Experienced Person Research Articles

Insight meditation and telomere biology: The effects of intensive retreat and the moderating role of personality

A growing body of evidence suggests that meditation training may have a range of salubrious effects, including improved telomere regulation. Telomeres and the enzyme telomerase interact with a variety of molecular components to regulate cell-cycle signaling cascades, and are implicated in pathways linking psychological stress to disease. We investigated the effects of intensive meditation practice on these biomarkers by measuring changes in telomere length (TL), telomerase activity (TA), and telomere-related gene (TRG) expression during a 1-month residential Insight meditation retreat. Multilevel analyses revealed an apparent TL increase in the retreat group, compared to a group of experienced meditators, similarly comprised in age and gender, who were not on retreat. Moreover, personality traits predicted changes in TL, such that retreat participants highest in neuroticism and lowest in agreeableness demonstrated the greatest increases in TL. Changes observed in TRGs further suggest retreat-related improvements in telomere maintenance, including increases in Gar1 and HnRNPA1, which encode proteins that bind telomerase RNA and telomeric DNA. Although no group-level changes were observed in TA, retreat participants’ TA levels at post-assessment were inversely related to several indices of retreat engagement and prior meditation experience. Neuroticism also predicted variation in TA across retreat. These findings suggest that meditation training in a retreat setting may have positive effects on telomere regulation, which are moderated by individual differences in personality and meditation experience. (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT03056105).

Childhood adversities, bonding, and personality in social anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is frequently associated with alcohol use disorders (abuse/dependence). However, there has been little research on the characteristics of this subgroup so far. In the current study we investigated individuals with SAD and comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD) with regard to socialization experiences and personality.The sample comprised 410 individuals diagnosed with SAD by the Structured Clinical Interview of DSM-IV. 108 participants with comorbid AUD were compared to 302 participants without comorbid AUD concerning traumatic experiences during childhood and adolescence (Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire; ACE), parental bonding (Parental Bonding Instrument; PBI), and personality (Temperament and Character Inventory; TCI).MANCOVA with covariates sex and depression displayed that individuals with SAD plus AUD reported significantly more traumatic events during childhood and adolescence, lower levels of maternal care, as well as lower cooperativeness.Our results highlight that adverse childhood experiences and unfavourable maternal bonding characterize individuals suffering from SAD plus AUD. These experiences might be reflected in a personality-based tendency to distance themselves from others, which corresponds to low scores on the character dimension cooperativeness. A deeper understanding of personality and specific socialization experiences is necessary to develop new treatment options in this clinically challenging subgroup.

Cultural Self-Awareness as Awareness of Culture's Influence on the Self: Implications for Cultural Identification and Well-Being.

Cultural self-awareness refers to the awareness of how culture has influenced the self. This research investigated how such awareness might be related to cultural identification and well-being. In Study 1, we developed a scale measure that differentiated individuals' awareness of how culture has influenced them (cultural self-awareness) and how their own personality and personal experiences have influenced them (personal self-awareness). Factor analysis and item analysis showed a two-factor model with acceptable scale reliability. Study 2 showed that cultural self-awareness positively predicted well-being through higher cultural identification, whereas personal self-awareness positively predicted well-being through higher behavioral authenticity. Study 3 manipulated the valence of individuals' cultural experience. The indirect effect of cultural self-awareness on well-being was stronger when cultural experience was positive (vs. negative). Study 4 provided a specific cultural context for the well-being measures and replicated the findings of Studies 2 and 3. Implications on the link between culture and self were discussed.

PROTOCOL: Electronic mentoring to promote positive youth outcomes for young people under 25: a systematic review.

PROTOCOL: Electronic mentoring to promote positive youth outcomes for young people under 25: a systematic review.

