Battery Of Standardized Questionnaires Research Articles

The relationship between perseverative thinking, proactive control, and inhibition in psychological distress: a study in a women’s cohort

Cognitive control is a core feature of several mental disorders. A recent account poses that health problems may derive from proactive forms of cognitive control that maintain stress representation over time. The working hypothesis of the present study is that psychological distress is caused by the tendency to select a particular maladaptive self-regulation strategy over time, namely perseverative thinking, rather than by transient stimulus–response patterns. To test this hypothesis, we asked 84 women to carry out a battery of standardized questionnaires regarding their tendency to undertake perseverative thinking and their level of psychological distress, followed by cognitive tasks measuring the tendency to use proactive versus reactive control modality and disinhibition. Through a series of mediation analyses, we demonstrate that the tendency to use proactive control correlates with psychological distress and that this relation is mediated by perseverative thinking. Moreover, we show that the relation between low inhibitory control and psychological stress is more strongly mediated by perseverative thinking than impulsiveness, a classical construct that focuses on more transient reactions to stimuli. The present results underline the importance of considering psychological distress as the consequence of a maladaptive way of applying control over time, rather than the result of a general deficit in cognitive control abilities.

Risk and resilience of vulnerable families in Hong Kong under the impact of COVID-19: an ecological resilience perspective.

PurposeHong Kong has experienced four waves of COVID-19 since the first case was confirmed in January 2020. Several studies have highlighted the psychological impacts of the outbreak in Hong Kong but have largely ignored the protective factors that contribute to resilience among vulnerable families. This study adopted an ecological resilience framework to explore the impact of this epidemic on members of families with youth with a delinquent tendency/mental health concerns and the ecological protective factors for these vulnerable families.MethodsRandom sampling based on a sampling frame provided by one of the largest local social service organizations in Hong Kong led to the recruitment of 407 respondents who were interviewed using a battery of standardized questionnaires.ResultsThe results showed that 30.6% and 11.5% of respondents reported a moderate and a severe level of psychological distress, respectively, almost double the percentages reported in a previous study conducted in Hong Kong before the COVID-19 outbreak. Around 36.6% of respondents indicated they had encountered financial problems and almost 40% indicated aggravated financial circumstances since the outbreak. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that financial stress was the strongest predictor of psychological distress. Structural equation modeling indicated that family support, indoor leisure activities and community resources significantly mediated the negative influence of COVID-19-related stressors on psychological distress of family members.ConclusionFamily leisure activities, family support, community spirit and mutual help within the context of social-distancing restrictions may need to be promoted to benefit vulnerable families in Hong Kong under the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Differential Functions of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in Chinese Adolescents with Different Levels of Anxiety Problems in Hong Kong

Chinese children and adolescents have higher levels of anxiety than those in other countries. However, research that has examined psychological correlates among children and adolescents with a clinical level of anxiety or at risk of developing anxiety disorders in Hong Kong is extremely scarce. Studies on emotion regulation (ER) strategies as a psychological correlate have yielded inconsistent results, suggesting that while maladaptive ER strategies generally contribute to psychopathology, adaptive ER strategies show surprisingly weak or no influence on psychopathology. The present study aims to examine different effects of adaptive and maladaptive ER strategies on anxiety symptoms in two groups of Chinese adolescents with clinical anxiety or at risk of developing anxiety disorders. One hundred and thirty-six adolescents who met the clinical or at-risk levels of anxiety indicated by the Spence Child Anxiety Scale participated in the study, to whom a battery of standardized questionnaires was administered. Multiple-group Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis found only two maladaptive ER strategies, self-blame and rumination, that were significantly associated with anxiety among the clinical group, while only the adaptive ER strategy of reappraisal was associated with anxiety among the at-risk group. When compared to a Western sample of adolescents with internalizing problems, adolescents in our sample reported higher levels of self-blame, other blame and catastrophizing. The findings shed light on how differently maladaptive and adaptive ER strategies function among adolescents with different levels of anxiety. Practical implications for the development of intervention programmes for different levels of adolescent anxiety are discussed.

Poor sleep predicts subacute postconcussion symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACTThe primary objective was to determine if poor sleep predicts postconcussion symptoms in the subacute period after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). The impact of poor sleep pre- and post-injury was examined. The research design was cross-sectional. After screening to detect response invalidity, 61 individuals with a self-reported history of mild TBI 1-to-6 months prior answered an online fixed order battery of standardized questionnaires assessing their sleep (current and preinjury) and persistent postconcussion symptoms (Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory, minus sleep, and fatigue items). The sleep measures were the Insomnia Severity Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, a single Likert-scale pre-injury sleep quality rating, and two PROMIS™ measures (sleep-related impairment and sleep disturbance). After controlling for the effects of preinjury sleep quality and demographics, the combination of the sleep measures made a significant contribution to the outcome (F[8,58] = 4.013, p = .001, ). Only current sleep-related impairment (ß = .60, p < .05) made a significant and unique contribution to neurobehavioral symptoms. Preinjury sleep was not a predictor (ß = −.19, p > .05), although it contributed 3% of the variance in NSI scores after controlling for demographics. Sleep-related impairment is a modifiable factor. As a significant contributor to neurobehavioral symptoms, treatment for post-injury sleep-related impairment warrants further attention.

