Tag: Healthcare provider

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Emotional Training via Telerehabilitation After Surgical Treatment for Facial Palsy: Prospective, Assessor-Blinded, 2-Arm Pilot Cohort Study

Background: Peripheral facial nerve palsy is a debilitating condition that may necessitate surgical intervention. Although motor rehabilitation is considered essential, the most effective approach has not yet been determined. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of emotional training, a novel telerehabilitation-based treatment, on motor, functional, and psychological outcomes in patients with unilateral facial palsy following triple innervation surgery. Methods: A prospective, assessor-blinded, 2-arm pilot cohort study was conducted at the rehabilitation unit at University Hospital San Paolo, Milan, Italy, from January to October 2024. Participants (N=16) received 1 treatment session every 2 weeks over 20 weeks, each lasting 45 minutes, according to standard clinical procedures in place at the rehabilitation unit. Participants were nonrandomly assigned to either an in-person group (n=8) or an online group (ie, telerehabilitation; n=8) based on their ability to attend in-person sessions. The primary outcomes assessed at baseline (T0) and after treatment (T1) included facial symmetry (Sunnybrook Facial Grading System; SFGS), facial disability (Facial Disability Index; FDI), and anxiety levels (Beck Anxiety Inventory). Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements at T1 for both groups in the FDI social and well-being function subscale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, SFGS resting symmetry score, SFGS symmetry of voluntary movement score, SFGS composite score, SFGS with bilateral masseter contraction symmetry of voluntary movement score, and SFGS with bilateral masseter contraction composite score (<.001 for all). Only the FDI physical function subscale showed a differential improvement at T1 for the in-person group treatment (ANOVA for time × treatment: =14.356; =.002; Holm-Bonferroni post hoc test: <.001). Finally, a strong positive correlation was observed between the time elapsed from surgery to rehabilitation and SFGS composite score improvement at T1 (=0.94; =.005). Conclusions: These results suggest that the online emotional training protocol is as feasible and effective as the in-person emotional training protocol in improving facial motor function, reducing anxiety, and enhancing facial expression spontaneity in patients who had undergone surgery for peripheral facial palsy. These findings support the validity of telerehabilitation approaches as a feasible, accessible, and sustainable alternative to conventional in-person therapy for facial nerve recovery.
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Oxytocin Plus Self-compassion Training in Borderline Personality Disorder

Conditions: Self-compassion Training (SCT) Plus Intranasal Oxytocin; Self-compassion Training (SCT) Plus Intranasal Placebo

Interventions: Drug: Intranasal Oxytocin (IN-OXT); Drug: Intranasal Placebo; Behavioral: Self-Compassion Training (SCT)

Sponsors: Fundació Institut de Recerca de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

Recruiting
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Lithuanian children’s trauma characteristics and correlates: comparison of clinical and non-clinical samples

IntroductionPrevious studies have shown that children’s exposure to potentially traumatic events and their trauma−related symptoms may not always be consistently identified. This study aims to examine differences in trauma exposure and related psychological outcomes between clinical and non−clinical Lithuanian children.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 10–17−year−old children and adolescents recruited from a clinical inpatient setting (Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos) and general−education schools in Vilnius and nearby districts. After parental consent and child assent, participants completed a secure mobile assessment covering exposure to potentially traumatic events (CATS), dissociation (A−DES), mood and feeling (SMFQ), post−traumatic cognitions (CPTCI), PTSD symptoms (CATS; PCL−5 for convergent validation), and perceived social support (CASSS). Data were collected in 2023–2024. Group differences were examined using Welch’s t−tests (with Mann–Whitney U as robustness checks), and associations were assessed using Pearson correlations.ResultsIn the clinical sample over 40% of children experienced physical violence, while in the non−clinical sample 82.9% children reported exposure to multiple traumatic events. The clinical sample showed significantly higher dissociation, negative mood, and PTSD symptoms compared to the non−clinical sample. However, among children exposed to more than one traumatic event, differences in dissociation, PTSD symptoms, and close−friend support were not significant. Across both samples, exposure to potentially traumatic events was strongly associated with PTSD symptoms, dissociation, and post−traumatic cognitions, and moderately associated with mood symptoms. In the non−clinical sample, parental support showed moderate negative associations with dissociation, mood symptoms, post−traumatic cognitions, and PTSD symptoms.DiscussionThis study identified between−sample differences in exposure to potentially traumatic events and trauma−related psychological outcomes among Lithuanian children in inpatient and community settings, highlighting the need for trauma−informed assessment and attention to social support within child mental health and welfare services.
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Cyclothymic and anxious affective temperament in perinatal depression: findings from an exploratory cross-sectional study