Extraction of know-how for attracting international conventions from a questionnaire survey of experienced person

Extraction of know-how for attracting international conventions from a questionnaire survey of experienced person

The Role of Personality and Subjective Exposure Experiences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression Symptoms among Children Following Wenchuan Earthquake

This study aims to investigate the role of personality traits and subjective exposure experiences in posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms. In Qingchuan, 21,652 children aged 7 to 15 years were assessed using face-to-face interviews one year after the Wenchuan earthquake in China. The Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, a modified earthquake exposure scale, the UCLA Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (adolescent), and the Adolescent Depression Inventory were used to assess personality characteristics, trauma experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms, respectively. The measurement was completed with 20,749 children. After adjusting for other factors by multinomial logistic regression analysis, neuroticism, having felt unable to escape from the disaster and having been trapped for a longer time were risk factors of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms. Socialization was a protective factor of them. Having felt extreme panic or fear was a risk factor of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. For depression symptoms, introversion and psychoticism were risk factors, and extraversion was a protective factor. This study was conducted with the largest representative sample of child survivors of a natural, devastating disaster in a developing country. These results could be useful for planning psychological intervention strategies for children and for influencing further research.

Investigating the Relationship between Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder and Experiences of Child Abuse among Students of Tabriz Islamic Azad University

The present study attempts to investigate the relationship between symptoms of histrionic personality disorder and experiences of child abuse among students of Tabriz Islamic Azad University in 2013-2014. The general aim of this study is to predict histrionic personality disorder in adulthood based on child abuse experiences during childhood. The population of this study include 19599 people among whom 377 were selected through simple random sampling. The instrument of this study includes Millon-3 CASRS questionnaire and child abuse questionnaire. The data was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression. The obtained results revealed that there is significant relationship between histrionic personality disorder (independent variable) and dimensions of child abuse (dependent variable) that includes emotional, neglect, physical, and sexual child abuse. Considering different dimensions of child abuse, neglect of child and sexual child abuse have the most and the least contribution in predicting symptoms of histrionic personality disorder in adulthood. In addition, the results showed that all four dimensions of child abuse can predict symptoms of histrionic personality disorder in adulthood, but ignorance or neglecting child has the most effect and sexual dimension has the least effect in the prediction.

OP.1A.03] COPEPTIN LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH TREATMENT RESISTANT HYPERTENSION BEFORE AND AFTER RENAL DENERVATION

Objective: Copeptin, the C-terminal peptide of pro-vasopressin which is released from the neurohypophysis, reflects the activity of the hormone arginine vasopressin. Copeptin has been found to be associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with hypertension. The aim of this study is to compare copeptin levels in patients with treatment resistant hypertension (TRH) before and 6 months after renal denervation. Design and method: Copeptin was measured in 43 patients with TRH and in 30 patients with primary hypertension stage 1 or 2 (HT) using ELISA Elabscience®. In addition, copeptin levels were measured in patients with TRH at 6 month follow-up visit after renal denervation. Renal denervation was performed by an experienced person applying at least four ablations longitudinally and rotationally within the lengths of each renal artery to cover a full four quadrant ablation. Results: Patients with TRH showed systolic and diastolic ambulatory BP of 154 ± 14/ 87 ± 12 mmHg before and systolic and diastolic ambulatory BP of 144 ± 13/ 82 ± 8 mmHg after renal denervation (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in copeptin levels in 43 patients (age 61 years) before and six months after renal denervation (10.9 ± 10.8 vs 12.5 ± 14.6 pmol/l, p = 0.287). Patients with TRH showed higher copeptin levels compared to patients with HT (age 47 years, systolic and diastolic ambulatory BP (142 ± 11/ 90 ± 8 mmHg) (copeptin conc.: 5.8 ± 4.8 vs 10.9 ± 10.8 pmol/l, p = 0.007). In patients with HT there was a correlation between copeptin concentrations and diastolic 24 h ambulatory BP (r = 0.428, p = 0.018). Conclusions: Patients with TRH showed nearly 2 fold higher copeptin levels than patients with HT. Renal denervation did not lead to any change of copeptin levels in patients with TRH six month after procedure.

