Degree Of Anxiety Research Articles

Anxiety and Depression among patients with chronic pain

Background: Chronic pain is a pervasive and debilitating state experienced by many individuals across the globe. It produces a wide range of physiological impact which are well documented in literature but the psychological impact which is also equally profound has not received much attention. This study aims to investigate severity of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic pain that contributes to the development of holistic and effective treatment approaches. Materials and Methods: A non-experimental descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. Non probability purposive sampling was used to recruit a sample of 50 patients with chronic pain attending OPD services in a secondary hospital, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. Patients who aged between 20 and 70 years with a chronic pain for at least 3 months were included. Patients with malignant pain were excluded. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to capture data on anxiety and depression. Results: The mean anxiety score on HADS was 9.2 (SD-3.72) and depression score was 8.48 (SD-3.23). Nearly one third of participants (32%) reported abnormal level of anxiety and 26% had reported abnormal depression. There is no significant association found between level of anxiety and Sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, type of family, education and occupation. Level of depression showed a significant association with age (p=0.042). Conclusion: Patients with chronic pain experience varying degrees of anxiety and depression. Routine assessment of these attributes would help the healthcare team to plan patient-tailored interventions to manage pain and to prevent anxiety and depression.

Analysis of the Status Quo and Influencing Factors of Advanced Lung Cancer Patients’ Quality of Life

Objective: To investigate the quality of life and related influencing factors of patients with advanced lung cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 51 patients with advanced lung cancer who were hospitalized in the Department of Oncology from January 2023 to December 2023, and the influencing factors of patients’ quality of life were analyzed. Results: Among the five functional scales (physical, role, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning) of the QLQ-C30 scale, the social and emotional function scores were the lowest, respectively 16.7 (IQR: 0, 33.3) points, and 16.7 (IQR: 8.3, 25), and among the three symptom scales (fatigue, pain, nausea and vomiting), the fatigue symptom score was the highest: 77.7 (IQR: 66.7, 88.9) points. The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the anxiety score of patients with advanced lung cancer was positively correlated with depression score (P < 0.01), while the quality of life of patients with advanced lung cancer was not correlated with anxiety and depression score (P > 0.1). The self-care ability, the nature of the disease, and whether the patient was treated for chemotherapy were the independent influencing factors of the patient’s quality of life, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with advanced lung cancer have different degrees of anxiety and depression, and their quality of life is affected by many factors, which are mainly related to the patient’s self-care ability, the nature of the disease, and whether they received chemotherapy.

Preoperative Anxiety in Patients Scheduled for Minimally Invasive Abdominal Surgery: Institutional Experience

Introduction: Preoperative anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state, characterized by feelings of tension, nervousness, fear, and intensified activation of the autonomic nervous system. According to the WHO, more than 4 million people undergo surgery annually in the world, and in about 50 to 75% of them, they develop some degree of anxiety during the course of the preoperative period. Objective: To analyze preoperative anxiety levels through the application of the Amsterdam Preoperative and Information Anxiety Scale (APAIS) in patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a third-level health institution of complexity in the department of Huila during the first half of 2023. Methodology: Descriptive-cross-sectional study, the APAIS scale will be applied. The population will be patients over 18 years of age scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The data obtained will be coded and tabulated in the SPSS statistical program. Results: Preoperative anxiety mostly affects mature adult women, Catholic and married. In addition, those who have had previous surgeries tend to experience less anxiety before the procedure, additionally it is observed that patients with a lower level of education tend to show lower levels of preoperative anxiety, however, despite this, all patients express a strong desire to receive more information about the procedure, which highlights the importance of clear and complete communication to help reduce anxiety before surgery. Conclusions: It is recommended to provide detailed information and to carry out early and individualized interventions to reduce preoperative anxiety and the desire for information. New research approaches may evaluate the reduction of anxiety in the face of different interventions.

