Wednesday, April 09, 2008

O' For Fux Sake!...

Pardon my French, but I'm irritable at baseline...and when I read STOOPID articles like the one in the picture, I just want to gnaw loose from the tether that keeps me bound to the human race and FLOAT AWAY!

Yes, you guessed it...another HIGH PRICED study funded by the NIH (National Institute of Health) to tell all of us with Multiple Sclerosis (or any OTHER disease...I mean the so called "research" can apply to ANYTHING!) that if we just "increase our positive experiences" our MS will be MUCH more tolerable. No indication here that ANYONE has been spending those high-priced and fought after government dollars (which DO come from my effing taxes, by the way) to delve into a friggin' CURE for MS! Why heck no...that's MUCH harder to research than silly CRAP LIKE THIS:


Now, researchers from two universities have found that people with MS who increase positive experiences decrease their symptoms of depression and improve the overall quality of their lives.


As part of an ongoing NIH-funded study of people with MS, Alexa Stuifbergen, professor of nursing and associate dean of research at The University of Texas at Austin, and Lorraine Phillips, assistant professor in the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing, determined the extent to which positive experiences influenced the health of people with MS. The researchers found that a higher number of positive experiences was associated with fewer symptoms of depression, fewer functional limitations, and better quality of life in people with MS.


"Positive experiences significantly affected the participants' perceptions of the quality of their lives and symptoms of depression, even when taking into account age, education and disease-related factors, such as mobility, vision and cognition," Phillips said. "People with MS typically rate the quality of their lives lower than that of the general population, so it is important for people with MS and clinicians involved in their care to understand what factors may improve the quality of their lives."


Study participants recorded the frequency of positive experiences in their lives, such as "I said 'thank you' and meant it," "I said something pleasant to someone who didn't expect it," and "I exercised and felt good about doing it." Phillips found that study participants who reported a higher number of positive experiences also reported having lower levels of symptoms of depression.


"By incorporating positive experiences or behaviors into their lives, people with MS may be able to limit the additional risks and costs of medical treatments for depression. Most of these positive activities are extremely simple to perform and readily available." Phillips said. "Health care providers should encourage people with MS to participate in positive activities every day. Previous research found that people with MS benefit more from frequent smaller activities like smelling fresh flowers, talking with neighbors or writing letters, than they do from larger activities like taking a week-long vacation or buying an expensive outfit that they can only do once in awhile."


The study, "The Influence of Positive Experiences on Depression and Quality of Life in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis," was published in the March 2008 issue of The Journal of Holistic Nursing.


"The current study was prompted by a suggestion from one of the participants in the NIH-funded study. She helped us to develop the survey, which has 35 items that describe activities that could improve mental or physical health," Phillips said. "That's the beauty of this tool. These activities can be adopted by people with other chronic illnesses."


Well, I guess with my crappy attitude/lack of "positive experience" about THIS latest load of fecal festive research, I should be wheel chair bound in NO TIME...at least according to the research statistics. I simply cannot BELIEVE we as a nation are spending MONEY on things like this...money that certainly could have been better spent toward improving the "positive experience" of an MSer who can't afford their medications (Hey LISA E. ...maybe we can apply for a grant from the NIH to get YOUR MS medications paid for, thus furthering the theory proposed above?!? Let's talk...)


Must go medicate now...I've given myself a headache BANGING MY HEAD ON THE DESK REPEATEDLY in a fitful self reality check. Yep, I really AM awake and reading this...

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Linda. I was so happy to see your posts! If they've got your 'IRE' up, then there ain't no stopping you. I thought I'd contribute to your 'positive experience' by letting you know I completed my first quilt (we're not counting the lap quilt for Barbie that I made - lol). Hope you'll check it out. Hard to photograph because it's ecru coloured. After a brief stay with me, it will begin it's North American tour, visiting my fellow Soul Journey members from Cafemom. My 'Three Generations of Creative Comfort' is next on the project list.
Stay inspired!
Michelle
Expand your mind ~ visit Brain Angles

Sara said...

I'm not sure what you were expecting from the journal of hollistic nursing, but maybe that's the geek in me knowing I wouldn't even bother reading anything from that journal

Charles-A. Rovira said...

The study, "The Influence of Positive Experiences on Depression and Quality of Life in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis," was published in the March 2008 issue of The Journal of Holistic Nursing.

Sounds like one of those totally useless pieces of waste paper that pollutes the counters of waiting rooms and "by the door" magazine racks you find at health food stores.

It was probably written by some well-meaning idiot blathering on as if it mattered or by some intern who was told s/he could get extra marks for scribbling something.

An awful (and I do mean awful) lot of stuff get published because somebody's got space to fill. (If you're going to have 8 pages in a leaflet and you've only got enough material to fill 5, you'd be surprised what you'll print rather than leave the space empty. [The beauty of publishing on the internet/web is that there is no such tyranny; it's not printed.])

Jeri Burtchell (TickledPink) said...

I want to get funding for a study that studies useless studies and how much government money is being wasted conducting the studies that could otherwise pay for the health care of all mankind. Think if I word it right I'll get the grant?

It's kind of like the recent study that shows use of marijuana in MS patients impairs cognitive function. Well, duh!

No way, Dude. Did you hear that?...oh look, a butterfly, cool! What were we talkin' about? Nevermind. I'm hungry.

Miss Chris said...

Those "scientists" who waste money on these types of "studies" are nothing more than a bunch of jugheads! Argh!

Steve said...

For some reason, your post brought to mind the Monty Python Song, "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life" as sung by guys nailed to crosses. (If you haven't watched the Life of Brian recently, you really ought to!)

You want me to send them a sternly worded letter? Cause I will! :D

Lisa Emrich said...

Life of Brian - that's a good one.

What's sad is that this was NIH-funded whether or not it was published in a "hollistic" journal.

Hey, Linda, I think your idea for a grant could be revolutionary. But first maybe we need to become a non-profit or register as a lobby group or well, I don't really know right now. My brain is fried as I've been frantically trying to get the Carnival up. BTW you're about to get an email from me announcing that one of your posts is included. You'll see why it JUST HAD TO be included.

Hugs, and I'm glad the Big T went down smoothly.

Joan said...

Quiting work was a very positive experience for me. I recommend it to everyone!
So why hasn't it turned me into a really healthy babe? Is it because I read and write too many blogs?? (JUST KIDDING!!!)

Silverstar said...

Positive experiences decreases depression? OMG really? Thank you, the 'Obvious Police'! :P
I agree, less money for dumb "studies" and more for research towards a cure.:)

Unknown said...

I always find useless studies when money should be invested in more worthwhile studies. We bloggers can explain better what this this study have provided.

Taxingwoman said...

Hi!
It seems not that long ago I read about research that claims having a positive outlook has little or no effect on illness. I also read somewhere( I don't remember where)
that negative people fare better during a disaster. For every study claiming something or other, there is an equal and opposite claim. Call it the "we like to waste time and money" formula

Diane J Standiford said...

LOL, you're singing my song, sista.
How does this continue? And I guarantee they presented this brillance to a room full of men in tux and ladies in gems. Clap clap.