Randomized study exploring the combination of radiotherapy with two types of acupuncture treatment (ROSETTA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAdverse effects such as fatigue, pain, erythema, nausea and vomiting are commonly known in patients undergoing irradiation (RT) alone or in combination with chemotherapy (RCHT). Patients suffering from these symptoms are limited in their daily life and their quality of life (QOL) is often reduced. As addressed in several trials, acupuncture can cause amelioration of these specific disorders. Especially for pain symptoms, several groups have shown efficacy of acupuncture. To what extent the difference between traditional acupuncture (verum acupuncture) and false acupuncture (sham acupuncture) is in reducing side effects and improvement of QOL is not clear.Methods/designROSETTA is a prospective randomized phase II trial (version 1.0) to examine the efficacy of traditional acupuncture in patients with RT-related side effects. In the experimental (verum) arm (n = 37) an experienced acupuncture-trained person will treat dedicated acupuncture points. In the control (sham) arm (n = 37) sham acupuncture will be performed to provide a blinded comparison of results.DiscussionThis is the first randomized prospective trial to evaluate the effect of traditional acupuncture on RT-related side effects such as fatigue and QOL.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02674646. Registered on 8 December 2015.

Identifying the Right Mentor.

The etymology of mentorship is rooted in Homer’s Odyssey where the character Mentor is entrusted with the teaching and oversight of Odysseus’ son during the Trojan War. The concept of mentorship has since evolved to represent the unique relationship where a more experienced person guides the personal and professional growth of a lesser one. Whereas effective mentorship can boost research productivity and directly impact career satisfaction, poor mentorship has the potential to significantly delay academic success or lead to the abandonment of an academic pathway altogether.1 Therefore, identifying the right mentor is of utmost importance throughout one’s training, particularly for junior faculty, and generally one of the first tasks recently appointed faculty members embark on. A standardized and structured mentoring system is provided at some institutions, whereas others lack such organization, delegating the full responsibility of the partnership to the mentor and mentee. In this article, a summary of the requisite qualities of excellent mentorship and relevant strategies for success is provided, based on the limited available scientific evidence,1–3 structured mentorship programs available online,4,5 and an informal survey among 10 established researchers at various levels within their career, in the fields of neurology and neuroradiology. We list 6 strategies that can be used by junior faculty when seeking the right mentor. For practical purposes, we have combined career and research mentors to encompass the potential scope of mentorship in academic development. The mentor should be an established investigator with a track record for personal success and success of previous/current mentees. Choosing an accomplished mentor within the department will not only ensure that the person knows the nuts and bolts of the task that the mentee is about to embark on and how to navigate through the nuances of a specific department but also …

ПРОБЛЕМИ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ ПОЛІГРАФОЛОГІЧНИХ ДОСЛІДЖЕНЬ

The article examines the problem of ambiguity in the use of the polygraph, examples of the introduction of polygraphs are given. The author distinguishes an individual static emotional experience that is the psychological states that personality experiences during polygraph examinations such as lies, deceit, mood, joy, anxiety, fear, excitement, calm. It is emphasized on the presence of the necessary condition - the ability of a polygraph specialist to penetrate the psychological state of the subject. Attention is drawn to the fact that an experienced polygraph examiner is able to compose the psychological image of the subject before the study, because of the contradiction in the views on the evidence base obtained by polygraph examinations, the author recommends using a combined method of obtaining true information. The attention is paid to the training of a polygraph specialist. He must have knowledge of philosophy, psychology, law, anatomy, mathematics and physics. Attention is drawn to the conditions created by polygraph specialists during the study, it is noted that the atmosphere of isolation for the subject is undesirable. The author agrees with separate statements about the fact that the subject should not be distracted by superfluous sounds, to answer the questions that are transmitted by the researcher, but is convinced that too hermetic conditions affect the result of the study, it is recommended to create normal living environment conditions. The further prospect of research in creating a system of psychological views on the problems of predicting lack of honesty through the assumption of future delinquent behavior through the indicators of personal deviance, as a sociopathic personality and psychopathic deviation is seen.

