State Trait Anxiety Inventory: a Test Manual/Test Form

When It’s Not Worn on the Face: Trait Anxiety and Attention to Neutral Faces Semantically Linked to Threat

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2024

While our direct observations of the features or behaviours of the stimuli around us tell us much about them (e.g., should they be feared?), the origin of much of our knowledge is often untethered from directly observable properties (e.g., through what we have learned or have been told about them, or “semantic knowledge”). Here, we ask whether otherwise neutral visual stimuli that participants learn to associate with emotional qualities in the lab cause the stimuli to be attended in a similar way as stimuli whose emotional qualities can be discerned through their visual properties. In Experiment 1, participants learned to associate negative or neutral characteristics with neutral faces, which then served as valid or invalid spatial cues to targets in an attentional disengagement paradigm. The performance of participants higher in trait anxiety was consistent with attentional avoidance of faces with learned negative associations, while participants lower in trait anxiety showed a general response slowing in trials with these stimuli, compared to those with neutral associations. In contrast, in Experiment 2, using (visually) expressive (angry) faces, the performance of participants higher in trait anxiety was consistent with difficulty disengaging from visually threatening faces, while the performance of those with lower trait anxiety appeared unaffected by the valence of the stimuli. These findings suggest that (1) emotionality acquired indirectly via learned semantic knowledge impacts how attention is allocated to face stimuli, and this impact is influenced by trait anxiety, and (2) there are differences in the effects of stimulus emotionality depending on whether it is acquired indirectly or directly via the perceptual features of the stimulus. These differences are discussed in the context of the variability of attention bias effects reported in the literature and the time course of impacts of emotionality on stimulus processing.

Impact of Music Listening and Information Training Provided Prior to Coronary Angiography on Physiological Parameters and Anxiety

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2021

Purpose: Individuals often experience anxiety prior to the coronary angiography procedure (CAG) and this condition affects physiological parameters negatively. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of music listening and information training provided prior to CAG on anxiety level and physiological parameters. Materials-Methods: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled intervention study. The sample number was randomized to the intervention 1 (music listening), intervention 2 (information training) and control group (routine care). Each group had 34 individuals. The study assessed the data via the Introductory Characteristics Form, Spielberg’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and pain level in the SPSS (25.00) program. Findings: The mean state anxiety scores had the highest decrease in the music listening group (X ̅=57.59, X ̅=38.93) and the lowest decrease in the control group (X ̅=52.57, X ̅=52.43) compared to before the CAG procedure (p

Distinguishing between cognitive and somatic trait and state anxiety in children

Article

Full-text available

Oct 1983

Attempted to develop self-report measures of cognitive and somatic trait and state anxiety for children and to evaluate the utility of distinguishing between cognitive and somatic anxiety. 67 4th-grade children anticipated and then performed a mathematics task either in a high- or low-stress condition. While Ss anticipated performing the task, measures of 7 cognitive behaviors were obtained by means of both a "think aloud" procedure and a questionnaire. Results indicate that the trait and state measures of cognitive and somatic anxiety were reliable. The trait measures of cognitive and somatic anxiety were relatively impervious to induced anxiety states. As expected, cognitive trait anxiety but not somatic trait or state anxiety was related to task performance. High cognitive state and/or trait anxiety was associated with more preoccupation and performance denigration as well as taking less of an analytic attitude toward the situation. Somatic trait and state anxiety were associated with preoccupation. Results support the construct validity of the measures developed and the utility of distinguishing between cognitive and somatic anxiety in children. (22 ref)

Intensity of Maternal Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Pregnancy Is Associated with Infant Emotional Regulation Problems

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2022
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the intensity and directionality of antenatal maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms on infant negative affectivity and crying, also taking into account potential confounders. The role of socioeconomic status (SES) as a possible moderating factor of the association between antenatal maternal distress and infant negative outcomes was also explored. More than one hundred women filled in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively, during the third trimester of pregnancy and three months after delivery. Mothers also filled in the Infant Behavior Questionnaire and a parental diary to evaluate negative affectivity and crying, respectively, when their infants were 3 months old. SES was assessed through the Hollingshead classification. The intensity of antenatal maternal symptoms and SES were associated with infant negative affectivity, but not with crying. However, SES moderated the association between the intensity of maternal symptoms and infant crying. The direction of maternal symptoms (anxiety versus depression) was not associated with both infant negative affectivity and crying. Our findings contribute to elucidating the role played by the intensity of maternal stress in pregnancy—alone and in interaction with SES—in determining individual differences in infant emotional regulation, thus emphasizing the importance of timely psychological interventions for pregnant women who experience psychological distress.

The psychological impact and experience of breast cancer screening in young women with an increased risk of breast cancer due to neurofibromatosis type 1

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2022
FAM CANCER

Women with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) have an increased risk of developing early breast cancer with a poorer prognosis compared to the general population. Therefore, international management guidelines recommend regular screening in women with NF1 starting from 30 to 35 years. As the psychological impacts of breast cancer screening in other high-risk populations cannot be extended to women with NF1, due to increased incidence of cognitive and mental health issues, the psychological harms of breast screening in women with NF1 are unknown. Consequently, the aim of this study was to assess the psychological impact of breast cancer screening in women with NF1 attending an established risk management clinic. Twenty-eight women with NF1 (30–50 years) completed psychological well-being and patient experience questionnaires, administered across five time points, before and after their initial and second round annual breast screening visits. Preliminary findings demonstrated the screening regimen was well-tolerated, with most participants reporting high satisfaction with the screening process. Overall, no significant increase in psychological distress related to the breast screening process was identified, with mean cancer worry and anxiety scores decreasing over time. However, some women did experience negative aspects of screening and barriers to re-attendance at annual breast screening appointments. As some women with NF1 exhibited clinical levels of psychological distress prior to screening, efforts to identify those at risk and additional support to address concerns and expectations throughout the breast screening process may be beneficial.

Impact of Collaborative Robots on Human Trust, Anxiety, and Workload: Experiment Findings

Conference Paper

Full-text available

Jun 2024

This work proposes an experiment setup and its protocols to investigate the impact of cobot's size, speed and collaboration modes on different human factors including trust, propensity to trust, anxiety, and mental workload. The setup and the protocols supported the execution of different experiments where the 29 participants were asked to complete the Tower of Hanoi in collaboration with a cobot. The setup and the protocols provide a ready-to-use solution to expand experiments for further studies. Moreover, statistical analysis of the results shows higher cobot speeds increased trust propensity despite not significantly affecting overall trust or anxiety. Collaboration modes significantly influenced perceived workload and task performance, with the "Collaboration with Trigger" mode resulting in lower mental workload but longer task completion times. No significant differences were found in human factors concerning cobot size, indicating that variations in size do not significantly impact trust, propensity to trust, anxiety, or workload. Additionally, the collaboration mode with cobots notably affects workload perception and task performance, with specific modes reducing perceived effort but not necessarily improving task efficiency.

Humor in neurodevelopmental conditions. Cognitive competencies, individual differences, and expressivity in relation to humor in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and Williams syndrome

