Journals
2025 EN
Elimeleh Yotam · BenBassat Ofer · Benzvi Ariel
+1 more
ABSTRACT Objectives Stress is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) development and exacerbation. We evaluated the impact of the war in Gaza on Israeli IBD patients and related barriers to IBD care. Methods Adult IBD patients were blindly enrolled to complete a patient‐reported‐outcome electronic questionnaire assessing symptoms, hospitalizations, medications, psychosocial factors, economic issues, and adherence to therapy during wartime. Results Overall, 526 participants completed the questionnaire, 67% with CD and 33% with UC. Fifty one percent had moderate–severe IBD patients. Compared to central residents, residents of peripheral regions described a higher need for financial support as their main missing aspect in IBD coping (26% vs. 17%), had increased financial difficulties attributed to wartime that led them to skip therapy (21% vs. 9%), and reported increased rates of requiring financial support to purchase biological medications (13% vs. 3%). Compared to mild patients, moderate–severe patients reported significantly more disease aggravations (47% vs. 23%), hospitalizations (16% vs. 2%), greater need for financial support as their main missing aspect in IBD coping (31% vs. 11%), increased financial difficulties attributed to wartime that led them to skip medical therapy (32% vs. 3%), increased rates of missing IBD medical therapy owing to wartime‐related stress (34% vs. 11%), and increased daily cannabis use (21% vs. 9%). Conclusions Periphery‐residents with IBD experience more financial difficulties, hospitalizations, and disease exacerbation during wartime. Efforts should be taken to minimize disparities in medical care availability and accessibility, with special emphasis on moderate–severe patients who are more prone to disease aggravations.
Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Journals
2025 EN
Liu Shuo · Liu Pan · Lu Qiong
+6 more
ABSTRACT The emergence of Omicron variants dramatically changed the transmission rate and infection characteristics compared to previously prevalent strains, primarily due to spike protein mutations. However, the impact of individual mutations remained unclear. Here, we used virus‐like particle (VLP) pseudotyped to investigate the functional contributions by 12 common mutations in the spike protein. We found that the S371F mutation in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike protein led to a 5‐ and 10‐fold decrease of ACE2 utilization efficiency and viral infectivity, respectively, accompanied by a 5‐ to 11‐fold reduction of neutralization sensitivity to monoclonal antibodies. However, the S375F mutation in the RBD had a compensatory effect, rescuing the infectivity of the S371F Omicron variant. Based on molecular dynamics simulations, we proposed a “tug of war” model to explain this compensation phenomenon. These results provide a comprehensive and dynamic perspective on the evolution of this important pandemic virus.
Journals
2025 EN
Cox Brandon · Goolkasian Paula · Palomo Irene Mena
+3 more
ABSTRACT Chronic multi‐symptom illness (CMI) is a broad term utilized by the Department of Veterans Affairs to refer to complex conditions of unknown etiology where individuals experience symptoms that lack a clear medical diagnosis. In this study, we sought to determine if herpesvirus reactivation and the antiviral response could be involved in CMI. Longitudinal serology studies conducted in two military veteran cohorts diagnosed with CMI or Gulf War Illness (GWI) revealed an increased prevalence of IgG (55% and 83%, respectively) and IgM antibodies (80%–90% and 100%, respectively) to the deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) protein of multiple herpesviruses compared to age/gender‐matched healthy controls (5% and 7% for IgG and IgM respectively, p < 0.001) by ELISA. Despite the ongoing viral reactivation in CMI veterans, IFN‐γ levels surprisingly stayed mostly unchanged from healthy control levels, while in GWI were significantly upregulated. Interestingly, MCP‐1/CCL‐2 levels were significantly increased in some CMI veterans compared to GWI and healthy controls ( p = 0.0009). Our data provide evidence suggesting aberrant antiviral response and immune dysfunction in CMI veterans and supports the premise that decreased serum levels of IFN‐γ together with heightened MCP‐1 and dUTPase antibodies to multiple herpesviruses may be useful to identify CMI veterans with deficient antiviral response.
Journals
2025 EN
Milner Rebecca J. · Blevins Sidney
ABSTRACT The counseling literature on war refugees, and people on the move in general, tends to spotlight understanding client issues and experiences, such as exposure to trauma, acculturative stress, social determinants of health, assessing needs, accessing resources, and mental health treatment approaches. Articles tend to focus on specific client populations, including addressing culturally responsive approaches. Although these topics are important to better understand how we can provide excellent care for refugees, the broad lens misses an important, personalized element of our work as culturally responsive counselors and social justice advocates: counselor self‐awareness and broaching. This article turns the spotlight onto the counselor's ethical imperative to understand and name how their national identity could impact the client–counselor relationship.