A suggested framework and guidelines for learning GIS in interdisciplinary research

Interdisciplinary research with geographic information systems (GIS) can be rewarding as researchers from different disciplines have the opportunity to create something novel. GIS, though, is known to be difficult to use and learn. It is imperative for its successful use in projects that those who need to use GIS are able to learn it quickly and easily. To better support interdisciplinary research with GIS, it is necessary to understand what researchers with interdisciplinary experience wanted to use it for and how they learned it. The aim would be to advise geography educators on creating learning resources that could compliment or supplement existing learning approaches used by interdisciplinary researchers to improve the learning experience and uptake of GIS. This article explores the results from an online survey and interviews conducted between July 2014 and August 2015 with participants from the UK, the US and Europe on how interdisciplinary researchers learned GIS and which resources and platforms were utilised. Guidelines and a framework are presented, modifying the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge framework, incorporating informal and context‐based learning and GIS concepts from the Geographic Information Science and Technology Body of Knowledge. Findings show that interdisciplinary researchers want to use GIS to capture, analyse and visualise information; they largely use informal learning approaches (e.g. internet searches, watching a video, ask a more experienced person); and they predominantly use ArcGIS, QGIS and web GIS platforms. Future work suggests resources use contextually relevant learning activities and bear in mind nuances of disciplinary language.

Interplays of psychometric abilities on learning gross anatomy

This article was migrated. The article was not marked as recommended. In recent years, there has been international debate concerning how students learn anatomy. The rapid increase in scientific knowledge has put pressure on the place of anatomy within the medical and allied health professional curricula, as well as the design and structure of anatomy courses. In this regard, relatively little is known about what medical and allied health professions students want from an anatomy course or how they learn it. To assess students' learning approaches and perceptions of anatomy, a series of psychometric tests were administered to Medical (n=82), Podiatry (n=21), and Pharmacy (n=74) students in the United Kingdom. Analysis of the Anatomy Learning Experience (ALE) questionnaire revealed a predominantly positive attitude towards anatomy and the dissection room, with most valuing cadaveric dissection and not regarding it as a daunting environment. Further to this, analysis of the Approaches to Studying Inventory for Students (ASSIST) revealed predominant preferences for strategic and deep approaches. Personality traits were associated with certain learning approaches; neuroticism with surface (p=0.038), conscientiousness with both a deep and strategic approach (p=0.000 and p=0.060 respectively). Certain personality traits were also found to be associated with anatomy experience e.g. neuroticism and achievement striving felt the most effective way to learn was to get their hands in and feel for structures (p=0.044 and p=0.012 respectively). This study concludes that undergraduate students of medicine, podiatry and pharmacy learn anatomy in slightly different ways. Preparation for classroom activities should centre on the promotion of an optimum learning environment and teaching strategies which promote a deep approach to learning. Understanding students' personality and learning experiences should help teachers improve the students' learning of anatomy for effective application to clinical practice.

Impact of Ad-Skepticism on Consumer Cynicism

With the focus of the companies shifting more towards an advertising dominated promotion strategy, the importance of the research efforts in this field cannot be overstated. Whether this hyper-advertising is really needed by the companies today or not needs to be studied. Similarly, how do we define the negative feeling toward advertising based on its antecedents like dimensions of personality and an individual's consumption experience; and its effect on the trust or distrust towards the marketplace should be analyzed in detail. Drawing on the concepts from relevant areas, a model of the impact of consumer's personality and consumption experience on his skepticism toward advertising, and subsequently its effect on his cynical behaviour has been theoretically developed.

