Complexity of Sham Acupuncture
While we are convinced that real acupuncture is superior to both sham and no-acupuncture control for various chronic pain conditions, as carefully reviewed in 29 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (17...
View ArticleClinical and Ethical Aspects of Placebos in Clinical Practice
The Editorial by Avins concerning the article by Vickers et al is fair and balanced except for 2 comments. Avins(p1455) states that
View ArticleRegarding “Time to Rethink Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?”
We would like to address the Invited Commentary by Harris et al, which we believe fails to back its assertions with relevant data. The authors suggest a concept of “harm” in screening for abdominal...
View ArticleEffects of Creative Arts Therapies on Psychological Symptoms and Quality of...
ImportanceCreative arts therapies (CATs) can reduce anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue and increase quality of life (QOL) in patients with cancer. However, no systematic review of randomized...
View ArticleCreative Arts Therapies Defined Comment on “Effects of Creative Arts...
A diagnosis of cancer and subsequent treatments may result in significant emotional, physical, and social suffering, placing cancer survivors at greater risk for mental health issues. Therefore, the...
View ArticlePharmaceutically Less and Holistically More
An 80-year-old woman had advanced malignant disease of the left scapula and shoulder joint and a large ulcerated mass in the axilla that bled frequently. She had received radiotherapy and chemotherapy,...
View ArticleSomatic Symptoms in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: Prevalence, Risk...
A broad spectrum of somatic symptoms is common in primary care, and more than half of medical visits are due to nonspecific symptoms (eg, nausea, headache, dizziness). Patients with frequent somatic...
View ArticleThe Effect of Treatment History on Therapeutic Outcome: An Experimental Approach
Therapeutic context can critically determine treatment outcome. Prior experience with a treatment is an important contextual factor that has been shown to modulate treatment efficacy. To date, this...
View ArticleSymptom Number and Severity as a Sign of Emotional Distress in Patients With...
The study by Kohlmann et al corroborates the finding that somatic symptom burden (defined as the number and severity of symptoms) is high in a population of patients with chronic disease and that such...
View ArticleRestricting Symptoms in the Last Year of Life A Prospective Cohort Study
ImportanceFreedom from symptoms is an important determinant of a good death, but little is known about symptom occurrence during the last year of life.ObjectiveTo evaluate the monthly occurrence of...
View ArticleSymptom Burden In Need of More Attention and More Evidence
In this issue of the journal, Chaudhry et al raise a number of important questions for those of us caring for community-dwelling older adults. How can we do a better job of relieving symptoms at the...
View ArticlePublic Preferences About Secondary Uses of Electronic Health Information
ImportanceAs health information technology grows, secondary uses of personal health information offer promise in advancing research, public health, and health care. Public perceptions about sharing...
View ArticleCircaseptan (Weekly) Rhythms in Smoking Cessation Considerations
Smokers’ rhythms in contemplating quitting or making quit attempts are poorly understood. Tobacco control has focused on annual events (eg, New Year’s Day), but circaseptan (weekly) time cycles may...
View ArticleIncreased Risk of Acute Cardiovascular Events After Partner Bereavement A...
ImportanceThe period immediately after bereavement has been reported as a time of increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, this risk has not been well quantified, and few large population...
View ArticleMeditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being A Systematic...
ImportanceMany people meditate to reduce psychological stress and stress-related health problems. To counsel people appropriately, clinicians need to know what the evidence says about the health...
View ArticleThe Somatic Symptom Scale–8 (SSS-8) A Brief Measure of Somatic Symptom Burden
ImportanceSomatic symptoms are the core features of many medical diseases, and they are used to evaluate the severity and course of illness. The 8-item Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS-8) was recently...
View ArticleIncreased Risk of Acute Cardiovascular Events After Partner Bereavement A...
ImportanceThe period immediately after bereavement has been reported as a time of increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, this risk has not been well quantified, and few large population...
View ArticleMourning the Need for So Many Handovers
As an internal medicine resident in the 1980s, I essentially lived in the hospital. On ward months, we were on an every-third-night rotation such that we woke up and went to sleep at home only 1 of...
View Article
