Beck Anxiety Inventory Total Scores Research Articles

Altered cortical thickness of the superior frontal gyrus and fusiform gyrus in individuals with subthreshold social anxiety

Subthreshold social anxiety (SSA) is a condition in which individuals experience social anxiety that does not reach the threshold required for a clinical diagnosis of a social anxiety disorder (SAD). Although SSA may not impair lives as severely as SAD, it can affect social functioning. However, only a few studies focused on structural neural correlates of SSA. We recruited 65 individuals with SSA and used the Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale to assess their social and performance anxiety levels and other relevant measures of social anxiety. Voxel-wise whole-brain correlational analyses showed a positive association between the cortical thickness (CT) of the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and social anxiety levels and a negative correlation between the CT of the fusiform gyrus (FG) and performance anxiety levels in individuals with SSA. Exploratory Pearson’s correlation analyses showed significant positive correlations between the CT of the SFG and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 total scores and negative associations between the CT of the FG and Beck Anxiety Inventory total scores. Our study provides insight into the neural basis of SSA, particularly performance anxiety, by highlighting the association between CT in specific brain regions and SSA characteristics.

QOL-01. VARIABILITY IN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS AFTER ELOQUENT GLIOMA RESECTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN FUNCTIONAL CONNECTOMIC PROPERTIES

Abstract Little is known regarding how treatment-related changes in cerebral networks relate to symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with glioma. Fifteen patients with left perisylvian glioma underwent resting-state fMRI and neuropsychological evaluation before and 1 month after resection. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were characterized with Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) Total scores and rates of clinically significant symptom burden. Change scores and reliable change classifications were also examined. Graph theoretical analysis was applied to fMRI connectivity matrices to calculate brain network properties. Comparison of pre- and postoperative measures were performed with Wilcoxon tests. Correlations between changes in anxiety and depression symptom measures and network properties were examined. Pre- and postoperative Total scores did not significantly differ though postoperative symptom burden trended toward reduction [Change: BDI=-1.93(5.73), BAI=-5.80(8.19)] with considerable interindividual variability noted [Change: BDI range=-12 to +6; BAI range=-18 to +6]. Preoperatively, at least mild symptoms were found in 27% of patients on BDI and 60% on BAI. Postoperatively, rates were the same for BDI while BAI was 33%. Using reliable change criteria, improvement was found in 13% of patients on BDI and 33% on BAI without any significant worsening. Significant postoperative connectivity decreases were observed in betweenness centrality [Change = -5.56(12.07), p = .031] and assortativity [Change=-.062(.096), p = .027]. Strong associations were found between pre- to postoperative differences in betweenness centrality and assortativity and changes in BDI [ρ(13)=.58 and .67, p< .02] and BAI Total scores [ρ(13)=.62 and .68, p< .01]. Anxiety and depression symptoms vary considerably postoperatively, though most patients do not show significant worsening. Variability in symptom change appears related to alterations in functional connectomics, with those showing increases in certain connectomic properties exhibiting worse postoperative anxiety and depression symptoms. Surgically-induced connectomic changes may coincide with or potentially contribute to psychological symptom differences in the postoperative setting.

Differential effect of panic on the DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene exon 1F in chronic subjective tinnitus with distress.

Tinnitus can be regarded as a chronic stressor, leading to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. There is important comorbidity with anxiety, particularly panic, potentially associated with differences in HPA axis functioning and methylation patterns of HPA axis-related genes. This study examines DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene ( NR3C1 ) exon 1F in adults with chronic subjective tinnitus and the possible differential effect of panic. In a well characterized tinnitus sample ( n = 22, half of which had co-occurring panic attacks), and unaffected controls ( n = 31) methylation patterns of the CpG sites were determined using pyrosequencing and compared between groups through linear mixed models. Gene expression was determined using quantitative PCR on mRNA. Comparing the combined tinnitus groups to the control group, no DNA methylation differences were observed; however, the tinnitus group with panic attacks showed consistently higher mean methylation values across all CpGs compared to the tinnitus-only and the control group ( P = 0.03 following Tukey correction), which became even more pronounced when accounting for childhood trauma ( P = 0.012). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was found between methylation of the CpG7 site and the Beck Anxiety Inventory total score ( P = 0.001) in the total population. NR3C1 -1F expression was not significantly different between the three groups. Panic is associated with higher DNA methylation of the NR3C1 exon 1F in adults with chronic subjective tinnitus, consistent with the reduced negative glucocorticoid feedback and HPA axis hyperfunction observed in individuals with panic disorder.