The relationship between cyberchondria and health literacy among first-year nursing students: the mediating effect of health anxiety

BackgroundFirst-year nursing students are at a critical juncture in their education. They are transitioning from laypersons to healthcare professionals, and students are frequently exposed to medical information in academic settings and through personal research. This exposure can sometimes lead to cyberchondria; improving health literacy and managing health anxiety are critical strategies for reducing the incidence of cyberchondria.AimInvestigate the mediating effect of health anxiety on cyberchondria and health literacy among first-year nursing students.MethodsA cross-sectional correlational research design was used in this study. The study was conducted with 475 students in October 2023 during the first semester of the academic year 2023–2024.ResultsCyberchondria and health literacy levels were both moderate. In addition, the degree of health anxiety among first-year Nursing Students was mild, too. The results showed that the association between Cyberchondria and Health Literacy was partially mediated by health anxiety.Conclusion and implicationsThis study highlights the sophisticated relationship between cyberchondria, health literacy, and anxiety among first-year nursing students. It demonstrates that lower health literacy can lead to increased health anxiety, which in turn exacerbates cyberchondria. To mitigate these issues, it is essential to enhance health literacy and provide support for managing health anxiety within nursing education programs. By doing so, we can help nursing students navigate online health information effectively and reduce unnecessary health-related anxieties, promoting better educational outcomes and overall well-being.

Investigation and analysis of negative emotion in patients with diabetic retinopathy after vitrectomy.

As the incidence of diabetes continues to increase, the number of patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) also increases each year. After undergoing vitrectomy for DR, patients often experience negative emotional problems that negatively affect their recovery. To investigate negative feelings in patients with DR after vitrectomy and to explore related influencing factors. A total of 146 individuals with DR who were accepted for treatment at The Third People's Hospital of Changzhou from May 2021 to April 2023 were recruited to participate in this study. All patients underwent vitrectomy. The self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to assess the degree of anxiety and depression 2-3 days after the operation. The participants were divided into a healthy control group and a negative emotion group. The patients' general demographic characteristics and blood glucose levels were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing negative feelings post-operation. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to analyze the association between SAS scores, SDS scores, and blood glucose levels. The control group included 85 participants. The negative emotion group comprised 40 participants with anxiety, 13 with depression, and eight with both. Logistic regression showed that being female (OR = 3.090, 95%CI: 1.217-7.847), a family per capita monthly income of < 5000 yuan (OR = 0.337, 95%CI: 0.165-0.668), and a longer duration of diabetes (OR = 2.068, 95%CI: 1.817-3.744) were risk factors for negative emotions in patients with DR after vitrectomy (P < 0.05). The concentrations of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the negative emotion group exceeded those in the control group (P < 0.05). SAS scores were positively associated with FPG (r = 0.422), 2hPG (r = 0.334), and HbA1c (r = 0.362; P < 0.05). SDS scores were positively correlated with FPG (r = 0.218) and 2hPG (r = 0.218; P < 0.05). Sex, income level, and duration of diabetes were factors that influenced negative emotions post-vitrectomy. Negative emotions were positively correlated with blood glucose levels, which can be used to develop intervention strategies.

Influence of the continuing COVID-19 epidemic on sleep quality and psychological status of healthcare workers in private institutions.

On January 22, 2020, Macao reported its first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. By August 2021, the situation had escalated into a crisis of community transmission. In response, the government launched a recruitment campaign seeking assistance and services of healthcare workers (HCWs) from the private sector throughout Macao. These participants faced concerns about their own health and that of their families, as well as the responsibility of maintaining public health and wellness. This study aims to determine whether the ongoing epidemic has caused them physical and psychological distress. To examine the influence of COVID-19 on the sleep quality and psychological status of HCWs in private institutions in Macao during the pandemic. Data were collected from December 2020 to January 2022. Two consecutive surveys were conducted. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were employed as investigation tools. In the first-stage survey, 32% of HCWs experienced a sleep disorder, compared to 28.45% in the second-stage survey. A total of 31.25% of HCWs in the first-stage survey and 28.03% in the second had varying degrees of anxiety. A total of 50.00% of HCWs in the first-stage survey and 50.63% in the second experienced varying degrees of depression. No difference in PSQI scores, SAS scores, or SDS scores were observed between the two surveys, indicating that the COVID-19 epidemic influenced the sleep quality and psychological status of HCWs. The negative influence persisted over both periods but did not increase remarkably for more than a year. However, a positive correlation was observed between the PSQI, SAS, and SDS scores (r = 0.428-0.775, P < 0.01), indicating that when one of these states deteriorated, the other two tended to deteriorate as well. The sleep quality, anxiety, and depression of HCWs in private institution in Macao were affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. While these factors did not deteriorate significantly, the negative effects persisted for a year and remained noteworthy.

