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D de Ridder

Publications and source records attributed to D de Ridder.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Developing interventions for chronically ill patients: is coping a helpful concept?

In this review, the role of coping in the development of psychosocial interventions for chronically ill patients is discussed. After summarizing the theoretical issues involved in the translation of the coping concept into an intervention, a review is undertaken of 35 studies concerned with the impact of interventions aimed at improving coping on patients' quality of life. These studies concern seven different chronic disease types (AIDS, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic pain, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis) and show explicit consideration of attempts to manage illness in terms of coping to be rare. Many studies nevertheless address the equivalent of coping, namely behaviors and/or cognitions intended to deal with an illness situation appraised as stressful. The results of these studies are encouraging, although largely limited to the improvement of one or two particular coping strategies and problem-focused strategies in particular. It is argued that in order to expand on these initially positive findings, greater and more explicit consideration should be given to the potential of the coping concept for intervention with the chronically ill. The appraisal of stressful situations, the use of coping resources, and the strategic application of particular coping strategies should, for example, be given more careful consideration.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

Optimism and adaptation to multiple sclerosis: what does optimism mean?

The aim of the present study was to determine the meaning of optimism by explicating the dimensions underlying the notion and their links to adjusting to MS. Seventy-three patients responded to optimism questionnaires (i.e., the LOT, Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale) and outcome questionnaires. In confirmatory factor analyses, the underlying dimensions of optimism were specified. Explanatory structural equation modeling was used to examine the relation of the dimensions of optimism to coping (CISS), depression (BDI), and impaired mobility range (SIP). Optimism was found to consist of three dimensions, namely, outcome expectancies, efficacy expectancies, and unrealistic thinking. Outcome and efficacy expectancies explained depression via emotion-oriented coping but did not explain impaired mobility range either directly or indirectly. Unrealistic thinking directly explained impaired mobility range. The present study can be seen as a first step in explicating the role of optimism in the management of chronic disease.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

Assessing illness representations of chronic illness: explorations of their disease-specific nature.

Elaborating on the five-dimensional structure of illness representation, as described in the self-regulation model of Leventhal (1980), the present study is aimed at identifying the relevance of this generic structure for two chronic illnesses: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and Addison's disease (AD). Factor analyses showed the importance of the five dimensions identity, time-line, control/cure, cause, and consequences to differ according to the type of disease. That is, the items representing the five dimensions merged together for CFS patients and AD patients in a different manner and thereby produced different factor solutions for the two patient groups. In CFS patients, a four-factor solution was identified with manageability, seriousness, personal responsibility, and external cause as the factors. In AD patients a four-factor solution was also identified but with seriousness, cause, chronicity, and controllability as the factors. The value of these findings for our understanding of the disease-specific nature of illness representation is discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Beliefs on coping with illness: a consumer's perspective.

This article discusses the results of a study on beliefs on coping with illness and coping with the health care system. Using the concept mapping method, members of patient organizations (n = 172) sorted their beliefs on coping with illness and coping with the health care system into two dimensions (priority and content). Statistical analysis reveals eight beliefs on coping with illness, with "autonomy" and "acceptance of illness" as the most important. It also reveals eight beliefs on coping with the health care system, of which the most important is a professional relationship with the physician based on mutual trust and respect between two equal partners. It is argued that these beliefs represent idealized images of coping with illness and coping with the health care system. In relation to the political debate on responsible use of the health care system in Western countries, these findings show many patients are willing to act as responsible consumers of health care, that is, if providers of health care create an environment in which patients receive guidance in determining alternatives.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Autologous spheroid culture: a screening tool for human brain tumour invasion.

Spheroids are three-dimensional cell aggregates expressing histotypic organisation in vitro comparable to tissue continuity in vivo. They can be prepared from normal tissue and from tumour fragments. In the experiments presented here, dermal human spheroids and brain tumour spheroids are prepared from the same patient. The dermal tissue originates from the border of the incision wound made to effect a stereotactic brain tumour biopsy. The tumour originates from a fragment of the collected stereotactic biopsy. The dermal fragment and the brain biopsy are explanted in vitro to form confluent monolayers. At confluency, the dermal cells are transferred into small Erlenmeyer flasks and rotated at 37 degrees C for 1-2 days and rotation mediated spheroids are formed. Small flaps of the tumour monolayer are placed on a semisolid non-adhesive substrate, reorganise and form agar overlay spheroids. After spheroid formation, a dermal spheroid is confronted with a brain tumour derived spheroid. The confronting pair, after adhering to each other, present an invasion model in vitro. The dermal spheroid functions as the autologous host for the brain tumour spheroid. Putative invasive cells present in the reaggregated brain spheroid will invade the dermal spheroid and destroy it. If no invasive cells are present in the tumour derived spheroid no morphologic changes will be seen in the dermal spheroid; 24 tested brain biopsy spheroids demonstrated a clear correlation between malignancy in situ and invasiveness in vitro. So it can be concluded that the autologous confrontation of brain tumour derived spheroids with dermal spheroids derived from the patient has a predictive value concerning malignant evolution and mimics the situation of the tumour in situ.

Brain Neoplasms↗