Person–Group Dissimilarity in Personality and Peer Victimization

The present study examined the role of person–group dissimilarity in personality in peer victimization. It was hypothesized that adolescents who show more deviation from the classroom norm in personality experience more peer victimization. Data from 1108 adolescents (48% boys; Mage = 13.56 years, SD = 1.13) from 54 classrooms were used to test this hypothesis. Data included measurements of self–reported and bully–disclosed victimization and Big Five and Dark Triad personality traits. Results of generalized linear mixed models including polynomial equations and subsequent response surface analyses partly supported our hypothesis. Person–group dissimilarity in the shape of personality profiles was related to more bully–disclosed victimization, but not to self–reported victimization. Dissimilarity in neuroticism and Machiavellianism was related to both more self–reported and bully–disclosed victimization. Dissimilarity in extraversion, openness to experience, and psychopathy was only related to more self–reported victimization. Unexpectedly, dissimilarity in agreeableness was related to less self–reported victimization. Moreover, our results also indicated that certain levels of congruent person–group combinations in agreeableness, neuroticism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy were related to more peer victimization. Overall, findings of this study emphasize the importance of considering classroom norms in relation to peer victimization. Copyright © 2017 European Association of Personality Psychology

Experiences of people with a personality disorder or mood disorder regarding carrying out daily activities following discharge from hospital

Introduction People with a diagnosed personality or mood disorder can experience challenges to participating in everyday life. Having a relapse of symptoms and an admission to hospital can further disrupt daily life. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of people with a personality or mood disorder regarding carrying out everyday activities following discharge from hospital. Method Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 16 service users, by a researcher with lived experience of mental health problems and admissions to hospital. Findings Five themes were identified: The cumulative effect of multiple admissions on activities of daily living; the consequences of long admissions on daily living; reduced activities caused by social isolation in the first few months post-discharge; activities that people would like to do better post-discharge from hospital and longer term goals. Conclusion The findings of this study identified challenges people with a personality or mood disorder experience post-discharge from hospital regarding developing a daily routine, managing their home environment and participating in social activities. This indicates the importance of occupational therapy provision following discharge from hospital.

Views of teachers regarding medical errors and patient safety education

Background: Recently medical errors and patient safety have become increasingly important in the area of medical research Different international committees have long been demanding the early integration of education about errors and patient safety in undergraduate and graduate medical education .To integrate patient safety education into existing curriculum views of the teachers towards patient safety education is an important issue.Study objectives: To explore the views of the teachers regarding medical errors and patient safety education.Study design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.Place &amp; period of the study: Selected medical colleges in Bangladesh, from July 2014 - June 2015.Study population: Study population was 32 clinical teachers.Sampling technique: Convenience sampling.Data collection instrument: Self administered structured questionnaireResults: The study revealed that the topic medical error and patient safety were mostly neglected in the curriculum. But the teachers had positive attitude towards patient safety education. All most all the teachers agreed that learning about patient safety before graduation would produce more effective doctors. They did not think that students had good understanding of patient issues (mean score 2.84). Teachers showed less confidence in error disclosure. Teachers (81.3%) had positive agreement that patients and relatives had important role in reducing error. Most of the respondents (93.7%) agreed that even the most experienced person can make errors.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Education Vol.7(1) 2016: 8-13

Pseudo-Philoponus on the role of experience in grasping the first principles

Aristotle’s notion of experience (in the sense involved in being an experienced person) occupies an important place in his account of scientific understanding and its methodology. It is linked, not only to sense-perception and the principles of skill and scientific understanding, but also, methodologically, to ἐπαγωγή. Due to its various involvements it has a complex job to perform. Such a complexity – or Janus-face – gives rise to many questions concerning its status and content. Many of these questions were raised in later antiquity. In the introductory part of the paper I shall give a very brief summary of Aristotle’s notion of experience, concentrating on issues that will be relevant next, and then discuss the explanation we find in a commentary which has come down to us under the name of Philoponus. I do it in the hope that the discussion sheds light on novelties in the commentator’s approach which deserve attention.

What can daily life assessment tell us about the bipolar spectrum?