IntroductionThe perinatal period represents a vulnerable period in which women may experience high psychic distress due to psychological, biological and social changes. The prevalence of perinatal depression (PND) is estimated around 15%-20% during pregnancy and 16%-18% after childbirth. Although several risk factors have been investigated in the PND development, few studies explored the role of affective temperaments, well known to exert a role in any mood disorders. The aim of our study was to explore which is the most represented affective temperamental profile in PND as well as which is its role in the development and severity of depressive symptoms during perinatal period.MethodsAll pregnant women admitted at the Perinatal Mental Health Outpatient Service, Unit of Clinical Psychiatry, University Hospital of Marche, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy, between April 2021 and July 2025, were screened for PND through Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a semi-structured clinical interview (SCID-5-CV). Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS-M) was administered to all pregnant women. ResultsThe PND prevalence was 33.1%. PND was significantly associated with higher cyclothymic (B = 0.356, p = 0.001) and anxious TEMPS-M scores (B = 0.247, p = 0.026) and a positive psychiatric history (B = 5.245, p < 0.001) (R = 0.6, R2 = 0.36, F(3,129) = 24.189, p < 0.001). Logistic regression indicated that cyclothymic (Exp(B)=1.118, p=0.008), hyperthymic (Exp(B)=0.911, p=0.049), anxious temperaments (Exp(B)=1.109, p=0.029), presence of medical comorbidities (Exp(B)=0.224, p=0.003) and psychiatric history (Exp(B)=5.144, p=0.001) were independent predictors of PND.DiscussionAffective temperaments, particularly cyclothymic and anxious profiles, and prior psychiatric history are predictors of perinatal depression. Incorporating temperament assessment alongside standard screening tools such as the EPDS may improve early identification of women at risk, supporting tailored preventive and therapeutic strategies.
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STAT+: Will bargain-basement telehealth visits help pharma drive drug scripts?

The little pink pill recently got a retail boost. Addyi, a drug that treats low libido in premenopausal women, has been on the market for more than a decade after a controversial approval. But in December the Food and Drug Administration expanded its use, approving the daily drug for all women under 65. 

More women than ever now could qualify for the pill — and its maker, Sprout Pharmaceuticals, made it easy for them to find out. On its Instagram account, in Facebook ads, and on its website, Sprout shared how women could get a quick consult for an Addyi prescription: With a special code, PINKPILL, they could get a telehealth visit for just $10. 

Drugmakers have long used discount coupons to encourage patients to use their high-cost medications. Now, coupons can influence not just a drug’s out-of-pocket price, but the cost of consulting with a clinician who can prescribe it. 

For Addyi, those consultations and discounts are managed by a telehealth company called Prescribery — one of several that work with drugmakers to help patients “talk to a doctor now” about their products. “We give them the coupon codes that they can use, and they get to market it to drive additional business,” said Prescribery’s CEO and CFO Ross Pope. “That’s sort of our arrangement, where they’re driving more business, both for them and for us.”

As links between pharmaceutical companies and telehealth providers grow, health policy experts and legislators have sounded alarms. Telehealth companies can receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in pharma fees a year. Critics have questioned whether those partnerships break federal laws prohibiting financial kickbacks to induce prescribing, highlighting their potential to promote uncoordinated care and overprescription of unnecessary, and often expensive, branded medications. 

The same questions, they say, apply to coupons extended for a drug-specific telehealth visit. “These discount structures are one more piece of the same puzzle,” said Daniel Eisenkraft Klein, a postdoctoral fellow at the Program on Regulation, Therapeutics, and Law at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. “It’s this big financial architecture that’s every step of the way designed to move patients toward the specific drug cheaply and quickly.” 

Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…

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Knowledge, Attitudes, and Training Needs for AI in Primary Care: National Survey Study of Clinicians in the Veterans Health Administration