Thesis

Feb 2024

Noémie Treichel

Humor is an important component of human communication that enhances the quality of social interactions and fosters social bonding. Moreover, humor can enrich psychological well-being, notably through its role in emotion regulation. Indeed, humor can help people to deal with their negative emotions, either through distraction, by occupying their mind with a humorous thought, or through helping them to reinterpret a given situation differently. However, humor also presents with a darker side. When it is intentionally hurtful, it can have strong negative consequences on the well-being of victims of mockery. Similar consequences can result if humor is wrongly perceived. It is thus important to better understand humor processing in individuals with different conditions, who might develop specific positive or negative relationships with humor. The goal of this cumulative thesis was, therefore, to contribute to ongoing research regarding the understanding of humor processing in individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions, specifically autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Williams syndrome (WS), two conditions that appear to be at two extreme poles of the social motivation spectrum. Moreover, this thesis takes on a transdiagnostic perspective, to read individual differences regarding humor processing and appreciation beyond specific developmental condition classifications. This thesis is situated around three main components of humor: cognitive competencies, individual characteristics, and behavioral responses. These components are explained and developed in the introductory chapter (Chapter 1: Introduction). First, the cognitive foundations of humor are briefly presented, with a particular focus on incongruity- resolution theories of humor. It is argued and demonstrated that humor is a complex cognitive task to process, much more than it might initially appear. Second, this chapter addresses how humor can be differentially perceived according to the individual characteristics that influence the development of specific humor styles, how humor is appreciated, and the general temperament of people toward humoristic interactions. The third part of this introductory chapter describes the behavioral responses that are commonly related to the appreciation of humor, namely smiles and laughter. To convey the conceptual foundations of the concept of humor as it is approached in this thesis, a section on the functions of humor highlights why the study of humor in neurodevelopmental conditions is necessary and important. Next, since this thesis focuses on ASD and WS, these conditions are briefly described and presented. So too is Down syndrome (DS), a third group of investigation. This chapter also clarifies why and how ASD and WS appear as two extremes of a social motivation spectrum and addresses what research has already brought to the knowledge base on humor in these two conditions. Finally, the Introduction chapter closes with a discussion of the goals and methodological context of this thesis. This cumulative thesis is based on four articles: Articles 1 to 4. The discussion of these is presented in Chapter 2: Articles. Article 1 presents a conceptual overview of the research and knowledge base on humor processing in individuals with ASD and WS, and suggests several lines of thought for future research. Article 2 presents the results of a survey-based study on gelotophobia (i.e., the fear of being laughed at), which was distributed to the parents of young individuals (5–25 years of age) with ASD (N = 48), WS (N = 43), and DS (N = 139). The results confirmed that autistic individuals are particularly prone to developing gelotophobia and this tendency is in line with their high-level seriousness and bad mood. These results also suggest to understand these individual differences from a transdiagnostic perspective. Article 3 presents the results of a second survey-based study that investigated different humor styles; this was distributed to the parents of young verbal individuals (5–25 years old) with ASD (N = 31), WS (N = 34), and DS (N = 82). The results showed that autistic individuals seem to engage more in self-defeating humor and from a transdiagnostic perspective, this is linked to their tendency to develop conduct problems. Finally, Article 4 presents an experimental study that investigated expressive responses to humorous and non-humorous stimuli, and a general understanding of simple types of humor, in individuals with WS (N = 8) and typically developing (TD) children (N = 9). The results revealed that individuals with WS are able to understand and appreciate simple humor in much the same way as TD children, but they tend to express more “extreme” responses in the sense that they more easily engage in laughing out loud. The final chapter of this thesis (Chapter 3: General discussion and conclusion) presents a general overview and discussion of the main findings of all four articles and examines what they bring to the ongoing knowledge base on humor in general as well as in neurodevelopmental conditions. This chapter also resumes the strength and importance of interpreting the survey-based findings presented in Articles 2 and 3 from a transdiagnostic perspective and offers several practical implications and suggestions for future research. This final chapter also presents the main limitations and strengths of the research presented in this thesis and closes with some concluding remarks. Overall, this thesis refines our understanding and raises awareness of individual differences in relation to humor processing

Factors assessed in the first year of a longitudinal study predict subsequent study visit compliance: the TEDDY study

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2023

Background Compliance with a study protocol is central to meeting its research goals. In longitudinal research studies, data loss due to missed visits limit statistical power and introduce bias. The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study is a longitudinal multinational (US, Finland, Germany, and Sweden) investigation of children at risk for type 1 diabetes (T1D) that seeks to identify the environmental triggers of islet autoimmunity and T1D. The purpose of the current study was to identify sociodemographic variables and maternal characteristics assessed in the first year of TEDDY that were associated with study visit compliance in the subsequent 3 years. Methods Sociodemographic variables, maternal life-style behaviors, post-partum depression, maternal reactions to the child’s T1D risk, and study-related variables were collected at child-age 6 months and 15 months. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association of these variables to study visit compliance in the subsequent 3 years. Results Study visit compliance was highest in Sweden (p > 0.001), in children who were their mother’s first child (p > 0.001), and whose mothers were older (p > 0.001) and more satisfied with the TEDDY study (p > 0.001). Father participation was also associated with better study visit compliance (p > 0.001). In contrast, children whose mothers smoked (p > 0.001), suffered from post-partum depression (p = 0.034), and were more anxious about their child’s T1D risk (p = 0.002), completed fewer visits. Father’s study satisfaction was also associated with study visit compliance (p = 0.029); however, it was not significant in models that included maternal study satisfaction. Conclusions Sociodemographic variables, maternal characteristics—including study satisfaction—and fathers’ participation in the first year of a longitudinal study were associated with subsequent study visit compliance in a sample of children genetically at-risk for T1D followed for 4 years. This information can inform future strategies designed to improve study visit compliance in longitudinal pediatric studies. Trial registration: NCT00279318, 06/09/2004.

Precursors of Prenatal Attachment and Anxiety during Pregnancy in Women Who Procreate Naturally and Pregnant Women following Assisted Reproduction Technology

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2023
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

The process of adaptation of the woman to pregnancy seems to be influenced by many factors, such as the type of conception, the mother’s age, the possible presence of other children, and socio-cultural factors. Women who conceived with an assisted reproductive technique are emotionally vulnerable; compared with pregnant women who procreated naturally, they manifest elevated anxiety, which seems to be correlated to the fright of being separated from their child. Objectives of the present research are as follows: (1) to analyze the relationship between age, gestational age, time expectancy, previous failed attempts, perception of a high-risk pregnancy, and presence of other children, with the level of maternal–fetal attachment (MFA); (2) explore the level of maternal–infant attachment and anxiety by comparing the control and experimental group; (3) to measure a possible relationship between anxiety levels and MFA in ART pregnant women; (4) to identify variables predictive of prenatal attachment. The study group is formed by ninety-five women aged between 18–42 years (M = 30.57; S.D. = 5.47), pregnant from the 23rd to the 37th week (M = 28.95; S.D. = 3.99); on which 50 women who procreate naturally and 45 pregnant women following assisted reproductive technology. They completed: Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and ad hoc questionnaire to collect anamnestic data. The results show the presence of a correlation between gestational age and waiting period, between the number of assisted fertilization attempts with the worry about their ability to become pregnant, but a negative correlation between pregnancy weeks and the level of maternal–fetal attachment. The study shows the predictive role of anxiety on the MFA. The applications and indications for future research are analyzed.

Effects of Anxiety on Eating: Does Palatability Moderate Distress-Induced Overeating in Dieters?

Article

Full-text available

Aug 1994

When confronted with an anxiety-producing threat to self-esteem, restrained eaters (dieters) increase their food consumption. The functional explanation suggests that increased eating temporarily counteracts or masks dysphoria for the restrained eater; externality or stimulus sensitivity theories propose that distress shifts the dieter's attention to external stimulus properties (e.g., taste) and to activities stimulated by such external cues. In an attempt to distinguish between these two explanations, anxious and nonanxious restrained and unrestrained eaters were given palatable and unpalatable foods, and consumption was measured. Results support the functional explanations: Distressed dieters increased their intake of food regardless of taste properties. Theoretical and practical implications for both restrained eating and the behavior of eating disorder patients are discussed.

The Relationship among Anxiety, Worry, Perceived Stress, Defense Mechanisms, and High Levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Discriminant Analytic Approach

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2023

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a pathological condition that may lead to a significant deterioration in the quality of life over time. Therefore, the study of the elements that can characterize the disorder could be considered of great clinical interest and relevance. The aim of the present research was to empirically discriminate the influence of perceived stress, state anxiety, worry, and defense mechanisms (mature, neurotic, and immature) at different levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms. A sample of 1250 participants (69.5% women, 30.5% men; Mage = 34.52, SD =11.857) completed an online survey including the Impact of Event Scale—Revised, Ten-Item Perceived Stress Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Forty Item Defense Style Questionnaire, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory—Form X3. Data were analysed by implementing MANOVA and discriminant analysis. Results showed significant differences in the levels of perceived stress, state anxiety, and worry, as well as neurotic and immature defenses based on the levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms: F(12,2484) = 85.682, p < 0.001; Wilk’s Λ = 0.430. Furthermore, these variables discriminate significant accuracy between participants who reported a mild psychological impact and those with a probable presence of PTSD, with perceived stress, which was found to be the best predictor. Classification results indicated that the original grouped cases were classified with 86.3% overall accuracy. Such findings may provide useful insight for clinical practice.