Aromatherapy Using Lavender Oil Effectiveness on Pain and Anxiety After C-Section: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Managing postoperative setting, regarding pain and anxiety after cesarean delivery is crucial for the mother's recovery, her emotional well-being, mother-infant bonding and initiating breastfeeding. Although some research have suggested that aromatherapy with lavender essential oil can be effective in reducing pain and anxiety in various medical settings, the efficacy of lavender aromatherapy in the postoperative setting after cesarean delivery is less well-studied. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of lavender essential oil therapy in the management of pain and anxiety after cesarean delivery. This was a monocentric randomized controlled double-blind trial conducted over a period of five months during 2023. A hundred women undergoing c-sections under spinal anesthesia were enrolled and randomly assigned; using block randomization of 4 items per block with allocation ratio 1:1, into two groups: The aromatherapy group (receiving inhaled Lavender essential oil) versus the placebo group (receiving distilled water instead). The primary outcomes were pain (at rest and after mobilization) and anxiety levels and after the intervention. This trial was registered on clinical-trials.org (NCT06387849). A total of 100 women were included (50 women in each group aromatherapy and the placebo group). The two groups were comparable regarding baseline characteristics and pre-intervention parameters with no statistically significant difference. After the intervention, the pain at rest (38,76 ± 22,9 vs. 23,84 ± 18,01; p < 0.001), the pain after mobilization (60,28 ± 23,72 vs. 40,12 ± 22,18; p < 0.001), and degree of anxiety (46,76 ± 6,59 vs. 44,3 ± 5,17; p = 0.03) were all significantly lower in the aromatherapy group. No adverse effects were reported by participants in both groups. Aromatherapy using Lavender essential oil is effective in reducing pain and anxiety after cesarean delivery without adverse effects.

Depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and perceived social support among Ugandan palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To identify the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and psychosocial distress among Ugandan palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, measure providers' perceived levels of social support, and identify factors affecting a provider's likelihood of being depressed, anxious, distressed, or perceiving various levels of social support. Data was collected from 123 palliative care providers using an online survey. Depression, anxiety, and psychological distress were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire, respectively. Information on perceived level of social support was gathered through the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The survey also asked about mental health resources available to providers at their place of work and what resources are still needed. Participants ranged in age, gender, religion, marital status, clinical position, and years of experience in palliative care. Results indicate that 20% of respondents show signs of moderate to severe depression, 14% show signs of moderate to severe anxiety, and 33% show signs of psychological distress. Additionally, 50% of respondents reported a low total level of social support. Depression, anxiety, and psychological distress scores were all negatively correlated with perceived social support scores. Over 50% expressed a desire for additional mental health resources at their place of work. In 2021-2022, the severity of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress varied among palliative care providers in Uganda, with some experiencing moderate to severe mental health effects. Higher degrees of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress were correlated with lower levels of perceived social support, highlighting the importance of social support during times of crisis. The results highlight a desire for improved access to mental health resources and will help providers and organizations provide better support and better prepare for future crises.

The Status and Expectations of the Relatives of Surgery Patients in the Waiting Area of Guilan Academic Hospitals

Background: The situation of the relatives of surgery patients in waiting areas is an important issue, which has not been investigated in Guilan province, so this study was planned. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Guilan academic hospitals (Razi-Poorsina-Heshmat-Alzahra–Amir al Momenin) from Feb 2022 to Dec 2022. Relatives of patients who underwent elective surgeries enrolled the survey. A questionnaire containing two parts of demographic data and 12 items assessing relative’s conditions in waiting area was filled out via a direct interview. Results: 318 relatives enrolled the survey. 93.2% of patients’ relatives were first-degree relatives.76.7% had information about the surgery. 41.5% were informed of their patient’s status in operating room. Fear of not emergence from anesthesia 109(34.3%) and death 105(33.0%) were the main causes of anxiety which was reported as 8.23±28.2 from 10 and only 6(1.9%) had financial concern. 86.8% of the responders declared that being informed from their patient’s condition in operating room, was the most effective approach to reduce their anxiety. A positive and highly significant association was observed between the level of education and receiving explanation from surgeon, anesthesiologist and being informed from patients’ status in waiting area (p=0.001). Conclusion: It was found that relatives of surgery patients suffered from high degrees of anxiety mainly due to fear of death and not emergence from anesthesia. They stated that being informed from their patient’s conditions was the most powerful factor in reducing their anxiety.

