Writing about your best possible self or things you’re grateful for showed strongest improvements in wellbeing, but most studies were poor quality and focused only on non-clinical populations.
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Non-communicable diseases cause 74% of global deaths. Could singing, dancing or storytelling really make a difference? This new review explores how arts-based interventions can boost public health worldwide.
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Una Foye highlights a small qualitative study that explores the benefits of establishing music groups on acute mental health inpatient wards. She reflects on the boredom felt by many inpatients and the importance of social connection and a positive ward atmosphere that may indirectly improve recovery and mental well-being.
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Carmine Pariante, Hannah Lamdin and Laura Godfrey-Isaacs mark Maternal Mental Health Matters Awareness Week with a blog about the Maternal Journal workshops and events they run, to support pregnant women with a history of mental health problems.
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Lisa Burscheidt is rather disappointed by a randomised controlled trial of music therapy for children and adolescents with behavioural and emotional problems.
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Rachel Upthegrove reviews a new systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological and psychosocial interventions for negative symptoms in psychosis.
This is the third in a new series of Mental Elf blogs produced in partnership with the British Journal of Psychiatry.
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Suzanne Dash reviews a cross-sectional study of the prevalence and treatment of common mental disorders in the English national population, which inspires her to host a mental health epidemiology quiz. Fingers on buzzers…
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Raphael Underwood reports on the findings of a recent RCT of group body psychotherapy for negative symptoms of schizophrenia, which finds that body psychotherapy did not have a clinically beneficial effect on reducing emotional withdrawal or improving social functioning.
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Tracey Roberts appraises a systematic review of group psychotherapies for schizophrenia, which includes group CBT, music therapy, art therapy and social skills training.
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Alice Potter reviews a study of a new multi-modal performing arts intervention programme for carers of people with dementia, which suggests this approach is feasible and acceptable.
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