Personas LGBT+ sin hogar: una revisión de la literatura

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2022

José Gabriel Rodríguez Pérez

Introducción: Las personas lesbianas, gais, bisexuales, transexuales y demás identidades (LGBT+) están invisibilizadas a pesar de estár sobrerrepresentadas en la población sin hogar (PSH) en muchos paises. Metodología: Revisión sistemática de la literatura entre febrero y abril de 2022 sobre los estudios de PSH LGBT+, publicados en Scopus y Google Académico. Se evaluó la elegibilidad de todos los artículos y se extrajeron los datos. Resultados: Se seleccionaron un total de 51 artículos y se creó una tabla resumiendo sus características. Conclusiones: es necesario aumentar las investigaciones, ampliar la muestra LGBT+ para lograr una mejor intervención/prevención del sinhogarismo entre estas personas.

The emotional well‐being of parents with children at genetic risk for type 1 diabetes before and during participation in the POInT ‐study

Article

Nov 2022

Introduction: This study examined the emotional impact that parents experience when confronted with an increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in their child. Population-based screening of neonates for genetic risk of chronic disease carries the risk of increased emotional burden for parents. Methods: Information was collected using a well-being questionnaire for parents of infants identified as having an increased risk for T1D in a multinational research study. Parents were asked to complete this questionnaire after they were told their child had an increased risk for T1D (Freder1k-study) and at several time points during an intervention study (POInT-study), where oral insulin was administered daily. Results: Data were collected from 2595 parents of 1371 children across five countries. Panic-related anxiety symptoms were reported by only 4.9% after hearing about their child having an increased risk. Symptoms of depression were limited to 19.4% of the parents at the result-communication visit and declined over time during the intervention study. When thinking about their child's risk for developing T1D (disease-specific anxiety), 47.2% worried, felt nervous and tense. Mothers and parents with a first-degree relative (FDR) with T1D reported more symptoms of depression and disease-specific anxiety (p < 0.001) than fathers and parents without a FDR. Conclusion: Overall, symptoms of depression and panic-related anxiety are comparable with the German population. When asked about their child's risk for T1D during the intervention study, some parents reported disease-specific anxiety, which should be kept in mind when considering population-based screening. As certain subgroups are more prone, it will be important to continue psychological screening and, when necessary, to provide support by an experienced, multidisciplinary team.

Affective Profiles and Psychosocial Adjustment among Chinese Adolescents and Adults with Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Person-Centered Approach

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2022

PurposeTwo studies were conducted to explore the patterns of positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) while considering collectivist cultural specificity (dialecticism) and to examine the associations of affective profiles with psychosocial adjustment.Methods We used two Chinese samples, one comprising adults with adverse childhood experiences (N = 488) and one comprising ordinary adolescents (N = 635). The participants completed scales on PA, NA, and psychosocial adjustment, including mental health problems (depressive symptoms, anxiety), personal strengths (self-esteem, gratitude, resilience), and life satisfaction.ResultsThree profiles were identified through latent profile analysis: well-adjusted (high PA, low NA), low affective (low PA, low NA), and moderate affective (moderate PA, moderate NA). Participants in the well-adjusted profile had the fewest mental health problems (depressive symptoms, anxiety) and scored highest on personal strengths (self-esteem, gratitude, resilience) and life satisfaction. Participants in the low affective profile had fewer mental health problems than those in the moderate affective profile.Conclusion Individual differences and cultural variations should be considered when exploring affective profiles. Future interventions aimed at promoting affective well-being should accommodate dialecticism and individual differences in the target population.

The Protective Role of Mature Defense Mechanisms on Satisfaction with Life in the COVID-19 Era: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced people’s lives, with non-negligible consequences for the perception of well-being. This study sought to examine the effect of anxiety, post-traumatic impairment, and mature defenses on life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. One thousand three hundred thirty-nine Italian individuals (30% male; 70% female; Mage = 34.70; DS = 11.83) completed an online survey enclosing the Satisfaction with Life Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory—Form X3, Impact of event scale—revised, and the Forty Item Defense Style Questionnaire. To test the hypothesized relationship, data were analyzed by applying a moderated-mediation analysis, a regression-based approach. Results showed that the negative effect of anxiety on life satisfaction was partially mediated by post-traumatic impairment, with a significant moderation effect of mature defenses on the relationship between post-traumatic impairment and life satisfaction. Specifically, with higher levels of mature defenses, the effects of post-traumatic impairment on consequences of the COVID-19 emergency on well-being. Furthermore, the protective role of mature defenses in facing post-traumatic impairment was shown. Such data may have applicative implications in different contexts in a management perspective of the different pandemic phases, contributing to more effective positive strength-based preventive actions to also support positive healthy organizations.

Self‐efficacy, uncertainty and anxiety among nursing graduates in response to licensing test postponement due to the COVID‐19 pandemic: A mixed‐methods study

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2022
Int J Nurs Pract

Aim To examine the relationships between self‐efficacy, uncertainty and anxiety among nursing graduates waiting for a mandatory nursing licensing test that was postponed due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods A total of 352 graduates of nursing education programs participated in this mixed‐methods study. The data were collected using an online questionnaire in June 2020. Results The participants demonstrated high uncertainty and anxiety and low self‐efficacy towards the ability to succeed in the licensing exam. Graduates, who started working, reported lower uncertainty. Self‐efficacy, uncertainty, gender and family status contributed significantly to the explanation of 24% of the variance of the anxiety. The qualitative analysis revealed three themes: (a) emotional distress, cognitive challenge and social implications, (b) consequences for significant others and (c) strengthening of professional values and norms. Conclusions A significant crisis like a pandemic is accompanied by acute cognitive burden and stressful emotional experiences and creates an unconventional situation that requires unusual solutions. Granting a temporary permit for employment as a nurse following the postponement of a licensing test contributed to the ability of nursing graduates to cope with the situation. Policies to deal with similar situations in the future emergencies should be developed and implemented.

Comparing the effect of a lactation-specific relaxation and visualisation intervention versus standard care on lactation and mental health outcomes in mothers of very premature infants (the EXPRESS trial): study protocol for a multi-centre, unmasked, randomised, parallel-group trial

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2022
TRIALS

Background Premature birth is the leading cause of neonatal death and can cause major morbidity. Maximising the amount of maternal breastmilk given to very premature infants is important to improve outcomes, but this can be challenging for parents. Parents of infants receiving neonatal care also have high rates of anxiety and distress. There is growing evidence for the impact of maternal relaxation interventions on lactation, as well as mental health. The trial will assess whether a brief self-directed relaxation and visualisation intervention, recommended for use several times a day during expression of milk, improves lactation and mental health outcomes for mothers of very premature infants. Methods Multi-centre, randomised, controlled, unmasked, parallel-group trial with planned 132 participants who have experienced premature birth between 23 weeks and 31 weeks and 6 days of gestation and plan to express milk for at least 14 days. The primary outcome is the highest 24-h expressed milk yield recorded on any of day 4, day 14 or day 21 after birth. Secondary outcomes include exclusive breastmilk feeding at 36 weeks post-menstrual age and at 4 months after the estimated date of delivery, Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Index at day 21 and Post-traumatic stress Check List (for DSM 5) at day 21. Discussion Breastmilk feeding for premature infants is an important research priority, but there are few randomised controlled trials assessing interventions to help parents reach lactation goals in this challenging context. This trial will assess whether a no cost, easily scalable relaxation tool has a role in this setting. Given the lack of harm and potential for immediate dissemination, even a small benefit could have an important global impact. Trial registration ISRCTN16356650. Date assigned: 19/04/2021.