Comparing personality traits of healthcare workers with and without long COVID: Cross-sectional study.

Pathological mechanisms of "long COVID" after recovery from the main symptoms of COVID-19 are unclear. We compared psychological differences between individuals with and without long COVID symptoms after initial COVID-19 infections. This study includes medical workers with and without history of COVID-19. We assessed the degree of depression, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the degree of anxiety and fear of COVID-19, and we used an original questionnaire. In the COVID-19 group, we also assessed personality traits and anxiety. The COVID-19 group was subclassified into those with and without long COVID to examine differences in circumstantial and psychological examinations. Of 310 participants (141 men, 169 women, median age: 40 years), 167 had history of COVID-19 (83/84, 37 years) and 143 did not (58 men/85 women, 46 years). In the COVID-19 group, 26 had long COVID (12/14, 32 years) and 141 did not (58/85, 46 years). Fewer participants in the COVID-19 group had had COVID-19 vaccinations. The long COVID group had higher number of symptoms at the time of illness and higher NEO Five Factor Inventory Neuroticism scores than the non-long COVID group. They also had poorer mental health according to HRQOL than those without. Risk factors for long COVID may include the number of symptoms at the time of illness and neurotic tendency on NEO Five Factor Inventory. Participants with long COVID had poorer mental health according to HRQOL. People with long COVID might be especially sensitive to and pessimistic about the symptoms that interfere with their daily lives, resulting in certain cognitive and behavioral patterns. They may benefit from early psychiatric intervention.

Mood State in Patients with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder due to Lung Cancer: A Clinical Application Study of Intensive Cognitive Management.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to lung cancer seriously affects the mood state of patients. Intensive cognitive management is a structured management method based on cognitive behavioral therapy, which can correct cognitive distortions and regulate adverse emotions. This study mainly explored the effect of intensive cognitive management on the mood state of patients with PTSD due to lung cancer. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 169 patients with PTSD due to lung cancer admitted to our hospital from June 2020 to June 2021. Based on different clinical management schemes, these patients were divided into the reference group (RG, n = 87, routine management) and the study group (SG, n = 82, routine management+intensive cognitive management). The sleep status and degree of depression and anxiety were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Depression Scale (D), and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Check List (PCL). After 2 weeks (T1) and 4 weeks (T2) of nursing, the scores on the PSQI (p < 0.001), SAS (T0-T1: p < 0.001; T0-T2: p < 0.001) and D (T0-T1: p = 0.026, p < 0.001; T0-T2: p < 0.001), as well as three PCL factors (p < 0.001) of the two groups were significantly lower than those before nursing (T0). At the T1 and T2 stages, difference scores for the PSQI (difference score 1: p = 0.003; difference score 2: p = 0.006), SAS (difference score 1: p = 0.002; difference score 2: p = 0.007), and D (difference score 1: p < 0.001; difference score 2: p = 0.002) were higher in the SG compared with the RG. At the T1 stage, the difference score of the PCL high-alert factor (p = 0.008) was higher in the SG compared with the RG, with no significant difference in difference scores of other two factors (p > 0.05). At the T2 stage, the SG had higher difference scores for the three PCL factors compared with the RG (p < 0.001, p = 0.011, p < 0.001). Intensive cognitive management can effectively improve sleep quality and adverse emotions and has potential for clinical management of PTSD in patients with lung cancer.

Investigating the psychological disorder and nutritional disorder during COVID-19 epidemic

BackgroundConsidering the various effects of the corona epidemic on humans, the current study was conducted to investigate adults' nutritional patterns and the psychological status during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods and materialsThis cross-sectional analytical study was performed on adults in Iran during the COVID-19 epidemic. A total of 315 participants were examined by the convenience sampling method. To collect data from the standard 21 questionnaire (das) and Eating Attitudes Test - 26 items were used. The data were analysis by SPSS and independent t-test, correlation coefficient, and chi-square analysis of variance at a significance level of less than 0.05. ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 31.93±10.02 years. Based on the findings, 31.1% had some degree of depression, 29.5% had some degree of anxiety, and 31.7% have been affected by varying degrees of stress. Also, 8.7% of the participants had eating disorders. A statistically significant relationship was observed between depression score, anxiety score, stress score as well as an overall score of mental disorders and eating disorders; in such a way that with the increase of each of these cases, the score of eating disorders also increases. ConclusionFollowing the prevalence of the COVID-19 epidemic and its psychological effects, the level of stress and anxiety has increased. Awareness controlled the level of anxiety and stress and prevented its adverse effects on nutrition.

