Search Results (14)

Background/Objectives: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) involves emotional dysregulation, interpersonal instability and impulsivity. Although treatments have advanced, evaluating the latest innovations remains essential. This rapid review aimed to (1) identify and classify recent therapeutic innovations for BPD, (2) assess their effects on clinical and functional outcomes, and (3) highlight research gaps to inform future priorities. Methods: Employing a rapid review design, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase for publications from 1 January 2019 to 28 March 2025. Eligible studies addressed adult or adolescent BPD populations and novel interventions—psychotherapies, pharmacological agents, digital tools, and neuromodulation. Two independent reviewers conducted screening, full-text review, and data extraction using a standardised form. Results: Sixty-nine studies—predominantly from Europe and North America—were included. Psychotherapeutic programmes dominated, ranging from entirely novel models to adaptations of established treatments (for example, extended or modified Dialectical Behavior Therapy). Pharmacological research offered fresh insights, particularly into ketamine, while holistic approaches such as adventure therapy and digital interventions also emerged. Most investigations centred on symptom reduction; far fewer examined psychosocial functioning, mortality, or social inclusion. Conclusions: Recent innovations show promise in BPD treatment but underserve the needs of mortality and societal-level outcomes. Future research should adopt inclusive, equity-focused agendas that align with patient-centred and recovery-oriented goals, supported by a coordinated, integrated research strategy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of mobility impairment in older adults, yet few studies have explored exergames (EXGs) as a complementary therapy for knee and/or hip OA (KOA/HOA). This study evaluated the effects of integrating EXGs into conventional therapy (CT) on functional mobility. Methods: Sixty participants were randomized into an EXG/CT group or a CT-only group. The interventions lasted 10 weeks (3 sessions/week), and the EXGs were selected from the interactive game Ring Fit Adventure (Nintendo Switch^®, Kyoto, Japan). Results: Functional mobility (Timed Up and Go test) significantly improved in the EXG/CT group but not in the CT group. Additionally, lower-limb strength and aerobic endurance increased in the EXG/CT group. No adverse events were reported, and the adherence was high. Conclusions: These findings support EXG-based interventions as a viable complement to CT. Future studies should design OA-specific EXGs and include patient subgroups to expand the impact of interventions using virtual systems. Full article

This study explores the development and pilot testing of an exergame designed for the rehabilitation of individuals with upper limb deficits. While traditional physiotherapy is effective, it often fails to fully engage patients due to its repetitive nature. This research integrates a novel exergame into physiotherapy regimens, aiming to enhance patient motivation through a gaming experience that complements conventional sessions. The exergame is structured around a narrative-driven adventure, with exercises embedded in gameplay that mirror adjustable physiotherapy routines. It utilizes the Myo armband, a wearable electromyography device, to capture muscle activity and movement. The system, part of a web-based platform, is easily deployable in various settings, including home environments. Comprehensive evaluations with health professionals and neurological patients indicate that the exergame significantly improves patient engagement. This study not only demonstrates the potential of exergames in enhancing traditional therapy but also underscores the importance of patient-centered therapeutic tools. Full article

Adventure Therapy (AT) is a therapeutic intervention utilizing the natural environment and adventure activities as tools for psychotherapeutic interventions. It has been demonstrated to be appropriate for the intervention of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study aims to evaluate the response to AT treatment compared with the response to treatment as usual (TAU), based on cognitive behavioural therapy, in the short and long term, assessing clinical, psychosocial, and functional outcomes; quality of life; and physical health levels. This study extends the sample of and is a follow-up to a pilot study published in 2021, with a sample of 30 patients in the AT group and 10 in the control group. It does not allow us to affirm that AT provides better outcomes than TAU, as the positive effects observed immediately after therapy seem to be attenuated in the long term. Therefore, the effectiveness of long-term psychotherapy did not show differences between AT and TAU therapies in the treatment of BPD patients. However, the effects of intangibles observed during therapy by professionals and patients were not reflected in the measurements collected. Therefore, we believe it is necessary to increase the programme duration, complement treatment with a specific physical health programme, assess results with more specific instruments, and/or move towards a qualitative methodology to measure perceived changes in clinical improvement. New studies are needed to evaluate the results of the proposed changes. Full article