The effect of binaural beat audio on anxiety in patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2022

Background: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is an invasive procedure known to induce anxiety in patients. Binaural beat therapy, in which sounds of different frequencies are delivered to the 2 ears to entrain the brainwaves, has been used to reduce anxiety in some operations. This study aimed to determine the anxiolytic effects of binaural beat audio in patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Methods: Eligible subjects were randomly assigned to receive binaural beat music, plain music, or no music. They were asked to wear earphones starting approximately 15 minutes before the bronchoscopy. The level of anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire. Blood pressure, heart rate, and sedative drug administration were also recorded. Results: One hundred and twelve subjects were randomized into binaural beat music (n = 38), plain music (n = 38), and no music (n = 36) groups. The mean change in post-bronchoscopy State-Trait Anxiety Inventory state score in the binaural beat music, plain music, and no music group was -7.26 (P < .001), -3.92 (P = .005), and -1.12 (P = .454), respectively. The mean systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased from baseline by -9.89 (P = .002) and -5.76 (P = .005), respectively, in the binaural group. The mean heart rate increased from baseline by 3.32 (P = .035), 5.21 (P = .038), and 3.64 (P = .149) in the binaural beat music, plain music, and no music groups, respectively. Conclusion: Binaural beat music appeared to reduce anxiety among patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy.Trial registration: TCTR, TCTR20200915002. Registered 14 September 2020 - Retrospectively registered.

Causal relationship between the two dimensions of self-directed humor and depression, anxiety, and subjective well-being: A longitudinal study

Article

Oct 2022
PERS INDIV DIFFER

The recently-developed Dual Self-Directed Humor Scale (DSDHS) is the first instrument for measuring individual differences between two dimensions of self-directed humor (SDH): negative (deleterious SDH) and positive (benign SDH). Thus far, the DSDHS has shown high validity and reliability. However, further validation of the underlying causal relationship between SDH and well-being is required. This study estimated the causal relationship between SDH and several well-being indicators via a two-wave, three-month interval, longitudinal dataset of college students (N = 453). A cross-lagged panel analysis showed that deleterious SDH predicted increased depression over time, while benign SDH predicted decreased depression and anxiety. There was also a two-way causal relationship, with anxiety decreasing benign SDH. These results enhance our understanding of the relationship between SDH and well-being.

Associations among Perceived Sexual Stigma from Family and Peers, Internalized Homonegativity, Loneliness, Depression, and Anxiety among Gay and Bisexual Men in Taiwan

Article

Full-text available

May 2022
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

This study aimed to examine the moderating factors of the association between perceived sexual stigma from family and peers and internalized homonegativity, as well as to compare the effects of perceived sexual stigma from family and peers and internalized homonegativity on loneliness, depression, and anxiety in gay and bisexual men. In total, 400 gay and bisexual men participated in this study. The experiences of perceived sexual stigma from family and peers on the Homosexuality subscale of the HIV and Homosexuality Related Stigma Scale, internalized homonegativity on the Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay Men, loneliness on the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3), depression on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, and anxiety on the State subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were collected. The results indicated that perceived sexual stigma from family and peers was significantly associated with internalized homonegativity in both gay and bisexual men, and that sexual orientation moderated the association. Moreover, the association between internalized homonegativity and loneliness was significantly greater than that between perceived sexual stigma from family and peers and loneliness, although no significant differences were observed in their associations with depression and anxiety. Intervention programs that promote changes in the attitudes toward gay and bisexual men among the general population are needed to help prevent the development of internalized homonegativity and further loneliness, depression and anxiety.

Problematic Smartphone Use and Its Associations with Sexual Minority Stressors, Gender Nonconformity, and Mental Health Problems among Young Adult Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals in Taiwan

Article

Full-text available

May 2022
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

Smartphones are a necessity for many people; however, problematic smartphone use (PSU) may negatively influence people’s mental health. Using multivariate linear regression analysis, the study examined the associations of sexual minority stressors [namely perceived sexual stigma from family members, sexual orientation microaggressions (SOMs), and internalized sexual stigma] and gender nonconformity with PSU severity as well as the associations of PSU with depression and anxiety in young adult lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. This cross-sectional survey study recruited 1000 young adult LGB individuals (500 men and 500 women). PSU severity was assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Inventory. The experiences of perceived sexual stigma from family members, SOMs, and internalized sexual stigma and the levels of gender nonconformity, depression, and anxiety were assessed. The results indicated that perceived sexual stigma from family members, SOMs, internalized sexual stigma in the dimensions of social discomfort and identity and gender nonconformity were significantly associated with PSU severity in LGB individuals. Moreover, PSU was significantly associated with depression and anxiety in LGB individuals. The findings highlight the significance of developing strategies for the prevention and early detection of PSU and sexual minority stress in LGB individuals.

COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS IN FIBROMYALGIA PATIENTS: PSYCHOMOTOR PERFORMANCE, SELECTIVE ATTENTION AND MEMORY

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2022

Andrew P Smith

The Effect of Binaural Beats on Preoperative Anxiety among Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients

Research

Feb 2022

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International 34(15B): 10-17, 2022; Article no.JPRI.83747 ISSN: 2456-9119 (Past name: British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Past ISSN: 2231-2919, NLM ID: 101631759)

What makes online teaching spatial? Examining the connections between K-12 teachers’ spatial skills, affect, and their use of spatial pedagogy during remote instruction

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2022

Spatial skills are critical for student success in K-12 STEM education. Teachers’ spatial skills and feelings about completing spatial tasks influence students’ spatial and STEM learning at both the primary and secondary levels. However, whether spatial skills and spatial anxiety differ or not between these two teacher levels is unknown. Additionally, the relations between teachers’ spatial skills, spatial anxiety, and their use of spatial pedagogical practices in remote learning settings is unknown. Here, we investigated if spatial skills and spatial anxiety differ between teachers working at primary versus secondary levels, and examined the relations between their spatial skills and spatial anxiety while accounting for additional influential factors—general reasoning ability and general anxiety. Lastly, we investigated how teachers’ spatial skills in conjunction with their spatial anxiety relate to their use of spatial teaching practices for online instruction. Sixty-two K-12 teachers completed measures of spatial skills, spatial anxiety, general anxiety, general reasoning, and a teaching activities questionnaire. Results indicate that spatial skills and spatial anxiety may not vary between teachers working at primary versus secondary levels, but that higher spatial skills in teachers are associated with lower spatial anxiety for mental manipulation tasks. Additionally, teachers with weaker spatial skills and lower mental manipulation anxiety reported more frequently using spatial teaching practices when teaching remotely due to COVID-19. These findings may have broad implications for teacher professional development with regards to developing students’ spatial skills during remote learning.

Improving the Emotional Distress and the Experience of Hospitalization in Children and Adolescent Patients Through Animal Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Review

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2022

Introduction Animal Assisted Interventions (AAIs) are increasingly common in pediatric care settings as a means to promote the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of hospitalized children and adolescents. Objectives The aim of this work was to review published studies implementing AAIs in hospital settings and to assess the effects of AAIs on the biobehavioral response to stress and pain, social behavior, quality of life and level of satisfaction with hospitalization in children and adolescents. Stress and burden, quality of life, mood and level of satisfaction with hospitalization in parents/caregivers as well as stress and burden, perception of the work environment and job satisfaction in hospital staff were also reviewed. Methods All published studies reporting quantitative assessments were systematically searched using PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest and Web of Science databases in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The aim was to identify studies examining the effects of AAIs on behavioral, psychological and physiological responses to stress in children and adolescents (0–18 years) formally admitted to a hospital for a stay, as well as in those undergoing a visit for treatments or medical examinations. Results Of the 350 studies screened, 21 were eligible for inclusion. Most of them focused on stress, pain, and anxiety reduction in pediatric patients, and used both physiological parameters and behavioral and psychological observations/scales. All studies employed dogs. Results show the potential of AAIs to reduce anxiety and behavioral distress in pediatric patients while acting on physiological measures associated with arousal. Conclusion Although further, more rigorous studies are still needed, the findings of this review may have implications for clinical practices suggesting appropriate planning of AAIs by pediatric healthcare professionals. Systematic Review Registration [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=178993], identifier [CRD42020178993].

The Effect of Binaural Beats on Preoperative Anxiety among Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2022

Background: Every surgery is associated with different levels of risks and complications. Cardiac surgeries would definitely cause moderate to severe anxiety because cardiac surgeries are riskier than other invasive procedures. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of binaural beats on pre-operative anxiety among patients undergoing for CABG surgery. Methodology: This pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted at Tabba Heart Institute. In this study, total 56 patients were included who were undergoing for CABG surgery. The patients were divided into two groups; interventional group and control group. Blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured before intervention and 30 minutes after the intervention.