The Impact of Loneliness and Social Anxiety on Casual Social Contacts.

Introduction In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, loneliness and social isolation have become major public health crises. Loneliness has reached epidemic levels and negatively impacts both health and quality of life. "Casual contacts" is a developing line of research that may hold promise in stemming the current crisis. Casual contacts referto interactions and relationships with people who are neither family nor friends.Our objectives are to (a) document the impact of casual contacts on community-based adults (Studies 1 and 2) and (b) study the impact of loneliness (Studies 1 and 2) and social anxiety (Study 2) on responses to casual contact. Based on prior studies, we expect to find that casual contacts have a generally positive impact on mood.However, the association of both loneliness and social anxiety with hypervigilance to social threat leads to the broad hypothesis that individuals with each of these conditions would be more likely to respond negatively to casual contacts than would others without those conditions. Method This correlational research recruited convenience samples of English-speaking adults living in the United States, using the online platform Survey Monkey. There were no selection criteria beyond (a) language and location and (b) the sample beinggenerally balanced for age and gender. Partial correlation and analysis of covariance were used to examine theassociation of loneliness and social anxiety with feeling worse after casual contacts, while controlling for age, gender, household size, household income, and size of town.Because the current study examines a novel area, individual differences that affect how people experience casual contacts, we ran two studies enabling us to examine whether the results replicated. In total, we surveyed 546 community-dwelling adults about their casual contacts, 174 in Study 1 and 372 in Study 2. Data cleaning was used to minimize/eliminate meaningless and random answers resulting in a final total study sample of 393 participants: 123 in Study 1 and 270 in Study 2. Results The results indicate that casual contacts are common, with fewer than 4% having neither verbal nor electronic contact with an acquaintance weekly, and typically have a positive impact (Study 1 and Study 2). Nevertheless, a significant minority of casual contacts result in negative experiences, which is more probable among respondents who were lonely (Study 1 and Study 2) and/or had higher levels of social anxiety (Study 2). Exploratory analyses showed that both loneliness and social anxiety are linked to feeling worsefor longer periods of time after casual contacts and that positive feelings tend to dissipate more rapidly for those with higher loneliness scores (Study 2). Conclusions These results indicate that clinicians developing interventions that involve casual contacts must consider how to do so safely and effectively for those with a higher degree of loneliness and/or social anxiety.

The potential effect of d-cycloserine on the development of anxiety during exposure sessions in patients with agoraphobia

IntroductionCombination of exposure therapy with d-cycloserine (DCS) in patients suffering from anxiety disorders yielded promising results regarding treatment outcomes. However, less is known about short-term effects of DCS during the treatment process, e. g. its potential influence on anxiety during exposure sessions. In this exploratory secondary analysis using data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we investigated longitudinal changes in anxiety during exposure in agoraphobic patients receiving DCS or placebo (PBO). Methods73 patients suffering from agoraphobia (with or without panic disorder) were treated with 12 sessions of individual cognitive behavioral therapy including three exposure sessions. Patients were given either PBO or 50mg of DCS after each successful exposure. Multilevel modeling was used to analyze changes in outcomes measured in subjective units of distress (SUDS) over three time points (i.e. the exposure sessions) in the two groups. ResultsWe observed a decline in several SUDS outcomes in the DCS group, namely initial anxiety, maximum anxiety during exposure and within-session habituation, while the PBO group mostly maintained similar levels of anxiety from session to session. Anxiety at the end of exposure appeared to be stable in the DCS group as well. DiscussionOur findings suggest potential short-term effects of DCS on anxiety during exposure. Long lasting and high degree of anxiety over exposure sessions is burdensome for the patients. Thus, modifications to reduce anxiety during exposure or to accelerate the learning process while maintaining the same treatment efficacy could be desirable. However, given the exploratory nature of the analyses, confirmatory studies testing the hypothesis of a decline of SUDS in agoraphobic patients are needed before confident conclusions can be made.

Prospective Study of Preoperative Negative Affect and Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery: The Moderating Role of Sex.