Effects of maternal anxiety on fetal and maternal circulation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between maternal anxiety in the third trimester and changes in fetal and maternal circulation assessed by Doppler velocimetry. This is a prospective, cross-sectional study. The inclusion criteria were good health, a singleton pregnancy, maternal age between 18 and 40 years, and gestational age between 34 and 40 weeks. Doppler measurements included mean uterine artery pulsatility index, fetal middle cerebral artery pulsatility index, peak of systolic velocity, umbilical artery, and umbilical vein. The Beck Anxiety Inventory questionnaire, validated for the Brazilian population, with 21 self-reported items, was applied. The study included 34 pregnant women, and 6 (17.7%) presented a total Beck Anxiety Inventory score showing moderate or severe maternal anxiety. The mean maternal age was 28.1 years (SD 5.7 years); the mean gestational age at interview was 36.5 weeks (SD 1.8 weeks), and the mean Beck Anxiety Inventory total score was 12.3 (SD 9.8). The group with moderate or severe anxiety, compared to the group with minimal or mild anxiety, presented an association with lower maternal age (median 21.5 vs. 29.5 years, p=0.019), lower fetal umbilical vein blood flow (median 189.4 vs. 249.5 mL/min, p=0.047), and lower umbilical vein-corrected blood flow (median 68.5 vs. 84.9 mL/kg/min, p=0.038). Maternal anxiety may affect fetal circulation patterns in late pregnancy and is associated with reduced blood flow in the fetal umbilical vein. The underlying physiopathology needs further investigation.

Sleep Quality in An Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting: The Importance of Prior Sleep Disorders

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To assess whether demographic and clinical factors might impact sleep quality during inpatient stay in a rehabilitation setting. <h3>Design</h3> In this prospective study, patients were assessed for their sleep quality at admission and discharge. <h3>Setting</h3> Patients admitted in the acute inpatient rehabilitation unit of Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare (Pomona, California) were included in the study. <h3>Participants</h3> Thirty five patients participated to this study (age=61±16 years old; BMI=30±7kg/m2; 18 females, 18 Caucasians). <h3>Interventions</h3> None. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was administered as primary outcome. Demographic and clinical data were collected as covariates (i.e., age, BMI, gender, race, cause of hospitalization, pre-hospital setting and prior diagnosis of sleep disorders). The level of anxiety and depression were also assessed using Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). <h3>Results</h3> The average length of hospitalization was 18±8 days. Cause of hospitalization included stroke (20%), spinal cord injury (28%), orthopedic (28%) and other diagnosis (23%). In this sample, 22% had a sleep disorder diagnosis (mostly sleep apnea) and 60% came from an acute care unit. ANOVAs with repeated measures were performed on the outcome measure (PSQI) controlling for BMI and age. Among the demographic and clinical variables considered, the presence of sleep disorders had an effect on changes in PSQI total scores. The PSQI decreased significantly in patients with prior diagnosis of sleep disorders. The pre-hospital setting trended toward statistical significance only for the group without sleep disorders. The initial level of anxiety or depression did not have an effect on the PSQI scores. However, changes in BAI and PHQ-9 total scores were related to changes in PSQI. Finally, our dataset did not reveal an effect of race or gender. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Prior sleep disorders diagnoses factors has an impact on sleep quality during hospitalization. These results identify high-risk patient characteristics that impact sleep hygiene which will be taken into consideration in developing an intervention for improving inpatient sleep hygiene. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> The authors have nothing to declare.

Personality Characteristics, Anxiety Sensitivity, Anxiety, and Depression Levels on Patients Diagnosed with Psychogenic Pruritus.