Internalized Sexual Stigma among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals in Taiwan: Its Related Factors and Association with Mental Health Problems

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2022
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

Internalized sexual stigma (ISS) is one of the major issues that can compromise the health of sexual minority populations. This quantitative study aimed to examine: (1) the relationships of individual factors (gender, age, education level, sexual orientation, and age of identification of sexual orientation) and perceived family support with ISS; and (2) the associations of ISS with mood problems and the moderating effects of gender on the associations among Taiwanese young adult lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. In total, 500 male and 500 female young adult LGB individuals aged between 20 and 30 years participated in this study. The experience of ISS, individual (e.g., gender, age, education level, sexual orientation, and age of identification of sexual orientation) and environmental factors (perceived family), mood problems (e.g., anxiety and depression) were collected. The individual and environmental factors related to ISS and the associations of ISS with mood problems were examined using multivariate linear regression analysis. The results indicated that gender, sexual orientation, age of identification of sexual orientation, and perceived family support were significantly associated with all or some dimensions of ISS in LGB individuals. Various dimensions of ISS had different relationships with anxiety and depression. Gender had moderating effects on the association between the identity dimension of ISS and sexual orientation as well as between the social discomfort dimension of ISS and anxiety. Various dimensions of ISS among LGB individuals should be routinely assessed by mental health service units. Intervention programs should be provided for LGB individuals, especially those with factors related to ISS.

Long-Term Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms Among Children Affected by Parental HIV: A 12-Year Follow-Up Study

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2022
AIDS BEHAV

The present study explored the trajectories of depressive symptoms over 12 years spanning from childhood to emerging adulthood and the between-trajectory differences in psychosocial adjustment among Chinese children (N = 492, 52.8% boys, aged 6 to 18 years at baseline) affected by parental HIV. Rebounding (12.6%), resilient (64.8%), and improving (22.6%) trajectories were identified. Individuals in the rebounding trajectory reported the highest levels of psychological distress and the lowest levels of subjective well-being, positive self-regard, and personal strengths in adulthood. Individuals in the resilient trajectory reported lower levels of psychological distress and negative affect than those in the improving trajectory. The findings support the development of programs by policymakers and practitioners to improve the psychosocial adjustment of children who have been affected by parental HIV while considering individual differences in the trajectories of depressive symptoms.

Relationships of Sexual Orientation Microaggression with Anxiety and Depression among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Taiwanese Youth: Self-Identity Disturbance Mediates but Gender Does Not Moderate the Relationships

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2021
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

The aims of this cross-sectional survey study were to examine the association between sexual orientation microaggression and anxiety and depression among young adult lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals in Taiwan, as well as to examine the mediating effect of self-identity disturbance and the moderating effect of gender. In total, 1000 self-identified LGB individuals participated in the study. The experience of sexual orientation microaggression was assessed using the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Inventory, self-identity disturbance was assessed using the Self-Concept and Identity Measure, anxiety was assessed using the State subscale on the Chinese version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine relationships between the variables. The SEM results demonstrated that sexual orientation microaggression was directly associated with increased anxiety and depression, as well as being indirectly associated with increased anxiety and depression via the mediation of self-identity disturbance among young adult LGB individuals. Gender did not moderate the relationships between any of the variables. Both sexual orientation microaggression and self-identity disturbance warrant program interventions for enhancing mental health among LGB individuals.

Experience of Sexual Orientation Microaggression among Young Adult Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals in Taiwan: Its Related Factors and Association with Mental Health Problems

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2021
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

Experiences of sexual orientation microaggression (SOM) are prevalent in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. The aims of this quantitative cross-sectional survey study were to examine the factors, including demographics, sexual orientation characteristics, and perceived social support related to SOM, as well as the relationships of SOM with anxiety, depression, and suicidality among young adult LGB individuals in Taiwan. In total, 1000 self-identified young adult LGB individuals (500 men and 500 women) participated in this study. The experience of SOM was assessed using the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Inventory. We also collected demographic and sexual orientation characteristics; perceived general family support, using the Family APGAR Index; anxiety on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; depression on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale; and suicidality on the suicidality module of the Kiddie-SADS. The factors related to SOM and the associations of SOM with anxiety, depression, and suicidality were examined using multivariate linear regression analysis. The results indicated that males experienced greater SOM than females, and that younger age of identification of sexual orientation and perceived lower general family support were significantly associated with greater SOM. Greater SOM was significantly associated with greater anxiety, depression, and suicidality. The experiences of SOM in LGB individuals with mental health problems warrant assessment and intervention that take the related factors into account.

Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire in Chinese Adolescents With and Without Major Depressive Disorder: A Horizontal and Longitudinal Perspective

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and posited nine-factor structure of the Chinese version of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-C) in high school students and adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD), including assessment of measurement invariance of CERQ-C and its subscales across gender, time, and presence of depression. Methods: Chinese high school students from Hunan Province (N = 1,253) and adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) from the Medical Psychological Institute outpatient clinic at The Second Xiangya Hospital (N = 205) were enrolled. We examined the reliability, and model fit of the CERQ-C. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test measurement invariance of the subscales across gender, time, and presence of depression. Results: The CERQ-C subscales showed good internal consistency and moderate test-retest reliability in high school students and excellent internal consistency in adolescents with MDD group. The nine-factor model yielded adequate fit indices in different samples. Multigroup CFA confirmed that CERQ-C is strongly equivalent across gender, time, and presence of depression. Conclusions: The CERQ-C is a valid, reliable, and stable instrument for the evaluation of the cognitive emotion regulation (ER) strategies for different samples, including high school students and adolescents with MDD. The horizontal and longitudinal equivalences are strongly established.

Parental monitoring for type 1 diabetes in genetically at‐risk young children: The TEDDY study

Article

Mar 2021

Objective We examined parental diabetes monitoring behaviors in a cohort of children at increased genetic risk for type 1 diabetes. We hypothesized that being informed of a positive islet autoantibody (IA) would increase monitoring behaviors. Methods The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study follows 8676 children with high‐risk HLA‐DQ genotypes from birth to age 15, including general population children (GP) and those with a first‐degree relative (FDR) with diabetes. Data on parental monitoring behaviors were solicited yearly. Serum samples were tested for IA and parents were informed of child results. We examined parental monitoring behaviors during the first 7 years of TEDDY. Results In IA‐ children, the most common monitoring behavior was participating in TEDDY study tasks; up to 49.8% and 44.2% of mothers and fathers, respectively, reported this. Among FDRs, 7‐10% reported watching for diabetes symptoms and 7‐9% reported monitoring the child's glucose, for mothers and fathers, respectively. After IA+ notification, all monitoring behaviors significantly increased in GP parents; only glucose monitoring increased in FDR parents and these behaviors continued for up to 4 years. FDR status, accurate diabetes risk perception, and anxiety were associated with glucose monitoring in IA+ and IA‐ cohorts. Conclusions Many parents view TEDDY participation as a way to monitor for type 1 diabetes, a benefit of enrollment in a longitudinal study with no prevention offered. IA+ notification increases short‐ and long‐term monitoring behaviors. For IA‐ and IA+ children, FDR parents engage in glucose monitoring, even when not instructed to do so. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The effect of anxiety levels of elderly people in quarantine on depression during covid-19 pandemic

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2021

This study aims to determine the effect on depression of elderly people's anxiety levels in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a descriptive study, in which data were collected using the online survey method, an introductory information form, a semistructured data form for COVID-19, the Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Data were collected during the period when a curfew was imposed for the elderly. Data were analyzed using a structural equation model. According to the structural equation model, anxiety was determined as a predictor of depression. The anxiety levels of the elderly who were 65-74 years old, female, single; had insufficient knowledge about the pandemic; and had not encountered a similar outbreak before considered that family relationships were affected negatively so they became lonely and reported that they became bored, exhausted, and distressed during the pandemic, which increased their depression levels. Anxiety affects depression in the elderly. Therefore, it is recommended to provide them with appropriate psychological support interventions and understandable information about the pandemic so that their anxiety and depression levels can be reduced during the pandemic.