Objective: Preoperative negative affect is a risk factor for worse postoperative pain, but research investigating this association among patients undergoing thoracic surgery is inconsistent. Additionally, female patients often report greater negative affect and postoperative pain than males. This prospective observational study investigated the association between preoperative negative affect and postoperative pain after thoracic surgery and whether this association differed by sex. Methods: Patients (n = 105) undergoing thoracic surgery completed preoperative assessments of pain and negative affect (PROMIS anxiety and depression short forms). Patients reported their daily worst pain over the first 7 postoperative days, and an index score of acute postoperative pain was created. Six months after surgery, a subsample of patients (n = 60) reported their worst pain. Results: Higher levels of preoperative anxiety (r = 0.25, p = 0.011) and depression (r = 0.20, p = 0.042) were associated with greater acute postoperative pain, but preoperative negative affect was not related to chronic postsurgical pain (anxiety: r = 0.19, p = 0.16; depression: r = -0.01, p = 0.94). Moderation analyses revealed that the associations between both preoperative anxiety (b = 0.12, 95% CI [0.04, 0.21], p = 0.004) and depression (b = 0.15, 95% CI [0.04, 0.26], p = 0.008) with acute postoperative pain were stronger among females than males. Similarly, the association between preoperative anxiety and chronic postsurgical pain was stronger among females (b = 0.11, 95% CI [0.02, 0.20], p = 0.022), but the association between preoperative depression and chronic pain did not differ based on sex (b = 0.13, 95% CI [-0.07, 0.34], p = 0.201]). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that negative affect may be especially important to the experience of pain following thoracic surgery among female patients, whose degree of preoperative anxiety may indicate vulnerability to progress to a chronic pain state. Preoperative interventions aimed at reducing negative affect and pain may be particularly useful among females with high negative affect before thoracic surgery.

Test anxiety as a risk factor for use of psychoactive compounds in medical students

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Introduction. &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;Test anxiety implies an intense pathological fear in situations of preparing and taking exams which is a significant problem for 15&amp;amp;ndash;70% of medical students. The frequent use of psychoactive substances is recognized as a problem for young people. The aim was to determine the frequency and degree of test anxiety and the association with misuse of psychoactive substances in medical students of the Faculty of Medicine in Foča.&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Methods.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; The research was conducted according to the principle of a cross-sectional study at the Faculty of Medicine in Foča. Students were offered a custom-made questionnaire containing general and specific questions for test anxiety and use and dependence of psychoactive compounds and social networks. Test anxiety was evaluated by Westside anxiety scale.&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Results.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; The sample included 145 respondents, 69.7% females and 30.3% males. The results indicate that the degree of test anxiety does not differ in male and female students, but test anxiety is less pronounced in younger students and students with medium academic success. The level of test anxiety was correlated with the rate of psychoactive compound use. Psychoactive substances were used by 50.3% of students, primary for anti-anxiety, than for psychostimulation and for hypnotic effects. The most commonly used classes of psychoactive substances were plant anxiolytics, followed by benzodiazepines, marijuana, alcohol and narcotics/cocaine (18.6%, 12.4%, 12.4%, 8.3%, and 4.8%, respectively).&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Conclusion.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; A significant number of students reach for anxiolytics and other drugs that can create addiction. Elevated levels of test anxiety are positively correlated with increased consumption of psychoactive compounds. However, the frequency of use of psychoactive compounds surpasses the frequency of altogether moderate, high and extreme test anxiety.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Single-dose 1cp-LSD administration for canine anxiety: a pilot study

Anxiety affects 14–20% of dogs. Pharmacological treatments often fail. Psychedelics have shown to be useful for anxiety and depression in humans, but their veterinary use remains unexplored. We aimed to determine the effects of low-dose 1-cyclopropionyl-d-lysergic acid diethylamide (1cp-LSD) administered in a single dose to a dog, to observe the effect and establish the safety of the substance. The patient was a 13-year-old female dog, weighing 13 kg, mixed breed, and spayed. A total of 5 µg was administered orally, equivalent to 0.38 µg/kg. The animal has had a history of separation related behavioral problems throughout her life. To objectively assess the degree of anxiety in the dog, a validated scale was utilized. The trial was scheduled at the house where the animal lives. The owner was present throughout the experience. Informed consent was obtained prior to the assay. The trial began at 12:15 p.m. on January 10, 2024, lasting for 5 and a half hours. The response to anxiety-inducing stimuli was equally anxious during the first two hours. From that point onwards, a significant change in the animal’s behavior was observed, with no signs/mild signs of anxiety. The trial concluded without any adverse effects on the animal. The patient did not show signs of having a psychedelic experience. This is the first time that a study of this nature has been conducted and reported in the canine species. 1cp-LSD proved to be safe and exerted the desired effect on the animal’s behavior, significantly reducing the patient’s anxiety.