<strong>Background:</strong> Clinicians are the interface between artificial intelligence (AI) applications and patient care. To maximize benefits and minimize risks of AI, clinicians must be “AI-ready”—that is, willing and able to understand, evaluate, and appropriately use AI tools in practice. Prior literature suggests that clinicians lack fundamental competencies in the use of AI. These gaps could be especially problematic in primary care, given its broad reach into patient care. We surveyed primary care providers (PCPs) in the United States’ largest integrated health care system, relatively early in its widespread implementation of clinical AI for frontline use, in order to identify readiness gaps that may warrant particular attention as part of a comprehensive AI implementation strategy. <strong>Objective:</strong> The aim of this study was to characterize PCPs’ use, knowledge, attitudes, and training priorities related to AI in order to inform health system AI implementation efforts. <strong>Methods:</strong> We conducted a national cross-sectional survey of United States Veterans Health Administration (VA) PCPs in October 2025, assessing AI use, self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and training experience. Descriptive analyses summarized responses with exploratory bivariate comparisons across clinician subgroups. Conventional content analysis with inductive coding was used to characterize open-ended responses providing a definition of AI. <strong>Results:</strong> Among 170 respondents (170/989, 17.2% response rate), 66.5% (113/170) reported current AI use, most commonly generative AI and decision support tools. Overall attitudes toward AI were positive, with 70.6% (120/170) mostly enthusiastic or more enthusiastic than apprehensive. Confidence in understanding sources of AI bias (62/170, 36.5%) and ethical issues (81/170, 47.6%) was limited. When asked to define AI, very few respondents provided an accurate technical definition. Key concerns about use of AI included accountability, accuracy, and transparency. Though 88.2% (150/170) identified AI training as a priority, only 26.5% (45/170) had any training. Training experiences ranged widely in source, focus, and structure. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> PCPs are eager to harness AI’s practical advantages but lack foundational competencies to do so in ways that maximize benefit and minimize risk. Our findings highlight a need for targeted education that prioritizes critical appraisal, workflow integration, and risk mitigation, supported by governance that addresses clinicians’ concerns and validated measures to evaluate progress toward an AI-ready workforce. These steps can empower PCPs to leverage AI safely and effectively and strengthen the quality and safety of primary care delivery at scale.
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Fifth Annual SoFi Child Mind Institute Golf Invitational Raises $630,000 to Support Youth Mental Health 

San Francisco, CA – On April 20, the Child Mind Institute and SoFi held its fifth annual Golf Invitational at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Participants included legendary athletes Marcus Allen (Los Angeles Raiders), Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants), Royce Clayton (San Francisco Giants), Vince Coleman (St. Louis Cardinals), Al Joyner (Olympic gold medalist), Gary Payton (Miami Heat), and Sterling Sharpe (Green Bay Packers). The event raised $630,000 to support the organization’s mission to transform the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.

The day’s programming began with a round of golf where participants enjoyed time on the course alongside fellow supporters. Following the tournament, guests gathered for an evening reception and seated dinner highlighted by a live auction featuring exclusive experiences, and an awards presentation for tournament winners. The event featured remarks from Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, president of the Child Mind Institute, and Brian Boitano, Olympic gold medalist skater, who talked candidly about the mental pressures of performing on a global stage.

Raj Mathai, 12-time Emmy Award winner and NBC Bay Area weeknight news anchor, hosted the event and served as the dinner program emcee and auctioneer.

During the reception, the Child Mind Institute announced it is now seeing patients in a new San Francisco location, in addition to their San Mateo clinic, making it easier for families across the city, Marin County, and the northern East Bay to access care.

“Even as we grow our presence here in California, we know this challenge is bigger than any one location,” said Dr. Koplewicz. “If we’re going to meet the need, we have to reach children earlier in spaces where they already are: at home, in schools, in their communities, and increasingly, in the digital spaces where they spend so much of their time. Technology is already shaping young people’s lives. Our responsibility is to make sure it also supports them.”

“Supporting mental health is fundamental to building stronger families and more resilient communities,” said Anthony Noto, CEO of SoFi. “We’re proud to partner with the Child Mind Institute to expand access to critical mental health resources for children and families, helping empower the next generation to realize their ambitions and reach their full potential.”

Additional sponsors include Prologis, the Silk Family, GingerBread Capital, and Platform Golf, as well as product and vendor support from Bay Golf Club, Dryvebox, Drops of Dough, Goated Golf, Moretz Marketing, Sightglass Coffee, and Supergoop. Tracy Toyota served as the event’s Hole-in-One Sponsor.

The SoFi | Child Mind Institute Golf Invitational event committee included Stacy Denman, Ronnie Lott, Kristin Noto, and Linnea Roberts.

Photos are available upon request.

About the Child Mind Institute
The Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need. We’ve become the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health by providing gold-standard, evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.

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For press questions, contact our press team at childmindinstitute@ssmandl.com or our media officer at mediaoffice@childmind.org.

About SoFi
SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) is a one-stop shop for digital financial services on a mission to help people achieve financial independence to realize their ambitions. 13.7 million members trust SoFi to borrow, save, spend, invest, and protect their money and buy, sell and hold their crypto – all in one app – and get access to financial planners, exclusive experiences, and a thriving community. Fintechs, financial institutions, and brands use SoFi’s technology platform Galileo to build and manage innovative financial solutions across 128 million global accounts. For more information, visit www.sofi.com or download our iOS and Android apps.

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