Narrative-based approaches have been utilized in medicine to better understand the illness experiences of individuals living with chronic conditions. In particular, people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (pALS) may benefit from use of narrative-based approaches, given the potential impact of progressive decline on identity of self. This review explores the use of narrative-based approaches in studies involving pALS to provide further insight to the experiences and psychosocial needs of this population.

A search was conducted utilizing EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar with several terms related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and narrative-based approaches. Studies were included if they were written in English, incorporated methods that promoted the production of narratives, and reported data that could be clearly isolated to pALS.

The search revealed a total of 154 articles for title and abstract screening. Fifty-two articles were selected for full-text review. Thirty-two articles met the criteria for data extraction. Four descriptive categories emerged upon examination of the narrative-based approaches implemented across the studies: psychosocial intervention, illness experience, intervention targeting specific needs, and secondary analysis of data. Some of the common themes identified across studies included: loss of physical and communicative function, adaptation to life changes, shifts in identity, and tension with the healthcare system.

Despite the communication challenges that often coincide with disease progression, narrative-based approaches can be utilized in pALS. These approaches should be implemented to gain insight on the disease experiences of pALS, providing opportunity for patient-centered interventions to address the psychosocial needs of this population.

A previous study by our research group identified psychomotor and neurofunctional impairments following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study continues that investigation, aiming to evaluate whether these impairments persisted over time, as part of the broader characterisation of long COVID. Moreover, it was explored potential correlations with variables such as age, blood type, symptoms, and medical care.

From an initial pool of 214 subjects, 30 post-COVID-19 participants and 30 healthy controls were selected after strict exclusion criteria. The assessments protocol included eight psychomotor tests – Fine Motor Development (Diadochokinesia, Puppets, Fan, and Paper) and Balance (Immobility, Static Balance on One Foot, Feet in Line, and Persistence) – as well as three cognitive screening tasks from the Mini-Mental State Examination: Episodic Memory After Distracters, Verbal Fluency, and Clock tests. Evaluations were performed at three time points: baseline (post-COVID-19), 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Participants were stratified by age (18–30, 31–45, and 46–64 years), symptoms profile, medical care, and blood type.

COVID-19 induced psychomotor and neurofunctional sequelae lasting at least 24 weeks post-infection. These impairments were more pronounced and persistent in the 31–45-years age group, while memory-related impairments were more evident in the 18–30 age group. Body pain, coryza, and sore throat were key symptoms linked to long-term sequelae. Rh-negative blood type was suggested as a potential risk factor.

The findings support that long COVID included sustained psychomotor and neurofunctional sequelae, premature senescence, and associations with specific clinical and biological variables.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is frequently associated with cognitive impairment that negatively affects treatment adherence and clinical outcomes. Neuropsychological assessments provide detailed information but are often impractical in clinical settings, underscoring the value of brief but sensitive tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

This study aimed to evaluate the utility of MoCA in detecting cognitive impairment in SUD, examining cognitive recovery following sustained abstinence, exploring gender differences in cognitive progression and determining whether baseline cognitive performance predicts treatment dropout.

Ninety-five SUD patients and 57 healthy controls completed MoCA at baseline and were reassessed after 6 months.

At baseline, 72.60% of individuals demonstrated cognitive impairment compared with controls, with deficits evident in both global cognition and visuospatial/executive, attention, memory and language domains. Following 6 months of abstinence, deterioration rates decreased to 50%, indicating substantial but not complete recovery, because the improvement in overall cognition was moderate. Male patients showed significantly greater cognitive gains than female patients, particularly in visuospatial/executive and digit span performance. Patients impaired at baseline reported more severe alcohol use and earlier onset of cannabis use disorder. Patients with cocaine use disorder showed the poorest recovery and the highest rate of treatment dropout. Lower baseline language and fluency scores were strongly associated with treatment discontinuation. Language deficits, together with cocaine use disorder, predicted 69% of dropout cases.

Findings indicate MoCA as a practical screening tool for early detection of cognitive impairment, longitudinal monitoring and personalised treatment planning in SUD.

Although patients with lung cancer are at high risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19, little is known about the economic and psychosocial impact of the pandemic on this population. This study had 2 objectives: (1) to identify the prevalence of financial and social disruptions and other adverse COVID-19 experiences in socioeconomically diverse patients with lung cancer; and (2) to examine whether these experiences were associated with physical and psychological symptoms.

Patients with lung cancer (N = 191) were recruited from a cancer center in the midwestern U.S. from August 2021 to April 2022 to participate in a cross-sectional survey of COVID-19 experiences and symptoms. Path analyses tested associations between COVID-19 experiences and symptoms, adjusting for sociodemographic and medical covariates.

Prevalent COVID-19 experiences included disrupted interactions with family and friends (66.0%), inability to perform daily routines (38.5%), and financial difficulties (18.5%). Greater financial hardship and disruptions to daily activities and social interactions were associated with higher levels of all physical and psychological symptoms. Endorsing more COVID-19 experiences (e.g., job loss, death of loved ones) was only associated with greater anxiety. Despite prevalent hardships, mean levels of physical and psychological symptoms were within normal ranges, except for elevated fatigue.

Although adverse COVID-19 experiences were common and related to symptom burden, patients with lung cancer showed notable psychological resilience during the pandemic. Oncology clinicians should consider the impact of COVID-19 experiences when providing financial and support services.

Sexual violence in psychiatric in-patient care has received increasing attention following persistent evidence of sexual violence and harassment on wards. However, patients’ subjective experiences remain under-examined, limiting the evidence base to inform safeguarding, gender-sensitive design and trauma-informed practice.

To synthesise qualitative evidence on patients’ experiences of sexual violence and perceived risk within psychiatric in-patient settings.

We conducted a systematic review and qualitative synthesis following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PROSPERO registration no. CRD42024595945). MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO were searched from inception to October 2024, supplemented by reference list screening and citation tracking. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed qualitative studies reporting patients’ first-hand accounts of sexual violence or perceived sexual safety in psychiatric in-patient care. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist, and data were analysed by thematic synthesis.

Six studies published between 1998 and 2025 met the inclusion criteria, with most focusing on female patients in mixed-gender wards. Three overarching themes were developed: (a) ‘a culture of permissiveness and dismissal’ – patients downplayed harassment and abuse and staff routinely dismissed concerns; (b) ‘everyday fear, hypervigilance and resistance’ – the constant threat of harm generated chronic distress, with safeguarding responsibility shifted onto the patients; and (c) ‘gendered power dynamics in open or mixed-gender spaces’ – open ward layouts, inadequate boundaries and legal detention compounded vulnerability to harm.

Sexual violence in psychiatric in-patient care is enabled by ward cultures that normalise harm, weak safeguarding and gendered power imbalances. Urgent action is needed to implement trauma-informed, gender-sensitive practices and secure spatial boundaries and consistent incident responses, alongside policies that enable safe disclosure and accountability.