[Tanslated article] Burnout Syndrome, Anxiety, and Depression in Dermatology Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and objectiveBurnout syndrome is a mental health disorder due to chronic occupational stress. Both burnout and associated comorbidities are prevalent among health care professionals, being medical residents a vulnerable group. Despite this, the scientific medical literature currently available on this issue in dermatology residents is scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of the burnout syndrome, anxiety, and depression in dermatology residents, and the associated risk factors. Material and MethodThis was a cross-sectional trial designed to include dermatology residents from Spain (from December 2022 through June 2023). A self-administered form was sent via online messaging applications, including validated scales to study professional quality of life, burnout syndrome, anxiety, and depression. ResultsA total of 48 dermatology residents were included in the study, 50% of whom (24/48) were women, with a mean age of 27 years (1.25). A total of 58.33% (28/48) of the residents had some degree of anxiety, 22.9% (11/48) some degree of depression, and 23.4% a moderate risk of burnout (11/48). Workload was the main risk factor associated with the 3 disorders studied, while managerial support or intrinsic motivation seem to play a protective role. ConclusionsBurnout syndrome and its comorbidities are both prevalent in dermatology residents in Spain and closely related to each other.

Depression, anxiety, and sleep attributes: A cross-sectional study of chiropractic college students.

To measure degree of depression, anxiety, and hours of sleep of chiropractic college students through an anonymous paper survey. A convenience sample of 164 chiropractic college students completed a Major Depression Inventory (MDI) survey, a 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) survey, and were asked the number of hours of sleep they had per night and demographic questions. The survey was distributed to trimester 1-6 students 4 weeks into their 15-week semester. Chiropractic students had an average MDI score of 18.1 ± 10.6 (mean ± SD), indicating the average chiropractic college student did not display depression. However, subset analysis revealed 18.9% of students had MDI scores over 30, which is associated with possible severe depression. Of students who demonstrated possible severe depression, 80.6% were female. Body mass index demonstrated no correlation with the number of respondents at risk for severe depression. Average GAD-2 score was 3.0 ± 1.9; male students scored 2.4 ± 1.8 and female 3.6 ± 1.8, indicating female students expressed anxiety more. Last, survey respondents reported they averaged 6.3 ± 1.1 hours of sleep per night with females reporting approximately 30 minutes less sleep per night than males. Chiropractic students, on average, did not display depression. However, a subset of female students near the age of 26 were at an increased risk of severe depression. Chiropractic students displayed a rate of anxiety greater than that of undergraduate college students based on existing data sets and reported approximately 6 hours of sleep per night.

Efficiency and safety of continuous theta burst stimulation for primary insomnia: A randomized clinical trial

ObjectivesPrimary insomnia is a substantial public health burden, but current treatments for this disorder have limited effectiveness and adherence. Herein, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) for the treatment of primary insomnia. MethodsThis two-armed, randomized, sham-controlled trial was conducted at Peking University Sixth Hospital and local community clinics. A total of 46 patients with primary insomnia were recruited and randomly allocated to either the cTBS group or sham group. Forty-one patients completed 10 sessions of cTBS or sham intervention and follow-up assessments. ResultsAfter the intervention, the severity of insomnia was significantly lower in the cTBS group than in the sham group, with a large effect size (Cohen's d = −1.938). Additionally, 52.4 % of patients in the cTBS group achieved a response (Insomnia Severity Index score reduction ≥8), whereas only 4 % of patients in the sham group achieved a response. The duration of objective total sleep time and slow-wave sleep were higher in the cTBS group than in the sham group. The degree of anxiety was lower in the cTBS group than in the sham group. There were no significant differences in depression, sleepiness, or cognitive function between the cTBS and sham groups. During follow-up, the sleep quality of the cTBS group significantly improved and remained stable at the 6-month follow-up. ConclusionIn this randomized clinical trial, cTBS improved insomnia symptoms and was generally well tolerated, thus supporting the further development of cTBS for the treatment of primary insomnia.