This study aimed to investigate the personality traits, anxiety sensitivity (AS), anxiety, and depression levels in patients diagnosed with psychogenic pruritus (PP). Certain personality traits may come to the fore in psychosomatic disorders; these traits are thought to make the person vulnerable to psychosomatic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the personality traits, anxiety sensitivity (AS), anxiety, and depression levels in patients diagnosed with psychogenic pruritus (PP). Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with PP (patient group) and 21 healthy controls were included in the study. Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) were administered to all participants. Patients' EPQ scores for the extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, and lie subdimensions and EPQ-total scores were significantly higher than those of the control group (P = .001; P < .001; P < .001; P = .008; P < .001, respectively). The total score of ASI-3 scale and the scores of all subdimensions (physical, cognitive, and social) were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < .001). The BAI (26.8 ± 9.3) and BDI (24.2 ± 8.6) total scores of the patients were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < .001). According to EPQ, patients diagnosed with PP are extroverted, but also cold, distrustful, and aloof; show impulsive behavior; are anxious, depressed, and nervous; overly emotional; and prone to lying. Patients suffer more from anxiety, depressive symptoms, and AS in physical, cognitive, and social subdimensions than healthy people. Our findings highlight the importance of psychiatric assessment in PP patients. In this context, we believe that PP deserves to be studied in a broad spectrum with its cognitive, behavioral, and social aspects.

Anxiety and Treatment Adherence among Glaucoma Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquakes in Croatia.

The COVID-19 epidemic and earthquakes in Croatia during 2020 suddenly disrupted everyday life and caused psychological disturbances in population. The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and the level of treatment adherence in glaucoma patients during the pandemic. The paper also aimed to evaluate the correlation between anxiety symptoms, treatment adherence and treatment outcomes in the studied cohort. This cross-sectional study was conducted among primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients at the Department of Ophthalmology, Zagreb University Hospital Center, during one year. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was used to measure the level of anxiety symptoms. Treatment adherence was estimated by the Culig adherence scale (CAS). Glaucoma damage was determined for each patient from the level of structural and functional impairment of the worse eye, by retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and mean defect (MD), respectively. Statistical analyses were performed, with a P value of less than 0.05 considered being statistically significant. This study included 113 POAG patients, with a mean age of 65.89 years. The median of the BAI total score in all patients was 10. According to the CAS, 60.2% of patients were non-adherent to glaucoma treatment during the COVID-19 outbreak. The BAI total score was significantly negatively related to adherence to local glaucoma treatment (p<0.001). A significant negative association was also observed between adherence and MD (p=0.017), while no correlation was found between adherence and RNFL thickness (p=0.228). Considerable proportion of patients with glaucoma have shown non-adherence to treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety severity was associated with lower adherence, thus indirectly influencing therapeutics outcomes. Special consideration should be given to the strategies promoting mental health and interventions focusing on treatment adherence in glaucoma patients in a time of emergencies.

0627 The Effects of Insomnia Therapy on Depression, Anxiety, and Daily Functioning in Individuals with Insomnia and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Introduction Insomnia is common in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and is associated with worse neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and impaired daily functioning. Evidence suggests treating insomnia may resolve some of these difficulties in cognitively normal adults. However, little is known about the effects of improving sleep on these domains in older adults with MCI. Methods We examined whether MCI status moderates the improvements of a behavioral intervention for insomnia on NPS and daily functioning. 125 adults (mean age=69.18, 34.4% male) with insomnia (38 with MCI as determined by a Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MoCA score &amp;lt; 26) completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and five domains (activity, vigilance, intimacy, productivity, and social) of the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ) before (BL) and after (ETX) completing either the behavioral, cognitive, or combined components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Linear mixed effects models were used to determine the effect of MCI status, time, and an MCI-by-time interaction on NPS and daily functioning while covarying for sex. Results Treatment improved BDI (p&amp;lt;0.001), BAI (p&amp;lt;0.001), ISI (p&amp;lt;0.001), productivity (p&amp;lt;0.008), activity (p&amp;lt;0.001), social functioning (p=0.014), and FOSQ total score (p=0.015) regardless of MCI status at ETX compared to BL. Treatment did not significantly improve vigilance (p=0.154) or intimacy (p=0.439). There was a significant MCI-by-time interaction for the FOSQ social domain (p=0.041) with MCI participants showing greater improvements in social functioning compared to non-MCI participants. There were no other significant MCI-by-time interactions. Conclusion These findings suggest insomnia therapy can similarly improve aspects of sleep-related daily functioning, insomnia severity, and NPS regardless of MCI. However, insomnia therapy may be more beneficial in improving social functioning for individuals with MCI. Support (If Any) NIMHR01MH101468-01; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the VAPAHCS

