Higher Self-rating Anxiety Scale Scores Research Articles

Investigation and Analysis of Anxiety Status of Nursing Students During COVID-19 Clinical Practice in a Third-grade a Hospital in Kunming

Objective: To understand the anxiety status of nursing students during the COVID-19 outbreak in a tertiary hospital in Kunming, and to create a safe and comfortable working environment for nursing students, and to provide the hospital with decompression methods to relieve the anxiety status of nursing students. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among the clinical front-line nursing students from August 2020 to May 2021 in a tertiary hospital in Kunming during the COVID-19 outbreak. The research tools include general data survey and international self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and SPSS25.0 software is used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: The total score of SAS anxiety in 171 nursing students was (42.25±8.40). There were 37 cases of anxiety, among which mild anxiety accounted for 19.31%, moderate anxiety accounted for 2.33%, and severe anxiety was absent. Conclusion: Because of unfamiliar hospital environment, unskilled nursing skills, lack of clinical experience and changes in interpersonal relationships during clinical practice, the pressure caused by the gap between inner expectations and reality is facing more severe occupational exposure risks than clinical nurses. Coupled with various parents' worries, it had a certain psychological impact on nursing students, which caused anxiety of nursing students. However, male nursing students, younger nursing students with disharmonious family conditions have higher SAS scores, which should be paid more attention to. Therefore, hospital administrators should pay more attention to the anxiety of nursing students, train their hands-on operation ability in nursing operation, teach them how to improve interpersonal relationship, provide their own protection knowledge and guide them to adopt active and effective coping methods to solve problems, so as to relieve anxiety, promote physical and mental health, create a safe and comfortable working environment and reduce the occurrence of adverse events.

Functional Connectivity Features of Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging May Distinguish Migraine From Tension-Type Headache.

BackgroundMigraineurs often exhibited abnormalities in cognition, emotion, and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC), whereas patients with tension-type headache (TTH) rarely exhibited these abnormalities. The aim of this study is to explore whether rsFC alterations in brain regions related to cognition and emotion could be used to distinguish patients with migraine from patients with TTH.MethodsIn this study, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and rsFC analyses were used to assess the cognition, anxiety, and depression of 24 healthy controls (HCs), 24 migraineurs, and 24 patients with TTH. Due to their important roles in neuropsychological functions, the bilateral amygdala and hippocampus were chosen as seed regions for rsFC analyses. We further assessed the accuracy of the potential rsFC alterations for distinguishing migraineurs from non-migraineurs (including HCs and patients with TTH) by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Associations between headache characteristics and rsFC features were calculated using a multi-linear regression model. This clinical trial protocol has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registry number: ChiCTR1900024307, Registered: 5 July 2019-Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=40817).ResultsMigraineurs showed lower MoCA scores (p = 0.010) and higher SAS scores (p = 0.017) than HCs. Migraineurs also showed decreased rsFC in the bilateral calcarine/cuneus, lingual gyrus (seed: left amygdala), and bilateral calcarine/cuneus (seed: left hippocampus) in comparison to HCs and patients with TTH. These rsFC features demonstrated significant distinguishing capabilities and got a sensitivity of 82.6% and specificity of 81.8% with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.868. rsFC alterations showed a significant correlation with headache frequency in migraineurs (p = 0.001, Pc = 0.020).ConclusionThe rsFC of amygdala and hippocampus with occipital lobe can be used to distinguish patients with migraine from patients with TTH.Clinical Trial Registration[http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=40817], identifier [ChiCTR1900024307].

A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Abnormal Frontoparietal Network Function in Migraine without Aura.

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate frontoparietal network (FPN) dysfunction in participants with migraine without aura (MwoA).Material/MethodsWe selected 48 age-, sex-, and education level-matched graduate students (24 participants with MwoA [MwoA group] and 24 healthy controls). RS-fMRI and independent component analysis were used to examine the FPN and to compare abnormal encephalic regional homogeneity values. The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Self-Rating Scale of Sleep (SRSS) were used to evaluate attention, anxiety, depression, and sleep, respectively. Pearson’s correlation was applied to evaluate the association between abnormal brain areas and the scores for each scale.ResultsNeural function activity in encephalic regions of FPN showed abnormal changes in the MwoA group. The MwoA group had significantly lower MAAS scores (P<0.001), higher SAS scores (P<0.001), and higher SDS (P=0.06) and SRSS scores (P=0.26). In the MwoA group, functional activity of the right parietal lobule in the left FPN was positively correlated with MAAS scores (P=0.01) and negatively correlated with SAS (P=0.02). The orbital part of left inferior frontal gyrus activity in the right FPN was positively correlated with SDS (P=0.04) and SRSS (P<0.001). Right superior marginal gyrus activity in the right FPN was positively correlated with SDS (P=0.02).ConclusionsAbnormal FPN function was correlated with attention, anxiety, depression, and sleep status in the MwoA group. These results offer further insights into the evaluation and treatment of MwoA.