Positive communication behaviour during handover and team-based clinical performance in critical situations: a simulation randomised controlled trial

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2021

Background Positive communication behaviour within anaesthesia teams may decrease stress response and improve clinical performance. We aimed to evaluate the effect of positive communication during medical handover on the subsequent team-based clinical performance in a simulated critical situation. We also assessed the effect of positive communication behaviour on stress response. Methods This single-centre RCT involved anaesthesia teams composed of a resident and a nurse in a high-fidelity scenario of anaesthesia-related paediatric laryngospasm after a standardised handover. During the handover, similar information was provided to all teams, but positive communication behaviour was adopted only for teams in the intervention group. Primary outcome was team-based clinical performance, assessed by an independent blinded observer, using video recordings and a 0-to 100-point scenario-specific scoring tool. Three categories of tasks were considered: safety checks before the incision, diagnosis/treatment of laryngospasm, and crisis resource management/non-technical skills. Individual stress response was monitored by perceived level of stress and HR variability. Results The clinical performance of 64 anaesthesia professionals (grouped into 32 teams) was analysed. The mean (standard deviation) team-based performance score in the intervention group was 44 (10) points vs 35 (12) in the control group (difference: +8.4; CI95% [0.4–16.4]; P=0.04). The effects were homogeneous over the three categories of tasks. Perceived level of stress and HR variability were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions Positive communication behaviour between healthcare professionals during medical handover improved team-based performance in a simulation-based critical situation. Clinical trial registration NCT03375073.

The Effect of Sleep Deprivation and Restriction on Mood, Emotion, and Emotion Regulation: Three Meta-Analyses in One

Article

Dec 2020

Study objectives New theory and measurement approaches have facilitated nuanced investigation of how sleep loss impacts dimensions of affective functioning. To provide a quantitative summary of this literature, three conceptually related meta-analyses examined the effect of sleep restriction and sleep deprivation on mood, emotion, and emotion regulation across the lifespan (i.e., from early childhood to late adulthood). Method A total of 241 effect sizes from 64 studies were selected for inclusion, and multilevel meta-analytic techniques were used when applicable. Results There was a moderate, positive effect of sleep loss on negative mood (g = .45), which was stronger for studies with younger samples, as well as a large, negative effect of sleep loss on positive mood (g = -.93); type of sleep manipulation (i.e., restriction or deprivation) did not moderate either effect. After correcting for publication bias, a modest but significant negative effect emerged for the effect of sleep on emotion (g = .11); the valence of emotional stimuli did not change the direction of this effect, and type of sleep manipulation was also not a significant moderator. Finally, sleep restriction had a small, negative effect on adaptive emotion regulation (g = -.32), but no significant impact on maladaptive emotion regulation (g = .14); all studies on adaptive emotion regulation were conducted with youth samples. Conclusions Sleep loss compromises optimal affective functioning, though the magnitude of effects varies across components. Findings underscore the importance of sleep for healthy affective outcomes.

Quantifying the effects of practicing a semantic task according to subclinical schizotypy

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2024

The learning ability of individuals within the schizophrenia spectrum is crucial for their psychosocial rehabilitation. When selecting a treatment, it is thus essential to consider the impact of medications on practice effects, an important type of learning ability. To achieve this end goal, a pre-treatment test has to be developed and tested in healthy participants first. This is the aim of the current work, which takes advantage of the schizotypal traits present in these participants to preliminary assess the test’s validity for use among patients. In this study, 47 healthy participants completed the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and performed a semantic categorization task twice, with a 1.5-hour gap between sessions. Practice was found to reduce reaction times (RTs) in both low- and high-SPQ scorers. Additionally, practice decreased the amplitudes of the N400 event-related brain potentials elicited by semantically matching words in low SPQ scorers only, which shows the sensitivity of the task to schizotypy. Across the two sessions, both RTs and N400 amplitudes had good test–retest reliability. This task could thus be a valuable tool. Ongoing studies are currently evaluating the impact of fully deceptive placebos and of real antipsychotic medications on these practice effects. This round of research should subsequently assist psychiatrists in making informed decisions about selecting the most suitable medication for the psychosocial rehabilitation of a patient.

Using Network Analysis to Examine the Relationship between Specific Panic Symptoms and Heart Rate Variability

Conference Paper

Oct 2023

Anxiety and depression among patients with familial Mediterranean feverAngst und Depression bei Patienten mit familiärem Mittelmeerfieber

Article

Nov 2023

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a systemic autoinflammatory disease that requires lifelong treatment and is associated with several comorbidities, including mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. FMF and mental health necessitate further research; hence, this study aims to observe anxiety and depression and their relationship with several variables in patients with FMF. As the study population, 360 FMF patients were surveyed between June and October 2022. Surveys included inventories assessing anxiety and depression, i.e., the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Mean scores for STAI-Y1 (state), STAI-Y2 (trait), BAI, and BDI were 42.2 ± 12.0, 45.9 ± 10.6, 24.0 ± 13.9, and 13.1 ± 8.99, respectively. Medication-adherent patients had significantly lower scores on STAI-Y1 (41.5 ± 11.4 vs. 45.2 ± 14.0; p-value: 0.04). M694V homozygous patients exhibited significantly lower scores in the BDI (12.4 ± 9.37 vs. 13.2 ± 8.93; p-value: < 0.001) and BAI (17.0 ± 12.1 vs. 25.1 ± 13.9; p-value: 0.001). The patients with an exon-10 mutation demonstrated significantly lower scores compared to patients with an exon‑2 mutation (17.9 ± 12.3, 29.6 ± 13.3; p-value: < 0.001). The patients with FMF had mild depression and moderate anxiety scores. A higher level of education and medication adherence were associated with lower levels of anxiety. Likewise, the patients with genotypes associated with severe disease courses had lower levels of anxiety. We suggest that physicians should be more attentive to patients with a milder disease course and ensure that these patients are provided with sufficient treatment and knowledge about their disease.

Investigating associations between maternal stress, smoking and adverse birth outcomes: evidence from the All Our Families cohort

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2023

Background Independently, active maternal and environmental tobacco smoke exposure and maternal stress have been linked to an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. An understudied relationship is the potential for interactive effects between these risk factors. Methods Data was obtained from the All Our Families cohort, a study of 3,388 pregnant women < 25 weeks gestation recruited from those receiving prenatal care in Calgary, Canada between May 2008 and December 2010. We investigated the joint effects of active maternal smoking, total smoke exposure (active maternal smoking plus environmental tobacco smoke) and prenatal stress (Perceived Stress Scale, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), measured at two time points (< 25 weeks and 34–36 weeks gestation), on preterm birth and low birth weight. Results A marginally significant association was observed with the interaction active maternal smoking and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores in relation to low birth weight, after imputation (aOR = 1.02, 95%CI: 1.00-1.03, p = 0.06). No significant joint effects of maternal stress and either active maternal smoking or total smoke exposure with preterm birth were observed. Active maternal smoking, total smoke exposure, Perceived Stress Scores, and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores were independently associated with preterm birth and/or low birth weight. Conclusions Findings indicate the role of independent effects of smoking and stress in terms of preterm birth and low birthweight. However, the etiology of preterm birth and low birth weight is complex and multifactorial. Further investigations of potential interactive effects may be useful in helping to identify women experiencing vulnerability and inform the development of targeted interventions.

نموذج (IZOF) للمناطق الفردية للاستثارة المثلى للأداء الرياضى

Article

Sep 2023

مجدى حسن يوسف عبد الرحمن

Evaluation et optimisation des performances cliniques en situations de soins critiques simulées

Thesis

Full-text available

Nov 2022

Jean-Noël Evain

The effective management of a critical patient is stressful and requires rapid mobilisation of clinical knowledge and skills (technical and non-technical). For a given situation, gaps between actual and expected performance can be explained in part by the human factor. Interventions aimed at limiting human errors are likely to improve clinical performance. Stress response and cognitive mechanisms could be two areas accessible to simple interventions. Full-scale simulation reproduces critical care situations under safe and standardised conditions and allows clinical performance to be measured. This educational tool can also be used for human factor research. We tested the effects of various interventions on clinical performance in three full-scale simulation randomised controlled trials in. Pre-critical planning, “Tactics to Optimize the Potential” and positive interprofessional communication behaviour all showed a small but significant positive impact on clinical performance. Simple interventions targeting stress response and cognitive mechanisms can significantly improve clinical performance, for a given level of clinical knowledge and skills. A greater understanding of human error and its mechanisms may allow these interventions to be optimised and others to be developed, with the continuing purpose of improving the management and outcome of real-life critical care patients.