Suicidal thoughts in patients with empty nose syndrome.

ObjectivesPatients with empty nose syndrome (ENS) suffer from paradoxical nasal obstruction with a patent objective nasal airway. ENS may result from the excessive surgical reduction of the turbinate tissue. ENS patients also experience significant psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of suicidal thoughts in ENS patients and to characterize these patients for early identification.Study DesignProspective case series.MethodsPatients with ENS were prospectively recruited for this study. The Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test‐25 (SNOT‐25), Empty Nose Syndrome 6‐item Questionnaire (ENS6Q), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II) were used to assess ENS patients before and 6 months after nasal reconstruction surgery.ResultsSixty‐two patients with ENS were enrolled. Suicidal thoughts were identified in 23 ENS patients preoperatively and in four patients postoperatively. ENS patients with suicidal thoughts rated significantly higher in the SNOT‐25, ENS6Q, BDI‐II, and BAI total scores than those without suicidal thoughts (all P < .05). “Nose feels too open” was the item in ENS6Q that was significantly more severe in ENS patients with suicidal thoughts than those without suicidal thoughts (P < .001).ConclusionsSuicidal thoughts are frequently identified in patients with ENS. ENS patients with suicidal thoughts experienced significantly more severe symptoms, impaired quality of life, and psychological burden than those without suicidal thoughts. Recognizing individuals who may carry suicidal thoughts and provide appropriate psychological interventions is critical to prevent tragedy.Level of Evidence4

Resting state functional brain imaging in obsessive-compulsive disorder across genders

Objectives Epidemiological and clinical gender differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have been reported; however, gender differences in brain functional connectivity and the relationship between resting brain functional imaging and clinical symptoms has not been studied in OCD. Methods A total of 62 drug-naive patients with OCD (31 males, 31 females) and 60 healthy controls (HCs) (30 males, 30 females) matched for age, sex, and education underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) over the whole brain and seed-based connectivity analyses were evaluated to examine the intrinsic cerebral activity of the subjects. Additionally, associations between functional connectivity and clinical features were analysed. Results Compared to male OCD (mOCD) patients, female OCD (fOCD) patients showed higher ALFF values in the right parahippocampal gyrus. Compared to HCs, fOCD patients showed significantly decreased functional connectivity between the right parahippocampal gyrus and whole brain to the right posterior central gyrus/precentral gyrus/superior temporal gyrus/barycentric lobule and left anterior cuneus. Abnormal functional connectivity was negatively correlated with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Beck Anxiety Inventory total scores. Conclusions Our results suggest that the right parahippocampal gyrus, which is related to executive control and emotional regulation, may show gender differences in OCD.

Investigation of the relationship between care burden and anxiety levels of terminal period patient relatives

Objective: This research was carried out to examine the relationship between care burden and anxiety levels of terminal period patient relatives. Material and Methods: This research, which is planned as descriptive-correlational type, was conducted between March and May 2020 in Van Training and Research Hospital. Results: According to the findings obtained from the study, the Beck Anxiety Inventory total score mean of the individuals was determined to be 16.40 ± 13.12. The total score mean of the Zarit Care Burden Scale was determined to be 50.23 ± 11.29. A positive statistically significant relationship was found between Beck Anxiety Inventory and Zarit Care Burden Scale total score means (p <0.05). Conclusion: Individuals have been found to have moderate anxiety and “severe burden”. Palliative care nurses should support the psychological and basic aspects of individuals with nursing interventions necessary for caregivers to cope with anxiety and feel less care burdens. It is recommended to carry out culture-specific programs and long-term clinical studies to ensure that caregivers are able to cope with anxiety.