Background: Parkinson’s disease is characterised by the loss of balance and the presence of walking difficulties. The inclusion of rehabilitation therapies to complement pharmacological therapy allows for comprehensive management of the disease. In recent years, virtual reality has been gaining importance in the treatment of neurological diseases and their associated symptoms. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review was to analyse the effectiveness of virtual reality on balance and gait in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Methods: This study is a systematic review conducted following PRISMA’s statements. An electronic search of the literature was carried out in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane, Dialnet, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Science Direct PEDro. The inclusion criteria were controlled and non-controlled clinical trials published in the last 12 years in English or Spanish, in which virtual reality was applied to treat balance and gait impairments in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Results: 20 studies were finally included in this review. A total of 480 patients participated in the included studies. All patients were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Most of the investigations used the Nintendo Wii + Balance Board or the Microsoft Kinect TM combined with the Kinect Adventures games as a virtual reality device. Conclusions: According to the results of this literature review, virtual reality-based interventions achieve good adherence to treatment, bring innovation and motivation to rehabilitation, and provide feedback as well as cognitive and sensory stimulation in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, virtual reality can be considered an alternative for personalised rehabilitation and for home treatment. Full article

Unrestrained urbanisation and natural space loss are reducing contact with nature in today’s society, producing negative consequences for people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing. Nature-based therapies, such as physical activity in natural settings, forest bathing, therapeutic hiking, or experiential learning, reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms and improve the quality of life in both general and specific populations. A bibliometric analysis of research on nature-based therapies was performed by applying the traditional laws of bibliometrics (exponential growth law, Bradford’s concentration law, Lotka’s law, Zipf’s law, etc.) to documents published in journals indexed in the Core Collection of the Web of Science (WoS). Graphical visualisation was performed using the VOSviewer software. Annual publications between 2006 and 2021 presented an exponential growth trend (R² = 91%). The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI) and Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (Elsevier) were the most productive and cited journals. Ikei, Miyazaki, and Song are the most cited prolific authors. The USA and South Korea were the countries with the highest scientific production. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in adventure, nature, and forest therapies among researchers. Nature-based therapies have experienced a growing interest in recent years. Positive effects on mental, physical, and emotional health have been found in different populations and research lines, although more studies with different designs and populations are needed. Full article

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health problem that psychologically and physically affects the women who suffer from it. In this article, we propose an intervention protocol based on therapeutic tourism through adventure physical activities and psychological therapy that could improve the psychological and physical health of women participants. We propose a randomized study where participants will be separated into two groups, control and experimental, and we will perform measurements including self-concept, self-image, depression, and perceived stress, combining these with physiological measurements of stress level by determining stress-related hormones (Cortisol and DHEA), as well as the overall cost-effectiveness of the program. All data collected at the end of the protocol will be statistically analysed. If the final data are positive and it is feasible, this protocol could be proposed as a measure for the treatment of the sequelae of victims of gender violence. Full article

Background: Cancer is very disruptive in adolescence and hospitalizations interfere with this development stage in becoming independent, developing social relationships, and making plans for the future. A major challenge in the care of adolescents with cancer is being able to enhance their quality of life. The aim of this project is to increase our understanding of how adventure therapy influenced quality of life for adolescents with cancer. Methods: Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with the Tender to Nave Italia Foundation (TTNI), has been conducting a unique project, located on a beautiful brigantine of the Italian Navy. Adventure therapy is a form of experiential therapy that consists of various types of adventure, in particular outdoor and sailing activities. Ninety teenagers have been the protagonists of this project to date and filled out two questionnaires about quality of life and self-esteem, before and after the sailing experience. Results: The adventure provides the opportunity for the participants to build interpersonal relationships and develop life skills that they can benefit from in the future experiences. All participants report a significant improvement in their quality of life and self-esteem at the end of this experience. Conclusion: This collaborative adventure project is a great way to learn and practice new behaviors, improve interpersonal skills, heal painful emotions, overcome personal obstacles and challenges, and help the teenagers to resume their developmental path after an onco-hematological diagnosis. Full article

