001). Conclusions: Many smokers are concerned about gaining weight after stopping smoking, but in this cohort of patients, having WC was not associated with 12-month abstinence, but obesity or overweight was related to being afraid of postcessation weight-gain and low confidence for maintaining weight. Practitioners should be aware of the prevalence of WC in those stopping smoking and should address concerns, such as poor motivation and low confidence about managing their weight.

The literature describing psychological interventions for co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is limited. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a transdiagnostic intervention that targets functionally avoidant behavior underlying both OCD and PTSD. The current case report describes how an ACT-informed approach to treatment was implemented over 14 sessions to treat co-occurring OCD and PTSD in a 9-months postpartum adult woman. The patient was initially referred to psychotherapy by her psychiatrist and showed high motivation to engage in treatment. This case presentation outlines how the intervention targeted core ACT processes while also incorporating components from both exposure and response prevention (ERP) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT) to address the patient’s presenting concerns. Measurements of OCD and PTSD symptom severity, as well as of depressive and anxiety symptoms, over the course of treatment are included. Health-related comorbidities, psychiatric medications, and implications are discussed.