Effects of treatment status and life quality on anxiety in MMT patients

BackgroundAnxiety, an important factor that affects the therapeutic effect and preservation rate of methadone maintenance treatment, has a high prevalence among MMT patients. This study aims to investigate the effects of treatment status and life quality on anxiety in MMT patients.MethodsOne hundred and Seventy-seven methadone maintenance treatment users in Guangzhou, China were evaluated. The socio-demographic, duration and MMT-related characteristics were documented. Anxiety level and quality of life were evaluated by Beck Anxiety inventory (BAI) and the Quality of Life-Drug Addiction (QOL-DA) respectively. The correlation between different factors and BAI score was also analyzed.ResultsThe BAI total score and the QOL-DA score were 7.1±8.2, 163.5±21.4 respectively. 30.5% of the subjects showed mild to severe anxiety. Treatment interruption and QOL-DA score had strong correlations with the score of BAI, with correlation coefficients of 0.17 and − 0.08 respectively.ConclusionsAnxiety symptoms were commonly presented in MMT patients. Treatment interruption and quality of life are two major factors affecting anxiety of MMT patients.

Association of Cortical and Subcortical β-Amyloid With Standardized Measures of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Adults Without Dementia.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that subcortical β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition was associated with elevated scores on standardized measures of depressive and anxiety symptoms when compared with cortical (Aβ) deposition in persons without dementia. The authors performed a cross-sectional study, derived from the population-based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, comprising participants aged ≥70 years (N=1,022; 55% males; 28% apolipoprotein E [APOE] ε4 carriers; without cognitive impairment, N=842; mild cognitive impairment; N=180). To assess Aβ deposition in cortical and subcortical (the amygdala, striatum, and thalamus) regions, participants underwent Pittsburgh Compound B positron emission tomography (PiB-PET) and completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The investigators ran linear regression models to examine the association between PiB-PET standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) in the neocortex and subcortical regions and depressive and anxiety symptoms (BDI-II and BAI total scores). Models were adjusted for age, sex, education level, and APOE ε4 carrier status and stratified by cognitive status (without cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment). Cortical PiB-PET SUVRs were associated with depressive symptoms (β=0.57 [SE=0.13], p<0.001) and anxiety symptoms (β=0.34 [SE=0.13], p=0.011). PiB-PET SUVRs in the amygdala were associated only with depressive symptoms (β=0.80 [SE=0.26], p=0.002). PiB-PET SUVRs in the striatum and thalamus were associated with depressive symptoms (striatum: β=0.69 [SE=0.18], p<0.001; thalamus: β=0.61 [SE=0.24], p=0.011) and anxiety symptoms (striatum: β=0.56 [SE=0.18], p=0.002; thalamus: β=0.65 [SE=0.24], p=0.008). In the mild cognitive impairment subsample, Aβ deposition, regardless of neuroanatomic location, was associated with depressive symptoms but not anxiety symptoms. Elevated amyloid deposition in cortical and subcortical brain regions was associated with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms, although these findings did not significantly differ by cortical versus subcortical Aβ deposition. This cross-sectional observation needs to be confirmed by a longitudinal study.

Depression and anxiety symptoms correlate with diurnal preference, sleep habits, and Per3 VNTR polymorphism (rs57875989) in a non-clinical sample