Meaningful, positive, emotional and challenging adventurous activities may generate personal growth or recovery from ill health or injury. In this study, we used a distinctive longitudinal and immersive research approach to explore the psychological impact of a high-altitude expedition to the Nepalese Himalaya on 10 (9 males) UK military veterans with longstanding well-being concerns. In the 12 months prior to the expedition, participants took part in three training weekends in the UK mountains. During the expedition, instructors—who were all experienced health coaches—facilitated reflective practices with the beneficiaries throughout, focusing on experiential transfer to day-to-day lives after the expedition. Follow-up interviews, conducted up to 18-months post-expedition, identified that the most desirable changes aligned with the three innate psychological needs of self-determination theory: autonomy, competence and relatedness. The routines established during the preparation stage and during the expedition itself activated a renewed energy for personal improvement. At 18 months post-expedition, the key changes reflected altered perspective, employment skills and work–life balance, increased physical activity and enhanced personal awareness and mindfulness. Importantly, supported by regular health coaching and focused on the transfer of learning, expeditions can activate meaningful long-term changes to the well-being and personal development of military veterans. Full article

Objective: To report on the role of nature in outdoor therapies through review and summary of existing systematic and meta-analytic reviews in an effort to articulate a theoretical framework for practice. Materials and methods: An umbrella review was conducted following systematic protocols PRISMA guidelines. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria and represented five self-identified approaches: nature-based therapies, forest therapy, horticultural therapy, wilderness therapy, and adventure therapy. Clear and comprehensive descriptions of theory, program structure, and activity details with causal links to outcomes were mostly absent. Conclusions: A rigorous and determined program of research is required in order to explicit in-depth theories of change in outdoor therapies. Conversely, or maybe concurrently, a holistic theory of integrated relatedness may be developed as a parallel expression of support for nature in therapy while the explanatory science catches up. Full article

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a major public health problem that affects one-third of women aged 15 around the world. Interventions for IPV victims are essential for women’s self-esteem and self-concept recovery. This project aims to assess the effects of an eight-session multicomponent intervention program based on group psychological therapy and adventure activities in (1) self-esteem, (2) self-concept, (3) body image, (4) self-efficacy and (5) depression symptomatology in IPV victims. Methods/Design: A single-blind, randomized controlled pilot study, with experimental and control group, will be carried out. 34 IPV female victims will be recruited and equally assigned to the experimental (n = 17) or the control (n = 17) group. Primary outcome measures will include self-esteem, while secondary measures will be focused on self-concept, body image, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms. Intention to treat and efficacy statistical analyses will be also performed. Discussion: This project will explore the effects of a new multicomponent program which includes cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions and outdoor adventure activities on affective and emotional variables, often affected in IPV victims. In addition, orientations to incorporate the main findings into the community based IPV resources and victims’ services will be provided. Full article

There has been increasing interest in the application of virtual reality (VR) to occupational therapy and rehabilitation fields. This work presents a VR-based city adventure framework designed for occupational therapy. Its concept is based on taking the user to travel around a virtual city, where the motion is powered by the execution of some type of physical exercise, namely cycling in the current example. This framework is extensible and may integrate different goals focused on improving/maintaining motor and cognitive skills necessary for daily activities, mainly through upper and lower limb exercises and mental challenges. This led to the development of an immersive system, which was tested with an elderly sample (15 participants) in a day center and at a retirement home. Usability, satisfaction, performance and side effects were evaluated to understand future applicability and work directions. Full article

Porous inorganic nanostructured materials are widely used nowadays as drug delivery carriers due to their adventurous features: suitable architecture, large surface area and stability in the biological fluids. Among the different types of inorganic porous materials, silica, calcium carbonate, and calcium phosphate have received significant attention in the last decade. The use of porous inorganic materials as drug carriers for cancer therapy, gene delivery etc. has the potential to improve the life expectancy of the patients affected by the disease. The main goal of this review is to provide general information on the current state of the art of synthesis of the inorganic porous particles based on silica, calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. Special focus is dedicated to the loading capacity, controllable release of drugs under internal biological stimuli (e.g., pH, redox, enzymes) and external noninvasive stimuli (e.g., light, magnetic field, and ultrasound). Moreover, the diverse compounds to deliver with silica, calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate particles, ranging from the commercial drugs to genetic materials are also discussed. Full article

Photodynamic therapy is a procedure that can provide a selective eradication of neoplastic disease if sufficient drug, light, and oxygen are available. As this description suggests, it involves the photosensitization of malignant tissues to irradiation with photons in the visible range. While not suitable for tumors at unknown loci, it can be of use for eradication of cancer at surgical margins and therapy at sites where substantial surgery might otherwise be involved. Drug development has been delayed by several factors including the reluctance of major pharmaceutical firms in the United States to invest in this technology along with some unwise approaches in the past. Full article