Quantifying the effects of practicing a semantic task according to subclinical schizotypy

Preprint

Full-text available

Jun 2023

Greater adaptability of patients should go with easier psychosocial rehabilitation. Medications should thus also be chosen according to their impact on practice effects, as they measure adaptability. We are thus developing a pre-treatment test aimed, in fine, at assessing the impact of medications on these effects. Here, we report the practice effects observed across the two sessions of a semantic categorization task. Participants (n = 47) completed the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and performed this task twice, 1.5 hours apart. Practice was found to reduce reaction times in both low- and high-SPQ scorers. It was also found to decrease the amplitudes of the N400 event-related brain potentials elicited by semantically matching words in low SPQ scorers only, which showed the sensitivity of the task to schizotypy. Both RTs and N400 amplitudes were also found to have a good test-retest reliability across the two sessions. This task could thus be a valuable tool. On-going studies are assessing the impacts of fully deceptive placebos and of real antipsychotic medications on these effects of practice. This should, later, help psychiatrists to choose the best medication for the psychosocial rehabilitation of a patient.

PANDEMİ SÜRECİNDE HEMŞİRELERİN PROFESYONEL OTONOMİYE YÖNELİK TUTUM DÜZEYLERİNİN İNCELENMESİ: TANIMLAYICI ÇALIŞMA

Conference Paper

Full-text available

Jun 2022

ÖZET Bu araştırma, pandemi sürecinde çalışan hemşirelerin profesyonel otonomiye yönelik tutum düzeylerini belirlemek ve tutumlarını etkileyen faktörleri ortaya koymak amacıyla yapıldı. Tanımlayıcı çalışma 03.08.2021 ile 18.01.2022 tarihleri arasında Google çevrimiçi anketi kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi. Araştırmanın evrenini Sağlık Bakanlığı Hastaneleri, Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastaneleri ve Tıp Fakültesi Hastanelerinde çalışan tüm hemşireler oluşturdu. Araştırmanın örneklemini kartopu örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilen 544 hemşire oluşturdu. Veriler "Hemşire Tanıtma Formu" ve "Hemşireler için Profesyonel Otonomiye Yönelik Tutum Ölçeği" ile toplandı. Araştırma verileri, sayı, yüzde, Kolmogorov Smirnov testi, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis ve düzeltilmiş Bonferroni testi kullanıldı. Pandemi sürecinde araştırmaya katılan hemşirelerin %45,2’si 19-28 yaşları arasında, %72,8'i lisans mezunudur. Hemşirelerin "Hemşireler için Profesyonel Otonomiye Yönelik Tutum Ölçeği" toplam puan ortalaması 70,82±13,69'dur. İş ile ilgili bağımsızlık alt boyut ölçek puan ortalaması 19,61±4,43 ve çalışma koşulları üzerindeki kontrol alt boyut ölçek puan ortalaması 27,88±5,96 iken, otonom klinik kararlar alt boyut puan ortalaması ise 23,31±4,78’dir. Hemşirelerin pandemi sürecinde profesyonel otonomiye yönelik tutum düzeylerinin orta düzey olduğu ve yaş, aile yapısı ve çalışma yılı gibi değişkenlerin hemşirelerin profesyonel otonomiye yönelik tutum düzeylerini etkilediği sonucuna varıldı. Bu bağlamda, Türkiyede pandemi sürecinde lisans mezunu hemşirelerin yüksek düzeyde profesyonel otonomi özellikleri geliştiremediği sonucu çıkartılabilir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Pandemik, Hemşireler, Profesyonel Otonomi, Tutum.

CHEMOSENSATION IN ANXIETY: THE TRIGEMINAL SYSTEM MATTERS

Preprint

Oct 2022

The presence of a perceptual bias due to anxiety is well demonstrated in cognitive and sensory task for the visual and auditory modality. Event-related potentials, by their specific measurement of neural processes, have strongly contributed to this evidence. There is still no consensus as to whether such a bias exists in the chemical senses; chemosensory event-related potentials (CSERP) are an excellent tool to clarify the heterogeneous results, especially since the Late Positive Component (LPC) may be an indicator of emotional involvement after chemosensory stimulation. This research examined the association between state and trait anxiety and the amplitude and latency of pure olfactory and mixed olfactory-trigeminal LPC. In this study, 20 healthy participants (11 women) with a mean age of 24.6 years (SD=2.6) completed a validated questionnaire to measure anxiety (STAI), and CSERP were recorded during 40 pure olfactory stimulations (phenyl ethanol) and 40 mixed olfactory-trigeminal stimulations (eucalyptol). LPC latency and amplitude were measured at Cz for each participant. We observed a significant negative correlation between LPC latencies and the state anxiety scores for the mixed olfactory-trigeminal condition (r(18) = -.513; p = .021), but not for the pure olfactory condition. We did not observe any effect on LPC amplitudes. This study suggests that a higher level of state anxiety is related to a more rapid perceptual electrophysiological response for mixed olfactory-trigeminal stimuli but not for pure odors.

Advances and challenges in the detection of academic stress and anxiety in the classroom: A literature review and recommendations

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2022
Educ Inform Tech

In recent years, stress and anxiety have been identified as two of the leading causes of academic underachievement and dropout. However, there is little work on the detection of stress and anxiety in academic settings and/or its impact on the performance of undergraduate students. Moreover, there is a gap in the literature in terms of identifying any computing, information technologies, or technological platforms that help educational institutions to identify students with mental health problems. This paper aims to systematically review the literature to identify the advances, limitations, challenges, and possible lines of research for detecting academic stress and anxiety in the classroom. Forty-four recent articles on the topic of detecting stress and anxiety in academic settings were analyzed. The results show that the main tools used for detecting anxiety and stress are psychological instruments such as self-questionnaires. The second most used method is acquiring and analyzing biological signals and biomarkers using commercial measurement instruments. Data analysis is mainly performed using descriptive statistical tools and pattern recognition techniques. Specifically, physiological signals are combined with classification algorithms. The results of this method for detecting anxiety and academic stress in students are encouraging. Using physiological signals reduces some of the limitations of psychological instruments, such as response time and self-report bias. Finally, the main challenge in the detection of academic anxiety and stress is to bring detection systems into the classroom. Doing so, requires the use of non-invasive sensors and wearable systems to reduce the intrinsic stress caused by instrumentation.

Attachment Security Priming Delayed Negative Information-Related Attentional Disengagement Among Anxiously Attached Individuals: Evidence From Behavioral and Functional MRI Experiments

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2022

Although attachment security has been found to attenuate people’s experience of unpleasant information, how it modulates the attentional process toward such information remains unknown. The present study examined this issue by employing the dot-probe task in functional MRI. After completing the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (ECR-R), 39 participants were asked to complete the dot-probe task in two conditions: the attachment security priming condition and neutral priming condition. The behavioral results revealed that individuals with high level of attachment anxiety exhibited larger attention disengagement from negative traits in the security priming condition than in the control condition. Correspondingly, the brain regions involved in attention regulation and shifting, such as the posterior cingulate and bilateral parietal area, were less activated among high anxiously attached individuals in the security priming condition. These results suggest a role of attachment security priming in regulating the emotional response in anxiously attached individuals during the attentional stage.

Therapeutic activities after assimilation setbacks in the case of Alicia

Article

Jan 2022

This case study addressed what therapists do after assimilation setbacks. Previous research has shown that most setbacks reflect the client switching between strands of the problem and that most setbacks can be classified as balance strategy setbacks (BS) or setbacks due to the therapist exceeding the client’s zone of proximal development (TZPD). Alicia was a 26-year-old woman diagnosed as depressed and treated with a directive kind of therapy for 26 sessions. Sessions were transcribed and rated with the Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Scale (APES). Almost all setbacks could be classified as BS or TZPD. The therapist's succeeding interventions were coded with the List of Therapist’s Activities after a Setback and qualitatively described and summarized. Alicia showed improvement on the outcome measures, and the APES. Therapist activities following setbacks showed that exploratory activities and supportive and clarifying intentions seemed relatively more common after BS setbacks, whereas directive activities and intentions were relatively more common after TZPD setbacks. Results tended to support the conceptualization of setbacks as a switch of strands and suggested elaborations. In this directive therapy, the therapist tended to pursue the intended line of work after setbacks, using systematically different activities depending on which type of setback occurred.