BackgroundEvidences suggest that alterations in circadian rhythms trigger the development of mental disorders. Eveningness, sleep behavior, and circadian genes polymorphisms have been associated with depression and anxiety symptomatology. However, the mechanism underlying these interactions is not well understood. We investigated the contribution of diurnal preference, sleep habits, and PER3 VNTR polymorphism (rs57875989) to depression and anxiety symptoms in a Northeast sample from the Brazilian population. MethodsEight hundred and four young adults completed the Morningness-Eveningness (MEQ), Munich Chronotype (MCTQ), Center for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression (CES-D), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaires. All participants were genotyped and linear regression was performed to test the interactions between the genetic /behavioral variants and depression/ anxiety symptoms. ResultsEveningness and sleep behaviors (bedtime, wake-up time, sleep duration, and midpoint of sleep) were correlated with depression symptomatology, specifically in somatic factors of the CES-D questionnaire. No correlation was found between diurnal preference/sleep habits with anxiety symptoms for both BAI total score and its factors. However, women with PER34/4 genotype showed less interpesonal affect in depression symptomatology and more anxiety symptoms in four factors of the BAI questionnaire. LimitationsMainly because this study was based on self-report questionnaires and was limited to undergraduate students aging 18 to 30 years old. ConclusionThese results reinforce a role for sleep and diurnal preference in depression, and PER3 VNTR polymorphism in anxiety symptomatology, particularly in women.

Evaluation of anxiety and depression in patients with thyroid function disorder.

OBJECTIVES We aim to determine the anxiety and depression levels of patients treated for hypothyroidism who assumed euthyroid status. These patients also frequently attend family medicine outpatient clinics. METHODS This study was conducted on 76 euthyroid volunteer participants (patient groups) who were treated for hypothyroidism and followed-up and 22 healthy volunteers (control group). Questionnaires were administered to all participants to assess anxiety and depression levels. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were applied to all the groups. In addition, BAI sub-parameters were evaluated in detail. RESULTS At least mild depression was detected in 54.5% of the first group, 41.7% of the second group, and 33.3% of the third group. When the BDI and BAI total scores of the participants in different groups were compared, statistically significant differences were determined. Statistically significant results were detected related to different BAI sub-parameters between the patient groups and in comparison to the fourth group. CONCLUSIONS We found that patients were predisposed to anxiety and depression even if they were euthyroid. When the sub-parameters of BAI were evaluated in detail, we observed that the duration of the disease significantly affected some anxiety-related symptoms.

Agorafobinin eslik ettigi ve etmedigi panik bozukluk ile agorafobinin bilissel ozellikler acisindan karsilastirilmasi

Panic disorder (PD) and Agoraphobia (AG) exhibit both similar and distinct cognitive features. The aim of this study was to compare patients with PD, AG and panic disorder with agoraphobia (PBA) in terms of agoraphobic cognitions, body sensations, catastrophic cognitions, and meta-cognitions. 64 PDA, 52 AG, and 36 PD patients were included in the study. The Structural Clinical Interview for Axis-I (SCID-I), Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ), Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ), Catastrophic Cognitions Questionnaire (CCQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire (MCQ) were administered to the participants. Chi-square test and Kruskal Wallis analysis were used to compare sociodemographic data and scale scores between the three groups. The results showed that ACQ total scores of the PDA group were significantly higher compared to the other groups. There were no statistically significant differences between PD, AG and PDA groups in terms of BSQ, CCQ, and MCQ total scores. BDI total scores of PD group were significantly lower than AG and PDA groups. BAI total scores of PDA group were significantly higher compared to the other groups. Studies on cognitive features among patients with PD, AG or PDA will contribute to cognitive behavioral models and treatment process of these disorders.

Premature ejaculation among patients with genital warts: a pilot study

Objective To assess the frequency of premature ejaculation (PE) in patients with genital warts (GWs) and to hypothesize the potential relation between GWs and PE. Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a pilot prospective cross-sectional clinical study. It was done on 56 male patients with GWs and 50 male healthy control subjects. All included patients and controls were assessed by intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), sexual satisfaction and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: According to PEDT, 37 (66.07%) patients with GWs diagnosed with PE and 19 (33.92%) patients with GWs had no PE. This study showed that the means of BAI and PEDT total scores were statistically significant higher in patients with GWs and PE than patients with GWs and no PE, and healthy control subjects (P value =0.001). There was a positive correlation between PEDT total scores and BAI total scores in patients with GWs and PE (P value = 0.001). Conclusion: This study concluded that PE is a frequent male sexual dysfunction among male patients with GWs. Patients with PE and GWs have high rates of anxiety and psychological stress.