Journals
2025 EN
Gregory J. Claire
ABSTRACT The author examines Morenean techniques and self‐determination theory as humanistic counseling approaches for civilian survivors and refugees. Emphasizing autonomy, social connection, and competency, these frameworks counter Western tendencies to pathologize trauma. Conceptual applications of sociometry, psychodrama, and sociodrama are discussed, offering practical strategies for addressing trauma in diverse populations.
Journals
2025 EN
Burt Isaac · Tosado Luis A.
ABSTRACT Survivors and refugees of war often have mental, behavioral, emotional, and spiritual consequences from undergoing civil unrest. In many cases, counselors utilize cognitively‐based therapies as the recommended treatment to alleviate these issues. While these methods do have relevance, other, more contemporary humanistic approaches also indicate tremendous promise. Flow state, which has connections to existential‐humanism, is one such method. Flow state is an internal process in which a person becomes completely immersed in an activity or goal where all else is inconsequential/irrelevant. The ability to consciously tap into flow allows individuals to attain a peak state, which allows for optimal experience and life enjoyment. This process is autotelic, which, operationally defined, means done simply for the sake of the activity or goal itself. The purpose of this article is to provide counselors with information on how to utilize flow with survivors and refugees of war in an existential‐humanistic approach.
Journals
2025 EN
ABSTRACT Like fruit in full bloom, the roots of the tree root for their offspring's development sending continuous nourishment. The fruit will one day fall and become the sustenance for the whole. Family Constellation is much like working with an ancestral tree, where healed ancestors are seen as tangible and used as a supportive emotional resourcing during times of war. This conceptual study explores how Family Constellation Therapy, as a Humanistic counseling model, can be furthered by the inclusion of multicultural perspectives. It outlines Orders of Love in family systems, illustrates Gestalt psychodrama in group constellations, and proposes Decolonial Family Constellation Therapy to heal war survivors and their descendants, emphasizing growth and multicultural awareness.
Journals
2025 EN
Kaur Varinder
ABSTRACT This article examines the integration of Advaita philosophy (AP) within humanistic counseling practices for refugees and civilian survivors of war. Grounded in a non‐dual understanding of self and existence, AP offers a holistic approach that addresses psychological, emotional, and spiritual suffering. This approach aligns with humanistic values of wholeness, meaning‐making, and inner freedom. By transcending dualistic and pathologizing models, AP supports resilience, self‐inquiry, and long‐term psychological healing through the cultivation of presence and interconnectedness.
Journals
2025 EN
See Maha Y. · Shi Yun
ABSTRACT This study examined the experiences, trauma responses, and recovery pathways of Myanmar survivors of war and refugees. Based on a survey of 35 case reports and in‐depth analysis of 15, we describe: (a) the psychosocial experiences of the Myanmar survivors, (b) specific political traumas experienced by this population as a result of the February 2021 coup, (c) the potential relationship between past traumatic experiences and current trauma response, and (d) counseling engagement dynamics with Myanmar survivors considering how mental health is constructed, understood, and accessed in the Myanmar culture. The findings suggest this group of survivors finds meaning and purpose in their political traumas and are challenged to integrate their newly triggered past personal traumas into their personal narratives. This project illustrates the need to advocate for grants to study and provide services that do not compartmentalize political trauma from other sources and consequences of trauma, especially in severely underserved communities.
Journals
2025 EN
Raja Muhammad Asghar · Rutherford Self Tracie
ABSTRACT Ongoing support, career development strategies, and partnerships are crucial in addressing the evolving needs of war‐affected populations. Additionally, employing humanistic counseling theory and career development strategies is a practical approach in the global effort to heal the wounds of conflict worldwide. Bemak and Chung point out refugees have experienced atrocities like murder, rape, torture, violence, and loss of relatives and friends. Mental stress may develop due to loneliness, lack of social support and awareness about available resources, discrimination, and the perception of marginalization during resettlement to a new country. In addition to traumatic experiences, the lack of community resources, support, and language skills often hinders professional employment for refugees of war. It is imperative the counseling field examine mental health and career interventions, private and public partnership models, and services offered by host countries’ government departments dedicated to refugee resettlement.