Psychosomatic symptoms affect radiotherapy setup errors in early breast cancer patients.

ObjectiveTo examine the trajectory of psychosomatic symptoms and to explore the impact of psychosomatic symptoms on setup error in patients undergoing breast cancer radiotherapy.MethodsA total of 102 patients with early breast cancer who received initial radiotherapy were consecutively recruited. The M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) and three different anxiety scales, i.e., the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), were used in this study. The radiotherapy setup errors were measured in millimetres by comparing the real-time isocratic verification film during radiotherapy with the digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR). Patients completed the assessment at three time points: before the initial radiotherapy (T1), before the middle radiotherapy (T2), and before the last radiotherapy (T3).ResultsThe SAS and STAI-State scores of breast cancer patients at T1 were significantly higher than those at T2 and T3 (F=24.44, P<0.001; F=30.25, P<0.001). The core symptoms of MDASI were positively correlated with anxiety severity. The setup errors of patients with high SAS scores were greater than those of patients with low anxiety levels at T1 (Z=−2.01, P=0.044). We also found that higher SAS scores were associated with a higher risk of radiotherapy setup errors at T1 (B=0.458, P<0.05).ConclusionsThis study seeks to identify treatment-related psychosomatic symptoms and mitigate their impact on patients and treatment. Patients with early breast cancer experienced the highest level of anxiety before the initial radiotherapy, and then, anxiety levels declined. Patients with high somatic symptoms of anxiety may have a higher risk of radiotherapy setup errors.

Psychological factors influencing choice of prenatal diagnosis in Chinese multiparous women with advanced maternal age

Objectives: To investigate the psychological predictors in Chinese multiparous pregnant women of advanced maternal age (AMA) for choosing aneuploidy screening or diagnostic testing.Methods: A total of 84 pregnant women of AMA were consecutively enrolled from Renming Hospital, Wuhan University. All participants completed three questionnaires: Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale (PSRS). Demographic information and the choice of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) versus invasive prenatal diagnosis (PND) were also collected.Results: Thirty-seven chose to have invasive PND, and 47 chose NIPT. Choosing invasive PND, as opposed to NIPT, was associated with lower educational background (χ2 = −2.269, p = .023), higher SAS scores (47.62 ± 7.96 versus 44.21 ± 6.10, p = .029), and higher SDS scores (50.41 ± 9.80 versus 45.96 ± 11.05, p = .058). Logistic regression analysis further showed that the decisive predictors for invasive PND are SAS (OR =1.106, p = .008) scores, scores of factor 3 in PSRS and the stress from changes of shape and motility (OR =0.471, p = .038). Subgroup analysis showed that women with previous negative pregnancy experience had higher scores in factor 2-stress (guarantee of maternal-fetal safety: 1.96 ± 0.63 versus 2.49 ± 0.65, p = .004) and total PSRS scores (1.60 ± 0.4 versus 1.83 ± 0.31, p = .044) than those without. Additionally, unemployment post pregnancy was associated with marginally significant higher PSRS scores (p = .083).Conclusions: The decision for invasive PND might be swayed by anxiety and attenuated by pregnancy stress originating from worry about changes in fetal shape and motility (measured by SAS and factor 3 score of PSRS, respectively).

Correlation of Axial Spondyloarthritis with Anxiety and Depression.

BackgroundThis study compared anxiety and depression in patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) versus patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and examined the relationship between clinical characteristics and psychological status.Material/MethodsPatients diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) were recruited for the study. Disease status was evaluated by the bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), the bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index, visual analog scale, and the level of inflammatory markers. Psychological status was evaluated by the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and the self-rating depression scale (SDS).ResultsSixty patients with axSpA were enrolled in the study, including 40 patients with AS and 20 patients with nr-axSpA. Patients with AS and patients with nr-axSpA had similar disease status and psychological status. Anxiety was significantly associated with disease status and SDS score (P<0.05 for all), whereas BASDAI (odds ratio [OR]=0.28, 95% CI=0.08–0.97, P=0.045) and SDS (OR=0.90, 95% CI=0.82–0.98, P=0.014) protected against anxiety. Depression was obviously correlated with smoking history, disease status, and SAS score (P<0.05 for all). Smoking history (OR=10.18, 95% CI=1.23–84.23, P=0.031) and SAS score (OR=0.85, 95% CI=0.75–0.97, P=0.014) were negatively correlated with risk of depression.ConclusionsPatients with AS and patients with nr-axSpA had similar psychological status in terms of anxiety and depression. Disease status and smoking were significantly correlated with psychological status. Patients with higher SAS scores were more likely to have depression. The results of this study may be helpful to clinically guide psychological interventions for patients with axSpA.