Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

This perspective brings together authors from care aesthetics, dementia studies, mental health nursing, and clinical psychology to explore how aesthetics and Polyvagal Theory intersect in dementia care. Across these fields, there is growing recognition that wellbeing is shaped not only by clinical interventions but also by the subtle, embodied cues that create a sense of safety, connection, and belonging for patients. Concepts such as aesthetic care, in-the-moment practices, and everyday aesthetics emphasize how lived experience and wellbeing is grounded in the sensory and relational details of everyday life. In parallel, Polyvagal Theory provides a psychophysiological framework for understanding how people respond to such cues through the process of threat detection, co-regulation, and social engagement. By placing these perspectives side-by-side, we explore the currently untapped benefits of developing a cross disciplinary therapeutic toolkit for clinicians working with people living with dementia. Looking ahead, integrating aesthetics and Polyvagal-informed approaches could reshape dementia care into a practice that values safety, connection, and meaning as core clinical outcomes. Although further research is needed to translate this integrated model into practice, the work of the authorship in both research and clinical practice with people with dementia illustrate that such approaches are already ongoing and can bring tangible benefits for several stakeholders, including people living with dementia.

INTRODUCTION: Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) improves research quality but is often limited in scale. This study explored the potential for large-scale PPIE using a Web-based approach. METHODS: We created an online portal to gather public views on dementia research and a UK-based adaptive platform trial testing repurposed Alzheimer's disease drugs. Participants ranked four anonymized drugs and completed discrete choice experiments on treatment trade-offs. Analyses were stratified by sex, age, and dementia experience. RESULTS: Among 3250 people across 27 countries (87.4% UK-based), 79.6% expressed positive attitudes toward the trial. Metformin was the most preferred drug, followed by atomoxetine, isosorbide mononitrate, and levetiracetam. Probability of severe side effects was the most influential treatment attribute, followed by probability of mild side effects and type of evidence. Subgroup analyses supported the main findings. DISCUSSION: Web-based PPIE can effectively inform dementia research at scale and provides a reusable resource for other studies.

OBJECTIVES:To investigate the experiences of individuals attending an online hearing voices peer support group (HVG) conducted within the UK's National Health Service (NHS). The purpose of the study was to assess acceptability of the HVG in an NHS context and to understand relational dynamics within the group. METHODS:A nested qualitative study was conducted within a non-randomised feasibility trial of an online HVG. All participants (N = 9) completed baseline and end-of-study qualitative interviews about their voice hearing and group experiences. Interviews were analysed using framework analysis. RESULTS:Data were organised into four themes. Participants described two orientation tendencies within the group, both with associated subthemes: (1) seeking connection (shame and isolation spurred interest in the group, active digital participation and engagement facilitated a sense of connection, value of an alternative); and (2) seeking to learn (searching for solutions, cameras enabled the modulation of engagement but inhibited group ownership, a useful addition to care). Participants likewise described (3) voices' experiences in the group; and (4) the impact of the group (impact on voices, impact on sense of self and hope for the future). CONCLUSIONS:Despite their differing expectations for the group, experiences in the group and relationship with the online medium of the group, both the participants seeking connection and those seeking to learn reported benefits from group attendance in terms of self-acceptance and hope for the future. Further research is needed to understand how to incorporate this survivor-led approach into the NHS.

Background Cancer represents a complex group of diseases characterized by the dysregulated proliferation and dissemination of abnormal cells throughout the human body. This study addresses a critical knowledge gap by examining the multifaceted relationships between educational status, health beliefs, and screening behaviors within the theoretical frameworks of the Health Belief Model. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 287 male teachers aged 45 years and above in public primary and secondary schools in Obudu LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria. Participants were selected using stratified sampling, and data were collected with a structured questionnaire via Kobo Toolbox. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and binary logistic regression in SPSS version 27.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results A total of 287 male teachers participated in the study. Overall, 99.7% had poor knowledge of prostate cancer screening, 80.0% had negative attitudes, and all respondents (100%) demonstrated negative perceptions. None of the respondents had ever undergone prostate cancer screening. There were no statistically significant associations between knowledge (χ² = 0.819, p = 0.365), attitude (χ² = 2.123, p = 0.145), or perception (χ² = 16.651, p = 0.011) and prostate cancer screening uptake. Conclusion Prostate cancer screening uptake among male teachers in Obudu LGA was extremely low despite the respondents' educational status. Poor knowledge, negative perceptions, and a symptom-driven approach to healthcare were major barriers. Workplace-based awareness campaigns and accessible screening services are needed to improve early detection and reduce prostate cancer-related morbidity and mortality.

BACKGROUND:The purpose of the present study was to conduct a feasibility trial of i-Minds, a digital mental health intervention (DMHI) designed to improve mentalisation in young people (YP) who have experienced technology-assisted sexual abuse (TASA). Enhancing mentalisation may reduce the risk of re-victimisation, strengthen resilience, and support management of TASA-related distress. However, evidence-based interventions for TASA are nascent. METHODS:We determined the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a 6-week mentalisation-based DMHI for YP with TASA in a pre-registered multicentre non-randomised clinical trial (ISRCTN43130832). YP aged 12-18 years recruited across child and adolescent mental health services in two sites completed baseline and post-treatment assessments. RESULTS:Forty-six people were recruited; 43 were allocated to the i-Minds app; 86% completed follow-up assessments. The average participant age was 15.42 years. Most participants identified as female (69.8%), White British (95.3%); a notable percentage identified as non-binary/third gender or preferred not to disclose their gender identity (16.3%), and 20.9% reported their gender did not match their sex assigned at birth. We found signals of post-treatment improvement in TASA-related post-traumatic symptoms, resilience, internalising symptoms, and reflective functioning. User feedback indicated that participants generally had a positive experience of using the app, positively impacting their knowledge/understanding of their own mental health and their motivation to address their mental health difficulties. There were no related adverse events. CONCLUSION:It is possible to recruit and retain participants for a DMHI trial of TASA. The i-Minds app was safe, acceptable and showed promising signals of efficacy on valuable outcomes. Following further refinements, a powered efficacy trial is warranted to confirm and extend findings.