Gray matter substrates of depressive and anxiety symptoms in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder

IntroductionIdiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is a prodromal stage of Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Depressive and anxiety symptoms are frequent features of PD, DLB and iRBD, and some studies suggest that depressive symptoms are a marker for neurodegeneration in iRBD. However, the pathophysiology of depressive and anxiety symptoms in iRBD is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate cortical and subcortical gray matter (GM) volume substrates of depressive and anxiety symptoms in iRBD patients. MethodsForty-six polysomnography-confirmed iRBD patients and 31 healthy controls (HC) without cognitive or mood impairment were recruited. All participants underwent 3-T magnetic resonance imaging and completed the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaires. Voxel-based morphometry analysis was performed to assess GM volume in cortical and subcortical structures. Between-group comparisons and regressions were performed. ResultsiRBD patients with depressive symptoms (BDI-II score > 13 or the use of antidepressants to treat depression) showed reduced GM volume in the caudate nucleus compared to HC and iRBD patients without depressive symptoms. Moreover, iRBD patients with anxiety symptoms (BAI score > 9 or the use of anxiolytics to treat anxiety) showed reduced GM volume in the left amygdala extending to the hippocampus compared to HC and iRBD patients without anxiety symptoms. In iRBD patients, higher BDI-II and BAI total scores were associated with lower GM volumes in these regions respectively. ConclusionDepressive and anxiety symptoms in iRBD patients are related to patterns of cortical and subcortical GM volume loss.

The impact of motor symptoms on self-reported anxiety in Parkinson's disease

ObjectiveAnxiety is commonly endorsed in Parkinson's disease (PD) and significantly affects quality of life. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is often used but contains items that overlap with common PD motor symptoms (e.g., “hands trembling”). Because of these overlapping items, we hypothesized that PD motor symptoms would significantly affect BAI scores. MethodsOne hundred non-demented individuals with PD and 74 healthy control participants completed the BAI. PD motor symptoms were assessed by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Factor analysis of the BAI assessed for a PD motor factor, and further analyses assessed how this factor affected BAI scores. ResultsBAI scores were significantly higher for PD than NC. A five-item PD motor factor correlated with UPDRS observer-rated motor severity and mediated the PD-control difference on BAI total scores. An interaction occurred, whereby removal of the PD motor factor resulted in a significant reduction in BAI scores for PD relative to NC. The correlation between the BAI and UPDRS significantly declined when controlling for the PD motor factor. ConclusionsThe results indicate that commonly endorsed BAI items may reflect motor symptoms such as tremor instead of, or in addition to, genuine mood symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of considering motor symptoms in the assessment of anxiety in PD and point to the need for selecting anxiety measures that are less subject to contamination by the motor effects of movement disorders.

A Breathing-Based Meditation Intervention for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Following Inadequate Response to Antidepressants: A Randomized Pilot Study.

To evaluate feasibility, efficacy, and tolerability of Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY) as an adjunctive intervention in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) with inadequate response to antidepressant treatment. Patients with MDD (defined by DSM-IV-TR) who were depressed despite ≥ 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment were randomized to SKY or a waitlist control (delayed yoga) arm for 8 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was change in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) total score from baseline to 2 months. The key secondary efficacy end points were change in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) total scores. Analyses of the intent-to-treat (ITT) and completer sample were performed. The study was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania between October 2014 and December 2015. In the ITT sample (n = 25), the SKY arm (n = 13) showed a greater improvement in HDRS-17 total score compared to waitlist control (n = 12) (-9.77 vs 0.50, P = .0032). SKY also showed greater reduction in BDI total score versus waitlist control (-17.23 vs -1.75, P = .0101). Mean changes in BAI total score from baseline were significantly greater for SKY than waitlist (ITT mean difference: -5.19; 95% CI, -0.93 to -9.34; P = .0097; completer mean difference: -6.23; 95% CI, -1.39 to -11.07; P = .0005). No adverse events were reported. Results of this randomized, waitlist-controlled pilot study suggest the feasibility and promise of an adjunctive SKY-based intervention for patients with MDD who have not responded to antidepressants. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02616549.