Klinische und psychologische Prädiktoren für Schmerz und Funktionseinschränkung bei Patienten mit komplexem regionalen Schmerzsyndrom

Thesis

Jan 2021

Lisa-Maria Karch

Das komplexe regionale Schmerzsyndrom (CRPS) ist eine meist posttraumatisch auftretende Extremitätenerkrankung, die neben anhaltendem Schmerz mit sensiblen, trophischen und motorischen Alterationen einhergeht. Wir führten bei 212 CRPS-Patienten eine Quantitativ sensorische Testung durch, um nach einem CRPS-typischen QST-Profil zu fahnden, was die bislang rein klinische, häufig verzögerte Diagnosestellung erleichtern könnte. Ein spezifisches QST-Profil ergab sich nicht. Es bestanden bilateral angehobene thermale Detektionsschwellen i.S. einer small fiber Neuropathie, eine Pallhypästhesie sowie Hyperalgesie, die pathophysiologisch auf eine Störung der zentralen Schmerzverarbeitung, Affektion der absteigenden inhibitorischen Bahnen und periphere Läsionen zurückzuführen ist. Hervorzuheben ist die besonders ausgeprägte und nur an der betroffenen Extremität nachweisbare Druckhyperalgesie. Außerdem wurden aus den QST-Parametern und Fragebögendaten (zu Schmerzsymptomatik und psychischen Auffälligkeiten) Einflussfaktoren auf den CRPS severity score (CSS) als objektive und den Schmerz- und Behinderungsscore (GCPS-Score) als subjektive Outcomevariable identifiziert. Die stärksten Prädiktoren für beide Variablen stellten die Hyperalgesie gegenüber Nadelstichreizen als Ausdruck des akuten, nozizeptor-vermittelten Schmerzes und die neuropathische Symptomkomponente (ermittelt durch NPSI) dar, was angesichts der teilweise nachweisbaren small fiber Neuropathie schlüssig ist und den Einsatz von Antineuropathika noch mehr erwägen lassen sollte. Zusammen mit der Druckhyperalgesie konnten bei CRPS-I-Patienten so 15% der Varianz des CSS erklärt werden. Bzgl. des GCPS-Scores konnte zusammen mit den Prädiktoren Krankheitsdauer und Ängstlichkeit eine Varianzaufklärung von 50% erreicht werden. Entsprechend ist gemäß Leitlinie ein Screening aller CRPS-Patienten auf erhöhte Angstsymptomatik empfohlen, um ggf. frühzeitig Psychotherapie zu initiieren.

Attachment Anxiety Moderates the Association Between ADHD and Psychological Distress

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2021
PSYCHIAT QUART

This study aims at examining the possible moderating role of attachment style in the association between ADHD and psychological distress, namely, anxiety and depression symptoms. Study included ninty nine participants: Sixty adults with ADHD diagnosis and thirty nine adults without ADHD or other neurological and/or psychiatric disorders. All participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), State-Trait Anxiety (STAI) questionnaires, Emotion in Close Relationships (ECR-R) questionnaire and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale–Version 1.1 (ASRS-v1.1). Adults with ADHD had greater symptoms of depression (p < .001) and anxiety (p < .001) than adults without ADHD. Process analysis yielded that attachment anxiety moderated the association between ADHD, anxiety and depression, therefore only adults with ADHD that had moderate to high attachment anxiety exhibited higher levels of depression (p < .01) and anxiety (p < .001). No moderating effect was observed for attachment avoidance. Moreover, we did not find correlations between ADHD, anxiety and depression when secure attachment was the moderator; indicating that secure attachment could serve as a “protective factor” against psychological distress among ADHD individuals. Among anxiously attached adults, ADHD was associated with higher levels psychological distress. These findings highlight the important role of attachment style in mental health of adults with ADHD.

Der Einfluss des Catechol-O-Methyltransferase-Val\(^{158}\)Met-Polymorphismus auf die Frontalkortex-Aktivierung und das autonome Nervensystem während eines kombiniert emotional- kognitiven Stroop-Paradigmas

Thesis

Jan 2021

Elisabeth Charlotte Haas

Hintergrund: Das Catechol-O-Methyltransferase-Gen (COMT) ist ein vielversprechendes Kandidatengen zur Untersuchung kognitiver und emotionaler Funktionen sowie deren pathologischer Veränderungen. Ein einzelner Basenaustausch in diesem Gen führt zu einer 3-4fach höheren COMT-Aktivität der Val Variante. Ein dadurch vermitteltes dopaminerges Defizit wird als relevanter Faktor für eine veränderte Hirnfunktion angenommen. Mit dem kognitiven Stroop-Paradigma wurden kognitive Verarbeitungsprozesse bisher gut erforscht. Zur Erfassung emotionaler Verarbeitungsprozesse wurde eine emotionale Variante entwickelt, deren neurale Grundlagen bislang weniger gut bekannt sind. Ziel: Unsere imaging genetics-Arbeit untersucht den Einfluss genetischer Varianten auf die neurale Funktion. Ziel dieser experimentellen Arbeit war es, den Einfluss des COMT-Polymorphismus (COMT-PM) auf die Frontalkortex-Funktion in ausgewählten Regionen von Interesse (ROI) zu erfassen und der Frage nachzugehen, ob das Val-Allel als Risiko-Allel zur Pathogenese einer Angststörung (AS) beitragen könnte. Zudem sollte die Tauglichkeit des emotionalen Stroop- Paradigmas als angstsensibles Messinstrument zur Untersuchung dieser Fragestellung geprüft werden. Demgegenüber steht die Annahme, das emotionale Stroop-Paradigma könnte lediglich eine Arbeitsgedächtnis (AG)-Aufgabe darstellen. Methoden: Mittels funktioneller Nahinfrarotspektroskopie (fNIRS) und ereigniskorrelierter Potentiale untersuchten wir 121 gesunde nach dem COMT- Val158Met-PM stratifizierte Probanden während eines kombiniert emotional- kognitiven Stroop-Paradigmas. Als neurale Korrelate von Exekutivfunktionen und AG-Aufgaben waren die ROI dabei der laterale präfrontale und inferiore Kortex, die auch mit emotionaler Regulation in Verbindung gebracht werden. Als Parameter der Reaktion des autonomen Nervensystems (ANS) diente die Erfassung der elektrodermalen Aktivität sowie die kontinuierliche Messung von Blutdruck, Herzfrequenz und Herzratenvariabilität. Ergebnisse: Bei allen drei COMT Varianten zeigte sich ein kognitiver Stroop-Effekt mit verlängerter Reaktionszeit und erhöhter Fehleranzahl während der Präsentation inkongruenter Farbworte. Als Reaktion des ANS stellte sich eine erhöhte elektrodermale Aktivität bei inkongruenten Farbworten dar. Die funktionelle Bildgebung ließ in den analysierten Regionen eine erhöhte präfrontale Aktivierung während der Verarbeitung inkongruenter Farbworte nachweisen. Es fanden sich keine Gruppenunterschiede im kognitiven Stroop-Paradigma. Der einzige emotionale Stroop-Effekt zeigte sich in der P300. Der einzig nachweisbare Gruppeneffekt stellte sich im emotionalen Stroop-Paradigma als höhere Fehleranzahl bei Met-Homozygoten verglichen mit Heterozygoten dar. Schlussfolgerung: Genetische Information und funktionelle Bildgebung kombiniert sollten ermöglichen, neurale Mechanismen zu definieren, die mit genetischen Varianten verlinkt sind. Die Ergebnisse bezogen auf die analysierten Regionen liefern keinen Hinweis auf ein Val-Allel assoziiertes Risiko für die Entwicklung einer AS. Damit gelingt es nicht, bisher gewonnene Ergebnisse zum Einfluss des COMT-PM auf die präfrontale Funktion zu replizieren. Fraglich ist jedoch, ob sich das emotionale Stroop-Paradigma zur Untersuchung dieser Frage eignet, da weder in den fNIRS-, noch in den autonomen oder Verhaltensdaten ein emotionaler Stroop-Effekt nachgewiesen werden konnte.

State Trait Anxiety Inventory: a Test Manual/Test Form

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