Evidence suggests that bipolar psychopathology is better characterized as a spectrum than by categorical diagnoses. The examination of symptoms and impairment associated with bipolar spectrum psychopathology is important and can be enhanced by methods that examine affect, thoughts, and behavior in daily life. The present study extended findings that provide validation of a continuum of bipolar psychopathology in daily life. Young adults (n=294) completed the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) and experience sampling using smartphones. Participants were signaled eight times daily for one week to complete surveys in their normal daily environment. Bipolar spectrum psychopathology was characterized by increased positive and negative affect, confidence, racing thoughts, energy, and impulsivity in daily life. The HPS moderated the association of stress with trouble concentrating, irritability with dysphoria and impulsivity, and confidence with feeling like one's emotions were out of control. This study demonstrated that bipolar spectrum psychopathology is associated with disruptions in affect, thoughts, and behaviors and provided further evidence for a continuum of bipolar psychopathology. ESM is a promising method for examining dynamic constructs such as bipolar spectrum psychopathology and has the potential to be a strong research and clinical tool.

Marriage Equality Advocacy from the Trenches

James Esseks [JE]: Hi everybody. Mary and thought that since we work together all the time, we would go back and forth to talk about the evolution of the marriage equality movement. We're going to try and cover a lot, and it's going to be a bit of a mad dash, but we will do our best to make it comprehensible. We've both been doing this for a long time but Mary has really been doing this for a long time. Mary, you've been gay for pay for how many years? Mary Bonauto [MB|: Twenty-four later this month. JE: And I'm only at thirteen, so I'm a youngster here. Mary actually is one of the people who created the modern Freedom to Marry movement. And so, in our tour through the marriage equality movement, we will begin with the early days and talk about how this got started. What's the plan, is there a plan, was there a plan? We'll then turn to the Defense of Marriage Act, (1) why it's a problem, what the plan was for getting rid of it, and then the Windsor (2) decision and a little bit about Windsor implementation. Then we're going to talk about the current kind of crazy landscape that we're in at the moment. And how we may get to the Freedom to Marry in all fifty states. And then, if there is time, a little bit on the religious liberty, religious exemptions, license to discriminate aspect of the issue as it is showing up in the LGBT rights space. MB: Although we were asked to focus on litigation, it's hard to focus exclusively on litigation because ideally you will first create a climate of receptivity for litigation. Both the public and the courts need a problem to be defined in both head and heart terms so they can understand the litigation is responding to and resolving real problems. So litigation works with public education, and whatever else may be happening in the culture and legislative branch. So in this movement--like there was Roe (3) in the abortion rights context--there is Hawaii in the marriage context as a cultural turning point. Everyone was extremely surprised in 1993 when the Hawaii Supreme Court suggested that the state's marriage restriction was discriminatory based on sex and remanded to the trial court for the state to try to demonstrate its compelling interest in discriminating based on sex. (4) But even as Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act shortly after the decision, so, so many good things came out of the case. In particular, the Hawaii case sparked a national conversation about the freedom to marry, government discrimination against gay people's families, and why marriage matters. But will just say that guess, as you know, the old person in the room-- JE: The experienced person. MB: One overlooked point of Hawaii is that it was driven by the grassroots. Constituent pressure, if you will, has been important in advancing marriage all along. Even on my first week on the job at GLAD in March of 1990, was approached by a couple from western Massachusetts who had been together ten years and wanted to get married. And said, I really understand, and of course you're totally right, but no. Not now. And had those conversations many times with many people, because being right is not enough to get to a win, or to sustain a win. Timing matters. On marriage, there was so much to do in order to move the culture and the law to a place where people could even meaningfully engage with the issues. Long before Hawaii, couples inspired by the Supreme Court's 1967 ruling in Loving v. Virginia filed marriage cases as well. (5) Nancy Polikoff and David Chambers have described the incredulous tone of the judicial opinions in those 1970s cases--each upholding the exclusion--as though a man was seeking the right to get pregnant. (6) Twenty years later, when Hawaii was the focus, marriage for same-sex couples was still an oxymoron, considered absurd, and most mainstream newspapers referred to marriage in quotes. We might have been claiming the language of marriage, but to most it was just impossible and unimaginable. …