Eating disorders cause a number of severely impairing symptoms that may require more intensive intervention that is available through outpatient therapy services. The PHP/IOP level of care may be an effective mode of treatment in these cases, but few studies have examined overall outcomes or treatment moderators for this level of care. Using a large sample from a PHP/IOP specifically designed for the treatment of eating disorders, the current study examines a variety of symptoms (eating disorder severity, quality of life, depression, etc.) from admission to discharge, as well as potential moderators of treatment, including demographic and clinical factors. Overall, the PHP/IOP level of care was found to improve treatment outcomes. Age, race, gender, and depression were found to moderate the change in quality of life and functional impairment. Additionally, patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa had significantly lowered quality of life and greater eating disorder symptomatology than all other diagnoses. The results of this study can help to inform clinical practice and help guide in treatment decisions at the partial hospitalization level of care.
Healthy romantic relationships are beneficial to an individual's physical and mental health. The prevalence of long-distance relationships (LDRs) is increasing; yet, no research has assessed whether the marriage–health association applies to individuals in LDRs. The present study investigated the marriage–health association in LDRs by comparing PR and LDR individuals on various health and relationship indices. Using both Qualtrics and Amazon's Mechanical Turk, we designed an online survey (N = 296 married, 21 years or older, English speakers). Health measures included the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS-29); Perceived Stress Scale; and substance use, diet, and exercise surveys. Relationship variables assessed included satisfaction, maintenance, relationship stress, and sex. Overall, results were mixed, with no clear relationship arrangement relating to better health or relationship variable ratings. Relationship satisfaction did not differ across groups; however, individuals in PRs reported better maintenance, higher sexual frequency, and lower relationship stress. In terms of health, LDR individuals reported better health on several indices: overall scores; lower anxiety, depression, and fatigue subscale scores; and better diet/exercise behaviors. PR individuals reported lower individual stress levels, better medication adherence, and higher physical functioning scores than their LDR counterparts. Regression analyses indicated being in a LDR predicted more individual and relationship stress but simultaneously better diet and exercise behaviors. This study challenges the popular notion that health and happiness in a relationship stem from partner proximity and provides potential points of intervention to improve relationship satisfaction and health for individuals in both PRs and LDRs.
Background: Health literacy is an area of growing research and clinical interest, necessitating short, accurate measures of this complex construct. Health Literacy Assessment Using Talking Touchscreen Technology (Health LiTT) measures prose, document, and quantitative literacy by self-administration on a touchscreen computer. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the validity of a short form of Health LiTT and to identify a meaningful cutoff score for adequate health literacy. Methods: A subsample of 137 participants from the Literacy and Cognitive Function among Older Adults study completed a 10-item Health LiTT short form and three interviewer-administered health literacy measures: Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA), Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM), and Newest Vital Sign (NVS). Convergent validity was assessed by correlating scores for all measures, and known-groups validity was assessed by comparing mean Health LITT scores across TOFHLA levels (inadequate, marginal, adequate). Internal consistency reliability was estimated with Cronbach's alpha. A cutoff score for adequate health literacy was established using the TOFHLA cutoff for adequate versus inadequate/marginal health literacy. Key Results: Spearman correlations between Health LiTT scores and total TOFHLA, REALM, and NVS scores were 0.65, 0.69, and 0.56, respectively (all p < .001). Mean Health LiTT scores were significantly and meaningfully different across inadequate (40.4), marginal (50.1), and adequate (57.1) TOFHLA categories (F = 60.6; p < .001). Cronbach's alpha for the Health LiTT short form was .73. A cutoff score of 55 on Health LiTT showed acceptable sensitivity and specificity to identify adequate health literacy. Conclusions: This 10-item Health LiTT short form demonstrated excellent convergent and known-groups validity and acceptable internal consistency reliability in older adults. The established cutoff also showed excellent sensitivity and specificity. Validation of other custom Health LiTT short forms with varying items from the bank and computer adaptive test-generated Health LiTT scores is ongoing. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2020;4(4):e200-e207.] Plain Language Summary: This article provides evidence of the need for and psychometric properties of a valid and reliable short form of the flexible, technologically advanced Health Literacy Assessment Using Talking Touchscreen Technology measure, as well as a cutoff score to note adequate versus marginal/inadequate health literacy.
Objectives. To examine change in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) frequency, quality of life, and functional impairment from admission to discharge in patients enrolled in partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programmes (PHP/IOP) designed to treat NSSI. Demographic, clinical, and treatment-related predictors of changes were also examined.Design. Data were collected as part of routine clinical assessment procedures at admission and discharge from patients enrolled in a PHP/IOP programme designed to treat NSSI. The clinical assessment included measures examining quality of life, functional impairment, and NSSI behaviour.Methods. Paired t-tests were used to examine change in NSSI frequency, quality of life, and functional impairment. Reliable clinical change analyses were used to identify clinically significant change in quality of life and functional impairment. Multilevel mixed-effects regression was used to examine predictors of change for quality of life and functional impairment. Negative binomial regression was used to examine predictors of change for NSSI frequency.Results. From admission to discharge, NSSI frequency significantly decreased and quality of life and functional impairment evidenced clinically significant change. Age, race/ ethnicity, and insurance type predicted change in functional impairment, while gender predicted change in quality of life. Urge to self-injure predicted change in NSSI frequency. Borderline symptoms predicted change across all outcome variables. Conclusions.Patients who completed a day treatment programme for NSSI evidenced significant change in NSSI frequency, functional impairment, and quality of life at discharge; however, several demographic and clinical variables were associated with change. Practitioner pointsPatients who engage in NSSI show significant change from admission to discharge in a day treatment programme dedicated to the treatment of NSSI. Quality of life and functional impairment are important outcome variables to consider and evaluate in higher levels of care. It is important to consider demographic and clinical variables when creating a treatment plan for NSSI.
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