Three Years After Black Saturday

Despite increasing evidence that burn injuries can result in multiple psychological sequelae, little is known about the long-term psychosocial adjustment to burns sustained in a major bushfire. The aim of the present study was to assess long-term psychological distress and health-related quality of life in Australian burns patients as a result of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Eight male and five female burns patients with a mean age of 53.92 (SD = 11.82) years who received treatment at a statewide burns service participated in the study. A battery of standardized questionnaires was administered to assess general psychological distress, burns-specific and generic health-related quality of life, alcohol use, and specific psychological symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. The results revealed that more than 3 years after Black Saturday 33% of the burns patients still suffered "high" to "very high" levels of general distress, whereas 58% fulfilled partial or full criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, participants still experienced significantly impaired physical health functioning as compared to their preinjury status including limitations in work-based activities, increased bodily pain, and lower vitality overall. The trajectory of distress varied for participants. Some individuals experienced little distress overall, whereas others displayed a decline in their stress levels over time. Notwithstanding, some patients maintained high levels of distress throughout or experienced an increase in distress at a later stage of recovery. The results point to the importance of psychosocial screening to identify distress early. Follow-up assessments are crucial to diagnose individuals with chronic or late onset of distress.

Incidence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms in Skull Base Surgery

Objective: To assess the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in patients undergoing elective skull base surgery in comparison to other elective brain surgery. Methods: A prospective cohort study of patients undergoing elective brain surgery was examined. The incidence of development of PTSD symptoms was evaluated in comparison between general cranial cases and skull base cases using a structured clinical interview (SCID) and a battery of standardized questionnaires before surgery as well as 1 week and 3 months postoperatively. In addition, the short form SF36 and EuroQOL-3D were completed preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. Results: A prospective cohort study of 36 patients undergoing elective brain surgery was examined. Nine patients (25%) had skull base surgery. Before surgery the PTSD symptoms were reported in two (22%) and two cases (7%) in the skull base and general cranial cases, respectively. At 3 months follow-up PTSD symptoms were observed in two (22%) and three patients (11%) in the skull base and general cranial cases, respectively. Conclusions: Our results reveal that PTSD symptoms have initially a higher incidence in patients undergoing skull base surgery. Further research is needed to determine the relevant incident triggering the PTSD symptoms. Psychological support is needed for patients suffering from PTSD symptoms as we could observe stabilization in the symptoms also at 3 months follow-up.

A preliminary study of hormone replacement therapy and psychological mood states in perimenopausal women.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for perimenopausal women has been suggested to minimize the physical symptoms of menopause and improve mood and psychological functioning; however, the therapy remains controversial. In this study the effects of such therapy (comprising tablets, patches, and implants) on mood states was investigated within a sample of 70 perimenopausal women who were attending a family planning clinic within the Brisbane metropolitan area. On a battery of standardized questionnaires, including the General Health Questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, those 35 women who were using hormone replacement therapy prescribed by the clinic physician reported significantly lower scores on anxiety, insomnia, and somatic symptoms than did a comparable group of 35 untreated perimenopausal women. These findings provide some tentative support for the beneficial effects of the therapy on physical symptoms and psychological mood states related to the onset of menopause. Given increased life expectancy, there is a growing need for research into issues of aging.

Neuroticism and type A behaviour pattern in healthy Italian blue-collar workers.

Even if type A behavior pattern is not a typical pattern of specific social class, in Italy no research study has been conducted on blue-collar workers. In the present study we sought to identify differences in the psychological profiles of type A and non-type A Italian blue-collar subjects. Seventy-three healthy male blue-collar workers, aged 35-59 years, completed the CBA-2.0 Primary Scales (a battery of standardized questionnaires) and the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS). Following the Structured Interview each subject was classified as type A1, A2, X, or B. In the present study, type X and B subjects were considered within the group referred to as type 'non-A'. The analysis of variance showed that the A1 subjects had higher neuroticism scores than the A2 and non-A subjects but revealed no differences in extraversion, anxiety, depression, obsession-compulsion scores. In the JAS only the 'speed and impatience' scale differentiated the three groups: the highest scores being obtained by the A1 subjects. Among the JAS scales, only correlations (Pearson) between speed and impatience, trait anxiety and neuroticism were found. In our Italian blue-collar sample, type A1 seems to define a subject with high neuroticism score. Finally, our results do not recommend the use of the JAS in Italy for measuring the type A behavior pattern.